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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 21, Number 4 April 2011 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Biography Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Science/Technology Shelf Travel Shelf
Music Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Library Science Shelf Education Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Literary Shelf Political Science Shelf
International Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf Business Shelf
Nautical Shelf Cookbook Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Poetry Shelf Anthropology Shelf Criminology Shelf
Fiction Shelf Military Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Crafts Shelf Photography Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Sports Shelf Art Shelf Reference Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Civil War Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Psychology Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Parenting Shelf Humor Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Memoir Self Judaic Studies Shelf Fashion Shelf
Hunting/Fishing Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Hobby Shelf
Architecture Shelf Jewelry Shelf Philosophy Self
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Jobs/Careers Self
Gay Studies Shelf Agriculture Shelf Computer Self
Gaming Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Surviving the Mob
Dennis N. Griffin & Andrew Didonato
Huntington Press
3665 Procyon St., Las Vegas, NV 89103
1935396382, $14.95

At age 14, few jobs can beat the pay of the mob. "Surviving the Mob: A Street Soldier's Life Inside the Gambino Crime Family" is a true crime memoir from Andrew DiDonato, who joined the mob in his early teens and found himself embroiled in the corruption, and found the dark side of the mob ultimately with him being hunted by his own comrades. Designed as a cautionary tale for young people who may find themselves attracted to crime, "Surviving the Mob" tells a thoughtful tale and will prove highly recommended.

A Safe Place for Women
Kelly White
Hunter House
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935272, $17.95, www.hunterhouse.com

Too often women feel detached from the places they should call home. "A Safe Place for Women: Surviving Domestic Abuse and Creating a Successful Future" is aimed at women who have faced domestic abuse and are struggling to move past it and recover their life. Kelly White advises women on how to recognize abuse in their lives, when to go to the police, finding that new life, and a reminder that regardless of what happens, one is a human being. "A Safe Place for Women" is a wise read for any woman who fears the abuse in their life, whether it may be coming or it has already happened.

The Little Big Book of Life
Welcome Books
6 West 18 Street, New York, NY 10011
9781599620992, $24.95, www.welcomebooks.com

Life both humorous and tragic, and it takes a little bit everything to even remotely begin to understand. "The Little Big Book of Life" is an anthology of random wit, wisdom, fiction, poetry, songs, and much more as Welcome Books puts together a book that presents a grand slew of questions for readers to approach with a lot of thought and idea for life. "The Little Big Book of Life" is a fine compilation with a little bit of everything that should find a good place in any general collection.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter
Peggy Orenstein
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061711527, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

CINDERELLA ATE MY DAUGHTER: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF THE NEW GIRLIE-GIRL CULTURE comes from an author who sets out to discover the origins of a cultural shift in girls - a shift in trends towards the ultra-feminine. From the roles marketing and packaging has played in this shift to the institutions of Disney, American Girl, and even Miley Cyrus, this provides the author's journeys and interpretations of social change and femininity perceptions and is a 'must' for general lending libraries and women's issues collections alike!

Future Files
Richard Watson
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9781857885347, $16.95, www.nicholasbrealey.com

FUTURE FILES: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEXT 50 YEARS provides a fine survey of five trends that will shape the next 50 years, from business and social change to physical world changes. Humor blends with facts in this survey of governments, trends, economics and technology, which documents such changes as the move away from reading fiction and novels in favor of nonfiction and facts, and the embedded intelligence trends that will change the transportation experience. Any general lending library will appreciate this approach!

Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

J.W. "Jack" Koller's HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PATENT DRAWINGS AND SAVE THOUSANDS (9781601383242, $29.95) blends art with business concepts to tell how to develop and produce patent drawings to eliminate a typically very expensive step in the process of patent application. Both business and arts collections will find this a winning survey, showing tools needed to produce the drawings and how to draw to scale. Sharlee DiMenichi's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO JOINING THE PEACE CORPS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW EXPLAINED SIMPLY (9781601382849, $24.95) provides political science and travel collections with specific keys to the application and selection process for the Peace Corps, surveying how to prepare for service, what to expect, and how to keep in touch with home. From preparing to leave to returning, this offers advice and case studies from past volunteers and is a fine pick for any general collection. Craig Baird's A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR SINGLE DADS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING HEALTHY, HAPPY CHILDREN ON YOUR OWN (9781601363969, $24.95) is a recommendation for any library strong in family issues. It shows how a single father can raise a healthy, happy child alone and covers all the basics of discipline and rules for a single-dad household. From different techniques for raising daughters and sons to how to tackle problems, this is a top recommendation for any single parent needing advice.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Power of Poems
Margriet Ruurs
Maupin House
2416 NW 71st Place, Gainesville, FL 32653
9781934448896, $19.95, www.maupinhouse.com

Poetry has very strong purpose, even if it doesn't seem as readily apparent as it once was. "The Power of Poems: Writing Activities that Teach and Inspire" is a guide for educators to blend poetry into their teaching plans and how to use it effectively for many subjects, although English and writing is clearly the primary focus. A passion for poetry and its style can be fostered well by a teacher, and Margriet Ruurs encourages readers how to fully embrace them. "The Power of Poems" is a must for any teacher who feels poetry can make a positive impact on their classroom.

Uncovering the Logic of English
Denise Eide
PediaLearning
10800 Lyndale Avenue South, Suite. 181, Minneapolis, MN 55420-5687
9781936706006, $20.00

Literacy is what led the common people out of serfdom and into enlightenment. "Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common-Sense Solution to America's Literacy Crisis" is a guide to understanding the complex language of English which often seems quite overwhelming to early learners and can lead to reductions in literacy. Hoping to serve as a rulebook for English and explain the anomalies that are rife within the language, "Uncovering the Logic of English" is a thoughtful guide for anyone who wants to understand language better or is looking for advice to help them teach it.


The Biography Shelf

Hiroshima in the Morning
Rahna Reiko Rizzuto
Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781558616677, $16.95, www.feministpress.org

Tragedy creates empathy for tragedy. "Hiroshima in the Morning" reflects on the interviews Rahna Reiko Rizzuto received when she interviewed survivors of the Hiroshima bombing after the attacks of September 11th. As the events unfold, Rizzuto also asks herself questions, and finds that crisis strikes us all in many unusual ways. "Hiroshima in the Morning" is an insightful dive into the parallels of history, highly recommended.

I'm Still Standing
Shoshana Johnson
Simon and Schuster
1200 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416567493, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

No war is won without casualties on our side, and many men and women in the American forces have endured much but live on. "I'm Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen-- My Journey Home" is the autobiography of Shoshana Johnson, who was injured and taken captive in March of 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Through it all, she tells how she came to join the military, her endeavor, and how her life has changed since. A thoughtful read on the modern prisoner of war, "I'm Still Standing" is a strongly recommended read that should be in every biography and memoir collection.

Preparing for Victory
David J. Ulbrich
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591149033 $35.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936-1943 is the first and only full-length biography of General Thomas Holcomb, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1936 through 1943. Holcomb's direction and training transformed the marines from a police force aboard naval ships to into elite assault troops destined to play a key role implementing War Plan Orange against Japan in World War II, never losing a single battle. Holcomb's legacy of discipline and excellence remains in today's Marine Corps; Preparing for Victory chronicles this stunning metamorphosis, as well as the key influences and events of Holcomb's life. Notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this excellent contribution to American naval history shelves.

Captain John R. Hughes: Lone Star Ranger
Chuck Parsons
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574413045 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Captain John R. Hughes: Lone Star Ranger is the first complete, modern biography of John R. Hughes, who served as a Texas Ranger from 1887 until 1915. His pursuits included tracking horse thieves for nearly a year, in the process killing a number of them and finally returning home with the horses; aiding the hunt for a fugitive from justice while he was still a rancher; and when he received the promotion to Captain among the Texas Rangers, his first order of business was to hunt and serve justice to each of the bandits that took part in murdering his predecessor. Hughs believed in the law, and had no qualms about using deadly force to see justice done; he served as a captain and ranger longer than any other man, and lived long enough to eventually retire from the force. Captain John R. Hughes: Lone Star Ranger is a solid biography that reveals why Hughes was worthy of becoming a Texas icon and national celebrity, and is as enjoyable to read as it is educational. Highly recommended.

A Dangerous Woman
Michael Foster and Barbara Foster
Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599216027, $24.95, www.lyonspress.com

Some figures take control of the culture around them with a certain force that can't be explained. "A Dangerous Woman: The Life, Loves, and Scandals of Adah Isaacs Menken, 1835-1868, America's Original Superstar" delves into the story of Adah Isaacs Menken whose charm and beauty took control of much of American culture, fully embracing the development of the photograph and her place in America's growing theatre and newspaper industries. Her story is one of how celebrity is not an invention of the twentieth century but has always been there. "A Dangerous Woman" is an exciting and insightful read of nineteenth century American culture and the impact of the Victorian era.

Harriet Tubman
James A. McGowan & William C. Kashatus
ABC CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, Santa Barbara, CA
9780313348815, $35.00, www.abc-clio.com

Harriet Tubman dared to fight for freedom when she was looked down for both her gender and race. "Harriet Tubman" follows the life story of this exceptional individual who dared to make a difference. From her assistance of radical abolitionist John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid to her lesser known role as a crusader of women's rights later in life, her life story is explained comprehensively to gain a better understanding of what spurned her to rise above her station and become an American Icon. "Harriet Tubman" is a solid addition to any community library biography collection, enthusiastically recommended.

Bloody Bill Longley
Rick Miller
University of North Texas
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574413052, $29.95, www.unt.edu.untpress

With the potency of firearms, being called an experienced gunfighter is more of a compliment than it seems. "Bloody Bill Longley: The Mythology of a Gunfighter" traces the history of one William Preston Longley and how the quiet youth turned into one of the most infamous outlaws in all of Texas. Following his Christian upbringing and how he embraced the dark side of the law and his vicious battles throughout the region, "Bloody Bill Longley" is an exciting biography about one of the most infamous individuals of the Old American West.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Lost Art of Happiness
Arthur Dobrin
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616142551, $17.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE LOST ART OF HAPPINESS offers insights into our culture's obsession with individual happiness and how it often conflicts with ideas of community happiness and satisfaction. Ideas of compassion on an individual and larger scale blend with recent findings in evolutionary biology and ideas in philosophy and comparative religion to make for a key consideration suitable for social issues and general lending libraries alike.

No More Regrets!
Marc Muchnick
Berrett-Koehler Publications
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605098869, $14.95, www.bk-life.com

NO MORE REGRETS! 30 WAYS TO GREATER HAPPINESS AND MEANING IN YOUR LIFE charts thirty ways to greater happiness through paths that can change lives. Marc Muchnick provides suggestions easy to implement, includes case history examples with discussions of how shifting perspective brings joy, and tells how to live a happier life overall. General lending libraries and new age collections alike will find this an inspiring survey.

Your Life On Purpose
Matthew McKay, et.al.
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572249059, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com

Your Life On Purpose: How to Find What Matters & Create the Life You Want provides a powerful survey on how to find out what matters to you, and how to do that every day. From discovering passions and keeping fears and daily demands from blocking them to finding a path when values conflict and making dreams a reality, this also discusses achieving a life of purpose, and is a powerful pick for any self-help library.

How to Think Your Way to the Life You Want
Bruce I. Doyle III, Ph.D.
Hampton Roads Publishing
65 Parker St, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746405, $14.95, www.hrpub.com

How to Think Your Way to the Life You Want: A Guide to Understanding How Your Thoughts and Beliefs Create Your Life offers an understanding of the basics of thought and why so many people emphasize the influence of beliefs and a positive attitude. This little book is dedicated to understanding how thought influences reality, and how what you believe is what you get. Changing thoughts can change life - new thoughts can change beliefs. This guide tells how.

Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land)
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061992124, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land): Overcoming Betrayal and Dealing with Revenge provides keys on how to handle a 'stealth land shark attack', charting the different emotions that stem from being betrayed and undermined, and showing how to survive it. From the common motives behind betrayal to understanding how to know whether you've been truly betrayed, this offers keys to understanding perfect for general lending libraries.

Ugly As Sin
Toni Raiten-D'Antonio
Health Communications Inc.
3201 SW 15th St., Deerfield Beach, Fl 33442-8190
0757314651, $21.95, www.hcibooks.com

UGLY AS SIN: THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW WE LOOK AND FINDING FREEDOM FROM SELF-HATRED is the first book to examine ugliness, how it's defined, and how it controls our lives. It's based on the author's research into bigotry based on appearance and some results come from the author's web-based survey on self-assessment and ugliness, which sparked hundreds of responses around the world. An intriguing survey results!

31 Days to a Younger You
Arlene Pellicane
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736929035, $11.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Youth goes so quickly, but you can fight letting it flee in your own way. "31 Days to a Younger You: No Surgery, No Diets, No Kidding" is a guide from Arlene Pellicane as she advises readers to find their own energy in life and use it keep that fire roaring longer. With a bit of Christian faith twisted in, her wisdom rings true for those who have submitted to the dullness of midlife. "31 Days to a Younger You" is a thoughtful guide for those who want to use faith to bring life back to their life.

Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis
C. Roy Hunter
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845904654, $34.95, www.crownhouse.co.uk

The person in charge of empowering you is you. "Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis: A Practical Guide to Self-Empowerment" is a guide to taking control of one's own consciousness through self-hypnosis, wisdom from several of the world's most renown hypnotherapists as they provide wisdom on channeling the trance to empower your subconscious to empower your competence in four avenues - imagination, belief, expectancy, and conviction. "Mastering the Power of Self-Hypnosis" is sage and thoughtful reading for anyone who wants to harness the power of the self.

Healing Walks for Hard Times
Carolyn Scott Kortge
Trumpeter
c/o Shambhala
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9781590307403, $15.95, www.shambhala.com

A time to clear your mind can have so many benefits. "Healing Walks for Hard Times: An 8-Week Program, Quiet Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, & Get Your Life Back" is Carolyn Scott Kortge encouraging readers to take control of their health and soul, through the simple act of walking. Focusing readers onto a thoughtful practice of a walk that encourages them to think deeply as they stride, Kortge's guide will help readers realize that they alone can control their own destiny. "Healing Walks for Hard Times" is an excellent read for any willing to stride for their conscience.

Peace
Dave Wolffe
Peaceful Minds Press
c/o Beagle Bay, Inc
2325 Homestead Place, Reno, NV 89509
9780615400907, $16.95, www.peacefforts.org

Anger is natural, and dealing with it is an important part of facing life. "Peace: The Other Side of Anger: Helping Teens with Anger Management" is a guide for teenagers to better deal with the anger and frustrations that life often throws at them. With plenty of thoughtful techniques that will help teenagers channel their anger well to avoid letting it vent in unproductive and potentially destructive ways, Dave Wolffe, a long time educator, offers much thought on the matter. "Peace" is a strongly recommended pick or gift for any teen.

Defusing Angry People
Kevin Fauteux
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823492, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Anger is an irrational emotion, but it can be dealt with. "Defusing Angry People: Practical Tools for Handing Bullying, Threats, and Violence" is a thoughtful guide for those who want to better deal with the anger and frustration that we all deal with in everyday life. Understanding how to cool people off can be applied in everyday life and can lead to a much better environment for all involved. "Defusing Angry People" is a very useful and very highly recommended guide for anyone who deals with people - which is to say, everyone.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

A Practice of Padmasambhava
Shechen Gyaltsap & Rinchen Dargye
Snow Lion Publishing
605 West State Street, PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781559393621, $19.95, www.snowlionpub.com

Contentment seems like a neutral status but it can mean truly everything. "A Practice of Padmasambhava: Essential Instructions on the Path to Awakening" is a collection of spiritual musings from Shechen Gyaltsap IV & Richen Dargye as they offer readers much to think about on the subject of Tibetian Buddhism and the search for the awakening and enlightenment that falls behind it all. Drawing on much thought and history, "A Practice of Padmasambhava" is an excellent source with plenty of spirituality.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Mountain Time
Kenneth S. Norris
University of California Nature Reserve System
1111 Franklin Street, 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94607-5200
9780557621750, $20.00

Humans are as part of nature as anyone else. "Mountain Time: Reflections On The Wild World And Our Place In It" is a collection of essays discussing the greater picture of the world and its challenges as Dr. Kenneth S. Norris asks plenty of questions and ponders plenty of questions to this bigger picture of nature as a whole. Renown for his work with dolphins, he has a wide love for nature and has researched many different subjects in the field of environmental science. With much to think about, "Mountain Time" is a fine collection and very much worth considering for nature collections.

Campfires and Loon Calls
Jerry Apps
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781936218073, $15.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

Facing down nature in a canoe is the call some people live for. "Campfires and Loon Calls" : Travels in the Boundary Waters" is a collection of advice for the nature lover who wants to take a canoe out onto the Boundary Waters region surrounding the Great Lakes area between the United States and Canada. A collection of essays that he hopes inspires the love of the outdoors in his readers, and along with a liberal use of black and white photographs, "Campfires and Loon Calls" is a thoughtful delve into outdoor adventure, highly recommended.

Engaging Voices
Roger S. Gottlieb
Baylor University
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602582606, $29.95, www.baylorpress.com

The medium of fiction has proven effective in expressing ideas. "Engaging Voices: Tales of Morality and Meaning in an Age of Global Warming" is a collection of short fiction focusing on the subjects of the environment and the role of science and faith in this controversial topic which affects our planets future, and engaging a problem which is not yet obviously apparent. With a focus on ethics and morality in the writing's philosophy, "Engaging Voices" is a strongly recommended addition to any environmental fiction collection, heartily recommended.

Crop Chemophobia
Jon Entine, editor
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844743615, $39.95, www.aei.org

Pesticides and preservatives can be dangerous in excessive quality, but is the world's growing phobia putting it at odds with the benefits they bring? "Crop Chemophobia: Will Precaution Kill the Green Revolution?" outlines the concern with modern farming about the paranoia surrounding food safety and how too much regulation of chemicals could lead to unforeseen problems in the future of the world's food supply. Arguing for more consistent testing of pesticides and their effects on food, stating that some are banned when they pass the test clearly, "Crop Chemophobia" provides quite the insight on this major issue, highly recommended.

Climate Culture Change
Timothy B. Leduc
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
9780776607504, $29.95, www.press.uottawa.ca

The snowy fields of Canada are more than a harsh land, they are home. "Climate Culture Change: Inuit and Western Dialogues with a Warming North" discusses the reality of climate change and its debates as Timothy Leduc, a professor of Environmental studies, brings a dual approach to a shifting planet. Bringing people into an environmental picture, Leduc shows that this is not simply a threat to the plants and animals to the world, it can change humanity itself. "Climate Culture Change" is an excellent addition to any social issues or environmental studies collection.

Crop Wild Relatives
Danny Hunter & Vernon Hollywood, editor
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781849711791, $49.95, www.earthscan.co.uk

Nature doesn't adhere to man's demands, no matter how much control man has called over it. "Crop Wild Relatives: A Manual of IN SITU Conservation" analyzes this natural phenomenon and how it can be used effectively in agricultural situations and how understanding why it happens and how it happens can be an important avenue for maintaining biodiversity and sustainable farming for the future. Drawing on research from across the globe, the Americas, Asia, and much more. A must for any student of modern agricultural science, "Crop Wild Relatives" is a strongly recommended addition to any community or college library collection.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Healthy Gut Workbook
Victor S. Sierpina, MD
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572248441, $21.95, www.newharbinger.com

The Healthy Gut Workbook: Whole-Body Healing for Heartburn, Ulcers, Constipation, IBS, Diverticulosis & More provides a complete plan for meals designed to help restore a body's balance. Easy lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, and foods are promoted to heal common digestive problems and are presented in a survey of integrative treatment plans perfect for any health or general lending library!

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
www.jkp.com

Rhidian Hughes edits RIGHTS, RISKS AND RESTRAINT-FREE CARE OF OLDER PEOPLE: PERSON-CENTERED APPROACHES IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (9781843109587, $32.95), which provides health and social care professionals with readings on the ethics and use of restraint, and offers articles by contributors from around the world. Alternatives to restraint and new programs for reducing the use of restraint are described in chapters that outline all the issues involved in providing safe environments for elders. Very highly recommended! Also a fine pick for both health and parental libraries is Cheryl R. Carter's ORGANIZE YOUR ADD/ADHD CHILD: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS (9781849058391, $15.95). It shows how a simple four-step method can be applied to the typical ADD/ADHD child to teach even the most disorganized, hyperactive child how to make their bed, get ready for school, and get organized. These step-by-step strategies offer routines that aren't boring and ARE positive, keyed to realistic demands and rules governed by fun and individualism.

Death in a Small Package
Susan D. Jones
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21218-4363
0801896967, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

DEATH IN A SMALL PACKAGE: A SHORT HISTORY OF ANTHRAX comes from a historian and veterinarian who recounts the story of anthrax and how its biology has affected the political, social and health sectors of modern society. From cultural beliefs about anthrax to how anthrax became domesticated and how researchers have learned from outbreaks, this surveys an old disease that has threatened lives for over two thousand years.

What Nurses Know... Multiple Sclerosis
Carol Saunders
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036
9781932603897, $16.95, www.demoshealth.com

A plague that strikes many of us as we age, Multiple Sclerosis can be met head on. "What Nurses Know... Multiple Sclerosis: The Answers You need From the People You Trust" is a collection of facts and knowledge about the practices and treatment available for locking horns with this disorder which can make everyday life painful and restrictive. With plenty on subjects of alternative medicine and proven treatments, "What Nurses Know... Multiple Sclerosis" is an excellent read and resource, enthusiastically recommended.

Could it Be B12?
Sally M. Pacholok & Jeffrey J. Stuart
Quill Driver Books
2006 S. Mary Street, Fresno, CA 93721-3311
9781884995699, $14.95, www.quilldrivebooks.com

With today's processed diets many vitamins may not be present. "Could it be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" is an analysis that the lack of vitamin B12 in diets can cause in many people's lives which can cause the symptoms of many more serious diseases. Sally M. Pacholok and Jeffrey Stuart encourage readers to understand B12 deficiency and look into it when other treatments have failed. "Could it be B12?" is a guide worth considering for those seeking a medical second opinion.

Living Skinny in Fat Genes
Felicia Stoler
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10005
9781605981161, $16.95, www.pegasusbooks.us

When your family has doomed you to obesity, it can seem hard to fight it. "Living Skinny in Fat Genes: The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great" is a guide to finding one's health in spite of the pressures that surround us in life and when your genetics predispose you toward obesity. She offers simple wisdom that says diet is not the answer, but a lifestyle change is. "Living Skinny in Fat Genes" is an insightful read and strongly recommended for any endomorph who wants to trump it all.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck
Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie
Counterpoint
1919 Fifth, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781582437026, $15.95, www.counterpoint.com

Everything is out to kill you. "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things" looks a the toxicity of the world around us and seeks to ask about what the impact of these events are on our health and how can we reduce these threats. Focusing on seven common substances that play a major role in our health and how to better control them, "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" provides a much needed expose at the chemical threats of everyday life.

Miracles are Made
Lynette Louise
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759493, $17.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

Autism with the right conditioning can be merely a handicap, not the handicap of life. "Miracles are Made: A Real-Life Guide to Autism" is a memoir from Lynette Louise who reflects on raising many children in the Autism spectrum herself. She states how she feels parents can help their children become independent and self-reliant individuals in spite of their autism and she applies her professional expertise well. "Miracles are Made" is full of fine wisdom on autism, highly recommended.

AIDS, Behavior, and Culture
Edward C. Green & Allison Herling Ruark
Left Coast Press
1630 N. Main Street, #400, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
9781598744798, $29.95, www.lcoastpress.com

AIDS is truly a unique epidemic. "AIDS, Behavior, and Culture: Understanding Evidence-Based Prevention" is a discussion of HIV prevention in today's world, hoping to zero in one what works in stopping the spread of the virus. Authors Edward Green and Allison Ruark hold that behavior is the best avenue for controlling the virus, encouraging wise avoidance of promiscuity, wiser choice of sexual partners, and battling the blight of drugs. With criticisms of some other approaches and an analysis of the the history of prevention, "AIDS, Behavior, and Culture" is a fascinating read with many thoughtful ideas on how the Western world can best battle this disease.


The Science/Technology Shelf

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, eighth edition
National Research Council of the National Academies
500 5th St NW, Department 285, Washington, DC 20055
9780309154000, $19.95, www.national-academies.org

Animals are an invaluable tool of research, but ethics are something that must be remembered when using them. "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" is a text going over in great details about the rules and regulations that a laboratory must understand and realize when using animals for science. From using them effectively to get good results, keeping and caring for them, veterinary care, and additionally chapters on planets, the minds at the National Academies compile an excellent resource. "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals" is a must for any scientific institution which deals with animals.

Mastering Lean Product Development
Ronald Mascitelli
Technology Perspectives
PO Box 8539, Northridge, CA 91327
9780966269741, $49.95, www.design-for-lean.com

Bloated projects have much wasted resources which is wasted money. "Mastering Lean Product Development: A Practical, Event-Driven Process for Maximizing Speed, Profits, and Quality" is a guide to streamlining the development process to save time and money on many fronts. From selecting a project to pursue well, making the most of one's limited resources, understanding what the customers and market want, maintaining quality while keeping costs down and much more, Ronald Mascitelli draws on his experience with product management with Boeing, Adidas, Volvo and other large companies to layout the fundamentals of success. "Mastering Lean Product Development" is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to slim down their business for efficiency.

Visions of the Multiverse
Steven Manly
New Page
c/o Career Press
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631299, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Is this reality the only one? "Visions of the Multiverse: Do Parallel Realities Exist? Is Our Universe One of Many?" seeks to ask the questions of multiple universes, evidence of their existence, and further explaining the theories involved. With a certain science, Dr. Steven Manly takes an approach to a high level of astrological physics to ask these questions and try to find the truth behind this giant picture of the universe and how there may be so much more than what we see. Discussing a wide array of deep scientific concepts in an easy to follow manner, "Visions of the Multiverse" is a choice collection with plenty to entice those with a certain fascination for science.

The iPod Touch
Christopher Breen
Creative Edge
c/o Pearson
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780321741288, $14.99, www.peachpit.com

The iPod has evolved from an mp3 player into something much more. "The iPod Touch: Pocket Guide" is a guide to understanding the finer details on what this little device is truly capable off at a higher level. From using it as a pocket-sized computer, finding useful and fun apps, video phone use, syncing with your desktops and laptops, and much more, "The iPod Touch" is a highly useful and highly recommended guide for anyone trying to get the most out of the device.

Virtual Words
Jonathon Keats
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780195398540, $19.95, www.oup.com

The internet has spurred a whole new wave of jargon, and it may be forming faster than anyone can keep up with. "Virtual Words: Language on the Edge of Science and Technology" delves into the story behind some of the terms that are spinning out of modern science and technology that were unheard of even a few years ago. Telling the story of what these terms mean and where they come from, and where they are going, Jonathon Keats provides a highly fascinating study of the speed of technology and how it is shaping our language and our world. "Virtual Words" is a fine read on modern technology and how to understand its own language.


The Travel Shelf

Frommer's Belize
Eliot Greenspan
Wiley
222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923
9780470887707, $19.99, www.frommers.com

Latin America has much to captivate the imagination, but what makes Belize special? "Frommer's Belize" is another entry in a tourist guide for those who want to see what Belize has to offer would be travelers who want to experience the unique brand of culture, tourism, and more that Belize has. Packed cover to cover with useful information on activities, lodging, and food, "Frommer's Belize" is a fine travel guide, not to be missed for those considering Belize for their next trip.


The Music Shelf

Gigging
Patricia Shih
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010
www.allworth.com
9781581152753, $19.95, www.amazon.com

In the parlance of musicians, a 'gig' is an opportunity to play their music -- hopefully, but not always, a paying opportunity. A professional songwriter and musician, Patricia Shih draws upon her more then 35 years of experience to present an informed, informative, and realistic instructional guide for all aspects of earning a living by playing music whether as a solo act or as part of a band in "Gigging: A Practical Guide for Musicians". Particular attention is given to the nuts and bolts of professional music including establishing contracts, finding band members; booking appearances; auditioning; establishing performance fees; caring for instruments and sound equipment; dealing with band members, road crews, attorneys, and publicists; touring; and the role of musicians' unions. Of special note is the experienced insider information on finding outlets for performing that include both traditional venues and unconventional opportunities. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Gigging" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone seeking to perform professionally and succeed financially regardless of whatever genre of music they are a part of. Also highly recommended for aspiring musicians is Patricia Shih's "Truly Rotten Gigs From Hell: The Funny, The Sad, The Unbelievably Bad" (9781450041454, $19.99).

Truly Rotten Gigs From Hell
Patricia Shih
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781450041454, $19.99, www.amazon.com

In "Truly Rotten Gigs From Hell: The Funny, The Sad, The Unbelievably Bad", author Patricia Shih draws upon her more than thirty-five years of experience as a professional musician and her numerous contacts within the music world to compile 75 real life stories from 35 professional musicians occurring in eleven states and three countries. These were incidents in the lives of performing musicians that range from the comedic to the tragic to the ridiculous to the exasperating. From Charlie King's 'Will Sing for Food'; to Ray Korona's 'The Bggest Thrill is in Getting There'; to Ron Meixsell's 'A Musician's Nightmare'; to Pete Seeger's 'At Las Vegas'; to 'Stephen Fricker's 'By the Time We Got to Woodstock', these are true life stories as lived by some of the most accomplished musicians of our time. A thoroughly fascinating read from beginning to end, "Truly Rotten Gigs From Hell" is a compendium of cautionary tales that should be considered a 'must read' for any and all aspiring musicians contemplating a life on the road and appearances on the stage. Also very highly recommended is Patricia Shih's "Gigging: A Practical Guide for Musicians" (9781581152753, $19.95).

Macho Man
Randy Jones & Mark Bego
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780275999629, $39.95, www.abc-clio.com

MACHO MAN: THE DISCO ERA AND GAY AMERICA'S 'COMING OUT' is a fine, detailed college-level pick for music and social issues collections alike, and comes from an original member of the Village People band who took the late 1970s music scene by storm with their rock music and gay sexuality. Thirty years later the band still has a large following - and band member Randy Jones explores the band's evolution in the disco era, its new musical style, and how it fostered an American gay rights movement. The dual focus on music and the gay movement makes this an intriguing, detailed coverage.

Rockin' Your Stage Sound
Rob Gainey
Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 W. Bluemound, Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9781423492788, $24.99, www.halleonard.com

Rockin' Your Stage Sound: A Musician's Guide to Professional Live Audio is a pick for any musician or music technology collection, and is the best guide on the market for helping musicians understand the peculiarities of live audio and how to work with the medium for a top-notch sound. Author Rob Gainey is a professional live-sound engineer who blends his tips and insights with ideas from successful players of all types to show how to get great sounds from equipment and stage set-ups alike. Very highly recommended!

The Miracle of Music
Romel Joseph
Friends of Music Education for Haiti
2817 NW 168th Terrace, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
9780976984702, $18.95, www.friendsofmusiceducation.org

Music is culture, and culture is a unifying aspect of a society. "The Miracle of Music" is an inspirational story of how Romel Joseph's love of music saved his life and be believes it can save the life of others as well. Trapped inside his music school, he kept his courage until he was rescued by embracing his passion until rescue came. The proceeds of the book will be donated to the Haiti Performing Arts Center. "The Miracle of Music" comes with much devotion and is highly recommended.

The Enraged Accompanist's Guide to the Perfect Audition
Andrew Gerle
Applause
c/o Hal Leonard
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781423497059, $16.95, www.applausepub.com

A little music can go far in helping a vocal performance, but some things are simply beyond helping. "The Enraged Accompanist's Guide to the Perfect Audition" is a musical memoir and guide from Andrew Gerle as he sits on the pianist's bench and sits through the torture of would be singers. With advice on how to make the most of your audition and work with your accompanist to make for the best presentation possible, "The Enraged Accompanist's Guide to the Perfect Audition" is a wise and recommended read for aspiring singers, highly recommended.

They Never Renewed
Tom Nichols
The BZ/Rights Stuff, Inc.
2350 Broadway, Suite 224, New York, NY 10024
9781884286063, $299.00, www.ThePublicDomainSite.com

In collaboration with Tom Nichols, "They Never Renewed: Songs You Never Dreamed Were in the Public Domain" from The BZ/Rights Stuff is a collection of 96 songs written in the 50's and 60's that are in the public domain in the United States due to failed renewal of copyrights. The book includes audio soundlinks so each song can be heard as well as information about the composer and performer(s) of the song. Sheet music is available from BZ/Rights Stuff for most of the songs. "They Never Renewed" is thoroughly researched and documented by a report from the U.S. Copyright Office. Some song titles include: Time Is On My Side by the Innovations, Pineapple Princess by Annette Funicello, Walk Right Back by Chet Atkins, Little Bitty Pretty One by Frankie Avalon, Rockin' Robin by Joanie Bartels, Pink Shoe Laces by the Chordettes, Over and Over by Chris Knight with Maureen McCormick, Love Is Strange by Susan Raye with Buck Owens, and many more. Songs are arranged alphabetically by title with composer, performers, and audio links. A further listing is arranged alphabetically by performer's name(s). A handy introduction teaches the reader to use Public Domain information in the book correctly. "They Never Renewed" song titles are also available in CD.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Your Dog Is Your Mirror
Kevin Behan
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316961, $23.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Our canine friends have a bigger impact on our lives than we know. "Your Dog is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves" is research into the power of emotion and their effects on the owner, and more importantly, the effect of the owner on the dog. Dogs have very good empathy for relating to their human caretakers, and author Kevin Behan digs deeper to these relationships to help gain a better grasp of both human and canine psychology. "Your Dog is Your Mirror" is a fine pick with much to ponder, a solid addition to any psychology or pets and wildlife collection.

Ghost Birds
Stephen Lyn Bales
University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572337176, $29.95, www.utpress.org

As time passes, many species may meet their end. "Ghost Birds: Jim Tanner and the Quest of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker 1935-1941" tells the story of Jim Tanner and his quest to find the rare bird that had not yet been documented. In the modern day, Stephen Lyn Bales leads a trip to catch the bird before time has its way and the species dies off, who may be a victim of their own rarity, the target of specimen hunting. A fascinating journey into the adventures of America and its wide array of birds, "Ghost Birds" is an excellent addition to any nature connection.

A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes
Val Kells and Kent Carpenter
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801898389, $25.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The ocean's bounty has proven fruitful all along the Atlantic Ocean. "A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes: From Maine to Texas" is a resource detailing the wildlife that dwells in the coastal waters from the Northeast down into the Gulf of Mexico. A text with a full color illustration of every fish complete with information about each, where to find it, and other useful references, Val Kells uses his science expertise well in this volume. "A Filed Guide to Coastal Fishes" is a resource that shouldn't be overlooked for any student of marine life.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Touched by the Extraordinary Book Two
Susan Barbara Apollon
Matters of the Soul
PO Box 403, Yardley, PA 19067
www.touched-by-the-extraordinary.com
9780975403617 $34.95
www.healingstoriesoflovelossandhope.com (audiobook)
9780975403693 $24.95 www.amazon.com (print)

Also available in an audiobook version, Touched by the Extraordinary Book Two: Healing Stories of Love, Loss and Hope is the audiobook rendition of psychologist Susan Barbara Apollon's extraordinary and inspirational anthology of true stories offering hope, spiritual connection, and reassurance to those who may be facing the darkest moments of their lives. The link between our world and what lies beyond the veil of death is reflected upon, whether through messages from loved ones who have crossed the divide, the impact of near-death experiences, remembering a beloved animal companion who is no more, thoughts on the influence of angels, and the effects, purpose, and value of prayer. Healing Stories of Love, Loss and Hope is highly recommended as a profoundly moving, thought-provoking, and ultimately positive source of comfort for anyone struggling to cope with terrible loss.

Meditations and Devotions
John Henry Newman
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809105984, $16.95, www.paulistpress.com

Faith is a complex yet powerful thing. "Meditations and Devotions" is a collection of religious writings and thoughts from John Henry Newman, aimed at Catholics who ponder their place in their faith and are striving to be better Christians and better people. With plenty to ponder and motivate spiritual readers, "Meditations and Devotions" is a choice pick for Catholics, with wisdom that may ring true for any person of faith.

Revolutionary Deists
Kerry Walters
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616141905, $20.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

There is much to believe that Thomas Jefferson was not the best Christian. "Revolutionary Deists: Early America's Rational Infidels" looks at the religious philosophy adopted by many of America's early founders and their human-driven ideas that led to them ultimately fighting not only America's first war, but the first culture war, criticizing the supernatural elements of Christianity and how it gained them no favors during their contemporary time. Looking at these individuals and what their thought means in the bigger picture, "Revolutionary Deists" is an outstanding and thoughtful read, very highly recommended.

Midnights with the Mystic
Cheryl Simone with Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
Hampton Roads
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571745610, $16.95, www.midnightwiththemystic.com

Some people dedicated their lives to studying our spiritual world, and turning to them can offer some unique insight. "Midnights with the Mystic: A Little Guide to Freedom and Bliss" reflects on author Cheryl Simone's many meetings with one of India's most renown mystics, Sadhguru Vasudev, as they discuss the many topics of life and reality and Simone seeks to help readers understand the mysticism of life and help it guide them. "Midnights with the Mystic" is an excellent pick, recommended.

Monastic Observances
Thomas Merton
Cistercian Publications
c/o Liturgical Press
2427 Bond St, University Park, IL 60484
9780879070250, $32.95, www.litpress.org

The deep thought and theory of years past that came from the world's monasteries still has much value. "Monastic Observances: Initiation into the Monastic Tradition 5" is a study of famed theologian Thomas Merton's work and study of the monastic day, drawing on his personal journals giving much credence and thought to the development and evolution of theology in these liturgical colleges of Cistercian life. Thoughtful and edited and compiled masterfully by Patrick F. O'Connell, "Monastic Observances" is a solid addition to any theology collection.

Divine Transcendence and the Culture of Change
David H. Hopper
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802865052, $35.00, www.eerdmans.com

Thought begets greater thought. "Divine Transcendence and the Culture of Change" analyzes the relation of the Protestant Reformation in the greater view of history and how it spurned the evolution of thought, into the Enlightenment and into our modern information age. Looking at the place in faith in this shift as a whole, David H. Hopper presents a thoughtful analysis of the changing attitudes towards faith and the meaning of being closer to God. "Divine Transcendence and the Culture of Change" is a core addition to any Christian and Religious philosophy collection, enthusiastically recommended.


The Library Science Shelf

Decision-Making in the Absence of Certainty
S. David Mash
Association of College & Research libraries
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838985717, $38.00, www.ala.org/acrl

Sometimes you don't have all the facts. "Decision-Making in the Absence of Certainty: A Study in the Context of Technology and the Construction of the 21st Century Academic Library" is a guide for librarians to assist them in their pursuit of answering questions they may not have all the information they wish to have to answer. For librarians, this often means gambling the limited resource of money in what to order, how to expand their librarian, and much more. While it's not an ideal situation, it occurs and one must fill in the knowledge they don't have with knowledge. "Decision-Making in the Absence of Certainty" is something to be very much considered for library science resource collections.

Book Crush
Nancy Pearl
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104
9781570615009, $16.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

Finding the right book for your mood and interests is vital to fostering a passion for reading. "Book Crush: For Kids and Teens" is as guide for librarians and teachers in helping children find books that interest them as librarian Nancy Pearl draws on her own experience with over one thousand recommendations in plenty of lists to help kids find something that will get them reading for hours. "Book Crush" is a strong pick for any librarian or educator who wants to foster a greater love of reading in children.

From Lending to Learning
Ronan O'Beirne
Chandos Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781843343882, $75.00, www.chandospublishing.com

Expansion can be a very good thing, but very tough to manage. "From Lending to Learning: The Development and Extension of Public Libraries" discusses how to expand one's library services to best meet the educational needs of their communities. Author Ronan O'Beirne discusses the importance of libraries rising to these needs and how to best meet them, and the role of the library in helping the community meet their own challenges in teaching them what they need to know, be it for a career, personal interest, or gaining citizenship. With an extra chapter looking to the future of these practices, "From Lending to Learning" is a vital resource for any librarian who realizes the libraries role in public education.


The Education Shelf

ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools
American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005
9780982095171, $35.00, www.adea.org

You can't cut corners with an education, especially when dealing with health. "ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools 2011" is a guide for those who want to pursue a career in the dental profession in finding the best school for them. With details on required grades, fees needed to get in, residency, other class requirements, contact information, and much more. An invaluable resource for those who want a complete and comprehensive listing of their dental education options, "ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools" is a core addition to any educational reference collection.

Breaking Free
Allison Zmuda
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416610915, $26.95, www.ascd.org

With anything there is a sea of misinformation to slog through. "Breaking Free From Myths about Teaching and Learning: Innovation as an Engine for Student Success" is a guide to cutting to the truth to find the best educational methods that can be done in today's schools. Allsion Zmuda uses her own experiences with the primary goal of dispelling the constant flow of misinformation that goes all over in today's academia. From focusing a learning environment, creating good lesson plans, and much more, Zmuda creates something to be considered by any teacher. "Breaking Free from Myths About Teaching and Learning" a solid resource and addition to any educational collection for teachers.

Reflecting Children's Lives
Deb Curtis & Margie Carter
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540399, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org

The children should be the focus in any early childhood educational setting. "Reflecting Children's Lives: A Handbook for Planning Your Child-Centered Curriculum" is an educational guide aimed at pre-school and earlier educators who are in charge of helping these students get a head start on their education. From simple understanding of the world around them to literacy, Deb Curtis and Margie Carter use their combined experience to help other educators understand early development along. "Reflecting Children's Lives" is a strongly recommended addition to any community and library collection focusing on early education.

Boys in Poverty
Ruby K. Payne & Paul D. Slocumb
Solution-Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781935542223, $24.95, www.solution-tree.com

What drives so many youths to abandon their education? "Boys in Poverty: A Framework for Understanding Dropout" looks at the reasoning behind nearly a third of American youths not graduating high school. Authors Ruby Payne and Paul Slocumb research the causes of this epidemic, trying to find the reasons why America's educational values fall so much. From social issues, to problems with the school and much more, "Boys in Poverty" is a fascinating read with much to enlighten and educate with.

Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools
Susan Lamke
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010
9781934490112, $24.95, www.boystownpress.org

The click between child and adult comes quicker than one thinks. "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools" explores the importance of a good and safe learning environment in modern public schools and how to attain such a status. Pre-teens and teenagers are hit with a swath of emotions and needs brought on by adulthood and when school adds to their problems, it can lead to a lack of interest in educational and academic endeavors. "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools" is an excellent read with plenty of useful information, highly recommended.

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
William E. Becker & Moya L. Andrews
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253222909, $21.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu

Even educators must continue to learn in order to make the most of their careers. "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Contributions of Research Universities" is a study and collection of scholarship on higher learning compiled by William E. Becker and Moya L. Andrews touching on the many topics of scholarly research and what it brings to improving the educational experience of all those involved. A thoughtful read with plenty of wisdom for those in charge of running such programs at their schools, "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education" is a fine resource, solidly recommended.

College Essays That Made a Difference, fourth edition
Staff of Princeton Review
Princeton Review Books
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375427855, $13.99, www.princetonreview.com

The 4th updated edition of College Essays That Made a Difference offers successful essays by real students and tells how to get past admission office barriers. The college essay is an important piece of the package where a student has control over opportunity and loss, so this book interviewed admission officers at selective colleges to see what they looked for in essays - and college students here share their application essays, SAT scores, and tips. Any library catering to college-bound students needs this!

More Than Counting, standards edition
Sally Moomaw & Brenda Hieronymus
RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540290, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org

MORE THAN COUNTING STANDARDS EDITION provides preschool and kindergarten teachers with a play-based curriculum - some 124 math activities and games - and is a top pick for any early learning collection. It blends activities from the best-selling MORE THAN COUNTING and MUCH MORE THAN COUNTING, offering teachers keys to teaching kids math skills while meeting content standards. Answers to common teacher problems and information for applying content and process standards make this a winner!

Getting the Most Out of IEPs
Colleen A. Thoma & Paul Wehman
Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557669449, $29.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Getting the Most Out of IEPs: An Educator's Guide to the Student-Directed Approach is packed with advice and IEP resources for students, offering a fine guide to developing student-directed IRPs. From setting goals and evaluating progress to communicating interests and accepting responsibility for improvement, this packs in keys to making a student-directed approach work within the educational structure, and is a top pick for any education collection.

Unseen Worlds
Kate Adams
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050517, $34.95, www.jkp.com

UNSEEN WORLDS: LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF CHILDHOOD explores the nature of child imagination and dreams, and surveys how adults tend to trivialize these worlds. Kids of various ages express here how they encounter these worlds, from nightmares to playful daydreams, in chapters that cover common themes, adult reactions, and how to affirm and foster a child's world and development. Educators as well as childcare specialists need this!

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

Kurtis S. Meredith & Jeannie L. Steele's CLASSROOMS OF WONDER AND WISDOM: READING, WRITING, AND CRITICAL THINKING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (9781412918152, $33.95) provides an outstanding survey of educator learning processes using a successful literacy-based professional development program as its model. From keys to tracking educator process to routines designed to help teachers help students learn, chapters pair expected outcomes with self-evaluation activities and learning experiences for any interested in self or group development. Richard D. Sorenson, et.al.'s THE PRINCIPAL'S GUIDE TO CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP (9781412980807, $33.95) offers school principals important discussions on curriculum development and the renewal process, offering step-by-step guidance for working collaboratively with personnel, maximizing professional development opportunities, and more. Practicing and aspiring public and private school administrators receive a fine collection of case studies, activities and specialized curriculum models filled with case histories and charts. Jill Joline Myers, Donna S. McCaw and Leaunda S. Hemphill's RESPONDING TO CYBER BULLYING: AN ACTION TOOL FOR SCHOOL LEADERS (9781412994842, $31.95) offers keys on what every school leader needs to know about cyber bullying and the law. From rules for addressing cyber bullying to strategies for documenting aggressive cyber situations, this offers case studies on how schools regulate, censor or sanction inappropriate cyber activities. Any educator's library and many a computer collection should consider this a 'must', as it outlines legal and liability issues all should know about. Jennifer Stepanek, et.al.'s TEACHING BY DESIGN IN ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS GRADES 2-3 (9781412987059, $38.95) provides a powerful addition to a series of teaching guides that helps teachers discover how students learn best. Reproducible handouts, facilitation notes, and keys to resources for teachers and students alike pack chapters of strategies, activities, and models for success. No teacher's collection should be without this!


The American History Shelf

The Wisconsin Frontier
Mark Wyman
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253223326 $21.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796

Mark Wyman (Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, Illinois State University) presents The Wisconsin Frontier, a fluidly written tour of Wisconsin's history from France's beginning footholds to the close of the nineteenth century. Particular attention is paid to the various Indian tribes who called Wisconsin home, and their interactions with the settlers, whether helpful or hostile. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoroughly accessible history, highly recommended especially for Wisconsin history shelves and public library collections.

Historical Milton
Thomas Fulton
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498457, $28.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

One of the greatest thinkers of the Enlightenment, the thoughts of John Milton are still looked towards today. "Historical Milton: Manuscript, Print, and Political Culture in Revolutionary England" is an analysis of the man from Thomas Fulton, a professor of English at Rutgers University. Studying his many works, Fulton hopes to look at the drives and opinions of Milton whose work contributed much against the British government of the time. Scholarly and thoughtful work, "Historical Milton" is an excellent addition to any community library history and philosophy collection.

Sacred Ground
Jeff Appelquist
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439-2129
9781592983230, $25.99, www.bluenightseminars.com

A wise man never forgets history in their decision making process. "Sacred Ground: Leadership Lessons from Gettysburg & The Little Bighorn" looks at the Civil War and the American Indian wars for powerful lessons of leadership that should resonate strongly over one hundred years later. Focusing in particular on the two battles in the subtitle, Jeff Appelquist does well in explaining how the major figures of these battles used their know how and leadership to make a difference for their side, as well as analyzing their failures. "Sacred Ground" is an excellent read for those who want to understand the strong importance of leadership through history's power.

Groping Toward Democracy
Priscilla A. Dowden-White
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219008 $44.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Groping Toward Democracy: African American Social Welfare Reofrm in St. Louis 1910-1949 examines the roots of modern civil rights that present-day Americans all too often take for granted. Decades prior to the 1960's, African-American social reformers in St. Louis, Missouri were struggling to fundamentally transform a dominant culture that considered them to be second-class citizens. Groping Toward Democracy focuses on the local community organizing campaigns that social welfare reformers struggled to push, in an era of severe racial segregation. An extensively researched study, Groping Toward Democracy is especially recommended for college and public library American History shelves.

Black Robes & Buckskin
Catharine Randall
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823232628, $35.00, www.fordham.edu

The Jesuits thought through their contact, they would enrich the lives of the native peoples of the Americas. "Black Robes & Buckskin: A Selection from the Jesuit Relations" chronicles some of the document produced by these missionaries who made their efforts in the seventeenth century in what now is New England and Canada. This volume provides an intriguing mix of history and mission, telling a story of how the Native peoples of the Americas both embraced and resisted the missionaries goals. "Black Robes & Buckskin: A Selection from the Jesuit Relations" is a solid addition to any general and Christian history collection.

A Prehistory of Ordinary People
Monica L. Smith
The University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719
9780816526956, $35.00, www.uapress.arizona.edu

Mankind has had a long way to the dominant creature it is today. "A Prehistory of Ordinary People" delves deep into history to find the stories of the people who moved through their lives all those years ago through discarded objects and other evidence of their existence, drawing connections that still remain strong from thousands of years ago up to the modern day. Drawing on much research with plenty of interesting facts and history, "A Prehistory of Ordinary People" is an excellent addition to any history collection focusing on ancient history.


The World History Shelf

Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History, second edition
William H. McNeill, et al.
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9781933782652, $575.00, www.amazon.com

An impressive and exhaustive collaboration of authors and editors William H. McNeill, David Christian, Jerry Bentley, and Jerry H. Bentley, the "Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History" is a six volume, 3,152 page compendium offering a wealth of informed and informative articles descriptively laying out the high points of human history from traceable human origins down to the present day. Of special note are the numerous and diverse new articles on environmental history, world art, global communications, and information technologies. Replete with sidebars, graphics, charts, and more, 'Reader's Guide' features showcasing a cornucopia of subject categories. Backgrounded with meticulous research and insightful commentaries by noted academics, scholars, and researchers, the "Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History" this new and significantly expanded and updated edition is strongly recommended as a comprehensive and core library reference for academic and community library World History reference collections.

Final Hours in the Pacific
Donald J. Young
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786459384 $38.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Military historian Donald J. Young presents Final Hours in the Pacific: The Allied Surrenders of Wake Island, Bataan, Corregidor, Hong Kong and Singapore, a close examination of the dark days of World War II from December 7, 1941 to the Battle of Midway in June 1942, when Allied forces serving on Wake Island, Bataan, Corregidor, Hong Kong and Singapore were forced to surrender. Final Hours in the Pacific covers the events leading up to their surrender, the extreme hardship they endured, and the fates they faced. A gripping, dramatic, point-by-point analysis, Final Hours in the Pacific is a worthy addition to any World War II military history collection.

Winnipeg's Great War
Jim Blanchard
University of Manitoba
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557217, $24.95, www.umanitoba.ca

War is a calamity that should be avoided, but to say it does not have its benefits is foolish. "Winnipeg's Great War: A City Comes of Age" tells the story of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and how Canada's participation in the first World War allowed the city to recover from its own economic problems to become the thriving city of North America that it is today. A riveting history of one city's emergence into greatness, "Winnipeg's Great War" is a choice addition to any history collection focusing on Canada.

Dancing In the Glory of Monsters
Jason K. Stearns
Public Affairs Books
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York, NY 10107
9781586489298, $28.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

Africa has remained a land of conflict, and perhaps the Congo is no better example of it. "Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa" is an analysis of the Congo's constant state of war since 1996 which have ended millions of lives. Receiving little attention worldwide, Jason K. Stearns hopes to tell the story of the Congo that is otherwise not heard, exposing why it is in the state it's in and the effects its neighboring nations are having on it all. "Dancing in the Glory of Monsters" is a scholarly and much needed read bringing attention to one of the most tragic regions in the world today.

American Anabasis
Tim Rood
Duckworth Overlook
141 Wooster Street, new York, NY 10012
9781590204764, $37.50, www.overlookpress.com

History has an unusual habit of repeating itself. "American Anabasis: Xenophon and the Idea of America from the Mexican War to Iraq" compares the history of America to the Greek march to Asia thousands of years ago by Xenophon. Showing some thoughtful comparisons that draw the American military style of Mexican war to the conflicts in Iraq, Tim Rood uses fine symbolism and provides much insight. For any historical studies collection, "American Anabasis" is a scholarly and well constructed journey through two histories at once, very highly recommended.

Agnes Warner and the Nursing Sisters of the Great War
Shawna M. Quinn
Goose Lane
Suite 330, 500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredricton, NB Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864926333, $16.95, www.gooselane.com

The urgency of war impresses much on you quickly. "Agnes Warner and the Nursing Sisters of the Great War" reflects on many women of faith who sought to join the cause of the Canadian army by nursing on the many fronts of the war and seeing great devastation and harm all around them. Drawn on many historical accounts, she presents the story of Warner and her associates to emphasize that bravery and service knows no gender, only dedication. "Agnes Warner and the Nursing Sisters of the Great War" is an excellent addition to any military history collection.

The Birth of Classical Europe
Simon Price & Peter Thonemann
Viking
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670022472, $35.00, www.penguin.com

Greece and Rome have left a stronger legacy than they could have possibly known. "The Birth of Classical Europe: A History from Troy to Augustine" traces the history of the ancient people of the Mediterranean in hopes of gaining a better understanding on how it still holds strong in the modern era. The history traces back to the Aegean world, nearly four thousand years ago as the culture began to evolve through the ages, ending its focus on the time period when the great Roman Empire began to wear down. "The Birth of Classical Europe" is a fascinating study and an excellent addition to any ancient and classical history collection.

The Anatomy of a Moment
Javier Cercas
Bloomsbury
175 Fifth Avenue, suite 300, New York, NY 10010
9781608194919, $18.00, www.bloosmburyusa.com

Stability and peace seemed so foreign to Spain for so long. "The Anatomy of a Moment: Thirty-Five Minutes in History and Imagination" seeks to analyze a time over thirty five minutes in February of 1981. Spain sought to elect a new prime minister, and through force, several individuals sought to compel Spain down the route of dictatorship and violence. Javier Cercas hopes to offer a thoughtful dissection of this event and draws well on history. "The Anatomy of a Moment" is a strongly recommended read for any with taste for recent Spanish history.

The Jamestown Experiment
Tony Williams
Sourcebooks
1935 Brookdale Rd, Suite 139, Naperville, IL 60563
9781402243530, $15.99, www.sourcebooks.com

Thrill and adventure are enough for some people to drop everything and commit to months on the ocean. "The Jamestown Experiment: The Remarkable Story of The Enterprising Colony and the Unexpected Results That Shaped America" tells the story of the first permanent English settlement in America and what it meant for those who dared cross the ocean to live somewhere no Englishman had ever before. Tony Williams speaks on the many tragedies that led to truly terrible things that led them to think a colony in America was hopeless, to the few triumphs that led to believe that success was very possible. "The Jamestown Experiment" is a fine read of history and early European American encounters.

Physician to the Fleet
Brian Vale & Griffith Edwards
Boydell Press
668 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620
9781843836049, $99.00, www.boydellandbrewer.com

The power of general health was vastly underplayed until one man played it for war. "Physician to the Fleet: The Life and Times of Thomas Trotter 1760-1832" looks at this student of the Enlightenment and how his study of medicine with this rising philosophy made him a hero in his own right as he served the Royal Navy as a physician. Through his practice and improving the force's health, he is credited with helping the British Navy of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth century being the fearful force that it was. Naval Historian Brian Vale and Medical Historian Griffith Edwards come together to produce this volume to speak on both sides of Trotter's illustrious practice. Chapters speak on his personal history, his education, and his rise through the Naval medicinal ranks. Enhanced with indexes and bibliographies, "Physician to the Fleet" is a core addition to any history collection with a focus on medicine or military.


The Literary Shelf

Federman's Fictions
Jeffrey R. Di Leo, editor
State University of New York Press
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
9781438433813, $80.00, www.sunypress.edu

A storied life leads to storied fiction. "Federman's Fictions: Innovation, Theory, Holocaust" chronicles the long and storied writing career of Ramond Federman, a French-American writer who throughout the twentieth century, he wrote extensively about the Holocaust, scholarship, among other academic pursuits. Jeffrey D. DiLeo and his collaborators come together, however, to analyze the man's many contributions to literature, serving as a pioneer of meta-fiction and postmodern literature. His work provides a good study of the evolution of twentieth century fiction, and "Federman's Fiction" is a scholarly and well thought out compendium of literary criticism.

The Way Home
James McVey
The University of Utah Press
295 South, 1500 East, Suite 5400, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
9781607810339, $19.95, www.UofUpress.com

Through the wilderness and experiencing life without the privilege of home, your eyes open to the world. "The Way Home" is a spiritual memoir of James McVey, as he reflects on his own back country experience and what it has taught him on the many aspects of the world and the human experience. From psychology to environmentalism, McVey offers many essays and presents much food for thought. "The Way Home" is a fine collection of opinions and ideas, highly recommended.

Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood
Ellen F. Brown & John Wiley, Jr.
Taylor Trade
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589795679, $26.95, www.rlpgtrade.com

A beat up manuscript that was viewed as unfinished quickly became a cultural icon. "Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood" tells the story of both 'Gone with the Wind' and its author Margaret Mitchell. An enigma of her contemporaries, people for years have wondered how the novel came into being and how it cached on so hotly, as well as what was the intent of the author during the story's dramatic almost cliffhanger ending. A fascinating exploration of literature, culture, and film, "Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood" is a fine read and highly recommended.


The Political Science Shelf

A Letter to America
David Boren
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142029, $9.95, www.oupress.com

America is broken in so many ways that many are at a loss on how to fix it. "A Letter to America" is David Boren, Rhodes Scholar and Academic leader, views on how America has lost its way and how we can find our way back. Placing the blame on out of control spending in political campaigns, vicious political partisanship, the weakening of the Middle Class, and modernizing our system for the twenty first century, Boren speaks candidly and has many good ideas. "A Letter to America" is a thoughtful read and solid addition to any political collection.


International Studies Shelf

Memory Ireland
Oona Frawley
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815632504, $34.95, www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

Ireland has proven to be a very unique study of history in recent years. "Memory Ireland: History and Modernity" looks at the cultural memory of Ireland, a land that has very strong religious conflict and racial tension in the past centuries. Editor Oona Frawley brings together many of the thinkers and scholars of history and analyzes the cultural memory of the nation throughout its history, looking into its prehistory and culture and how it remains strong through conquest, globalization, and other factors which make that history and ancient culture seem lost. "Memory Ireland" is a fascinating angle to look at the Irish people and their history, highly recommended.


The Gardening Shelf

Designing with Grasses
Neil Lucas
Timber Press
The Hasletine Building, 133 SW Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
9780881929836, $34.95, www.timberpress.co.uk

Grass is usually dismissed as a weed, but grass can prove as an excellent assists in any garden. "Designing with Grasses" is a guide to using grass to the fullest, breaking down the many types of grass and their not so obvious uses. Nearing five hundred different types, author Neil Lucas does well in educating readers about their virtues, requirements and well. Extra chapters include working in limited space, and working throughout the year through the harsher months. Packed with full color photos, "Designing with Grasses" is a must for anyone who wants to dispel the myth of the weed.

Eco-yards
Laureen Rama
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0
9780865716827, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

Landscaping can do more than just look pretty, it can be an environmentally positive design choice. "Eco-Yards: Simple Steps to Earth-Friendly Landscapes" is a guide on how to make gardening more ecologically friendly. With tips on these design principles, growing vegetables, making the middle ground between aesthetics and good for the environment and making it more self-sustainable, "Eco-Yards" is a must for any gardener or landscaper who wants to work with the environment instead of against it.


The Business Shelf

No Ceiling, No Walls
Susan L. Colantuono
Interlude Productions
c/o Leading Women
PO Box 1124, Charlestown, RI 02813
9780967312927, $24.95

The best kept secrets of business shouldn't be that secret. "No Ceiling, No Walls: What Women Haven't Been Told About Leadership from Career-Start to the Corporate Boardroom" is a guide for women who are entering the business world and want to prosper and succeed at a much higher level. Speaking the language of business might seem a bit foreign to some women, but it's simpler than what one thinks to deal with the business lingo and succeed just as much as any man. "No Ceiling, No Walls" is a fascinating read with plenty of wisdom to absorb, highly recommended to any novice businesswoman.

3 Off the Tee: Targeting Success
Lorii Myers
Leda Publishing Corp.
667 Welham Road, Suite 5, Barrie, ON Canada, L4N-0B7
9780986790003, $18.95

Attitude is an often overlooked aspect of success. "3 off the Tee: Targeting Success: Develop the Right Business Attitude to be Successful in the Workplace" uses the theme of the eighteen holes of golf to tell how one can form the winning attitude that succeeds in business, an attitude that realizes its faults and looks to improve it, confidence without arrogance, and building good relationships. For those who want act like a success so they can be a success, "3 off the Tee" is a useful and highly recommended guide to succeed in business.

The CSQ3 Solution
Frank Koczwara
CSQ3 Corporation
18502 Mellowgrove Ln, Spring, TX 77379
9780981587707, $29.95, www.csq3.com

Good organization is vital to keep everything moving smoothly. "The CSQ3 Solution" is a business model from Frank Koczwara as he presents a model that can work in many types of business, as his model emphasizes clear communication, emphasizing the key projects and push the organization a whole to work better. With plenty of thought and good advice for any leader, "The CSQ3 Solution" is a must for anyone who believes their business is in dire need of restructuring.

Superior Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Sheldon D. Goldstein
ASQ Quality Press
600 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203
9780873897754, $44.00, www.asq.org

Any business is in the business of satisfaction. "Superior Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: Engaging Customers to Drive Performance" is a guide for business leaders who want to pursue this invaluable resource that is customer satisfaction and use it to attract good repeat business and much more. Loyalty is the ultimate goal, but attaining such from your customers is easier said than done, as author Sheldon D. Goldstein draws on his decades of experience to advise managers and leaders and the many avenues to attain this relationship with one's customers. "Superior Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty" is a sage read, not to be missed by any aspiring business person.

The Improvisation Edge
Karen Hough
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Franscisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605095851, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

Thinking on your toes is key to success in business. "The Improvisation Edge: Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work" is a guide for business leaders on building trust and rapport with one's company, and taking cues or good cooperation from an unlikely source - theatrical troupe players. Improvisation teaches quick thinking and cooperation, and Karen Hough seeks to translate those principles into teamwork in business. "The Improvisation Edge" takes a nontraditional approach for highly excellent results.

Managing Conflict at Work
Clive Johnson & Jackie Keddy
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749459529, $39.95, www.koganpage.com

Conflict is unavoidable, the grace is dealing with it well. "Managing Conflict at Work: Understanding and Resolving Conflict for Productive Working Relationships" is a guide to dealing with conflict as a business leader and limiting its negative impact on your business. Authors Clive John & Jackie Keddy apply their experience as business consultants to tell readers that conflict is not always bad either and can be applied constructively for businesses. Including chapters on creating a conflict management solution for one's business, "Managing Conflict at Work" is a thoughtful delve into this topic that is not as easy to understand as one would think.

The Entrepreneur Equation
Carol Roth
Benbella
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75232
9781935618447, $24.95, www.benbellabooks.com

Everyone wants to be their own boss, but it's not always entirely practical. "The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business" discusses how to gauge one's own potential success in a world where most small businesses seem to fail in the first five years. With wisdom on what it takes to succeed in a cutthroat business world, realizing that not everyone is destined to be a millionaire or even own their own business, and knowing when to act and when to hold your hand. "The Entrepreneur Equation" is a choice read for anyone who is pondering diving into the world of business.

The Enlightened Enterprise
Christian M. Ellis
SelectBooks
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
9781590792087, $17.95, www.selectbooks.com

Happiness is one thing businesses rarely take stock of. "The Enlightened Enterprise: Walking the Path of the Conscious and High Performing Organization" delves into the happiness and contentment of business and how they can play a bigger role in business than one would think. Christian Ellis seeks to take readers on a journey of business spirituality and how understanding its application can do wonders for a business's success and productivity. "The Enlightened Enterprise" is a thoughtful and solidly recommended read for any business leader concerned about their business's happiness.

Social and Behavioral Research and the Internet
Marcel Das, Peter Ester, & Lars Kaczmirek
Routledge
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781848728172, $47.95, www.researchmethodsarena.com

The internet has provided an unusual symbol of culture in recent years. "Social and Behavioral Research and the Internet: Advances in Applied Methods and Research Strategies" looks at how to use the internet for business and research to understand the trends of people and the internet. Tracing real world examples and drawing the lessons learned throughout, detailing the details of internet research, going above basic applications, and making the most of the information that has been gathered. Designed as a practical guide for the many aspects of business that would make use of it, "Social and Behavioral Research and the Internet" is a very useful resource and solid addition to any community library technology collection.

The Essential Advantage
Paul Leinwand & Cesare Mainardi
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422136515, $29.95, www.hbr.org

Not every strategy works for everyone. "The Essential Advantage: How to Win With a Capabilities-Driven Strategy" is a guide to zeroing in on your company's advantage and using it to win your chosen market. Drawing on existing success stories, the authors give advice on finding what your business can do that others cannot, playing the market well, finding opportunities, and organizing one's company well. With an excellent breakdown on these many topics, "The Essential Advantage" should be required reading for anyone who wants to make their business grow and flourish and wants to understand that not every route to success is the same.

Customer Worthy
Michael R. Hoffman
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780981986913, $49.95, www.paramountbooks.com

The customers drive any business, and knowing what they want is the key to success. "Customer Worthy: Why and How Everyone in Your Organization Must Think Like a Customer" is a marketing guide that comes with the wisdom that business must be driven by what the customer wants and how this fact must drive the business on every level. Michael Hoffman provides insight on how to reach these objectives and attract customers more easily by understanding their concerns on the topics of privacy, needs, pricing, and face to face contact. "Customer Worthy" is a sage business guide any marketing professional should consider.

Information Nation
Jeffrey M. Stanton, Indria R. Guzman, Kathryn R. Stam
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573874014, $35.00, www.infotoday.com

Information Nation: Education and Careers in the Emerging Information Professions presents three years of research by three educators who ask why colleges have failed to teach and produce a new generation of information professionals for nearly every business in U.S. society. From issues of retention to how students are prevented from gaining the interdisciplinary skills they need to help the U.S. gain leadership in the global information world, this also tells of students who are thriving in new majors and jobs that could lead to an economic recovery. A fine assessment for any business or education collection!

Value Chain Finance
IIRR Institute
KIT Publishers
publishers@kit.nl
www.kitpublishers.nl
9789460220555, $39.95, www.amazon.com

College-level collections strong in international farmer support agencies will find this focuses on rural finance and financial services for value chain development, offering keys to understanding the process whereby specialized financial institutions are linked to the value chain to offer services that build relationships along the line. 13 cases from 10 countries around the world provide keys to linking value chains to rural initiatives and improving the lives of the rural poor and make this a solid pick for business and international social issues collections alike.

Practically Radical
William C. Taylor
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061734618, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

PRACTICALLY RADICAL: NOT-SO-CRAZY WAYS TO TRANSFORM YOUR COMPANY, SHAKE UP YOUR INDUSTRY, AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF comes from the co-founder and founding editor of Fast Company, one of the world's top business magazines, and offers in-depth insights into over twenty profit and nonprofit companies to find out how they moved forward under all kinds of conditions. From embracing new ideas and opportunities to taking risks for the bigger picture, this is an outstanding survey any forward-thinking businessman needs!

The Quants
Scott Patterson
Crown Business
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307453389, $16.00, www.crownbusiness.com

THE QUANTS: HOW A NEW BREED OF MATH WHIZZES CONQUERED WALL STREET AND NEARLY DESTROYED IT provides a journalistic investigation of the rise of the elite math genius who run supercomputers and who have become masters in Wall Street power plays. Their role in the rise and fall of the market in recent years is analyzed in a lively, disturbing survey key to any collection strong in stock market analysis and history.

The Right-Brain Business Plan
Jennifer Lee
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577319443, $19.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

The Right-Brain Business Plan: A Creative, Visual Map for Success offers a different method of approaching business that appeals to all kinds of thinkers who seek creative approaches to doing business. It encourages entrepreneurs to embrace creative dreams while holding on to business plans grounded in reality, and outlines the differences between a right-brain business plan and traditional approaches. An intriguing formula encourages success through creative thinking.

The Personal MBA
Josh Kaufman
Portfolio Penguin
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781591843528, $27.95, www.penguin.com

THE PERSONAL MBA: MASTER THE ART OF BUSINESS provides a multidisciplinary approach to business education, sharing the basics of marketing, sales, negotiation and systems design. In effect a course under one cover, this details the most important business lessons the author's learned and translates them into models that can be applied to real-world experiences. Case histories and explorations are also tied to video tutorials on PersonalMBA.com. Simply outstanding!

Exorbitant Privilege
Barry Eichengreen
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780199753789, $27.95, www.oup.com/us

Exorbitant Privilege: The Rise and Fall of the Dollar and the Future of the International Monetary System comes from an economist who challenges the assumptions about the future of the dollar. His work has been featured in numerous financial publications in recent months, and here he evaluates the U.S. economic situation as he presents the idea that the supremacy of the U.S. dollar is not a requirement for economic health. College-level economic collections will find this a modern discussion and a winning survey!

Guitar Lessons
Bob Taylor
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470937877, $24.95, www.wiley.com

GUITAR LESSONS: A LIFE'S JOURNEY TURNING PASSION INTO BUSINESS comes from the co-founder and president of Taylor Guitars, and provides a fine story of a teen who couldn't afford a guitar, made his own in shop class during his junior year of high school, and went on to evolve an entire career making guitars. His autobiography shares business tips on how his passion led to his business success, how he worked with a business partner to grow his endeavor, and lessons learned along the way. Libraries catering to musicians and business entrepreneurs will find this a lively, popular pick.

Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

John Peragine and Cheryl Russell's EBAY INCOME, 2ND EDITION (9781601384416, $24.95) tells how anyone can build a profitable online business with eBay. From learning how eBay works and the process of creating and handling an auction from start to finish to making multiple sales, using marketing and programming tools, and understanding Buy It Now merchandising, this covers all angles of selling on eBay, and is a pick for business and general collections alike. Business libraries will find Michael J. Cavallaro's HOW TO OPEN & OPERATE A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL PRIVATE INVESTIGATION BUSINESS (9781601383310, $39.95) a winning exploration. It comes with a CD-ROM that packs in all forms used in the book plus a pre-written business plan in MS Word, and it is written for any who have worked in private investigation and wants to know more about the profession's opportunities. From hiring and keeping a qualified, professional staff to managing employees, this pairs business general basics with PI-specific instruction perfect for any business collection.

Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.hbr.org

Harvard Business Review's ON STRATEGY (9781422157985, $24.95) is a pick for any college-level business collection strong in business management, and pinpoints the problems inherent in companies that spend too much time on strategy development with few proven results. From distinguishing a company from rivals and clarifying its strengths to developing concrete methods of measuring strategy, this packs in many keys to improving strategy analysis and business success, by linking strategy to real-world results and streamlining the entire analytical process. HBR'S 10 MUST READS ON LEADERSHIP (9781422157978, $24.95) is also a top pick for business collections, showing business managers how to make the transition from being a good manager to a key leader. It tells how to motivate others to excel, shows how to make positive changes, and teaches how to manage using tough empathy techniques. A 'must' for any business collection catering to managers. Also recommended is Linda A. Hill and Kent Lineback's BEING THE BOSS: THE 3 IMPERATIVES FOR BECOMING A GREAT LEADER (9781422163894, $25.95) which considers how to get the best from people in a tough environment. It comes from six decades of the authors' combined business management experience and research, and provides insights and directions that outline how managers get 'stuck' and how they make progress. Any business manager will find this a top pick!


The Nautical Shelf

Navigating the Seven Seas
Melvin G. Williams Sr. and Melvin G. Williams Jr.
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591149606 $18.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

U.S. Navy retirees Melvin G. Williams Sr. and Melvin G. Williams Jr. present Navigating the Seven Seas: Leadership Lessons of the First African American Father and Son to Serve at the Top in the U.S. Navy, an extraordinary distillation of courage, commitment, duty, service, and adherence to a principled code of conduct with lessons that can be applied to all walks of life. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this uplifting testimony that especially focuses upon central leadership tenets borne out by years of experience. Written to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Navigating the Seven Seas is an inspirational dual autobiography offering a vivid picture of life on the seas, and is highly recommended.

Understanding Boat Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems
John C. Payne
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574093018, $16.95, www.sheridanhouse.com

On a long trip, one must understand the need for certain systems to make life liveable on their boat. "Understanding Boat Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems" is a guide to understanding the technical side of preparing one's boat for a longer trip that has facilities to make the trip liveable and comfortable. Drawing on much of author John Payne's technical expertise, "Understanding Boat Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems" is a must for anyone preparing their ship to be a home at sea. Also recommended is Payne's volume on boat electricity, "Understanding Boat DC Electrical Equipment" (9781574093018, $16.95), as Payne explains what needs to be done to have safe and effective electricity at sea.


The Cookbook Shelf

Bon Appetit Desserts
Barbara Fairchild
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
0740793527, $40.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Bon Appetit Desserts offers a weighty presentation culled from the magazine's archives, and even includes some never-before-published recipes as it provides insights to over six hundred recipes from cakes and cupcakes to pies, puddings, fruit and more. Over fifty color photos accompany dozens of easy step-by-step photos and sidebars of information in each chapter covering shortcuts and adaptation ideas. Highly recommended for any serious dessert lending library!

Modern Batch Cookery
Victor Gielisse, CMC & Ron DeSantis, CMC
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470290484, $65.00, www.wiley.com

MODERN BATCH COOKERY is a top recommendation for any professional culinary collection and comes packed with color photos and the expertise of two of The Culinary Institute of America's Certified Master Chefs. Recipes are designed to yield 50 servings and cover a range of meals and occasions, from Pecan Carrots and Paella Valenciana to Corn Chowder for a group! A 'must' for any professional culinary library!

101 Recipes for Making Cheese
Cynthia M. Martin
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601383563, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

101 Recipes for Making Cheese: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply combines 101 of the most popular cheese recipes of the world with a reference designed to explore the entire process of home cheese production. Learn food safety, how to make appealing cheeses from hard to Italian cheese, and follow step-by-step directions that make the entire process simple in a basic pick for any culinary library.

Good Maine Food
Marjorie Mosser
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892729111, $29.95, www.downeast.com

Good Maine Food: Ancient and Modern New England Food and Drink provides the most comprehensive cookbook of Maine recipes ever written - over a thousand dishes from chowders to regional specialties. It originally appeared in 1939 but this new edition features notes by food historian Sandra Oliver, nearly two dozen notes explaining how to cook the traditional recipes, and more. From Swiss Steak to Baked Grits, it's packed with easy traditional Maine dishes highly recommended for any American regional culinary collection.

Setting the Table for Julia Child
David Strauss
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801897734, $45.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Setting the Table for Julia Child: Gourmet Dining in America, 1934-1961 considers the gourmet food movement that swept the nation before Julia Child influenced many a home cook. The revolution actually began not on TV but in dining clubs and in the pages of Gourmet magazine, which became predecessors for Julia Child's lessons in French cooking. Themes of class, national identity and more influenced the birth and rise of gourmet cooking in America, and author David Strauss uses plenty of research to trace early influences on the aesthetics of dining in this top pick for any culinary collection.

Dinner with Rover
Helena Paton-Ayre
Hubble & Hattie
c/o Veloce Publishing Limited
Veloce House, Parkway Farm Business Park, Middle Farm Way
Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 3AR, England
9781845843137 $19.95 www.hubbleandhattie.com www.velocebooks.com

Dinner with Rover: Delicious, Nutritious Recipes for You and Your Dog to Share lives up to its title with an eclectic assortment of healthy, delicious recipes that have the added bonus of being safe for canine consumption. All have been tried and tested, and can potentially replace the cost of dog food (which was itself an invention that supplanted table scraps). Recipes include Peanut Pancakes with Fruit, Shepherd's Pie, Crunch Berry Crumble, Salmon and Wholegrains, and more, each presented with a full-color photograph and step-by-step instructions. Of particular value is the section devoted to extensively warning readers what not to feed their beloved dogs - most pet owners may be aware that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, but did you know that grapes, bread dough, or rhubarb could also be fatal for your beloved pet? Additional thoughts about both human and canine dietary concerns (especially watching fat intake) round out this wonderful cookbook by a dog lover, for dog lovers. Dinner with Rover makes an especially excellent gift!

The Louisiana Seafood Bible
Jerald and Glenda Horst
Pelican
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589808423, $25.00, www.pelicanpub.com

The variety of tastes Louisiana seafood offers is not to be overrated. "The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crabs" is a cookbook based on the multitude of ways that the brilliant cooks of Louisiana have turned crab into a culinary staple with no shortage of combinations. Tracing the history of how these crabs are caught and prepared, this book proves to be a fascinating story of food along with the recipes to prepare. With plenty of full color photographs throughout, "The Louisiana Seafood Bible" is a fine read for anyone who has a taste for crab meat.

Fine Cooking in Season
Fine Cooking
Taunton
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600853036, $22.95, www.taunton.com

Freshness adds to the final taste, so when possible, one should embrace the in-season produce. "Fine Cooking in Season: Your Guide to Choosing & Preparing the Season's Best" is a compilation of recipes from Fine Cooking as they bring a focus to recipes that can be used throughout the year using the finest and freshest ingredients, the book divided into the seasons and periods of the year to make the most of the fruit or vegetable. With no shortage of fine recipes using them with easy instructions and full color photographs, "Fine Cooking in Season" is not to be missed for those who strongly value freshness in their produce.

Heartland
Judith Fertig
Andrews McNeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449400576, $35.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

There is something to be said about the simple yet serene cooking of America's heartland. "Heartland: The Cookbook" looks at the rural life of the Midwest and the cooking discipline of the simple hearty food, outlining how it's made from the cows, fields, and much more. Presented in full color with plenty of education on the rural ways and plenty of recipes such as Double Smoked Bacon, Loaded Baked Potato Salad, Badlands Bison Chili, and much more, "Heartland: The Cookbook" is a unique culinary experience that captures the Midwestern spirit well.

Coco
Phaidon
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780714859576, $29.95, www.phaidon.com

The art of cooking will have revolutions just like any other. "Coco: 10 World-Leading Masters Choose 100 Contemporary Chefs" is not so much a cookbook, but as a review of the modern art of cooking and what the future masters of the world are cooking up. 10 world renown cooks offer their opinions on 100 of these remarkable cooks, with plenty of full color photos of chefs and food alike, as well as a discussion of their craft. Also included are numerous recipes from these chefs, making "Coco" a fascinating study of the culinary arts that doesn't forget what it's all about.

101 Recipes for Making Cheese
Cynthia M. Martin
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383563, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Cheese has perhaps earned its following in the wide array of ways it can be prepared. "101 Recipes for Making Cheese: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is a cookbook on making the cheese from scratch, even to the most basic of ingredients. The 101 recipes each go over in detail with a bit of history on the cheese, the components needed, and how to get on the path for creating said cheese in the most ideal way. For those with a strong love of cheese who want to have a hand in making their own, "101 Recipes for Making Cheese" is the cookbook for them. Also in Atlantic Publishing's 'Back to Basics' series is "The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Fruits and Berries" (9781601383488, $24.95), going over the fundamentals of growing small fruits for use in something bigger, and "The Complete Guide to Raising Chickens" (9781601383747, $24.95), on how to raise your own birds for food and eggs, and maybe even pets.

Let's Cook!
Elizabeth D. Riesz
Appletree Press
151 Good Counsel Drive, Suite #125, Mankato, MN 56001
9781891011085, $24.99, www.appletree-press.com

Cooking is a task that can be done by anyone. "Let's Cook!: Healthy Meals for Independent Living" is a cookbook aimed at those with autism and Down's syndrome packed cover to cover with simple recipes that come with full color photographs and step by step instructions with simple ingredient lists and other tips for eating healthy throughout. A nice gift for any individual with a strong push for independence, "Let's Cook!" is highly recommended.

Cooking Close to Home
Diane Imrie & Richard Jarmusz
Chelsea Green
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583343, $34.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Reducing the travel time of your food is a great way to help the environment. "Cooking Close to Home: A Year of Seasonal Recipes" is collection of recipes dedicated to local cooking, cooking with the goals of using as many local ingredients as possible to reduce the environmental load of travel. Presented in full color with plenty of delectable recipes, of many sorts, vegetable and meat based. With additional info on the benefits of local cuisine, "Cooking Close to Home" is a cookbook for the environmental thinker, very highly recommended.

Gluten-Free on a Shoestring
Nicole Hunn
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142
9780738214238, $19.00, www.dacapopress.com

Gluten can cause health problems for some individuals and it can often prove hard to avoid. "Gluten-Free on a Shoestring: 125 Easy Recipes for Eating Well on the Cheap" is a guide for the gluten intolerant too open up their cooking options to save a great deal of money, on the range of dinner dishes like pot pies, pizzas, even sweets like chocolate chip cookies. With plenty of wisdom and easy instructions, "Gluten-Free on a Shoestring" is a must for any gluten intolerant health conscious cook with not a lot of money to go around.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Failure by Design
Josh Bivens
Cornell University Press
Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780801450150, $18.95, www.cornellpress.cornell.edu

When left to greed, it's easy for a financial system to collapse. "Failure by Design: The Story Behind America's Broken Economy" is study by Josh Bivens who shows since the late 1970s America has been on a crash course with this event through a series of poor policy choices which led America down this path to economic ruin. Rampant inflation, temporary wealth, and how it's a bigger blow for the middle class than the economic elite, "Failure by Design" is a studious read, very highly recommended.

Managing Capital Flows
Masahiro Kawai and Mario B. Lamberte
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781848447875 $185.00 www.e-elgar.com 1-800-390-3149

Masahiro Kawai (Dean and CEO of the Asian Development Bank Institute) and Mario B. Lamberte (Director of Research at the Asian Development Bank Institute, Japan) present Managing Capital Flows: The Search for a Framework, an anthology of advanced economic studies and essays written by a variety of learned authors. Assembled especially to help policymakers design a framework to oversee capital flows in a manner that promotes macroeconomic and financial sector stability, Managing Capital Flows examines both national and regional policies, with a particular eye on exchange rate management. Individual essays include general perspective papers such as "Central banks and capital flows", "Managing recent hot money inflows in Asia", or "Crises, capital controls and financial integration"; there are also essays that particularly focus on the nations of China, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Managing Capital Flows is an invaluable contribution to international economic studies shelves and highly recommended especially for college library collections and economic policymakers' reading lists.

The World
Goran Therborn
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745643441, $19.95, www.politybooks.com

Russia, China, Japan, India, the term 'the western world' is now only talking about half of the major players on the planet. "The World: A Beginner's Guide" is an analysis of the growing globalization of the world where the power of cultural progression, money, and ideas is spread throughout the world and how in the coming decades, the social picture of the world and what happens in life will be much like anything seen before. "The World" is a fascinating read on the shifting picture of the world, highly recommended.

Interventionism
Ludwig Von Mises
Liberty Fund
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865977396, $12.00, www.libertyfund.org

To understand economics, you have to understand people. "Interventionism: An Economic Analysis" looks at the work of Ludwig Von Mises, an Austrian Economist who has gained renown among his peers even with his teachings that went against mainstream economic theory. Stating that economy must be free or controlled and not something in between, his thoughts, while not popular, have proven quite thoughtful and prove to be required reading for blossoming economists. "Interventionism" is a thoughtful study and solid addition to any community library economics collection.


The Poetry Shelf

In the Ninth House
Louise C. Callaghan
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056529, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

Finding how you're connected to the world is a journey many seek to take in their lives. "In the Ninth House" is a collection of poetry from Louise C. Callaghan as she discusses the details of life and the search for belonging in the path to a greater life. "In the Ninth House" is a choice read and an excellent addition to poetry collections. "Making & Doing": A blackbird mimics raindrops on the lawn:/bird-foot drumming over and back.../Snowflakes fall on the grass, covering in/the skylight. You, Oscar, and I iglooed inside.

Ten New Poets Spread the Word
Bernardine Evaristo & Daljit Nagra, editors
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248796, $19.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Every new poet brings his or her own new flavor to the medium. "Ten New Poets Spread the Word" is a collection of poetry from ten newer poets in Bernardine Evaristo & Daljit Nagra as they compile these writers to grant voice to minority poets in the United Kingdom, providing a very different view of the world. "Ten New Poets Spread the Word" is a fine volume of poetry, highly recommended. "Moon Jelly" by John Stammers: Its luminescence belongs here in the sea./Throwback from coral, this/polyp floats on the surface: an outcast, seven inches/of nerves, no brain or heart./Four arms hang down from a bell./A drifter -- agile, scyphozoan --/a blob of streaks and patterns,/its light in the last hour.

This Small Breathing Coincidence
Paul Terranova
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781934795231 $TBA www.parallaxpress.com

This Small Breathing Coincidence is the debut poetry chapbook by community center director Paul Terranova. Five of the free-verse poems were previously published in the periodical "Wisconsin People & Ideas"; the rest are new to print. A haunting spirit of mystique pervades these reflective musings on the tides of time and the inevitable imprints of change; "This Small Breathing Coincidence" invites the reader to follow in a contemplative journey masking the deep-seated human drive to know the unknowable. "Visitation": In the lush wind / before the first warm rain / our late grandmothers came back, / hands made soft again, to / stroke our faces and wonder / at how we've grown.

Glamour
Jonathan Holden
Mammoth Publications
1916 Stratford Rd., Lawrence, KS 66044
9780984591299, $12.00

With a wide array of work, including being held as Kansas's poet Laureate, "Glamour" is a collection from the celebrated and prolific Jonathan Holden, as he presents a collection with a focus on art and beauty and what we make of all of it. "Glamour" is an excellent collection, not to be overlooked. "Night Game": These infielders are definite/as sparrows at work./Spit that seed with one peck/or starve./There is no minor league/for birds. There is/exactly one way/to pirouette into a double play/perfectly. The birds/don't dare reflect on what/they do, each hop, each stab and/scramble through the air into the/catch of the sycamore's'/top twigs/is a necessity,/absolute. To stay alive/out in the filed/ you must be/an authority on parabolas/and fear philosophy.

Ship of Fool
William Trowbridge
Red Hen Press
PO Box 40820, Pasadena, CA 91114
9781597094467, $18.95, www.redhen.org

The fool may be wiser than us all for simply realizing he is a fool. "Ship of Fool" is a collection of poetry from William Trowbridge, as he presents a collection of poetry focused on the concept of the fool and the life of one who has been deemed as such. With plenty to ponder within the humor, "Ship of Fool" is a fine addition to any poetry collection, highly recommended. "Why Fool Voted No-Nonsense": Because a spade/is a spade//Because a spade/is not always a spade//Because of what now /passes for love.//Because of what now/ passes for jumbo.//Because of too much/footsie//Because the news/is to blame.//Because of things/you're always hearing.//Because what's /the difference.//Because fools/are thicker than water.

Terminal Diagrams
Garrick Davis
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, The Ridges, Athens, OH 45701
9780804011310, $16.95, www.ohioswallow.com

When some look on the modern world, they look upon it with a certain degree of horror. "Terminal Diagrams" is a collection of poetry from Garrick Davis as he presents his own investigation of the world, and how the entire process has been mechanized and sanitized to an extreme degree. With thought, "Terminal Diagrams" is sure to entertain as it provokes. "Passing over the Suburbs of San Diego": From an airplane, the canyons veined with blue --/and the decadence of each drained swimming pool.

Bird in the Machine
Eve Jones
Turning Point
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
9781934999899, $18.00

It's easy to go the wrong way; it's hard to right oneself once more. "Bird in the Machine" is the first collection of poetry from Eve Jones as she speaks on the reality of a dark world filled with many conflicting questions and the pursuit of truth. "Bird in the Machine" is a choice collection, highly recommended. "The Window Smasher Explains": At first the long ricochet/of voice into fist, then/it's pure mercy, taking down/the wall's dullest//stare, ridding the flames/of children. For someone has sealed the house.//Not fear, just the field/I could not reach, the river's black skirt//hushing would you? Would you/splinter, your face the fire.

I & We
Joseph P. Wood
CW Books
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
9781936370115, $18.00

When faced with the worst, you cherish what you love greater. "I & We" is a collection of poetry from Joseph P. Wood who focuses on the horror and ruthlessness of life and uses this to fuel his passion in life and search for grace. "I & We" is thoughtful and recommended reading. "Plymouth, Montserrat, 1996": Neck-deep, mud ash, Dante.//Palms center-split. Pumice boulders car-sized./The airplanes can't life away quick enough.//Once in the air, someone in a tropical/shirt thinks well, that's the end of that drama./The island's a beach the size of a fingernail///Lava's a cell on the earth's tongue://a horseshoe crab scurries sideways/between two scorched time-shares,/& Does his little dance.

Bottle Tree
Jennifer Horne
Word Tech Editions
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
9781934999868, $18.00

Poetry is language that can appeal to many senses. "Bottle Tree" is a compilation of poetry from Jennifer Horne, as she offers food for thought on life, hoping to use her words to appeal to more than just the mind. "Bottle Tree" has much to ponder, recommended. "Cicada Song": For years I lay in the dark./What went on above me didn't touch me./A day came/when something said "move"./In darkness I struggled,/drawn by a deep memory.//Finally a new world:/light, an openness that scared me.//Also the discovery there were others like me.//My hardened shell came off/without much trouble./Now I am so new my skin gleams.

The Goodbye Town
Timothy O'Keefe
Oberlin College Press
50 N. Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074
9780932440402, $14.95, www.oberlin.edu

It's hard to let go of the past, regardless of how much we hate or love it. "The Goodbye Town" is a collection of poetry from Timothy O'Keefe as he ponders our bonds to our world and tries to offer his own musings on moving forward in the world when we live in the now. "The Goodbye Town" is a fun and fascinating read, highly recommended. "Little's Unforgetting, Part 1": Bright as pigeons pixeling the city sky./Aqua collars and plume. Lavenders lace/the air-break between. Then high careen/and half-bloom. A low-down tug at the tethers.//Sullen Little hunched over a sewer grate./No photo. Just pecking backwashed face.

Sightseer
Cynthia Marie Hoffman
Persea Books
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9780892553686, $15.00, www.perseabooks.com

The world has much to see and much to teach. "Sightseer" is a collection of poetry from Cynthia Marie Hoffman, as she, by her own words and wisdom, states she stumbles through all of Europe, absorbing it all in, as if she has never seen anything before. "Sightseer" is a fun and unique read of life, and a highly recommended poetry compendium. "In the Cemetery, The Likeness of Jesus": hovers at the tomb like a bronze bird, wings outstretched but stripped of feather./Neither can he rise to the trees, let loose/the nail from his foot, nor tumble to the ground/and lie in a puff of dust.

Hurt
Martyrn Crucefix
Arts Council England
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781904634973, $22.95, www.dufoureditons.com

The world's pain comes from extremes of any sort. "Hurt" is a collection of poetry from Martyrn Crucefix as he reflects on these contrasts and what they deliver to our thoughts as we try to make sense of a chaotic world. "Hurt" is an award winning collection, highly recommended. "One Thing After Another" The ivory, angular vertebra I found/The day after the day my daughter found//and tried out her new word -- **** --/was bony spiky to touch, rough as ****.//I thought: Depths! Essence! Bone!/She bent to it, touched it, turning bone.//Leave it, I called, She said, Is it real?/White in the grass the contrast was real.

I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets
Tom Sexton
University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
9781602231191, $14.95

We have taken much poetry for history, because poems speak in a way simple words cannot. "I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets" is a collection of poetry from Tom Sexton as he ties in the traditional Chinese poetry into his own reflections on Alaska. A thoughtful blend, "I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets" is a strongly recommended read, not to be missed. "House Sparrows": No one will ever call Audubon or a friend/to report a sighting of these small chestnut-hued birds rushing in and out of a hole/left when worn bricks fell from the side of a building itself about to fall; yet they/have their calling, like the now rare working/man in his canvas jacket leaving the house/before dawn, the first hint of song on the street.

Space, in Chains
Laura Kasischke
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556593338, $16.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

With seven prior volumes, Laura Kasischke's eighth volume still seeks to speak with a clear and haunting voice. "Space, in Chains" paints her life's pictures of her challenges to find life and stay sane in a not so sane world. With plenty of wisdom, "Space, In Chains" is an excellent compilation, not to be overlooked. "O, Elegant Giant": And Jehovah. And Alzheimer. And a diamond of extraordinary size on the hand of a starving child. The quiet mob in a vacant lot. My father asleep in a/chair in a warm corridor. While his boat, the Unsinkable, waits marooned on the shore./While his boat, the Unsinkable, sails on, and sails on.

Never the Whole Story
Anita Skeen
Michigan State University Press
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste. 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9781611860030, $16.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

It's hard to see the picture as a whole, with so many angles. "Never the Whole Story" is an anthology of poetry from Anita Skeen who reflects on the times of our life we may have not seen and offers new wisdom to face it, and discusses our perceptions of life as people. "Never the Whole Story" is a choice collection of work, solidly recommended. "This Time in Virginia": I've come out to the gazebo to watch/the full moon rise above the staggered roofs/of the barn. Another state, another moon,/and yet another train clatters along nearby tracks./A train can do it every time -- bring up loss/like an image in developing fluid--/the clank of absence ever present in its passing./You said last week we would soon watch/the same moon from different landscapes,/plugged into its light from separate/ sockets, and so I flip the switch,/ my darkness coming hours before yours, /leaving on the porch light/as I turn in to bed.

At the Bureau of Divine Music
Michael Heffernan
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814335109, $15.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu

A poetry teacher who has spread his love throughout the world, Michael Heffernan brings readers his ninth anthology of work, "At the Bureau of Divine Music" as he presents his own study of the world's sound and music, speaking with a certain elegance and entertainment of verse. "At the Bureau of Divine Music" is an excellent addition to any poetry collection. "Campanile": This radical inquiry into things/beneath or far outside the look of them/invites a lapidary stratagem/to stop the eyes and heart from wanderings/beyond where they can reach. Extended wings/or not, one bird is maddened to have come/close to the downswing something keeps him from,/then lifts him noiseless back where his mate sings voluptuary offerings a gust/of wind beats into blather. What is left/raggedly replicates what it all meant/before the lights cam eon and the sky went:/two pigeons backed up crazy and bereft/to huddle in the cold as creatures must.

Rust or Go Missing
Lily Brown
Cleveland State University Poetry Center
2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
9781880834916, $15.95, www.csuohio.edu/poetrycenter

Prolific poet Lily Brown brings readers another fine collection with "Rust or Go Missing" speaks with a certain power as Brown discusses the world around us and asks many questions on the concept of consciousness and applies her learned expertise excellently. "Rust or Go Missing" is a fine volume, very highly recommended. "What Was Cannot be Taken": The blue jay is near/the trail is tense/and blows apart.//Brown spot above/his tail, below/his wings, mumbles.//He won't work for blue jay.//The blue bird is/blessed with ignorance./Night words are lost by day.


The Anthropology Shelf

Sports & Recreation
Harvey H. Jackson
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807871737, $22.95, www.uncpress.unc.edu

American culture is not simply one three thousand mile wide scope of the same type of people. "Sports & Recreation" is volume 16 into the New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, delving into the unique culture that is the American South and their pastimes. From NASCAR and football, to how the people in particular pass their time, it's a fine study of a people through what they do when their off the clock. A fascinating work of anthropology and American studies, "Sports & Recreation" is a choice addition to any community library collection focusing on those subjects.

Religious Revival in the Tibetan Borderlands
Koen Wellens
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145
9780295990699, $30.00, www.washington.edu/uwpress

The Cultural Revolution sought to destroy much of China's traditional faiths. "Religious Revival in the Tibetan Borderlands: The Premi of Southwest China" investigates the recovery of China's faith and their rediscovery of their ancient history. Formal Tibetan Buddhism in the Premi people tied in well with their culture and provides a thoughtful anthropological study. This study looks in the change of culture as a whole in the area as China departs from its hardcore ideology. "Religious Revival in Tibetan Borderlands" is a must for any collection focusing on anthropology and international faith.


The Criminology Shelf

Dark Logic
Robert Mandel
Stanford Security Studies
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804769938, $24.95, www.sup.org

Crime has gone worldwide long ago. "Dark Logic: Transnational Criminal Tactics and Global Security" discusses the rising threat of international organized crime and how it is a growing threat to the world as a whole. Looking at the history and how it rose from a mild annoyance to powers that can threaten legitimate states. These threats can still be fought and must be for the sake of international security. "Dark Logic" is an urgent read about the threat to peace that often doesn't get enough attention.

Blood Legacy
James Pylant
Jacobus Books
PO Box 1587, Stephenville, TX 76401
9780962274695, $15.95, www.jacobusbooks.com

It's easy for life to collapse into a flurry of murder and betrayal. "Blood Legacy: The True Story of the Snow Axe Murders" tells the story of Samantha, a woman who proves a central connection to an out of control history surrounding her. From hits to lynchings, to black widows of women, this chronicle proves endlessly intriguing of the dark side of human nature and murder. "Blood Legacy" is a well put together history of these events, highly recommended.

Rehabilitating Sexual Offenders
William L. Marshall, Liam E. Marshall, Geris A. Serran, and Matt D. O'Brien
American Psychology Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433809422, $69.95, www.apa.org

How do you set someone who has committed a terrible atrocity on another? "Rehabilitating Sexual Offenders: A Strength-Based Approach" discusses the current problems with rehabilitating these individuals and how some of the previous solutions have done more harm than good. Looking at why these crimes are committed and criticizing the many routes that have been taken to try to right these individuals into a more acceptable member of society as well as extensive research into the Rockwood Psychological Services program, the book provides much scholarly insight into criminal psychology and the massive challenge that comes with preventing future tragedies. "Rehabilitating Sexual Offenders" is a strong addition to any psychology collection with an extra recommendation to criminology collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Shafter Range
T. T. Flynn
Isis Publishing Limited
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780753187395, $29.99

Family ties are strange things. "Shafter Range" is a two in one book of large print Western novels from T. T. Flynn. 'What Color is Heaven?' is the story of Rick Candleman facing destruction of his ranch. His only hope is his brother Joe, who left long ago to become an outlaw, and may have ties with the very person out to destroy him. 'Shafter Range' follows Mike Shafter as he returns to the country after twenty years of departure as he finds himself being the one to bring peace to his former home. "Shafter Range" is an exciting compilation for anyone who loves western novels.

The Camera Store and Other Stories as Times Pass
Richard Selinka
Dorrance Publishing Co.
701 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9781434908896, $28.00, www.dorrancebookstore.com

Through success and failure, life will always go on. "The Camera Store and Other Stories as Times Pass" is a collection of short stories from Richard Selinka as he ponders many aspects of his life and life he as seen, speaking on the challenges of life and how throughout life, no matter if we win or lose, time will continue to pass. With a wide range of setting and subject, "The Camera Store and Other Stories as Times Pass" is a fine collection, not to be missed.

East Wind
Jack Winnick
Fireside Publishing
1004 San Felipe Lane, Lady Lake, FL 32159
Smith Publicity (publicity)
1930 E. Marlton Pike, Suite I-46, Cherry Hills, NJ 08003
9781935517559, $13.95, www.firesidepubs.com

Terror will raise the stakes until its goals are reached. "East Wind" tells the story of an attack on Los Angeles that leaves America in panic, as the FBI & CIA must act fast to save America from giving into the demands - abandon Israel. A riveting thriller with real world connections, "East Wind" is a fine read, and highly recommended.

Cross Over Water
Richard Yanez
University of Nevada Press
MS 0166, Reno, NV 89557-0166
9780874178388, $22.00, www.unpress.nevada.edu

You hold the burden of your ancestors and your people when becoming an adult as a Chicano. "Cross Over Water" is the coming of age story from Richard Yanez about one Raul Luis Cruz, a young Mexican American, trying to find his place in the world as an adult. A thoughtful story of growing up next to the border in El Paso, Texas and the assortment of challenges that go with it all, "Cross Over Water" is a thoughtful read and very solidly recommended.

Fire and Sword
Edward Marston
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780749008956, $16.95, www.allisonandbubsy.com

A battle gone bad is a quick way to end up in a mountain of trouble. "Fire and Sword" follows Captain Daniel Rawson as he flees the pressures of the French forces in early eighteenth century Europe. As a nefarious general of the French forces uses any means necessary to bring them to their justice, Rawson has to overcome the odds of being stranded before not only does turmoil destroy his homeland, but he loses the love of his life. "Fire and Sword" is a riveting work of historical fiction, highly recommended.

Lester Higata's 20th Century
Barbara Hamby
University of Iowa
100 Kuhl House, Iowa City, IA 52242
9781587299186, $16.00, www.uiowapress.org

It ended ten years ago yet seems so ancient. "Lester Higata's 20th Century" is a collection of fiction from Barbara Hamby as she brings readers a unique collection of short fiction as she reflects on her own connections to the turbulent century with a bit of humor and love about everything that went along with it. Telling the story of Lester Higata, Japanese American man in Hawaii, Hamby gives readers much to look on and expect out of this individual who experiences the best and worst America has to offer. "Lester Higata's 20th Century" is a fine addition to any short fiction collection, highly recommended.

Journeys
Giovanna Borasi
Actar D
575 Prospect St., Ste 301, Lakewood, NJ 08701
9788492861545, $36.00

Our world is forever changing and forever adapting as the world shrinks around us. "Journeys: How Traveling Fruit, Ideas, and Buildings Rearrange Our Environment" is a collection of short stories designed to show how globalization is changing our world and changing the cultures all around us. With a broad scope on these changes, from the animal kingdom, to people, to things and much more, Giovanna Borasi compiles a very educational and thoughtful read that will prove quite difficult to put down. "Journeys" is an excellent addition to any literary fiction collection with a focus on short stories.

Early Pleasures
Frederick Kohner
Black Heron Press
PO Box 13396, Mill Creek, WA 98082
9780930773960, $23.95, www.blackheronpress.com

The need to be loved comes very early. "Early Pleasures" is a novelization of Frederick Kohner's own escapades as a young man who is driven by his lust and desires to have love, fearing no one will love him for who he is, instead taking it anyway he can. A remarkable read of the drive to be loved set in in post-World War I Europe, "Early Pleasures" is a fine pick for literary fiction collections that will entice readers to never put it down til the end.

The Searchers
Naomi Gladish Smith
Swedenborg Foundations Press
320 North Church St., West Chester, PA 19380
9780877853343, $15.95, www.swedenborg.com

There's no easy way out even if you try to take it. "The Searchers" tells of a young man who in his desperation ends his life only to find the afterlife carries a slew of problems of its own. A story of facing humanity and coming to reality with one truly is, Naomi Gladish Smith crafts an insightful and intriguing read that offers much food for thought for readers. "The Searchers" is an intriguing exploration of what it means to be human and what we consider hell.

Lady in the Mist
Laurie Alice Eakes
Revell
c/o Baker
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800734527, $14.99, www.revellbooks.com

As their world seems to fall apart around them, love has a way of growing in spite of it all. "Lady in the Mist" tells the story of Tabitha Eckles a midwife and her friendship that grows into something more with Dominick Cherrett, a British noble person who is working the fields in America as revolution seems to rage on in the distance. Covered in secrets, the story has many unique twists and turns and makes "Lady in the Mist" a thoughtful and riveting read that should prove difficult to put down for romance lovers.

The Leaves of Fate
George Robert Minkoff
McPherson & Company
PO Box 1126, Kingston, NY 12402
9780929701820, $24.95, www.mcphersonco.com

Being a frontiersman means venturing into the unknown where there is no such thing as certainty. "The Leaves of Fate" forms a novel around the ventures of Captain John Smith, and forms a novel of early America, where the Europeans were first seeing and experiencing this entirely new world. Telling of a story of both the bright eyed future and the shadow of the eventual nature of it all, "The Leaves of Fate" is an intriguing read that will prove hard to put down.

Zombies in New York
Sam Stone
Telos
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside, LTD
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135-3303
9781845830557, $24.99, www.telos.co.uk

It may seem like the living dead already roam the streets of New York, but author Sam Stone wants to make it a bit more literal. "Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings" is a collection of short stories with a supernatural horror tilt as Stone turns her beloved city into something right out of nightmares. With humor, horror, and hubris coming together for a highly entertaining read, "Zombies in New York" is a strongly recommended pick that will prove hard to put down.

Another Burning Kingdom
Robert Vivian
University of Nebraska Press
1111 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0630
9780803211070, $13.95, www.bisonbooks.com

The calmness of the plains hides the storm of life that is lived there. "Another Burning Kingdom" is a thoughtful drama following Lem Purchase as he returns home to face life and problems he left behind, facing his troubled brother who he must stop from making a terrible mistake and place his own broken life together as well. "Another Burning Kingdom" is an excellent read that shouldn't be overlooked.

The Calligrapher's Secret
Rafik Schami
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060
9781566568302, $20.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

The simplest rebellion can be taken as the greatest rebellion. "The Calligrapher's Secret" follows Hamid Farsi, devoted artist of the discipline of Calligraphy. Feeling limited by the Arabic language, he seeks to forward it, and working within a secret society, he finds that advancing the Arabic script comes with unforeseen consequences, as well as facing the challenges of love outside his faith. "The Calligrapher's Secret" is a thoughtful read that will entertain readers as well as present much to ponder.

Secret Signs
T. J. Waters
Gallaudet University Press
11030 S. Langley Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
9781563684739, $19.95, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu

Hear no evil does not mean evil is not there. "Secret Signs" is a murder thriller set in the Deaf culture surrounding Washington DC. Amy Kellen finds that her late husband's world was filled with plenty of corruption. In her work, she finds much to worry about her, and much to love. But when murder enters the picture, she has to settle these issues and quickly. "Secret Signs" is a remarkable and fun read and is very highly recommended.


The Military Shelf

Fragging
George Lepre
Texas Tech University Press
Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727151, $34.95, www.ttupress.org

FRAGGING: WHY U.S. SOLDIERS ASSAULTED THEIR OFFICERS IN VIETNAM provides the first in-depth study of the crimes and the military's efforts to stop them, and uses over 500 cases from official records to supplement interviews with both perpetrators and victims. George Lepre spent several years in the Army and set out to research the real truth behind reports he'd heard: FRAGGING is an outstanding result, recommended for any military library.

The Longest War
Peter L. Bergen
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9780745278935, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE LONGEST WAR: THE ENDURING CONFLICT BETWEEN AMERICA AND AL-QAEDA comes from a veteran investigative journalist and CNN national security analyst who provides a fine history of the war on terror, from 9/11 to the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. His analysis of past and present approaches to the war on terror provides a key survey based on his reporting from the Middle East's front lines, and offers an unusual dual perspective not just from Western perspectives, but from the viewpoint of al-Qaeda leaders and soldiers alike.

Splendid Service
Orlan J. Svingen
Washington State University Press
Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780874222869, $29.95, www.wsupress.wsu.edu

In a more chaotic time, a state militia was still something needed to keep the peace. "Splendid Service: The Montana National Guard, 1867-2006" traces the history of this prideful and old organization which has provided assistance to every major conflict throughout the twentieth century. Orlan J. Svingen traces the history of this group from their formation to keep the state safe from the still wild Native tribes in 1867, to the modern era, where it still plays a role. "Splendid Service" is a thoughtful collection of military history for any American history collection.


The Social Issues Shelf

Inherently Unequal
Lawrence Goldstone
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780802717924, $26.00, www.walkerbooks.com

Inherently Unequal: The Betrayal of Equal Rights By the Supreme Court, 1865-1903 provides a powerful account of the lynching of blacks in America after the enactment of equal rights to all Americans. These crimes were perpetrated without fear of retribution - and this focus shows how the Supreme Court and others allowed - even mandated - America to become a land of quasi-slavery, fostering the Jim Crow era and using justice to hide prejudice. Civil rights collections should consider this legal history essential.

Tragedy in Crimson
Tim Johnson
Nation Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781568586014, $26.99, www.nationbooks.org

TRAGEDY IN CRIMSON: HOW THE DALAI LAMA CONQUERED THE WORLD BUT LOST THE BATTLE WITH CHINA provides a powerful social and political history of modern Tibet, tracking the country's changes through the eyes of its religious and political leader, the Dalai Lama. Tim Johnson is a field reporter who has spent years covering the region and traveling all areas of Tibet: his insider's knowledge and professional analysis provides a powerful reflection while his exclusive access to the God-king and his inner circle offers a unique portrait no other Tibet history can touch.

Dangerous Times?
Christopher J. Fettweis
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589017108, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

There is peace in rivalry. "Dangerous Times?: The International Politics of Great Power Peace" looks at how the modern world comes closer and closer together, the world's international powers seem to embrace cooperation and unity, despite there being more major military power throughout the world today. Stating that the twenty first century looks to be a century of much more relative peace than the tumultuous twentieth, Christopher J. Fettweis presents a cautiously optimistic view of the future that is contrary to many people believe World War III is just around the corner. "Dangerous Times?" is a thoughtful and very highly recommended read, not to be missed.

To Be Free
Thomas Peacock & Marlene Wisuri
Afton Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
9781890434809, $24.00, www.aftonpress.com

Racism does not have the rule of the world. "To Be Free: Understanding and Eliminating Racism" is a discussion on the advancements of freeing the word from racism, and how fighting this ingrained practice throughout the world is something that can be done to improve the future. With plenty of thought on facing this problem of life and encouraging a reasonable approach that realizes the world doesn't change over night, "To Be Free" is a work of encouraging social progress and is well worth considering, highly recommended.

Speaking Up and Speaking Out
Karen Paisley & Daniel Dustin
Sagamore Publishing
1807 N. Federal Drive, Urbana, IL 61801-1051
9781571675842, $24.95, www.sagamorepub.com

Parks are neither an endeavor for environmentalism or social progression, it is both. "Speaking Up and Speaking Out: Working for Social and Environmental Justice through Parks, Recreation, and Leisure" discusses the role of these parks in the field of human service, and encouraging those who crusade in this field as a profession to keep their ideas and speak out when these concepts are threatened. "Speaking Up and Speaking Out" is a sage compilation of idea and politics, highly recommended.

The Watchman's Rattle
Rebecca D. Costa
Vanguard
c/o Perseus Book Group
2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9781593156053, $26.95, www.vanguardpress.com

Are we are our own doom bringer as a species? "The Watchman's Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction" tries to answer humanity's limits to solving its own problems, saying that its habit of fixing symptoms instead of causes is building up to be quite overwhelming for all of us as a whole. Encouraging an approach that seeks to answer these problems before they put us on an irreversible downward spiral that will send us back to the stone age. "The Watchman's Rattle" is insightful, scholarly, and enthusiastically recommended.

Fostering Nation?
Veronica Strong-Boag
Wilfird Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3C5
9781554582549, $85.00, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Youths are in greater need of protection than anyone else. "Fostering Nation?: Canada Confronts Its History of Childhood Disadvantage" is another entry into the Studies in Childhood and Family in Canada, as they discusses the needs of failings of Canada's systems and how it has improved and failed to improve throughout Canada's existence. Not only facing Canadians of European descent, professor and author Veronica Strong-Boag discusses the particular challenges faced by Aborginal Canadians and how the health of a nations children can be strongly connected to the health of its neighborhoods and communities. With additional discussion on the welfare of mothers, the role of foster parents, state institutions and much more, "Fostering Nation?" is a fascinating and scholarly study on child welfare in Canada, a must for any social issues collection focusing on Canada.

Decentring Work
Heather Mair, Susan M. Arai, & Donald G. Reid, editors
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 1N4
9781552385005, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com

Why is our existence determined by our careers? "Decentring Work: Critical Perspectives on Leisure, Social Policy, and Human Development" discusses the social construct of employment and its relationship with creating our own self-worth. The authors present ideas on the marginalization of some people in society through their work, and presents ideas of what leisure could tell us instead about these people of the world. With an analysis relating to race, gender, disability and more, "Decentring Work" is a scholarly study on employment and the pedestal it rests on in the Western world.


The Crafts Shelf

Bead Tube Jewelry
Nancy Zellers
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164179, $19.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Bead Tube Jewelry: Peyote & Brick Stitch Designs for 30+ Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings tells how to whip up a batch of bead tubes for jewelry, offering instructions for different patterns, styles, and colors. Over seventy such patterns accompany color photos telling how to use cylinder beads to create a variety of styles.

Mixed Metal Mania
Kim St. Jean
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871164162, $21.95, www.kalmbach.com

Metals are a key component in keeping jewelry creations together. "Mixed Metal Mania: Solder, Hammer, and Wire Exceptional Jewelry" is a guide to creating the formative aspects of one's jewelry to use it as part of the design. These techniques are easy to follow, and Kim St. Jean gives readers everything they need to know to create excellent quality metal plates, rivets, and more, as well as etching them. "Mixed Metal Mania" is a must for every jewelry hobbyist who is working with metal. Also for jewelry hobbyists from Kalmbach Books, "Bead Tube Jewelry" (9780871164179, $19.95) provides much knowledge on using bead tubes to enhance one's next project.

Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects
Spike Carlsen
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610350044, $19.95, www.lindenpub.com

Not everyone is a prodigy of carpentry, but that shouldn't stop them from indulging in the practice. "Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects" is a do-it-yourself guide for crafting simple yet useful and stylish projects that can be constructed by anyone with the resources and dedication to get it done. From shelves, containers, chairs, even mirrors, Spike Carlsen uses his extensive work with wood to advise and encourage readers to pursue this endeavor. "Ridiculously Simple Furniture Projects" is a must for anyone who wants to break into hobby carpentry.

Creating Glass Beads
Jeri L. Warhaftig
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781600595820, $24.95, www.larkcrafts.com

The little things create a sum of personality. "Creating Glass Beads: A New Workshop to Expand Your Beginner Skills and Develop Your Artistic Voice" is a guide to forging one's own glass beads with plenty of opportunity for artistic expression and color. With plenty of simple procedures from Jeri L. Warhaftig, she hopes to help readers embrace their inner artist and create something special and uniquely them. "Creating Glass Beads" is a fun read that shouldn't be passed up by those who love their own spin on jewelry.


The Photography Shelf

Canon Powershot G12: From Snapshots to Great Shots
Jeff Carlson
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley CA 94710
0321771613, $24.99, www.peachpit.com

Canon Powershot G12: From Snapshots to Great Shots is more than just a manual on how to operate the Canon Powershot G12 model: it's a tutorial on how to go beyond camera options to use a camera to take outstanding shots. From mastering composition basics to getting the best shots in all kinds of light learning exactly when to choose different camera modes for specific purposes, this packs in keys that help users differentiate between mediocre and great shots. A top pick!

Off-Camera Flash
Neil van Niekerk
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781608952786, $34.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Off-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Photographers offers fine keys to selecting the right flash, using it properly, and understanding flash settings, options and results. From modifying and positioning a flash to using off-camera flash for various photo purposes, this is packed with color images and specifics on using off-camera to best advantage. Any technical photographer's library needs this reference!

Rocky Nook
26 West Mission St #3, Santa Barbara CA 93101-2432
www.rockynook.com

Juergen Gulbins & Uwe Steinmueller's THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKFLOW HANDBOOK FROM IMPORT TO OUTPUT (9781933952710, $49.95) can be used as either a photographer's reference or as a textbook for amateurs and semi-pros alike. It provides a step-by-step guide to the photographic workflow, from capturing and editing an image to producing a fine photo print. From integrating RAW converters into the workflow process to using Adobe Lightroom and using masks to increase luminance, this is packed with keys to success! Marc Muench's EXPLORING NORTH AMERICAN LANDSCAPES: VISIONS AND LESSONS IN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY (9781933952536, $39.95) comes from a third generation landscape photographer who shares his images and discusses how landscape photography can become an artistic and personal exploration. Photographers of all levels learn how to capture landscapes and receive a blend of personal stories about photography and stories about creating exceptional images.

Farm Tractors
Robert N. Pripps
Voyageur Press
c/o MBI Publishing Company
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760340516, $19.95, www.voyageurpress.com

The tractor has been a workhorse since its inception, and has gained a bit of awe all of its own. "Farm Tractors" follows the history of this agricultural machine and how it has made a major impact in the live so many farmers and farm workers. Tracing the history of the device and how it has become quite the icon, Robert N. Pripps follows the progression of these machines, looking at both the historical and the modern all presented in glossy full color. "Farm Tractors" is a must for anyone who wants to understand how this machine is became an agricultural legend.

The Opposite of Cold
Michael Nordskog
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780816656820, $34.95, www.upress.umn.edu

The Finnish have fully embraced the Sauna, and their immigrants have taken this love with them, even into the coldest parts of the world. "The Opposite of Cold: The Northwoods Finnish Sauna Tradition" chronicles the history of the Finnish sauna and how it has taken hold in the western Great Lakes regions in the United States and Canada. Detailing their construction, their purpose, and their benefits, this lesser known tradition has much to make readers ponder and wonder. "The Opposite of Cold" is a choice photography collection for any collection with a focus on culture and Great Lakes America.

Descendants
Norman Mauskopf
Twin Palms Publishers
54 1/2 East San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
9781931885928, $60.00, www.twinpalms.com

A crossroads of the American Southwest and the nation of Mexico, there is much to observe and learn to understand surrounding New Mexico. "Descendants" is a collection of photography surrounding Northern New Mexico focused on the people and their culture in the rolling deserts and badlands of the region. In a tasteful black and white, the photos look at the people, their graffiti art, and the problems that face them. "Descendants" is a thoughtful collection of photography that will prove difficult to put down.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Convert Your Home to Solar Energy
Everett M. Barber Jr. and Joseph R. Provey
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781600852527, $24.95, www.taunton.com

Convert Your Home to Solar Energy offers homeowners a definitive guide to solar energy and is the only title to cover all types of solar energy in an easy primer, from photovoltaic electricity to water heating and passive systems. Cost calculators, tips on rebates and incentives, and how to find a specialized contractor come from two experts in the field who have some 30 years experience installing and writing about solar systems. Libraries catering to homeowners will find this a key acquisition.

A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides
Richard Latin
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
9780890543924, $139.95, www.shopapspress.com

Healthy grass must be cared for, but too often some treatments lead to greater problems. "A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides" is a text on the importance and details surrounding fungicides in dealing with the care of turfgrass. Chapters discuss the fundamentals that must be known about fungicides, how they work, what has been done to improve performance, the chemical reactions between the grass and fungicides, regulations, and the many varieties and types and choosing the right one for the job. With many useful charts, graphs, and illustrations, as well as indexes and appendices for ease of use, "A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides" is a core resource for any landscaper.

Condos
Patrick Hohman
Hohman
3044 Bardstown Road, No. 196, Louisville, KY 40205-3020
9780982234501, $39.95, www.condohoainfo.com

The Condominium have always served as an investment for many. "Condos: Townhomes and Home Owner Associations" is a guide to succeeding with one's condominium investment. With wisdom on protecting the value of the property around your home, keeping it up to snuff with good maintenance, and evaluating long term investments. From good relations with tenants and other board members, Patrick Hohman guides readers to the many actions they can take to improve it, outlining how much it will cost and how effective it is. "Condos" is a must for anyone with a strong investment in these buildings.


The Sports Shelf

Fishing Long Island Sound
Tom Migdalski
Burford Books
101 East State St., #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801652, $18.95, www.burfordbooks.com

For those who call Long Island home, there is plenty of excellent fishing opportunities. "Fishing Long Island Sound" is a guide for those with a love of fishing who want to find the best they can in the Long Island region. Designed for many types of fishers, Tom Migdalski gives information in many forms, from simple fishing wisdom to GPS coordinates, and much more. For anyone who wants to be the best fisherman in Long Island, "Fishing Long Island Sound" is a must.

Solid Fool's Gold
Bill James
Acta Sports
4848 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
9780879464592, $14.95, www.actapublications.com

Straight textbooks are boring because they never touch on the facts that we really think about. "Solid Fool's Gold: Detours on the Way to Conventional Wisdom" is an approach to analysis through looking at odd and questionable stats and what can be learned from musing over these. With a bit of humor, much is touched on and discussed on the best and worst players in baseball and other sports as well. "Solid Fool's Gold" is a fun diversion for sports fans from sports writer Bill James, very highly recommended reading.

Wisconsin's Carlisle Indian School Immortals
Tom Benjey
Tuxedo Press
546 E Springvale Rd, Carlisle PA 17015
9781936161225, $19.95, www.tuxedo-press.com

When you inject new blood into something, it's rare to be completely disappointed with the results. "Wisconsin's Carlisle Indian School Immortals" is another entry into the history of these athletes and how Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner helped six Native American play their way into the College Football Hall of Fame, introducing new tactics and playstyles that were never seen before by the traditionally mostly white players. Looking at several of these players who were trailblazers both on and off the field, "Wisconsin's Carlisle Indian School Immortals" is an educational and solidly recommended dive into a lesser explored piece of football history.

Coaching Kids
Frank Watts
Price World Publishing
1300 W. Belmont Ave., Suite 20G, Chicago, IL 60657
Cardinal Publishers Group
2402 N. Shadeland Avenue, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9781932549621, $14.95, www.priceworldpublishing.com

A coach of young athletes is doing more than leading them in sports. "Coaching Kids: All Team Sports"is a guide for coaches of young adolescents who have developed a taste for sports and how a coach coaches them not only through the game, but through life. With plenty of tips on dealing with parents, troubled children, troublemakers, and more, "Coaching Kids" is packed cover to cover with sage wisdom, highly recommended.

Fundamentals of Athletic Training, third edition
Lorin A. Cartwright & William A. Pitney
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736083737, $69.00, www.humankinetics.com

Good training leads to good performance and while not risking injury. "Fundamentals of Athletic Training" discusses the basic facts of athletic training as well as the obstacles that will appear. A knowledgeable text, the book discusses how to treat injuries quickly, avoiding compound situations, cultural concerns, keeping equipment up to safety standards, dealing with pre-existing injuries and disabilities, and much more. Presented in full color with plenty of informative photographs and diagrams throughout, as well as the option of a useful CD-ROM program, "Fundamentals of Athletic Training" is a useful textbook and resource which should be considered by any athletic trainer.

Remembering Fenway Park
Harvey Frommer
Stewart Tabori & Chang
c/o Abrams
115 West 18th Street, new York, NY 10011
9781584798521, $45.00, www.stcbooks.com

The green monster has earned quite the reputation in Fenway Park's long history. "Remembering Fenway Park: An Oral and Narrative History of the Home of the Boston Red Sox" looks at the stadium's long and famous history, opening in 1912 and becoming an American icon in the decades since. Focusing on the players, staff, and others who have gained the Boston Red Sox their fame in their home stadium and much more, "Remembering Fenway Park" is a remarkable trip down memory lane and a must pick for sports fan's coffee tables and community library sports and photography collections.


The Art Shelf

Powerful Watercolor Landscapes
Catherine Gill with Beth Means
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1600619495, $29.99, www.fwpublications.com

Powerful Watercolor Landscapes offers a fine survey packed with strategies for tackling painting challenges, and uses lay-flat hardcover binding, hands-on demos, and diagrams to make these tips easy to learn. From mixing a range of vibrant colors to checklists for value sketches and keys to building a painting in stages, this is packed with colorful examples any beginning landscape painter will relish.

Realistic Abstracts
Kees Van Aalst
Search Press
9781844485604, $25.95, www.searchpress.com

REALISTIC ABSTRACTS: PAINTING ABSTRACTS BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE covers the entire concept of realistic abstract painting, an impressionist form that relies on the viewer's imagination. Color examples throughout provide both an artistic and historical survey that adds in techniques and tips for crafters, Numerous examples of works by various artists using watercolors, gouache and acrylics accompany descriptions and analysis in a pick for arts and crafts collections.

Van Eyck to Durer
Till Holger Borchert
Thames & Hudson
c/o W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10100
9780500238837, $75.00, www.wwnorton.com

As the renaissance stirred in Europe, there were those revolutionizing the paint and canvas for centuries to come. "Van Eyck to Durer: The Influence of Early Netherlandish Painting on European Art: 1430-1530" shows how these two individuals did much to further western European art for centuries to come with their realistic style. By analyzing their own history and what spurred them in the progress of the arts in these lands, Till Holger Borchert presents a scholarly delve into the history of art, presented mostly in full color of both painting and sculpture. "Van Eyck to Durer" is a scholarly work that is a strongly recommended addition to community and college library art collections.

Frank Vining Smith
James A. Craig
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953294, $65.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Seafaring ships always had quite a bit of majesty to them. "Frank Vining Smith: Maritime Painting in the 20th Century" looks at the work of Smith, with a focus on his naval vessel painting but also with a look at his other work as well. Presented in full color, author James A. Craig presents a dedicated study of his work and history. Smith used his art to express his patriotism throughout the two world wars, and the social problems that stormed his country during that era. A master of the impressionist style, "Frank Vining Smith" is a compendium of art that would do very well on coffee tables or in community library art collections.


The Reference Shelf

The U. S. Motor Vehicle Reference Book 2011
Michael L. Sankey, editor
BRB Publications
PO Box 27869, Tempe, AZ 85285
9781879792975, $14.95, www.mvrdecoder.com

Motor vehicular law is complex and can be quite overwhelming to understand at times. "The U. S. Motor Vehicle Reference Book 2011: The National Guide to State Drive and Vehicle Licensing Regulations" is a text filled with the laws, rules, and regulations that govern America's roads and the differences of these laws on a state to state level. From the many different levels of licensing to the specifics of safety laws, "The U.S. Motor Vehicle Reference Book 2011" is very useful and very highly recommended reference.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Patent, Copyright, & Trademark
Richard Stim
Nolo
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413312003, $44.99, www.nolo.com

Ownership of an idea is more valuable than one knows. "Patent, Copyright, & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference" is a guide to the law surrounding patent and copyrights so that they can be more easily understood. A legal guide by Richard Stim, an attorney focusing on intellectual property, "Patent, Copyright & Trademark" goes over the many details one must know when navigating this legal minefield. From the amount of time patents are active, to your rights when defending your own intellectual property, to the specifics of applying for and defending a patent, "Patent, Copyright, & Trademark" is a legal resource for any business who thrives on their ideas and wants to defend their livelihood.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Bagua
Wang Shujin
Blue Snake Books
c/o North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
9781583942451, $16.95, www.bluesnakebooks.com

To easily flow is a discipline many martial arts have embraced. "Bagua: Swimming Body Palms" is a guide to practice of Swimming body palms, furthered by master Wang Shujin discussing how to use the practice more effectively and enter the focused mind that the exercises help one embrace. With plenty of diagrams to help the train of thought and practice, "Bagua" is a top pick for martial arts collections, very highly recommended.


The Civil War Shelf

Flames Beyond Gettysburg, revised edition
Scott L. Mingus Sr.
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611210729 $18.95 www.savasbeatie.com

Now in a completely revised edition updated with additional primary sources, new maps, and new black-and-white photographs, Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Confederate Expedition to the Susquehanna River, June 1863 is a close study of a critical undertaking by Richard Ewell's Second Corps that was destined to impact the Gettysburg Campaign, and the course of the American Civil War. Both Union and Confederate perspectives of Ewell's crucial mission are examined at length, in this heavily researched and solidly accessible portrayal of a pivotal moment in American military history. Highly recommended, especially for Civil War history shelves.

Cobb's Legion Calvary
Harriet Bey Mesic
McFarland
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786464326, $38.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

To win a battle is history, to become a feared and powerful force is legendary. "Cobb's Legion Calvary: A History and Roster of the Ninth Georgia Volunteers in the Civil War" is an analysis of this military unit in which fifteen hundred men passed through and fought for their beliefs in the civil war, earning renown on either side of the conflict. Harriet Bey Mesic pays tribute to her great grandfather as well as the other men who served in this unit by telling their story in quite the comprehensive manner. "Cobb's Legion Calvary" is a thoughtful and solidly recommended read, not to be missed.


Language Studies Shelf

Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar
Qin Xue Herzberg & Larry Herzberg
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781933330891, $12.95, www.stonebrdige.com

With over a billion speakers, knowing Chinese can be quite the useful skill. "Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar: A Student's Guide to Correct Structure sand Common Errors" is an introductory guide to the Chinese language to help those who want to learn the language get their start in the most basic of phrasing. From basic word classification, the tricky aspects of the language, and much more, "Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar" is a must for any with an interest in the language or just starting out in their education.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Jack: Secret Vengeance
F. Paul Wilson
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780765318565, $15.99, www.tor-forge.com

Jack: Secret Vengeance is written for young adult audiences but is featured here for its attraction to many an adult reader. It tells of senior Carson Toliver, captain of a football theme who is popular - and who may have attacked a girl on a date. Jack tries to convince her to report popular Carson, and a series of events unfolds that leads Jack to turn to secret vengeance. Any prior fan of the Jack story will find this fills in many gaps in further explaining his personality and evolution.

Scratch Monkey
Charles Stross
NESFA
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778955, $27.00, www.nesfa.org/press

SCRATCH MONKEY tells of Oshi, who works for the Boss doing odd jobs in the Milky Way galaxy. Oshi has been rigorously trained and her body filled with supplemental nanotechnology that enables her to communicate with Dreamtime encoders - but now all her skills are tested in encounters with the Ultralights, artificial intelligences which go beyond her boss' domain. A powerful story of a conflict between worlds and dream worlds evolves in a science fiction thriller perfect for any science fiction library!

Blackveil
Kristen Britain
DAW Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780756406608, $25.95, www.penguin.com

BLACKVEIL is the sequel to THE HIGH KING'S TOMB and provides Book 4 in the Green Rider series, continuing the story of a student who finds herself in danger when she becomes the Green Rider - a messenger of the king. Her devotion to her king and fellow Riders is threatened by dark magicians and the evil residing in Blackveil Forest, and Karigan finds herself in a dangerous journey in this powerful fantasy, recommended for any general fantasy collection and especially those seeing popularity with the prior novels in the series.

The Year When Stardust Fell
Raymond F. Jones
Resurrected Press
9781935774402, $12.99 www.resurrectedpress.com

Resurrected Press is dedicated to bringing quality editions of classic writings back to print, publishes the editions in affordable paperback formats, and offers a lovely alternative to paying huge dollars for collectibles of the past when all a library wishes is to stock the title for lending. Raymond Jones' THE YEAR WHEN STARDUST FELL is just one example, republishing a 1958 classic long gone from library shelves - but just as exciting as upon its initial publication. A typical small town experiences changes when one day machines suddenly stop working - and civilization as Mayfield knows it comes to a grinding halt. The mystery and puzzle behind the collapse is lovely and involving in this fine classic tale, which predates most apocalypse writings about modern civilization gone awry. Highly recommended!

Broken Honour
Robert Earl
Black Library Publications
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
9781849700276, $8.99, www.blacklibrary.com

No honor, no rules, nothing to stop one from succeeding or dying trying. "Broken Honour" is another novel set in the Warhammer universe as Mercenary Captain Eriksson and his company of condemned prisoners have their death sentence - to fight to their deaths against the hordes of feral beastmen that surround Hochland. An exciting read of action and adventure, "Broken Honour" is a choice read for any fan of Warhammer novels.

You Were Destined to Be Together
Tom Arbino
Ozark Mountain Publishing
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940734, $14.00, www.ozarkmt.com

The soulmate is something to be truly treasured. "You Were Destined to Be Together" is a spiritual guide that discusses the soul and the closeness that forms between two people who have found the ultimate togetherness. Deeply profound and speaking clearly on what makes this bond strong, "You Were Destined to Be Together" is a metaphysical spin of love and the soul finding what it needs to be complete.

The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson
Poul Anderson
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778948, $29.00

Poul Anderson has earned quite the renown in the genre of science fiction, and has amassed quite the collection of work. "The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson: Volume 4: Admiralty" is a collection of his award winning short work, comprising of twenty three short stories touching his wide array of settings. With musings from the author on his works both long and short, "The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson" is a vital addition to any short fiction collection focusing on science fiction for any fan of Anderson's work.


The Psychology Shelf

Willful Blindness
Margaret Heffernan
Walker & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780802719980, $26.00, www.walkerbooks.com

Ignorance is a bliss that is indulged in all too often. "Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril" is a psychological look at why we so often ignore the dangers that loom over our heads. Through pride and powerlessness, we often ignore things we cannot change or that impede us from doing what we want to do. Encouraging readers to meet this blindness in our lives, Margaret Heffernan states the power of positive change and action in the many aspects of our lives comes at first conquering our instinctual subconscious. "Willful Blindness" is an excellent addition to any community library psychology collection.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Islamophobia
Stephen Sheehi
Clarity Press
Ste. 469, 3277 Roswell Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
9780932863676, $16.95, www.claritypress.com

It is easy to fear what is not understood. "Islamophobia: The Ideological Campaign Against Muslims" discusses the rampant fear aimed at Islam in modern America where it seems all too easy to exchange the words Muslim and Terrorist. Stephen Sheehi analyzes the history behind this widespread sentiment and where it's going in the future. "Islamophobia" is an intriguing breakdown of the challenges of American culture, highly recommended.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Western Classics
Zane Grey, et al.
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove Road, Mount Horeb, WI 59572
www.graphicclassics.com
9780978791995, $17.95, www.amazon.com

The twentieth volume in Eureka Production's truly outstanding series of graphic novel adaptations of classic works of literature, "Western Classics" features stories set in the American West and written by some of the most talented authors of the genre including Zane Grey, Bret Harte, Robert E. Howard, Willa Cather, Clarence Mulford, Gerturde Atherton, and John G. Neihardt. Each superbly crafted story has been successfully adapted to an illustrated format by some of the best graphic artists working today including Al Feldstein, Cynthia Martin, George Sellas, Reno Maniquis, Dan Spiegle, Arnold Arre, Ryan Huna Smith, and John Findley. From Zane Grey's true American western masterpiece 'Riders of the Purple Sage', to golden age pulp fiction author Robert E Howard's 'Knife River Prodigal', to Willa Cather's memorable 'El Dorado', "Western Classics" is thoroughly entertaining from first page to last, and a perfect addition to personal, school, and community library Graphic Novel collections and supplemental reading lists.

Jeff Smith
Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490243, $15.95, www.twomorrows.com

Jeff Smith went from no one to the modern face of comics. "Jeff Smith" is volume 25 in the Modern Masters series as they look at the 'Bone' creator's rise to prominence that gained him a bit of following and has earned him many accolades and opportunities with not only his own original work but with DC Comic's Shazam! Series. "Jeff Smith" is a fascinating study of those who continue to make their work in comics count, presented with plenty of artwork both black and white and full color.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitwear
Juliana Sissons
AVA Academia
PO Box 248, 455 Sam Ridley Parkway West, Smyrna, TN 37167
9782940411160, $32.95, www.avabooks.com

Knitting is still an excellent discipline of fashion. "Knitwear" is the sixth entry into the Fashion Design Basics series showing how the old fashioned practice of knitting can prove useful and excellent to those seeking to use it to create their own ideas and designs. With plenty of illustrations throughout, Juliana Simmons will show the best routes to understanding the usage of knitting and how to make excellent and modern work, as many modern fashion experts converge and give information on the power of the knit. "Knitwear" is a fine resource, not to be overlooked.

The Great North American Afghan
Knitters Magazine
XRX Books
PR@xrx-inc.com
9781933064246, $12.95, www.xrx-inc.com

Not only do they prove comfortable, they can be a great hobby and artistic expression. "The Great North American Afghan" is a guide filled with tips and tricks for those who enjoy knitting afghans, with plenty of designs to craft to create a truly varied and unique afghan one square at a time. For those looking for ideas on creating their next knitting project, "The Great North American Afghan" is very highly recommended.

The Art of Elegant Hand Embroidery
Janice Vaine
Landauer Publishing
3100 101st St., Ste. A, Urbandale, IA 50322
9781935726029, $34.95

Embroidery is adding something special to your project without changing it. "The Art of Elegant Hand Embroidery: Embellishment and Applique" is a guide to the uses of embroidery in one's work, as Janice Vaine educates readers on how to get started and comes at them with no shortage of exquisite techniques in many shapes, sizes, and complexity, with plenty of examples. Complete with a DVD with even more patterns, "The Art of Elegant Hand Embroidery" is a must for any crafts driven person who wants to add something special to their work.

Introduction to Making Cloth Dolls
Jan Horrox
Search Press
9781844484584, $19.95, www.searchpress.com

Introduction to Making Cloth Dolls provides a fine guide to cloth dolls that can be made from scraps of fabrics, yarns, ribbons and more. These step-by-step projects focus on building lovely dolls and offer keys to making hands, feet, faces and more, using three projects and three alternative designs to teach the basics of cloth doll-making. Full-size templates for all body pieces are provided at the back of the book, making this a top pick for any dollmaker just learning the basics.

Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Ave NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011-9511
www.martingale-pub.com

Kim Brackett's SCRAP-BASKET SENSATIONS: MORE GREAT QUILTS FROM 2 1/2" STRIPS (9781604680140, $24.99) offers some eighteen quilts in all kinds of fabrics for any interested in producing quilt projects from precut bundles, or cutting strips from a stash. Full-page facing color photos accompany materials lists, tips on cutting from scraps, quilt assembly and more. Quilters who want more ideas for using scraps will relish this production! Janet Rehfeldt's TERRIFIC TOE-UP SOCKS: KNIT TO FIT (9781604680195, $14.99) provides an outstanding set of stylish socks knitters will relish. Ten new designs cover lace, cables, ribbing and Fair Isle alike and provide illustrated instructions for three cast-on methods. Knitters who already have the basics down will relish this fine collection!


The Audiobook Shelf

Steam Dreamers of Inverness Part Two
ZBS Foundation
174 North River Road, Fort Edward, NJ 12828
1931654506 $22.50 www.zbs.org 1-800-662-3345

The audiobook Steam Dreamers of Inverness Part Two re-invokes the incredible magic of a mysterious Victorian slide projector. By applying the projector to a photo of a zeppelin called "The Illuminato", Jack, Mojo and Claudine find themselves on a new adventure, amid floating islands in the sky. When the zeppelin stops on a jungle island to repair damage from a sudden storm, hidden dangers gradually reveal themselves - the jungle itself appears to be alive and have its own plans for our intrepid heroes. Also highly recommended is the first installment of this creative and fantastic adventure series, "Steam Dreamers of Inverness Part One" (1931654494, $22.50).

March in Country
E.E. Knight, author
Christian Rummel, performer
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781441868084 $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Enhanced with an exclusive introduction read by the author, March in Country: A Novel of the Vampire Earth is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of author E.E. Knight's continuing chronicle of savage conflict raging across America. The war to seize the territory between the Ohio River and Tennessee is on, and the remnants of the resistance struggle to survive in Kentucky hill country while the powerful Kurian vampires seize their tactical advantage. Major David Valentine must undertake a desperate journey to get help before the Kurian Order stakes a permanent Kentucky claim - but the repelling the Kurian Order will cost a literal blood price. Actor Christian Rummel vividly brings this harrowing saga of a dark alternate world to life through his exceptional performance. Highly recommended. 8 CDs, 9 hours 45 min.

The Night Season
Chelsea Cain, author
Christina Delaine, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427211507 $34.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The dramatic, unabridged adaptation of the fourth in a series of mystery thriller novels featuring police detective Archie Sheridan, The Night follows Sheridan and reporter Susan Ward, as they become drawn to the trail of lurking serial killer - and a murder mystery that could stretch back as far as six decades. A suspenseful story of buried secrets and the tales that long-dead men can tell, The Night Season comes alive from Christina Delaine's stellar narrative performance. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys listening to a good, spine-chilling mystery. 7 CDs, 9 hours.

Shakespeare's Trollop
Charlaine Harris, author
Julia Gibson, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440745645 $72.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

The unabridged audiobook adaptation of book four of the Lily Bard mysteries by Anthony Award winner Charlaine Harris, Shakespeare's Trollop brings alive the story of cleaning lady and karate practitioner Lily Bard. When Bard finds the violated body of one of her clients - the promiscuous Deedra Dean - she discreetly protects Deedra's mother from some of the more compromising photographs and videos, and then personally sets out to learn who committed the crime and why. Lily's search also brings forth painful memories from her own past. Shakespeare's Trollop is a dark and captivating audiobook, highly recommended especially for mystery buffs. 6 CDs, 7 hours.

The Neil Simon Collection
Neil Simon
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781580817899 $119.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863

The Neil Simon Collection is an audiobook anthology of ten classic Neil Simon plays, superbly performed by full casts of masterful actors. The result is an excellent presentation of theater that comes alive in the mind. A high-quality recording and an absolute "must-have" for fans of Neil Simon's work, The Neil Simon Collection is especially recommended for public and college library audiobook shelves. The plays presented are "Barefoot in the Park", "Plaza Suite", "California Suite", "Brighton Beach Memoirs", "Broadway Bound", "The Odd Couple", "The Prisoner of Second Avenue", "Chapter Two", "Biloxi Blues", and "Lost in Yonkers". 20 CDs, 960 min., also available in a downloadable version (9781580817905).

Deep Down True
Juliette Fay, author
Robynn Rodriguez, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781441788405 $118.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

Deep Down True is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Juliette Fay's novel about navigating the difficult twists and turns of daily life. Dana Stellgarten has recently been divorced; taking care of her children on a tight budget and looking after her goth teenage niece demand most of her time and attention, leaving precious little to look for love after the loss of a marriage. Her unexpected friendship with the local town's "queen bee" is destined to change her outlook on life, and her fellow humans, even though the harsh judgment of modern society can be as arbitrary and punishing as that of high school cliques. Deep Down True is ultimately a heartwarming and refreshing novel, and a choice pick for public library audiobook collections. Also highly recommended from Blackstone Audiobooks is "Townie: A Memoir" (9781441781567, $109.00, 12 CDs, 14 1/2 hours) by Andre Dubus III.

As the Earth Turns Silver
Alison Wong, author
Heather Bolton, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd., Jackson, ME 04921
9781742149080 $77.95 www.bolinda.com

As the Earth Turns Silver is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Alison Wong's award-winning romantic novel about love that transcends cultures. The year is 1905, and the brothers Yung and Shun work hard as greengrocers, sending money to their families back in China. Meanwhile, the widow Katherine McKechnie struggles to raise her son and makes ends meet. A chance meeting between Yung and Katherine begins a bond that Katherine's son refuses to tolerate. Superbly performed by actress Heather Bolton, As the Earth Turns Silver is an emotional and unforgettable listening experience. 6 CDs, 7 hours 40 min. Also published by Bolinda is the highly recommended audiobook adaptation of "Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There" (9781742850603, $54.95, 3 CDs, 3 hours 39 min.) read by Miriam Margolyes.

The Importance of Being Earnest
Directed by Michael Hackett
Starring Charles Busch, James Marsters, and Matthew Wolf
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
1580815898 $25.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863

The Importance of Being Earnest is the full-cast audiobook production of Oscar Wilde's famous final play about Victorian courtship and manners. Best friends Jack and Algernon are both courting women who believe their names are Ernest, the most confidence-inspiring name there is. The Importance of Being Earnest is witty, spares no barbs in its razor-sharp satire, and offers a hilarious send-up of human pride and its many pastiches. Vibrantly brought to life by expert theatrical performers, The Importance of Being Earnest is the best way to experience Wilde's play short of obtaining a front-row seat, and is highly recommended. 2 CDs, 118 min.

West of Here
Jonathan Evison
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781615731169, $39.95, www.hachetteaudio.com

WEST OF HERE receives a fine narration by Edgardo Ballerini, who brings to life a novel about the Pacific Northwest and its peoples. Set on the Olympic Peninsula, it tells of generations moving from frontier pioneers to great-great-grandsons wanting to fulfill a more prosperous future. Generations of drama and intrigue make for a fine historical novel perfect for any audio lending library.

Last Sacrifice
Richelle Mead
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780142428177, $9.99, www.penguin.com

LAST SACRIFICE provides a powerful novel narrated by Emily Shaffer, whose dramatic voice lends drama and tension to the story of Rose, in prison for the assassination of a monarch and wrongly accused. Add a fantasy element of a vampire world and you have a riveting story packed with intrigue, drama, politics, and mystery perfect for any general lending library.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

J.T. Ellison's ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS (1441838392, $29.99) receives an outstanding performance by veteran Joyce Bean, who brings to life the Taylor Jackson novel revolving around a local girl who becomes a serial killer's prey. It's up to Nashville homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, to pursue the murderer before he strikes again in this engrossing tale of dangerous truths. Mary Alice Monroe's THE LONG ROAD HOME (1441891552, $29.99) receives an outstanding performance by long-time veteran narrator Sandra Burr as it tells of Nora, a Manhattan socialite made penniless by her husband's suicide and shady financial operations. She's managed to keep their mountain farm and begins learning the farming business with the aid of a hardworking, gentle teacher who will teach Nora more than just farm skills in this fine saga of romance and recovery.


The Library CD Shelf

Electric Moroccoland/So Below
Club d'Elf
Face Pelt Records
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Rotating-member musical group Club d'Elf has created a new two-CD set: Electric Moroccoland/So Below. The first disc of the medley draws upon Morocco's deep musical heritage, and performer Rivard's expertise in the three-stringed, camel-skinned, base-reminiscent musical instrument called a sintir. The second disc blends elements of funk, dub, and free jazz in an exciting new approach to the trance genre. Electric Moroccoland/So Below is an extraordinary, crowning musical achievement and enthusiastically recommended for both private and public library music CD collections. The tracks are "Overture" (2:15), "Sand (for mark)" (5:45), "Ghir Khoudouni" (7:08), "Madrecita" (6:44), "Sunshine Of Your Love" (5:46), "Scorpionic" (8:44), "Mogador" (5:15), "Bendir Done That" (3:26), "Berber Song" (5:40), "Sidi Rabi" (7:39), "Ambib" (5:09), "Instar" (5:38), and "Rope on Fire" (5:49) for Electric Moroccoland; "Gettin' Squinty" (5:20), "Middle Pillar" (7:59), "So Below" (11:08), "Salvia" (6:53), "I Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down" (7:03), "Trace Meeting pt. 1" (6:22), "Trace Meeting pt. 2" (2:38), "As Above" (5:35), "End of Firpo" (7:38), "Pharaoh" (7:41), "Propeller" (4:45), and "Taint Too" (4:26).

Mysterious Duality: Just Me
Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh
Earthsync
c/o Flipswitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$15.97 www.flipswitchPR.com

Mysterious Duality: Just Me is a music CD featuring Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh's masterful performances of India's national instrument, the stringed veena. Mysterious Duality is not a solo album; Kumaresh worked with a recording studio engineer to combine and align the strains she played on the two dozen veenas she owned, in search of just the right blend of sound. The result is a well-crafted masterpiece worthy of the highest recommendation for public library and private international music CD collections. The tracks are "Mysterious Duality" (8:20), "Strings With No Ends" (12:08), "Wandering In Dimensions" (12:20), and "Waiting At Dusk" (9:54).

The Folk EP
Sara Banleigh
Privately Published
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$8.00 www.sarabanleigh.com

The debut album of piano-based folk singer Sara Banleigh, The Folk EP offers Sara's unique interpretations of five traditional English, Scottish, and Irish folk songs, each of which is several hundred years old. Love, murder, and death figure prominently in these ballads, which include a song about a young women who gives her maidenhood to her first love, only to be driven to suicide when he cheats on her; and songs where the title character is sentenced to death by hanging for committing a capital crime. A profoundly moving piece of musical history as well as a captivating performance, The Folk EP is highly recommended. The tracks are "Railroad Boy", "Mary Hamilton", "Geordie", "All My Trials", and "Fhear A Bhata".

The Shape of Things
Josh Johnston
www.joshjohnston.com
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Brian Masterson
Shandon Records
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$20.67 myspace.com/creativeservicecompany www.shandonrecords.com

The Shape of Things is an album of grand piano music, played solo by Irish musician Josh Johnston. Though an undercurrent of the album evokes Irish tradition, the music also has improvisational elements akin to jazz, as well as influence from folk and pop. An absorbing and emotional delve into the original soundscapes of a brilliantly creative mind, The Shape of Things is enthusiastically recommended to piano music lovers everywhere. The tracks are "Peace (Nightsong 1)" (3:53), "FVX" (3:24), "Atlantic" (3:53), "Nightsong 2" (4:12), "Missed Her On The Road" (4:44), "Guest" (2:57), "Nightsong 3" (2:59), "Asylum Harbour" (4:13), "The Late Train" (3:38), "Nightsong 4" (2:49), "A Light In The Dark Of Night" (3:38), "Cimiez" (4:49), and "Saving a Life" (4:29).

When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Anne Enslow and Ridley Enslow
Enslow Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 398, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398
9780766038677 $23.93 list / $17.95 school & library www.enslow.com 1-800-398-2504

When Johnny Comes Marching Home: Music of the Civil War brings to life a variety of classic songs that were popular during the American Civil War, with violin, guitar, banjo, mandolin, mountain dulcimer, pennywhistle, flute, harp, cello, and vocal performances. The inset booklet features not only the song lyrics, but summaries of the history, origin, composition and purpose of the ballads. A soul-stirring treasury of music from a bygone era, When Johnny Comes Marching Home is especially recommended for public library music CD collections. The tracks are "The Battle Cry of Freedom", "The Vacant Chair", "Get Off the Track!", "The Bonnie Blue Flag", "Weeping, Sad and Lonely", "Confederates' Polka March", "The Southern Soldier Boy", "All Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight", "The Year of Jubilo", "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground", "For the Dear Old Flag I Die", "Hard Times Come Again No More / Hard Tack", "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", "Marching Through Georgia / Lament for Georgia", "All Hail to Ulysses!", and "Battle Hymn of the Republic". 55 min. 26 sec.

Midsummer
Uwe Gronau
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$17.29

German musician and composer Uwe Gronau presents Midsummer, an instrumental 2-CD album inspired by the philosophical work "Tractatus" published in 1921. Midsummer seeks to explore human understanding of the world, and of natural forces, through the expression of music. Most of the songs are New Age, varying in tone from uplifting to ambient to prog-rock. The first CD features more rhythmic music, while the second CD is softer and more gently paced. The instruments used in Midsummer range from piano to synth, drums, organ and more; there are even a few tracks featuring exotic contributions from instruments such as the Celtic flute or the sitar. The result is a wonderfully immersive and thought-provoking experience, highly recommended for anyone who loves to lose themselves in instrumental music. The first CD's tracks are "Steps in the Snow" (3:17), "Magic Forest" (3:22), "Into Clouds" (3:17), "Secret Meeting 1" (3:15), "Message" (3:49), "Poems Like Islands" (2:48), "Royal Road" (3:15), "Thought" (2:06), "Watching the Sound" (3:20), "Dreamt of You" (4:16), "Evening Sky" (3:07), "Secret Meeting 2" (5:59), "It Happens" (3:24), "Silence" (3:13), "Faraway Countries" (2:55), "Left Hand" (3:16), "Gliding Flight" (3:17), "Coming Home" (3:45), and the second CD's tracks are "Storm Lantern" (3:09), "Big Sky Horizon" (2:43), "You Know" (2:47), "Childhood" (3:35), "Midsummer" (3:14), "Little Luck" (2:52), "Passage" (3:03), "Rivers Bound to Sea" (3:09), "The Messanger" (3:22), "Thinking" (2:41), "Dream Bridge" (3:39), "Garden of March" (2:35), "Snowy Wood" (2:56), "Heaven of Falling Stars" (3:41), "By the Fireside" (2:45), "Roxy" (3:02), and "Brave Heart" (2:57).

First Melancholy, Then the Night Stretch
Rick Cutler
New Dude Records
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$19.22 www.humanrick.com

First Melancholy, Then the Night Stretch is the second original album by solo acoustic pianist Rick Cutler, featuring elements of neo-classical, new age, and even improvisational jazz. Superbly performed and emotionally moving, First Melancholy, Then the Night Stretch explores echoes of memory, reflections on the grandeur of nature, and contemplation of dreams just out of the conscious mind's reach. An extraordinary and beautiful work, highly recommended. The tracks are "Isle of Words Forgotten" (2:43), "Gentle Nightmares" (3:00), "Charlotte's Roads Before Her" (4:26), "Alien Landscape 1" (1:56), "Debussy" (5:06), "From Then Till Now" (4:40), "Measuring Eternity" (2:38), "Noise (for Tony Williams)" (2:38), "Alien Landscape 2" (1:46), "Song for Noel" (3:50), "Indian Sunset" (3:45), "A Dance" (4:35), "Hymn" (3:13), "Thank You (for McCoy Tyner)" (3:53), "Alien Landscape 3" (2:43), "Who Needs Words" (3:25), "A Song You've Heard Before" (4:02), and "Going Home" (4:15).

Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Canyon Records Productions continues to enrich music CD libraries with their outstanding offerings of traditional Native American music, and of original albums composed and brought to life by Native American performers. In "The Gift of Life: Round Dances and Songs of the Native Road" ($15.99, 63:56 min.), Grammy-nominated singer Randy Wood transforms his understanding of Cree culture and the tradition of the Round Dance into a musical contemplation of the past, present, and future. Dine singer Antonio Woody's "Old Style" ($15.69, 48:23 min.) preserves and performs peyote songs meant to transfer strength, renewal, and inspiration to new generations. Opie Day-Bedeau's "One Love Round Dance Songs" ($15.74, 58:48 min.) gathers inspiration from the Ojibwe culture, featuring compelling, dulcet-toned vocals that reverberate with the compelling rhythm of round dance culture. Cheevers Toppah delivers harmonized church hymns of the Kiowa in "Renewed Spirit" ($15.69, 55:26 min.), an album that combines the song structure and melodies of European-American Christian hymns with pre-Christian Kiowa songs into an extraordinary whole that extols faith in God and the redemptive sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ. "Breathe Deep the Dusk Fall" ($18.34, 74:58 min.) is Dine songmaker Louie Gonnie's anthology of songs from the fireplace of the Native American Church; the hauntingly beautiful music represents the eternal cycle of time, reflecting upon how the daily transformation from dusk to dawn symbolizes the travels of the soul through its phases of existence. Native American Music Award winner Gabriel Ayala and five-time Grammy nominee Will Clipman combine elements of of classical guitar, flamenco, jazz, tango, and Native American music in "Passion, Fire & Grace" ($15.46, 45:41 min.), an album that surges with vigor and multicultural vibrancy. The Southern Scratch group, headed by Ron Joaquin (son of renowned waila musician Angelo Joaquin Sr.), offers an exceptional tribute to the 50-year musical legacy of the Joaquin family in "How Sweet the Sound" ($15.99, 48:06 min.); waila (dance music of the Tohono O'odham of the Sonoran desert) figures prominently in this pulse-moving album featuring saxophone, bass, bajo sexto, percussion drums, and some vocals. All are superb contributions to international or Native American music shelves, and public library music CD collections.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Grandfathers
Ethnographic Media
c/o The B&B Media Group Inc. (publicity)
dmorrow@tbbmedia.com
$19.95 www.EGMfilms.org www.thegrandfathers.com

The Grandfathers is the final motion-graphics documentary of a trilogy now available on DVD, about a young man living among the stone-age Amazon tribe that slew his grandfather. The Grandfathers is a profound story about the impact that the murder of five missionaries had on both the killers and the families of the slain... and ultimately how the widows and children of the men who died became the crucial part of a redemptive process that would change the lives of all involved. The Grandfathers is a profound, moving, and unforgettable true story. Also highly recommended are the previous two documentaries, which chronicle the events leading up to the deaths of the missionaries: "End of the Spear" and "Beyond the Gates of Splendor". 54 min.

The Genius of Design
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598284683 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

As seen on the Smithsonian channel, The Genius of Design is a two-DVD thinpack set collecting an educational five-part documentary about the art, science, and practical (or even wartime) ramifications of design. The episodes are "Ghosts in the Machine", revealing how the design process moved from the workshop to the factory and the rise of mass production; "Designs for Living", concerning how modernism completely transformed architecture and consumer goods; "Blueprints for War" about the demands World War II placed on designers and how design philosophies directly impacted the outcome of war (for example, the cheaper design of Russian tanks allowed them to be produced in numbers that would overwhelm the smaller numbers of higher-quality but more expensive Nazi tanks); "Better Living Through Chemistry" about design's role in the transition from wartime production to a consumer-driven economy; and "Objects of Desire" which touches upon not only ever-changing consumer demand and the rise of digital technology, but also the new challenge of sustainability. Biographical sketches of famous designers and a "viewer's guide" booklet enhance this fascinating and horizon-expanding series. 2 DVDs, 242 min., SDH subtitles. Also highly recommended is the Athena documentary series "The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide" (9781598285758, $39.99, 169 min., 2 DVDs).

Get Extremely Ripped! Boot Camp
Jari Love
Get Ripped Inc.
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.jarilove.com

Certified personal trainer and creator of the award-winning Get Ripped fitness series Jari Love presents Get Extremely Ripped! Boot Camp, a vigorous exercise DVD that can be set up for six 10-minute workouts or two 30-minute workouts. A high-energy program designed to be accessible to viewers of all skill and experience levels, Get Extremely Ripped! Boot Camp is brimming with enthusiasm, pulsing music, and core, strength, and cardio exercises. The only needed equipment is a set of 3-8 pound dumbbells (having access to a step is optional). Get Extremely Ripped! Boot Camp is a choice pick for any fitness DVD collection. 80 min.

Happily Ever Active
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.411videoinfo.com

Wife, mother, physical therapist, and certified Pilates and Yoga instructor Jillian Moriarty, MSPT presents two excellent fitness DVDs from Happily Ever Active are ideal for moms and moms-to-be. "Prego-fit & Fabulous" ($14.95, 40 min.) offers both prenatal and postnatal workouts that blend elements of yoga and pilates. The only necessary equipment is a simple ball or pillow, and the workout includes pregnancy-specific breathwork and relaxation poses. "On-the-Move Munchkins" ($14.95, 40 min.) is a yoga and pilates DVD fitness designed for parents and young children to follow together. An educational smattering of sign-language learning enhances this wonderful, healthful and family-friendly workout. Both are excellent ways to promote flexibility, well-being, and positive lifelong habits.

44 Baseball Mistakes and Corrections
Marty Schupak
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Court, Valley Cottage, New York 10989
9780978945190 $24.95 www.YouthSportsClub.com

44 Baseball Mistakes and Corrections: Tips For Youth Baseball Coaches & Players! lives up to its title with an in-depth study of many of the most common and persistent mistakes seen in youth baseball games. Ideal for coaches or parents in charge of a youth baseball league (whether recreational or competitive), 44 Baseball Mistakes and Corrections examines step-by-step how to improve training and gameplay through basic practice principles. Video sections include "Hitting Mistakes", "Pitching Mistakes", "Baserunning Mistakes", "Fielding Mistakes", "Coaching Mistakes", "Equipment Mistakes", "Backing Up Mistakes", "Sliding Mistakes", and more. Highly recommended especially for physical education instructor and public school sports DVD libraries. 36 min.

Pilates Super Sculpt
Tracey Mallett
traceymallett.com
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Master Pilates Instructor Tracey Mallett presents Pilates Super Sculpt, a fitness DVD ideal for beginning to intermediate fitness buffs, featuring Pilates exercises designed to promote core strength and improved posture. The six sections of the fitness DVD are "Total Body Warm-up", "Abs Series", "Oblique and Buns Sculpt", "Legs and Thigh Burn", "Total Body Challenge", and "Flexibility"; they can be mixed or matched in any order. An inexpensive sponge or playground ball is necessary for some of the exercises, but is the only required equipment in this user-friendly workout program. 60 min.

The Language of Life
Bill Moyers
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285499 $59.99 www.acornonline.com

The Language of Life is a DVD thinpack DVD documentary series in which journalist and host Bill Moyers speaks with eighteen authors and poets, and shares the unique experience of having them read passages aloud in front of a live audience. Robert Bly, Adrienne Rich, Gary Snyder and many more talented individuals are profiled in this extraordinary anthology of personal interviews and public performances, some of which have musical accompaniment by the acclaimed Paul Winter Consort. The Language of Life lives up to its title with an exceptional cross-section of the dimensions of life as expressed through the finest of wordsmithing, and is highly recommended especially for bibliophiles and public library DVD collections. 3 DVDs, 8 episodes, 447 min.

Water on the Table
a film by Liz Marshall
featuring water-warrior Maude Barlow
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589798 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

In July of 2010, a large majority of the United Nations voted in favor of a resolution to recognize the human right to water and sanitation; Canada, the US, and 39 other nations abstained. Water on the Table is a documentary on DVD capturing the powerful message of "international water-warrior" Maude Barlow, who champions the principle that water is so invaluable and essential that it needs to be declared a public trust and a human right. Barlow speaks out against those who would privatize the distribution of water, or who seek to turn a substance human beings need to live into a profitable commodity. The message of those who strongly oppose Barlow is also presented; counterarguments include the claim that water is no different than any other resource, or that privatizing water distribution is the better means to protect access to it. Water on the Table is a hard-hitting look at an issue that will only become more pressing as increasing population, desertification, climate change, and other ecological issues place human access to water in ever-greater jeopardy. Also highly recommended is the Bullfrog Films documentary "SoLa: Louisiana Water Stories" (1594589968, $250.00), about the connection between humans and water in Southern Louisiana... and in the unfolding of one of the worst manmade ecological disasters in recorded history.

Lorna Doone
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285314 $29.99 www.acornonline.com

Lorna Doone is the DVD adaptation of R.D. Blackmore's classic saga of love, blood feud, and revenge. In lawless 17th-century England during the Monmouth rebellion, John Ridd craves vengeance against the Doone family that murdered his father when he was a child. Yet John has fallen hopelessly, passionately in love with the beautiful Lorna Doone, the daughter of his avowed enemies. Cast filmographies and a biography of R.D. Blackmore enhance this sweeping story of passionate love and heart-wrenching tragedy, highly recommended especially for public library and private movie collections. 87 min, full screen, SDH subtitles.

Obesity in a Bottle II: How to Pick Healthy Beverages
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

Susan Moores, MS, RD presents Obesity in a Bottle II: How to Pick Healthy Beverages (26 min.), a no-nonsense informative documentary intended for grades 9 and up, concerning the proliferation of high-sugar, low-nutrition beverages that contribute to America's ongoing problems with obesity and other health concerns. The program segments include "How to Choose Healthy Beverages", "How to Choose Healthy Beverages for Kids", "How to Drink for Weight Loss", "How to Pick the Right Drinks for Sports", and "Busting Caffeine Myths". Printable teaching materials to accompany this invaluable and educational documentary are available online as well. Also highly recommended is the Learning ZoneXPress educational documentary "Cooking and Children: A Learning Activity" ($79.95, 33 min.), a useful guide promoting healthful cooking with young people while remaining mindful of kitchen safety concerns.

My Journey to Life
Rainer Walde
www.waeldemedia.de
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

My Journey to Life: On the Trail of Celtic Saints is a spiritual documentary following host Rainer Walde's exploration of ancient Christianity. From Christianity's origins in Ireland and Britain, to the beginnings of Celtic Christianity still practiced by modern-day followers in Iona and Northumbria, to recreations of ancient prayers and rituals, to the spiritual value of a life with set times scheduled for solitude and Christian communion, My Journey to Life is a thoughtful journey of the faith that has sustained human beings for generations. Highly recommended especially for DVD libraries with a Christian spiritual focus. English and German audio tracks, 75 min. Also available from Vision Video is a choice pick for Christian families with young people ages 8-12, "The Amy Carmichael Story" ($14.99, 30 min.), an animated adventure following a true-life Christian heroine who devoted herself to rescuing children.

20th Century America at War with Mike Wallace
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285574 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Emmy and Peabody award-winning newsman Mike Wallace hosts 20th Century America at War, a ten-episode boxed set documentary on DVD, originally shown on A&E and the History Channel. Archival footage and the insights of journalists, military leaders, and historians enhance this eye-opening survey of how combat evolved during the course of the twentieth century, with especial focus on Vietnam, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. An extraordinary educational series, 20th Century America at War with Mike Wallace is highly recommended especially for military history buffs and public library collections. The episodes are "How We Went to War", "Vietnam: A Soldier's Diary", "Vietnam Dilemma: Tet and the Anti-War Movement", "Portraits of Courage: Air War in Vietnam and the Prisoner of War", "Korea: The Forgotten War", "America's Elite Forces: A Checkered History", "Military Debacles", "The Gulf War Revisited: The Untold Story", "A Few Good Women", and "The Changing Face of Warfare". 3 DVDs, 470 min., SDH subtitles.

Supreme 90 Day
Telebrands
Melissa-FtPR@verizon.net
B004S2YN5O, $22.99

It only takes three months to turn your life around. "Supreme 90 Day" is a system devised by John Dull and Michelle Collier, presenting ten DVDs designed to tone and achieve greater fitness. Each DVD focuses a particular section of the body designed to make the most of it all. All one needs to follow the system is simple hand weights and a balance ball. For those looking for a bit of advice on getting to that next level of fitness, "Supreme 90 Day" may be the system for them.

Kung Fu Body Conditioning
Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392085 $39.95 www.ymaa.com 1-800-669-8892

Kung Fu Body Conditioning: Traditional Training for Endurance and Power is a fitness and martial arts DVD hosted by Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, founder of the YMAA California Retreat Center, a location designed especially to preserve and teach Chinese martial arts at the highest level of practice. But Kung Fu Body Conditioning is not only for expert martial artists; fitness and self-defense buffs of all backgrounds will benefit from the training meant to strengthen bones, joints, and muscles. The program includes stretching, strength-training, tumbling drills, outdoor training methods, qigong meditation, proper posture, how to practice embryonic breathing to amplify one's martial power, and much more. Highly recommended. 240 min.

Siege
Julien Bryan
Aquila Polonica Publishing
debra@aquilapolonica.com
9781607720065 $14.95 www.AquilaPolonica.com

Siege: 1940 Academy Award-Nominated Newsreel reproduces a film that made history. In 1939, American photojournalist Julien Bryan was the only neutral reporter to make a film record of Nazi Germany's bombardment of Poland. Bryan survived two weeks under deadly conditions, repeatedly risking his life to record the Nazi's violence; his film and still photos shocked the American public, and helped motivate the nation to take a stand against Hitler's ruthless conquest. Siege features the original, ten-minute black-and-white newsreel, meticulously restored, plus a wealth of special features including "Prelude to War", "Blitzkrieg", "The Making of Siege", a biography of Julien Bryan and much more. Siege is a seminal and indispensable addition to public and college library DVD libraries, worthy of the highest recommendation.

Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.acacialifestyle.com

Two excellent fitness DVDs from Acacia are worthy additions to any exercise buff's collection; each requires no expensive equipment other than light hand weights and a mat. "Ageless with Kathy Smith: Staying Strong" (9781598286168, $16.99, 60 min. plus bonus) is a workout designed especially to combat the loss of muscle mass that naturally comes with aging. Four mix-or-match 15-minute segments target the arms, legs, glutes, and core; a bonus question-and-answer segment with Kathy Smith plus a 12-minute stretching segment rounds out this superb exercise program. "Kristi Yamaguchi Power Workout" (9781598286380, $16.99, 53 min.) is hosted by Olympic gold medalist (and wife and mother!) Kristi Yamaguchi and celebrity trainer Erin O'Brien. Designed for viewers with busy schedules, Power Workout is divided into three ten-minute circuits plus an abs and chest segment. Both strength training and cardio endurance elements are present in this solid and accessible exercise DVD.

Bennet-Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
www.Bennett-Watt.com

Bennet-Watt HD Productions takes the viewer on a fantastic tour of Irish history and culture in its Discoveries... Ireland DVD series. The fourth DVD in the series, Discoveries... Ireland: Castles & Ancient Treasures (9781934682678, $24.95) explores Ireland's castles, abbeys, moats and fortified houses - some from the medieval era, some ruins and passage tombs dating as far back as 3000 B.C. An extraordinary journey to sites of legend, beautifully captured on film, Castles & Ancient Treasures is the next best thing to seeing these historic sites in person. Discoveries... Ireland: Music & Dance A Rich Culture (9781934682685, $24.95) focuses on the Ireland's historic entertainment legacy, from the music festivals of Northwest Ireland to performances at cafes to people who work to keep native Gaelic traditions and songs alive, and much more. Both DVDs are treasure troves, and make excellent gifts for anyone feeling curious or nostalgic about Ireland's unique gifts to the world.


The Parenting Shelf

Parenting Gifted Children
Jennifer L. Jolly & Collaborators
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593634308, $21.95, www.prufrock.com

With a certain adeptness, it takes a bit extra from the parent to embrace it and let that talent flourish. "Parenting Gifted Children" is a guide of advice from the National Association for Gifted Children with plenty of advice and tips for parents who find their child has a gift that it is in their hands to facilitate and nourish. With a wide approach to many types of gifted children in many types of school, the parent will learn that a gifted child may seem burdensome at times, but it is a burden worth taking. "Parenting Gifted Children" is a thoughtful read for parents who want their child to be everything they can be.

Vaccines and Your Child
Paul A. Offit and Charlotte A. Moser
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231153072, $16.95, www.cup.columbia.edu

Vaccines have received a lot of negative press in recent years. "Vaccines and Your Child: Separating Fact from Fiction" is an informative guide for parents to help them wade through all the misinformation that is all over the place in regards to vaccines. Dispelling myths about autism and other fears associated with vaccines, Paul Offit, M.D., and Charlotte Moser of the Vaccine Education center come together to provide a great deal of useful information. "Vaccines and Your Child" is a scholarly and much needed read for any concerned parent.


The Humor Shelf

365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy
James Delingpole
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781596986428 $14.95 www.regnery.com 1-800-338-4550

Conservative newspaper columnist James Delingpole presents 365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy, a tongue-in-cheek right-wing book packed cover to cover with straight-lipped quips, nasty digs, jeering jibes, and snide sneering designed specifically to get under a liberal's skin. Enraging those on the left of the political spectrum with a nonstop barrage of heated words is the deed of the day, and sample suggestions include, "Remind your liberal friends of the statistic that if liberals donated as much blood as conservatives, America's blood supply would increase by 45 percent", "Throw a party to celebrate the fact that each passing day brings us closer to knowing which Republican candidate has defeated Obama by a landslide", and "If you are gay, always refer to your proclivity fondly as 'my perversion' - or better still, when among your fellow gays, 'Our perversion.' Few things rile a liberal more than when a designated 'victim' refuses to play identity politics." A bonus holiday-themed section of ways to enrage liberals rounds out this chuckle-inducing compendium of staunchly conservative comedy.

Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up
Drew Aquilina
Green Pieces Cartoon Studio
7904 East Chaparral Road, #A110-496, Scottsdale, AZ 85250-7210
9780983344438 $19.99 www.greenpiecesbooks.com

Featuring a foreword by Brian Walker, creator of "Hi and Lois", Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up is a gigantic, full-color collection of daily Green Pieces cartoon strips by Drew Aquilina. Environmental and animal welfare issues are recurring themes amid the zany antics of the wetlands animal cast, from a talk-tough dragonfly to a shell-waxing turtle to a raccoon who claims "Garbage just ain't what it used to be." Playful, off-the-wall humor characterizes this delightful anthology, which makes an excellent giftbook for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Life of Charles Hodge
A. A. Hodge
The Banner of Truth Trust
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
9781848710900, $32.00, www.banneroftruth.co.uk

The future does not always require a revolution in thought, but instead to not forget the principles that brought you there. "The Life of Charles Hodge" looks at a leading figure in the American Presbyterian Church who states he created no new ideas, but instead allowed the church to return to its faith and focus more intently. Written shortly after Hodge's death by his son who followed in his footsteps as a leader of faith, this tale of the early American faith and its approach to the newness and conflict of it all makes for a thoughtful and spirituality charged read, making "The Life of Charles Hodge" a strong addition to any community library religion and biography collection.

Transforming Prayer
Daniel Henderson
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764208515, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

TRANSFORMING PRAYER: HOW EVERYTHING CHANGES WHEN YOU SEEK GOD'S FACE comes from a sought-after teacher on prayer and provides keys to praying more effectively. From praying for more than personal satisfaction to praying from God's word as opposed to personal ideas, this is a top pick for any spirituality collection.

Unprotected Texts
Jennifer Wright Knust
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061725586, $25.99, www.harperone.com

UNPROTECTED TEXTS: THE BIBLE'S SURPRISING CONTRADICTIONS ABOUT SEX AND DESIRE comes from a Bible scholar who considers the big questions about sex and the Bible. Popular misconceptions of the Bible's guidelines on sex and an argument that the Bible should not dictate sexual morality despite popular claims make for a fine critical survey of Bible passages and their interpretation in a pick any spirituality or Christian collection will find enlightening.

The Latter-Day Saint Family Encyclopedia
Christopher Kimball Bigelow & Jonathan Langford
Thunder Bay Press
10350 Barnes Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121
1607101114, $34.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

The Latter-Day Saint Family Encyclopedia provides a comprehensive survey that cover's the church's history, leadership and beliefs and offers ordinances, church growth around the world, key personalities, and more. Maps, tables and color photos pack an oversized, weighty presentation on Mormon culture and present all details in an A-Z compilation for quick and easy reference. No spirituality or LDS reference collection should be without this incredible, detailed and lively reference.

The Lord's Supper
Thomas R. Schreiner & Matthew R. Crawford
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234-0164
9780805447576, $24.99, www.bhacademic.com

Communion is meant to be a reminder that Christ will come. "The Lord's Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes" is a study of communion, as many theologians come together to offer insight into the purpose of communion, with a focus on the Baptist sect, but touches on communions for other branches of Christianity as well. With thoughts on theology, ethics, the role of the church, and much more, "The Lord's Supper" is a scholarly work of high interest to anyone who wants to better understand the purpose of communion.

From Glory to Glory
Rea McDonnell
New City Press
202 Comforter Blvd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565483682, $16.95, www.newcitypress.com

Faith is something to be shared. "From Glory to Glory: Spirit and Sacrament in the Writings of Paul and John" is a devotional read for Christians for those who want to pursue a prayer group with a lively spiritual discussion. Drawing much from the Gospel of John and the Letters of Paul, for those who want to spread faith through meeting and discussion, "From Glory to Glory" is an excellent resource to draw from.

Health, Wealth, & Happiness
David W. Jones & Russell S. Woodbridge
Kregel Publications
733 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
9780825429309, $13.99, www.kregel.com

It seems the God that has come to dominate our sights is green with big numbers on it. "Health, Wealth, & Happiness: Has the Prosperity Gospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ?" is a look at the faith behind many Christians who seem to live with the faith that God is the one who will lead them to prosperity. Warning against these beliefs and how they have corrupted the gospel, theologians David Jones and Russel Woodbridge offer their concerns and encourages readers to remember that Jesus, not money, is their God. "Health, Wealth, & Happiness" is a thoughtful and much needed gaze into a crisis in modern Christianity, highly recommended.

Promptings or Me?
Kevin Hinckley
Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 S. Springville, UT 84663
9781599554907, $11.99, www.cedarfort.com

When looking for God's voice, there is plenty to lead one astray. "Promptings or Me?: Recognizing the Spirit's Voice" is a guide for spiritual readers to find their own way to God's will and understanding when everything around them seems to be pulling them away. With spiritual wisdom with some practices to embrace, avoiding what is blocking your success, and much more, "Promptings or Me?" is a strong pick for any Christian struggling to find's God's way.

The Lion, the Mouse, and the Dawn Treader
Carl McColman
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557258878, $14.95, www.paracletepress.com

Another person's views on a subject you know can open your eyes to elements you may not have noticed before. "The Lion, the Mouse, and the Dawn Treader: Spiritual Lessons From C. S. Lewis's Narnia" is a collection of reflections on the famed Narnia series and its allegory to Christianity as a whole. Lewis's work has provided much thought and inspiration with his interpretation of his work, and author Carl McColman offers a great companion to understanding. "The Lion, the Mouse, and the Dawn Treader" is a fine read a fine addition to Christian and literary studies collections.

Your Secret Name
Kary Oberbrunner
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
Veritas Communications (publicity)
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9780310285465, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

God's plan blesses everyone with a purpose. "Your Secret Name: Discovering Who God Created You to Be" is a delve into understanding God's plan as a Christian, and finding what one is truly meant to do with one's life. Drawing on scripture, Kary Oberbrunner hopes to help readers understand their role in God's plan for the world and how to live it to the fullest. "Your Secret Name" is an insightful and spiritual read for Christians, highly recommended.

Catholic Social Thought
David J. O'Brien & Thomas A. Shannon, editor
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758911, $30.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Catholic Church remains a powerful entity in modern society and its word has powerful effects. "Catholic Social Thought: The Documentary Heritage" traces one hundred years of official statements made by the Catholic Church on the many aspects of society. Presented in full, the work is designed as a reference volume for readers to comprehend on their own, rather than a discussion and criticism of said statements. The editors present each statement with an introduction outlining the circumstance of the time and what prompted it. "Catholic Social Thought" is a solid addition to any reference collection focusing on the documents and status of the Roman Catholic Church.

Contemplative Vision
Juliet Benner
Formatiio
c/o IVP
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830835447, $17.00, www.ivpress.com

People learn differently and this includes in faith. "Contemplative Vision: A Guide to Christian Art and Prayer" discusses Christian art and its meditation with the scripture. Author Juliet Benner has focused on teaching faith and has focused on a visual approach. Through her book, she presents art, scripture, and muses on their relation. A different avenue of prayer and thought, "Contemplative Vision" is a thoughtful and very highly recommended read, not to be missed.

The Life and Teachings of the New Testament Apostles
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel & Tomas A. Wayment
Deseret Book
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City UT 84130
9781606418246, $34.99, www.deseretbook.com

It is said the worth of a teacher is truly found in success of their students. "The Life and Teachings of the New Testament Apostles: From the Day of Pentecost Through the Apocalypse" looks at the story of the Apostles and how they carried Jesus' word and teachings after Jesus' crucifixion. Their lessons are not simply verbatim what Christ taught them, but instead their own thoughts and beliefs as they developed through their time with Christ and his actions. "The Life and Teachings of the New Testament Apostles" is a scholarly read of the methods of Christ's closest followers, highly recommended.

Worship & Mission
Alan Kreider & Eleanor Kreider
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836195545, $19.99, www.heraldpress.com

Christianity has lost status in the eyes of the world. "Worship & Mission: After Christendom" is a study of what Christians can do in this modern world to show the virtues of Christianity can still remain strong as the world around them grows more secular and faith is an after thought. Drawn by their own passion, Alan & Eleanor Kreider speak simply and profoundly with a message any Christian can get behind. "Worship & Mission" is worth considering for any Christian who wants to try harder to show God's grace.

Beyond the Veil
Brian Flynn
WLP/J.S. Paluch Company, Inc.
3708 N. River Red Suite 400, Franklin Park, IL 60131
$15.00 www.BrianFlynnMusic.com 1-888-708-SONG

Based on the Book of Revelation and Theology of the Catholic Mass, Beyond the Veil is an album of words and music composed by Brian Flynn as a means to worship God and celebrate His love. These songs of devotion, praise, and humility resonate with the strength of faith, in this profoundly pious offering. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Beyond the Veil", "Miracle", "Lord of Mercy", "I Believe", "You Are a Priest Forever", "Father God", "Psalm 30", "I Will Worship You", "Panis Vere (True Bread)", "American Anthem for Life", and "Lift High the Cross".


The Memoir Shelf

Meet Mrs. Smith
Anna Smith
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434702036, $14.99, www.meetmrssmith.com

As your other half goes on a whirlwind of Rock and Roll, it can be hard to remember to be down to earth. "Meet Mrs. Smith: My Adventures with Six Kids, One Rockstar Husband, and a Heart to Fight Poverty" is a memoir of mother and wife Anna Smith as she puts a spin on the usual family tale with a bit of spirituality and spice of life. Driven by her Christian faith, "Meet Mrs. Smith" is a remarkable story of celebrity and finding God where ever you turn.

While the World Watched
Carolyn Maull McKinstry
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414336367, $17.99, www.tyndale.com

In today's America, it's rare to see hate so intense that random murder is carried in its name. "While the World Watched" is the memoir of Carolyn Maull McKinstry, who was one of the survivors of a Ku Klux Klan bombing in the early 1960s, where four of her friends at the time met their deaths for daring to be born black. She reflects on the challenges of the civil rights movement and what she faced, before an advancing world forgets the cruelty that has been visited on many of us throughout the twentieth century. "While the World Watched" is a gripping read of how these events changed the course of lives forever.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Jewish Eugenics
John Glad
Wooden Shore
2601 Woodley Pl, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20008-1567
9780897030052, $19.95, www.woodenshore.org

"Jewish Eugenics" delves into the complicated topic of Jewish identity and its relation to their race and biology. With the rise of the nation of Israel, the definition of a Jew seems more important than ever, as John Glad asks many questions and discusses much on biological history and what the future with issues such as cloning could pose for the future. "Jewish Eugenics" is a fascinating read of Jewish biology, highly recommended.

Safta's Diaries
Bina Appleman
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801684, $39.50, www.ktav.com

Her faith was the only thing she had to bind her to her past. "Safta's Diaries: Intimate Diaries of a Religious Zionist Woman" is the story of Bina Appleman, a woman who in infancy was without parents and without connection to her heritage, embraced her faith as the one link of where she came from in a time where the worst persecution hit and the formation of Israel gave hope to the world. A deeply personal account of what the Jewish faith meant to the Jewish people throughout the twentieth century, "Safta's Diaries" is expertly translated by Shera Aranoff Tuchman, and is very highly recommended.

God of Me
David Lyon
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices,
Rt. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580234528, $16.99, www.jewishlights.com

To know God is the base of all Abrahamic religions. "God of Me: Imagining God Throughout Your Lifetime" discusses how the search for God is a lifetime endeavor, as Rabbi David Lyon speaks plainly and clearly on how in Jewish worship, it all starts with the central prayer of Amidah, urging readers to clear their mind of what they think God should be and search deeper for a clearer picture. "God of Me" is a devotional book with a powerful drive for readers, a key piece in any community library Judaic studies collection.


The Fashion Shelf

Figure Poses for Fashion Illustrators
Sha Tahmasebi
Barrons
250 Wireless Boulevard, Happauge, NY 11788
9781438070490, $24.99, www.barronseduc.com

It's all about the swagger and pose to sell the design, even in art form. "Figure Poses for Fashion Illustrators" is a resource for aspiring fashion designers who want to make sure their designs come off as professional, clean, clear and displaying the most of the clothing's design. The templates within present a great deal of poses both male and female, going through the details quite well, and enhanced with a disc with additional resources. "Figure Poses for Fashion Illustrators" is a must for any would be fashion designer.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Fishing North Carolina
Mike Marsh
John F. Blair
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873965, $19.95, www.blairpub.com

When they set out on vacation, the avid fisherman wants to know where to find the best fishing. "Fishing North Carolina" is a fishing guide form Mike Marsh as he offers his own insight for the traveling fishermen to where to find the best waters in North Carolina for the many disciplines of fishing and how to make the most of your time with your rod. A great resource for those Carolina bound, "Fishing North Carolina" is a strong addition to community library travel and fishing collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murder on the Moor
C. S. Challinor
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738719818, $14.95, www.midnightlinksbooks.com

A gathering of old friends just may be their last. "Murder on the Moor" is a Rex Graves mystery as thoughtful and clever Rex unknowingly invites a murderer to Gleneagle Lodge and soon finds the murderer's handiwork made of a good friend. Written in a traditional mystery style, "Murder on the Moor" will have old school mystery fans reading for hours and not putting it down until it's done.

Devil's Manhunt
L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
9781592122653 $9.95 www.galaxypress.com www.goldenagestories.com

Originally published in the February 1950 issue of "Famous Western", Devil's Manhunt is one of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's classic pulp adventure stories of the golden age. The saga follows young Tim Beckdolt, who discovered a rich seam of gold in Arizona's Desperation Peak - only to have his claim jumped by the Swedish giant Sven and the Virginia murderer Bonnet. The two force Tim to mine at gunpoint; when he escapes into the wild without weapons or food, he is hunted for his life. A thrilling novel of greed, violence, survival and perseverance, Devil's Manhunt perfectly embodies the unbridled excitement of pulp fiction.


The Hobby Shelf

The World of Wade
Ian Warner & Mike Posgay
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764336287, $49.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Decorations for some, collectibles for others. "The World of Wade: Figurines & Miniatures II" is a guide to the countless collectibles from Wade, as these painted pieces of ceramic have had a certain flair of style for nearly eighty years. Each Figure is discussed with a full-color photograph, elaborated in when it was created, its history, how it was distributed and what its modern value is to many collectors. A strong pick for any driven collector of these figurines, "The World of Wade" is a highly useful and recommended resource, not to be missed.


The Architecture Shelf

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin
Randolph C. Henning
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, 3rd Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299282844, $24.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu

You save your best for yourself. "Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin" looks at the work of the Wisconsin-born legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his personally designed residence Taliesin. Examining the various stages of its construction, telling its story, and relating how it was tragically destroyed in 1914 by fire, "Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin" is a thoughtful tribute to one of Wisconsin's finest minds. "Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin" is a top pick for any architecture or history collection.

Almanac of Architecture & Design 2011
James P. Cramer & Jane Paradise Wolford, PhD
The Greenway Group, Inc.
25 Technology Parkway South, Suite 101, Norcross, Georgia 30092
9780984613601 $149.00 http://www.di.net/store/almanac

Now available in its twelfth annual imprint, Almanac of Architecture & Design 2011 is a comprehensive resource, including a directory of over 800 leading architecture and design firms (with each firm's size, headquarters, services, markets covered, and DI Index rating), awards listings, profiles of important individuals in the field, a salary and compensation guide, information about sustainability and preservation projects and prizes, and much more. Full-color photographs and an index enhance this fact-filled, user-friendly reference. Highly recommended as a baseline "go-to" resource especially for professionals in the field.

Architecture for Children
Sarah Scott
ACER
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9780864318541, $79.95, www.isbs.com

Good education can start at the level of the architect. "Architecture for Children" is an architecture guide from Sarah Scott and the Australian Council for Educational Research, focusing on how a children's learning facility can be planned for Excellency before it is even built. With plenty of design principles, the book focuses on looking around the world and through good construction of fifty complexes in ten countries, mainly in Europe, but with a side focus on Japan as well. A fine study on the importance of environment with no shortage of ideas for the architect who may be tasked with planning such an event, "Architecture for Children" is a strong resource that shouldn't be missed for planning and development collections.


The Jewelry Shelf

A Field Guide to Gemstones
Rick Hudson
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550175097, $7.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

There's more to the gemstones of the world than shinies in a jewelry store. "A Field Guide to Gemstones of the Pacific Northwest" is a guide to the naturally occurring gemstones that appear all throughout the rocks of the region and how to identify them all through finding their unique qualities. In an easily carried pamphlet guide, "A Field Guide to Gemstones" is full color, very useful, and highly recommended for any dual gem and nature lover. Also for nature lovers from Harbour Publishing, "A Field Guide to Alpine Flowers of the Pacific Northwest" (9781550175400, $7.95) is another full color travel guide, this time for the flowers that call the mountains of the region home.


The Philosophy Shelf

Rawls Explained
Paul Voice
Open Court
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696806, $24.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

Fairness is a tough thing to attain in such a divided world. "Rawls Explained: From Fairness to Utopia" is a collection of wisdom from Paul Voice as he tries to explain the thoughts and writings of one John Rawls, who focused on the challenges of trying to make a more just and equal world, how attaining such a world is an endless pursuit. With thoughts on human dignity, the role of law, politics, and more, "Rawls Explained" is a thoughtful and driven read that is a core addition to any social philosophy collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

For Seven Lifetimes
Vatsala & Ehud Sperling
Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773730, $19.95, www.innertraditions.com

FOR SEVEN LIFETIMES: AN EAST-WEST JOURNEY TO A SPIRITUALLY FULFILLING AND SUSTAINABLE MARRIAGE is an excellent pick for both new age collections and those seeking cross-cultural insights into what makes a spiritually satisfying relationship. Examples of couples who looked to other cultures to fulfill their needs and the dialogues between two different spiritual and social beliefs systems make for an absorbing survey that considers what is needed to build real spiritual compatibility. A unique, fine survey!

The Twelfth Insight
James Redfield
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446575966, $25.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

THE TWELFTH INSIGHT: THE HOUR OF DECISION builds on the author's prior books to consider the further changes brought about in 2012 and the prophecies that predict them. This takes the form of a new novel in his Celestine Series that follows the protagonist and his close friend Wil as they receive another portion of an ancient manuscript that describes a secret approach to spirituality - based on fragments of clues. While this could've been reviewed in our novels section, it's featured here for its definite interest to any new age library that has seen popularity with James Redfield's prior publications in the Celestine Series.

The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching
William and Nancy Martin
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577318880, $14.00, www.newworldlibrary.com

The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching belongs in new age and caregiving collections alike, offering a slim, pocket-sized collection of solace ideas tied to the Tao Te Ching. Eighty-one chapters include a poem for caregivers, verses of the Tao, and reflections specific to caregiving issues. Health and new age libraries alike will relish this!

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

Michael Clarkson's THE POLTERGEIST PHENOMENON (9781601631473, $15.99) provides a powerful survey filled with real ghost stories and presenting an original look at an old subject. The author reviewed over seventy cases and interviewed hundreds of witnesses to paranormal events: this survey blends science and new age considerations to review all the theories of poltergeists and other unexplained disturbances in the force. Any collection strong in paranormal investigations will appreciate this. Dr. Steven Manly's VISIONS OF THE MULTIVERSE (9781601631299, $15.99) offers a scientific probe of the theories of multiple universes and considers quantum mechanics, string theory, and other ideas. It's reviewed here for its special appeal to new age readers but also deserves a spot in any serious science collection, exploring ideas of the 'multiverse', concepts of what it is, and how humans exist in such a reality.

The Invisible World
Anthony Destefano
The B&B Media Group, Inc.
109 South Main Street, Corsicana, TX 75110
9780385522236, $19.99, www.tbbmedia.com

There are some things in our life that we don't truly understand, but remain with us nonetheless. "The Invisible World: Understanding Angels, Demons, and the Spiritual Realities That Surround Us" is a metaphysical look into the world that surrounds us in order to find that higher status that we work at but doesn't fit into our scientific perceptions of the world. Through spirits, angels, and demons, and more, Anthony Destefano brings readers plenty to ponder about the unseen forces that drive our world. "The Invisible World" is a must for metaphysical readers, recommended.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Literary Lost
Sarah Clarke Stuart
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
9781441140807, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Nothing is without its influences, and Lost was no exception. "Literary Lost: Viewing Television Through the Lens of Literature" hopes to trace the roots of the television phenomena Lost and connects the pieces of where the program gained its literary roots. Lost drew from everything from classical literature like the Wizard of Oz to great twentieth century works like Slaughterhouse-Five, and the countless allusions to hundreds of novels throughout the series long run. A critical study of the show, "Literary Lost" is a must for fans of the show or those studying the literary applications of the medium of television.

Frederick Wiseman
Joshua Siegel & Marie-Christine de Navacelle, Editors
Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St., New York NY 10019-5497
9780870707919, $39.95, www.moma.org

Frederick Wiseman is published to accompany a year-long exhibition of his films and is the first in English to provide a review of all his works, from film to opera and theater. Small black and white and color photos from his films accompany in-depth coverage, including analysis and plot synopsis, of his productions, collecting essays that offer insights into his work and world. Any modern film library will find this a winner!

Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com

Richard D. Pepperman's ILLUMINATIONS: MEMORABLE MOVIE MOMENTS (9781932907780, $26.95) is a pick for any college-level film collection strong in screenwriting, film and video. It investigates the impact of movies and the effects of nostalgia and history on movie-making choices, offering chapters that pinpoint and discuss memorable shots of particular, significant movies. Quotes from critics, discussions of genre, and surveys of producer choices make this a top pick for any film library. Joshua A. Friedman's GETTING IT DONE: THE ULTIMATE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT GUIDE (9781932907889, $20.95) is for any performing arts or film reference collection, and shows how to become indispensable on film and TV sets. From the different roles of a PA to insider practices drawn from his own expertise and years of real-world experiences, this provides a tutorial for beginners as well as a reference for filmmakers with some experience under their belts, offering keys to understanding the functions of different departments involved in a production and daily set operations. Any film how-to library needs this! Hester Schell's CASTING REVEALED (9781932907872, $20.95). Hester Schell's CASTING REVEALED is a top pick for any performing arts or video collection, telling how to obtain a great cast to make a great movie. All steps of the casting process are covered, from filing union paperwork and posting audition announcements to running casting sessions. Chapters break down the entire process of casting in a fine survey.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Harper's Rules
Danny Cahill
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc. (publicity)
322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10001
9781608321001, $21.95, www.gbgpress.com

It's all about selling oneself, be it for love or for profit. "Harper's Rules: A Recruiter's Guide to Finding a Dream Job and the Right Relationship" brings two similar concepts together - job hunting and romance hunting. Danny Cahill shows the two have far more in common than they have any right to, and he guides readers through the complex path of landing a date or an interview. The parallels continue from everything to maintaining a relationship to breaking up and much more. With humor and a lot of wisdom, "Harper's Rules" is not a read to be overlooked, highly recommended.


The Gay Studies Shelf

GLBTQ
Kelly Huegel
Free Spirit Publishing
217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
9781575423630, $15.99, www.freespirit.com

To be told that what you are is an abomination is too much to face as a teenager. But across the world, that's what many teenagers face. "GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens" is aimed at gay and other non-heterosexual individuals who are facing a unique assortment of challenges of their life that their sexual orientation has forced upon them. With advice on the realities of coming out, dealing with bullying, working with the open minded straight people around you, and uplifting wisdom from those who have faced the worst that teenagers have to offer, "GLBTQ" is sage advice, and a strong gift to any teenager who may be faced with such a plight.

A Saving Remnant
Martin Duberman
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595583239 $27.95 www.thenewpress.com 1-800-233-4830

Prizewinning historian Martin Duberman presents A Saving Remnant: The Radical Lives of Barbara Deming and David McReynolds, the striking dual biography of radical activists Barbara Deming and David McReynolds. Both were outspoken for African-American rights, and against the war in Vietnam, and both strongly believed in the importance of nonviolent action. They were friends with one another, yet disagreed strongly about feminism, antipornography efforts, and the direction the gay movement was taking. Barbara eventually chose to live in a lesbian commune, while David would run on the Socialist party ticket as the first publicly gay candidate for the presidency of the United States. A wealth of notes enhance this eye-opening life story of two passionate and committed Americans.


The Agriculture Shelf

Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks, fourth edition
Dave Holderread
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603426923 $19.95 www.storey.com 1-800-827-8673

Now in a newly updated fourth edition with expanded coverage of 23 domestic North American duck breeds, guidelines for showing, the latest information on disease prevention and treatment, and more, Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks lives up to its title with solid, no-nonsense information on raising ducks for their meat, eggs, feathers, manure, and valuable pest control services (ducks will naturally forage for slugs, mosquito larvae, some types of unwanted aquatic plants, and the like). Ducks are naturally hardy birds, able to thrive in colder and wetter environments than chickens or turkeys, and easier for their owners to protect from disease. Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks covers all the bases, from how to sex ducklings (with black-and-white drawings that give a crystal clear illustration of the process) to protecting one's flock against predators to humane and effective methods for butchering when the time comes. An accessible, easy-to-follow text written by veteran duck keeper of fifty years' experience, Storey's Guide to Raising Ducks is an absolute "must-have" for anyone interested in keeping ducks.


The Computer Shelf

Pro WPF and Silverlight MVVM
Gary McLean Hall
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430231622, $49.99, www.apress.com

Pro WPF and Silverlight MVVM: Effective Application Development with Model-View-ViewModel is written by professionals for programmers interested in using the WPF and Silverlight interface technologies. It shows coders and programmers how to understanding control interactions and how to address a range of common user concerns, covering everything from validation and subscribing to events to unit testing. The result is a key technical survey recommended for computer libraries catering to professional programmers.

Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step
Ciprian Adrian Rusen
Microsoft Press
9780735652163, $29.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

Network Your Computers & Devices Step by Step includes an online edition of the book and teaches how to network devices using the networking features of Windows 7 to connect home computers - even ones using different operating systems. Easy numbered steps and screenshots offer opportunities to build skills, doublecheck work, and learn from practice exercises geared to real-world objectives.

Gray Hat Hacking, third edition
Alan Harper, et.al.
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
0071742557, $60.00, www.mhprofessional.com

The third updated edition of Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook would seem to be a misnomer: how can hacking be ethical? It is if it's involving penetration testers and researchers who want to broaden their skills in a range of IT security disciplines. Learn how to develop and launch exploits using various programs, build Perl, Python and Ruby scripts that initiative stack buffer overflows, and prevent malicious content in Adobe, Office and other files with the aid of this 'bible' of tested strategies for uncovering devastating network intrusion attacks. There's nothing like it on the market making this a specific, recommended pick.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Josh Clark's TAPWORTHY: DESIGNING GREAT IPHONE APPS (9781449381653, $39.99) tells how to build ideas from initial concept to polished results, and explores how iPhone programmers can use the right approach at each step of the design process. The designers of popular apps like Facebook and Twitterrific give their insider's secrets on how to produce rich apps, discussing how and why people really use iPhone apps and how to storyboard an app on paper and use standard controls for positive results. Any iPhone programmer needs this! Matthew A. Russell's MINING THE SOCIAL WEB (9781449388348, $39.99) provides a fine in-depth survey of web data analysis, showing readers how to find out who's making connections with social media and where they are located. Learn how to combine social web data with analysis, use adaptable scripts on GitHub to harvest data from social network APIs, and how to apply mining techniques to build interactive approaches. Preston Gralla's DROID X: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449393861, $19.99) is for any Droid phone owner who wants keys to using its many powerful features. From shooting video and syncing a Droid X to Windows Media Player and iTunes to going online using hotspots and connecting to Google maps for geotagging, this is a 'must' for any Droid phone user. Droid users will also value Preston Gralla's DROID 2: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449301699, $19.99). It covers all the basics of harnessing the Droid 2's built-in power, from getting online and making your phone a portable hotspot or modem for your laptop to capturing photos, playing music, and more. Mark Lutz's PROGRAMMING PYTHON 4TH EDITION (9780596158101, $64.99) covers Python 3x and provides object-oriented programmers with an outstanding 'bible' of facts. It's all about applying Python once the basics are mastered, with topics covering everything from language syntax and programming techniques to correct usage. Code examples tied to purposes make this an outstanding, specific pick packed with real-world examples and applications any programming collection will relish.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com

Ken Pugh's LEAN-AGILE ACCEPTANCE TEST-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT (0321714083, $39.99) is a pick for any technical software engineering library strong in Agile frameworks and development. This offers the first real-world guide to Acceptance Test-Driven-Development (ATDD), and presents keys to developing software with testable results. From testing user interfaces to evaluating test results and linking them to a project's overall progress, this packs in keys on scaling ATDD to project results. Any software developer interested in ATDD will find this a thorough coverage. Dean Leffingwell's AGILE SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: LEAN REQUIREMENT PRACTICES FOR TEAMS, PROGRAMS, AND THE ENTERPRISE (0321635841, $49.99) present the "big picture" of Agile requirements in the enterprise and describes the model that Agile project teams can use to manage these requirements. From different requirements for complex systems and multiple teams to Kanban systems and evolving product management, this is a top technical pick for any Agile development collection.


The Gaming Shelf

Bridge with Bells & Whistles
Mary Ann Dufresne & Marion Ellingsen
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, ON Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106693, $21.95, www.masterpointpress.com

Many use it an avenue to meet with friends, but it doesn't mean you can't get the thrill of victory. "Bridge with Bells & Whistles" is a bridge strategy guide from Mary Ann Dufresne & Marrion Ellingsen as they tackle on how to bring one's bidding to the next level and use advanced tactics to stay ahead of the game and gain more victories. "Bridge with Bells & Whistles" is a must for those who want to take their bridge game to a higher level.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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