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California Bookwatch

Volume 1, Number 1 March 2006 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks Science Shelf Cultural Issues Shelf
Humor Shelf Audiobook Shelf Biography Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Architecture Shelf Gardening Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Homemaker's Shelf Real Estate Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Literary Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Photography Shelf Dance Shelf Military Shelf
American History Shelf Computer Shelf Art Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Criminology Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Business Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Music Shelf Sports Shelf
Gaming Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Transportation Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Social Issues Shelf
World History Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Native American Shelf Outdoors Shelf


Donovan's Picks

The Wedding
Paul Atterbury & Hilary Kay
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
0715322168 $12.99 1-800-726-9966 www.fwpublications.com www.davidandcharles.co.uk

Over a hundred years of wedding photos celebrate the vows and provides a range of 'big day' images, from innovative shots using luxury cars and settings to 1940s weddings during wartime and to military personnel. Changing looks, styles, and backgrounds past to present are portrayed in a lovely and appealing set of images: the perfect gift for the soon-to-be-married.

Grant Wood's Studio
Jane C. Milosch, editor
Prestel
175 - 5th Avenue, #402, New York NY 10010
3791333259 $45.00 www.prestel.com

For an in-depth survey of Grant Wood's works, choose GRANT WOOD'S STUDIO: BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICAN GOTHIC. Numerous contributors enhance details on both his better-known and lesser-known works, enhancing some 98 color photos with a historic background pinpointing his success as a painter and designer. The object here is two-fold: to gather and contrast both well known and more obscure works for a fuller representation of his talents, and to capture his intentions and achievements: a successful catalog of his works results, recommended for any serious Grant Woods collection or college-level art library.

Playing Cards
Mark Batty, Publisher
6050 Boulevard East, #2H, West New York, NJ 07093
0976224526 $24.95 www.markbattypublisher.com

Ira Pearlstein provides a fine introduction and Buzz Poole the running commentary to the gorgeous and unusual PLAYING CARDS, a fun and artistic collection of playing card shapes, designs, artistic movements, and design changes. From animal cards with geometric approaches similar to art deco to cards filled with Dutch cultural images from World war I and bizarre quirky cards, PLAYING CARDS is for any who love card games and art.

Masks and Masking
Gary Edson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
0786421185 $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

For over 20,000 years masking has been a mark of advanced cultures: the mask has been a cultural phenomenon, a social phenomenon, and an artistic representation. MASKS AND MASKING: FACES OF TRADITION AND BELIEF WORLDWIDE could have been reviewed in our cultural insights section but deserves mention here for the many who view masks as art works alone. Discussions range from surveys of masks as communicators and expressions in societies to masks as communal and spiritual symbols. Black and white mask representations peppered throughout add to a scholarly survey of the role and changing meaning of masks in world beliefs. The result is a set of invaluable observations of masks and their underlying roles in societies, and will provide artists with an invaluable set of cultural and social insights with which to better understand the overall meaning and importance of masks around the world.

Brush
Daniel Rozensztroch & Shiri Slavin
Pointed Leaf Press
1100 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10028
0972766154 $29.95 www.pointedleafpress.com

Brushes relate a history of social roles and changes in concepts of beauty and hygiene, and the workers and designers who invent brushes often include innovative or artistic flairs which aren't fully appreciated. BRUSHES provides pages packed with brush pictures, descriptions of different types of brushes and their purposes, and insights on design and art. Marc Schwartz's gorgeous photos accompany text by Laurence Salmon and research by Stefania Di Petrillo in an outstanding presentation which is a recommended winner for any art library; particularly those interested in everyday art and design.

The Art & Character of Nutcrackers
Arlene Wagner
Collectors Press
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
1933112085 $60.00 www.collectorspress.com

Nutcrackers have a long history, moving from simple utilitarian designs to works of art which have achieved notoriety and acclaim - and here to document all the changing trends in construction and artistry is THE ART & CHARACTER OF NUTCRACKERS. Color photos pack every page and contrast a wide range of nutcrackers. Discussions of different woods utilized by artisans, changing styles around the world, and different materials utilized make for an exciting display perfect for collectors and artists alike.

Margaret Mee's Amazon
Antique Collector's Club
116 Pleasant St. #60B, Eastampton, MA 01027
1851494545 $50.00 www.antiquecc.com

At once an art, adventure, and biography, MARGARET MEE'S AMAZON: DIARIES OF AN ARTIST EXPLORER is profiled here for its simply gorgeous pages packed with botanical illustration and photos. Unlike most illustration titles, however, MARGARET MEE'S AMAZON isn't just a photo or illustration catalog, but an in-depth survey blending her amazing drawings with accounts of her thirty-two years of expeditions into the Amazon rainforest. Her first expedition to Amazonas was in 1956, where she began the diaries and sketchbooks which comprise this title. From vivid accounts of plant-collecting expeditions to the exhibition of her paintings at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew (who work with Antique Collector's Club in producing this title, this is a definitive, outstanding piece holding wide-ranging interest and recommendation from art library holdings to botany collections, natural history holdings, and even the general-interest public library collection.

TeNeues Publishing
16 W. 22nd Street, New York NY 10010
www.teneues.com

Two outstanding books provide specialized architecture holdings with beautiful color surveys. Martin Kunz's COOL RESTAURANTS SAN FRANCISCO (3823790675, $16.95) surveys the interiors of San Francisco's best restaurants, focusing on design options and providing well over a hundred color photos - and recipes - from some of the city's most notable establishments. Full-page color photos capture these establishments at their finest. Peter Delius' AIRLINE DESIGN (3832790551, $24.95) includes lovely color photos by Jacek Slaski, photo editor and gallery owner in Berlin, as it covers airline design trends using a pictorial approach to all aspects of design, from cabin to tableware. Both are specialized, but especially suitable for college-level specialty art holdings.

The Making of a Terrorist
James J.F. Forest
Praeger Security International
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
027598544X $300.00/set www.praeger.com

THE MAKING OF A TERRORIST: RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND ROOT CAUSES surpasses all other lighter treatments on the topic, providing the depth which makes it highly recommendable to security collections, military libraries, and more. Three weighty volumes thoroughly cover the topic. VOLUME 1: RECRUITMENT delves into techniques of education and recruitment in terrorist organizations, from recruiting from prisons and young people to locating those with unresolved trauma, fundamentalist belief systems, and the military. Chapters delve into the world history of such recruitment tactics. VOLUME 2: TRAINING surveys different terrorist training and indoctrination methods around the world, considering elements of charismatic leadership, teaching inductees how to prepare for death in the cause, and surveying the methods of different terrorist training groups and camps around the world. VOLUME 3: ROOT CAUSES examines politics, attitudes toward democracy and other institutions, from religious sources of violence to how an idealistic ideology is fostered and promoted. From myths and traditions to differences between how terrorist wars are made, history and theory blend. This set is an invaluable 'must' for any seeking more depth and detail than the usual casual reviews of problems and theories.

Cosmos and Psyche
Richard Tarnas
Viking Press
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0670032921 $29.95 www.penguin.com

Cultural historian Richard Tarnas' previous PASSION OF THE WESTERN MIND offered a fine survey of Western spirit: COSMOS AND PSYCHE takes it a step further, relying on thirty years of research to draw a direct connection between planetary movements and patterns of human experience. One might be tempted to think this is pop science - but Tarnas provides extensive scientific and historical links throughout and offers many new insights into connections between science and religion which deserve discussion.

ESRI
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
www.esri.com

Any collection involved in GIS systems and computer mapping must have Wilpen L. Gorr & Kristen S. Kurland's GIS TUTORIAL: WORKBOOK FOR ARCVIEW 9 (1589481275 $69.95) at hand: it's an outstanding tutorial with a cd which provides essential insights to the GIS industry standard ArcView program, surveying all aspects of how the program operates and navigates. The workbook approach lends particularly well to either classroom assignments or individual paced studies, promising a lasting reference which covers all the basics of how ArcView operates - including the traps and tricks. Cory Fleming edits THE GIS GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS (1589481410, $24.95), an important guide for any government official considering GIS approaches for blending the mapping technology into city or county management and analysis systems. Case studies are presented from across North America to illustrate successful applications of GIS to specific government needs, from monitoring weather to fixing potholes. From how GIS works to implementation challenges, THE GIS GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS is a 'must have'.

Ask an Agent
Margaret Emory
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823087956 $16.95 www.watsonguptill.com

If you're an aspiring actor who's looking for an agent, don't go on the hunt until you've absorbed the tips in ASK AN AGENT; EVERYTHING ACTORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AGENTS. It's tough love in a book: a candid discussion of the world of agents, what they can do, what they can't do, and the pitfalls and successes of dealing with one. Chapters discuss how agents 'sell' actors under their charge, what doors are open to them which are closed to the individual actor - and what happens when things go wrong in the relationship. A 'must' for any aspiring actor.

Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com

Arcadia has two California regional guides which are outstanding picks and 'musts' for any serious California history collection. Tricia O'Brien's SAN FRANCISCO'S BAYVIEW HUNTER'S POINT (0738530077, $19.99) is unique in many ways: very few California or San Francisco books even mention the Bayview area so it stands out from the beginning, and author O'Brien's Irish-Italian-Portuguese roots lend a unique personal facet to her coverage: her Irish grandmother had to keep her engagement with the Italian-Portuguese boy next door a secret from their families who would view the couple as a 'mixed race' couple, so they met on Bayview's Third Street to court. Their engagement, radical in their day, actually reflected the growing mixed ethnicity of Bayview and not only represents the neighborhood but influenced Tricia O'Brien's research, which brings some truly rare photos to life from many private collections. You won't find anything even remotely like SAN FRANCISCO'S BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT in print - take it from a native. The Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society's HEALDSBURG (0738530601, $19.99) tells of the Northern Sonoma County city founded in 1857 when gold seeker Heald laid out a central plaza to serve as the community center. In 2007 the city will celebrate its 150th birthday: vintage photos captures the years in-between, showing the town's changed from a small farm town to a wine country destination. History comes to life in vintage shots of the town, its notable events and culture, and individuals alike.

Talk to the Hand
Lynne Truss
Gotham Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
15923401716 $20.00 www.penguin.com

Is lack of courtesy a problem in the world? Lynne Truss doesn't provide your usual etiquette book in TALK TO THE HAND: THE UTTER BLOODY RUDENESS OF THE WORLD TODAY, OR SIX GOOD REASONS TO STAY HOME AND BOLT THE DOOR: she analyzes six areas in which interactions and communications with strangers seem to be getting more unpleasant, adds a healthy dose of humor into the mix, and pairs lively case history news reports with insights on the social and culture sources of growing bad habits. A lively probe into the cultural, social, literary and political roots of rudeness.

Weasel Words
Paul Wasserman & Don Hausrath
Captial Books Inc.
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1933102071 $20.00 www.capital-books.com

'Doublespeak' takes on all forms of meaning and leads to evasions, distortions, and misleading terms: help stamp out the problem by consulting WEASEL WORDS: THE DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN DOUBLESPEAK. Here's a survey of A-Z euphemisms, misnomers, and ideas which ranges from 'on task' and 'Patriot Act' to 'market timing' and 'extremist'. What makes them 'weasel words'? Read the definitions and examples here and find out.

Federal Street Press
25-13 Old Kings Highway North #277, Darien, CT 06820
www.federalstreetpress.com

Three outstanding new desk references prove that computers haven't taken over the handy desktop dictionary yet. Mirriam-Webster's WEBSTER'S NEW EXPLORER STUDENT DICTIONARY NEW EDITION (1892859955, $10.98) isn't just for students: it's for any who want an easy, quick definition dictionary. Purple color-coded tabs make it quick to locate an A-Z section, while definitions include pronunciation, variant spellings, main entry words and more. Crossword puzzle users will relish WEBSTER'S NEW EXPLORER CROSSWORD PUZZLE DICTIONARY, 2ND EDITION (1892857947, $10.98): it's been completely revised and expanded, comes in a handsome hardcover durable binding, and defines some of the most commonly used words in crossword puzzles. The deluxe edition of WEBSTER'S FAMILY SPANISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY (189285098X, $12.98) is a fine presentation suitable for gift-giving, with its speckled blue edges and ribbon marker built-in. Spanish to English and English to Spanish features Latin American Spanish and American English for over 80,000 words and phrases, including special sections on Spanish grammar and verbs. All are outstanding library reference picks: more affordable and durable than most competitors.


The Science Shelf

An Acre of Glass
J.B. Zirker
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4319
0801882346 $30.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Astronomers have long endeavored to understand the universe and its construction by using telescopes to make new discovers. AN ACRE OF GLASS describes the history of telescope technology and how recent innovations have led to a leap forward in astronomical discovery. AN ACRE OF GLASS: A HISTORY AND FORECAST OF THE TELESCOPE reveals how telescope technology lead directly to these new findings - and new questions. Chapters often read with the drama of fiction, documenting the discoveries and endeavors of individuals involved in astronomical science and research. An excellent guide to how modern astronomy has been pushed by telescope advancement.

A History of Space Exploration And Its Future
Tim Furniss
Mercury Books
20 Bloomsbury Street, London, England, WC1B 3JH
19046681511 $25.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com

The story of space exploration and its future comes to life in a visual treat which follows space technology and discoveries from the first rocket in 1926 to modern times. Each technological advancement is linked to both space exploration advancement and, in turn, to other effects on human achievement. The vintage and contemporary photos, charts, and visuals provide a powerful timeline of events which lend to leisure browsing and interest, backed by facts suitable for reports.

Deep Sky Objects
David H. levy
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591023610 $20.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

David Levy is a veteran comet discoverer - one of the most successful discoverers in history - and wants others to share in his personal achievement and joy in locating unusual deep sky objects. You don't have to live in the country to be able to observe distant objects: DEEP SKY OBJECTS: THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST FROM FOUR DECADES OF COMET CHASING can count city-dwellers among its astronomy fans, providing positions, magnitudes, history and best observation times to accompany a running commentary of the author's discoveries and excitement about his findings. It's this excitement which makes DEEP SKY OBJECTS unique in the world of amateur astronomy titles, pairing specifics on how and what to observe with a veteran comet chaser's exciting discoveries.

The Politically Incorrect Guide To Science
Tom Bethell
Regnery Publishing
1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
089526031X $19.95 www.regnery.com

From the dangers inherent in the 'good chemistry' of homeopathy to the idea of nuclear power as a 'green' cause or the lack of successes from generic engineering, science myths and controversies are revealed in a lively set of discussions refuting many liberal notions in THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT GUIDE TO SCIENCE. Notions of politically correct science, how they evolved, and in particular how they are changed by the nature of scientific discovery and social sentiment make for an intriguing, absorbing title highly recommended for general interest reading.

Ancient Astronomy
Clive Ruggles
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851094776 $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

Clive Ruggles is professor of archaeoastronomy at the University of Leicester and has published numerous astronomy works in past: his ANCIENT ASTRONOMY: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COSMOLOGIES AND MYTH provides over 200 A-Z entries in an updated collection of world case studies revolving around themes ranging from calendars and space/time concepts to key issues of assessing evidence. Jargon-free explanations, discussions of problematic issues, bibliographic references and history and observations make for a reference recommended to a wide audience, from high school through college.


The Cultural Issues Shelf

Forgotten Faces
Ronald William Horne
Personal Genesis Publishing
110 Pacific Ave. #204, San Francisco CA 94111
0974739529 $49.95 www.personalgenesispublishing.com

Galleys and unfinished titles typically aren't mentioned here but keep an eye out for the finished version of FORGOTTEN FACES: A WINDOW NTO OUR IMMIGRANT PAST: it's a unique coverage of photo-ceramic memorial grave portraits and provides an outstanding survey of memorial portraiture as its own art form. This could have been mentioned under our art review section but is featured here for its important cultural insights as well: California immigrant history comes to life in an outstanding visual and written survey of a unique art and memorial form which should not be missed.


The Humor Shelf

Redneck Extreme Mobile Home Makeover
Jeff Foxworthy
Rutledge Hill Press
PO Box 14100, Nashville, TN 37214
1401602258 $14.99 www.rutledgehillpress.com

Jeff Foxworthy continues his wildly successful and hilarious 'redneck' jokes with a new presentation even more effective than many of his others, REDNECK EXTREME MOBILE HOME MAKEOVER - complete with plastic flamingo on the cover. These are more 'you might be a redneck if' jokes, providing home-oriented comments many will relish and not a few will recognize.

The Big Book of Bush Cartoons
Daryl Cagle & Brian Fairrington
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789734702 $14.95 1-800-428-5331 www.pearsoned.com www.quepublishing.com

If you wish a whimsical history of the Bush presidency, choose THE BIG BOOK OF BUSH CARTOONS! THE HISTORY OF THE BUSH PRESIDENCY IN CARTOONS! Editorial cartoons gained from the best political cartoonists contribute a diversity of drawing, perspective and focus in revealing the history of Bush's interactions around the world, from his initial hanging chad election to the war in Iraq. Black and white cartoons are as large as a full page, while others are four to a page: all provide fun commentary those with a sense of humor and interest in social and political issues will appreciate.


The Audiobook Shelf

A Treasure Worth Seeking
Sandra Brown
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1593559860 $26.95 www.brillianceaudo.com

Veteran narrator Joyce Bean spices A TREASURE WORTH SEEKING: a thought-provoking audio story of Erin, who has searched for the brother she'd never known and at last finds some clues to his whereabouts - only to find herself confronting family lies, secrets, and even new romance. Her love and discoveries about her family will shake her world and change her life in a moving romance which comes alive in audio under Bean's practiced voice.

Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
www.simonsays.com

Annie Proulx's short story BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (0743550102, $9.95) is proving a controversial blockbuster hit across the country and has already won Golden Globe awards and film awards: now a powerful audio performance presents, unabridged, her classic story of cowboys who fall in love. Campbell Scott provides a warm and sensitive voice to bring to life the tale. Anthony Swofford's JARHEAD: A MARINE'S CHRONICLE OF THE GULF WAR AND OTHER BATTLES (0743550919, $29.95) receives a warm reading by the author himself, who tells about military life in the Marines. Swofford was sent to the Gulf in 1990 for the first war: he considers here what it means to be a soldier, an American, and a man. Dr. Phil McGraw's LOVE SMART (0743551893, $29.95) is also narrated by the author and provides advice to any dissatisfied with their love life. The focus is on how to obtain a committed relationship: LOVE SMART discusses everything from where to go to meet such people to how to rekindle a love gone awry. There's somebody for everyone: LOVE SMART tells how to get on the road to find that special person.

Audio Renaissance
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
1-800-221-7945 www.audiorenaissance.com

James McManus' PHYSICAL: AN AMERICAN CHECKUP (1593978731, $29.95) tells of an American who gets a checkup at the Mayo Clinic and confronts both modern preventative medicine and his own mortality, as a result. A bonus interview with the author accompanies a strong reading by Patrick Frederic as it tells of facing mortality - with humor. Rita Emmett's THE PROCRASTINATOR'S HANDBOOK: MASTERING THE ART OF DOING IT NOW (1593978472, $19.95) comes from a professional speaker on the topic whose clients include AT&T, Mercedes-Benz and more. Emmett is herself a recovering procrastinator: she provides insights on triggers, behavioral needs, and modification routines that work. An excellent pick for any who suffer from procrastination and wish routines to reform. Greg Rucka's PERFECT DARK: INITIAL VECOR (1593978820, $29.95) continues the saga featured in the Xbox game PERFECT DARK ZERO: this narrated deftly by Orlach Cassidy with Scott Sowers as it tells of a future world in which corporations control everything and use their own military forces to fight each other without public knowledge. Joanna Dark is an ex-bounty hunter who has seen this war for herself: she finds herself in the center of a conflict which brings her face to face with corporate and personal evil in this riveting thriller, which comes deftly to new life in a powerful audio format.

Clipper Audio/Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com

Clipper Audio is based in the UK and produces wonderful audio cd listens which feature strong British narrators, solid plots, and library-durable audio cd cases. John Harvey's CUTTING EDGE (14190344234, $119.75) pairs solid narrator Ron Keith's smooth and British voice with the story of Dr. Fletcher, who is attacked finishing work at his hospital and who faces long-term disability from an assailant who could attack again - and does. Stephen Booth's BLIND TO THE BONES (1419353837, $119.75) receives Christopher Kay's excellent style and ability to capture the tension surround the story of a village slowly being murdered off. The parents of a missing student are working to re-open a long-closed case - and investigations are showing an entire village is in danger. Alan Titchmarsh's ROSIE (1419353864, $89.75) receives a strong narration by the author himself as he tells of a grandmother arrested and one Nick Robertson's efforts to cope with two warring parents and a defiant grandmother. LOVE AND DEVOTION by Erica James (1419335057, $119.75) enjoys the lively and moving voice of Jilly Bond as it tells of families, love and loss from the viewpoint of middle-aged Harriet, who thinks she has the perfect life until her only sister is killed in a car crash. David Lodge's AUTHOR, AUTHOR (1419353950, $119.75) receives veteran narrator Christopher Kay's smooth telling: perfect for setting the scene in 1915, where a dying authors life and fame is revealed, from his friendship with Punch artist George Du Maruier to his concern with the failure of his books to sell. The author: Henry James. All are powerful productions, lending to the rigors and challenges of library acquisition.


The Biography Shelf

The Privacy War
Ron Felber
Croce Publishing Group LLC
PO Box 339, Montvale, NJ 07645
0971953899 $16.95 www.crocepublishing.com

The biography of Neil Gallagher, one of the most promising young members of Congress in the 1960s whose rise to power unraveled as later years revealed links to the mob and J. Edgar Hoover's war against privacy makes for an engrossing story of not just one politician's rise and fall, but the underlying power struggles, politics and influences which led to pressures against Fourth Amendment rights. A revealing blend of biography and political history.

When Elephants Fly
Carol Batrus
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mtn Parkway, #300, Golden, CO 80403
1555915655 $15.95 www.fulcrum-books.com

South Africa was far removed from everything businesswoman executive Carol Batrus knew: so what led her to move from her high-powered, successful job on Wall Street to the heart of Zululand to help the tribe's economic development? WHEN ELEPHANTS FLY: ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY FROM WALL STREET TO ZULULAND is a moving memoir of her journey, which was to help the tribe economically without destroying the environment. Her decision and journey is inspiring and provides plenty of insights into South African and local environmental issues.

Stephen Decatur
Robert J. Allison
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
1558494928 $34.95 1-800-488-1144 www.umass.edu/umpress

Stephen Decatur became the youngest man ever to serve as a captain in the U.S. Navy, at age 25, in the late 1700s: he led many to victor and created for himself a legend of bravery and literacy alike. STEPHEN DECATUR: AMERICAN NAVAL HERO, 1779-1820 comes from a historian who recounts both Decatur's achievements and life and naval history and politics of his times, covering the early years of the new young republic and showing how Decatur helped direct naval policy and politics in the new nation. A highly recommended biographical pick for any fan of early Republic history in general and naval history in particular.

Pointed Leaf Press
1100 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10028
www.pointedleafpress.com

Peter Schifando and Jean H. Mathison's CLASS ACT: WILLIAM HAINES, LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD DECORATOR (0972766146, $95.00) tells of talent contest winner William Haines, who came to Hollywood in 1922 and appeared in over twenty films as a leading many to many famous stars, then recreated himself as a decorator using many of his costars as clients. Haines developed a unique style over a 40-year period, designing elite homes and producing notable designs for business leaders, socialites and arts patrons. Pack in photos in both black and white and color - many of which haven't seen print previously - with a survey by members of the Haines firm and you have an authoritative, in-depth expose which will prove an outstanding pick for any collection of Hollywood history or interior design arts. Suzanne Slesin's OVER THE TOP: HELENA RUBINSTEIN EXTRAORDINARY STYLE: BEAUTY ART FASHION DESIGN (1972766103, $75.00) reviews the achievements of a pioneer leader in the cosmetics industry celebrated for not just her line of cosmetics but her art collecting, home decoration and appreciation of the arts. Sixteen short essays by experts accompany four hundred images to trace the life of Helena Rubinstein, following her flair for interior decoration, her interest in collecting the works of artists as they began their ascent, and her fine collections. More so than any other coverage, OVER THE TOP captures the multi-faceted interests and personality of a woman whose tastes often ran against trends - then created new ones.


The Philosophy Shelf

Hip Hop & Philosophy
Derrick Darby & Tommie Shelby, Eds.
Open Court Publishing
140 S. Dearborn Avenue, #1450, Chicago, IL 60603
0812695895 $17.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Philosophy sounds like dry, ancient wisdom to modern youth - but it takes a different, more contemporary approach when led by hip-hop fans who have studied the pursuit of wisdom and come up with contemporary associations. HIP HOP & PHILOSOPHY: RHYME 2 REASON pairs great philosophers and their works to rap classics by Lauryn Hill, OutKast and others to show rap can help uncover the meaning of such philosophers as Plato. A delightful, fun presentation invites young college students to understand underlying meanings in both ancient and modern texts.


The Architecture Shelf

Wood Houses
Auroa Cuito
Te Neues
16 W. 22nd St., New York NY 10010
3832790764 $24.95 www.teneues.com

WOOD HOUSES provides a simple focus on a selection of houses made from wood - not just on the exterior, but right down to kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Aurora Cuito is a Spanish architect who has also worked for design firms in New York: her focus on wood provides a focus on its many applications and purposes, packing full-page color interior and exterior shots with comments on design and space planning.

Winter House
Charlotte Moss
Clarkson Potter
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1400054389 $50.00 www.randomhouse.com

Interior designer Charlotte Moss focuses on how to change a home to a warm retreat using her own winter house as an example: WINTER HOUSE is thus both a review of her designs and a survey of what makes a winter house more accommodating. There are spaces for all purposes, from family gatherings to private rooms for reflection: a room-by-room survey is accompanied by organization and design tips, reflections on innovations and 'little luxuries' adaptable to any environment, and plenty of entertainment ideas. Color photos pack nearly every page and accompany the author's examples of what makes a 'winter home' style.

The Survival Guide: Home Remodeling
Diane Plesset, ASID, CBD/CKD, CCIDC
Design and Publishing
12042 SE Sunnyside Rd. Box 480, Clackamas, OR 97015
0972962700 $34.95 www.dp-design.com

The price tag is hefty but this remodeling book comes direct from experience: the author offers remodeling seminars to homeowners and her vast knowledge combines with 'homeowner horror stories' to provide money-saving and mistake-avoiding ideas in THE SURVIVAL GUIDE: HOME REMODELING: PLESSET'S PRINCIPLES FOR AN ALMOST-PERFECT PROJECT. Janis Emerson provides black and white line drawings to accompany guidelines, worksheets, and chapters which clearly outline pro and con considerations every step of the away, from selecting a stove to shopping for products and understanding product information specs. Initial design talks, lighting, spouts, fixtures - not one nail is left for speculation.

Home Work
Lloyd Kahn
Shelter Publications
PO Box 279, Bolinas, CA 94924
0936070331 $26.95 www.shelterpub.com

HOME WORK: HANDBUILT SHELTER represents over thirty years of gathering photos and details about builders around the world; so don't expect a hasty compilation of alternate design here. It represents the sequel to Kahn's best-selling SHELTER, published in 1973, and packs in over a thousand photos and over 300 drawings illustrating hand-made buildings ranging from a Japanese stilt house accessible only by cable across a river to an African stone house. The survey of unique hand-built homes around the world is a joy to behind, contrasting a diversity in design and presentation which comes not from the professional architect's casebook but, many times, from the amateur builders themselves. Very highly recommended for any collection strong in builder's books and design idea books - or even international travel and cultures.

Ralph Adams Cram: An Architect's Four Quests
Douglass Shand-Tucci
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
1558494898 $49.95 1-800-488-1144 www.umass.edu.umpress

Any college-level student of architecture should know the name of American architect Ralph Adams Cram - and any familiar with his work should consider RALPH ADAMS CRAM: ARCHITECT'S FOUR QUESTS a definitive work covering his life and achievements. His later career is the focus, following the prior acclaimed study of his earlier years in BOSTON BOHEMIA, 1881-1900: his most important commissions, his rivalry with partner Goodhue, and his leading influences from Roosevelt to Adams and Ayn Rand are surveyed, bringing all this together under themes which divides his career into four lifelong 'quests': medieval, modernist, American and ecumenical.

W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com

Three outstanding architecture books are highly recommended references for any college-level collection expanding their architecture holdings. Peter Buchanan's TEN SHADES OF GREEN: ARCHITECTURE AND THE NATURAL WORLD (0393731898, $24.95) centers on ten buildings which illustrate how environmental responsibility influences modern architectural pursuits. Peter Buchanan is a curator and critic: his choices reflect designs which blend environmental responsibility with design excellence, showing how such a focus provides architects with new, innovative ideas. Judy A. Juracek's ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES: DETAILS FOR ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS (0393730794, $95.00) comes with a cd-rom and provides students and professional practitioners alike with a new addition to the 'Surfaces' series. Hundreds of different architectural features are portrayed in well over a thousand color photos which capture details and provide a subject organization for quick, easy reference. Professionals and students alike will appreciate the illustrated glossary of technical terms, and the wealth of illustration packs four to six good-sized photos on almost every page. Brian Hayes' INFRASTRUCTURE: A FIELD GUIDE TO THE INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE (0393058879, $49.95) blends Hayes' own striking color photos with a guide exploring al major 'ecosystems' of the modern industrial world. It covers all kinds of objects, from railroad tracks and antenna towers to power lines, satellite dishes and more: manufactured items which permeate the human urban landscape to such a degree that they are part of our lives. Chapters discuss romance, geometric design, function and art alike.

2006 National Concrete & Masonry Estimator
Dan Atcheson
Craftsman Book Company
8058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92011
1572181575 $54.00 www.craftsman-book.com

Estimate labor hours and material costs for all kinds of concrete and masonry work with the 2006 NATIONAL CONCRETE & MASONRY ESTIMATOR: a cd/book package filled with tips on how to produce quick, accurate cost estimates. Contractors are well aware that estimations can use up hours of bidding time: here it's advised the material lists be developed only when the contract is obtained - and chapters provide all the formulas necessary to produce quick calculations based on the latest prices. Author Dan Atcheson is the son of an architect who began his career as a teen, working at most of the construction trades until he added estimating to his skills. Chapters for each projected job divide into columns figures for labor, materials, and units and provide a manual which can easily be used as a company price book. Very highly recommended - and the interactive cd is set up to make expert to Quickbooks a snap, too!


The Gardening Shelf

Bay Area Gardening
Barbara J. Euser, editor
Solas House
853 Alma Street, Palo Alto, Ca 94301
1933261308 $18.95 www.travelerstales.com

Local master gardeners lend their insights on the peculiarities and special needs of California Bay Area gardens in BAY AREA GARDENING: 64 PRACTICAL ESSAYS BY MASTER GARDENERS. The San Francisco Bay Area's unique attributes, from mild climate and microclimates to changing soils, lends to a diverse gardening environment in turn: these essays are critical to understanding the Bay Area's special needs and should be on the reading lists and in the libraries of any local gardener.


The Woodworking Shelf

Building Real Furniture For Everyday Life
Chris Gleason
Popular Woodworking/F&W, dist.
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1558707603 $24.99 www.popularwoodworking.com

Build functional, stylish furniture the easy way with BUILDING REAL FURNITURE FOR EVERYDAY USE: 14 PROJECTS YOU CAN MAKE IN A DAY. Here are pages packed with step-by-step color photos of each project, cutting lists in sidebar for easy quick reference, tips on everything from grain orientation and project drawing to hardware and supplies, and more. An outstanding project guide for do-it-yourself home woodworkers who would produce professional-quality results with a minimum of effort.


The Homemaker's Shelf

Laundry
Cheryl Mendelson
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
0743271459 $25.00 1-800-223-2336 www.simonsays.com

It's surprising to see a book entirely devoted to housekeeping and one might wonder what could be said about laundry which could occupy an entire book on the topic; but LAUNDRY: THE HOME COMFORTS BOOK OF CARING FOR CLOTHES AND LINENS actually holds many surprises. For one thing, it culls from the bestselling HOME COMFORTS newly revised, updated information on caring for cloth, from bedding and baby clothes to vintage linens. Details cover such specifics as when to disregard labels, how to remove stains, and how to properly store fabrics. Chapters also cover all kinds of care: ironing, folding, and washing. Homemakers will find LAUNDRY an invaluable reference.


The Real Estate Shelf

Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide
Attorney Stephen Fishman
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, Ca 94710
1413304214 $34.99 www.nolo.com

Landlords know the main benefit of owning residential rental property is the many tax deductions which stem from such ownership, covering everything from improvements to expenses. This second edition has been updated to reflect the latest tax information and numbers: it covers everything from how to keep tax records and supporting documentation to deducting losses. Maximize profits and stay legal: keep EVERY LANDLORD'S TAX DEDUCTION GUIDE's latest edition on your desk.

Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org

Two excellent guides to real estate investing are essential picks for any venturing into the field. Steve Berges' THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO INVESTING IN FORECLOSURES (08144782885, $17.95) explains that with foreclosures at an all-time high, there's a wealth of prime properties available for picking in a hot market - both residential and commercial - at fine value. It all sounds easy - but there's a host of pitfalls along the wall, which are reviewed carefully in THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO INVESTING IN FORECLOSURES. Chapters discuss pitfalls and opportunities alike and provide invaluable insights. Michael c. Thomsett's REAL ESTATE INVESTOR'S POCKET CALCULATOR: SIMPLE WAYS TO COMPUTER CASHFLOW, VALUE, RETURN, AND OTHER KEY FINANCIAL MEASUREMENTS (0814472966, $17.95) finally places in the investor's hands the same tools real estate agents use to calculate yield, values, taxable income and operating expenses. All different types of value are revealed in chapters which cover everything from acceleration techniques and methods for reducing interest to ways of maximizing investment returns. Worksheets, tables and charts provide clarity and all the formulas needed to succeed. Very highly recommended as an essential, basic pick any real estate investor should keep at hand.

Condo Living
Robert Meisner, Esq.
Momentum Books
2145 Crooks Road, #208, Troy, MI 48084
1879094746 $24.95 www.momentumbooks.com

Whether you're thinking of buying a condo or selling one, you need CONDO LIVING: A SURVIVAL GUIDE TO BUYING, OWNER AND SELLING A CONDOMINIUM: it's a primer by an attorney with over thirty years experience of practicing community association law, and covers just about everything to know about condo ownership. From common developer and association practices to differences between simple conflicts and real problems, CONDO LIVING covers everything you need to know in advance about condo rules and regulations.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Body Noble
Derek Noble & Carol Colman
John Wiley & Sons
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
0471724181 $24.95 www.wiley.com

Derek Noble is star of the show URBAN FITNESS TV and imparts the foundations of his popular Hollywood exercise fitness routines here in THE BODY NOBLE: 20 MINUTES TO A HOT BODY WITH HOLLYWOOD'S COOLEST TRAINER. His is a simple, quick method for obtaining a fit body for even the busiest exercises, providing a 'lifestyle plan' which blends all components of fitness - muscle toning, stretching and cardio - in a series of routines which add visualization techniques to help boost effectiveness. Black and white photos pepper the exercises, but it's his in-depth survey of how to blend exercise into daily life which makes THE BODY NOBLE an exceptional guide.

Diabetes Danger
Walter M. Bortz II, MD
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, New York City, NY 10003
1590791037 $21.95 www.selectbooks.com

200 million Americans are at risk for diabetes thanks to modern lifestyle and genetic makeup that nearly guarantee they will contract the disease - and doctors don't always prescribe the best treatment for it. DIABETES DANGER: WHAT 200 MILLION AMERICANS AT RISK NEED TO KNOW surveys the danger, addressing symptoms of pre-diabetes, considering problems before and after diagnosis, and showing how to get the most out of exercise and medicine. The idea is to both prevent it and control it: DIABETES DANGER helps with both.

The Diabetes Carbohydrate & Fat Gram Guide, 3rd Edition
Lea Ann Holzmeister, RD, CDE
American Diabetes Association
1701 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
158040247X $14.95 www.diabetes.org

The third edition of this essential diabetic's reference is on the market and registered dietitian Holzmeister has put together more nutritional information listings not only carbs, fat and calories, but additional details for nearly 7,000 listings. How to keep such listings easy to access? A quick set of charts provides at-a- glance details on serving sizes, nutrient data and ideas for both generic and packages products - this edition including international and ethnic foods - a growing part of supermarket choices, and thus an essential addition here. Organized by food type - pies, ethnic foods, fast foods and frozen packaged foods - THE DIABETES CARBOHYDRATE & FAT GRAM GUIDE promises quick, easy reference.

Lessons from Joan
Eric R. Kingson
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244-5160
0815608381 $19.95 www.SyracuseUnviersityPress.syr.edu

Eric's wife Joan was diagnosed with cancer and despite her near-perfect record of eating well and exercising right - and her medical background which should have lent to learn diagnosis - she struggled with cancer and the medical system alike. LESSONS FROM JOAN: LIVING AND LOVING WITH CANCER, A HUSBAND'S STORY offers far more than the usual memoir, however: its most valuable contribution lies in its lessons on how to navigate the medical system, how to obtain results in the face of obstacles, and how families can endure both diagnosis and treatment. This powerful story holds many lessons and much advice for any facing similar struggles, and is a high recommended pick.

The Road to a Healthy Heart Runs Through the Kitchen
Joseph C. Piscatella
Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003-9555
0761135189 $14.95 www.workman.com

THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY HEART provides cardiac patients and their loved ones with a step-by-step guide to cooking which links culinary issues with health and heart connections, and represents a complete revision of the classic DON'T EAT YOUR HEART OUT COOKBOOK - a revision some ten years in the making. The Piscatella diet is at the heart of the matter and while 300 recipes pack THE ROAD TO A HEALTHY HEART, plenty of details on diet and nutrition are included too. A 'must' for any serious about health.

Health Reference Series
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold Street, Detroit, MI 48226
$78.00 each www.omnigraphics.com

Two excellent health reference resources are picks any college-level collection will want to include. Ivy Alexander edits the second updated edition of the URINARY TRACT AND KIDNEY DISEASES AND DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK (0780807502), which helps lay readers understand symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options and physiology of common diseases and disorders. From benign kidney stones to urinary tract and prostate disorders, all conditions receive clear explanation. Sandra J. Judd edits the new first edition HEPATITIS SOURCEBOOK (0780807499), which offers basic consumer information on all the different types of hepatitis. Risk factors, prevention, transmission, and more offer tips for coping with chronic treatments and discussions of typical challenges. Both are packed with detail and information suitable for general-interest public library reference holdings. The second edition of Amy L. Sutton's DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK (0780807952, $78.00) is filled with basic consumer guidelines and health facts for all kinds of conditions affecting not just skin but nails and hair. From birthmarks and skin injuries to hair loss and disorders, chapters provide all the basics on how to maintain healthy skin and hair and how to handle symptoms and aging effects.


The Psychology Shelf

The Worry Cure
Robert J. Leahy, Ph.D.
Harmony/Crown
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
13400097657 $24.95 www.randomhouse.com

Understand and combat your tendency to worry too much with THE WORRY CURE: SEVEN STEPS TO STOP WORRY FROM STOPPING YOU. Everyone worries - but if it seems to be taking over your life and happiness, it's time for THE WORRY CURE, which offers real-world tools to reverse worry and separate unproductive from productive worry. Identify common thinking distortions, focus on the core issue of worries, and understand when it makes sense to worry and when to accept reality with tips from a therapist who has spent the last quarter century helping patients conquer anxiety and depression.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Still Going Strong
Janet Amalia Weinberg, Ed.
Haworth Press
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
0789028719 $22.95 www.HaworthPress.com

Does life go downhill after 50? Not if you read this collection of memoirs and stories STILL GOING STRONG: MEMOIRS, STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT GREAT OLDER WOMEN. Here are lessons for aging gracefully in an anthology which celebrates older women and how they continue to have adventures, enjoy romances, and live well. Over forty contributors provide powerful testimonies, mostly first-person.


The Cookbook Shelf

The California Wine Country Diet
Haven Logan, Ph.D.
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Ave., Sanger, CA 93657
1884956483 $25.00 www.quilldriverbooks.com

Make wellness and weight management a pleasure not a trial through the latest diet book to advocate a different program, CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY DIET: THE INDULGENT APPROACH TO MANAGING YOUR WEIGHT. Recipes come from some of the state's most renowned chefs and provide a blend of nutritionally appealing dishes with meal plans you can live with. Learn to eat seasonally, locally, and diversely using a diet which is appealing and diverse.

Kosher for the Clueless But Curious
Shimon Apisdorf
Leviathan Press
25 Hooks Lane Suite 202, Baltimore, MD 21208
1881927318 $23.95 www.leviathanpress.com

If you think 'kosher' is some kind of antique Jewish tradition or confusing in its dietary requirements, you've come to the right place in deciding to inspect KOSHER FOR THE CLUELESS BUT CURIOUS: A FUN, FACT-FILLED, AND SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO AL THINGS KOSHER. A 24-page color cookbook is included, but the heart of the title lies in its myths, facts, and discussions of what makes kosher foods. Packed with Talmud references, FDA support, references to nutrition and health, and Jewish tradition, KOSHER FOR THE CLUELESS BUT CURIOUS is recommended for a wide audience; from those who keep kosher out of habit to those outside the Jewish religion who wish to understand. Very highly recommended: an exceptional, unusual read.

Fast Cooking in a Slow Cooker
JoAnn Rachor
Family Health Publications
8777 Musgrove Highway, Sunfield, MI 48890
187826269 $14.95 www.familyhealthpub.com

There are plenty of slow cooker cookbooks on the market; but only a few vegetarian guides: JoAnn Rachor's FAST COOKING IN A SLOW COOKER EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR: A SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK focuses on the heart of vegetarian cookery - entrees and vegetable dishes - with a bow to breads and desserts - and will delight any who always look for appropriate vegetarian main dishes. From vegetable lasagna and a lentil loaf to a eggplant garlic bake, dishes are accompanied by color photos and clear charts of ingredients; plus an unusual format which offers conversions for smaller to larger recipes with yields from 3 to 6 cups. These features make for an outstanding reference especially recommended for home cooks, with lay-flat spiral binding.

William Morrow
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
www.harpercollins.com

Morrow's cookbooks are consistently solid picks and are recommended for both specialty cookbook holdings and general-interest public library collections. Three recent publications are special mentions for all collections. Jennifer McLagan's BONES: RECIPES, HISTORY, & LORE (0060585374, $34.95) covers all the basics about bones and their important role in flavoring. People may opt for boneless chicken, fish and cutlets - but anything cooked with bone in has more flavor, and BONES provides receipts for cooking everything with bones. Each chapters includes stocks, soups, ribs, legs and more; but most of the dishes are easy enough for the most basic home cook to duplicate. Traditional dishes move to innovative and international influences in each chapter, and while color photos do pepper the presentation, the meat of BONES lies in its recipes that celebrate and bring out the best in bone flavorings. Susan Herrmann Loomis' COOKING AT HOME ON RUE TATIN (0060758171, $24.95) comes from a cookbook author and pro chef who surveys French home cooking. Classic French techniques and dishes meld with international cuisine in a title which also takes the busy cook into account. From a simple Braised Fennel and Chicken with Artichoke to Leek and Bacon Quiche and Mackerel with Dandelion Greens, this is packed with innovations and basics alike. Eileen Goudge's SOMETHING WARM FROM THE OVEN (0060740418, $24.95) represents the author's debut as a cookbook author - but she's no newcomer to publishing; she has eleven popular novels to her name. She discusses the sum of the techniques and tricks she's absorbed over the years, blending basic information with the best recipes from her personal collection and adding some inspiring stories from her family baking adventures. Pecan-Cranberry Pie, Raspberry Marzipan Cheesecake, and Cherry-Cream Cheese Bread are only a few of the delights in SOMETHING WARM FROM THE OVEN: BAKING MEMORIES, MAKING MEMORIES.

Creative Cost Cutting
Douglas Robert Brown
Atlantic Publishing Company
1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
0190627614 $79.95 1-800-814-1132 www.atlantic-pub.com

Remove the mystery from restaurant operations and understand how a professional kitchen succeeds and where it fails with THE FOOD SERVICE MANAGER'S GUIDE TO CREATIVE COST CUTTING, a guide to simple ways to save a food service operation from bleeding money. Thousands of practical insider techniques and tips come from successful professional operations around the world and cover all the basics. It's a tiny percentage which makes the difference between a profitable establishment and one out of business: it's good to have a practical step-by-step guide to reducing costs in food, beverage, operations and labor alike. A 'must' for any serious professional restaurant or cookbook collection.

Hershey
Michael D'Antonio
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10020
0743264096 $25.00 www.simonandschuster.com

Milton S. Hershey's dreams of wealth and success came true in the candy empire he built; yet few realize his poor beginnings, the business innovations he fostered which contributed to his success, and his utopian ideals which led him to create an idyllic town and a legacy. HERSHEY: MILTON S. HERSHEY'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF WEALTH, EMPIRE, AND UTOPIAN DREAMS represents the first full- length study of the successful business leader, exploring his ambitions, his dreams, and his socially conscious outlook on life. It looks like a chocolate empire biography, but HERSHEY actually is a story of one man's vision - and it will delight both food fans and business readers alike.

Perfect Party Food
Diane Phillips
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
1558322604 $24.95 1-888-657-3755 www.harvardcommonpress.com

Entertainment needn't translate to the host being trapped in the kitchen: PERFECT PARTY FOOD is designed to bring the host with the guests and provides menu, decorating and cooking suggestions to this purpose. From producing quick vegetarian side dishes to whipping up a Chicken with Eggplant and Gorgonzola, Italian Style Pot Roast, and Honey-Ginger Pork Satay to Roasted Spicy Asian Sweet Potatoes, PERFECT PARTY FOOD comes packed with 'signature dishes' the entire family will also enjoy.

Whitecap Books
351 Lynn Avenue, Nort Vancouver, BC, Canada V7J 2C4
www.whitecap.ca

There are a number of cocktail books on the market now, but with Sarah Ford, Editor's THE COCKTAIL BIBLE (1552856852 $19.95) you have a greater choice than moist - over 600 recipes - along with special mixing tips, techniques, and variations on themes. Color photos on each page accompany color-coded sidebars of detail and make for an excellent reference for a multitude of beverages which are shaken, stirred or on the rocks. Jurgen Gothe's DISCCOOKERY: THE DISCDRIVE 20TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK (1552857565, $19.95) provides a celebration of food, wine and music alike, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the CBC Radio Two program 'DiscDrive' with a cookbook of recipes gathered from Jurgen's own files and those of his radio listeners. Here are some truly unique dishes not to be found elsewhere, from Fiery Prawns with Iced Orange Muscat to Margaritaville Chicken and Sausage in Bondage, these winners are easy to produce. Celia Brooks Brown's ENTERTAINING VEGETARIANS (1552856860, $24.95) pairs lovely color photos by Ja Baldwin with a satisfying focus on a range of vegetarian dishes for parties, appetizers, and main courses. From brunch and outdoor cookery to sit-down dinners, the chapters in ENTERTAINING VEGETARIANS largely address what is the real challenge in vegetarian cooking - main courses and appetizers - with a bow to desserts. Ross Dobson's CHINATOWN SWEET SOUR SPICY SALTY (1552856933, $24.95) shares the author's long-time passion for Chinese cookery, offering a spicy variety of Chinese fare ranging from jasmine tea ice cream to a spicy Salt and Pepper Potatoes, Tofu with Soy and Ginger, and Hoisin Chicken. Gorgeous color photos for each dish compliment a satisfying blend of traditional standards and new innovations. Very highly recommended indeed. Jo McAuley's PANINI (1552856879, $12.95) surveys the grilled Italian sandwich which is becoming so popular in bistros and delis in North America. You'd think panini sounds too exotic to produce at home, but quite the opposite: McAuley demonstrates it's the perfect sanwich for producing in a home kitchen and packs her cookbook with recipes for vegetarian, meat, and even dessert sandwiches to prove it. Color photos face nearly every page and encourage cooks to sample.

Oxmoor House
PO Box 2262, rmingham AL 35201-2262
$34.95 each www.southernliving.com

Two outstanding new cookbooks from the magazine Southern Living are highly recommended picks for any seeking tested cookbook collections of favorites. OUR READERS TOP-RATED RECIPES (0848730542) is compiled and edited by Jane Gentry and provides popular dishes which have been chosen as reader favorites time and again. From a classic Fried Pork Chops with Cream Gravy to Quick Quesadillas and Potato Cobb Salad, these range from Southern dishes to internationally-influenced originals. COOKING LIGHT ANNUAL RECIPES 2006 (0848730127) gathers a year's worth of Cooking Light Magazine dishes, from Spicy Pickled Beans and Breakfast Sausage Casserole to a Chicken Broccoli Casserole. A centerfold of color photos enhances sidebars of information and a appealing primer on dishes which have been 'lightened' for the new year. Both are outstanding recommendations.

Ocean Friendly Cuisine
James O. Fraioli
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua, WI 54548
159543061X $35.00 www.willowcreekpress.com

Access to fresh seafood is a 'must' for complete appreciation of OCEAN FRIENDLY CUISINE: SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD RCIPES FROM THE WORLD'S FINEST CHEFS - but those with such access will find here an exceptional guide which explains different seafood available to cooks. The Monterey Bay Aquarium endorses the contents of a guide to how seafood is harvested and how chefs prepare dishes cooked with seafood from fish farms. Each dish has been designed by a leading chef - and each explores the possibilities of seafood. Color sidebars of information comment on environmental status of each fish while introductions and color photos provide discussions of the ecology and nature of each: a perfect - and unusual - compliment to the gourmet dishes.

Duncan Baird Publishers
Castle House, 6th Flr, 75-76 Wells Street, London W1T 3QH, UK
$19.95 Each www.dbponline.co.uk

Lay-flat binding with spine lettering lends to both cooking and shelving ease in two excellent collections by noted British cookbook author Anne Sheasby, each holding 365 recipes for a year's worth of dishes. THE BIG BOOK OF SAUCES (1844831868) profiles both sweet and savory sauces for each day of the year, accompanying the recipes with serving tips and variation ideas. Her BIG BOOK OF BREAD (1844831930) accomplishes the same for bread, which can be made either in a bread machine or by hand. Gluten, wheat and yeast-free breads and recipes for those on restricted diets pack a book filled with color photos of finished products. Both are wonderful home references.

Wine Appreciation Guild, dist.
360 Swift Ave. Unit 30-40, S. San Francisco, CA 94080
www.wineappreciation.com

Two outstanding wine guides are 'musts' for any comprehensive wine library reference collection, whether it be a home library or a public lending institution strong in wine reference books. Michael Cooper's WINE ATLAS OF NEW ZEALAND (1869589211) is the first wine atlas dedicated just to New Zealand - a nation becoming known world-wide for its high quality wines. Michael Cooper has over 25 years experience researching and writing on his subject and is the perfect professional choice for producing a guide which reviews the nation's climate, soils, ten wine-making regions, and nearly 300 wine companies. Add color photos of labels, countryside and productions throughout and you have an important basic reference. Phyllis hands and Dave Hughes' NEW WORLD OF WINE FROM THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE INDUSTRY (0958424721) adds to some of the few volumes on the market covering South African winery production, providing a more comprehensive and technical discussion than most. It's not a light survey of wineries, but an overview of viticulture and oenology in the country blending color photos with discussions of the physiology and distribution of South Africa's various varieties. South Africa's wine industry has been over three hundred years in the making but is only lately receiving its deserved world attention, and this comprehensive study, which includes interviews with local and international wine experts, is a solid starting place for understanding the country's wines and regions.

The Liquid Kitchen
Hayden Wood
Murdoch Books UK
Erico House, 6th Floor North, Putney, London SW15 2TG, UK
1740455525 L14.99

THE LIQUID KITCHEN: PARTY DRINKS joins a growing number of books covering mixed drinks; but what sets this part is its author, who has won Best Drinks Book in the World 2004 and other awards - and the innovative new drinks he's designed just for parties. Color photos and reflections on competitions, mixed drink winners and more accompany easy recipes any party cook will find appealing and different. From a Honey Nectarine Martini to a 'Solar' variation on a Bronx cocktail, THE LIQUID KITCHEN's recipes won't be in any other cocktail guide.

ACP Books
54 Park Street, Sydney, Australia, NWS 2001
www.acpbooks.com.au

Two outstanding culinary collections from Australia Woman's Weekly take pamphlet form and are the perfect, bright introductions to topics for cooks who want quick, easy recipes, a pamphlet-like presentation and many color photos. PARTY FOOD (18563963677, L2.50) presents many internationally-influenced finger foods and party treats ranging from Spicy Potato Pakoras with Coriander Raita to Curry Puffs, Garlic and Blue Cheese Tartlets, and many more. CASSEROLES (1863964142, L5.99) provides a more modern approach to casseroles, adding plenty of international influences from Asia and the Middle East and using the one-pot dish concept to bring them all together. From an unusual Maple Flavored Pork Belly with Pecans to Sweet and Sour Tamarind Pork, CASSEROLES offers plenty above and beyond your usual dish - and all with color photos.

Cooking Curries
Jane Lawson
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-4794
1592235344 $14.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com

There are so many curry cookbooks already on the market today - most from India - that one might wonder at the need for yet another primer on the subject, but COOKING CURRIES offers a different focus which shows curry can be more than a hot or spicy dish, providing recipes for sweet and sour dishes alike, creating variations on traditional curry flavors, and adding new ingredients to encourage cooks to experiment. Author Lawson has over twenty years experience as a professional chef: COOKING CURRIES reflects this background well, adding historical and cultural notes to the recipes and discussing how different international influences have altered curry dishes.

Let's Fondu!
Susan Lukens
Nodin Press
530 North Third Street, #120, Minneapolis, MN 55401
1932472304 $14.95 www.nodinpress.com

Any owner of a fondu pot is usually aware of the more common cheese fondu: LET'S FONDU offers an expanded range of recipes for the fondu and describes a variety of meats and vegetables which also lend to fondu pot cookery. Lay-flat plastic binding helps cooks use this in action, while lovely color photos of dishes by Jerry Stebbins offer inviting finished results on a fondu fork. An excellent gathering fondu cooks will relish.

Vines: Buyer's Guide To Canadian Wine, 4th Edition
Walter Sendzik & Christopher Waters
Vines Publishing
159 York Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 6E9, Canada
0973449012 $16.95 www.vinesmag.com

Any buyer of Canadian wine can't be without VINES: BUYER'S GUIDE TO CANADIAN WINE: it bills itself as the 'ultimate guide to wines from Canada', and in this it won't disappoint. Canadian wines are becoming increasingly accessible in the US: VINES features reviews which help buyers understand the Canadian wine offerings, with chapters organized by grape providing both an overview of that grape in the Canadian wine scene and a survey of specific winery offerings which are outstanding and notable. Discussions focus on educating buyers as to the quality and range of Canadian's best.

Lake Isle Press Inc.
16 West 32nd Street, #10-B, New York NY 10001
www.lakeislepress.com

You've probably seen Rachel Ray on television if you watch cooking shows at all: she's the one with the New York accent and the flair for dramatic demonstration. Two very accessible new titles provide her recipes and methods to non-TV audiences. GUY FOOD (1801105213, $12.95) provides 30 meals which have 'guy appeal', from easy dishes with big flavors to meals for dates, game nights or bachelor nights. Chili, grilled halibut tacos, quick chicken curry and barbecued salmon all are super-quick, appealing dishes guys can whip up in a hurry. COMFORT FOOD (189110523X, $12.95) uses the same 'Top 30 30-minute meals' format for comfort food: it provides a range of dishes from an Italian-style Mac n Cheese with sweet sausage and mushrooms to Lemon-Scented Broccoli and Creamy Corn, stuffed Monte Cristo sandwiches with bacon, cranberry sauce, ham, turkey and cheese, and focuses on dishes which are quick to produce with ingredients common found in the kitchen. What if you're cooking just for yourself? Try the completely revised edition of Toni Lydecker's SERVES ONE: SIMPLE MEALS TO SAVOR HWEN YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN (1891105140, $16.95). The tendency is to revert to canned, boxed or fast food when you're alone - or to eat leftovers of the same food for weeks. SERVES ONE presents over a hundred fast bite- sized meals which quick quickly. First build a staples shelf from canned goods and condiments. Then, think small on perishables, shopping for a few days only. Then use SERVES ONE to whip up gourmet delights. Color photos mid-book add to the excitement and appeal.

Living in the Raw Gourmet
Rose Lee Calabro
Book Publishing Company
Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
1570671761 $19.95

Learn how to prepare raw and living food with a book which covers fresh foods 'still growing'. This can be as fresh as a handful of berries eaten soon after picking, or uncooked vegetables. Within 24-48 hours after picking food loses much of its freshness: LIVING IN THE RAW GOURMET tells how to set up a living and raw food kitchen and work with recipes which maximize the kitchen's emphasis on preserving living food qualities.

Chakra Tonics
Elise Marie Collins
Conari/Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress St., 4th Flr, Boston, MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
1573242500 $9.95

CHAKRA TONICS: ESSENTIAL ELIXIRS FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT could also have been featured in our Spirituality section but is reviewed here for its broader appeal to audiences interested in juices, shakes, smoothies and drinks which have healing and beneficial properties as well as taste appeal. From a Fig Shake with cinnamon believed to help diabetics to a high vitamin C Hibiscus Shake, drinks are very easy to make up with a minimum of specialty ingredients and CHAKRA TONICS organizes recipes by health benefit for easy consultation.

Charlemagne's Tablecloth
Nichola Fletcher
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
0312340680 $24.95

Plenty of history cookbooks have been written on early dining, but CHARLEMAGNE'S TABLECLOTH: A PIQUANT HISTORY OF FEASTING goes a step further than most, narrowing the focus to the feast or banquet tradition and surveying a history of grand dinners through the ages - both successes and failures. Ceremonies accompanying such feasts around the world are surveyed, explanations of great feasting purposes and operations revealed, and special ingredients. A 'must' for any who would understand the history of elaborate feasts.

Graceland's Table
Ellen Rolfes w/Elvis Presley Enterprises
Rutledge Hill Press
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.rutledgehillpress.com
140160207X $19.99

If you could invite Elvis Presley to share a home-cooked meal, what would you serve? This question was asked of thousands of Presley fans: their answers constitute GRACELAND'S TABLE: RECIPES FIT FOR THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL. Color photos of completed dishes pepper a guide which provides wonderful down-home dishes by fans and friends. It's the only cookbook produced with the cooperation of Elvis Presley Enterprises and his 400 fan clubs worldwide, and it includes outdoor picnic treats as well as cold-winter soups and dishes. A fun book for any Elvis fan.


The Literary Shelf

Bibliotopia
Steven Gilbar
David R. Godine
9 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA 03452
1567922953 $22.95 www.godine.com

Any who love books will relish this collection of literary trivia: a gathering of obscure book-related facts, definitions, lists, quotes and more which span the history of books from their invention to modern times. From the history and evolution of book companies and authors to reading lists and top works, BIBLIOTOPIA: OR, MR. GILBAR'S BOOK OF BOOKS & CATCH-ALL OF LITERARY FACTS & CURIOSITIES invites leisure browsing.

Brown Gumshoes
Ralph E. Rodriguez
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
0292712553 $17.95 www.utexaspress.com

Combine detective fiction themes with Chicana/o identity discussions and a scholarly theme and you have an excellent blend of crime survey and the Latin culture in BROWN GUMSHOES: DETECTIVE FICTION AND THE SEARCH FOR CHICANA/O IDENTITY. Popular fiction can hold cultural observations which are often overlooked in the academic world: BROWN GUMSHOES examines the image and world of Latin minority groups in detective fiction and represents the first comprehensive study of Chicano/a detective fiction, considering contributions by authors and themes which reveal underlying trends and political and social sentiments.
Regional Americana


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Complete Idiot's Guide to Copywriter's Words & Phrases
Kathy Kleidermacher
Alpha/Penguin
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
1592574254 $16.95 www.idiotsguides.com

How can writers and copywriters find new words and phrases to break out of old ways of describing? COPYWRITER'S WORDS AND PHRASES is the answer: it's a reference offerings thousands of words and phrases arranged under over 200 keywords, and coverings synonyms, phrases, expressions, metaphors and more. Related words and phrases, connections and expressions and more provide an easy method of picking up new words to apply to common endeavors.

The Write-Brain Workbook
Bonnie Neubauer
Writer's Digest Books/F&W, dist.
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1582973555 $19.99 www.writersdigest.com

Writers seeking something more stimulating than a mere subject stimulation guide will welcome THE WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK: 366 EXERCISES TO LIBERATE YOUR WRITING. Playful and thought-provoking exercises range from finishing half-completed stories and filling in imagination blanks to using memories as a springboard to writing. THE WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK would initially seem inappropriate for libraries as it encourages filling in the blanks - but the color-coded pages make it somewhat difficult and lend to fill-ins elsewhere on white paper, and may make WRITE-BRAIN WORKBOOK a strong library lending tool.

Behind the Mystery
Stuart Kaminsky
Hot House
760 Cushing Highway, Cohasset, MA 02025
0975524526 $29.95 www.hothousepress.com

Start Kaminsky is an award-winning mystery writer himself, and is in the perfect position to introduce his fellow mystery writer friends to audiences in BEHIND THE MYSTERY: TOP MYSTERY WRITERS INTERVIEWED. Working with professional photographer Laurie Roberts, who captures images of these writers in their home settings, Kaminsky provides insights into the personal lives and inspirations of Sue Grafton, Donald Westlake, Faye Kellerman, Lisa Scottoline and other modern notable authors who have made major impacts on the genre. Mystery fans will relish the charming black and white shots and Kaminsky's probe into family, friends and perspectives on mystery writing.


The Photography Shelf

Golden Gate
Richard Misrach
Aperture Foundation
547 West 27th Street, New York NY 10001
1931788510 $50.00 www.aperture.org

In 1997 photographer Richard Misrach began photographing San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge at all hours of day and night, creating a year-round workbook of seasonal bridge views: GODEN GATE is his catalog which packs in over eighty images culled from a series of over seven hundred shots. Full-page color displays provide a wealth of mostly-distant bridge images set against changing skylines and backgrounds. Weather plays a large part in these captivating images - but so does history, and art historian T.J. Clark adds an essay which provides background information on Misrach's interests and approaches, with geographer Richard Walker adding commentary on geography and viewpoint. The result is an artistic catalog with appeal not only to any California resident but to any interested in Bridges or architectural art.

Margaret Bourke-White: The Early Work, 1922-1930
Ronald E. Ostman & Harry Littell
David R. Godine
9 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA 02108
1567922996 $19.95 www.godine.com

Margaret Bourke-White was a leading photojournalist whose work for Fortune, among others, celebrated the machine age and whose later work for Life featured more of an interest in humanitarian concerns. MARGARET BOURKE-WHITE: THE EARLY WORK, 1992-1930 provides a new gathering with a focus on her earliest work, when she was an amateur. Her first photos were still lifes and images more characteristic of her times rather than her talents: one can see the transitions to her personal style in the photos made from 1928-30, and it's also notable that the some eighty photos reproduced here have seldom been seen outside their archives. A 'must' for any in-depth art library.

Young America: The Daguerreotypes of Southworth & Hawes
Grant B. Romer & Brian Wallis, editors,.
Steidl International Center Photography
1114 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10036
386521066X $120.00 www.icp.org

From 1845 to 1862 Albert Sands Southworth and Josiah Johnson Hawes maintained a famous photography studio, using the most famous personalities of their times as subjects and also capturing on film some of the most notable of events and places. Their focus was fine art photography rather than simple portraiture, and their daguerreotypes thus captured more than factual images alone, adding touches which captured historic and cultural elements. YOUNG AMERICA accompanies an exhibition of the same name and packs in over a hundred color reproductions plus nearly 2,000 black and white illustrations. Editor Grant Romer is Director of the Advanced Program in Photography Conservation at George Eastman House, and Brian Wallis is Director of Exhibitions and Chief Curator at the International Center of Photography: together these scholars create not just a catalog, but a historical survey of the daguerreotype process and Southworth and Hawes' influences on photographic achievement as a whole. The wealth of images packed into the book alone would make it a highly recommended pick; the focus on daguerreotype history and Southworth and Hawes' lasting achievements make it essential for any serious art collection.

Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe NM 87504-1022
www.twinpalms.com

Three gorgeous art titles are highly recommended picks for art library holdings. Jeff Burton's THE OTHER PLACE (1931885346, $75.00) provides an extraordinary set of images by one who has worked in the porn industry for almost twenty years. Portraits of men and women are graphic and often startling in subject and arrangement, yet little staging effort is artificially inserted. THE OTHER PLACE represents the first collection of his works and is a blend of documentary and art piece. Amy Adler's YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER (1931885370, $75.00) uses glossy cibachrome prints of pastel drawings to demonstrate the extent to which images - and their impact - can be manipulated by the artist. An oversized presentation may prove a shelving challenge but lends to eye-catching display: librarians working in specialty art library holdings will find YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER packed with life-size pastel re-workings of photographs which blend cartoon facets with real life with intriguing results. Lise Sarfati's THE NEW LIFE (1931885451, $75.00) appears in a limited autographed edition to appeal to any interested in photos of young 20-something men and women. From stark background home settings to striking poses or faces, THE NEW LIFE makes you take second and third looks at individuals and their settings, without including the angst or oddities of a Diane Arbus-like approach. Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary is what THE NEW LIFE is all about.


The Dance Shelf

Ballet 101
Robert Greskovic
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Corp
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
0879103256 $16.95 www.limelighteditions.com

Noted dance writer and critic Robert Greskovic's handbook is a recommended pick for any who would understand ballet; especially for newcomers to dance. BALLET 101: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO LEARNING AND LOVING THE BALLET isn't just an overview of dance: it's a full history of ballet in general, using specific performances to outline key players, techniques, ballet positions, and notable performances and videos alike. Thirty years of background both as a watcher and behind the scenes lends to a critical yet lively commentary on the art and perceptions of performers and audiences alike.

The Dance
Tango
Robert Farris Thompson
Pantheon Books
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0375409319 $28.50 www.randomhouse.com

Robert Farris Thompson is a Yale art historian who here tackles not art but the artistically-defined world of tango, the dance of the past hundred years which evolved from 19th century European and even African origins to come to Hollywood. His isn't just a musical, dance or art expose: it embraces anthropology, religion, philosophy and more as it seeks an in-depth understanding of not just the dance but its cultural expression in TANGO: THE ART HISTORY OF LOVE. A gorgeous survey of a much-revealed form of expression.

Diary of a Dancer
Elinor Carucci
Steidlmack
Dustere Strasse 4, D-37073 Gottingen, Germany
3865211550 $50.00

Author Elinor Carucci, herself an immigrant, has been a Middle Eastern dancer for years, and her photographic tribute DIARY OF A DANCER comes from a period of three years in which she performed primarily around New York City, dancing for all ethnic communities and in places ranging from fancy restaurants to sleazy bars. An oblong presentation captures her dances onstage and provides an excellent selection of behind-the-scenes shots as well, portraying the people


The Military Shelf

Military Life
Thomas W. Britt, Carl A. Castro & Amy B. Adler, editors
Praeger International
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275983013 $300.00/set www.praeger.com

The four volumes of MILITARY LIFE: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SERVING IN PEACE AND CONFLICT are a powerful addition to any military collection, with each volume providing in-depth details on military performance, stress, family relationships and internal culture. MILITARY PERFORMANCE tackles a range of issues from decision-making and command structure to military morale, group cohesion, and responses to terrorism. OPERATIONAL STRESS surveys combat stress, captivity issues, the role of military chaplains and mental prowess under combat conditions. THE MILITARY FAMILY considers spouses, single parents, and dual-military marriages as chapters focus on research relating to typical conflicts. MILITARY CULTURE is a broad-ranging examination which surveys everything from the changing role of women in the military to issues of courage, quality of life among personnel, life under wartime conditions, and more. Each volume provides a scholarly analysis backed by research and reference notes, includes extensive quotes from journalist and research source materials, and analyze rationales, assumptions, and changing experience. An essential set for any serious military collection.

A War Against Truth
Paul William Roberts
Raincoast Books
9050 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6P 6E5
1551928191 $24.95 www.raincoast.com

Canadian report Paul William Roberts spent three decades covering the Middle East and was one of the few journalist6 to have interviewed Saddam Husseun, so he knows Iraq better than those newly there - and he was in Baghdad when the bombs fell. A WAR AGAINST TRUTH: AN INTIMATE ACCOUNT OF THE INVASION OF IRAQ is thus much more than an outsider's report: it's a detailed first-person moment-by- moment account of politics, personalities and history by one who has spent most of his adult life learning and absorbing. An excellent non-American, non-Middle-East perspective is developed.

Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.potomacbooksinc.com

Richard F. Miller's A CARRIER AT WAR: ON BOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK IN THE IRAQ WAR (1574889605 $26.95) isn't just another overview of military events, but a narrowed focus on individual officers, sailors and shipboard morale during a mission which paralleled the events leading to the Iraq War. The Kitty Hawk was one of the lead elements in the 'shock and awe' campaign: the author remained with the carrier through the hostilities and interviewed the ship's captain, chaplain, doctors, and more, even visiting the brig. His review of life aboard a carrier at war is vivid and personal. Mark D. Mandeles' THE FUTURE OF WAR: ORGANZIATIONS AS WEAPONS (1574886312, $24.00) provides an analytical, college-level defense study adding to the 'Issues in 21st Century Warfare' series with a study on the radical technological changes which have reshaped the face of US military strategy in this century. It'll require a consequent restructuring of defense to fully take advantage of these newfound capabilities, Mandeles argues in an original study of factors which change military strengths. Peter L. Hahn's CRISIS AND CROSSFIRE: THE UNITED STATES AND THE MIDDLE EAST SINCE 1945 (157488820X, $21.95) joins the 'Issues in the History of American Foreign Relations' studies in examining the history of U.S. encounters with the Middle East since 1945. Primary-source documents serve as the foundation of a survey of intentions, politics, diplomacy, and underlying influences on encounters in a text perfect for classroom adaptation. Jonathan W. Jordan's LONE STAR NAVY: TEXAS, THE FIGHT FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND THE SHAPING OF THE AMERICAN WEST (157488512X, $35.00) analyzes the role played by a fleet of wooden warships who in the 1830s led a revolt by transplanted Americans against Texas' rulers in Mexico City. The 'fleet' was bought on credit and sent overseas by an improvised band of revolutionaries, basically saving Texas from Mexico, and accomplishing it on a shoestring. The navy went on to become the focal point of various clashes: LONE STAR NAVY is packed with action and insights on a little-covered group. Mark D. Mandeles' THE FUTURE OF WAR: ORGANIZATIONS AS WEAPONS (1574886304, $48.00) is especially recommended as a college-level classroom pick, providing a detailed analysis of the improvement of concepts and weapons which have changed warfare. Most argue these new technologies have fostered US military might while technological developments in other fields will continue this trend; but THE FUTURE OF WAR goes beyond such discussion in considering the changing role of the military structure itself in integrating these forces into actual combat strategy improvements. The resulting conclusion: the key to future military strength lies more in changing the military's internal structure and responsiveness than in simply adding new technologies to its arsenal.

Warriors from the Deep
Eric Micheletti
Histoire & Collections
SA Au Capital de 182 938, 82, 5, Avenue de la Republique, F-77541 Paris Cedex 11, France
http://books.stonebooks.com (US distributor)
2913903843 $44.95 www.amazon.com

Simply outstanding is Eric Michelett's WARRIORS FROM THE DEEP: THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF THE COMBAT SWIMMERS. Packed with full-page color photos and close-ups, the story of three combat swimmer units - the Italian Arditi Incursori, the German Kampfschwimmer, and the French combat swimmers who carried out operations from the 60s to modern times - receives in-depth detail and attention. Both methodology, individual and unit prowess and effectiveness, and surveys of main operations over the decades make for chapters which cover missions, military might, and courage. From the 'human torpedo' to underwater combats, combat swimmers play important roles during war which until now have rarely been covered in detail. WARRIORS FROM THE DEEP is a 'must' for any serious military collection: its scope and historical review is unparalleled.

Born on the 4th of July
Ron Kovic
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York NY 10009
1888451785 $14.95 www.akashicbooks.com

Ron Kovic served in Vietnam in an initially unquestioning tour of duty which ended in a terrible wounding and many new questions about the war: BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY provides the Vietnam vet's experiences and coming of age during the war, capturing in vivid language his evolution from a patriotic athlete to a soldier, then an anti-war activist. From ridicule and the hardening of soldiers in basic training to field fighting and disability, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY provides a 'you are there' intimacy few others accomplish.

Pen & Sword Books Ltd.
Casemate, dist.
47 Church Street, Barnsley, S. Yorkshire, UK, S70 2AS
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

Peter Caygill's PHANTOM FROM THE COCKPIT: FLYING THE LEGEND (1844152251, $34.41) is a fine survey of the F-4 Phantom: one of the most notable aircraft in the air force during the 1960s and 70s. While Caygill's overview provides excellent depth and detail on the plane's roles during these years, particular attention is given to its role in the Royal Air Force, with chapters documenting the special challenges of a new model of the Phantom as it moved from being a carrier-based attack craft to a land- based air force vehicle. Vintage black and white photos provide a centerfold of action and plane detail. Martin W. Bowman's STRATOFORTRESS: THE STORY OF THE B-52 (1844152340, $50.00) covers the Boeing Stratofortress, another highly notable US craft which was introduced in the late 1950s. It's been updated numerous times over the decades, and chapters follow its evolving design, concept, different models, and history, including source material accounts from pilots and military men who flew the plane in battles. Accompany the history and battle survey are many original photos taken aboard B-52 during a recent visit by the author to their American base, with details on production versions polished models.

Americans at War
John Resch, Editor
Thomson-Gale
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535
0028658078 $531.25/set www.gale.com

Both high school and college-level history collections as well as specialty libraries will consider the four- volume set AMERICANS AT WAR: SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND THE HOMEFRONT to be an essential acquisition: each volume packs in an A-Z encyclopedic reference with sidebars of information and plenty of bibliographic references for further reading. From the battle histories of historical monuments such as Bunker Hill to the history and symbolism of various flags, occupation patterns during the Civil War and their lasting effects, medicine during World War I, and sports during World War II, each volume in the series tackles major social and cultural developments of different wartime experiences, reaching deep into the heart of war's effects at home. Highly recommended.

Gold Warriors
Sterling & Peggy Seagrave
Verso
180 Varick Street, New York NY 10014-4606
1844675319 $16.00 www.versobooks.com

The scandal of 'Yamashita's gold' and America's secret recovery of it lends a fast pace and novel-like drama to GOLD WARRIORS: AMERICA'S SECRET RECOVERY OF YAMASHITA'S GOLD - yet it's all factual information. The CIA collaborated with the underworld in various counties to use large quantities of looted treasure to find covert CIA activity: the Seagraves, authors and journalists, here provide an expose which takes their reputations on uncovering the intrigue and political and military manipulation of the gold, which has gone on for over fifty years. An incredible drama comes to light.

A People's History of the Civil War
David Williams
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York NY 10003
1595580182 $29.95 www.thenewpress.com

There are so many general and special-interest coverages of the Civil War in print that one might wonder at the need for yet another; but historian David Williams takes a different tactic in A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR: STRUGGLES FOR THE MEANING OF FREEDOM. It's the first overall account written through the eyes of ordinary people: soldiers, slaves, women, draft resisters, Native Americans and more, and it uses first-person testimony and anecdotes to bring to life the daily war experience as both urban and rural laborers fought for different needs: economic rights, women's rights, slave's rights, and Native American rights. It is these varied, different interests and purpose which meld to form the real history of the Civil War and why participants had a stake in more than slavery issues.

A Most Damnable Invention
Stephen R. Bowan
Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
031232913X $23.95 www.stmartins.com

The age of explosives, which heralded the more sophisticated warfare choices of modern times, began in the mid-1800s with the inventions of one Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, whose discovery of dynamite made possible industrial changes and explosives. A MOST DAMNABLE INVENTION: DYNAMITE, NITRATES, AND THE MAKING OF THE MODERN WORLD surveys the many changes the discovery of dynamite brought to the world; from the environmental damage it caused to the wealth it brought to its inventor, whose remorseful conscience led him to leave his estate to the establishment of the prizes which bear his name today. Nitrates were next on the list of discoveries, fostered by German scientist Fritz Haber whose breakthrough prolonged the First World War and helped triple the population of the world. No understanding of warfare or civilization's advancement would be complete without A MOST DAMNABLE INVENTION: DYNAMITE, NITRATES, AND THE MAKING OF THE MODERN WORLD in hand.

Soldiers in Revolt
David Cortright
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
1931859272 $16.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

Students of the Vietnam War have many, many histories and analyses to choose from: now SOLDIERS IN REVOLT: GI RESISTANCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR provides yet another angle, and is the first to explore in depth the process of organized opposition and resistance that undermined U.S. military attacks. It was a uniquely American movement at home and abroad which helped bring the war to an end: SOLDIERS IN REVOLT focuses on the rebellion WITHIN the U.S. military, from front lines to stateside.

The Mexican War
David S. Heidler & Jeanne T. Heidler
Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
0313327920 $45.00 www.greenwood.com

The U.S. went to war with Mexico in the spring of 1846: by fall of 1947 American soldiers were in Mexico City. The Mexican War both ended a series of escalating encounters between the two nations and began a series of events which held important changes for both countries, and THE MEXICAN WAR details both pre- and post-war concerns and issues, offering a blend of biographical sketches of key leaders and fighters along with maps, images, a timeline of events, and discussions which utilize primary documents. A 'must' for any comprehensive American history collection; especially at the college level.

To the Bitter End
Rolf Hinze
Helion & Company Ltd.
26 Willow Road, Solihull, W. Midlands, UK, B91 1UE
1874622361 $59.95 www.helion.co.uk

TO THE BITTER END: THE FINAL BATTLES OF ARMY GROUPS NORTH UKRAINE, A, CENTRE, EASTERN FRONT 1944-45 is a specialty item no military library should be without: the author was born in 1922 in Eastern Germany and joined in 1939, following the Campaign in the West in 1940 and attending military academy. He served in Russia and spent much of the war as a forward observation officer, participating in the advances of 1942 and 42. His account isn't an autobiography, as one might expect, but a detailed military analysis of strategy, events, and leadership, including maps and discussions of Soviet advances. An outstanding, in-depth and very particular history evolves.

Going Overboard
Sarah Smiley
New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0451216679 $22.95 www.penguin.com

Author Sarah Smiley was no stranger to military life: she was a former Navy brat who knew all about deployment and military importance - but nonetheless her routines and perspective were challenged when her husband was unexpectedly deployed, testing her resolve and her life. How Sarah coped with her husband away is related with humor, irony and insights in her autobiography GOVING OVERBOARD: THE MISADVENTURES OF A MILITARY WIFE - and will provide wives in similar circumstances with many insights and strategies.

Encyclopedia of World War 1
Spencer C. Tucker, Editor
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851094202 $485.00/set www.abc-clio.com

Specialty collections at the high school or college level as well as those seeking one high-quality comprehensive reference on the topic of World War 1 will want to make the definitive ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WORLD WAR 1: A POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND MILITARY HISTORY the acquisition of choice. Tucker's guide embraces all three facets where competitors examine one or another, guiding readers through these facets using a blend of the standard A-Z encyclopedia listings of people, places, and events and a set of in-depth details which sometimes takes several pages of description. Add vintage black and white photos, extensive lists of references for further reading and research, and an attention to background history in each listing and you have an overview far more detailed in scope - and more useful to reports - than your usual single-volume reference on the topic. Very highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

Buffalo Bill's America
Louis S. Warren
Alfred Knopf
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0375412166 $30.00 www.randomhouse.com

William Cody was the most famous American of his times, renowned as a Pony Express rider, soldier, buffalo hunter and overall hero - but his creation of the Wild West show, a traveling company of cowboys and Indians which toured North American and Europe for over thirty years, solidified his importance and his name. BUFFALO BILL'S AMERICA: WILLIAM CODY AND THE WILD WEST SHOW provides the most detailed critical biography of Cody to appear in over forty years, considering his showmanship, his achievements, and the controversies which swirled around his life, both during time and into modern times. Chapters use source material references and quotes but maintain a lively style which lends to appeal by leisure audiences as well as students of American history.

They Walked to Freedom
Kenneth M. Hare
Spotlight Press
c/o Sports Publishing L.L.C.
804 North Neil St., Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
1596700106 $24.95 1-877-424-2665 www.SportsPublishingLLC.com

In the early 1950s Rosa Parks became active in civil rights, and Martin Luther King Jr. fostered the yearlong Montgomery bus boycott which forced the end of segregation not just in transit but in the country in general. THEY WALKED TO FREEDOM; THE STORY OF THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT, 1955-56 tells of these efforts in this, the 50th anniversary of Parks' act of civil disobedience. Paired with stunning vintage archival photos from the Montgomery Advertiser and authored by the editor of the Advertiser's editorial page, THEY WALKED TO FREEDOM is truly a fitting tribute.

Commonwealth Editions
266 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01905
www.commonwealtheditions.com

Edward Rowe Snow has produced many accounts of New England maritime history, making his name as a historian of the coast: his LIGHTHOUSES OF NEW ENGLAND first appeared in 1945, was updated in 1973, and returns to print to provide newcomers with a rich history of over fifty of the region's lighthouses. This edition (1933212209 $14.95) adds modern lighthouse expert Jeremy D'Entremont's annotations to Snow's chapters which brings details about each lighthouse up to date. Black and white photos enhance a lively reading style perfect for lighthouse fans and regional New England history buffs. D. Brenton Simons' WITCHES, RAKES, AND ROGUES: TRUE STORIES OF SCAM, SCANDAL, MURDER AND MAYHEM IN BOSTON, 1630-1775 (0889833541, $24.95) could also have been featured in our 'true crime' column but is featured here for its special interest to Massachusetts residents and history buffs. Bostonians of the colonial period may have been Puritans but they had their own sins and scandals, and historians Brenton Simons dug deep into Boston's records to reveal a wealth of true crime tales from murder and bigamy to black sheep. Bostonians will find it engrossing reading.

Sharks in the Desert
John L. Smith
Barricade Books
185 Bridge Plaza North, #308A, Ft. Lee, NJ 07024
1569802742 $24.95 www.barricadebooks.com

The complete saga of Las Vegas from its early roots with the mob to modern corporate times is presented in a lively history of the city's real rulers in SHARKS IN THE DESERT: THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND CURRENT KINGS OF LAS VEGAS. Many made their fortunes developing the casino business the city is most famous for today - but many myths have surrounded their activities - myths which columnist Smith dispels in an investigative history which tracked mobsters and their connections to the city's rich and monied.

Grand Excursion
Steven J. Keillor
AHSP Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
1890434639 $28.00 www.aftonpress.com

1850s America comes to life in historian Steven J. Keillor's re-creation of the celebration of the completion of the first railroad to reach the Mississippi River, which involved invitations to hundreds of notables to travel by rail to Illinois, and from there by steamboat to Minnesota - at the railroad's expense. The expedition was a great success and yet underlying the celebration were political overtones setting the stage for the Civil War. Excursionist accounts blend with social, economic, political and cultural insights to provide a fascinating account of adventure and discovery.

Gold Rush Saints
Kenneth N. Owens
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069-8216
0806136812 $19.95 www.amazon.com

From 1846-1857 Mormons shaped events in California: they were the first American settlers of San Francisco. Narrative history blends with documentary accounts on California Mormon history: first-person accounts of early pioneers provide new insights on gold rush history and experiences. Chapters survey social and political controversies of the time between Mormons and between Mormons and other groups, examine the roles they played in settling California and overcoming the state's isolation, and include insights from the pioneers themselves. An excellent addition to California history.


The Computer Shelf

Thomson Delmar Learning
c/o Charles River Media
10 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com

Ed Moyle and Diana Kelley's CRYPTOGRAPHIC LIBRARIES FOR DEVELOPERS (1584504099, $49.95) is a winning guide for developers seeking a tutorial on how to write and deploy applications requiring cryptography. The five common cryptography libraries are surveyed in a title which teaches which ones are best for different projects based on platform, language and regulatory requirements, offering software writers plenty of examples and explanations. Ben Long and Sonja Schenk's DIGITAL FILMMAKING HANDBOOK THIRD EDITION (1584504382, $49.95) pairs a fine DVD packed with project files, film clips and tutorials with an updated, revised edition of a best-selling guide to new digital video technologies. Chapters have all been revised to cover the latest hardware and software configurations and new exercises provide help with everything from writing to production. Black and white screen shots and examples throughout make DIGITAL FILMMAKING HANDBOOK a one-step resource. Bryan Bergeron's DEVELOPING SERIOUS GAMES (1584504447, $44.95) provides game developers with a practical manual exploring serious games: military, academic, medical and training games, to be specific. With the wealth of titles focusing on pleasure games, it's good to see a developer's guide which explains business concepts, tools which can be applied to real-world challenges and concepts, and discusses major differences between entertainment and educational gaming. Students and developers alike will find it a fine practical 'how-to' guide teaching concepts ranging from locating funding sources for such games to choosing game shells and marketing finished products. Vladimir Silva's GRID COMPUTING FOR DEVELOPERS (1584504242, $49.95) tells of a promising new technology, exploring the evolution of Grid computing from early distributed computing ideas to its modern environment. From de facto standards for Grid computing to development guides for Grid services, commodity Grid kits for Java and Perl, and source code samples, A DEVELOPER'S GUIDE TO GRID COMPUTING is perfet for computer scientists who want a head start on the next generation of IT Grid computing. Wolfgang Engel edits SHADER X4: ADVANCED RENDERING TECHNIQUES (1584504250, $59.95), a toolbox of advanced graphics hardware and software techniques for any student of graphics programming. SHADER X4 especially lends to classroom use, with its articles covering everything from interlaced rendering and fog volume issues to real-time environment mapping and Shader subsystems. While the coverage can help novices, it's especially noted for advanced graphics programmers who will relish the equations, charts, and more technical discussions.

Charles River Media
10 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com

Eric Bruno's JAVA MESSAGING (1584504188, $44.95) explores different ways of messaging using Java software, from JavaBean events and JMS to SOAP. Web programmers receive all the basics to using these features, tips on how and why to use each feature and when to choose something else, how to combine features, and more. The basics of Java communication processes are revealed in chapters which form 'classes' to link related information in a logical progression. An excellent, basic foundation for Java users. Photoshop users will find two excellent guides highly recommended picks. Colin Smith's COMPLETE PHOTOSHOP CS2 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (1584504625, $39.95) provides tutorials covering all the new features of CS2. It's designed and written for digital photographers and provides all the basics to organizing, enhancing and touching up images, and includes start-to-finish instructions for everything. Add five video files from PhotoshopCafe and screen shots and photos in full color throughout and you have a digital photographer's dream reference. More advanced Photoshop user will relish Stephen Burns' ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP CS2 TRICKERY & FX (1584504471, $39.95), which focuses on the artistic side of Photoshop in chapters which tell how to blend artistic objectives with its tools. A basic skill level is assumed and builds upon these basics with chapters which tell how to use such advanced, enhanced features as the Camera Raw interface, exposure merge program, and special effects. Chapters are packed with photos in full color showing before-and-after touchup examples and demos of Photoshop CS2's amazing new features. David McAmis' CRYSTAL REPORTS XI FOR DEVELOPERS (1584504110, $49.95) explores a powerful software tool which turns raw data into corporate information. Applications developers receive clear direction on how to begin with Crystal Reports, with plenty of examples on how to develop professional-quality reports from integrating data sources, and how to add advanced features needed to analyze them. A companion CD-OM even includes all the needed source code.

MacDesign Out of the Box
Andrew Shalat
Pearson Education
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321375742 $29.99 www.peachpit.com

If you had no reference for the Mac, would you be able to design your way out of a crisis using Mac tools alone? You would if you also had MACDESIGN OUT OF THE BOX, a guide to using the basic design tools already laded with the Mac, from iLife to Safari. Chapters organized by different goal - printing, web design, video and movies - make it easy to link the tool to the objective, while color screen shots, sidebars of information, and step-by-step detail make for an excellent, easy guide.

Quickbooks 2006: The Official Guide
Kathy Ivens
McGraw Osborne
2100 Powell St., 10th Floor, Emeryville, CA 94608
007226232X $29.99 www.osborne.com

Easily learn Quickbooks features, from basic to more advanced business asks, and tailor Quickbooks 2006 for different uses with QUICKBOOKS 2006: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE. Here's a lesson plan geared to quick customization of forms and purposes, from running payroll and tracking accounts receivable to using budget tools and online banking. Black and white screen shots on every page lend to a format which can be used for either methodical course study or quick browsing reference.

Cisco Press
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

IP network pros won't want to be without Kok-Keong Lee and Fung Lim, Beng-Hui-Ong's BUILDING RESILIENT IP NETWORKS (1587052156, $55.00): it provides a wealth of detail on meting the challenge of building an IP network which is flexible, which remains up all the time, and which can be easily maintained and attack-resistant. Chapters examine misconceptions about availability, issues, and protocol limitations, teaching improvements, changes, and how the IP network's modules interact with one another. Both enterprise and service provider customers will find it pertains to them. Kevin Wallace's VOICE OVER IP FIRST-STEP (1587201569, $29.95) joins others in the 'first step' series in providing a basic introduction to IP telephony services. You don't need to be a programmer or even a computer whiz to understand the basics as presented here: whether you're a home user interested in lowering a monthly phone bill or a business person using data networks, chapters provide real-world applications using case studies throughout, no prior IP telephony experience is required to learn the basics here. And networking instructor Kevin Wallace knows how to cover them easily.

Raw 101
Jon Canfield
Sybex, Inc.
989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103
0782144322 $24.99 1-800-227-2346 www.sybex.com

Any Photoshop or Photoshop Elements owner interested in making the most of the digital RAW capture will appreciate RAW 101: BETTER IMAGES WITH PHOTOSHOP & PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS. It's the first introductory manual on using Adobe Camera Raw and covers all aspects of its use in CS2 and Elements 3, providing step-by-step examples packed with color screen shots and photo examples throughout. Learn how to correct details, fix balance, eliminate noise and gain the best from your RAW files.

Apress
2560 - 9th Street, #219, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.apress.com

Four new titles are top picks for advanced computer users who want in-depth guides worthy of programmer- level abilities. Ryan Aselson and Nathaniel T. Schutta's FOUNDATIONS OF AJAX (1590595823, $39.99) is for professional web developers and comes from two professional Web developers who have worked with Ajax and realizes its potentials. Ajax lends perfectly to programmer endeavors because it's built on existing Web technologies already familiar to programmers: HTML, Javascript and CSS, and it can be used with one's favorite server-side language choice. So what's left to review? FOUNDATIONS OF AJAX discusses how to blend Ajax into new or existing web applications, providing developers' experiences in such application blends. Chapters provide code, screen shots, and plenty of examples to cover a range of such blends. Thomas Kyte's EXPERT ORACLE DATABASE ARCHITECTURE: 9I AND 10G PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES AND SOLUTIONS (1590595300, $49.99) is first in a two-book series which is meant to completely explore and define the Oracle database. Expert Kyte is an industry professional who develops such software at the Oracle Corporation itself: he's selected what he believes to be the most important Oracle architecture features and teaches these features using case history proof-by- example explanations. Chapters have fully revised and expanded the architecture-related sections from his pdf EXPERT ONE-ON-ONE ORACLE and added new material, and focuses entirely on 9I and 10g architecture. A cd-rom in back rounds out the offerings with more examples and information. Jonathan Lewis' COST-BASED ORACLE FUNDAMENTALS (1590596366, $49.99) is for any Oracle programmer frustrated by indexing. Optimizers often do something other than intended, even with the best execution plan in place: when this happens, the cost-based optimizer can prove most frustrating. This is first in a projected three-part series to describe commonly used parts of the model, what the optimizer does with statistics, and why things go wrong. From selectivity issues an bitmap indexes to histograms and cardinality, COST-BASED ORACLE FUNDAMENTALS reveals the common pitfalls in optimizer usage and how to overcome or avoid them. Matthew MacDonald and Mario Szpuszta's PRO ASP.NET 2.0 IN C# 2005 (1590594967, $59.99) covers the next major development in web development circles: the ASP.NET 2.0 version which uses the same technical foundations as ASP.NET 1.X but adds many more high-level features. So many more that many of the tools for building a dynamic web portal and controls have been completely revamped. You needn't re-learn C# in the process: all that's needed is the nuts and bolts of how to use the advanced features of 2.0 to build sophisticated websites - and that's what PRO ASP.NET 2.0 IN C# 2005 delivers, with chapters presuming prior experience in both C# and ASP.NET and building upon this knowledge. Professional developers will appreciate the example-rich discussions of data controls, files and streams, forms, cryptography, and Javascript applications.

Configuring Check Point NGX VPN-1/FireWall-1
Robert Stephens, et.al.
Syngress
800 Hingham Road, Rockland MA 02370
1597490318 $49.95 www.syngress.com

Any familiar with prior versions of Check Point's firewall program and newcomers to CheckPoint alike will find CONFIGURING CHECK POINT NGX VPN-1/FIREWALL-1 an important overview of all the new features in NGX. From working with the SmartView Tracker tool and understanding how a Check Point VPN-1 Pro Gateway administrator evolves to work into network security to handling authentication and integrity issues globally, everything from building the platform to licensing is covered in detail. An excellent survey of all the enhanced features and changes.

Pogue Press/O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastapol, CA 95472
www.missingmanuals.com

There are so many Photoshop books on the market already that one might wonder about the need for yet another; especially as it's a relatively basic primer on the program which covers how the tools and commands work - something intrinsic to competing Photoshop guides. Barbara Brundage 's PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 4: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596101589 $39.95) is different, however: among the differences are color screen shots and photo examples to help illustrate these basics, a focus on timesaving techniques which reveal both the power and simplicity of the program, artists' tricks for touching up and changing photos, and more. This is truly the 'manual that should have been in the box' and is especially recommended for any who've just purchased Photoshop Elements 4 and wish to get a running head-start on learning its features. Matthew MacDonald's CREATING WEB SITES: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596008422, $29.95) is for any who want to create a slick web site without the programming savvy of being a web guru. CRETING WEB SITES covers everything from choosing a place on the Web and picking and buying a domain name to choosing a hosting firm, uploading files, and creating the site using pre-built tools ranging from PayPal shopping carts to Google. Sophisticated appearances such as cascading style sheets are also covered, as well as JavaScript: CREATING WEB SITES tells how to use these sophisticated tools easily to incorporate powerful features without extensive programmer's background. A 'must' for any who would create a web site without a college degree in programming. Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser's FILEMAKER PRO 8: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596005792, $34.95) covers everything from database creation and using templates to streamline FileMaker efforts to considering the program's layout tools, calculation formulas, and translating databases for the Web. From beginner to advanced topics, FILEMAKER PRO 8 covers it all using easy language, black and white screen shot examples on almost every page, and plenty of modeling examples.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastapol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

O'Reilly's growing and extensive computer book reference library offers a difference from many computer book publishers: their simple language allows for a larger audience from beginners to more advanced users in the subjects, and their numerous examples and chatty tones offer real-life applications to pair with program insights. Scott MacHaffie's PALM & TREO HACKS: TIPS & TOOLS FOR MASTERING YOUR HANDHELD (059610054X, $24.95), for example, covers more than the basic and well-known calendar and address book features commonly used by Palm owners: it tells how to tweak the Palm's settings, customize third-party replacements for its applications, play games, and use custom ringtones and weblog postings. A 'must' for any who have the basics down and want to go further. Speaking of going further, BEYOND JAVA by Bruce A. Tate (0596100949, $24.95) pushes Java to its limits, assessing what Java has accomplished, why it's been a powerful tools, and where it is inflexible. Java users with programming background will be particularly intrigued by discussion of how political forces are driving the Java platform toward unnecessary complexity - and the chapters examining Java's competitors and how they can do better. Arnold Robbins' UNIX IN A NUTSHELL, 4TH EDITION (0596100299, $34.95) defines what UNIX means in a changing world where there is no standard-bearer, covering common parts of the leading Unix-like operating systems, how to understand and locate commands which work across versions, and how to use tools which have become a 'part' of Unix even though they don't ship with the operating system, from CVs and GNU Make to GDB, curl and wget. UNIX operating system users simply must have this reference. Paul Bausch's YAHOO! HACKS: TIPS & TOOLS FOR LIVING ON THE WEB FRONTIER (0596009453, $24.95) tells how to personalize and use Yahoo! In new ways, from using keyword shortcuts and advanced syntax to get more from search queries to customizing Yahoo! Mail, using its blogging features and file share programs, and even building appications using Yahoo! web services. Everything there is to know about customizing and tweaking Yahoo! Is in this book. Dave Mabe's BLACKBERRY HACKS: TIPS & TOOLS FOR YOUR MOBILE OFFICE (0495101155, $24.95) is for Blackberry communication device users who want to do more with its built-in applications. From monitoring the Blackberry Enterprise Server and creating web sites just for Blackberry users to working with office documents and sending faxes, BLACKBERRY HACKS covers all possible uses. Chris Kohler's RETRO GAMING HACKS: TIPS & TOOLS FOR PLAYING THE CLASSICS (0596009178, $29.95) tells how to emulate classic games on cell phones to computers, how to locate vintage game hardware, how to convert gaming tools, and how to write your own retro-style games in various programs. From playing old games on original hardware or making conversions, RETRO GAMING HACKS is for avid gamers who want to tweak the experience.

Peachpit Press/New Riders
1249 8th Street, Berkeley, Ca 94710
www.peachpit.com

Three outstanding Photoshop guides take very different approaches to the program and offer users an array of tools. Simplest of all is Jack Davis' ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2 ONE-CLICK WOW! (0321246446, $29.99), which is based on a cd-rom which packs in over 900 of the time-saving enhancement solutions contained in the workbook ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2 ONE-CLICK WOW! From working with the shapes gallery and tinting photos to WOW custom overlays for framing and their differences, ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2 users will find the WOW manual packed with important tools for quick, pro results. Digital photographers will find Scott Kelby's THE PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS BOOK FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (0735713928, $29.99) focuses on two facets: the program's capabilities and the digital photographer's techniques. It shows 'how to do it' through examples and specific tips on choosing settings: then it tells why these settings work over other choices. Kelby edits Photoshop User magazine and trains thousands of digital photographers: their questions and experiences form the foundation of a training manual which comes packed with step-by-step color photo examples to demonstrate how altered photos differ depending on techniques. Katrin Eismann and Wayne Palmer's third edition of PHOTOSHOP RESTORATION & RETOUCHING (0321316274, $49.99) narrows the focus to just retouching and restoration techniques, which is the heart of the Photoshop experience. The original book has been extensively updated and revised to cover all the important features in the latest Adobe Photoshop CS2, while the same step-by-step instructions cover tools, techniques, and results used by designers, restoration studios, and professional glamour photographers. New example images illustrate the tutorials while chapters cover such practical basics as how to rescue damaged heirloom originals suffering from cracks, tears and missing images, and how to change photos into works of art through tinting. All these are excellent coverages Photoshop owners must have as basic references. Dan Cederolm's BULLETPROOF WEB DESIGN (0321346939, $39.99) goes beyond visual appeal, telling how to build a web site adaptable to a range of situations to reach the widest possible audience. These dual focuses contribute to chapters which outlines strategies for building lasting designs which are flexible, readable, and use-controlled. BULLETPROOF WEB DESIGN does more than 'tell': it 'shows' through a series of before-and-after examples which take 'unbulletproof' designs and transforms them through make-overs using XHTML and CSS. Recommended for web builders who know code and aren't afraid to use it.

No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.nostarch.com

Tony Bove's JUST SAY NO TO MICROSOFT: HOW TO DITCH MICROSOFT AND WHY IT'S NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK (159327964X, $24.95) is for any who have doubts about Microsoft's products and patches. Introductory chapters cover all its flaws and move on to explain how one's PC can be liberated from Microsoft products entirely. Chapters provide background history of Microsoft, detail its practices which have discouraged innovation and competition, and explains how competing operating systems work and how users can obtain and use these systems. Finally: a clear history and explanation of Microsoft's pitfalls and how to overcome them - by switching to an alternative that works. Brian D. Eubanks' WICKED COOL JAVA: CODE BITS, OPEN-SOURCE LIBRARIES, AND PROJECT IDEAS (1593270615, $29.95) is for Java coders who want to tweak and streamline the code they use. Here's an idea sourcebook offering over a hundred tips, examples and project ideas, from working with Semantic Web and converting a non-XML text structure using a parser generator to working with open-source class libraries and reusuing codes based on free Java projects. Essential for any experienced Java programmer who wants more.

Ship It!
Jared Richardson & William Gwaltney Jr.
Pragmatic Bookshelf
9650 Strickland Road, Suite 103-255, Raleigh, NC 27615
0974514047 $29.95 www.pragmaticprogrammer.com

SHIP IT! A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL SOFTWARE PROJECTS is for any developer who works on or manages a project and wants to make both project and team more efficient. Get software out the door and working right in short order with SHIP IT!, which offers details on how to review code, how to know when to experiment and when to streamline processes, and how to build reliable products. Especially recommended for project managers who often experience delays and want to overcome them.

Spam Wars
Danny Goodman
SelectBooks Inc.
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, New York City, NY 10003
1590790634 $17.95 www.selectbooks.com

How do spammers select their targets, make money on gaining email addresses, and gain information just from a preview of a spam message? How spammers and hackers work is revealed by veteran technology interpreter Danny Goodman in SPAM WARS: OUR LAST BEST CHANCE TO DEFEAT SPAMMERS, SCAMMERS, AND HACKERS. Chapters tell how criminals and scammers operate, how they use the email system, and when anti-spam technology and laws can't help. It also provides tips on how users can protect themselves and their email against attack. An invaluable, important guide.

DaVinci Engineering Press
c/o Thompson/Delmar Learning
10 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com

Two excellent advanced computer user's course guides from Da Vinci Engineering will attract college-level students and are recommended picks for classroom learning in particular. Bruce F. Katz's DIGITAL DESIGN: FROM GATES TO INTELLIGENT MACHINES (1584503742, $59.95) provides a detailed introduction to the art of digital circuit design, from the basics of boolean algebra to sequential design and memory circuits. This is no theoretical overview: it provides precise instruction on how to construct a working computer from these circuits, includes descriptions of how intelligent behavior can extend digital principles, and covers the science and art of computer engineering basics. A CD-ROM solidifies the effort with details, examples, and more. Nazeih M. Botros' HDL PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS: VHDL AND VERILOG (1584508558, $59.95) includes a cd of code for all the full programs from the book plus detailed in-depth descriptions of ASIC and FPGAs, as well as an overview of CAD tools. HDL is a CAD tool which offers designers a more efficient way for synthesizing chip designs, and this book is the master teacher of HDL fundamentals, covering both IEEE standardized languages VHDL and Verilog. Highly recommended for advanced students.

Apache Derby-Off to Races
Paul C. Zikopoulos, et.al.
IBM Press
Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0131855255 $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Apache Derby is the only open source, pure Java RDBMS database and APACHE DERBY-OFF TO THE RACES comes from IBM's own database experts and tells how to make the most of Derby and its commercial counterpart IBM Cloudscape. Learn how to support development efforts, install Derby on both Windows and Linux systems, how to understand how programming languages interact with them, and build sample applications step-by-step: everything is here to learn the fundamentals and troubleshoot virtually any problem.


The Art Shelf

Francis Bacon's Studio
Margarita Cappock
Merrell
49 West 24th Street, 8th Floor, New York NY 10010
1858942764 $59.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

His London studio, portrayed on the cover of FRANCIS BACON'S STUDIO, may look like a mess, but Francis Bacon was one of the most significant post-war painters and his studio, both home and workplace, was key to producing his art. His studio housed thousands of items central to his works and has been untouched since his death in 1992: it was donated in 1998 to the Dublin City Gallery and today curators have made it into a showpiece and work of art itself. The studio's deconstruction revealed over 7,500 objects from photos to illustrated publications, slashed canvases and his final unfinished work: FRANCIS BACON'S STUDIO provides the first in-depth survey of the studio and is essential for art library holdings and any student of Bacon's works.

Ghost Ranch
Lesley Poling-Kempes
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, #102, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816523479 $22.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu

For over a century Ghost Ranch has attracted creative people to the high desert of northern New Mexico: it was the beloved place of artist Georgia O'Keeffe's life, and her portraits of Ghost Ranch lent it international acclaim. Historian Lesley Poling-Kempes here tells the history of Ghost Ranch, from its origins as a hideout for outlaws to a cultural mecca. Hers is a history packed with regional history, art insights, and more, and is a recommended pick for any who would understand the life and art of O'Keeffe and the influence of northern New Mexico on her art.

Amana Style
Marjorie K. Albers & Peter Hoehnle
Penfield Books
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, IA 52245-5801
1932043314 $14.95 www.penfieldbooks.com

AMANA STYLE: FURNITURE, ARTS, CRAFTS, ARCHITECTURE & GARDENS explores the rich arts and crafts heritage of the German immigrants who settled in the Amana Colonies of Iowa, bringing with them traditions which continue to this day. Many of the buildings and arts have distinctive Germanic roots, and two historians whose ancestors have roots in Amana traditions discuss unique characteristics and features of Amana style, from its tendency to be unsigned and anonymous to how the feel and scope of Amana differs. From willow baskets to youth chairs, Amana's traditions receive a fine blend of history and personal insights.

Vermeer
Christopher Wright
Chaucer Press
20 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3JH
International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756
1904449379 $35.95

Vermeer of Delft was one of the most respected local Dutch artists of the 17th century - but his reputation didn't spread beyond his native Delft until some two hundred years later. Any who would understand Vermeer in depth must have art historian Christopher Wright's survey: it examines Vermeer's early life and work and finds he copied and even altered the Dutch and Italian masters to suit local tastes, eventually developing his own unique style. From analysis of his major masterpieces to discussions of art critic doubts and prior analysis, VERMEER provides an outstanding, detailed study packed with full-page examples of his works.

The Bayeux Tapestry
Lucien Musset
Boydell Press
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
1843831635 $49.95 www.boydell.co.uk

THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY could also have been featured in our history shelf; but it's reviewed here for its appeal and importance to fiber artists as well. The Tapestry is one of the most notable achievements of the Norman Romanesque period, surviving intact for over nine centuries when even cities have fallen. It was entrusted by Napoleon to the citizens of Bayeux and today is displayed in a local gallery. The history of 11th century England and Normandy is surveyed along with the artistic importance of the Tapestry in a title which doesn't intend to revolutionize the study of the piece, but to survey reliable scholarship on the subject. Chapters take a scene-by-scene approach and analyze both historical and artistic elements of the Tapestry while Richard Rex's translation provides smooth enlightenment.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Mythology
Chip Kidd & Geoff Spear
Pantheon
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0375714626 $24.95 1-800-726-0600 www.dccomincs.com www.pantheonbooks.com

DC comics fans who love comic art collections must have MYTHOLOGY: THE DC COMICS ART OF ALEX ROSS: it's a newly expanded paperwork edition of the original and displays all the comic book characters Ross' art brought to life over the decades, from Superman and Flash to Green Lantern. Included also is Ross' new comic book series Justice, new sketches, and an oversized coffee-table format which helps display and profile, in full color, Ross' entire line of DC Comics superheroes. An original Superman and Batman story written by graphic designer Chip Kidd, a re-telling of Robin's origin written by Paul Dini, plus new prototypes produced in the two years since the hardcover MYTHOLOGY appeared makes this paperwork a winner genre fans must own.

Checker Book Publishing Group
227 Byers Road, Suite 201, Miamisburg, OH 45342
www.checkerbpg.com

Checker's graphic novels and comic histories provide excellent insights and classic portraits, and are highly recommended picks. Especially notable are two recent arrivals. THE EARLY WORKS OF DR. SEUSS V. 1 by Theodore Seuss Geisel (1933160012, $22.95) launches a new series of collections which returns to print his earliest works before his children's books became so famous. THE EARLY WORKS OF DR. SEUSS V. ONE could have been featured in our children's issued but is reviewed here for its wider- reaching audience of all ages who have long been Dr. Seuss fans, who would appreciate a collection of hard-to-find Seuss works. Such works come from pamphlets, ads, short stories, cartoons and more: dozens of illustrations restored and reprinted in full-page presentations in black and white. A wonderful cross- section of Seuss works demonstrates the broad range of his pre-children's era. Alex Raymond's FLASH GORDON Volume 3 (193316025X, $19.95) is comic art in book form at its best: full color pages pack in chapters of 'Forest Kingdom of Mongo', produced between the fall of 1936 and January 1937, and continues with follow-ups 'Beast Men of Mongo, 'Tusk Men of Mongo', and 'Outlaws of Mongo'. Fast-paced action and high drama makes these color cartoon strips as action-packed and intriguing for new audiences as when they appeared in the 1930s.

Blankets
Craig Thompson
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA 36001-1282
1891830430 $29.95 www.topshelfcomix.com

Most graphic novels are relatively slim, attesting to the amount of effort involved in evolving a graphic plot: not so BLANKETS, which sports nearly 600 pages of black and white illustration and offers up a blend of autobiography and a close inspection of romance and involvement. BLANKETS is an important achievement in graphic art: it covers fundamentalist belief, love, and life's transitions in much more depth than graphic novels usually offer. Very highly recommended.

Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan: The Joe Kubert Years V. 1
Joe Kubert
Dark Horse Books
10956 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
1593074042 $49.95 www.darkhorse.com

Tarzan like you've never seen him is expanded upon and portrayed in living color by dynamic graphic artist Joe Kubert, who produces a vivid set of tales and provides archived drawings with color restoration based off of Tatjana Wood's original colors. This collection reprints the first eight issues of Joe Kubert's classic Tarzan comic series: works done at the height of his career. Two audiences will relish this collection and must own it: Kubert fans, and Tarzan fans. Each will find the full-color presentation provides high-quality reproduction and an uninterrupted set of adventures. Very highly recommended: a classic keepsake.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Notes on Directing
Frank Hauser & Russell Reich
RCR Creative Press
c/o Pathway Book Service
4 White Brook Road, Gilsum, NH 03448
0972425500 $19.95 www.rcrcreative.com

If you seek to be a director, you must have NOTES ON DIRECTING: it looks small but it packs in notes gathered by British director Frank Hauser for his apprentice - notes which came from a long career in the industry. Hauser shared these with many famous theatrical and cinematic figures from Richard Burton to Sir Alec Guinness: now the former student expands upon his mentor's private notes to provide a book-length treatise appropriate for any student of directing. Chapters are packed with advice, explanations, quotes, examples, and insights into the director's role: a 'must' for any who would assume such a mantle.

Offensive Films
Mikita Brottman
Vanderbilt University Press
VU Station B 351813, Nashville, TN 37235
082651491X $24.95 www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com

Here's a unique approach: a survey of movies so offensive, some are nearly unwatchable. Here are your classic B films, your films which sparked controversies, and your productions featuring freaks, shocks, and more. But OFFENSIVE FILMS isn't just a listing of plots: it provides social commentary, film criticism, and psychoanalysis alike to discern what makes the production offensive, obscene or strange. An excellent survey into the offensive world of cinematic productions which forces readers to reflect on shock values and their methods and intentions.

Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York NY 10017
www.newmarketpress.com

TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE: AN INVITATION TO THE WEDDING (1557046999 $19.95) is the lush movie book accompaniment to tie into the release of TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE, and includes a foreword by Burton, details on his film, storyboards, his drawings, and more. It arrived too late for more timely holiday mention but the movie is certain to be a hit for many months and any viewer or would-be viewer will continue to find TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE an excellent guide to the movie. The shooting script of WAR OF THE WORLDS (1557047014, $19.95) based on H.G. Wells' classic science fiction tale will also attract specialty movie-going fans, with a screenplay by Josh Friedman and David Koepp paired with a centerfold of color photos from the film. Wells's novel was a radio show, a movie, and even a rock musical: the shooting script book includes its screenplay, an introduction by screenwriter David Koepp, and more.

Upstaged
Anne Nicholson Weber
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
0878301860, $22.95 www.routledge-ny.com

Live theatre has struggled to find its place in a changing world since the 'talkies' came to the big screen - but how does the screen affect modern individual theatre artists and movements, and how does its presentations affect what audiences expect from the theatre? Ann Nicholson Weber's UPSTAGED: MAKING THEATRE IN THE MEDIA AGE provides essays by leading actors, playwrights, directors, producers, agents and more, presenting interviews and conversations which explain the role of the theatre, myths, and acting in modern times. From insights into making a living as a stage actor to facing technological changes, UPSTAGED packs in plenty of tips and insights.

Change Your Underwear Twice a Week
Danny Gregory
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1579652638 $18.95 www.artisanbooks.com

Before the Internet, before the VCR, there was the audiovisual classroom filmstrip which taught kids many fundamentals about hygiene, farming, etiquette, and more. Relive the messages and days of these strips with CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR TWICE A WEEK: LESSONS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF CLASSROOM FILMSTRIPS. From the space program to daily life, the American filmstrip, the companies and creators who produced them, and their marketing to American classrooms are revealed in an engaging history which compliments commentary with pictures from the strips. A 'must' for any who would research filmstrip history and marketing.

The Complete DVD Book
Chris Gore & Paul J. Salamoff
Michael Wiese
11288 Ventura Boulevard, #621, Studio City, CA 91604
1932907092 $26.95 www.mwp.com

There's a host of tips on burning DVDs that Hollywood doesn't wish you to know: even if you're not making an independent video, these tips alone make THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK: DESIGNING, PRODUCING, AND MARKETING YOUR INDEPENDENT FILM ON VIDEO worth the price tag. And for those who are involved in independent filmmaking, THE COMPLETE DVD BOOK is a virtual goldmine of detail on how to produce high-quality DVDs similar to major studio products - but without the big-ticket budget. There are DVD templates, listings of designers, suppliers, distributors, tips on publicity and more: everything you need to produce a professional-quality dvd. Very highly recommended: the basic, essential reference all independent filmmakers should have close at hand.

Letters from Backstage
Michael Kostroff
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd Street, #510, New York NY 10010
1581154410 $19.95 www.allworth.com

What is it like to be a touring stage actor? Author Michael Kostroff's childhood dream came true when he was cast in national tours of two plays: his story of life on the road comes to life in LETTERS FROM BACKSTAGE: THE ADVENTURES OF A TOURING STAGE ACTOR, which began as a series of emails to friends at home and evolved into a handbook of adventure. From hotels and old theatres to onstage mishaps and lovely old theaters, all the way down to the nuts and bolts of how touring stage actors handle typical challenges, LETTERS FROM BACKSTAGE brings it all to life.

The X List
Jami Bernard, Editor
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306814455 $17.50 www.dacapopress.com

THE X LIST: THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS' GUIDE TO THE MOVIES THAT TURN US ON is an outstanding guide for any movie buff: primarily those 'x' rated. There's a lot of fluff and junk in the soft-core porn industry, as any viewer of the genre might now: THE X LIST is thus more important to such viewers than your ordinary movie list, as X films typically are not much discussed in general circles. Chosen for feature are erotic movies which have 'changed, challenged, enhanced or perverted' America's take on eroticism. Listings aren't just one-paragraph descriptions: they go into quite some depth and critical detail on what makes the film notable or erotic.


The Criminology Shelf

Tales from the Morgue
Cyril Wecht, MD, JD & Mark Curriden w/ Angela Powell
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
159102353X $26.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Dr. Cyril Wecht is one of the most sought-after forensic pathologists in the world: his expertise lends to providing proof that runs counter to popular opinion and his scientific expertise reads well for lay readers fascinated by true crime investigations. TALES FROM THE MORGUE: FORENSIC ANSWERS TO NINE FAMOUS CASES tackles high-profile cases from Scott Peterson's murder of his wife and unborn child to the assassination of President Kennedy and the death of Marilyn Monroe. Dr. Wecht reveals methods, evidence, trials, and pathology techniques in a lively discourse which reads like a thrilling murder mystery of nine famous cases. Fascinating reading and a lively writing style lend to TALES FROM THE MORGUE 's appeal to a wide general-interest audience.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Place That Scares You
Pema Chodron
Shambhala
Horticultural Hall
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
1690302656 $16.95 www.shambhala.com

Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist and a student of Trungpa, the Tibetan meditation master: her teachings on choice and courage shine in THE PLACES THAT SCARE YOU: A GUIDE TO FEARLESSNESS IN DIFFICULT TIMES. Here are tools to deal with problems, and methods for unblocking avenues for resolution, provided in chapters which cover everything from cultivating qualities which lend to insight to understanding common enemies of compassion. An excellent survey of faith and meaning based on Buddhist principles.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Inner Traditions/Destiny
1 Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.InnerTraditions.com

Personal experience blends with ancient teachings in Robert Moss's THE DREAMER'S BOOK OF THE DEAD: A SOUL TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO DEATH, DYING, AND THE OTHER SIDE (1594770379 $16.95) which offers accounts of death and its survival. Author Robert Moss survived three near-death experiences in childhood and has been dreaming of the departed all his life: DREAMER'S BOOK OF THE DEAD is nearly an escort service, offering insights on dreams, the afterlife, and healing. Alexandra Leclere's SEEING THE DEAD, TALKING WITH SPIRITS: SHAMANIC HEALING THROUGH CONTACT WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD (1594770832, $14.95) tells of one woman's discovery of her ability to heal through spirit contact. Alexandra Leclere was a TV producer, not a psychic, when she discovered her talent after an alternative healing session. Her interest in and research on spiritual healing brought her into contact with shamans and healers and brought with it the discovery that she could see spirits. A fine first-person account of how these revelations changed her life.

The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans
Migene Gonzalez-Wippler
Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
087542287X $14.95 1-800-843-6666 www.llewellyn.com

There are numerous amulets and talismans which provide comfort and protection - both healing powers and defenses against evil - and COMPLETE BOOK OF AMULETS & TALISMANS covers them all; from the Star of David and the Crucifix to natural amulets from Hindu and third world traditions. Both the history and the uses of amulets around the world are presented in a guide which explains magical properties of hundreds of symbols and shows how to create and empower a personal talisman.

New Page/Career Press
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.newpagebooks.com

Two excellent guides provide very different angles and aspects on magic. D.J. Conway's ELEMENTAL MAGICK: MEDITATIONS, EXERCISES, SPELLS AND RITUALS TO HELP YOU CONNECT WITH NATURE (1564148335, $13.99) provides advanced techniques for using the Elements in alchemy and magic, showing how the Elemental energies can be a basic foundation element in alchemy efforts alone. Chapters explain spirits which are associated with each Element, how they interact with humans, and how to balance them. Shanddaramon's LIVING PAGANISM: AN ADVANCED GUIDE FOR THE SOLITARY PRACTITIONER (1564148254, $14.99) tells practitioners how to use connecting spiritual practices to become more connected to cycles of life. From learning how to develop Pagan spiritual goals to becoming an active participant in cosmic cycles, LIVING PAGANISM continues Shanddaramon's teachings, begun in SELF-INITIATION FOR THE SOLITARY WITCH.

Not in Kansas Anymore
Christine Wicker
HarperSanFrancisco
353 Sacramento Street, #500, San Francisco CA 94111-3653
0060726784 $24.95 www.harpercollins.com

Magic is taking hold in modern American society, as evidenced by widespread interest in the supernatural from ghosts to voodoo magic and good luck chants: the movement receives close inspection in NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE: A CURIOUS TALE OF HOW MAGIC IS TRANSFORMING AMERICA. From practicing Wiccan communities to the increasing presence of magical interests in standard American settings such as the suburban family, NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE comes from a religion reporter who searches for what's authentic and what is fake in America's new magical involvements. A most intriguing study blends history, sociology and spiritual investigation.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flannery Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu

Mawil Izzi Dien's ISLAMIC LAW FROM HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS TO CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE (0268031746, $15.00) surveys Islamic law using a unique blend of Western and Islamic views, considering original theories of Islamic law, views of modern writers, and providing key insights in the history and formation of Islamic law. Dien is himself a lawyer by profession and has taught Islamic Law for years: his introduction assumes no legal or Muslim knowledge and provides an excellent, easy introduction to the topic for college-level readers. Marcia L. Colish's AMBROSE'S PATRIARCHS (0268023654, $15.00) is also an excellent survey which offers the only monograph-length study of the treatises of Ambrose of Milan, which developed an early ethics set for the laity in c. 340-397. College-level lay audiences will appreciate the study of Ambrose's patriarch treatises which were aimed at those outside the church.

Penfield Books
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, IA 52245-5801
www.penfieldbooks.com

F. Alan DuVal's CHRISTIAN METZ: GERMAN-AMERICN RELIGIOUS LEADER & PIONEER (1932043330, $14.95) surveys the life and influence of the early founder of Amana, who created the Community of True Inspriation, a Pietist sect that founded by the Amana Society in Iowa in 1855. The Amana Colonies still stand today: F. Alan DuVal produced a doctoral dissertation on the man's life and meaning in 1948, and Peter Hoehnle edits the biography for modern readers. Laura E. Gentry's LIVING WORD (1932043322, $14.95) gathers portraits of individuals who wear a t-shirt with one word to define him or her self. The insights are both spiritual and psychological, with LIVING WORD an intentionally religious title meant to describe how the word of God manifests in daily life. All ages and colors receive representation and black and white photos paired with descriptive insights of each word's meaning.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Skylight Paths Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
1594731098 $16.99 www.skylightpaths.com

Students of the Bible who wish a survey of feminist teachings in biblical literature will find a fine survey which provides explanations of Sophia's way of wisdom in THE DIVINE FEMININE IN BIBLICAL WISDOM LITERATURE: a gathering of selections annotated and explained with facing-page commentary. Readers may be surprised to learn there is a feminine aspect to the Old Testament, and may not know about Wisdom Literature: Wisdom Literature combines four Hebrew books of the Old Testament with two Greek texts and provides passages which are excellent commentaries on feminine aspects of spiritual traditions.

Shidduchim Shalom Bayis And Beyond
Rabbi Nisson Wolpin
Artscroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd.
4401 - 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
9781422600254 $20.99 www.artscroll.com

Plenty of articles and books tell how to build Jewish homes and lives: but here's a reminder which gets back to the basics: a focus on what the Torah would say and what mesorah, or Jewish traditions, teach about building Jewish homes and lives. Torah perspectives are offered by scholar Rabbi Nisson Wolpin, who gathers commentary and articles culled from Jewish Observe archives. Over 40 articles discuss such topics as guidelines for dating, courtship and marriage, combating crowded social calendars, and taking care before marriage.

Gateway to Judaism
Rabbi Mordechai Becher
Shaar Press/Mesorah Publications, dist.
4401 - 2nd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
9781422600300 $24.99 www.artscroll.com www.gatewaysonline.com

GATEWAY TO JUDAISM: THE WHAT, HOW, AND WHY OF JEWISH LIFE is an insider's look at the values and practices of modern Judaism. Rabi Becher is a senior outreach expert with Gateways Seminars, helping thousands re-connect to their Jewish heritage. As such a leader, he was often asked for a single book to 'explain it all' - and GATEWAY TO JUDAISM is his answer, covering everything from Sabbath and traditional rituals in modern times to understanding both religious sentiments and social impacts of Judaism in everyday life.

Jewish Lights Publishing
P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com

Two outstanding Jewish surveys are highly recommended as basic picks for any Jewish library collection. Rav Michael Laitman, Ph.D.'s AWAKENING TO KABBALAH: THE GUIDING LIGHT OF SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT (1580232647, $21.99) blends spirituality and mysticism in its survey of a science which handles drawing closer to the Creator. His study considers Kabbalah as a system and considers how the Creator handles such a system, showing how a study of Kabbalah can help direct individuals to success. From understanding how Kabbalah relates to life to considering how its basic teachings apply to the world, AWAKENING TO KABBALAH is an important guide indeed. Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins edits YOM KIPPUR READINGS: INSPRIATION INFORMATION CONTEMPLATION (158023271X, $24.99) uses a range of sources, from ancient to modern, Jewish and non-Jewish, to provide a set of readings, prayers and inspirational reflections on the themes addressed on Yom Kippur, surveying the basics and spirit of the holiday season and its relationship to both God and community. From themes of forgiveness and faith to customs and rituals, this reader makes an important point of discussion for both families and classes surveying Yom Kippur's ongoing meaning and history.

Choosing to Be Jewish
Rabbi Marc D. Angel
KATV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881258903 $20.00

Every year thousands around the world convert to Judaism: Orthodox rabbi Marc Angel makes the case for conversion and discusses Jewish laws relating to it in CHOOSING TO BE JEWISH: THE ORTHODOX ROAD TO CONVERSION. Chapters discuss both the history of conversion and its halakhic community relationships, presenting Orthodoxy approaches to conversion which is designed to help maintain Jewish community unity.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

When You Work for a Bully
Susan Futterman
Croce Publishing
PO Box 339, Montvale, NJ 97645-0339
0971953880 $15.95 www.crocepublishing.com

Employees who work for a bully face daily and constant confrontation with little recourse - but WHEN YOU WORK FOR A BULLY: ASSESSING YOUR OPTIONS AND TAKING ACTION offers such recourse, from exit strategies to leave an abusive situation to learning how to identify a bully and utilizing self-defense tactics to keep ego intact. From financial concerns to preserving job integrity and seeking government assistance, WHEN YOU WORK FOR A BULLY juxtaposes case history examples with practical tips. Very highly recommended: it provides specifics rather than theory.


The Business Shelf

Let My People Go Surfing
Yvon Chouinard
Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3657
1594200726 $26.95 www.penguin.com

Patagonia Inc. is one of the world's most inspiring companies, making outdoor gear with the least environment impact and devoting much of its earnings to social causes. Its found Yvon Chouinard is himself an outdoorsman and environmentalist, and provides a blend of business insight and autobiography in LET MY PEOPLE GO SURFING: THE EDUCATION OF A RELUCTANT BUSINESSMAN. He became a world-class mountain climber at a young age and then entered the world of climbing equipment, specializing in equipment that produced less environmental damage than any other on the market. His survey tells how business goals can still mix in play, conscious habits, and social duty. Truly eye-opening.

Knock the Hustle
Hadji J.S. Williams
Prodigal Pen
Box 236, Chicago, IL 60657
www.prodigalpen.com
1932523006 $24.95

Hadji Williams is a 13-year veteran of the advertising and marketing industries, but don't expect your standard business approach with KNOCK THE HUSTLE: HOW TO SAVE YOUR JOB AND YOUR LIFE FROM CORPORATE AMERICA: it parallels his life on Chicago's South side with his straight-laced corporate career at major advertising and marketing forms working on Fortune 500 accounts, and provides a satisfying, diverse mix of cautionary tales, outrageous incidents, case studies, and candid insights on business 'friendships', corporate dress codes, and more. The first-person rappy/chatty tone and realistic assessments should especially appeal to x-generation up-and-coming young business participants who will here find substance and assessments of the pros and cons of the work world and how to survive in it.

Championship Selling
Tom Blake, Tom Hodson, Tony Enrico
John Wiley & Sons
6045 Freemont Boulevard, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5R 4J3
047083675X $26.95 www.saleschampionship.com

Three of North America's most respected sales leaders present a call to action urging companies and salespeople to change behaviors to keep up with a modern competitive business environment: this call isn't unusual; but what is unusual is its result: CHAMPIONSHIP SELLING; A BLUEPRINT FOR WINNING WITH TODAY'S CONSUMER. The book emphasizes that business building strategies need to be at the top of the drive for business success - and it tells how to hone customer-focused processes to do so. Chapters focus on common barriers to communications and effective listening, and how they may be overcome. This isn't just theory, either: the authors have worked with businesses and presented the principles of CHAMPIONSHIP SELLING, to see businesses increase by 30% or more.

Wal Mart: The High Cost Of Low Price
Greg Spotts
Disinformation
163 - 3rd Avenue, #108, New York NY 10003
1932857249 $9.95 www.disinfo.com

This companion to Robert Greenwald's documentary WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE provides a behind-the-scenes focus on both the making of the film and the grass-roots pressure campaign challenging the world's biggest business. Greenwald and his crew went on a nine-month underground investigation kept secret from Wal-Mart as they put together their film: Spotts received unlimited access to the filmmakers and reveals their tactics, objectives, and how political filmmaking is changing businesses and the film world alike. It's hard to easily categorize this book - it could just as easily have been featured in our film column - but businesses shouldn't miss the discussion of the film methods and focus, which hold wide-reaching implications for future political film surveys of business inner circles.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Context
John Meaney
Pyr/Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
591023351 $25.00 www.pyrsf.com

Nulapeiron is a world which has been isolated for twelve centuries, which occupies a subterranean strata ruled by an aristocracy - until revolution within the ranks changes everything. Now the new Lord Tom Corcorigan, a commoner-turned-noble who renounced his powers, is wounded and must meet with a mysterious Seer who might save him. CONTEXT is a sequel to PARADOX and the second book in the Nulapeiron Sequence: familiarity with PARADOX is recommended for an easier introduction to the complex world receiving ongoing drama in CONTEXT.

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
Don D'Ammassa
Facts on File
132 West 31st Street, 17th foor, New York NY 10001
0816059241 $65.00 www.factsonfile.com

Plenty of books analyze the world of science fiction, but few narrow the focus to literary impact, as does ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE LIVES AND WORKS OF SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS. College-level readers receive a comprehensive A-Z reference of over 500 entries for both authors and works, placing the writer and achievements in perspective of literary merits and including a bibliography, glossary of terms, and survey of the basic science fiction literary movements which evolved. Even peripheral writers like Stephen King who have made definitive marks on the genre receive recognition in this fine, college-level reference.

Ace Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Patricia A. McKillip's HARROWING THE DRAGON (0441013600, $23.95) is a must for any prior fan or any fan of fantasy: it presents a culmination of twenty-five years of her works, gathering an anthology of the best of her stories of dragons, princesses, and heroes. Old fans won't be disappointed, either: it gathers such stories from her previously unpublished works and thus provides a fresh group for fans. Jack McDevitt's SEEKER (0441013295, $24.95) is set towards the end of the 27th century and provides a science fiction mystery revolving around an antiquities collector's mysterious find. A vanished colony involves Alex in a strange artifact which brings him to the heart of the answer to their whereabouts in a fast-paced blend of detective work and hard science fiction.


The Music Shelf

Ain't Got No Cigarettes
Lyle E. Style
Great Plains Publications
420-70 Arthur Street, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3B 1G7
1894283600 $19.95 www.greatplains.mb.ca

It's surprising to note that despite his fame, AIN'T GOT NO CIGARETTES: MEMORIES OF MUSIC LEGEND ROGER MILLER is the first book to cover his life. Miller's rise to fame was sudden and sensational - unprecedented by any songwriter in Nashville in the 1960s - and his hits reached far beyond country audiences to involve mainstream listeners. AIN'T GOT NO CIGARETTES uses interviews from celebrities and everyday listeners alike to provide stories about the legend from his peers, friends, and fans. A powerful celebration of his life evolves.

Plexus Publishing Ltd.
110 Riverside Drive, Apt. 5f, New York NY 10024
www.plexusbooks.com

Malcolm Butt's SID VICIOUS: ROCK N ROLL STAR (0859653730, $19.95) is an important read for any who are familiar with Sid Vicious and know about his sensational, controversial background. Unlike other reports and surveys, Malcolm Butt's account comes from an insider's standpoint and reveals Vicious' childhood, his introduction to the Pistols, and his declines in a world of mental illness and heroin. A strong background knowledge of the punk scene in general, not just the Sex Pistols and Sid Vicious in particular, lends a well-rounded touch to the biography of Sid's 21 years of life. Add candid black and white photos of the group and its leader and insights into Sid's mental state and you have an authoritative coverage which is required reading for any who would understand the roots and sentiments of punk rock.

Helter Skelter Publishing
Southbank House
Black Prince Road, London SE1 7SJ, UK
www.helterskelterpublishing.com

Jon Collins' RUSH CHEMISTRY (1900924854 $29.95) surveys the lives and achievements of the three stars who make up the rock group Rush: Geddy Lee, Alex Liefson and Neil Peart. Rush has retained the same stars since 1974, and their chemistry has served as a lesson of achievement to a rapidly changing rock world. How did they achieve this importance and stability in rock's notoriously changing universe? RUSH CHEMISTRY is an important key to understanding and tells why the group has lasted over thirty years.

Young People's Concerts
Leonard Bernstein
Amadeus Press
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671022 $22.95 www.amadeuspress.com

YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS by Bernstein was based on his televised lectures with the New York Philharmonic, written in response to the shows' popularity. This book gathers fifteen of the best of these fifty-three transcripts, providing lectures which capture the meaning and joy of music for young audiences. From identifying the basic elements which comprise classical music to showing how musicians slip humor into music and how folk music works in the concert hall, Bernstein's YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS is the next best thing to a college course - and the concerts come on DVD elsewhere if musical augmentation is required.


The Sports Shelf

Stop the Presses So I Can Get Off
Clyde Bolton
University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
081735252X $25.00 www.uapress.ua.edu

Writing sports must be a great way to make a living - or so you would think. The realities of sports writing are brought to life in STOP THE PRESSES (SO I CAN GET OFF): TALES FROM 40 YEARS OF SPORTS WRITING - and such a collection it is! From the SEC and Nextel Cup circuit to high school sports, Bolton has covered all the high points - and herein tells their tales. He wrote about almost every kind of sporting event in his state and STOP THE PRESES SO I CAN GET OFF reveals his lively life in the sports world.

Complete Guide to Wing Shooting
Alex Brant
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
1592286488 $27.95 1-800-836-0510 www.LyonsPress.com

Any hunter narrowing his focus to wing shooting simply must have THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WING SHOOTING: THE ULTIMATE HANDBOOK TO A SPECIALIZED SPORT in hand: it provides hunters with a primer beginning with the fundamentals and moving to safety, etiquette, choosing autoloaders and considering barrels, and much more. Discussions with experts cover any pros and cons of equipment choice or methodology, while chapters pack in detail and even some color photos.

Tiger Woods
Lawrence J. Londino
Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
0313331219 $29.95 www.greenwood.com

TIGER WOODS: A BIOGRAPHY brings the world of golf in general and the achievements of Tiger Woods in particular to life, providing a biographical which examines his participation in the sport, its particular demands, and how he lived up to his potential. A timeline of events highlights the high points, while discussions of Afro-American rights and PGA requirements provide the well-rounded background.


The Gaming Shelf

Dungeon Master's Guide Core Rulebook II V. 3.5
Wizards of the Coast Inc.
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98075-6496
0786939427 $75.00 www.wizards.com/dnd

The CORE RULEBOOK II V. 3.5 is a 'must' for any Dungeon and Dragons player: it's a special edition for collectors bound in a handsome black leatherette cover with silver edging on pages and a handsome reprint of the v.3.5 rules, updated to include the most current rules errata. Blend the updates into your DND game and become a better Dungeon master with this handbook, which helps newcomers grow into Masters and helps those with background to improve. From the foundations of DND, from styles and playing to using rules, handling nonplaying characters, creating campaigns, handling magic items and more, each chapter comes packed with DND management tips, encounter levels, instructions and tables and charts. Power levels, ability scores, teams and player directions pack rules which are meant to keep DND vital and moving. A 'must' for any would-be Dungeon Master.

The Book of Bluffs
Matt Lessinger
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0446695629 $13.95 www.twbookmark.com

Nothing is more intrinsic to the game of poker than the bluff: it takes real talent to win with the worst cards and poker tips excel when they teach great bluff strategies. That's why THE BOOK OF BLUFFS: HOW TO BLUFF AND WIN AT POKER is essential for any avid player who would develop an effective bluffing strategy: it comes from the columnist of Card Player Magazine and covers all kinds of bluffing situations, tells how to read opponents who defy buffing, how to locate weaknesses, and how to do different types of bluffs.


The Needlecraft Shelf

KP Books/F&W, dist.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001

Learn how to create your own 'picture knits' and learn from over fifty designs and motifs in a knitter's guide which tells how to produce unique knitted giftware incorporating pictures from flowers and animals to alphabets and themes. Betty Barnden 's PICTURE KNITS: EASY DESIGNS FOR THE NOVICE KNITTER (0896891534 $24.99) provides patterns, ideas, options, and assembly instructions for sweaters, hats, panels and all kinds of motifs. Beginners will love the idea they can produce something custom and unique with relatively few skills. Cindy Crandall-Frazier's SINGLE CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS (0896891763, $22.99) is the perfect guide to begin with if you have no prior experience crocheting. Easy bags, hats, scarves and useful small pieces accompany step-by-step easy instructions and plenty of color photos throughout. Materials lists, skills levels and size of project all are quick to discern.

Compassionate Knitting
Tara Jon Manning
Tuttle Publishing
Airport Business Park, 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05795-9436
0804837074 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Twenty original knitting projects within are meant to convey a special meaning to the project, whether it be a good luck symbol, serenity, or imparting confidence, and noted knitwear designer Tara Jon Manning shows how to tap into this compassion blending Buddhist philosophy with knitting objectives in a unique blend of spiritual and knitter's guide. Knitters will appreciate the unusual blend which fosters both creative and soulful projects.

Colorful Stitchery
Kristin Nicholas
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, N. Adams, MA 01247
1580176119 $19.95 www.storey.com

Embroidery projects usually focus on clothing, but they can be used to personalize a home, too - as embroiderer Kristin Nicholas demonstrates in COLORFUL STITCHERY: 65 HOT EMBROIDERY PROJECTS TO PERSONALIZE YOUR HOME. From dragonflies on pillows to lap blankets, egg cozies, and more, these colorful embroidery projects lend to gift-giving as much as home embellishment. Each comes with a full-page picture and easy details on fabric choice, notions and stitches.

C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com

Three lovely new titles provide quilters and embroiders with new project ideas. Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins' NEW APPLIQUE SAMPLER: LEARN TO APPLIQUE THE PIECE O'CAKE WAY (157120265X, $26.95) tells how to become a hand applique expert, whether you're right-handed or left- handed. Beginners and those with some applique background will find the instructions easy - and packed with secrets of how to combine pieces, applique effectively, and choose designs. With a new Spring Sampler and updated Applique Sampler paired with step-by-step color project photos throughout, THE NEW APPLIQUE SAMPLER is a winner. Joen Wolfrom's A GARDEN PARTY OF QUILTS: 7 PIECED PROJECTS FOR FLOWER LOVERS (157120301X, $24.95) comes from a color expert who shows how to blend flowers into quilt designs, from tulips to clematis and more. Seven flower quilt projects demonstrate the techniques, using flowers which are completely machine pieced and presenting projects for all skills levels. Step-by-step instructions on piecing, patterns, and color illustrations of everything make it easy to understand how the projects are put together. Ann Fahl's COLORING WITH THREAD: A NO- DRAWING APPROACH TO FREE-MOTION EMBROIDERY (157120296X, $24.95) tells how to use any sewing machine with feed dog drop to create embroidered fabrics. From a student gallery of works by students to step-by-step project instructions packed with color photos throughout and color sidebars of tips and tricks, COLORING WITH THREAD provides a fine new approach to creating enhanced fabrics.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Five new crafter's guides are top picks for any interested in quilting, crochet or knitting. Kirstin Spurkland's CROCHET FROM THE HEART: QUICK PROJECTS FOR GENEROUS LIVING (1564776069, $22.95) combines 18 crochet projects with tips on how to make a difference in the lives of others. From baby booties and blankets to a pet bed, gifts can be made easily to those in need or charities - and there's a list of such charities which will help share crocheted donations. Sophie Britten's BIG KNITTING: QUICK AND EASY DESIGNS WITH CHUNKY YARNS AND FAT NEEDLES (1564776174, $28.95) presents nearly twenty designs for beginners and experienced knitters alike which rely on the latest colorful yarns and the largest knitting needles available. Sophie Britten is an experienced knitting teacher and knitwear designer, so her designs are original and her directions quite clear. Quilters will learn how to get their spaces more efficient through Lois L. hallock's CREATING YOUR PERFECT QUILTING SPACE: SEWING-ROOM MAKEOVERS FOR ANY SPACE AND BUDGET (1564775690, $26.95). You don't need to have a large space or a designer's budget to use CREATING YOUR PERFECT QUILTING SPACE: here are dozens of ideas for transformations based on efficient spaces which have worked for others; from considering shelving and drawer pros and cons to before and after photos of makeovers for small, medium and large spaces. Storing scrap and fabric and patterns for quick access and neat appearance can challenge even the most dedicated of quilters: CREATING YOUR PERFECT QUILTING SPACE offers many design solutions. Janna L. Sheppard's COURTSHIP QUILTS INSPIRED BY THE VICTORIAN LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS (1564776328, $27.95) explains the Victorian tradition of sending messages via flowers - and shows how such may be incorporated into a quilt project. The 11 projects here feature machine applique, strip piecing and lovely borders suitable for framing, and explains the meanings behind various flower choices. Shelley Lynne Robson's SEEING STARS: 16 QUILTED PROJECTS (1564776301, $4.95) provides sampler blocks which can be stitched together month by month, with 15 companion projects ranging from place mats to a mesh tote and the usual quilting choices. From piecing to finishing choices, SEEING STARS provides easy start-to-finish projects.


The Transportation Shelf

Next Stop Honolulu!
Jim Chiddix & MacKinnon Simpson
Sugar Cane Press
PO Box 161201, Honolulu, HI 96816
0970621310 $59.95 http://www.oahurailway.com/

If you're a rail buff you'll already know most rail books focus on the mainland railways and give little recognition to Hawaii: to fill the gap choose NEXT STOP HONOLULU: THE STORY OF THE OAHU RAILWAYS & LAND COMPANY. You can't get any more comprehensive than NEXT STOP HONOLULU, which traces the growth of the Oahu Railway from its roots when a New Englander fell off a rented horse and was stranded in Hawaii to its establishment as an opportunity for the sugar cane industry to become a profitable crop on Oahu. It comes packed with vintage photos, color illustration, maps, charts, reproductions, and history tracing almost sixty years of OR&L achievements. A truly outstanding, definitive achievement.

Black Dog Publishing
Unit 4.04 Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St., London E1 6JJ, UK
www.bdpworld.com

Gilliam Fuller and Ross Harley's AVIOPOLIS: A BOOK ABOUT AIRPOTS (1904772110, $29.95) is a winner surveying airport culture in the first book-length critical study of how information, buildings, people and machines make up a new urban form dominated by logistics. Airport studies may sound obscure but their results have wide-ranging impact on urban studies, city planning, information usage, architectural design, and more. As bodies become integrated into networks of daily life through biometrics and privacy evaporates, the philosophical and practical aspects of AVIOPOLIS become even more intriguing. An excellent survey includes color photo examples of airport interior and exteriors combined with thought- provoking analysis and statements. Kate Trant and Austin Williams' THE MACRO WORLD OF MICRO CARS (1904772048, $29.95) surveys the microcar: once a common sight in towns and cities and touted as solutions to the postwar demand for economic cars, and now making a modern comeback. What happened to fuel the early interest in microcars, what led to decades of dis-interest, and why the rise now? THE MACRO WORLD OF MICRO CARS receives in-depth analysis in chapters which cover their manufacture and design. Vintage ads in full color blend with contemporary photos to provide an outstanding survey of the culture, creation and appeal of the micro car.

David Bull Publishing
4250 East Camelback Road, Suite K150, Phoenix, AZ 85018
www.bullpublishing.com

Lee Raskin's JAMES DEAN: AT SPEED (1893618498, $29.95) is for any James Dean fan who wants quite a different portrait of his life and untimely death. Dean cultivated an early attraction for cars and auto memorabilia: here are photos of his own sculpture and art, ephemera from his car and motorcycle interests, and details on his early childhood and acting career. Throughout his acting life he retained his fascination for fast cars: JAMES DEAN AT SPEED is published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death and provides a unique motorsports emphasis other Dean histories don't begin to touch in depth. Add the focus on facts and the explanations of what happened to the people and vehicles in his life in the fifty years since his demise and you have a celebration of Dean's innermost interests. Marty Fiolka's 1000 MILES TO GLORY: THE HISTORY OF THE BAJA 1000 (1893618366, $39.95) tells of one Dave Elkins, who in 1962 rode his new Honda from the Mexican border along the Baja peninsula to La Paz as a test of the new motorcycle: a journey which would take nearly forty hours and which would create incentive for other racers and manufacturers to test their endurance in Baja's rugged desert terrain. 1000 MILES TO GLORY documents these ventures in a year-by-year history which begins at the 1967 inaugural race and continues to modern times. The evolution of vehicles, colorful participants, and zany and incredible racing stories blend with full-page color and vintage photos to provide an outstanding visual survey and history of the people and vehicles involved. If you like auto racing in general and the Baja 1000 in particular, you can't miss this treasure trove of details.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

True Stella Awards
Randy Cassingham
Dutton
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3657
0525949135 $18.95 www.penguin.com

Is there truly justice for all? Stella Liebeck earned a name for herself when she spilled hot McDonald's coffee on herself, sued the chain and won: humorist author Randy Cassingham's web site StellaAwards.com built upon her suit to list the most amusing of claims brought before US courts, and appears for the first time in book form to detail some of the most outlandish lawsuits won in America. From a religious bus rider who just can't quit to a cheerleader's suit because of injury, TRUE STELLA AWARDS: HONORING REAL CASES OF GREEDY OPPORTUNISTS, FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS, AND THE LAW RUN AMOK is both fun and eye-opening.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Surviving Personal Bankruptcy
Nora Raum
Gotham Books
375 Hudson Street, New York Ny 10014-3657
1592401589 $20.00 www.penguin.com

For nineteen years author Nora Raum has advised her client on how to use bankruptcy to regain personal footing: she's in the perfect position to provide details on the latest changes in bankruptcy laws, how to weigh all the options, different kinds of bankruptcy, and more. Worksheets help users tabulate debts and prepare to file, while pros and cons and dos and don't avoid common pitfalls. Filing for bankruptcy is a turning point to financial recovery, and case histories blend with how-to facts to help avoid scams and establish a new history.

Victoria Ring
50 State Notary.Com, 1601 W. 5th Avenue, #123, Columbus, OH 43212-2203
www.50statenotary.com www.713training.com

If you're an attorney looking at bankruptcy filings and processes, don't begin without three essential keys to the process. First, take a look at Victoria Ring's HOW TO DRAFT A CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY PETITION on CD ($239.99): it holds two training videos on one CD video for attorneys and paralegals, notaries public and others, and provides 6 hours of professional, intense training . Not intended for consumers or non-attorneys, HOW TO DRAFT A CHAPTER 7 BAMKRUPTCY PETITION covers a range of scenerios in a film meant for direct computer use. The film HOW TO MARKET A BANKRUPTCY FORMS PROCESSING SERVICE ($89.99) comes directly from Ring's experience as she uses hundreds of techniques to build her bankruptcy forms service. Her 2-hour training video walks you through all the steps she used to build her service, covering pitfalls and processes all along the way. Accompany this with the printed word, HOW TO START A BANKRUPTCY FORMS PROCESSING SERVICE (0976159112, $59.99), packed with knowledge needed to set up and perform a freelance bankruptcy forms processing service for attorneys: it holds nearly three hundred pages of specific paralegal advice on how to build such a business, provides the knowledge needed to draft the forms and understand how bankruptcy schedules work, and includes instructions on the Chapter 13 plan. Victoria Ring has given seminars and training on her business and these three packages represent the sum of her extensive background and experiences: invaluable training for paralegal efforts.


The Social Issues Shelf

Pregnancy and Power
Rickie Solinger
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10003
0814798276 $27.95 1-800-996-6987 www.nyupress.org

For a single-volume, in-depth history of women's struggles for reproductive freedom through out American history, college-level and many a public library holding will want to look at PREGNANCY AND POWER: A SHORT HISTORY OF REPRODUCTIVE POLITICS IN AMERICA. Historian Rickie Solinger argues that women's struggles go beyond the right for abortion: reproductive politics surfaced when slaveholders devised breeding schemes, the US government took Indian kids from families, and when doctors encouraged Latina women to be sterilized in the 1970s: thus PREGNANCY AND POWER embraces far more than the usual perspective.

Going Postal
Mark Ames
Soft Skull Press
55 Washington Street, Suite. 804, Brooklyn, NY 11201
1932360824 $15.95 www.softskull.com

School and workplace murders have grown yearly since they evolved in the early 1980s and have developed into a dangerous trend that holds great social significance for the country. Ames considers the many cases in GOING POSTAL: RAGE, MURDER, AND REBELLION: FROM REAGAN'S WORKPLACES TO CLINTON'S COLUMBINE AND BEYOND. Chapters examine the most unique and unexpected cases, equating workplace massacres to modern day slave rebellions which are sometimes misunderstood. These deadly acts of violence reflect a world where working isn't what it should be: GOING POSTAL asks questions on why.

Confronting the "Good Death"
Michael S. Bryant
University Press of Colorado
5589 Arapahoe Ave. #206C, Boulder, CO 80303
0870818090 $34.95 www.upcolorado.com

CONFRONTING THE "GOOD DEATH": NAZI EUTHANASIA ON TRAIL, 1945-1953 narrows the focus to a campaign to eliminate the mentally ill which Hitler unleashed years before his famous final solution to annihilate European Jews. This campaign killed as many as 270,000 people and set a precedent for the mass murder of civilians, and Michael Bryant here analyzes the U.S. Government and West German judiciary's attempt to punish these killers after the war. Primary sources blends with in-depth research to outline the Nazi campaign against the mentally ill and the postwar search for justice: a recommended pick for college-level Holocaust collections.

Future Jihad
Walid Phares
Palgrave Macmillan
175 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
1403970742 $24.95 www.palgrave.com

Author Walid Phares is currently NBC's terrorism and Midweast expert and discusses Middle east conflicts with the UN Security Council: his FUTURE JIHAD thus comes from a long-time expert's insights and reveals many fundamental misunderstandings about the aims of terrorist organizations. From individual connections between jihadism and nations around the world to different scenarios of terrorist influences on a global level, FUTURE JIHAD discusses how defenses have been compromised and what it might take to get them up to strength.

New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0

Suburbia has changed from an American dream into a nightmare of violence: Douglas E. Morris 's IT'S A SPRAWL WORLD AFTER ALL (0865715467 $17.95) is the first book to consider why, drawing some important connections between sprawl and violence. The lack of connections between people living in small areas has left suburban residents isolated, alienated and afraid of strangers. Sprawl involves more cars, more malls, and more in-home interaction replacing social events and community feel, and has evolved a culture of violence in turn. Examples provide case histories outside the country where sprawl problems have been changed. Ross A. Klein's CRUISE SHIP SQUEEZE: NEW PIRATES OF THE SEVEN SEAS (096571522X, $17.95) examines the exploitation of workers and ports by the cruise ship industry, providing an expose of the cruise industry which provides damning accusation of the industry as capitalism at its worst. From health issues, campaign contributions and financial wrong doings to environmental challenges, legal and social issues come to light in a damning survey.

Rethinking Urban Parks
Setha Low, Dana Taplin & Suzanne Scheld
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
0292712545 $22.95 www.utexaspress.com

Urban parks provide important public spaces which invite different groups to meet and relax, strengthening community interactions - but at times parks become inhospitable to different groups. Cultural diversity should be the key goal in designing urban parks, the authors maintain: RETHINKING URBAN PARKS: PUBLIC SPACE AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY uses case studies of selected New York and Philadelphia parks to identify common problems and how parks may be used to manage cultural diversity. Chapters survey limiting factors to park use, ethnic activities, and restoration project goals. College-level students of urban planning and public space access will find this essential to understanding how cultural needs interact with urban park design and use.

Community Building in the 21st Century
Stanley Hyland, Editor
SAR Press
PO Box 2188, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2188
193061862X $29.95 www.sarweb.org

College-level students of social science who are studying modern community plans and ideas receive a reader which considers the changing framework for building such communities in COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Here are articles by Julie Adams, Michelle Owens, Robert Kemper and more, each considering how urban communities are created, revitalized, changed by virtual influences, and more.

University of Indianapolis Press
1400 E. Hanna Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227
www.uindy.edu

Winberg Chai, Ph.D., D.H.L., D.L.'s SAUDI ARABIA: A MODERN READER (0880938595, $16.95) is a powerful nonpartisan examination of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U.S., and is a recommended pick providing college-level students with historical data, political and social insights, and examinations of actions and events on both sides. Dr. Winberg Chai is a political scientist but includes a great deal of social and cultural insights in his reader, offering key analyses of the Kingdom for lay readers. Documents range from journalists' articles to political leaders' public statements and academic analyses to provide a reader which is up to date, readable, and informative for modern readers. Brenda Lin's WEALTH RIBBON: TAIWAN BOUND, AMERICA BOUND (0880938544, $16.95) considers the politics and civil rights of Taiwanese-Americans, using a Taiwanese-American family as the focus. Her first-person experiences survey issues of nationality, prejudice, and Taiwan roots.


The World History Shelf

Clay
Suzanne Staubach
Berkeley
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0425205665 $23.95 www.penguin.com

The effect of clay on civilization goes far beyond pottery efforts: it's fostered the rise of world trace, the invention of writing, and the construction of cities. It continues to play a vital role in our modern age, yet few outside of potters give it much attention. CLAY: THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF HUMANKIND'S RELATIONSHIP WITH EARTH'S MOST PRIMAL ELEMENT will appeal primarily to any involved in the arts but is also a highly recommended pick for social science and history classes: it provides a lively look on all the elements clay has been essential to fostering, from semiconductors to surgical equipment.

The Battle of Crecy, 1346
Andrew Ayton & Philip Preston
Boydell Press
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
1843831155 $49.95 www.boyudellandbrewer.com

In August 1346 the French royal army was defeated by an expeditionary force from England: an event which marked the turning point in the English king's struggle with his French adversary and lent the English army a reputation as the best fighters in Europe. Military history fans will relish THE BATTLE OF CRECY, 1346: it explains the politics on both sides, the meaning of the battle to both sides, and how the English achieved victory. It reviews and re-interprets the battle and provides the latest scholarly research on the era. While a specialty item, THE BATTLE OF CRECY 1346 is a highly recommended acquisition for any in-depth, definitive military history collection.

Chaucer/Mercury Press
Intl Publisher's Mktg, Dist.
20 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3JH UK
www.internationalpubmarket.com

V.K. Vinogradov, et.al.'s HITLER'S DEATH: RUSSIA'S LAST GREAT SECRET FROM THE FILES OF THE KGB (1904449131 $40.00)is a 'must' for any scholarly collection specializing in World War II history. It solves one of the greatest mysteries of the war, using previously unpublished top secret documents and images from KGB archives to present new evidence from Hitler's inner circle, testimony from Germans and Russians who participated in the final battle, and evidence from those sent to arrest Hitler. Verbatim records of the interrogation of survivors blend with internal reports to Stalin and more to penetrate the cloak of secrecy and recreate Hitler's last days. Angus Konstam's HISTORY OF PIRATES (1904668070, $25.00) uses works from the Mariners' Museum in Virginia to provide a powerful visual impact. Piracy from ancient to modern times is surveyed in a series of maps, images, and discussions that cover specific events, regions, and pirates. Plenty of historical and political background to the events place each in perspective and provide an excellent survey of mariner events of the times. There are other pirate histories on the market - but none with the commitment to visuals of HISTORY OF PIRATES.

Mysteries in History
Paul D. Aron
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851098992 $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

Paul Aron is a senior editor for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and a reporter for The Virginia Gazette: his MYSTERIES IN HISTORY: FROM PREHISTORY TO THE PRESENT surveys evidence of historical mysteries, considering the accuracy of reports and presenting dozens of the world's most elusive mysteries under one cover. This is more than ah history text, however: it demonstrates how professional historians do detective work to resolve such mysteries even centuries later and provides reference keys to such investigations to encourage student investigation. An excellent key for teaching research tools.

Encyclopedia Idiotica
Stephen Weir
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppage, NY 11788
0764159178 $21.99 www.barronseduc.com

Big mistakes of the past come to life under author Stephen Weir's close inspection in the scholarly yet lively ENCYCLOPEDIA IDIOTICA: HISTORY'S WORST DECISIONS AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THEM. Here are exposes of mad monks, desperate Indian encounters of the faulty kind, Maginot's famous line, the Bhopal chemical disaster when cost-cutting led to death, and more; from original idiots Adam and Eve right into modern times. Expect a lively tone which lends to easy reading, and a fine survey of arguments on historical fact and effect which often are charted right into modern times.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Woodpeckers of North America
Frances Backhouse
Firefly Books
155 E. 34th Street, #5B, New York NY 10016
1554070465 $39.95 www.fireflybooks.com

A top recommendation is Frances Backhouse's WOODPECKERS OF NORTH AMERICA: college-level collections strong in science and nature as well as general-interest public libraries will want a copy. Chapters provide a comprehensive overview of the anatomy, behavior and ecology of woodpeckers throughout North America, considering common puzzles about their patterns and relationships, describing different behaviors and habitats, and packing in the color photos. Very highly recommended.

Florida's Birds, 2nd Edn.
David S. Maehr & Herbert W. Kale II
Pineapple Press
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230
1561643351 $21.95 www.pineapplepress.com

Florida-bound or resident bird-watchers won't want to be without the second edition of a classic state- specific field guide, FLORIDA'S BIRDS: A FIELD GUIDE AND REFERENCE. This is no reprint edition: each section of FLORIDA'S BIRDS has been updated and thirty new species added, along with range maps for species and color-coded guides to month of presence. Each bird is illustrated not once but three times, text discusses habitats and habits, and sections on bird study and feeding provide in-depth detail. A 'must' handbook for any with Florida roots.

Crows
Candace Savage
Greystone Books (PGW, Dist.)
2323 Quebec Street, #201, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
1553651065 $20.00 www.pgw.com www.greystonebooks.com

Crows are toolmakers, tool users, and have complex family lives as well as their own language. Sounds too human to believe? Then you have to read up on them in CROWS: ENCOUNTERS WITH THE WISE GUYS. CROWS celebrates crow abilities, surveying their behavior, natural history, and more. Observations by scientists around the world are based on more than a decade of research and blend stories about crows with scientific observation to make for a most digestible, intriguing survey.

Caw of the Wild
Barb Kirpluk
iUniverse.com
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln NE 68512
0595362680 $15.95 www.iuniverse.com www.cawofthewild.com

It's unusual to find two specific bird books on the same species in the same publishing season, but CAW OF THE WILD: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE SECRET WORLD OF CROWS arrived nearly simultaneously to CROWS and provides an intriguing contrast in style and approach. Barb Kirpluk is a passionate observer of crows and here shares her findings while tracking three urban crow families through their daily routines. She's befriended them, gained their trust, and thus provides a more personal observational style on crow habits and social relationships, including a healthy dose of scientific literature but adding a personal touch which brings the crow family to life.

The Real Roadrunner
Martha Anne Maxon
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806136766 $39.95 www.oupress.com

The roadrunner is an icon of the Southwest so you'd think there would be many studies out on the roadrunner already - but it's one of the least understood and rarely receives individual examination. Here to correct that deficit is THE REAL ROADRUNNER, a guide to the behavioral patterns of the bird. Martha Maxon is a retired zoologist and environmental consultant who grew up in southern Texas: her assembly of literature and science about the roadrunner come from years of personal observation and research and provide a scholarly yet accessible survey.

Ginger & Spike Productions
PO Box 937, Wilsonville OR 97070-0937
www.havedogwilltravel.com

Two outstanding guides come from a pet travel expert who provides two Northern regional guides for any who would take their dog on the road. HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL NORTHWEST EDITION (0966054482, $19.95) includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho and has been newly updated to list over 2,100 dog-friendly accommodations throughout the Pacific Northwest. This isn't just a plain listing of dog- friendly hotels: it tells where in the building the pet is welcome, any restrictions, deposits, price ranges, and general room descriptions. From cabins to resorts, motels, and chain hotels, HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL comes packed with plenty of specifics suitable for touring. HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL CALIFORNIA (0966054474, $19.95) lists over 2,200 dog-friendly accommodations in the state, includes emergency clinics and pet etiquette, and includes notes on paw parks and facilities with its city-by-city listings. Both books should be on the shelves of any dog owner residing in any of these areas and also should be a basic reference for any traveling with pets.

Raising Puppies & Kids Together
Pia Silvani, CPDT & Lynn Eckhardt
T.F.H.
One TFH Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793805686 $16.95 www.tfhpublications.com

Parents can't go wrong getting a puppy for the kid when they first look at RAISING PUPPIES AND KIDS TOGETHER, a fine manual where two top dog trainers how to socialize a puppy and teach a child pet management simultaneously. From infants through school-age kids, chapters cover the basics of how kids should interact with and play with a puppy - and how parents should monitor the interaction. From roughhousing problems to typical dog behaviors and communicating with the pet, chapters focus on dog behavior but include analysis and advise on kid interactions as well. An important owner's manual - for both puppies and kids.

The Equine Arena Handbook
Robert Malmgren
Alpine Publications
225 South Madison Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537
1577790162 $17.95 1-800-777-7257 www.alpinepub.com

Deserving of ongoing mention is a guide horse owners will relish: a slim but detailed account of how to build and maintain an equine arena. You can save thousands of dollars and horse injury by learning what makes for a good arena, how to clean and manage it properly, considering drainable spots, and more. EQUINE ARENA HANDBOOK: DEVELOPING A USER-FRIENDLY FACILITY appeared in 1999 but remains virtually the only in-depth book on the topic today.


The Interior Design Shelf

Paint it Black
Voltaire
Samuel Weiser
368 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210
1578633613 $15.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Think 'home decorating' and undoubtedly Martha Stewart and interior pros come to mind; so here's an alternative - a Goth vision of handling decorating to defy the mundane and the usual. Voltaire and friends provide step-by-step instructions for 'decorating' the Goth lifestyle, from planning a Goth wedding and turning a room into a lair to re-inventing a 'black cake'. Tongue-in-cheek humor abounds here too - but many a Goth reader will take it all most seriously.

Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com

Two excellent home decorating guides provide amateur and neo-pros alike with specific tips and strategies on making functional, appealing rooms. GUEST ROOMS by Hilary Heminway and Alex Heminway (1586857797, $24.95) doesn't just focus on the room itself; though this indeed is the major focus: it shows how to welcome a guest by making the room perfect for arrivals and departures, how to ready a bathroom and stock amenities for guests, and how to handle guests in the home, from picky or noisy children to demanding adults. Color photos of decorated rooms abound. Jennifer Roberts' REDUX: DESIGNS THAT REUSE, RECYCLE, AND REVEAL (1586857010, $29.95) features homes which were built or remodeled to be healthier to live in and easier on the environment. Some are newer structures built entirely from recycled materials, while others were renovated to make the most of energy-efficient materials and systems. Practical tips and resources accompany pages packed with color photos, recaps of green features, and discussions of how salvaged materials can even create innovative new styles.

750 Designer Secrets
House Beautiful
Hearst Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
1588164764 $24.95 1-800-805-5489 www.housebeautiful.com

House Beautiful Magazine specializes in award-winning interior design presentations, so you know that when they lend their name to a collection, professionals are involved. Their top designers reveal secrets, provide room makeovers, and pack in over four hundred color photos from selected superior interiors. Utility blends with art in 750 DESIGNER SECRETS: EXCLUSIVE DESIGN IDEAS FROM THE PROS, which tells how to shape and tailor a design project for maximum efficiency and best visual results.

Chronicle Books
85 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94105
www.chroniclebooks.com

Any seeking a blend of history of West Coast styles and a survey of California design trends would do well to consider Jo Lauria and Suzanne Baizerman's CALIFORNIA DESIGN: THE LEGACY OF WEST COAST CRAFT AND STYLE (0811843742, $29.95): it provides a catalog from the Pasadena Art Museum's 'California Design' exhibitions which showcase some of the best furniture, textiles and home décor from the shows which made California's style famous. CALIFORNIA DESIGN is much more than just an exhibit catalog, however: extensive and detailed articles on California art forms and activity by various contributors make for an excellent historical survey. PACIFIC SPAS: LUXURY GETAWAYS ON THE WEST COAST by Gina Hyams (0811846172, $22.95) may be intended as a travel guide to some eyes; but it comes packed with color interior photos by Cesar Rubino and describes many of the appealing and finishing design touches unique to spas, making PACIFIC SPAS both a travel guide and a home decorator's guide to reproducing some of the luxuries spas offer in environment and setting.

Decorating on Ebay
Barbara Guggenheim
ReganBooks
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022-5299
0060762489 $27.95 www.harpercollins.com

You can decorate on a budget and stay in the range without even going to thrift stores and flea markets - not if you have a computer at home and DECORATING ON EBAY FAST AND STYLISH - ON A BUDGET in hand. Author Barbara Guggenheim is an art consultant who needed vintage items to decorate her Malibu beach house: she decided to try decorating an entire house using eBay and DECORATING ON EBAY chronicles her experiences. Tips include how and where to search within the sight, from locating furniture and fabrics to obtaining collectibles, and how to develop a personal decorating style on a budget. Her course in mastering ebay goes all the way from basic site navigation to winning bids and understanding the entire process. A 'must' for any decorating on a budget who wants to take full advantage of ebay listings; especially for those new to the auction/bidding process.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Victorian Jewelry: Unexplored Treasures
Ginny R. Dawes & Corinne Davidov
Abbeville Publishing Group
137 Varick Street, #504, New York NY 10003
0789208687 $27.50 www.abbeville.com

During her nearly sixty-four-year reign Queen Victoria produced a cultural and fashion following particularly notable in the jewelry world, where English and European Jewelers produced less expensive pieces mimicking the queen's, which were worn by the middle class of her times. These pieces were long ignored because of their low value and cheap materials - but today are prized for their workmanship, which VICTORIAN JEWELRY: UNEXPLORED TREASURES reveals in chapters of history following designs, materials, and lovely secondary pieces. Styles presented here have been selected from collections around the world and are displayed through specially commissioned color photos just for this book.

Mt. Washington & Pairpoint Glass, V. 1
Kenneth M. Wilson
Antique Collector's Club
Sandy Lane, Old Martlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk 1P12 4SD, UK
185149491X $95.00 www.antiquecc.com

Author Kenneth M. Wilson passed away before publication of his opus MT. WASHINGTON & PAIRPOINT GLASS - but he reviewed and approved the page proofs and had written two chapters of the projected second volume (which will be prepared in future using his research materials and illustrations), so nothing lacks in MT. WASHINGTON except the author's ability to enjoy his finished product. The Mt. Washington Glass Works and the companies after it make up America's second-oldest glass manufacturer: the factory opened for business in the mid-1800s and spun off another business in silver plating. Glass collectors will find MT. WASHINGTON & PAIRPORT GLASS the definitive encyclopedia of the manufacturer's works: the volume has been long awaited by collectors and provides an extensive company history to compliment an in-depth coverage of its many products. Chapters come packed with black and white and color illustrations and photos, providing descriptions and color illustrations of all glasses and silver-plated wares and reviewing design, craftsmanship and unique attributes. Add indexes of patents and trademarks, glass decorators who operated in the region from 1867 to 1902, and illustrations of ads, production records and more and you have a truly outstanding reference.

English Transferware
Joe Keller & Mark Gibbs
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764323482 $34.95 www.schifferbooks.com

English transferware holds flower and scenery patterns which look like Blue Willow: usually one-color, they can be multi-color scenes imprinted on plats, dishes, cups and saucers. ENGLISH TRANSFERWARE: POPULAR 20TH CENTURY PATTERNS surveys all the 20th century patterns and includes a price guide, offering color photos throughout to accompany gorgeous, well-detailed photos and notes on makers, marks, and more. Any who collect English pottery must have ENGLISH TRANSFERWARE is a basic reference.

Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2006
Kyle Husfloen, Editor
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
0873499891 $19.99 www.amazon.com

For over thirty years Antique Trader's ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES PRICE GUIDE has been the weighty resource of collector choice, providing black and white and color keys to every collecting category. Glassware, ceramics, furniture, dolls and toys, and more are all included: over 5,000 small color photos provide excellent detail and quality, while pages of the latest values make ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLES 2006 PRICE GUIDE particularly valuable for avid garage-sale goers.


The Native American Shelf

Ojibwe: Waasa Inaabidaa
Thomas Peacock & Marle Wisuri
Afton Historical Society Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MI 55001
1890434272 $29.95 www.aftonpress.com

OJIBWE WAASA INAABIDAA: WE LOOK IN ALL DIRECTIONS is a special pick for any comprehensive Native American collection: it details the story of the Ojibwe people who have lived on the North American continent for thousands of years, using text, photos, and illustrations in full color to capture their origins, history, and spirituality. From oral traditions and language to ways the modern Ojibwe are preserving traditions, OJIBWE WAASA INAABIDAA is a 'must' for any comprehensive Native American collection.

Native American Courtship & Marriage
Leslie Gourse
Native Voices/Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38438
1570671702 $11.95 1-800-695-2241

Any who wish to adapt Native American marriage rituals and customs into modern weddings must have NATIVE AMERICAN COURTSHIP & MARRIAGE: it's the only title to provide a singular survey and contrast of weddings of the Hopi, Lakota, Iroquois and others, blending history with hints on how modern brides and grooms can blend Native customs into modern ceremony. From love poems and rituals to recipes for traditional reception dishes, ANTIVE AMERICAN COURTSHIP & MARRAGE packs in a wealth of contrasting options.

For Indigenous Eyes Only
Waziyatawin Angela Wilson & Michael Yellow ird, Eds.
SAR Press
PO Box 2188, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2188
1930618638 $19.95

FOR INDIGENOUS EYES ONLY: A DECOLONIZATION HANDBOOK begins with the belief that Indigenous Peoples have the power and intelligence to develop unique decolonization strategies for their own communities, thus defining and pursing their own liberation goals. From understanding, handling and defusing stereotypes to oral traditions, language, local governance and understanding the role of the U.S. as a dominate colonial influence in Native American affairs, FOR INDIGENOUS EYES ONLY provides a powerful reader which advocates change and community strength.


The Outdoors Shelf

Wilderness Navigation Handbook
Fred Touche
Touche Publishing
Independent Publisher Group, dist.
207-900 Berkeley Road, Norht Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7H 1Y2
0973252707 $17.95

If you have room to pack just one book on navigation concepts, WILDERNESS NAVIGATION HANDBOOK should be the item of choice: it covers all the basics of using maps, charts, natural and man- made navigational tools to navigate in all terrains, from desert and glacier to jungle and oceans. Chapters are organized by type of navigation system and discuss basic principles of navigation systems, contrasting pros and cons of each.

Snowstruck
Jill Fredston
Harcourt
525 'B' Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
0151012490 $24.00 www.harcourt.com

Author Jill Fredston has worked in avalanche prevention, education and rescue for several decades, trying to keep people and avalanche disasters separate: her account of her experiences in SNOWSTRUCK: IN THE GRIP OF AVALANCHES provides an excellent mix of science, adventure and autobiography as it surveys her experiences. From triggering them with explosives to teaching potential victims how to stay alive, Fredston's many encounters and stories all hold lessons for survival.


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

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


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