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The Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 9 September 2014 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Crafts Shelf Sports Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Mathematics Shelf Technology Shelf
Parenting Shelf Music Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Photography Shelf Computer Shelf Political Science Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Biography Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Business Shelf Audiobook Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Education Shelf Military Shelf Automotive Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Architecture Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf American History Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Roman Search for Wisdom
Michael K. Kellogg
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616149253, $28.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Roman Search for Wisdom provides a fine review of Roman literature and history and considers the Roman contribution to philosophy, literature, and more: contributions traditionally viewed as inferior to ancient Greek accomplishments. Chapters survey poets, historians and philosophers and how their works influenced the world, creating a different focus on Roman importance. This is recommended reading for college-level readers of literature, history and philosophy alike, and traces the lasting influences of ancient Rome right into modern times.

Outdoor Living
Selina Lake
Ryland Peters Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781849755061, $29.95, www.rylandpeters.com

OUTDOOR LIVING provides a fine guide to creating stylish, appealing outdoor spaces, and is a recommendation for any home and garden collection and for homeowners who want to transform an outdoor space for entertainment or leisure dining. Full-page color photos accompany interior and exterior designs alike that range from patios to sunrooms and sheds. What to do with that unattractive hut out back? Transform it! How about the idea of putting a stylish tent in the backyard for romance and fun? From garden florals to table settings, this leaves nothing out and is recommended for any who like interior design projects.

Denali's Howl
Andy Hall
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10014-3657
9780525954064, $27.95, www.penguin.com

DENALI'S HOWL: THE DEADLIEST CLIMBING DISASTER ON AMERICA'S WILDEST PEAK recounts a climbing expedition that took place in 1967 when twelve young men tried climbing Alaska's Mount McKinley. The author, a former editor of Alaska magazine and son of the park's superintendent at the time, spent years investigating how seven team members came to be trapped in a rare storm on the summit. From rescuer notes to survivors, lost documents and communications, his focus was to find out why they died, and here provides a moving story of what really happened in a true-life disaster adventure story any general-interest reader will find involving.

Mapping Time
Menno-Jan Kraak
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589483125, $49.99, www.esri.com/esripress

MAPPING TIME: ILLUSTRATED BY MINARD'S MAP OF NAPOLEON'S RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1812 is all about visualizing time in map format, was inspired by graphic artist Charles Minard's classic map of France's invasion of Russia, and blends history and geographic analysis with cartographic visualizations of mapping changes over time. Over 100 color illustrations will appeal to history buffs, geographers and cartographers alike and probes the graphics and semantics of visual data and its translation. From depicting relative time to portraits of events, this is a fine reference for any cartography holding.

Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Thomas Girst's THE DUCHAMP DICTIONARY (9780500239179, $29.95) is illustrated by Luke Frost and Therese Vandling, considers his life and work using short, alphabetical dictionary entries, and provides a researched A-Z format covering Duchamp's works and themes. From bicycles and anatomy to chess, Dadaism and more, these entries demonstrate how the dictionary form has inspired artists over the centuries, and uses quotes from Duchamp himself to add insights into his thoughts and works. Newly commissioned collages introduce each letter of the alphabet and accompany these entries, making for a solid and engrossing read. Andrew H. Dent & Leslie Sherr's MATERIAL INNOVATION: PRODUCT DESIGN (9780500291290, $29.95) pairs materials technology with art as it provides a selection of products that represent the innovative use of a particular material, from grown materials and composites to recycled materials and more. These materials are used in everything from clothing to art, furniture-making to building, and represent a revolution in the field of materials technology, which intersects art in different areas. Students and professionals will find this especially useful for pursuing particular materials. Volume Two of 'THE MANUAL FOR A STYLISH LIFE': THE MR. PORTER PAPERBACK (9780500291276, $29.95), edited by Jeremy Langmead, is a recommendation for any arts collection strong in fashion design and history and provides interviews with style icons, actors, and others involved in the trends around men's style. From choosing age-appropriate clothing to adopting style to life choices, this is a wide-ranging set of discussions that informs men on the finer points of developing a unique style and approach to life.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Estate Jewelry: 1760-1960, second edition
Diana Sanders Cinamon
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764346491, $49.99, www.schifferpublishing.com

Estate Jewelry: 1760-1960 appears in a revised, expanded second edition to cover over 200 years of antique to modern jewelry collecting in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and pairs full-page and good-sized color images with discussions of changes in jewelry construction and style over the centuries. From fittings and maker's marks to collectability and fashion pieces, Estate Jewelry: 1760-1960 provides both background history and identification insights for any involved in the collection, display and history of jewelry.

The Guide Book of United States Coins, 2015 Essential Edition
R.S. Yeoman
Whitman Publishers
4001 Helton Drive, Florence, Alabama, 35630
9780794839266, $14.95, www.whitman.com

This title, popularly known as the "Red Book", provides a fine survey of circulating federal U.S. coins and is printed in full color on 8.5x11 pages to permit for larger photos of coins for easier identification purposes. It provides a solid reference to the latest values for numismatic enthusiasts, presenting a new oversized edition of the classic original Red Book for audiences at all levels of coin collecting skills. Pages of detail on key coins offer everything needed to make a proper identification and to determine value and grade, making this a 'must' reference especially accessible to those newer to the coin collecting field.


The Cookbook Shelf

300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes
Jane Sharrock
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804758, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes isn't just a contemporary collection of innovations: some of these candy recipes date back sixty years or more. And they aren't intended solely for experienced candy-makers, but for novices as well, requiring a minimum of special equipment and offering detailed, step-by-step, photo-enhanced directions for foolproof insights into candy making at home. Sections of color photos pepper recipes for brittles, fudge, truffles and rolls in a delicious production recommended for any would-be candy-maker as well as those who just want to increase their stock of recipes.

Choosing Raw
Gena Hamshaw
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216874, $19.99, www.dacapopress.com

CHOOSING RAW: MAKING RAW FOODS PART OF THE WAY YOU EAT is packed with details on how to embrace raw foods while on a budget, and discusses everything from getting enough nutrition from a plant-based diet to making the most of raw-based meals. Here are recipes busy chefs can learn to create flavorful meals, from raw corn chowder and Hummus Kale Chips to Basil and Ginger Noodles and Banana Soft Service. The result is a fine survey highly recommended for any interested in the basics of adopting a raw diet plan.

Peek-a-Boo Cakes
Joanna Farrow
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781846014772, $12.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

Peek-a-Boo Cakes: 28 Fun Cakes With a Surprise Inside presents innovative, fun designs and surprising fillings for cakes and will be a delightful choice for bakers who want to produce something different, with the guise of a simple cake and a secret inside. From special occasion cakes to theme cakes for parties and cakes with everyday twists on classics, this is packed with a wide variety of designs and fillings and is a top recommendation for bakers who enjoy creative design.

Mexican Street Food to Die For: The Cookbook
Shay Ola
Mitchell Beazley
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845339036, $19.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Mexican Street Food to Die For: The Cookbook is all about contemporary Mexican street food and cocktails, and stands out from the myriad of cookbooks that focus on Tex-Mex cuisine or traditional Mexican cooking. Here are such recipes as Squid Tacos, Ancho, Lentil & Plaintain Burritos and Nopales and Avocado Tacos - dishes you won't find in most other Mexican cookbooks. Color photos on nearly every page make this a visual treat. Recipes tend to be easy but long, involving multiple steps, so it's the home cook interested in fresh ingredients and preparation who will appreciate this approach and the variety of unusual dishes herein!

Roast Figs Sugar Snow
Diana Henry
Mitchell Beazley
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845339593, $29.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Roast Figs Sugar Snow focuses on cold-weather main courses from Europe and North America and provides a range of dishes that use familiar foods in unfamiliar ways. From a Sobronade (similar to a French cassoulet and packed with pork and beans, root vegetables and spices) to a chapter on smoked foods from Haddock and Leek Risotto to Salad of Smoked Duck with Farro, Red Chicory, and Pomegranates and a Russian Georgian Lamb with Damsons and Walnuts, this pairs lovely color photos of foods and country scenes with cultural insights and flavors. The result is a warm cookbook perfect for cold weather.

Pancakes, Crepes, Waffles & French Toast
Hannah Miles
Ryland Peters & Small - CICO Books
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781849754873, $24.95, www.rylandpeters.com

Pancakes, Crepes, Waffles & French Toast: Irresistible Recipes from the Griddle includes classic recipes alongside special variations - and so you'll find everything from Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes to Salted Caramel Waffles or even savory dishes such as Ham and Cheese Crepes and Potato Waffles with BBQ Beans. All this is enhanced by full-page color photos for nearly every dish and artistic presentations and layouts that show cooks how to make the most of finished product displays. The result is a mouth-watering recommendation for any who want different ideas for traditional breakfast choices.


The Crafts Shelf

Basic Scenery for Model Railroaders
Lou Sassi
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9781627000796, $21.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com

From forming terrain and constructing paved roads to building trees, this offers tips on using the latest paints and products and provides modelers with color photos of finished scenes and step-by-step photos and drawings for basic and intermediate modeling techniques. All this comes form an author who has been a model railroader since pre-teen years: chapters are packed with detail and provide fine keys to producing realistic modeling scenery.


The Sports Shelf

High-Performance Training for Sports
David Joyce and Daniel Lewindon, Editors
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450444828, $27.95, www.humankinetics.com

High-Performance Training for Sports: The Authoritative Guide for Ultimate Athletic Conditioning offers an athlete-oriented approach to training and gathers a number of authorities and practitioners who cover all aspects of a conditioning program that includes differences in athletic capacities and training and injury histories. Experts share the latest research on performance training, coaching and rehabilitation gained from work with Olympians and top athletes and teams, blending science and research with sports experience and proven training protocols for a fine survey on cross-training and maintaining peak conditioning. Any collection appealing to athletes will find this a powerful study packed with techniques and sports insights.

How to Coach a Soccer Team
Tony Carr
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780600627579, $14.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

How to Coach a Soccer Team is a top pick for any who would direct others to train for a team, and offers 100 easy drills for all aspects of soccer. These illustrated techniques are designed to help improve through practical tips and advice on everything from warm-up routines to problem solving, and are directed to coaches who may have a basic familiarity with the sport and its rules, but need more insights on coaching techniques and strategy. The result is an outstanding survey filled with specific approaches to building better soccer players: one any coach at any skill level will find specific and useful.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Childhood Obesity
Rexford S. Ahima, MD, PhD
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781926895918, $149.95, www.crcpress.com

Childhood Obesity: Prevalence, Pathophysiology, and Prevention is a reference for college-level collection and gathers a range of writings and studies on childhood overweight and obesity issues in recent decades. It covers trends across different demographics, discusses contributing genetic and environmental influences, and provides multiple methods for obesity treatment from medical applications to social and community approaches, from medicine to surgery. A wealth of bibliographic references makes this a solid winner for any college-level health library.

Buzzed, fourth edition
Cynthia Kuhn, PhD, et.al.
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393344516, $19.95, www.wwnorton.com

Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy is written to provide unbiased, research-based details on how a variety of common, popular drugs affect the brain, and will appeal to parents, educators, therapists, patients and more with its discussions blending scientific facts with discussions of newly popular and old, familiar drugs. There are many surprises herein: would you consider bath salts a drug, for example? What about e-cigarettes, or spice? All of these are considered in a completely revised, updated fourth edition that covers health risks, social impact, and more.

Crohn's & Colitis Diet Guide, second edition
Dr. Hillery Steinhart & Julie Cepo
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804789, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

The second updated edition of Crohn's & Colitis Diet Guide reflects the latest research on the topic, provides guidelines to foods that might affect IBD as well as those that hold positive benefits, and provide over 175 recipes - 25 new ones added to this edition. The idea is to outline what the disease is, who gets it, causes, and how diet offers opportunities for healing and change. Those newly diagnosed with IBD who are interested in managing their condition will find this offers the latest details on drug therapies, surgical therapies, and self-help options alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

Police State U.S.A.
Cheryl K. Chumley
WND Books
9781936488148, $26.95, www.wndbooks.com

POLICE STATE U.S.A.: HOW ORWELL'S NIGHTMARE IS BECOMING OUR REALITY attacks the current progress of government control and challenges to privacy rights that are leading to attacks on the Fourth Amendment, and makes a case for the current milieu of surveillance which is even more extensive than in Orwell's 1984 novel. Ideological changes, terrorism, social transitions, and the evolution of a possible police state is challenging American ideals of freedom and fairness like never before, and this book is both a history of the rise of this police state and a survey of the past, present and possible futures of American freedoms. No social issues collection should be without.

Thinking Big
Clive Gamble, John Gowlett and Robin Dunbar
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500051801, $35.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

THINKING BIG: HOW THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL LIFE SHAPED THE HUMAN MIND offers a history of human beings and the evolution of their social habits, and explores the latest theories posited by evolutionary psychologists. Here a psychologist works with archaeologists to uncover how the theory of the "social brain" and its evolution can be tested against archaeological and fossil evidence, with seven years of supportive research building on the ideas of how human social groups evolved over the centuries. The result is a remarkable collaboration of anthropology, biology and sociology that crosses disciplines to examine the foundations of human behavior and its influences.

Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
www.transactionpub.com

Anton Oleinik's KNOWLEDGE AND NETWORKING: ON COMMUNICATION IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCE (9781412853019, $49.95) covers the basics of how scientists and scholars utilize network to further not just careers but studies and theories, and how a focus on prioritizing networking opportunities serves to diminish professional pursuits in favor of personal connection. Chapters provide insights on status, group affiliation, and the decisions scholars make when juxtaposing the benefits of networking with its detriments. In the competition for research funding and academic status, knowledge networking plays a pivotal role: one certain to affect objective decision-making processes. Knowledge & Networking is an important consideration for any interested in understanding the pros and cons of the entire process. George Serban's THE MASK OF NORMALCY: SOCIAL CONFORMITY AND ITS AMBIGUITIES (9781412852692, $39.95) considers connections between well-adjusted behavior patterns and conformity, using clinical findings and content analysis to explore the interface between social conformity and nonconformist behaviors. Chapters probe definitions of normalcy, degrees of nonconformity indicators, and changing relationships and social values as they pertain to both. The result is a book any college-level sociology student will find specific and intriguing. Anthony Walsh's BIOSOCIOLOGY: BRIDGING THE BIOLOGY-SOCIOLOGY DIVIDE (9781412852562, $44.95) draws important connections between biology and sociology that bring the two together in a college-level discussion arguing that sociology has little to use by acknowledging and working with the theories and concepts in biology research. Chapters use examples from genetics and the biosciences as they research the two disciplines and their interconnected, often complimentary, purposes and consider the standard division between the fields and what can bring them together.


The Mathematics Shelf

Using Numbers in Arabic
Jamal Ali
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781626160057, $34.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Using Numbers in Arabic provides an invaluable pocket guide recommended for intermediate-to-advanced learners of Arabic, and discusses the proper use of numbers. It uses explanations and examples to discuss how to use cardinal and ordinal numbers in Arab, with entries packing in descriptions in English and examples in Arabic. These include citations from literature and media and covers both Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic, making it a unique and important guide that belongs in any Arabic reference library.


The Technology Shelf

The Satellite Communication Ground Segment and Earth Station Handbook, second edition
Bruce Elbert
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608076734, $169.00, www.artechhouse.com

The second updated edition of The Satellite Communication Ground Segment and Earth Station Handbook has been updated and expanded to reflect the latest earth station designs, and covers everything involved in the project from ground systems to satellite and earth station management. Engineers and managers receive details ranging from requirements and analysis to how to review hardware designs and manage a communications satellite project. With plenty of technical specifications, charts and graphs, and applied math, this is a 'must' for any involved in earth station and satellite communications.


The Parenting Shelf

Parenting on the Go
Dr. David Elkind, PhD
Da Capo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738217505, $14.99, www.dacapopress.com

Parenting on the Go: Birth to Six, A to Z provides a quick A-Z reference format and covers a range of topics, offering parents solutions to different parenting concerns and issues in child psychology and development, based on the latest research in parenting. One would expect an A-Z format would hold quick answers, but this book packs in plenty of facts to over a hundred of the most common questions parents have, from how and when to wean a child to handling common challenges.

I'll Tell You Why....I Can't Wear These Clothes!
Noreen O'Sullivan
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849055109, $16.95, www.jkp.com

I'll Tell You Why....I Can't Wear These Clothes! provides an unusual interactive book format directed to parents, kids and professionals alike and uses the 'drawing journal' format to discuss 'tactile defensiveness', or hypersensitivity to certain kinds of touch (and, by definition, certain kinds of clothing). It's a photographic workbook written from a child's perspective that explores why dressing often becomes a challenging daily routine, and it provides plenty of insights into simple methods to overcome clothing resistance. Parenting, health, psychology and education collections alike will find this a highly accessible, unique coverage.


The Music Shelf

Remember the Time
Bill Whitfield and Javon Beard
Weinstein Books
345 Hudson Street, 13th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781602862500, $26.00, www.weinsteinbooks.com

REMEMBER THE TIME: PROTECTING MICHAEL JACKSON IN HIS FINAL DAYS tells of singer Jackson's final years as he moved from city to city in search of seclusion and peace, trying to escape a world that didn't have much of either. During that time two men was his personal security team; the authors of this book. They were at his side nearly 24/7 - and in a position of unprecedented access to the reclusive singer's life and habits. This therefore is the only definitive, first-person story of Jackson's final years, and is a vivid, authoritative and rare read especially recommended for Jackson fans who have read prior biographies of the man's life, but who want a different, authoritative focus on its end.

Ain't It Time We Said Goodbye
Robert Greenfield
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306823121, $25.99, www.dacapopress.com

Ain't It Time We Said Goodbye: The Rolling Stones on the Road to Exile tells of the author's following of the Stones' farewell tour of their home country, and offers an insider's survey of life backstage and the different personalities and encounters of each Stones member. The ten days before they left England in tax exile are chronicled along with Greenfield's analysis of the tensions between band members and the American tour that would make them famous. An outstanding recommendation for any rock music history collection!


The Needlecraft Shelf

Basic Knitting and Projects
Anita J. Tosten and Missy Burns
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811713535, $24.95, www.stackpolebooks.com

Basic Knitting and Projects: Essential Skills in Detail is for any beginner who wants to get started in knitting with a progressive lesson plan that uses projects to help teach basic skills and help readers move in a logical progression to the next level. Each project offers a new challenge, and each explain how to do dozens of stitches and techniques from cables and lace to stranded colorwork. The result is an outstanding survey packing in 20 patterns for everything from easy scarves to more challenging shawls, socks and sweaters. Highly recommended!

Feathers That Fly
Lee Cleland
That Patchwork Place
c/o Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781564774552, $26.99, www.shopmartingale.com

Feathers That Fly: How To Design, Mark, And Machine Quilt Feather Motifs is for any interested in the specifics of machine quilting classic feather motifs, and provides a handbook packed with projects - some fourteen in all - that teach the basics of feathers, wreaths, and more. Designs offer the foundations of drawing motifs, while different quilting design examples incorporate these into the bigger picture. A photo gallery of examples accompanies step-by-step instructions and bonus feather patterns to create a solid reference for any working with feather quilt motifs.


The Photography Shelf

Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com

Michael Mowbray's SHOOT TO THRILL: SPEEDLIGHT FLASH TECHNIQUES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781608956913, $27.95) is a 'must' for any photographer with some studio skills under their belt, who have wondered if speedlights could work for lighting everything at a studio. The author is a photographer who asked this question in the course of his own work: his answers spice a step-by-step discussion of creating speedlight images and uses some sixty polished results to explain the entire process. From shooting outdoors with speedlights to adding light modifiers and flashes, this covers all the basics in a top pick for any photographer working with speedlights. Tracy Dorr's SET THE SCENE: USE PROPS TO CREATE MEMORABLE PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781608956975, $27.95) tells how to use more creative props (not necessarily expensive ones!) to make a photo shoot 'pop', and can be as simple as playing a baby in a large colorful bucket! Here are tips for both individual and group shots that propose props with maximum versatility and which lend to common visual scenes. Props for adults and kids alike are featured, making for an outstanding survey highly recommended for any working in portraiture.


The Computer Shelf

Common System and Software Testing Pitfalls
Donald G. Firesmith
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
97803748550, $49.99, www.informit.com/aw

Common System and Software Testing Pitfalls: How to Prevent and Mitigate Them covers the symptoms and causes of such programming errors and is a recommendation for any software engineering collection strong in testing. It's surprising to note that software and system testers repeatedly fall into the same problems: patterns of mistakes that detract from overall efficiency and results. This is for testing professionals involved in different-sized projects who would identify such pitfalls in advance, and offers a series of 'anti-patterns' and solutions that focus on applications and system interactions. The result is a solid guide to improving the overall testing process through recognizing its common failures: a 'must' for any practicing programmer.


The Political Science Shelf

Pathways of Power
Timothy J. Conlan, Paul L. Posner, David R. Beam
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781626160392, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Pathways of Power: The Dynamics of National Policymaking joins others in the 'American Governance and Public Policy' series to provide college-level political science readers with a discussion of how public policy ideals actually work in Washington D.C., and is key to any studying government processes. Chapters argue that policy process can be understood as a set of four distinctive pathways of policymaking that each use different political resources and approaches, and they explore how different strategic behaviors of these distinct pathways impact the overall policy process today. The result is a detailed, in-depth analysis political science readers will find enlightening and well researched.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Christianity and the Political Order
Kenneth R. Himes
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
9781626980280, $40.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Christianity and the Political Order: Conflict, Cooptation, and Cooperation joins others in the 'Theology in Global Perspective' series and is recommended for any interested in the intersection of politics and Christianity. Chapters consider the relationship between the two from Old and New Testaments through medieval to modern times, questioning the role of the church in politics and global issues as well as in human rights. College-level readers of either religion or politics receive discussions and bibliographic references that offer a classroom text for supporting any inquiry of Christian and global affairs.

Noah: The Real Story
Larry Stone
WND Books
9781936488742, $14.95, www.wndbooks.com

NOAH: THE REAL STORY isn't your usual account of Biblical matters, but provides a survey that well captures the mystery and controversy of the Noah figure. From whether dinosaurs were on the Ark to if and why a 'piece of the ark' was found near a railroad track in California, this is packed with insights about Noah and his Biblical times, his Ark, and all the mysteries surrounding it, and provides a lively, inquisitive read for any Christian thinker.


The Biography Shelf

E.E. Cummings: A Life
Susan Cheever
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307379979, $26.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

E.E. Cummings: A Life is a 'must' for any literature reader already enthused about Cummings' works, who wants further information on the controversial poet whose works were influenced by a New England 19th century childhood, a love of nature, and a Harvard education. Cummings evolved into a dark rebellious man whose mentor was Ezra Pound, absorbing a rebellion against authority that resulted in an alienation from the Cambridge intellectualism he'd once revered. From his volunteer work during World War I to his Greenwich Village poets circle, this covers both his life and his times and creates an in-depth, moving portrait that should not be missed by any Cummings reader.

Elihu Yale
Diana Scarisbrick and Benjamin Zucker
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500517260, $39.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

ELIHU YALE: MERCHANT, COLLECTOR & PATRON was an early benefactor of Yale University who made his fortune in India and who became a merchant and trader of much fame, assembling a collection of tens of thousands of gems, textiles and more in 1699. His experiences in Madras and London makes for a biography covering not just the man and his fascinating life, but how his dreams and pursuits came to influence a world-class institution some time later. Any collection strong in biography and history will find this a lively, well-detailed read.

'And Then I Met...'
James E. Rogan
WND Books
9781936488384, $27.95, www.wndbooks.com

'And Then I Met...' gathers the author's stories of meeting famous people and comes from a former congressman who came from an unlikely background for a politician. As the illegitimate son of a convicted felon-single mom on welfare, it seemed highly unlikely that he'd stay out of prison much less become a driving force in history and politics. His book uses his private diaries and some forty years of photos to share dozens of stories of major figures from Ronald Reagan to Cary Grant: some he knew and some he didn't. Reflections on his life and encounters with some of these personalities and their special meaning in his life contribute to a powerful survey recommended for any reader of autobiography or politics.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Staff Fundamental Training
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594390906, $39.95, www.ymaa.com

Staff Fundamental Training: Solo Drills and matching Practice presents techniques from both Tai Chi and Shaolin Kung Fu, and provides a comprehensive survey of everything from sliding and striking to blocking, chopping, and advanced neutralizing techniques. Having all this on a DVD assures martial arts students receive in-depth visual instructions for each movement and corrections, all demonstrated by students, making for an excellent basic training program.


The Business Shelf

It's Not the How or the What but the Who
Claudio Fernandez-Araoz
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781625271525, $28.00, www.hbr.com

IT'S NOT THE HOW OR THE WHAT BUT THE WHO: SUCCEED BY SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH THE BEST provides business readers with a fine survey from a global leadership authority who here examines the difference between success and failure in the world of business. It provides short essays consider the major obstacles to decision-making processes, offering solutions and using decades of experience in global executive search and talent development. The result is a recommended pick for any who would enter the global market.

Welcome to the Real World
Lauren Berger
HarperBusiness
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062307309, $16.99, www.harper.com

Welcome to the Real World: Finding Your Place, Perfecting Your Work, and Turning Your Job into Your Dream Career provides an introduction to the workplace with an eye to helping new workers identify goals and strategies to reaching them. It shows how to identify the rules that lead to success, organize one's work life, create and promote a personal brand, and build strong work relationships, and it uses experiences from Berger's life and input from other professionals to guide workers through the confusion of making an impact on the job. The result is a strong, positive book for any who would turn their workplace into an asset.

Financially Fearless
Alexa von Tobel, CFP
Crown Business
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780385347617, $19.99, www.crownbusiness.com

Financially Fearless: The LearnVest Program for Taking Control of Your Money comes from the founder and CEO of a financial management program who believes that managing your money should be a simple affair. Financial planning should be accessible by and affordable to a wide audience of Americans: this reveals her financial planning methods and provides an approach called the '50/20/30' program to address and differentiate basic survival income from money for savings and lifestyle. By using a percentage breakdown of how your take-home pay should be spent each month, a fine blueprint for action is formed that even those with lower incomes or no financial background should find key to successful planning.

Understanding Digital Marketing, third edition
Damian Ryan
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749471026, $29.95, www.koganpage.com

Understanding Digital Marketing: Marketing Strategies for Engaging the Digital Generation provides a fine, accessible guide to digital marketing and appears here in its third updated edition which has been completely revamped to reflect key changes in digital marketing strategies and the digital environment. New chapters incorporate the latest marketing metrics and show how to use digital media to achieve business success, covering everything from understanding how digital marketing channels work to honing a competitive edge in this market. The result is a powerful survey highly recommended for any business that would use the Internet as part of its marketing plan.

Mastering Technical Sales, third edition
John Care and Aron Bohlig
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608077441, $89.00, www.artechhouse.com

Mastering Technical Sales: the Sales Engineer's Handbook has been newly revised and expanded for its third edition and covers not only the basics of selling, but adds new chapters and new material on everything from evaluating business advisors to whiteboarding and using snap demos. Sales engineers receive keys to presentation techniques that are based on technical background, with all ideas explored in step-by-step real-world scenarios. The result is a guide recommended for any involved in the management or technical sales side of a business, offering details far more advanced than your usual sales team management handbook.


The Audiobook Shelf

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Roland Lazenby's MICHAEL JORDAN: THE LIFE (9781478927662, $35.00) includes a .pdf of photos, is unabridged and narrated by Bob Souer, and offers a lively biography of the legendary athlete who has become a modern-day sports legend. Basketball journalist Roland Lazenby spent nearly thirty years covering Jordan's career in college and pro sports: this weighty coverage includes both his sports fame and his personality and life, using Lazenby's personal relationships with Jordan's circle of coaches, friends and family to add details you won't find elsewhere. The entire package in audio format lends a vivid feel to a remarkable lifetime of achievement, and is recommended for basketball fans in general and enthusiasts of Michael Jordan in particular. Anne Rivers Siddons' THE GIRLS OF AUGUST (9781619696501, $30.00) pairs audiobook veteran reader Kate Reading with Siddons' latest, which tells of four girlfriends who spend a week at a new beach house each August: a ritual begun when they were in their twenties. When one dies in a car accident, the group drifts apart and their shared vacations end - but now they're newly reunited, there's a new addition to the group, and this particular trip will test the bonds they once thought close. The result is a fine listen recommended for any who enjoy warm stories of summer, friendship, and change.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Monster Hunter: Nemesis
Larry Correia
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476736556, $25.00, www.baen.com

Agent Franks works with the U.S. Monster Control Bureau and has been sworn to protect the U.S. from monsters - even though he is, himself, a seven-foot-tall constructed man who could too easily be deemed a 'monster'. His only request is that the government never make any more like him: such an effort would nullify his agreement to help them. That's why Project Nemesis is so dangerous: it's a secret project designed to create more like Franks, and it could change the world - particularly since Franks is now an undying machine with a vengeance. Prior readers of Correia will find this a fine sequel, while newcomers to the idea will find this an involving and tense sci-fi thriller.

A Bicycle Built for Brew
Rick Katze and Michael Keerpan, Editors
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
www.nesfapress.com
9781610373067, $29.00, www.nesfa.org

A Bicycle Belt For Brew: The Collected Short Works Of Poul Anderson is Volume 6 in the series presenting the best of his fantasy and science fiction stories, and pairs five short novels with three novellas for maximum impact. It's not necessary to have the prior books in the series: it stands alone in offering a fine selection of his writings, from a romance story and a humor piece to a rare original magazine version of "Three Hearts and Three Lions", long unavailable except for the original magazines published in 1953. There's stories of invaders and magic, classic struggles between good and evil, and a host of literary approaches that will delight any interested in Anderson's art.


The Education Shelf

Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.princetonreview.com

CRACKING THE SAT PREMIUM EDITION (9780804124676, $34.99) is packed with powerful strategies to avoid traps of the SAT test, packages the latest research and test-taking strategies with insights for the 2015 edition, and pairs four full-length practice tests with answers with exams available online and drills for each section. Multi-week study plans, video tutorials and online support is extensive, covering every facet of the test and offering the basics of how to score high. MCAT PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY REVIEW (9780804124737, $45.00) provides three full-length practice tests, offers complete coverage of the psychology and sociology content for the MCAT 2014, and offers a range of successful, proven strategies for any test taker. In-depth coverage combines psychology and sociology, with chapters including bulleted summaries for quick review, color illustrations and tables, and a detailed glossary for reference. MCAT CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REASONING SKILLS REVIEW (9780804125031, $35.00) provides a fine survey including three full-length practice tests online, end-of-chapter practice questions, and keys to scoring high in critical analysis and reasoning skills. Drills, 'dos' and 'don'ts' and strategies make for fine references. MCAT GENERAL CHEMISTRY REVIEW (9780804125062, $45.00) details everything needed to study for the MCAT General Chemistry exam, and provides not only practice questions and answers but surveys of tested strategies that work. Complete coverage of all general chemistry content for MCAT 2015 provides a fine gathering of references for any student. MCAT BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY REVIEW (9780804125048, $50.00) surveys biology strategies for the test, reviews microbiology and molecular biology basics, considers biochemistry and body systems and more. From chapter summaries to discussions of system interactions, these are all fine recommendations for any studying for these exams.

Colour Coding for Learners with Autism
Adele Devine
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849054416, $39.95, www.jkp.com

Colour Coding for Learners with Autism explains how colour coding can help youngsters with autism understand lessons, and shows how to assign colors to personal care activities, timetables and more to help kids use their own experiences to understand everything from emotions to diet. Printable resources on a CD-ROM can apply to classroom and home learning efforts while chapters from special needs teacher Devine provide parents and educators with keys to using visuals and color with autism students and family members alike. The fact that this approach can be applied to educational pursuits as well as teaching life and social skills makes it a powerful tool.

The New Science of Learning
Terry Doyle and Todd Zakrajsek
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781620360095, $19.95, www.styluspublishing.com

The New Science of Learning: How to Learn in Harmony with Your Brain offers any involved in secondary education the opportunity to understand the latest brain science involved in learning new material, and explains how sleep, exercise and one's senses can augment the learning process. Teachers will find it filled with specific science relating to how students learn, while students will discover many techniques for enhancing the desire to learn new information and improve memory for tests. Chapter summaries, references for further reading, and discussions of patterns, concept maps, and adopting a multisensory approach to study offer fine specifics recommended for any who would apply the latest scientific research to modify study habits for maximum results.


The Military Shelf

Another Great Day At Sea
Geoff Dyer
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307911582, $24.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

Another Great Day At Sea: Life Aboard the USS George H.W. Bush tells of the author's residency aboard an aircraft carrier and his experiences as he learns the routines of this world and its various players. It discusses drills and alerts, records daily life aboard the ship, and considers wider social issues as it provides a rare glimpse of aircraft carrier experiences. The result is a survey likely to interest a wide audience, from general-interest readers to those of military subjects.

Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com

Gordon L. Rottman's CARLSON'S MARINE RAIDERS: MAKIN ISLAND 1942 (9781472803276, $18.95) provides a detailed military analysis of the great raid representing America's first special forces operation of World War II, and provides a powerful survey of how this raid tested the abilities and perspective of the new Marine Raiders unit. This raid tested the abilities of the new Marine Raiders, and this book comes from a US military history expert and special-forces veteran who tells their story - and of how the raid nearly became a lesson in disaster rather than success. Military collections strong in strategic history will find this a powerful account. Leroy Thompson's THE MP5 SUBMACHINE GUN (9781782009177, $18.95) discusses the history and use of the MP5, uses color artwork paired with vintage black and white photos, and provides expert analysis on this long-lived submachine gun. They achieved worldwide recognition when used by elite special-operations forces around the world and their reputation is unparalleled. This survey covers all aspects of the MP5 and is crucial for any interested in how these weapons changed the face of wars.


The Automotive Shelf

The Complete Book of Corvette
Mike Mueller
Motorbooks
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760345740, $50.00, www.motorbooks.com

The Complete Book of Corvette: Every Model Since 1953 is, admittedly, a specialty item, of value to any who own or are interested in the complete history of the Corvette car since 1953, the year the Corvette was first released. Chapters come from an American automotive expert, were produced in cooperation with General Motors, and includes rare color and black-and-white photos from GM's own archives, while technical specifications and history accompany automotive engineering insights specific to the Corvette. The result is a winning celebration recommended for any with a special interest in the car and its evolution.


The Fiction Shelf

Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Ascendancy
Erik Van Lustbader
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781478979548, $35.00, www.grandcentralpublishing.com

Robert Ludlum's (TM) The Bourne Ascendancy provides a new novel in Ludlum's series, but written by Erik Van Lustbader. Treated to a vivid narration by veteran Holter Graham, Bourne's past readers and new enthusiasts alike will relish a story that centers around agent Bourne's attempt to protect a high-level government minister at an international meeting in Qatar by impersonating him to thwart any assassination attempts. When armed gunmen kill everyone in the room, Bourne comes to realize he himself is the real target - and a special mission leads him to an impossible decision between killing a high-level official or sacrificing someone he loves. All this comes to life in audio and makes for a gripping, involving thriller that's highly recommended both for prior Bourne enthusiasts and newcomers.

Flight of the Sparrow
Amy Belding Brown
NAL
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780451466693, $15.00, www.penguin.com

History is at its best when it has its roots in true-life events, and Flight of the Sparrow is no exception, based on the true story of Mary Rowlandson's capture in 1675 after a native American attack. Sold to a female tribal leader who puts her to work but allows her a degree of freedom, Mary faces exhaustion but comes to witness the Native Americans' random kindnesses and good points. When she develops a relationship with an English-speaking Native American, her worlds collide; and when she's ransomed and returned to her surviving family, she no longer fits into the Puritan world. An engrossing story comes to life, here.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Book Stops Here
Kate Carlisle
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780451415981, $24.95, www.penguin.com

Any reader who loves books and mysteries will relish this book-oriented saga, the latest to enhance the Bibliophile mystery series. Here an appraisal of a valuable first edition of The Secret garden owned by a flower vendor goes awry when its ownership is contested and the vendor is murdered. Naturally Brooklyn and her boyfriend become involved in tracking down the killer - which involves a host of book-related puzzles and encounters in the process of an exciting and involving read, perfect for mystery fans.


The Architecture Shelf

Wisconsin's Own: Twenty Remarkable Houses
M. Caren Connolly & Louis Wasserman
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780870204524, $45.00, www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress

Wisconsin's Own: Twenty Remarkable Houses features full-page color photos by Zane Williams, illustrations by authors Connolly and Wasserman, and represents a collaboration between all involved and the Wisconsin Historical Society in researching some 1,500 potential homes before featuring just twenty of the state's most notable residences. These homes were built between 1854 and 1939 and blend public with private homes. They were chosen as representatives of the state's diverse architectural and home styles and receive not only lavish color photos but watercolors and floor plans plus historical images from the Society. The result is a remarkably lovely collection highly recommended for any home and garden, architecture, or Wisconsin history collection.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

World Gone Wild
David J. Moore
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764345876, $34.99, www.schifferbooks.com

World Gone Wild: A Survivor's Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Movies offers discussions of post-apocalyptic movies from around the world, adds analysis and critical reviews to synopsis information, and is a 'must' for any film collection strong in film analysis. Worlds on the brink of destruction from a range of forces, from zombies and invasions to diseases and nuclear war, are covered in entries that consider large productions and small independent films alike. The result is a fine guide that contains over 800 movie reviews and 60 interviews with producers and actors alike.


The American History Shelf

West of the Revolution
Claudio Saunt
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393240207, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

West of the Revolution: An Uncommon History of 1776 pairs a survey of the nation's native peoples with a discussion of how Russia and Spain maneuvered to control the West Coast and beyond. This is a relatively unknown story of how Spain supported its own Lewis & Clark expedition from Santa Fe to San Francisco, how the Chinese push for sea otter pelts caused conflicts between not just Russian and Chinese empires, but natives of the Aleutian Islands, and how different forces and their political interactions governed how America was explored and settled. It should be required reading for any American history class.


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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