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The Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 6 June 2007 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Buddhist Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Language Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Native American Shelf Computer Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Biography Shelf Women's Issues Shelf
Homeowner's Shelf Library DVD Shelf International Studies Shelf
Political Science Shelf Music Shelf Jobs/CareersShelf
Business StudiesShelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Art Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Crafts Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf Military Shelf
American History Shelf Education Shelf Science Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Astronomy Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Spinning Disney's World
Charles Ridgway
Intrepid Traveler
Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
1887140670, $24.95 www.intrepidtraveler.com

Charles Ridgway is a 'Disney Legend' acknowledged by the Disney Company for his four decades of service to Disney, so SPINNING DISNEY'S WORLD: MEMORIES OF A MAGIC KINGDOM PRESS AGENT is a key to understanding the Disney structure. Ridgway's ingenuity in publicizing and creating the Disney magic is revealed in chapters that cite Disney history and his major contributions. Readers need not be Disney fans to appreciate this survey: any business collection, especially those featuring public relations titles, will find SPINNING DISNEY'S WORLD holds plenty of marketing insights key to understanding Disney's attractions and public relations at its best.

Manspace
Sam Martin
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newton, CT 06470-5506
1561588202, $24.95 www.taunton.com

ManSpace is a call to action for men: a call to build a 'personal space' outside of the usual woman-controlled home, where you can keep your stuff without fear of its being converted to a 'more useful' nursery or sewing room. MANSPACE: A PRIMAL GUIDE TO MARKING YOUR TERRITORY can be a recording studio, a workshop, or more. Men are invited to view sample houses and homes which reflect 'manspaces', from music rooms to campy man-oriented gadget-filled abodes. Samples from all types of 'manspaces' appear in full color and offer inspiration, insights and a range of options, making MANSPACE perfect for any general-interest lending collection.

Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.basicbooks.com

Ian Stewart's WHY BEAUTY IS TRUTH: A HISTORY OF SYMMETRY (046508236X, $26.95) discusses the history and nature of the concept of symmetry, from early times to the latest physics involvement. This analysis comes from a famous mathematician who charts the discoveries and investigative processes of fellow scientists and geniuses as they developed the concept of symmetry and drew important connections between its science and nature. Any collection strong in science needs this discussion. Douglas Hofstadter's I AM A STRANGE LOOP (0465030785, $26.95) blends science with philosophy to offer an inspection of the natures of self, consciousness and the human brain. Physics as well as physiology and philosophy blend in a survey which consider how identity is created in the brain, how symbolic and physical levels feed into one another, and how and if the brain actually houses the human soul.

Raging Beauties: Confessions & Advice
Tim Wright
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1573243108, $14.00 www.redwheelweiser.com

Witty quips and bold statements blend with 'retro' and cranky observations to create a fun women's nostalgia item perfect for gift-giving. Color images from the 50s supplement a chatty, charming set of one-liners which are pointed as they are hilarious. "Raging Beauties: Confessions & Advice" is the perfect gift choice for that independent, cranky woman who 'has everything' – and has been there/done it all.

Get It Together
Melanie Cullen with Shae Irving, J.D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305636, $21.99 www.nolo.com

Everyone has important paperwork and legal information which loved ones should have access to: GET IT TOGETHER: ORGANIZE YOUR RECORDS SO YOUR FAMILY WON'T HAVE TO appears in its second updated edition to tell how to sort important records, help your family find needed information, and how to do so with or without a computer in hand. Step-by-step descriptions of what documents will be needed, how to organize and protect them, and how to provide selected users with keys for finding them quickly make GET IT TOGETHER a top pick for any public library reference section.

Darwinian Fairytales
David Stove
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594031401, $27.50 www.encounterbooks.com

DARWINIAN FAIRYTALES: SELFISH GENES, ERRORS OF HEREDITY AND OTHER FABLES OF EVOLUTION comes from a philosopher who maintains that Darwin's theory of evolution is a 'ridiculous slander'. One would anticipate that he'd be a creationist or a proponent of intelligent design, but actually David Stove is a theological skeptic whose criticism of Darwin's basic theory avoids the classic arguments to analyze particular problems, from the idea that every organism has as many descendants as it can to the idea high of child mortality rates. Certainly food for thought – and worthy of inclusion in any collection strong in Darwinian theory pro or con.

Baker Books
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com

Thomas Woodward's DARWIN STRIKES BACK (0801065631, $14.99) charts a battle over the origins of life and provides a sequel to the author's award-winner DOUBTS ABOUT DARWIN, examining the struggle between science and spirituality over the origin of life. The Darwinian establishment used power to try to crush the Intelligent design Movement: chapters consider the controversies behind the popular headlines and come from an advocate of Intelligent Design.Greg Scheer's THE ART OF WORSHIP: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO LEADING MODERN WORSHIP (080106709X, $15.99) offers contemporary church leaders an excellent leadership resource for modern worship, considering the struggles between traditional and modern musical taste and blending discussions of biblical principles with insights on worship methods suitable for musicians, pastors and students of ministry alike. Collections catering to this audience will find THE ART OF WORSHIP excels in including discussions of new music, the influence of new resources such as the Internet, and more.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Everyday Consciousness and Primordial Awareness
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche
Snow Lion Publications
P.O. Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
155939272X, $19.95 www.snowlionpub.com

Susanne Schefczyk edits and translates a fine introduction to Buddhist psychology perfect for even general collections seeking an easy beginner's guide. All the basics for successful meditation practice are here, with Rinpoche describing how consciousness operates in daily perception and how the five primordial wisdoms of the five Buddha families are expressed. Philosophy, spirituality and psychology blend in a fine 'how to' new age survey.


The Social Issues Shelf

American Torture: From the Cold War to Abu Ghraib and Beyond
Michael Otterman
Pluto Press
c/o University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
0745326706 $19.95 www.press.umich.edu

AMERICAN TORTURE is a hard-hitting survey revealing how torture became a standard practice in the War on Terror, how it was honed and legalized and how the US military and CIA had used torture before both at home and abroad. These tortures were legalized using the laws designed to eradicate their use as the Cold War ended: chapters survey the history of torture in American prisons around the world, discuss teachings of U.S. military survival schools and programs supported by the U.S. around the world, and consider the social impact of torture's acceptance. A 'must' for any college-level collection strong in ethics
or social issues.

Poverty in World History
Steven M. Beaudoin
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
0415254590, $19.95 www.routledge.com

Poverty is an ongoing problem in world history, but over time it's assumed global proportions which impacts available world resources, more than just being a local issue. Thus this college-level reader surveys the wider global impact of poverty with a view of global poverty from 1500 to modern times, and provides students of either world history or global issue issues with a foundation for understanding the wider impact of poverty today. It's a pick college-level holding in world history or culture will want.

Untapped: The Scramble for Africa's Oil
John Ghazvinian
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
0151011389, $25.00 www.harcourt.com

The U.S. imports more of its oil from Africa than it does form Saudi Arabia – and in 2005 the journalist author John Ghazvinian journeyed to Africa to spend moths reporting first-hand on the oil industry's activities across the continent. UNTAPPED examines the interlocking roles of American politicians, corporations, oil executives, and African dictators alike, revealing corporate involvement in African deaths and threats made by both local government officials and big oil companies who tried to prevent the author's investigations. UNTAPPED is a gripping study no library strong in oil politics or social issues should be without.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

An Illusion of Harmony
Taner Edis
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024498, $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

AN ILLUSION OF HARMONY: SCIENCE AND RELIGION IN ISLAM charts a changing relationship between science and religion in the Islamic world, departing from the usual Western Christian connections and focus and thus providing college-level holdings strong in Middle Eastern studies and spirituality with a unique coverage. From discussions of modern scientific routes possibly foreshadowed in the Quran to issues of intelligent design and the Muslim world, chapters consider history, religious developments, and trends which have pitted Western science's progress against Islamic traditions. A fascinating discourse and a top pick for Middle Eastern holdings.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Asperger Dictionary of Everyday Expressions, 2nd Edition
Ian Stuart-Hamilton
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1843105187, $19.95 www.jkp.com

Not just for Asperger sufferers is this dictionary of everyday expressions, a reference tool which has been revised and expanded to include some 5000 expressions to reveal the meaning of everyday idiomatic expressions. People with Asperger Syndrome have difficulties with social communication: here entries are clearly explained, cover British and American English alike, and clarifies phrases commonly used – and confused – in social situations. Any library will find it an excellent language reference.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Soul Cravings
Erwin Raphael McManus
Nelson Books
0785214941, $19.99 www.thomasnelson.com

'Soul cravings' are what defines us as human – it's an inner quest for more than physical sustenance, but for spiritual meanings in life – and SOUL CRAVINGS seeks to define the parameters of these cravings for intimacy and community, destiny and meaning in life. It's these basic cravings which suggest a human connection with God, Erwin McManus maintains: chapters analyze belief, belonging, and more in a fine exploration of human interconnections and faith.

The Jesus Way
Eugene H. Peterson
William B. Eerdmans Publishing
255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
080282949X, $22.00 www.eerdmans.com

THE JESUS WAY: A CONVERSATION ON THE WAYS THAT JESUS IS THE WAY draws a symbiotic connection between the ways Jesus leads and the ways people follow, studying those who came before Christ and how they led and comparing these with Jesus' methods of leadership. Chapters challenge the methods of the modern American church and argue against consumerism, charisma and other barriers to understanding the Jesus path, using a blend of scholarship and spiritual insights to push the boundaries of belief and wisdom. Perfect for any collection strong in Christian thinking.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Death of Religion and the Rebirth of Spirit
Joseph Chilton Pearce
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771715, $22.95 www.innertraditions.com

The Death of Religion and the Rebirth of Spirit: A Return to the Intelligence of the Heart could've been featured in our New Age column but deserves wider mention here for its far-reaching survey blending philosophy, religion and sociology. The study begins with a survey of violence in human society and the question of whether cruelty is part of human nature – and argues that the roots of human behavior aren't violent, but a cultural imprint. Chapters use recent neuroscience, cultural anthropology and brain development research to explore the violent trends, spiritual understanding, and how to reverse violence to achieve a higher level of being. It's a pick recommended for any spirituality collection – particularly at the college level - strong on added cultural analysis.

World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
www.worldwisdom.com

Catherine Schuon edits FRITHJOF SCHUON: ART FROM THE SACRED TO THE PROFANE EAST AND WEST (1933316357, $24.95), a blending of religious images and words from around the world which comes from a teacher with forty years teaching art and architecture. Nearly three hundred color and black and white illustrations are designed to pair with the text, providing both written and visual illumination and accompanying discussions of art's connection to sacred worlds. Paul Goble's TIPI: HOME OF THE NOMADIC BUFFALO HUNTERS (1933316373, $21.95) blends traditional insights into tipi construction and development with a retelling of old-timers stories and a blending in of art to make for a fine survey of construction techniques, decorations, cultural meaning, and more. TIPI includes over a hundred color illustrations and drawings and makes for a vivid, outstanding survey of the spiritual and culture meaning of the Native American structure. Harry Oldmeadow edits LIGHT FROM THE EAST: EASTERN WISDOM FOR THE MODERN WEST (1933316225, $23.95), a collection of essays which discuss why different, specific elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism have appealed to Western seekers. Chapters come from faith leaders in different Eastern circles and draw together aspects of encounters with masters and master philosophers. Michael Oren Fitzgerald edits THE ESSENTIAL CHARLES EASTMAN (1933316330, $19.95), which revises and updates a classic edition containing the writings of the first American Indian medical doctor and co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America. He was the only American Indian author raised to young adulthood in the nomadic lifestyle of the pre-reservation area: this survey includes a biography, complete bibliography of his works, new sepia photos from his life, and more: an essential addition to any Native American or spirituality holding. Joseph Epes Brown's THE SPIRITUAL LEGACY OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN WITH LETTERS WHILE LIVING WITH BLACK ELK (1933316365, $21.95) provides a newly revised, updated edition of a classic holding previously unpublished letters written while the author was living with Black Elk. Here the focus is upon his relationship to the Catholic Church and Lakota spirituality alike: a new introduction and editor's preface and a biography of Brown compliments a complete bibliography of his works and a fine survey of Native spirituality's encounter with Western standards. All are top picks for both new age and spiritual libraries.


The Native American Shelf

On the Drafting of Tribal Constitutions
Felix S. Cohen
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806138068, $34.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Felix Cohen was a leading creator of the Indian New Deal and a champion of American Indian rights, so there's no better author than he to cover On the Drafting of Tribal Constitutions, reflecting his practical guidelines created in 1934 for tribal constitutional development. The entire work has been edited by David E. Wilkins, includes an essay that describes its origins and background, and is presented with a key to understanding Indigenous autonomy and self-governance efforts: perfect for college-level collections on Native American or American legal history.


The Computer Shelf

CMMI For Outsourcing
Hubert F. Hofmann, Deborah K. Yedlin, et.al.
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
0321477170, $54.99 www.awprofessional.com 1-800-428-5331

College-level and technical computer libraries seeking a solid software engineer's reference will find CMMI For Outsourcing an important reference acquisition: it provides a basic introduction the initial CMMI-ACQ protocols and its use in technology acquisition, covering techniques proven to work in GM's own outsourcing program and reviewing the acquisition project lifecycle. The strength of CMMI FOR OUTSOURCING lies in its real-world scenarios and stories which reflect practical organizational and insider experience, including common tricks and pitfalls.

Internet Research Skills
Niall O'Dochartaigh
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412911133, $36.95 www.sagepub.com

How do you conduct effective and credible research using the internet? If you're a beginner, INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS is a good place to begin: it offers students of the social sciences and humanities a foundation for growing their basic knowledge of the internet, showing how to streamline the search process, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to locate article databases and other approaches which go beyond using a popular browser like yahoo or google. Undergraduate students conducting research projects as well as postgraduate students will find it an excellent resource for streamlining the search process.

Game Design from Blue Sky to Green Light
Deborah Todd
A.K. Peters Ltd.
88 Worcester Street #230, Wellesley, MA 02482
156881318X $45.00 www.akpeters.com

From the initial blue-sky sessions to pitching for a green light, Deborah Todd's guide uses exercises and examples for all kinds of games to build a working knowledge of the game design process, from brainstorming and character design to content, testing, and flowcharting. Interviews with top game producers supplement the author's position as an award-winning designer and writer, with exercises and a puzzles checklist at book's end for maximum learning and reinforcement. Any college-level collection strong on games development needs this.

Head First PMP
Jennifer Greene, PMP & Andrew Stellman, PMP
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596102348, $49.99 www.oreilly.com

HEAD FIRST PMP: A LEARNER'S COMPANION TO PASSING THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL EXAM offers an engaging, lively review of PMP principles for any who would prepare for the certification exam using a unique method which helps reinforce the larger concept of project management both for the exam and on the job. It packs in visual approaches which reinforce the written word, using flow charts, black and white drawings and cartoons, and pictures to emphasize basic concepts. Other books are dry and make learning a challenge, but HEAD FIRST PMP is one of the few on the topic to create a lively, even fun survey learners will appreciate.

The Linux Programmer's Toolbox
John Fusco
Prentice Hall
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0132198576, $39.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com

The Linux Programmer's Toolbox discusses open source tools available for GNU/Linux, describing the most useful tools available and using plenty of examples on how to modify them for Linux needs. From learning how Linux interacts with software and understanding the basics of the Linux kernel to interpreting tools and applying it to applications, THE LINUX PROGRAMMER'S TOOLBOX comes packed with tips on how to streamline and customize processes, making it a pick for any serious programmer's collection and any library strong on Linux applications.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Television Criticism
Victoria O'Donnell
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412941679, $37.95 www.sagepublications.com

College-level collections strong in film and television will find Television Criticism a welcome addition to the collection: it explores the business, production and entertainment aspects of the TV industry and the critical rhetoric, culture and representation surrounding it, offering a range of analytical styles for past and current TV programs in different genres. Students receive a variety of formulas for developing critical thinking about television, and are provided everything they need to develop such perspectives, from new guidelines for television analysis to insights from producers and business people working in the field. TELEVISION CRITICISM is not only recommended for library acquisition but will also make a fine course supplement – perhaps even serve as a basic text.

More Scenes and Monologs from the Best New Plays
Roger Ellis, Editor
Meriwether Publishing
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7710
1566081424, $15.95 www.meriwether.com

Scenes designed in a range of short lengths – under 10 minutes each – include scenes for two women, two men, and combinations – and for all age ranges. This places More Scenes and Monologs from the Best New Plays above the usual student drama oriented collection or title, reaching into adult circles and any actor who wants monologs and short scenes to practice. Notes precede each section and set the scene.


The Biography Shelf

Michelangelo in Ravensbruck
Countess Karolina Lanckoronska
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306815370, $26.00 www.dacapopress.com

In 1939 the author was a wealthy landowner and professor of art history, and also witness to the Soviet army's march into Poland as the Nazis staged their invasion from the west. She joined the resistance and was captured and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp – there to teach art history to other women who believed they would soon die. Her account discusses the mass murder of Poles and the ability to survive the most inhumane conditions, and should serve as an inspiring, outstanding addition to Holocaust literature for any collection seeking expanded views from eyewitness survivors.

The Girl Who Walked Home Alone
Charlotte Chandler
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
19 West 21st Street #201, New York NY 10010
1557837171, $16.95 www.applausepub.com

The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis, A Personal Biography is a recommended pick for any collection strong in movie star biographies, especially those which aren't overstocked on Bette Davis coverage's already. Film biographer Charlotte Chandler interviewed Davis extensively in the last decade of her life, so this biography includes many of Davis' own words and insights, rather than the usual third-party analysis from those who just have had her films and reference materials to work from. A centerfold of black and white photos completes a wonderful coverage, highly recommended for any library strong in film biography.

The Measure of a Man
Sidney Poitier
HarperSanFrancisco
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0061357901, $14.95 www.harpercollins.com

THE MEASURE OF A MAN: A SPIRITUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY is an Oprah Book Club pick and a powerful survey of the personality, values and ethics of actor and black man Sidney Poitier, offering up memories from his movie experience and covering his personal views of life. From insights on injustice and its impact to the underlying meaning in the films he was involved in, THE MEASURE OF A MAN is packed with insights and spiritual and social reflection and is a pick for any general-interest lending library, especially those strong in film autobiographies.

Growing Up Amish: The Teenage Years
Richard A. Stevick
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801885671, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The Amish way is a lifetime commitment to the faith as well as a way of life: nearly 90 percent of those who grow up Amish choose the Amish way. Here is an in-depth study of Amish adolescence which considers its religion, society, and rituals which reinforce the statistics surrounding this chosen way of life. A dozen years of research in over seventy Amish communities in fifteen states lends to this study, which reveals how the Amish identity is fostered by an entire community of behavior and values. A 'must' for any collection strong in either Amish history and culture or regional American community sociology.


The Women's Issues Shelf

Women of the Harvest
Holly L. Bollinger and Cathy Phillips
Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street Suite 380, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0760321841, $24.95 www.voyageurpress.com

WOMEN OF THE HARVEST: INSPIRING STORIES OF CONTEMPORARY FARMERS profiles some seventeen women who love farming: women from across the country who share their stories of making their farming dreams come true. Color photos of land and female farmers blend with autobiographies and insights on what it takes and means to be a female farmer, how to run an 'ideal' farm, and how these women made farming dreams a reality. Any agricultural or rural library will find WOMEN OF THE HARVEST: INSPIRING STORIES OF CONTEMPORARY FARMERS a winning leisure read choice.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Remodel: Great Home Makeovers from Connecticut to California
Matthew Schoenherr with Linda Mason Hunter & Wendy Jordan
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newton, CT 06470-5507
1561589241, $21.95 www.taunton.com

In hardcover REMODEL was titled HOUSE TRANSFORMED: this paperback edition represents the fourth in a series of books produced in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects and Taunton, and provides homeowners with over two hundred color photos to accompany seven basic tips on successfully remodeling, from understanding regional and property site pros and cons to designing with compatibility and safety in mind, and budgeting. From lifestyle assessments to picking the optimum remodel plans, REMODEL is for any who would undertake a project, and selects 18 houses across the country that have been remodeled by America's leading residential architects.

301 Simple Things You Can Do to Sell Your Home NOW and for More Money Than You Thought
Teri B. Clark
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1210 S.W. 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
0910627061, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com 1-800-814-1132

Dozens of color photos of 'before' and 'after' examples illustrate staging step-by-step, offering homeowners and their agents key tips to understanding how a property presents itself and what enhances its salability. From do-it-yourself enhancement projects to inexpensive solutions for potentially expensive problems, 301 SIMPLE THINGS is the guide homeowners should consult first before even listing a property – and any public library lending collection will find it an excellent reference.


The Library DVD Shelf

Keli Roberts Time Saver Workouts
Razor Digital Entertainment
12031 Ventura Blvd. Suite 3, Studio City, CA 91406

Each DVD holds three workouts with different routines fostered by fitness expert Keli Roberts, and puts together programs with specific objectives in mind. A.S.A.P: ABDOMINALS, SPINE AND POSTURE (1595523677, $14.99) holds three 8-minute workouts with the stability ball: a core workout designed to strength core muscles by blending traditional and original routines in a workout. FLEXIBILITY FOR THE INFLEXIBLE (1595523669, $14.99) provides three under-12-minute core and stretch foam roller workouts, using the roller to encourage inflexible stretching muscles and providing exercises which stabilize the abdominal muscles. Both are excellent fitness routines highly recommended for discriminating workout users who have a minimum of time and want to make the most of it.

Fast Food My Way 3
Jacques Pepin
KQED
c/o Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
9782568493489, $29.99 www.janson.com

This 4-hour, 2-disc DVD set represents the third volume in the Fast Food My Way series, offering up recipes and visual step-by-step lessons on everything from cauliflower with scallions and corn and Hominy chowder to salmon rolls on fennel salad and shrimp casseroles. Create 8 complete menus with this guide, which provides both easy and classy creations perfect for entertaining – and the visual format makes the dishes practically infallible.

Secrets of the Occult: Illusion Science Magic
Dan Burstein
KochVision
22 Harbor Park Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050
1417229713 $19.98 www.kochvision.com

The world of the occult, from ancient magicians to the latest scientific findings on the collective unconscious and more, is surveyed in a bright, inviting two-program DVD perfect for any collection catering to new age or occult patrons. Tarot, numerology, divination and other methods are examined, as well as the lives, influences and theories of scientists who over the centuries 'pushed' the fabric of normal and paranormal worlds. Where other presentations focus on either new age or scientific worlds alone, the blend of the two in a wide-ranging survey places Secrets of the Occult: Illusion Science Magic a cut above the competition and makes it a valuable pick for DVD collections, promising lasting patron interest.


The International Studies Shelf

Historical Dictionary of United States-Middle East Relations
Peter L. Hahn
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, MD 20706
0810855496, $80.00 www.scarecrowpress.com

College-level collections strong on U.S. and Middle East politics as well as many an advanced high school library needs Historical Dictionary of United States-Middle East Relations, a primer covering the history of U.S. and Middle East involvements, especially since relationships ramped up after World War II. From a chronology of events to a history of diplomatic relations, a bibliography, photos, and hundreds of cross-referenced entries on countries and significant events, Historical Dictionary of United States-Middle East Relations is a fine reference.


The Political Science Shelf

The Ceding of Power
William J. Soter
Dorrance Publishing Inc.
701 Smithfield Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
0805972412, $16.00 www.dorrancebookstore.com

THE CEDING OF POWER: HAS CONGRESS ABDICATED ITS WAR-MAKING POWERS is a call to action for citizens who want to understand how wars are initiated by the U.S. and how legal and moral factors interact to influence war and peace. Chapters survey civil rights, citizen participation in war-making decisions, and definitions of just and unjust wars alike, in a survey recommended for any general-interest collection concerned about political decision-making processes.

Encyclopedia of Media and Politics
Todd M. Schaefer and Thomas A. Birkland, Editors
CQ Press
1255 – 22nd Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20037
1568028350, $145.00 www.cqpress.com

The college-level reference Encyclopedia of Media and Politics represents the first comprehensive guide to the U.S. media's influence on public policy, elections and politics, packing in over 300 alphabetical entries into a single volume to cover the events, people and organizations which have interacted since the founding of the country. Many an advanced high school collection will also find it an invaluable reference, defining concepts, trends, and issues in media and politics and surveying the legislation and legal issues and cases relating to the media. Perfect for collections strong in media history and culture.


The Music Shelf

The Words and Music of Bob Marley
David Moskowitz
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989356 $44.95 www.praeger.com

Reggae singer Bob Marley died before he was 40, but his music lives on – and his album Exodus was deemed by Time Magazine the most important of the 20th century, so THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF BOB MARLEY is certain to be an ongoing, popular pick for any college-level music library serious about representing lasting artists. A chronological arrangement provides a blend of biography and music analysis, following the developing themes of Marley's works and presenting the histories of his albums and songs which made headlines and drew important links between new and traditional concepts. Any definitive Marley collection needs this.

Sibelius: The Orchestral Works: An Owner's Manual
David Hurwitz
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains,NJ 07444
1574671499, $27.95 www.amadeuspress.com 1-800-637-2852

Sibelius is an exploration any classical music library needs: it considers Sibelius' musical language, its origins and works, and the elements which make his music distinct, offering two full-length CDs to accompany text – and providing two complete symphonies and two of his most popular tone poems in the process. As an introduction to newcomers to classical music or Sibelius' works – particularly students at the middle and high school grade levels – it provides a grounding framework for understanding to make it a perfect basic collection pick.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Blue-Collar Resume and Job Hunting Guide
Ron and Caryl Krannich, PhDs
Impact Publications
9104 Manassus Drive Suite N, Manassus Park, VA 20111-5211
157023258X, $15.95 www.impactpublications.com

The Blue-Collar Resume and Job Hunting Guide: Secrets to Getting and Keeping the Job You Really Want considers the pros and cons of today's 'new' blue collar jobs and workers, uses a 10-step process to emphasize the job search options for both short- and long-term employment goals, and adds resume and letter examples from four professional resume writers. From checklists of significant achievements to understanding interviewer notes, any blue-collar worker – or libraries catering to this clientele – will find this an excellent, blue collar-specific pick.

Creative Careers in Photography
Michal Heron
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10010
1581154690, $19.95 www.allworth.com

Career opportunities and challenges in all areas of the photo industry are presented for any aspiring photographer who would turn a passion into a paycheck in Creative Careers in Photography: Making a Living With or Without a Camera. All kinds of photography careers are considered here, from architectural photographer and art dealer to photo researcher, curator, and college professor. Students who love photography will be avid patrons of libraries who stock this practical guide to a photography career both behind and beside the camera.

Coach Yourself to Succeed at Work
John L. Miller, Ph.D.
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
0805972269, $16.00 www.dorrancepublishing.com

Executive coach John L. Miller's survey comes form his background teaching managers and executives how to change their behavior in order to become more efficient on the job: presented in workbook form, it's perfect for practicing managers who want to take the next step. From overcoming fears of public speaking to gaining new skills and developing self-confidence, COACH YOURSELF TO SUCCEED AT WORK comes packed with insights on how to make positive behavioral changes translate to the workplace, and is a recommended workbook for executives looking to change.


The Business Shelf

Communicating in Global Business Negotiations
Jill E. Rudd and Diana R. Lawson
Sage Publications
2455 Teller, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412916585, $46.95 www.sagepub.com

COMMUNICATING IN GLOBAL BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS: A GEOCENTRIC APPROACH presents college-level business and communications majors with a new approach for studying communication and negotiation in international business, using a geocentric cross-disciplinary framework. Chapters cover intercultural communication, provide students with a view of the world and how to negotiate with others from different cultures, and uses practitioners' perspectives to inject real-world case studies and scenarios into the picture. College-level business collections will find this an essential acquisition.

The New Influencers
Paul Gillin
Quill Driver
c/o Word Dancer Press
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956653, $25.00

THE NEW INFLUENCERS: A MARKETER'S GUIDE TO THE NEW SOCIAL MEDIA covers blogging, podcasting, and other consumer-driven influencers which are affecting how media and marketing work. It identifies these new methods, their goals, and how either large or small organizations can tailor an effective marketing routine around them, and it also examines the foundations of how these new influencers are bringing 'word of mouth' advertising to life.

The Power of Principles
William J. Byron
Orbis Books
Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756783, $16.00 www.maryknoll.org

THE POWER OF PRINCIPLES: ETHICS FOR THE NEW CORPORATE CULTURE surveys the principles which can guide corporations through ethical problems, using examples from all levels of corporate life to synthesize ten common 'old' principles which should be business foundations. William Byron is a Jesuit priest and an economist: his teachings at various universities and discussions of both ethics and business address issues of fairness, integrity, and how to foster and support these values. Any serious corporate business library needs THE POWER OF PRINCIPLES in its collection.

Atlantic Publishing Company
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
www.atlantic-pub.com

Michelle Devon's DESIGN YOUR OWN EFFECTIVE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAFF (9780910627795, $39.95) comes with a companion cd-rom and provides a basic instruction manual to producing an employee handbook. While the cd-rom makes it easy to just fill in the blanks with company-specific information and policies, the book does a fine job of considering the ramifications of an employee handbook, from legal considerations to difficult subjects such as safety and harassment, drug testing, reduction in wages, and more. Shri Henkel's SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS: HOW TO PLAN, PREPARE, AND EXECUTE TOP-NOTCH BUSINESS MEETINGS (9780910627917, $24.95) provides an easy to read book on the entire planning process, from budgeting and using time and money more effectively to setting an agenda, meeting goals, and evaluating both participants and objectives. Chapters will keep business leaders on track as they outline proven, effective methods for starting and conducting a meeting and survey common pitfalls to success. Nora Peterson's WALL STREET LINGO: THOUSANDS OF INVESTMENT TERMS EXPLAINED SIMPLY (9781601380388, $24.95) provides a finance dictionary not for the seasoned investor but for the everyday individual. It defines stockbroker terms and explains them easily, adopting a subject-oriented organization for quick and easy reference and pairing of terms and translating Wall Street jargon into easily-understood points. The author holds some thirty years of experience and her background charting futures and trading in securities lends authority to this primer, perfect for business library collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Magickal Connections
Lisa McSherry
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149323, $14.99 www.newpagebooks.com

New age readers interested in building a strong magickal group will find much to learn from priestess/teacher Lisa McSherry, who provides a survey of the mentoring relationship of group work and the communities which can enhance an exploration of magic. Chapters discuss how to make contact with a magickal group, how to resolve predictable conflicts and overcome obstacles, and how to assess and encourage group strengths.

Visionary Plant Consciousness
J.P. Harpignies, Editor
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771472, $16.95 www.parkstrpress.com

VISIONARY PLANT CONSCIOUSNESS: THE SHAMANIC TEACHINGS OF THE PLANT WORLD reveals ways in which psychoactive plants allow nature to 'speak' to humans, but it doesn't represent one author's observations alone. Instead presentations from over twenty leading environmental and social visionaries explore plant-induced visions and shamanic teachings, offering a range of ethno-botany and anthropological insights to compliment new age perspectives on such plants. New age collections, particularly those strong in nature explorations, will find the collection a solid pick.


The Art Shelf

Philip Morsberger
Christopher Lloyd
Merrell Publishing
49 West 24th Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010
1858943760, $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Philip Morsberger is a painter who's worked and taught in America and Britain since the late 1950s, producing a range of styles which have evolved over time: PHILIP MORSBERGER: A PASSION FOR PAINTING is the first in-depth study of the extent of his works and explores the themes and styles of his works. College-level art libraries strong in contemporary painters must have this catalog: it offers full-page color plates to accompany an introduction to Morsberger's works, influences, and technical aspects.

Art Marketing 101, 3rd Edition
Constance Smith
Art Network
Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959
0940899493, $19.95 www.artmarketing.com

Practicing fine artists who need to learn the basics of business, from organizing an exhibit and creating winning portfolios to contacting galleries, must have the latest updated edition of Art Marketing 101. It's a virtual classroom in a book, covering the basics of pricing and marketing artwork, and includes checklists and the latest updated tips. Any library catering to practicing artists, from college-level collections to public libraries, needs this.

A History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing
Mark Poysden and Marco Bratt
KIT Publishers
c/o Stylus Publishing, Distributors
Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0606
9074822754, $54.95 www.kt.nl/publishers

Deserving of ongoing mention for any arts collection providing comprehensive coverage of tattooing art is A History of Japanese Body Suit Tattooing, which explores not only the art involved, but the social and political forces which evolved Japanese methods from prehistoric to modern times. Connections between tattooing and cultural influences are rare, making this a top pick for not only college-level arts collections, but for any college-level holding strong in Japanese history and culture.

MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
www.mfa-publications.org

AMERICAN DECORATIVE ARTS & SCULPTURE (9780878466986, $19.95) features over a hundred masterpieces of furniture, silver, basketry and glass – and more – from the MFA holdings, sweeping through all time periods and production companies and spotlighting some key American works. In addition to the color photos throughout, AMERICAN DECORATIVE ARTS & SCULPTURE packs in background history, art insights, and selections from Central and South America as well. TEXTILE & FASHION ARTS (0878466991, $19.95) offers a similar format but journeys the world to provide a hundred of the finest textile and fashion pieces. Nearly thirty short essays discuss not only history but techniques, covering everything from medieval silk production in the Islamic empire to Andean weaving under the Spanish. Both individual artists and world trends are illustrated in pieces that pair well with the selected textile representations. Both are recommended picks for any definitive college-level art library.

Alaska Native Art
Susan W. Fair
University of Alaska Press
Box 756240, Fairbanks, AK 99775
1889963798, $65.00 www.uaf.edu/uapress 1-888-252-6657

The history, culture and traditions of Alaska Natives receive examination in ALASKA NATIVE ART, a survey which considers the works of Alaska artists of the 20th century. From basketry to beadwork and skin sewing, examples of such works appear in full color throughout ALASKA NATIVE ART, accompanied by detailed explorations of the artists, their traditions, and their culture. ALASKA NATIVE ART is a specialty item, but a top pick for any serious library strong in either ethnic arts or Alaska history and culture.


The Woodworking Shelf

Woodturning Tips & Techniques
Carol Rix
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520
1565233301, $19.95 www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Both new and experienced woodturners will appreciate this guide to woodturning, which covers everything from using a lathe and wood-making tools to planning designs. Carol Rix is a woodturning expert: her years of experience enhance a discussion which covers everything from setting up a workshop and choosing and maintaining tools to basic turning techniques and projects – all packed with color photos throughout to illustrate each step. Any newcomer to woodturning, as well as crafts-oriented libraries, will want this.


The Crafts Shelf

Discover Beading
Lesley Weiss, Compiler
Kalmbach Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
0871162393, $19.95 www.kalmbach.com

Create fast, fun jewelry with DISCOVER BEADING, a collection of reader favorites using basic techniques to create lovely bracelets, necklaces and more. Projects have been tested by the editors of Beadstyle Magazine and provides new beaders with a fail-safe starting point to create their own styles. Perfect for any public library or newcomer to beading.

Gourds
Bonnie Gibson
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
1402725221, $24.95 www.sterlingpub.com 1-800-805-5489

Crafters have long used gourds for cultural expression and as artistic presentations: GOURDS: SOUTHWEST GOURD TECHNIQUES & PROJECTS FROM SIMPLE TO SOPHISTICATED narrows the focus to the Southwest region, offering both an introduction to gourd art techniques and equipment and a survey of some 20 classic projects from petroglyph pottery motifs to later Indian art representations. The step-by-step color photos throughout lend to any library strong in pottery or crafts presentations.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Pain Relief Without Drugs
Jan Sadler
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771510, $19.95 www.healingartspress.com

PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT DRUGS: A SELF-HELP GUIDE FOR CHRONIC PAIN AND TRAUMA comes from the author's own experience: back in 1989 following surgery for a back injury she was left in constant pain with few treatment options. Refusing to settle for a life of such pain she quit her career teaching English and began an investigation into the self-treatment of her pain, blending pain management techniques into programs that went beyond her individual needs. Her book's focus is on changing personal reactions to pain, moving from a world of reaction to stimulus to one of relaxation and acceptance. Self-help techniques here range from visualization and breathing to coping with pain flare-ups. General libraries and new age collections will find it a popular pick.

Omnigraphics
615 Griswold Street, Detroit, MI 48226
www.omnigraphics.com

Sooner or later most consumers will have foot problems, and to explain the latest research into podiatry health is Ivy L. Alexander, Editor's Podiatry Sourcebook, 2nd Edition (9780780809444, $78.00), a revised sourcebook perfect for both health libraries and general-interest lending collections. The bones, joints, and muscles of the foot are surveyed in easily-accessed chapters which covering everything from conditions relating to growth to foot deformities, neuromuscular diseases, swelling of the joints, and more. Joyce Brennenfleck Shannon's EATING DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK (9780780809482) appears in its second updated edition to cover the basics of eating disorders and their treatment. From bulimia and binge eating to anorexia, EATING DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK outlines the problem, therapies, physical and psychological effects – and includes chapters on healthy ways of controlling weight. These are basic health references any health or general library needs.

From the Heart
Kathy Kastan, LCSW, MAEd
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0738210935, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

FROM THE HEART: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO LIVING WELL WITH HEART DISEASE comes from an author who underwent emergency bypass surgery at age 42 – and who had to not only physically recover, but had to find new ways to recover emotionally. It's the first written for women to focus on the emotional repercussions of heart disease rather than just physical symptoms and recovery alone, and surveys topics ranging from regaining a strong self-image and handling fears to telling others about illness and learning to rely upon one's body once more. From gaining support to learning how to exercise without fear, FROM THE HEART is an essential reference any women facing heart disease will need, and should be a popular public library lend.

Riddled with Life
Marlene Zuk
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
0151012253, $25.00 www.harcourtbooks.com 1-800-543-1918

Disease is treated as an enemy to be eradicated – or should it be something more? Evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk here argues that disease is our partner, not a foe: it's evolved alongside humans and is actually essential to health. The latest research and some unusual studies explores the role of disease in longevity, evolution, and the animal and insect as well as human worlds, using the author's on work on sexual selection processes to supplement intriguing stories from nature. An excellent survey, RIDDLED WITH LIFE: FRIENDLY WORMS, LADYBUG SEX, AND THE PARASITES THAT MAKE US WHO WE ARE is a pick not just for school holdings but for the general-interest library strong in popular science and health.

The Genius Engine
Kathleen Stein
John Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0471262390, $27.95 www.wiley.com

Many animals have working memory but the human brain is what gives our species a unique ability to reason and predict the future. THE GENIUS ENGINE: WHERE MEMORY, REASON, PASSION, VIOLENCE, AND CREATIVITY INTERSECT IN THE HUMAN BRAIN draws on the author's decades of experience as a science and technology writer and editor to explore how our prefrontal cortex has the flexibility to update and process information. Chapters consider how it operates and how it differs in individuals, making for an excellent analysis perfect for college-level collections strong in health, physiology, and brain science.

The Science of Addiction
Carlton K. Erickson
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Street, New York NY 10110
0393704637, $32.00 www.wwnorton.com

Neuroscience is clarifying how drug and alcohol addictions are processed in the body – and how it can be treated, so any college-level collection and many a public library interested in the scientific process of addition will want The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment. It reviews the roles brain function and genetics play in addiction, exploring changes in the terminology and definition of addiction and its treatment options in the process of explaining how neurobiological findings influence perception. From genetics of dependence to chapters on various ways the brain processes drugs in the body, any collection strong in health science needs this.

The Evolving Brain
R. Grant Steen
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024803, $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

THE EVOLVING BRAIN: THE KNOWN AND THE UNKNOWN explores the latest findings on brain physiology, from the nature of consciousness and unconsciousness to learning, genetic influences, mental illness and more. College-level holdings as well as general-interest libraries strong in popular science and health will find discussions draw important links between mental functions and attributes of creativity, personality, and more, making for a lively blend of science, health and social issues under one cover.


The Gaming Shelf

Off-Road Declarer Play
David Bird
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
189710619X, $18.95 www.masterpointpress.com

OFF-ROAD DECLARER PLAY: UNUSUAL WAYS TO PLAY A BRIDGE HAND is for intermediate to advanced bridge players seeking less well-known stratagems to enhance the bridge move, from creating entries and surviving bad trump breaks to getting the defenders to help. Bridge players receive a fine, uncommon set of tips which is perfect for moving ahead in the skills levels of the game – and perfect for any library catering to advanced bridge playing patrons.


The Fiction Shelf

The Moments Lost
Bruce Olds
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York NY 10003
0374118213, $26.00 www.fsgbooks.com

Fans of biography as well as novels will find intriguing and different THE MOMENTS LOST: A MIDWEST PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, a novel which charts the progress of one Franklyn Shives, who arrives in turn-of-the-century Chicago to become a newspaper reporter even as his bohemian lifestyle is becoming entangled in relationship issues. His assignment to cover the Wobblie-led 1913 copper mine strike in Michigan will further change his life and lead to betrayal and love lost in this hard-hitting novel of one man's changes and revelations, perfect for public libraries strong in literary novels.


The World History Shelf

The Sea Rover's Practice
Benerson Little
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1574889117, $17.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

THE SEA ROVER'S PRACTICE: PIRATE TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES 1630-1730 is based largely on first-person accounts and describes how pirates and buccaneers made sea roving a profitable business. Successful pirating was conducted on the high seas to acquire wealth: chapters come from first-person source materials and reveal all the basic details perfect for any general-interest collection where lively history is of interest.

Historical Dictionary of Taiwan, 3rd Edition
John F. Copper
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Boulevard #200, Lanham, MD 20706
081085600X, $85.00 www.scarecrowpress.com

College-level collections strong in Asian history and culture can't be without this updated third edition of HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF TAIWAN, which surveys the nation's history, ongoing conflicts with China, and other political and social issues. Here's a cross-referenced dictionary of entries which includes important people, places, events and political parties, surveying the entire country's affairs. Perfect for in-depth reports or as a reference starting point.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews
Saul Friedlander
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0060190434, $39.95 www.harpercollins.com

THE YEARS OF EXTERMINATION completes Friedlander's major historical work on Nazi Germany and the Jews, describing the persecution and murder of the Jews not just in Germany but throughout occupied Europe. Source material documents are the foundations of a wide-ranging study appropriate for college-level and specialty holdings strong on Nazi Germany Holocaust history: chapters rely on diaries, letters, and memoirs to capture events, adding in political and social analysis to round out the personal accounts. This is no light treatment: over 800 pages of detail provide regional and state-wide analysis throughout Europe.


The Cookbook Shelf

Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning
Gardeners and Farmers by Terre Vivante
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
1933392592, $25.00 www.chelseagreen.com

The usual book on preserving garden produce assumes boiling or freezing vegetables or fruits will take place – but Preserving Food Without Freezing or Canning: Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Stage, and Lactic Fermentation uses little-known French techniques for storing and preserving edibles, is newly translated into English for American audiences, and uses less costly methods featuring locally grown, minimally refined fruits and vegetables. It's a cut above your usual 'how to preserve' title and a 'must' for collections strong in either cooking or ecological living.

Weber's Charcoal Grilling: The Art of Cooking with Live Fire
Jamie Purviance
Weber-Stephen Products
c/o Sunset Books
200 East Daniels Road, Palatine, IL 60067
0376020474 $19.95 www.weber.com www.sunsetbooks.com

Journalist and author Chef Jamie Purviance has been nationally recognized as a leading expert in outdoor cooking, and WEBER'S CHARCOAL GRILLING packs in over a hundred dishes developed specifically for the charcoal grill. Over a hundred color photos pair with these recipes and cover everything from the usual red meat and marinades to desserts, offering up a wealth of grilling dishes and options. Any collection catering to outdoor entertainment or grilling will find the visual approach perfect for popular library lending.


The Military Shelf

Artillery
Jeff Kinard
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
185109556X, $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

ARTILLERY: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ITS IMPACT provides a wide-ranging survey of artillery's development and powers over the centuries, covering both its technical development and its use by leader and nations over time. Military collections, especially those strong in overviews of military encounters with focus on equipment and its evolution, will find ARTILLERY a fine survey that blends historical background with a narrowed focus on battle equipment development.

Bomb Scare
Joseph Cirincione
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
0231135106, $27.50 www.columbia.edu/cu/cup 1-800-944-8648

BOMB SCARE: THE HISTORY & FUTURE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS begins with the first atomic discoveries of the 1930s and covers the history of the growth of nuclear weapons through the decades, right up to the current crisis with Iran and the threat of worldwide proliferation. History, security analysis and theory blends in a general text for any student of world politics and military history, particularly at the college level.

My River Home
Marcus Eriksen
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
0807072753, $24.95 www.beacon.org

MY RIVER HOME: A JOURNEY FROM THE GULF WAR TO THE GULF OF MEXICO tells of the author's five-month, 2000-mile voyage down the length of the Mississippi on a homemade raft. It was while on this journey that Ericksen found the courage and ability to understand his war experiences, and here tells of his many military changes from new recruit to self-destructive veteran to a critic of the Iraq War. While MY RIVER HOME could easily have been reviewed as a travelogue or true adventure, what makes it so much more is its insights on military transitions – and so it reviews feature here.


The American History Shelf

The Buffalo Soldiers
William H. Leckie with Shirley A. Leckie
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806138408, $19.95 www.uoakpress.com 1-800-627-7377

The revised edition of THE BUFFALO HUNTERS: A NARRATIVE OF THE BLACK CALVARY IN THE WEST updates a classic originally published in 1967, when it was the first book to recognize the importance of Afro-American units in the opening of the West. This revised edition expands the original research to explore the lives of these soldiers in the 9th and 10th Calvary Regiments, using recent scholarship to expand and enhance discoveries and creating an eye-opening title recommended for any college-level or in-depth collection of either military or Afro-American history.

Solomon's Builders
Christopher Hodapp
Ulysses Press
Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
1569755795, $14.95 www.ulyssespress.com

SOLOMON'S BUILDERS: FREEMASONS, FOUNDING FATHERS AND THE SECRETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C. deserves repeated and ongoing mention as an excellent survey of Freemason influences on United States history. It's hard to neatly peg this guide: it could go under new age or American history as neatly as in spirituality sections – so any library covering any of these topics needs SOLOMON'S BUILDERS, which presents a Freemason's tour of Washington D.C. and charts Masonic influence during the construction of America, from national monuments and symbolism in city streets to temples and keys to religious insights.


The Education Shelf

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

William H. Peltz's DEAR TEACHER: EXPERT ADVICE FOR EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS (9781412938839, $29.95 ) is a top pick for both middle/high school and college-level reference libraries catering to students who want to learn how to study more effectively. It comes from an experienced teacher and study skills coach who demonstrates basic studying techniques, offers an easy 'Dear Abby' question and answer format which lends to browsing, and teaches students how to organize work, take notes, manage time and assume responsibility for behaviors. Brian M. Pete and Robin J. Fogarty's NINE BEST PRACTICES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE (0971733236, $19.95) provides a teacher-tested set of 'best practices' in overall school performance, from note-taking and homework to understanding cooperative learning strategies, setting objectives, testing hypothesis and more. Educators will find this an excellent collection of 'best practices' that really work. Both excellent guides, these are recommended picks.


The Science Shelf

Extremes: Oceanography's Adventures at the Poles
Keith R. Benson and Helen M. Rozwadowski, Editors
Science History Publications
c/o Watson Publishing
Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
0881353736, $54.95 www.shpusa.com

Scientists exploring the polar regions have long recognized the region's importance in the scheme of human history, and here to survey that importance is a scientific and historical overview of how scientific investigations of the poles have influenced world culture, politics, and decision-making processes. While EXTREMES could've been featured in our Science section, it's reviewed here for its wider interest to any college-level collection strong in either oceanography or world history: its historical background on the poles shouldn't be missed.

Cosmic Jackpot
Paul Davies
Houghton Mifflin
219 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
0618592261, $26.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

Recent astronomical and physics studies point to the fact that many basic features of the physical universe seem tailor-made to produce life – and recent theory maintains this has happened by accident. For an easy, lay discussion of scientific discoveries and their meaning, COSMIC JACKPOT: WHY OUR UNIVERSE IS JUST RIGHT FOR LIFE can't be beat. It analyzes questions on the science of existence and the evolution of consciousness, makes a case for the fact that such evolution may be central to the universe's development, and provides both college-level and general-interest readers with much food for thought.

Uncertainty
David Lindley
Doubleday
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0385515065, $26.00 www.randomhouse.com

UNCERTAINTY: EINSTEIN, HEISENBERG, BOHR, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR THE SOUL OF SCIENCE comes from an astrophysics and former editor at several science magazines and provides a blend of scientific history and debate on the uncertainty principle. Both historical reference and psychological and cultural implications are revealed in the course of considering how the principle evolved, how it influenced modern science, and why it changed science and scientific thinking forever. A fine introduction for lay readers in particular.

Brainteaser Physics
Goran Grimvall
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801885124, $23.00 www.press.jhu.edu

BRAINTEASER PHYSICS: CHALLENGING PHYSICS PUZZLERS provides a fun, casual approach to learning the science of physics, through a series of fun question-and-answer 'puzzlers' posing both classic and new problems and answers. Diagrams, equations, and scientific discussions support teach brainteaser with a survey of scientific thinking and concepts, making this perfect for high school or general-interest collections seeking reinforcements to physics principles.

Advanced Engineering Chemistry
M.R. Senapati
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
0977858294, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

This updated, revised reference covers the basics of chemistry for college-level audiences interested in applied engineering processes, and covers chemistry 1, II, and the laboratory environment. Both students and practicing engineers, chemists and scientists will find it provides authoritative, extensive discussions on a range of topics from electron displacement and organic reactions to stereochemistry, electrochemistry, and applications of modern chemical theory to real-world scenarios. College-level collections strong in chemistry as well as college classrooms will find this an invaluable tool that blends theory with applications.


The Philosophy Shelf

South Park and Philosophy
Richard Hanley
Open Court Publishing
70 East Lake Street Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
0812696131, $17.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

SOUTH PARK AND PHILOSOPHY: BIGGER, LONGER, AND MORE PENETRATING pairs the long-running and controversial Comedy Central cartoon hit with ideas gained from philosophy, applying a classical philosophical analysis to a show which offends many and which would seem to defy classical interpretation. In drawing connections between the popular show and classic philosophy, readers gain not only a better understanding of the show's controversies and approaches, but will find the entire approach and contentions of philosophy more appealing as it links well to contemporary experience. A pick for high school contemporary philosophy collections as well as for general-interest and college-level fans of South Park.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Blue Beetle Companion
Christopher Irving
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1893905705, $16.95 www.twomorrows.com

The Blue Beetle appeared in 1939 and came to rival Superman and Batman for comic history, but didn't become popular until his recent death when DC Comics resurrected him in the Infinite Crisis series. The history and adventures of the character are followed here in The Blue Beetle Companion: His Many Lives from 1939 to Today, following some 60 years of the character's evolution and transitions and providing interviews with key and major comic graphic artists along the way. Black and white comic strips from all eras enhance the presentation.

Dungeon: Parade Volume One: A Dungeon Too Many
Joann Sfar, Lewis Trondheim, Manu Larcenet
NBM Publishing Inc.
40 Exchange Place #1308, New York NY 10005
1561634956, $9.95 www.nbmpublishing.com

French humor artist Manu Larcenet illustrates a fine new adventure in the popular fantasy-comedy Dungeon series: this revolving around a vegetarian dragon and a self-centered duck who must defend the castle – however reluctantly. Here Herbert acquires a magical lamp with one wish left – and the Keeper of the castle sends Herbert and Marvin to a dying sage to decide what wish would be best. A fun, lively story evolves.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Felt It!
Maggie Pace
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580176356, $18.95 www.storey.com

Knitters who want to add embellishments to accessories will find FELT IT! 20 FUN & FABULOUS PROJECTS TO KNIT & FELT is a fine guide to producing pieces which change into felt with the touch of a washing machine. From scarves and purses to bracelets and pillows, FELT IT! Blends excellent color photos with step-by-step tips knitters will find easy to duplicate. Perfect for the library catering to knitters seeking something different.

The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories
Claire Crompton
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715326007, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com

Over 30 fine scarves, gloves, hats and more are packed into THE KNITTER'S BIBLE KNITTED ACCESSORIES, a guide that focuses on how to combine yarns with vivid new designs. From a pompom ski hat to an embroidered scarf and mittens, THE KNITTER'S BIBLE: KNITTED ACCESSORIES is an excellent pick for knitters who already know the basics and who want to use them to produce trendy new designs.


The Astronomy Shelf

Pluto and Beyond
Anne Minard
Northland Publishing
Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86002-1389
0873589157, $16.95 www.northlandbooks.com

PLUTO AND BEYOND: A STORY OF DISCOVERY, ADVERSITY, AND ONGOING EXPLORATION tells not only of Pluto but of the Lowell Observatory, one of the few remaining privately-owned observatories and home to the discoverer of Pluto over seventy years ago. In pairing the story of the discovery of Pluto with the evolution of Lowell, PLUTO AND BEYOND examines both history and key, evolving astronomical ideas in a survey exploring the cutting edge of space research. A recommended pick for any library strong in modern astronomy.

Dark Side of the Universe
Iain Nicolson
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801885922, $35.00 www.press.jhu.edu

DARK SIDE OF THE UNIVERSE: DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY, AND THE FATE OF THE COSMOS is a pick not just for college-level science collections strong in astronomy, but for the general-interest lending library catering to non-scientist readers. It offers up a history and survey of how ideas about nature and the universe have developed, using key discoveries and scientific rationale to consider the evolution of theories on dark matter and describing how astronomers explore the remote cosmos to gain evidence supporting or refuting these theories. Any with an interest beyond the solar system will find this a fascinating expose, packed with color astronomy photos throughout.

Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
$26.95 Each

Two new regional 'Starwatch' guides by astronomy expert Mike Lynch are recommended picks for libraries in each featured state. What makes these specialized compilations invaluable is not just the overview of mythology and discussions about the moon, stars and planets, but the focus on the night sky as it appears to each stargazer's region. Thus ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO STARWATCH (0760328420) and SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STARWATCH (0760328412) and GEORGIA STARWATCH (0760328447) each offer regional specifics perfect for local star-gazing groups, and far superior to the more general astronomy overviews which neglect the attributes and appearances of local skies.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com

Linda Crowsey's MADAME ALEXANDER: 2007 COLLECTOR'S DOLLS PRICE GUIDE #32 (9781574325447, $14.95) is an updated collector's price guide no Madame Alexander doll collector should miss. It packs in an A-Z listing of the dolls and their latest values, and while it includes some small color photos, its value lies in the latest updated prices collectors need to make informed buying and selling decisions. Shirley Smith's GLASS HEN ON NEST COVERED DISHES IDENTIFICATION & VALUE GUIDE (9781574325379, $29.95) packs color photos on nearly every page of its value guide, and is a pick for any who frequent flea markets or garage sales in search of glass hen on nest covered dishes. From American to Asian and European productions, identifying marks, written descriptions, and comparisons and contrasts between makers and items seek to clarify the collecting experience to avoid confusion between makers and products. Peter Muldavin's COMPLETE GUIDE TO VINTAGE CHILDREN'S RECORDS (9781574325096, $24.95) provides a catalog of values paired with color photos for almost 13,000 records on over 450 labels. Many entries are unique to this reference, which offers a nearly complete listing of vintage children's records, primarily in the 78 RPM and early 45 RPM formats. The comprehensive coverage for nearly all 78 RPMs in the USA can't be beat. The 15th edition of GARAGE SALE & FLEA MARKET ANNUAL (9781574325362, $19.95) is a virtual 'bible' of collector details, covering a range of items typically seen at garage sales, from comics and glassware to clocks and cigarette lighters, adding black and white photos, and values to streamline the reference. It will prove a popular library reference for any collection strong in values guides. Tom Felt's L.E. SMITH GLASS COMPANY: THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS (9781574325430, $29.95) blends a historical overview with an identification and value guide perfect for L.E. Smith glass collectors. Measurements, maker's marks, years of production and color photos of pieces throughout make this a 'must' for any serious collector of the glassware. Jack Clark and Robert P. Wicker's HOT WHEELS: THE ULTIMATE REDLINE GUIDE COMPANION (9781574325393, $29.95) pairs fine color photos of hot wheels issues with identification and values keys for the toy collector's cars from 1968-77. From limited spin-offs to model series designs, this HOT WHEELS guide is a fine history and values pairing and is a top pick for any collector's library. Also recommended for general-interest collector's reference holdings is Mark Pickvet's COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO PAPERWEIGHTS (9781574325454, $24.95), a survey of identification and values which pairs good-sized color photos with specifications and details for paperweights from the 1840s to 2006. From glassmaker specialties to comments on what makes for value in a paperweight, this is a fine pick. Gene and Cathy Florence's AMERICAN PATTERN GLASS TABLE SETS (9781574325461, $24.95) is a fine recommendation for avid collectors of American pattern glass. Excellent, good-sized color photos of glass sets are accompanied by the latest values and by notes on makers, patterns and reproductions, making for an excellent reference. Scott Heston's THE FRED ARBORGAST STORY: A FISHING LURE COLLECTOR'S GUIDE (9781574325355, $34.95) is for any avid collector of fishing lures: it surveys both cataloged and uncataloged lures, providing good-sized color photos of both lures and packaging and blending design history insights with values. Any sports or fishing collectibles collection will want this.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
www.blacklibrary.com

Gail Z. Martin's THE SUMMONER (1844164683, $7.99) presents Book One of the 'Chronicles of the Necromaner' and is a weighty, 600+ page saga revealing the world of one Prince Drayke, thrown into chaos when his brother murders their father and seizes the throne. Martris must flee as a result – but must draw together both newfound magical powers and an uncertain cast of allies from the ranks of the dead to thwart his brother's danger. A stunning, active fantasy comes to life. George Mann edits THE SOLARIS BOOK OF NEW SCIENCE FICTION (1844164489, $7.99), a fine short story collection featuring fine writers of the likes of Stephen Baxter, Eric Brown, Ian Watson and more. These stories explore the outer limits of the fantasy and sci fi genres, from a futuristic murder mystery to space opera – and all stories are original to this collection – a huge plus in a genre where reprints abound, making it a top pick any serious science fiction holding needs. Natasha Rhodes' DANTE'S GIRL (184416666X, $7.99) blends fantasy and horror as it tells of one Kayla Steele, trying to hold down a job and learn the Dark Arts so she can avenge her boyfriend's death and thwart the supernatural beings stalking Los Angeles. And she's still having a relationship – with the dead boyfriend himself. A fine tale of supernatural horror evolves with a satisfying mystery kick. Jeffrey Thomas' DEADSTOCK (1844164470, $7.99) provides a 'punktown' novel about a crime-ridden metropolis on a colony world home to numerous aliens. Jeremy is a private detective with uncontrollable special abilities and a serious of challenging clients. His adventures make for a very different alien setting.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Unnatural Landscapes: Tracking Invasive Species
Coiridwen Terrill
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816525234, $17.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu

Any collection strong in biological science – particularly college-level holdings – will want UNNATURAL LANDSCAPES: it blends science writing and research with first-person stories of adventure to provide a lively introduction to invasion ecology and restoration management, and uses the author's own kayak trips as a basis for considering invasive species in the Southwest and Mexico regions. Her journeys read like a blend of scientific investigation and travelogue and thus serve as a fitting introduction to habitat management issues.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

American Jewish History
Norman H. Finkelstein
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
0827608101, $18.00 www.jewishpub.org

Both Judaic studies collections and general-interest holdings seeking an accessible, warm history of Jewish events would do well with the colorful, concise AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY, which follows over three hundred years of Jewish history from the time of the earliest Jewish settlers on American shores to the presence of Jewish people in modern politics, business and arts environments. Chapters focus on specific time periods, come illustrated with black and white photos, maps and over a hundred feature boxes and biographies, and provide important keys to understanding Jewish society and culture.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Yoga Facelift
Marie-Veronique Nadeau
Conari/Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker Street Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1573242780, $19.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

THE YOGA FACELIFT: THE ALL-NATURAL, DO-IT-YOURSELF PROGRAM FOR LOOKING YOUNGER AND FEELING BETTER tells men and women both how to use yoga and meditation techniques designed by the author for tone the face. There are only a few competing titles on the market which discuss exercises for toning the face: this holistic method addresses frown lines, extra chins, 'chicken neck' and others, blending charts and step-by-step photos with easy exercises which can be done in just a few minutes a day without any special equipment or setting. A 'must' for any interested in retaining youthful looks.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Bird Signs
G.G. Carbone
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
157731543X, $24.95 www.newworldlibrary.com 1-800-972-6657

BIRD SIGNS: GUIDANCE & WISDOM FROM OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS offers a 52-card deck and book written by G.G. Carbone and illustrated by Mary Ruzicka to explore birds and their connections to divinity. These divination cards can be used individually or in spreads – and each profiles a specific bird or aspect of bird life, with an accompanying book providing a focus on bird relations to human characteristics. It's an excellent pick for any new age collection or card reader.


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


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