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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 20, Number 1 January 2010 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Interior Design Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Military Shelf
Photography Shelf Computer Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Psychology Shelf Biography Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Criminology Shelf Social Issues Shelf Crafts Shelf
Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Art Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Sports Shelf Gaming Shelf
Automotive Shelf Music Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf
Parenting Shelf Economics Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Business Shelf Travel Shelf
American History Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Nautical Shelf Library DVD Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Library Science Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Fiction Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Language Studies Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Civil War Shelf Poetry Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Literary Shelf World History Shelf Humor Shelf
Science Shelf Native American Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Reference Shelf Human Sexuality Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Marriage/Divorce Shelf International Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf
Homeowner's Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2010 Edition
Charles Brooks, editor
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589807532 $14.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2010 Edition is a compilation of the best of the best political and editorial cartoons from (most of) 2009, including a selection of award-winning cartoons. Right-wing, left-wing, and moderate viewpoints are all present in these merciless lambasting of government foibles, political mishaps, current events craziness. From the portrait of small businesses as a short man whose height falls well below a line marked "You must be this tall to be too big to fail", to an aide frankly telling President Obama, "So Congress didn't sign your health care plan into law before their recess. That gives us time to read it," these cartoons capture the defining hot-button issues and moments (a brief text introduction to each category of cartoons helps put the jokes in perspective for those who might be a little out of touch with 2009's headline news). Highly recommended for anyone who loves editorial cartoons, and for public library collections.

What's Next For You?
Robert Gussin & Patricia Gussin
Oceanview Publishing
61 Paradise Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781933515731, $13.50, www.amazon.com

Blending memoir with insights into the process of personal reinvention, "What's Next . . . For You? The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, and Big Fun" is the story of the Gussins, a husband and wife who, after long successful professional career is in science and medicine respectively, retired to establish themselves in totally new occupations as writers, publishers, and even winemakers. In addition to their intrinsically fascinating autobiographies, "What Next For You?" is also a compendium of sage insights and invaluable advice on how anyone can alter their own lives to pursue a more fulfilling lifestyle or life goal. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "What Next For You?" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference collections and personal reading lists.

The Birth and Death of the Cool
Ted Gioia
Speck Press
4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781933108315, $25.00, www.speckpress.com

Can cool become a thing of the past? "The Birth and Death of the Cool" discusses the concept of cool and how it has been waning over the past few decades as it has become a tool of business and other elements. Going over the history of cool and where society may be heading next, Ted Gioia gives readers a fascinating read of cool. "The Birth and Death of the Cool" is a choice pick for any cultural studies collection.

The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home
Philip Schmidt
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781589234789, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Unless you live in a mansion (and maybe not even then), storage space is an every present necessity to live an uncluttered life. That's why "The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home" by environmental activist and home improvement expert Philip Schmidt offers a wealth of creative storage space ideas and projects dealing with this ever present need. Profusely illustrated, thoroughly 'user friendly, step-by-step instructions enable even the most novice reader to successfully create workable, practical, and sometimes downright ingenious solutions for everything from under the stairs shelving, towel trousers, storage cubes, and more. There are storage development ideas for every room of the house from basements to attics. Of special note are the 'Tip' boxes offering novel building techniques. Ideal for any do-it-yourself enthusiast, "The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home" is highly recommended for personal and community library reference collections.

Confessions of a Public Speaker
Scott Berkun
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596801991, $24.99 www.oreilly.com

Confessions of a Public Speaker provides a funny, fun memoir on public speaking and comes from a professional speaker who reveals the techniques behind what great communicators do, telling all how to use these techniques. Managers, teachers, or anyone who wants to talk to others will find this packed with excellent observations and insights key to any general lending library.

Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia
Christopher Paolini
Alfred Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780375858239, $ 24.99 www.alagaesia.com

Alagaesia is a vast, mysterious land of elves, magic, and strange creatures such as werecats - and Eragon's Guide to Alagaesia is an outstanding survey of this fantasy world, presented in pull-outs, fold-out tabs, and more. Packed with intrigue, illustrating, and flowery description, it's a top gift-giving pick for any family where fantasy and visual eye-popping presentation is a winner.

The Outhouse Reader
Tex Bix Bender & Judge Roy English
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423604687, $9.99 www.gibbs-smith.com

The Outhouse Reader is packed with quips and advice for everything from raising kids to romance, and offers an entertaining light read for anyone with limited attention span, time, and a taste for trivia. Humor abounds in these one-liners of wisdom.

The Big Questions
Steven E. Landsburg
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439148211, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

THE BIG QUESTIONS: TACKLING THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY WITH IDEAS FROM MATHEMATICS, ECONOMICS, AND PHYSICS comes from an unconventional economist who considers patterns of reality and uses ideas from science and economics to consider major philosophical debates. From right and wrong differences to questions on Darwin's relevance to God, this is a fine title for any debate collection.

iPod: The Missing Manual
J.D. Biersdorfer with david Pogue
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596804312, $19.99 www.oreilly.com

This easy guide tells how to get the most from an iPod unit, offering the latest edition in a full-color presentation covering everything from sharing music and movies with Home Sharing and YouTube to choosing music and photos to sync and creating instant playlists with Genius Mix.

Googled
Ken Auletta
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202353, $27.95 www.penguin.com

Google has not only changed how we access and use information, it has acted as an influence on that information. In "Googled: The End of the World as We Know It", media analyst Ken Auletta tells of Google's rise and influence as he considers the company and its evolution - and its impact on society. Anecdotes and insights pack a survey with wide-reaching appeal to not just business and computer libraries, but for general-interest collections as well.

Just Listen
Mark Goulston
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814414036, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

Business and self-help libraries alike will welcome JUST LISTEN: DISCOVER THE SECRET TO GETTING THROUGH TO ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE. From hostile or cynical people to angry clients and more, this tells how to uncover desires, secret agendas and more and how to use strategies that can break down walls that keep you from getting through to others. The result is a formula backed by the author's FBI training and recommended for a wide range of libraries, from business to general collections.

Fierce Style
Christian Siriano
Grand Central Publishing
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446546010, $23.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

FIERCE STYLE: HOW TO BE YOUR MOST FABULOUS SELF offers tips from some of fashion and Hollywood's biggest names, pairing these with author Christian Siriano's blend of personal stories on how he discovered his unique fashion sense and insights on how readers can uncover their own 'fierce style'. From overcoming obstacles to how to incorporate 'fierce style' in everyday perspectives on life beyond fashion, this is a pick for fashion and general lending collections alike.


The Interior Design Shelf

Swedish Country Interiors
Rhonda Eleish & Edie Van Breems
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423604426, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Compiled with commentary by Swedish interior design experts Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems, the fifteen American country dwellings showcased in "Swedish Country Interiors" large country estates to small cottages. Showcasing a variety of interiors, each of whom are superbly photographed, "Swedish Country Interiors" is an ideal resource for ideas and inspirations. Of special note is a converted Connecticut antique paper factory, and a beach house in Laguna Beach, California, each of which has been crafted into an ideal Swedish country retreat. All this and more make "Swedish Country Interiors" a 192-page compendium of commentary and images that is especially recommended for academic and community library Interior Design reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for non-specialist general readers seeking interior design ideas in particular.

Design Rules
Elaine Griffin
Gotham Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3657
9781592405060, $22.50 www.penguin.com

DESIGN RULES: THE INSIDER'S GUIDE TO BECOMING YOUR OWN DECORATOR comes from a decorator whose sense of humor and knowledge of trade secrets and how to pass these to do-it-yourself home decorators makes for a powerful book. From how to pick complimentary colors that work under varying conditions to sizing room pieces and pairing different styles, DESIGN RULES assures a home will appear polished. Any library catering to homeowners will find this a popular lend.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Red Alert!
Daniel R. Wildcat
Fulcrum Publishing
PO Box 807, Onalaska, WI 54650
9781555916374, $12.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

Could the answer to the world's problems with the environment lie with America's original inhabitants? "Red Alert! Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledge" tackles environmentalism with the traditional wisdom of the native American Indians. Arguing against man's battle with nature and stating that there is no controlling the Earth, Daniel R. Wildcat presents many intriguing ideas for readers that is well worth considering for those worried about the environment. "Red Alert!" is a top pick for those seeking second opinions about environmental crises.

Heaven and Earth
Ian Plimer
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589794726, $21.95, www.rlpgtrade.com

Global warming has been the center of a big science debate, and politics are commonly brought into the equation. "Heaven and Earth: Global Warming The Missing Science" is Ian Plimer's criticism of the modern global warming science, offering his own ideas to counter the current science, with a more intellectual approach. For those who want to take a thinking approach to global warming untainted by politics or faith, "Heaven and Earth" is a worthwhile consideration.

The Tao of Liberation
Mark Hathaway & Leonardo Boff
Orbis Books
PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
9781570758416, $35.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The world has been harmed too long by humanity's take-take-take attitude. "The Tao of Liberation: Exploring the Ecology of Transformation" uses take offs from Taoist philosophy in order to creating a harmony of man and nature. A unique book that blends spirituality, environmentalism, and other elements, Mark Hathaway and Leonardo Boff do well in providing much in the way of their philosophy and ideas for a better Earth tomorrow. "The Tao of Liberation" is well worth the read for spiritual environmentalists who want to get things done.

Repairing Paradise
William R. Lowry
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815702740, $28.95, www.brookings.edu

The natural history of America is important. "Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks" tells the story of the national park system and America's movement towards conservation. Speaking of the flaws that led to the formation of these systems to the triumphs of the return of the wolves to Yellowstone, undamming the Grand Canyon, and so much more, William R. Lowry paints a comprehensive history of the National Park Movement in America. "Repairing Paradise" is a strong pick that should not be ignored for environmental studies history collections.

The Spirit of Sustainability
Willis Jenkins, editor
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9781933782157, $135.00, www.amazon.com

One of the core issues and concerns of the modern conservation movement is the concept of 'sustainability', the ability of the environment to sustain and maintain its ecological systems for both flora and fauna. Under the capable editorship of Willis Jenkins, the Berkshire Publishing Group has published "The Spirit Of Sustainability", the first volume of their 'Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability'. This 469-page compendium focuses on the moral issues and social practices related to the concept of environmental sustainability and draws from thematically appropriate religious, philosophical, and ethical issues. Covering germane professional practices and social movements, "The Spirit Of Sustainability" also describes and addresses issues of ecological integrity, human values, economics, social justice, and what the present owes to insuring the future. Each encyclopedic entry is enhanced with the inclusion of a succinct bibliography for further reading and study. The product of numerous and highly qualified contributors, "The Spirit Of Sustainability" is a seminal project of immense value and strongly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Trinity
Charles Bowden & Michael P. Berman
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719866, $55.00, www.amazon.com

The desert country of the American southwest has impacted upon the international relationship of Mexico and the U.S. for more than 200 years. Today the area is prominently impacted by environmental degradation, political turmoil, the smuggling of people and drugs, and yet still presents the haunting and haunted beauty of the desert that continues to endure despite all that has been done and continues to be done by way of human greed upon its ecological fragility. "Trinity" is a 288-page compendium comprised of Charles Bowden's informed and informative text with Michael P. Berman's superbly crafted photography. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notes and a bibliography, "Trinity" is strongly recommended for academic and community library Environmental Studies reference collections, as well as the supplemental reading lists for environmentalists, policy makers, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the geology, flora and fauna of the American Southwest.

Wearing Smaller Shoes
Chip Haynes
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1XO, Canada
9780865716575, $16.95 www.newsociety.com

Wearing Smaller Shoes is a key acquisition for any home and garden collection catering to environmentally-conscious homeowners. It tells how to cut power bills, move to low-tech solutions to issues, and takes into account the costs involved in making this move. It's about making small changes over time rather than big projects, and is a top pick for any homeowner's alternative energy library.

The Rebirth of Environmentalism
Douglas Bevington
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave SW #300, Washington DC 20009
1597266566, $35.00 www.islandpress.org

THE REBIRTH OF ENVIRONMENTALISM: GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM FROM THE SPOTTED OWL TO THE POLAR BEAR offers a powerful survey of the modern environmental movement and provides a history of activism that surrounds it, focusing on the movement's changes in the 1990s and 200s. A fine set of case studies on three of the most influential biodiversity protection campaigns of the last 20 years lends to a powerful survey essential for any social issues library.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Diabetic Pastry Chef
Stacey Harris
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807471, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Just because you or a family member has diabetes does not mean having to give up delicious pastries. Not when you have access to "The Diabetic Pastry Chef", an impressive 192-page culinary compendium of pastry dishes, each and every one of which is diabetic diet appropriate and kitchen cook friendly. From breads to cakes to cookies, pies, puddings, and more, "The Diabetic Pastry Chef" offers a wide range of delights that are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying -- some of them are downright gourmet in quality and attraction. The easy-to-follow recipes range from Sourdough Pancakes; Apple Bundt Cake; Coconut Jellyroll; and Double Chocolate Cookies; to a Graham Cracker Piecrust; Mexican Fruit Pies; Strawberry Panna Cotta; and Lemon Meringue Cups. Each recipe comes with an informative 'Nutrition Facts' sidebar. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Hints and Tips' that will be especially appreciated by the novice family chef. Enhanced with an opening chapter about diabetes, another on flours, and a fourth one on sugar and sugar substitutes, "The Diabetic Pastry Chef" is a core collection for community library cookbook shelves in general, and family cookbook collections for anyone having to accommodate the dietary demands and restrictions of diabetes.

Mother's Best
Lisa Schroeder with Danielle Centoni
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600850172, $28.00 www.taunton.com 1-800-477-8727

MOTHER'S BEST: COMFORT FOOD THAT TAKES YOU HOME AGAIN offers an inspiring, wonderful book teaching people who to make over a hundred fifty dishes from Lisa Schroeder's own family cooking heritage, from Manhattan Clam Chowder and Mother's Tuna Melt to Mama's Cheesecake and more. These comfort food dishes are easy to put together and offer fine, tested recipes perfect for any general lending library. Color photos peppered throughout and sidebars of information enhance the appeal.

The Baking Answer Book
Lauren Chattman
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 02147
9781603424394, $14.95 www.storey.com

THE BAKING ANSWER BOOK: SOLUTIONS TO EVERY PROBLEM YOU'LL EVER FACE ANSWERS TO EVERY QUESTION YOU'LL EVER ASK offers a powerful guide from a professional pastry chef. From whether a convention oven is useful for baking to how to melt chocolate on the stove and why commercial products have a long shelf life, The Baking Answer Book is packed with tips for any every home cook - and appears in a small enough package to be undaunting. Any library catering to beginning bakers will welcome it.

Wild About Cupcakes
Rachel Lane
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764162772, $16.99 www.barronseduc.com

WILD ABOUT CUPCAKES packs in over a hundred cupcake recipes, from simple breakfast and brunch cupcakes to elegant party and gift-giving ideas. From recipes for special dietary needs to those with fun frostings, this is packed with appeal and includes lay-flat spiral binding with lettering to further enhance a home cook's experience.

Eat Fresh Food
Rozanne Gold and her All-Star Team
Phil Mansfield, photographer
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9781599904450, $17.99 www.bloomsburyusa.com

EAT FRESH FOOD: AWESOME RECIPES FOR TEEN CHEFS is reviewed here for recommendation to entire families and libraries catering to them. It comes from a James Beard Award winner who presents a teen tasted, tested cook book highlighting the use of fresh foods. Pages are packed with photos of and comments from participating teen chefs in a guide packed with nutritional value and cooking innovations.

Marshmallows: Homemade Gourmet Treats
Eileen Talanian
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
9781423602491, $18.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

Marshmallows: Homemade Gourmet Treats tells how to make marshmallows at home, how to produce a range of flavors, and provides recipes for using these homemade creations. Over 100 recipes accompany color photos by Courtney Winston showing how to produce homemade marshmallow delights.

He Said Beer, She Said Wine
Sam Calagione and Marnie Old
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780756654498, $16.95 www.dk.com

He Said Beer, She Said Wine considers the concurrent history of beer and wine, how each is paired with different dishes, and offers suggestions for specific pairings with foods, including recipes and menus alike. From antiquated rules and why they fail to work with today's different or fresh ingredients to sidebars of wine and beer characteristics and why they work, this is a fine addition to any food and wine collection, going beyond just suggestions to consider the history and culture of beer and wine pairings with food.

Forking Fantastic!
Zora O'Neill and Tamara Reynolds
Gotham Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781592405053, $20.00 www.penguin.com

Forking Fantastic offers home cooking geared to crowd-pleasing results, and comes from two veterans of the New York food world who twice monthly prepare a big meal in a tiny kitchen. These thus are foolproof, party-tested menus and recipes easy for beginners to access and providing accompanying tips on everything from shopping to stocking a kitchen. Any general culinary collection will welcome its lively format and presentation.

Absolutely Chocolate
Editors of Fine Cooking
Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600851339, $29.95 www.taunton.com

ABSOLUTELY CHOCOLATE: IRRESISTIBLE EXCUSES TO INDULGE is packed with invaluable information on how chocolate is made, what's the right pick to suit baking needs, and more. This information pairs well with over 125 recipes for all things chocolate, from layer cakes to pies and cookies, making for a photo-filled recipe and reference handbook for all general lending libraries strong in desserts.

Eating Well in Season
Jessie Price & Editors of EatingWell
Countryman Press
Box 738, Woodstock, VT 05091
088150856X, $24.95 www.countrymanpress.com

Eating Well in Season packs its pages with tested, healthy recipes pairing nutrition basics with dishes that are based on seasonal farmer's market finds. From Thai Red Curry Mussels to Grilled Chicken Ratatouille and Zucchini Rice Casserole, color photos abound in a powerful pick for any cookbook collection.

Vegan Lunch Box Around the World
Jennifer McCann
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213576, $18.95 www.dacapopress.com

VEGAN LUNCH BOX AROUND THE WORLD packs in over a hundred international lunches kids will relish, offering plant-based recipes and menus for lunches. From Italian Grilled Vegetable Stromboli to Thai Pad Thai and Mexican Nacho Cheese Dip, this offers an allergen-free index and a set of vegan lunchbox ideas that go beyond peanut butter and jelly. Any library strong in vegan dishes or kids' food needs this.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Evil for Evil
James R. Benn
Soho Press, Inc.
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9781569475935, $25.00, www.sohopress.com

An enemy right next door may prove difficult for an already difficult situation. "Evil for Evil" follows Billy Boyle, as he is sent to Northern Ireland to potentially put a wrench in a plot that would allow the separate country to join the Axis powers. A tall order for a southern boy, James R. Benn crafts a fine story using much of the trivia of history in his tale. "Evil for Evil" is a top pick and highly recommended read that mystery lovers will simply relish.

Death at Solstice
Lucha Corpi
Arte Publico Press
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558855472, $15.95, www.artepublicopress.com

Sometimes, a minor crime only underscores the more serious problem. "Death at Solstice" is an intriguing murder mystery blending California history, spirituality and mysticism to form a tale where Detective Gloria Damasco is compelled to solve a case that starts only with the theft of a family heirloom. Spiraling out into something far more serious, "Death at Solstice" is an intriguing and creative mystery that will leave many readers yearning for more.

The Naked Nun
M. E. Gardner
Langdon Street Press
212 North 3rd Avenue, Suite 570, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781934938669, $16.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com

Pain seems to follow some people around no matter where they go. "The Naked Nun" tells the story of a young woman who endured a horrible childhood, then lived a life of happiness with everything she could have ever wanted. But nothing good lasts forever as she soon finds herself at a convent, and at the forefront of a deeper growing mystery. "The Naked Nun" is a fascinating and creative mystery, highly recommended.

The End of the Road
Sue Henry
Obsidian/NAL/Penguin
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451226044, $23.95 www.penguin.com

THE END OF THE ROAD is a Maxie and Stretch mystery telling of a PI and her miniature dachshund Stretch, just back from their latest adventure when a murder in their hometown of Homer, Alaska changes their lives. Her search for the killer will lead to danger in this fine mystery for any general lending library.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Steven F. Havill's RED, GREEN OR MURDER (9781590586655, $24.95) provides a riveting survey of former Posadas County sheriff Bill Gastner, who is enjoying a day on the ranch counting cattle when disaster strikes. His investigation of an unattended death leads to a rancher's collapse and questions about murder in cattle country in this fine thriller. Peter May's SNAKEHEAD (9781590586068, $24.95) provides the fourth China thriller and returns American pathologist Margaret Campbell back on home soil, facing a truck load of dead Chinese and a Beijing detective who is to work with her to find how his fellow countrymen died. A fine thriller evolves.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Fans of the Victorian mystery will relish Emily Brightwell's MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE YULETIDE WEDDINGS (9780425230466, $23.95), telling of a middle-age spinster killed in what her murderer hoped would look like a random crime. The Inspector's work reveals many secrets and a dangerous Christmas killer that affects holiday plans in this engrossing read, suitable for year-around enjoyment. Also recommended is Charlaine Harris' GRAVE SECRET (9780425230152, $24.95), telling of sleuth Harper and her stepbrother who take a break from looking for the dead only to find memories of their horrible childhood come to life. A father newly released from jail and family secrets emerge and blend with a missing sister issue to create a riveting thriller with plenty of satisfying twists and turns of plot.


The Military Shelf

Chewing Gum, Candy Bars, and Beer
James J. Cooke
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218674 $39.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

James J. Cooke (Professor Emeritus of History, University of Mississippi) presents Chewing Gum, Candy Bars, and Beer: The Army PX in World War II, a thoroughly researched history of the Army PX - "a little piece of home" that brought minor comforts of civilian life to American soldiers stationed throughout the globe during World War II. From beer that was actually served cold thanks to PX coolers, to cigarettes and chewing gum that GIs could use while flirting with local girls, the PX had an undeniably positive effect on troop morale and overall quality of life. Chewing Gum, Candy Bars, and Beer follows the evolution of the PX throughout World War II, from the perspective of the individuals who ran it and the soldiers that used it, interspersing fascinating anecdotes amid the solid historical chronicle. An excellent addition to American military history shelves, rounding out standard military chronicles with an aspect of military life not often focused upon.

Counter-Strike from the Sky
J. R. T. Wood
30 South Publishers
International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781920143336, $39.95, www.30degreessouth.co.za

Some tactics prove so effective they are dissected to be better studied. "Counter-Strike From the Sky: The Rhodesian All-Arms Fireforce in the War in the Bush 1974-1980" tells of a phenomenal military unit. Their use of certain weapons is discussed, and many technical details are presented and elaborated upon. "Counter-Strike from the Sky" is enhanced with an accompanying DVD, and is quite the recommended addition to military studies collections.

British Destroyers
Norman Friedman
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
9781591140818, $85.00, www.amazon.com

It could well be argued that Great Britain, as the premier sea power as a global empire, began its decline after World War II when the U.S. achieved its own world-wide naval preeminence. In "British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War, military history and naval analyst Norman Friedman presents his many years of research in providing an original and meticulous history of the British Royal Navy's combat ship, the destroyer. Beginning with its predecessors and prototypes from the 1880s through the First World War and on to the 1930s before turning the focus on British destroyers during the Second World War, this compendium is superbly enhanced with numerous photographs as well as accurately detailed ship plans drawn by A. D. Baker III. Of special note is the development of the torpedo as both an offensive and defensive naval weapon and hallmark of destroyer armaments. Of considerable interest is the history of how the British utilized American provided destroyers. With a select bibliography, extensive notes, a Data List of ship specifications, a listing of the ships with their building dates and ultimate fates, and a comprehensive index, "British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War" is a seminal contribution to personal, academic, and community library Military Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

In the Company of Generals
Pierpont L. Stackpole
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218704 $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

In the Company of Generals: The World War I Diary of Pierpont L. Stackpole is the diary of a Boston lawyer who, in January of 1918, served as an aide to Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett, the man who would command the first American corps in France. Now published for the first time, Stackpole's diary offers an excellent, firsthand account of the American Expeditionary Forces' service on the western front during World War I. Stackpole was a sharp observer, taking note on everything from the workings of his superior's commands to ordinary day-to-day business, to sorting through confusing situations. In the Company of Generals is particularly valuable for its insightful portrait of Liggett, a veteran of Indian wars who successfully took note of changes in warfare more than many other American officers, and thus was better prepared for the revolutions in how battlers were waged in 1914-1918. Liggett's frustration at the outdated notions and tactics of some of his fellow officers are also preserved, in this singularly fascinating glimpse into not only one man's war experiences, but also a piece of the evolution of military history. Highly recommended, especially for college library collections.

Osprey
www.ospreypublishing.com

Vladimir Brnardic's IMPERIAL ARMIES OF THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR (1): INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY (9781846034473, $17.95) provides a fine survey of the history of the Habsburg armies of the Thirty Years' War, exploring their role and actions in Europe's last major religious war. A fine survey, this is a pick for any in-depth military history library. Also solid picks for such collections: Jim Crossley's BRITISH DESTROYERS 1892-1918 (9781846035142, $17.95), telling of new designs of the Royal Navy's destroyers and how they changed the way sea war was fought, Mark Stille's USN CRUISER VS. IJN CRUISER: GUADALCANAL 1942 (9781846034664, $17.95), telling of the US Navy's first major amphibious offensive, Gordon L. Rottman's WORLD WAR II US ARMORED INFANTRY TACTICS (9781846036927, $18.95), telling of lessons applied between divisions when the nation entered the war and underestimated the radio of mechanized infantry to tanks, C. Caballero Juardo's BLUE DIVISION SOLDIER 1941-45 (9781846034121, $18.95), telling of Spanish volunteers in the 'Blue Division' that allowed a technically neutral Spain to support Nazi Germany's invasion of Russia, Jon Guttman's SE 5A VS. ALBATROS DV: WESTERN FRONT 1917-18 (9781846034718, $17.95), telling of two competing attempts to refine proven designs for aerial combat, and John Weal's JUNKERS JU 88 KAMPFGESCHWADER IN NORTH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN (9781846033186, $22.95), telling of the history of the twin-engined bomber that performed as a bomber, reconnaissance platform, and fighter. Any library strong in aircraft development will find this a specialized winner, as well. Alfred Buellesbach and Marcus Cowper's BATTLESCAPES: A PHOTOGRAPHIC TESTAMENT TO 2,000 YEARS OF CONFLICT (9781846034145, $29.95) will reach into general-interest as well as military libraries, gathering over 200 images of major world battlefields taken by a leading landscape photographer and presented in an oversized collection of panoramas. More than just a photo album, though, the accompanying history of battles and events is invaluable. Konstantin Nossov's GLADIATOR: ROME'S BLOODY SPECTACLE (9781846034725, $27.95) provides a powerful survey of gladiatorial games of ancient Rome, offering the newest research on gladiators to revise the standard perception of their combat, equipment, and lives and social status. Any library strong in ancient Roman history will find this a fine narrowed survey of gladiators - some of whom were volunteers seeking fame and fortune. Mir Bahmanyar's VANQUISHED: CRUSHING DEFEATS FROM ANCIENT ROME TO THE 21ST CENTURY (9781846033278, $29.95) offers a fine survey of battles of annihilation from ancient Rome to modern times, where defeats often elicited such a strong response that it led to the victors' downfall. Major defeats from Cannae to the 21st century Iran are analyzed for similarities and strategic insight perfect for any military collection. Peter Cottrell edits THE WAR FOR IRELAND: 1913-1923 (9781846039966, $28.50), a survey of the country's complex, bloody struggles when Irish nationalists fought the British for independence before battling their kinsmen for its future. Any history collection featuring Irish history will find this packed with rare photos, modern paintings and digital maps detailing conflicts. Osprey's 'Men at Arms' series offers a narrowed focus on equipment and uniforms throughout history and military collections will appreciate some new additions. Samuel Rocca's THE ARMY OF HEROD THE GREAT (9781846032066, $17.95) surveys the military skills of one of Rome's most important client kings; Ronald Pawly's MOUNTED GRENADIERS OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD (9781846034497, $17.95) surveys the troops of Napoleon's Old Guard, and Rafaele D'Amato's IMPERIAL ROMAN NAVAL FORCES 31 BC-AD 500 (9781846033179, $17.95) follows the history of the Roman navy from the battle of Actium to the fall of the Western Empire. Other recommendations for specialty military libraries include Gordon Williamson's GERMAN SPECIAL FORCES OF WORLD WAR II (9781846039201, $18.95), telling of German's wartime elite units; Mark Lardas' SHIPS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY NAVY (9781846034459, $17.95) tells of warships during the years 1776-83 who formed the first navy of the U.S., Gregory Fremont-Barnes' THE ANGLO-AFGHAN WARS 1839-1919 (9781846034466, $17.95) considers the history of Afghanistan and its military battles, and Steven J. Zaloga's THE ATLANTIC WALL (2) (9781846033933, $18.95) covers Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway as it surveys Germany's ambitious Atlantic Wall program of World War II. Robert O'Neill edits I AM SOLDIER: WAR STORIES FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD TO THE 20TH CENTURY (9781846035159, $19.95), a powerful collection of first-person military observations crossing hundreds of years of experience around the world.

The War to End All Wars
Jack Batten
Tundra Books
Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
9780887768798, $24.99 www.tundrabooks.com

THE WAR TO END ALL WARS: THE STORY OF WORLD WAR I follows the major battles of the war, explaining why the nations fought the war and discovered a far bloodier conflict than the world had seen at that scale. From soldiers' accounts to maps, accounts of heroism and political insights, this is a most accessible history suitable for high school through adult readers seeking a brush-up on events and motivations.


The Photography Shelf

Picture Yourself Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR Camera
James Karney and Terrence Karney
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781598635294 $24.99 www.cengage.com

Full-color photography on almost every page and an accompanying DVD of example files, tutorials, training videos and more enhance Picture Yourself Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR Camera, a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to using one's digital SLR camera. From the basics of exposure, lighting, proper focus, using flash, capturing action, and composition to assembling photo essays, editing, processing, printing, and sharing one's pictures, Picture Yourself Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR Camera is an accessible, detailed, and informative reference and self-teaching tool. Photographers of all skill and experience levels, even experts in other cameras who are learning how to maximize their effectiveness specifically with a digital SLR Camera, will find Picture Yourself Getting the Most Out of Your Digital SLR Camera utterly invaluable.

The Changing Range of Light
Elizabeth Carmel
Hawks Peak Publishing
c/o Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780977687718, $49.95, www.amazon.com

It was the legendary American naturalist John Muir who created the phrase 'Range of Light' as a means of conveying to others the visual beauty and changing perspectives of the Sierra Nevada range. This was in the late 19th century. Now in the beginning of the 21st century, Sierra-based photographer Elizabeth Carmel has created a compendium of stunningly presented full color photographs in "The Changing Range of Light: Portraits of the Sierra Nevada", a 120-page coffee table books of memorable images enhanced with succinct commentaries drawn from scientists on how the landscapes presented are and will continue to be affected by global warming. Infused throughout with the inclusion of thematically appropriate quotes and poetry, "The Changing Range of Light" is especially and highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Photography collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for nature enthusiasts and conservationists in particular.

Mastering the Nikon D90
Darrell Young
Rocky Nook
26 W. Mission St., #3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
9781933952505, $34.95, www.rockynook.com

What good are new features if they aren't used properly? "Mastering the Nikon D90" takes a look at the new Nikon D90, and the changes made to the model since the popular D80 model. Darrell Young gives readers a complete guide for both starting and experienced photographers who want to start using their Nikon D90 to the fullest. For anyone who wants to master their camera use, "Mastering the Nikon D90" is a fine pick and very highly recommended addition to photography collections.

How to Photograph Absolutely Everything
Tom Ang
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780756626440, $40.00 www.dk.com

How to Photograph Absolutely Everything: Successful Pictures from Your Digital Camera offers some lovely step-by-step tutorials 'shadowing' photographer author Tom Ang as he covers a range of photographic challenges. From understanding focus, space, and light to how to select a camera and how to use the camera and computer to fix images, this comes packed with color examples throughout.

101 Quick and Easy Secrets for Using Your Digital Photographs
Matthew Bamberg
Course Technology
20 Center St., Boston MA 02210
1435454375, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

101 Quick and Easy Secrets for Using Your Digital Photographs tells how to make the most of your images, showing the best way to manipulate, manage, publish and promote photos. From understanding the printing process to polishing finished results, all levels of photographer will find this an exceptional guide.

Course Technology
20 Center St., Boston MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

James Karney's THE OFFICIAL PHOTODEX GUIDE TO PROSHOW (1598639692, $34.99) tells how to master making great slide shows with a title packed with details on making polished multimedia productions. Educators, graphics professionals, business readers and even home users will benefit from these step-by-step instructions including large screenshots and updated information to include ProShow's latest features. A CD contains all the shows, images and files needed to complete the chapter exercises. David Busch's DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BUCKET LIST (1598639935, $29.99) provides a color photo-backed selection of some 100 great digital photos to take before you die. From capturing human spirit and urban life to themes such as nature and photojournalism, this packs in inspiration designed to expand a digital photographer's horizons and perceptions.

Freelance Photographer's Handbook, second edition
Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck
Amherst Media
175 Rando St, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207
9781584282662, $34.95 www.amherstmedia.com

Any freelance photographer needs a good handbook to guide them through the business of successful digital photography, and the second updated edition of Freelance Photographer's Handbook does this, providing a strong reference for any seeking to market their work. From finding an area of specialization to managing image files, planning business, obtaining permits and ethical responsibilities, this covers all the basics and is key to any photographer's business.


The Computer Shelf

The Book of Xen
Chris Takemura & Luke S. Crawford
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Franscisco, CA 94107
9781593271862, $49.95, www.nostarch.com

The less you pay, the more you can get. "The Book of Xen: A Practical Guide for the System Administrator" is a guide to the open source tool known as Xen. For administrators, Xen can prove to be a solid back up tool that will allow access for many in your company, no matter what operating system they use, while being easy to manage. With plenty of troubleshooting tips, Chris Takemura & Luke S. Crawford prove their expertise by giving the complete and comprehensive instruction manual that the program does not have. For anyone who wants to get the most out of free, "The Book of Xen" is a core addition to any technology collection.

The Book of Inkscape
Dmitry Kirsanov
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271817, $44.95 www.nostarch.com

The Book of Inkscape: The Definitive Guide to the Free Graphics Editor packs in a survey of Inkscape and its powerful uses, from working with objects and adding text and shapes to step-by-step instructions on creating business cards, animation and more. This powerful guide covers all kinds of features and projects and teaches all the basics: any library strong in free graphics programs will find this a popular lend.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway South, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Tim Mather, et.al.'s CLOUD SECURITY AND PRIVACY: AN ENTERPRISE PERSPECTIVE ON RISKS AND COMPLIANCE (9780596802769, $34.99) blends theory and applications in a powerful survey of Cloud computing and on demand computing. It is for programmers trying to adopt cloud computing methods and offers an assessment of the latest options in data security and storage. Dean Wampler and Alex Payne's PROGRAMMING SCALA (9780596155957, $44.99) covers Scala and Java and tells how to be more productive with the new language for JVM that blends many features of object-oriented and functional programming. From Scala's flexible code to knowing how to compose using traits and patterns and using Scala's support for XML, this packs in all the basics and is a 'must' for any serious computer library. Also recommended for such a collection is Nitesh Dhanjani, Billy Rios and Brett Hardin's HACKING: THE NEXT GENERATION (9780596154578, $39.99), a survey of hacking and internet issues and emerging attack vectors. From new hacks that try to exploit technical flaws to hacks from individuals via social networking sites and abuse in cloud formations, no serious programmer should be without this expose. Also key to any programming collection is THE ART OF SEO: MASTERING SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION by Eric Enge, et.al. (9780596518868, $44.99). It covers search engine marketing and clearly explains SEO basics, from exploring its underlying theory and understanding how search engines work to learning how to build a SEO team and manage SEO projects. An outstandingly well-detailed survey, this is a 'must' for any serious computer collection catering to programmers. Wei-Meng Lee's WINDOWS 7: UP AND RUNNING (9780596804046, $24.99) offers users the quickest path to get started with the Windows 7 operating system. From how to upgrade or install it to surveying its built-in applications, this is a fine guide for all levels of users, especially for novices who are familiar with installing and upgrading operating systems but seek more specifics.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Steve Pacey's GOING PRO WITH CUBASE 5 (1598639714, $29.99) is a powerful guidebook for those rady to move to the next level with Cubase and who seek tips and tricks for getting there. From recording MIDI and audio in Cubase to using its basic tools for advanced functions, this is a pick for any Cubase user who wants to move ahead. Ruth Maran's ILLUSTRATED WINDOWS 7 (1435454308, $24.99) is a fine Windows guide perfect for all skill levels, offering step-by-step advice geared to those who have purchased their first computer with Windows 7 installed. The visual approach packs in color screen shots throughout and covers all the basics of the latest version: perfect for newcomers to the Windows environment. Jon Margulies' ABLETON LIVE 8 POWER: THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE (1598639757, $39.99) tells how to make music using Ableton's live performance and studio software, Live 8. All Live users will find it a powerful survey of all the features and effects of Live 8 in a book written not so much for computer experts as for musicians, by a musician. Steve Pease's FL STUDIO POWER! THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE (1598639919, $39.99) considers FL Studio 9's changes and offers musicians a fine survey of how to install, run and update it on your computer, use recording audio functions and menus, use MIDI and plug-ins, and more. It comes from a composer, guitarist and DJ who has been playing music most of his life and as a DJ became expert in different music software options. The result's a powerful pick for any musician computer user's library. Kelly L. Murdock's POSER 8 REVEALED: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE (1598639706, $39.99) packs in all the details on the features of Poser 8, the advanced program used to create and animate scenes. Step-by-step tutorials for each task or skill being taught show how to create and position figures, simulate three dimensions, blend in props, animate figures, and more. Very highly recommended: a 'must' if only one Poser guide were to be chosen. John Levine's FLEX & BISON: UNIX TEXT PROCESSING SKILLS (9780596155971, $29.99) is for any library strong in Unix programming and offers advanced details, from building compilers and interpreters to learning key programming techniques. Revised tutorials for novices and references for advanced users make this an outstanding choice for any advanced programmer's collection. Brian Jackson's ABLETON LIVE 8 COURSE CLIPS (1598639900, $49.99) introduces key features of the program in ABLETON LIVE 8: course clips master, a hands-on DVD training tool that helps users move to the next level with Ableton Live 8. Over five hours of tutorials offer basic set-up, definitions, and new features of Live 8. Very highly recommended!

Addison-Wesley
www.informit.com/series.it

Any advanced programmer's library needs Jay Fields, et.al.'s REFACTORING RUBY EDITION (0321603508, $49.99), the definitive, fully revamped guide for Ruby programming. Programmers can change even the most chaotic software into disciplined, logical systems through refactoring - and this teaches the basics of refactoring and its logic, how to rework bad designs into good code, building tests and organizing data, and more. The second updated edition of Neal Allen's NETWORK MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE: FIELD-TESTED SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS (0321647416, $34.99) provides programmers with a real-world guide to anticipating, finding and testing network problems. From using the OSI model to troubleshoot networks by layers to preventing problems and discovering switches and devices that cause problems, this is a 'must' for any serious programming library.

iPhone 3.0 SDK Development
Bill Dusney and Chris Adamson
Pragamtic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356258, $38.95 www.pragprog.com

iPhone 3.0 SDK Development is a pick for any library strong in mobile device programming or OS X. It guides programmers through tools and APIs which can be used to create your own software for the iPhone and iPod touch, teaching how to develop a user interface, use Xcode IDE, and create multimedia apps with images, animation and audio and video. More than fifty sample programs written for iPhone SDK 3 offer concrete examples and practical applications.

Building Service-Aware Networks
Muhammad Afaq Khan, CCIE
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Eduction
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis IN 46240
1587057883, $60.00 www.ciscopress.com

Building Service-Aware Networks: The Next-Generation WAN/MAN provides an insider's guide to next-generation ASR 1000, and is written by a Cisco expert who offers practical coverage for the entire system, from planning and setup to daily management. The AST 10000's architecture and major performance points are covered in chapters considering implementation, qualifying an enterprise, and more. A pick for any advanced computer library strong in networking specifics.

Designing With Web Standards, third edition
Jeffrey Zeldman with Ethan Marcotte
New Riders
c/o Pearson Education
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, Ca 94710
0321616952, $49.99 www.newriders.com

The third updated edition of Designing With Web Standards tales a classic guide, updates it with the help of Ethan Marcotte, and discusses the basics of creating sites that load faster, reach more users, and cost less to design. This book's been revised extensively to include new ideas, techniques, and selling strategies, and is a 'must' for serious collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Art of Overeating
Leslie Landis
Sterling
c/o Planned Television Arts
1667 K Street, NW, Suite 950, Washington, DC 20006
9781402764561, $9.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

Obesity is a real problem in America, but sometimes in finding solutions, some take it too far. "The Art of Overeating: A Bellyful of Laughs About Our Food-Phobic Culture" seeks to lampoon the radical diets and responses against obesity, by playing humorous devil's advocate as Leslie Landis encourages readers that while health is a good thing, completely avoiding the food you love isn't healthy either. "The Art of Overeating" is a finely entertaining read sure to bring a smile to anyone fighting their own food-based battle.

Putting Medicare Consumers in Charge
Walton Francis
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
9780844742830, $25.00, www.aei.org

Government health care has another example besides Medicare. "Putting Medicare Consumers in Charge: Lessons from the FEHBP" takes a look at the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and its successes, with a discussion of how it can be applied to Medicare. FEHBP has been consistently more cost efficient than Medicare, and author Walton Francis explains his ideas thoroughly on how to improve Medicare by following solid examples. "Putting Medicare Consumers in Charge" is a choice read for anyone currently discussing the modern health care debate.

The Green Pharmacy
James A. Duke
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
0875963161, $29.95, www.rodalestore.com

Nature has been man's pharmacy before the term pharmacy existed. "The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs" delves into simple natural remedies of North America that can deal many of medicine's benefits without the side effects of much of modern medicine. Touching on everything from general health to cosmetic issues, "The Green Pharmacy" is well worth reading for anyone with a high faith in holistic and herbal medicine.

Cheating Death
Sanjay Gupta, MD
Grand Central Publishing
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446508872, $24.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

CHEATING DEATH: THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL MIRACLES THAT ARE SAVING LIVES AGAINST ALL ODDS packs in a fine examination of medicine, ethics, religion and law, detailing how science has made miraculous recoveries possible and using case files and the author's access to breaking news in his field to explain how technological advances are extending an understanding of differences between life and death. A 'must' for any health or general lending library.

Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics, fifth edition
Leslie E. Daly & Geoffrey J. Bourke
Blackwell Science
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148-5018
9780632047635, $115.95 www.blackwell-science.com

In 1969 the first edition of Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics introduced concepts of statistics and their medical application to readers with no formal training in the area. This fifth updated edition has major restructuring, has some sections totally rewritten, and packs in new statistical techniques and approaches along with two new chapters. Any medical library or courses catering to college-level medical students needs this introductory text.

Anatomy Color-In Flash Cards
Dr. Kurt Albertine
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764196774, $28.99 www.barronseduc.com

Anatomy Color-In Flash Cards offers classrooms and individuals alike a powerful learning tool that helps improve memory with a blend of flash cards and color-in drawings. Over 264 color-in cards pack a study kit ideal for medical and nursing students and for any in the health care industry needing some reinforcement of anatomical names. Eight color pencils are included.

Pregnancy and Birth Sourcebook
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231-1640
9780780810747, $93.00 www.omnigraphics.com

Over seventy chapters arranged in eight major parts from preconception health issues to staying healthy during pregnancy, high-risk pregnancies, and complications make for a powerful, accessible consumer reference appearing in its third updated edition and perfect for any general consumer health collection.

Treating Dementia
Jesse F. Ballenger, Ph.D., et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801893658, $60.00 www.press.jhu.edu

TREATING DEMENTIA offers health libraries an invaluable survey of dementia issues, from how concepts have expanded to embrace a range of symptoms and are influenced by new classes of pharmaceutical treatments to the use of drug treatments for dementia and how culture, language and values affect drug marketing and dementia treatment options around the world. College-level collections need this.

Cooking Well: Multiple Sclerosis
Marie-Annick Courtier
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578263011, $11.00 www.hatherleighpress.com

Cooking Well: Multiple Sclerosis provides fine details on developing healthy eating habits to improve a life. Over seventy easily-made dishes are designed with MS in mind and provides shopping guides, cooking tips, and meal plans.

The One Day Way
Chantel Hobbs
Waterbrook Press
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
www.waterbrookpress.com
9780307458780, $19.99, www.amazon.com

THE ONE DAY WAY is a diet book with a difference: a guide that circumvents checking sales or worrying about food intake and offers goals in bite-sized pieces for easier, simpler planning. From making high-energy meal plans and using at-home exercising routines to changing actions and habits, this focuses on food, faith and fitness alike. Recommended for health and Christian collections alike, this goes beyond mere dieting to focus on values and lifestyle changes overall.

Bach Flowers for Crisis Care
Mechthild Scheffer
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772962, $18.95 www.healingartspress.com

Bach Flowers for Crisis Care provides a fine therapeutic connection between the material and spiritual healing aspects of life, considering 50 common life crises and how the 38 individual Bach Flower Remedies can be used to turn them into growth options. Each flower offers a different spiritual orientation and healing: discussions center around both individual properties and combined results and make this a pick for any new age or alternative healing collection.


The Psychology Shelf

As the Pendulum Swings
Lindsay A. Brady
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759363, $18.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

What is hypnotherapy, truly? "As the Pendulum Swings: If it Isn't Hypnosis, Then What is It?" is the studies of Lindsay A. Brady on the subject of hypnotherapy. Offering his own ideas and thoughts through his own experiments with tens of thousands of clients during the past few decades, he discusses hypnosis, past life regression, and more, it's an intriguing array of ideas that should not be missed by those in an interest in the psychological and metaphysical. "As the Pendulum Swings" is a choice pick that should not be missed.

Trauma, Tragedy, Therapy
Stephen K. Levine
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843105121, $29.95, www.jkp.com

The way humanity deals with awfulness is truly unique. "Trauma, Tragedy, Therapy: The Arts and Human Suffering" is a scholarly discussion of the artistic portrayal of pain and how many different artists view the most negative aspects of the human experience. Deeply psychological, Stephen Levine goes over being at the bottom of life, chaos, healing, and the human body, "Trauma, Tragedy, Therapy" is a top pick for addition to arts and psychology collections for community and college libraries.

50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology
Scott O. Lilienfeld, et.al.
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781405131124, $24.95, www.amazon.com

50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology offers both students of psychology and consumers a fine book discussing science and everyday psychology. It offers facts and pinpoints fallacies about psychology, debunking popular myths and presenting evidence that also explains why people come to believe in these falsehoods. It's a fine pick for any psychology collection.

Brain Sense
Faith Hickman Brynie
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814413242, $24.00 www.amacombooks.org

BRAIN SENSE: THE SCIENCE OF THE SENSES AND HOW WE PROCESS THE WORLD AROUND US considers the senses and human consciousness. Science writer Faith Brynie examines the latest research on how the brain and senses interact, offering a blend of science and health insights perfect for both health libraries and general interest collections. The inclusion of myths and realities based on the latest research makes this a key acquisition.

Working with Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Carol Hagland and Zillah Webb
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050364, $55.00 www.jkp.com

Working with Adults with Asperger Syndrome provides a workbook developed from the experiences of many working with Asperger Syndrome patients, and this represents a treasure trove of tested approaches that can be used in groups or with individuals. From communication and mental health to exercises and case histories to encourage interaction, it's a winning guide any mental health library needs.

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

Tracy Todd's PRACTICE-BUILDING 2.0 FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE DIGITAL AGE (9780393705621, $29.95) is for any psychotherapist contemplating business. It tells how to create a web site, use online scheduling and payment systems, blend in blogs and video casts, and more, offering assessments to expanding a clinical reach. Mental health professionals need this. Alan Fogel's THE PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF SELF-AWARENESS: REDISCOVERING THE LOST ART OF BODY SENSE (9780393705447, $44.95) tells of how an awareness of senses is lost as one ages, whether it be due to technology or ignoring physical sensations in favor of mental processes. This explains the neurological, anatomical and psychophysiological sources of embodied self-awareness for clinicians and therapists who would understand these sensations. It uses recent research in developmental neuropsychology and biology, blends in research with applied therapy and offers insights on alternative medical practices. Bill O'Hanlon's A GUIDE TO TRANCE LAND (9780393705782, $15.00) offers a brief, easy introduction to permissive, solution-oriented hypnosis and comes from a renowned therapist and speaker who uses his training to provide therapists with guidelines to using solution-oriented hypnosis. From emphasizing through voice volume to creating rhythm in altered states, A GUIDE TO TRANCE LAND is a fine addition to any health library. Also recommended is Diana Fosha, et.al.'s edited THE HEALING POWER OF EMOTION: AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE, DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL PRACTICE (9780393705485, $37.50), a survey of basic emotions and powers of the human mind and body and how they play roles in mental health and cultural health alike. Leading researchers and clinicians explore emotion and transformation in scholarly articles perfect for college-level health and psychology collections.


The Biography Shelf

The Cynical Idealist
Gary Tillery
Quest Books
c.o Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60187-0270
9780835608756, $15.95, www.questbooks.net

John Lennon is truly an enigmatic figure that baffles many. "The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon" tries to delve into the spirituality of one of the pens behind the Beatles, and his search for spiritual enlightenment late in his life. Drawing on philosophy from Socrates, and hating what he had become, a pop culture idol, Gary Tillery presents a very unique picture of Lennon. Analyzing his songs and actions, "The Cynical Idealist" is a fascinating read and top pick for fans of Lennon in general.

Small-Town Boy, Small-Town Girl
Eric B. Fowler & Sheila Delaney, authors
Molly P. Rozum, editor
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780979894077 $17.95 www.sdshspress.com

Small-Town Boy, Small-Town Girl: Growing Up in South Dakota 1920-1950 collects and contrasts the autobiographical memoir musings of two people who grew up in the small South Dakota towns of Milbank and Mitchell. These engaging portraits of run-of-the-mill daily life, including during the lean years of the Great Depression and the boom that followed, are told so vividly as to practically transport the reader through time and space. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this excellent addition to memoir shelves. Enthusiastically recommended reading, especially for anyone nostalgic or curious about the color of day-to-day life in America almost a century ago.

The Story of My Life
Hank Greenberg with Ira Berkow
Ivan R. Dee, Inc. Publisher
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2632
9781566638371 $16.95 www.ivanrdee.com 1-800-462-6420

The Story of My Life is the true-life autobiography of baseball legend Hank Greenberg, the first Jewish player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. From his childhood days as the son of Eastern European immigrants in New York, to his rise as one of the most skilled home run hitters of his day, to his brave service in World War II and his more personal struggle with cancer, The Story of My Life is an amazing portrait of good and honorable man, both on and off the playing field. Of particular interest are the sections describing how Greenberg, a secular Jew, stood up for himself and his beliefs when confronted by anti-Semitism. An absolute "must" for Greenberg's fans, and an excellent addition to sports biography shelves everywhere.

Get Off Your Knees
John Robinson
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815609223, $24.95, www.syracuseunbiversitypress.syr.edu

Inspiring others is fine and dandy, but what does it do for you? "Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage, and Determination" is John Robinson's story of being a congenital amputee, having no extensions of his arms or legs. Robinson tells his tale of facing the only life he's ever known and what it has taught him about himself and other people, as he earned the position of a successful television director. "Get Off Your Knees" is a story of what happens when a person doesn't feel sorry for themselves and rises to life's challenges.

The Back Parts of War
Michael Snape
Church of England Record Society
c/o Boydell & Brewer
668 Mt. Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843835196, $115.00, www.amazon.com

The stories beneath the stories are vital to getting a greater understanding of war. "The Back Parts of War: The YMCA Memoirs and Letters of Barclay Baron, 1915-1919" tells Barclay Baron's story of his work with the Young Men's Christian Association, which worked in many European countries throughout the first world war. Combining his religious faith with his military account, readers get an undoubtedly personal account of the man's life, of what it meant to be a man of god and a soldier during the first world war. With cliff notes from the editor further explaining Baron's writing, "The Back Parts of War" is a collection not to be ignored for libraries seeking historical memoirs, especially those with a religious view.

The Awakener
Helen Weaver
City Lights
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865051, $16.95, www.citylights.org

Keeping a child sheltered from the world just makes them try harder to see it. "The Awakener: A Memoir of Kerouac and the Fifties" tells Helen Weaver's story of her repressive childhood that lead her to fully embrace the birth of Rock and Roll and the beat Generation, meeting with many important figures of the time. An intriguing story of the early days of the sound of the century, "The Awakener" is a fine read for music fans and should not be missed.

Paper Words
Judy Endow
AAPC
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KD 66283-0173
9781934575499, $19.95, www.asperger.net

Autism is not something that can be painted with a broad brush. "Paper Words: Discovering and Living with My Autism" is the memoir of an autistic woman who discovered her condition later in her life. A unique look at autism from a side of the spectrum that can go undetected through the entire life, and how she has faced the diagnosis with renewed wisdom. "Paper Words" is well worth reading for those intrigued with the very nature of autism.

Theodore Roosevelt Hunter-Conservationist
R. L. Wilson
Boone and Crockett Club Collection
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
www.booneandcrockettclub.com
978094086469X, $99.95, 1-888-840-4868

Theodore Roosevelt was perhaps the single most conservation oriented president America has ever had. He launched what would become an American original -- the Federal Park system. His appreciation of the outdoor life took root when he adventured west as a young man and his desire for outdoor adventure never left him. A consummate sportsman and naturalist, his books and ideas have been appreciated by every new generation of hunters, campers, fisherman, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Now historian and author R. L. Wilson has written and compiled a written a superbly and profusely illustrated biography of the 26th President who has come to represent a dedication to conservation and environmental issues that is nothing short of inspirational. In crafting this 296-page compendium, Wilson draws upon original documents and historical images from diverse archives of Roosevelt papers ranging from Harvard University and the Library of Congress to the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace Historic Site to chronicle and document an extraordinary man whose influence and ideals continue to influence our perception the great out-of-doors and all it has to offer by way of appreciation and responsibility for the adventurous of heart. Enthusiastically recommended for academic and community library collections, "Theodore Roosevelt Hunter Conservationist" is also available in a paperback edition (9780940864528, $39.95).

Arctic Scientist, Gulag Survivor
A. M. Ermolaev & V. D. Dibner
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.uofcpress.com
9781552382561, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Expertly translated and edited by William Barr (Research Fellow, Arctic Institute of North America), "Arctic Scientist, Gulag Survivor: The Biography of Mikhail Mikhailovich Ermolaev, 1905-1991" is the personal history of one of the Soviet Union's premier Arctic scientists of the 1920s and 1930s. A geologist, physicist, and oceanographer, Ermolaev worked in the Arctic for thirteen years before being arrested by the Russian secret police, convicted of 'sabotage', and incarcerated in the Gulag for ten years where he barely survived a year of hard labor in a remote lumber camp. He was then charged with extending the railroad to coal mines in the far flung reaches of northeast Russia. This was followed by he and his family being exiled to Syktyvkar and Arkhangel'sk. Amazingly, he was to resume his academic career and establish a new Department of the Geography of the Oceans at Kaliningrad State University. This is an amazing biography of life during the worst oppressions of the communist state, it is also an invaluable testament to the resilience of a gifted man during extraordinary times who was able to overcoming severe and life-threatening hardship. Enhanced with family photographs, "Arctic Scientist, Gulag Survivor" is informed, informative, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and a critically important addition to both academic and community library Biography collections.

Ghostbread
Sonja Livingston
The University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820333984, $24.95, www.ugapress.com

Why do the poor stay poor? "Ghostbread" is a memoir through the avenue of creative nonfiction from Sonja Livingston, as she reflects on her life as the seventh and youngest child of a single mother. Following her mother and family through many homes and not so homes, she reflects on why she believes so many find the cycle of poverty so hard to break. Poignant and touching, as well as somewhat tragic, "Ghostbread" is a fine read that many readers will be empowered by.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance
Elna Baker
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3657
9780525951353, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Stand-up comedienne Elna Baker offers a lively, funny series of vignettes about her practicing Mormon living in the Big Apple in a literary memoir that is hilarious, revealing and honest all at once. From her Mormon faith and struggles with stereotypes to her coming of age and changes, this provides a powerful survey of her life, career, and identity and is a fun pick for any lending library.

Wildflower
Mark Seal
Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781400067367, $26.00 www.atrandom.com

WILDFLOWER is a powerful biography of a dedicated environmentalist and sixty-nine-year-old world-renowned naturalist who was murdered by two masked men in Kenya. Police deemed it a robbery gone wrong - but Joan Root's efforts to preserve Kenya's wildlife had earned her many political enemies, and WILDFLOWER provides both a biography of her life and achievements and a story of Kenya's evolution perfect for any general lending library.

Unsweetined
Jodie Sweetin
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439152683, $25.99 www.simonandschuster.com

Jodie Sweetin played Danny Tanner's daughter and grow up on TV, for eight years playing the middle child character on Full House. A decade after the show tended the star reveals her recovery from addiction, a dangerous double life she led, and a secret that nearly destroyed her. Any library strong on movie personalities and TV stars will welcome her autobiography.

American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood
Marc Eliot
Harmony Books
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
9780307336880, $25.99 www.crownpublishing.com

American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood tells of a Hollywood icon and comes from a film historian whose biography provides a vivid account of actor Eastwood's life and career. This covers both his highs and lows, artistic successes and failures, and relationships between his life and career and pulls no punches in examining his ups and downs, offering insights into his life and work. A 'must' for any serious film biography collection and many a general interest lending library.

One and the Same
Abigail Pogrebin
Doubleday
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780385521567, $26.95 www.doubleday.com

ONE AND THE SAME; MY LIFE AS AN IDENTICAL TWIN AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT EVERYONE'S STRUGGLE TO BE SINGULAR is both an autobiography and a survey of the latest research on twins around the world. The author spoke to nearly every twin expert in the world for this book, offering a narrative packed with expert insights as well as interviews with twins with stories of their own search for singularity. General lending libraries will find this a compelling read.


The Audiobook Shelf

How to Break Your Own Heart
Maggie Alderson, author
Catherine Milte, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742143620 $103.95 www.bolinda.com

How to Break Your Own Heart is the complete and unabridged library edition audiobook on CD of Maggie Alderson's humorous novel about a very serious life choice. Amelia Bradlow has a loving husband, and wants a baby more than anything - but her husband is not interested in parenthood. Amelia is quickly approaching 37 and her biological clock is going to run out very soon - should she stay in her (mostly) happy marriage, or enter the uncertainty of single life on the distant chance of meeting the right man with whom to start a family? Though tongue-in-cheek witty, How to Break Your Own Heart is also thought-provoking, and overall a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook experience. Highly recommended. 11 CDs, 12 hours 25 minutes.

The American Journey of Barack Obama
The editors of LIFE
Richard Allen, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroupusa.com
9781600248726 $24.98, www.amazon.com

Enhanced with a foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, The American Journey of Barack Obama is an audiobook narrative biography of America's current president, as assembled by the editors of LIFE magazine. Original essays by writers including Gay Talese, Charles Johnson, Melissa Fay Greene, Andrei Codrescu, Fay Weldon, Richard Norton Smith, Bob Greene and more examine various aspects of Obama's background, character, and distinction. Above all, The American Journey of Barack Obama seeks to provide an unbiased answer to the question: what does Barack Obama's emergence on the political scene mean for America? An extraordinary portrait, highly recommended for anyone curious to learn more about Obama.

George Carlin Reads to You, expanded edition
George Carlin
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598879247 $39.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com

Now in a new expanded edition featuring an interview from "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, George Carlin Reads to You is an audiobook selection of comedian George Carlin's hilarious read-aloud musings, jokes, riffs, and (sometimes twisted) narratives from two funny books, including three complete recordings together for the first time: Grammy winners "Brain Droppings", "Napalm & Silly Putty," and "More Napalm & Silly Putty". A real treat for anyone who needs a dose of laughter during car trips, air travel, or anyplace one can go with a portable CD player, highly recommended. 8 hours, 7 CDs.

The Shortest Distance Between Two Women
Kris Radish, author
Nicole Poole, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440758027 $102.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

The Shortest Distance Between Two Women is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Kris Radish's novel about the family ties that bind. 43-year-old Emma Gilford has long been a loyal daughter, but at her family's annual reunion, the love of her life suddenly returns. Emma ponders whether she is finally at the phase of her life where it's time to put her own needs first. A dramatic and engaging story populated by believable characters and marked by dilemmas drawn from human experience, The Shortest Distance Between Two Women is an excellent addition to public library audiobook collections. 9 CDs, 10.75 hours.

Under the Dome
Stephen King, author
Raul Esparza, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440758225 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com

Under the Dome is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of legendary horror master Stephen King's chilling saga of a small Maine town suddenly isolated from society by an invisible force field. The field will destroy planes that collide into it, and even makes birds drop dead out of the sky - but the truly insidious danger comes rom within. Cut off from accountability to the outside world, the worst of human nature asserts itself in the forms of greed, corruption, and lust for power. A taut, thrilling tale brought to vivid life through Raul Esparza's dramatic narration, Under the Dome is enthusiastically recommended. 30 CDs, 34.5 hours.

The Ultimate Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal
Carol Ginandes, PhD
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9780982357378 $24.95, www.amazon.com

The Ultimate Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal is a self-help audiobook that teaches the listener how to plan effective and restorative naps that promote mental and physical wellness. Author and internationally recognized health psychologist Dr. Carol Ginandes guides the listener through the process of relaxation, and fosters an appreciation for the dynamic benefits of planned power naps. A valuable supplement to personal health and fitness DVD libraries, The Ultimate Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal also makes a great gift. 1 hour.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Starring David Strathairn and Richard Dreyfuss
BBC Audiobooks America
42 Whitecap Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852-7445
9781602834026 $39.95 www.BBCAudiobooksAmerica.com

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates is a newly commissioned, unabridged audiobook presentation of the epic debates between future president Abraham Lincoln (played by David Strathairn) and Stephen Douglas (played by Richard Dreyfuss) during their 1858 senatorial campaign in Illinois, only a few years before the outbreak of the American Civil War. In an era of rising tensions, the main theme of these debates was slavery and its proliferation into the western territories; Douglas felt that each territory should answer the slavery question for itself, while Lincoln refuted this view feeling that it would nationalize and promote the continuation of the ill of slavery. Even though Douglas was destined to win re-election to the Senate, Lincoln's oratorical prowess and his anti-slavery viewpoint (remarkable in time when extreme racism was common) helped broaden his reputation and pave the way to his presidential election in 1860. A superbly performed recording, The Lincoln-Douglas Debates brings a pivotal moment in America's history to vivid life, and is enthusiastically recommended especially for public library audiobook collections. 14 CDs, 16 hours.

The Longest Night
Helen Engelhardt
Midsummer Sound Company, LLC
805 Kenmore Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210
www.midsummersoundcompany.com
9780980240917 $34.95, www.amazon.com

Over twenty years ago, a terrorist bombing killed 270 people aboard Pan Am 103 on a flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. The Longest Night: A Personal History of Pan Am 103 is the audiobook adaptation of the memoir of author Helen Engelhardt, who lost her husband Tony Hawkins on that violent day. The Longest Night is ultimately not a memorial to death, but to life, recounting the story of love and marriage between Engelhardt and Hawkins. Superbly produced and directed, The Longest Night is a heartrendingly beautiful true-life love story, and a fitting tribute to those whose lives were cut short too soon. 5 CDs, 6.5 hours.

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

Sanjay Gupta, MD's CHEATING DEATH: THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL MIRACLES THAT ARE SAVING LIVES AGAINST ALL ODDS (9781600247958, $34.98) comes from a chief medical correspondent and includes a bonus interview with the doctor as it tells of a neurosurgeon and journalist's investigation of science that has led to unbelievable recoveries. From extended cardiac arrest and brain death to more, this uses the latest medical research to investigate how physicians and researchers' findings are leading to more lives saved. An intriguing audio listen evolves! David Baldacci's TRUE BLUE (9781600247613, $44.95) pairs Ron McLarty's acting skills and smooth voice with a fine novel revolving around a high-profile homicide in the nation's capital. Thrills and chills pack a survey of a cop and a lawyer who find a routine homicide takes a lethal, dangerous turn. Wess Roberts, PhD's LEADERSHIP SECRETS OF ATTILA THE HUN (9781600248931, $19.98) receives James Lurie's TV personality and talents as he narrates with flare this classic on leadership. Attila shaped a band of mercenary tribal nomads into rulers: lessons from his approaches provide fine business insights, here. Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton's COLLECTION OF POEMS, SONGS, AND LULLABIES (9781600247583, $24.98) comes from Julie Andrews and her daughter, who have hand-selected a mix of their favorite poems, songs and lullabies in a fine audio poetry collection enhanced wit a bonus .pdf of paintings by James McMullan that's PC and Mac compatible. It's a gorgeous gift for any parent, a lovely survey indeed! Sherri Shepherd's PERMISSION SLIPS (9781600247507, $34.98) is narrated by the author, a stand-up comedian and film actress and co-host of The View, and offers a hilarious memoir recounting her struggles and lessons in life. From early experiences with boys and dating to her changing career on stage and TV, this packs in vivid detail in a powerful collection of memories.

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

Linwood Barclay's FEAR THE WORST (1423398386, $36.99) receives a fine reading by Buck Schirner, who tells of Tim, an average guy who sells cars and has an ex-wife who's moved in with a man while his girlfriend is a flake. But when his daughter vanishes, trouble really begins in this fine thriller of parental love and loss, recommended for any general lending library. Any studying depression survival tactics will find appealing Martin D. Weiss' THE ULTIMATE DEPRESSION SURVIVAL GUIDE (1441805281, $29.99). Oliver Wyman narrates a powerful plan to grow wealth against all odds with a title from one who warned of the current crisis well before it began - and here offers a step-by-step program of strategies to thrive. Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen's STORM CYCLE (1423329600, $36.99) is read by Tanya Eby and provides a fine story of Rachel, a computer genius whose personal life is falling apart. Her younger sister has a rare chronic illness that will eventually kill her, and her quest to save her sister's life is endangering her own when she joins a brilliant adventurer's discovery of a cure in an Egyptian tomb. Swift action is spiced by Tanya's vivid voiceover reading skills. Donita K. Paul's DRAGONKNIGHT (1423392655, $19.99) receives Ellen Grafton's powerful reading voice and tells of Bardon and knights trapped in an evil spell. A journey to free a dozen knights who cannot be awakened is influenced by a journal holding the key to rousing them in this fantasy thriller. John Ringo & Julie Cochrane's HONOR OF THE CLAN (1423395131, $29.99) receives Mark Vietor's moving voice and tells of duty, honor and country as it profiles a conspiracy grown strong and rules who have decided to lead a military space battle. Any fan of military sci fi will relish this. J.D. Robb's KINDRED IN DEATH (1423383761, $38.99) pairs veteran narrator Susan Ericksen's smooth voice with the story of Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who in 2060 searches New York City for a dangerous criminal. A teen brutally murdered in her bedroom horrifies even the veteran cop Eve Dallas, who finds multiple personalities involved in an unusual scenario. Ken Auletta's GOOGLED: THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (14417820973, $29.99) is performed by veteran Jim Bond whose 25 years of experience hosting fine arts radio talk shows lends a smooth and passionate voice to this reporter's survey of the story of Google's rise. Business and social history collections alike will find this packed with engrossing facts about behind-the-scenes Google growth. Patrick Rothfuss' THE NAME OF THE WIND (1423389263, $44.99) pairs Nick Podehl's smooth and fine voice with the story of Kvothe, a fantasy story of a hero told in his own voice and an epic saga of adventure and a man's search for meaning that would change his universe.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Jonathan Kellerman's EVIDENCE (9780739368992, $45.00) provides a fine Alex Delaware novel narrated by John Rubinstein in a fine unabridged recording. A watchman stumbles upon the bodies of a young murdered couple in one of Los Angeles's finest neighborhoods and involves psychologist Alex Delaware in a series of fresh insights on the crime. A questionable victim identity, a notorious womanizer, and more make for a tense, involving story in this winner. Peter Mayle's THE VINTAGE CAPER (9780307577115, $30.00) receives Erik Davies' fine stage credits and passionate voice as it tells of an impressive wine cellar from an entertainment lawyer and a wine heist that involves wine connoisseur Sam Levitt in an unusual investigation stretching back to Bordeaux. Anne Rice's ANGEL TIME (9780739316085, $35.00) is narrated by actor Paul Michael, whose impassioned voice lends a powerful touch to this story of Toby, a contract killer on assignment who lives under a series of aliases and lonely lethal purposes - until a mysterious angel offers him a chance to save rather than destroy lives. Robert Parker's THE PROFESSIONAL (9780739343890, $30.00) is narrated by Joe Mantegna and provides a fine unabridged production of a Spenser story, this intrigue revolving around rich wives with a shared affair with a man who's blackmailing them. Highly recommended for any audio library.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Liberated Quiltmaking II
Gwen Marston
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326536 $28.95 www.aqsquilt.com

Liberated Quiltmaking II is the updated guide to author Gwen Marston's signature style of original quilts that can be made without using templates or set patterns. Full color photographs and step-by-step diagrams guide the reader through unique, distinctive, and individual designs that come alive rather than simply repeat a sterile, static image. A gorgeous guide highly recommended especially for intermediate and advanced quilt makers interested in experimenting and putting their own personal stamp on their creations!

Simple Style: Easy Weekend Quilts
Sara Diepersloot
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue, NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564779496 $24.99 www.martingale-pub.com

Featuring step-by-step diagrams and full color illustrations, Simple Style: Easy Weekend Quilts is a handy guide to big-piece quilts, which can be made relatively quickly (say, during the course of a weekend retreat). Offering fifteen patterns for theme prints, Asian prints, batiks, pastels, and more, Simple Style: Easy Weekend Quilts focuses on uncomplicated designs that involve basic square, strip, rectangle, or large triangle shapes. An introductory section refreshing the reader's understanding of basic quiltmaking techniques rounds out this useful guide ideal for beginning to intermediate quiltmakers - or even advanced quiltmakers curious to learn how to create high-quality quilts in a very short amount of time.

Beautiful Alphabet Applique
Zena Thorpe
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.aqsquilt.com
9781574326543, $22.95, www.amazon.com

One of the most elegant and eloquent of the needlecraft arts applique embellishments. They can take a variety of forms tailored to specific subjects. In the case of "Beautiful Alphabet Applique", needlecraft expert Zena Thorpe has created a beautifully and profusely illustrated 64-page compendium of appliques for each letter of the alphabet. Of special value, especially for the novice, are the general directions provided on the subjects of fabric, needle and thread, patterns, placement, applique, bias binding, yo-yo circles, embroidery, sashing, and finishing. In addition to applique embellishments for alphabet lettering is the special step-by-step illustrated instructions for creating an LOVE wall-hanging. While an ideal and strongly recommended instruction manual for the beginner, Zena Thorpe's "Beautiful Alphabet Applique" also has a great deal of value for even the more experienced needlecrafter in providing inspiration for making creative variations for alphabet appliques.

Fabric Embellishing
Ruth Chandler, et al.
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9780981804033, $29.95, www.amazon.com

There is a very special joy in taking fabrics and creating original, beautiful, decorative pieces of needlecraft art. The collaborative effort of needlecraft experts and artists Ruth Chandler, Liz Kettle, Heather Thomas, and Lauren Vlcek, "Fabric Embellishing: the Basics & Beyond: More Than 50 Techniques With Step-by-step Photos" showcases with step-by-step, 'user friendly', illustrated instructions for fifty different techniques organized into three specific categories: Foundations; Soft Embellishments; and Hard Embellishments. Beginning with advice for getting started with fabric embellishment projects, making a 'technique workbook', advice on equipment and supplies, "Fabric Embellishment" covers a wide range of issues from fabric manipulation, to embroidery, to the use of beads, metal, paper, and more. Of special note are foam fabrications, edge burning, melting and scoring. Enhanced with the inclusion of a list of thematically appropriate resources, "Fabric Embellishing" is an ideal introduction for the novice, with a great deal of practical and inspirational value for even the more experienced needlecrafter.

99 Yarns and Counting
Green Mountain Spinnery Cooperative
Countryman Press
Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881508260, $24.95 www.countrymanpress.com

99 Yarns and Counting provides a fine collection of designs from a spinnery that has produced some 99 colors of yarn to work with. Marti Stone's fine color photos compliment projects using these colorful yarns, featuring step-by-step directions for knitters looking for something different.

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

Sharyn Craig and Pamela Mostek's Quilt Challenge: "What If" Ideas for Color and Design (9781564779113, $21.99) offers a collection based on nationally known quilt designers who challenged each other to make eight quilts using specific designs and color guidelines. From inspiration from photos to favorite tips and techniques, these challenge blocks offer unique and diverse insights into the process. Quilters will welcome this. Karla Alexander's COLOR SHUFFLE (9781564779274, $26.99) provides new quilts from designer Karla Alexander, who explains how to blend her stacking and shuffling methods with more new techniques. Some 16 projects provide a range of colors and style options in a top pick for any quilting library. Also recommended is Sally Schneider's CRAZY FOR SCRAPS (9781564779267, $26.99), a powerful survey of nearly twenty quilts packing in many projects and including several traditional patterns updated with current fabrics for a different look. The 2010 calendar AWARD-WINNING QUILTS FEATURING QUILTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT ASSOCIATION (9781564779410, $12.99) packs in 12 full-size quilt pictures to accompany a fine, practical wall calendar format. The different quilt styles make for an outstandingly diverse presentation. Eleanor Levie edits SKINNY QUILTS & TABLE RUNNERS II: 15 DESIGNS FROM CELEBRATED QUILTERS (9781564779250, $26.99) follows up SKINNY QUILTS AND TABLE RUNNERS, offering new designs and some lovely folk-art creations from major designers. These projects are small enough to add quilt-based distinction to any home's tabletops, counter spaces, and more. Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss' ALL ABOUT CROCHET: THE DICTIONARY OF CROCHET STITCHES AND TECHNIQUES (9781564779069, $24.99) offers a visual guide complete with a lay-flat handy binding and an A-Z format that lends to quick and easy lookup. The layout is small enough to easily fit into a crochet bag and the dictionary packs in explanations of chains, stitches, yarns, and more, with clear illustrations throughout. Any crochet worker will find this an invaluable reference. MORE TWICE-QUILTED DESIGNS FOR CONTINUOUS-LINE QUILTING by Glorianne Cubbage (9781564778765, $26.99) offers a new collection of continuous-line designs. Stitch the first design in one color to quilt the layers together, then add the secondary design in a different color to finish. Some 20 interlacing designs are presented along with a 16-page booklet packed with instructions for tracing and sewing. An outstanding guide for any quilter's collection. Also outstanding is Pamela Mostek's BLENDED BORDERS: QUILTS WITH A CREATIVE EDGE (9781564779304, $19.98). This shares the author's innovative Blended Borders technique for softening lines between quilt tops and borders, using large-scale applique shapes in a technique collection for quilters of all skill levels. Five projects in full color highlight the presentation.

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

Learn how to hand stitch six quilts inspired by tropical designs in Sylvia Pippen's Paradise Stitched: Sashiko & Applique Quilts (9781571206176, $29.95), a fine quilting guide that covers both turn-under and fusible applique. Even more valuable - create designs from your own photos: a skill that can transfer beyond the tropical theme. With its collection of full-page patterns and tips on hand embroidery embellishments, this teaches how to choose applique fabrics to create Sashiko designs. Quilters looking for something different will relish this approach. Cyndy Lyle Rymer edits PHOTO FUN: PRINT YOUR OWN FABRIC FOR QUILTS & CRAFTS (1571202765, $17.95) offers twelve quilt and accessory projects using color photos and graphics, and easy picks for beginners in either computers or quilting. From finding the latest news on working with digital cameras and scanners to using any brand of inkjet printer or scanner for polished results, this is a fine crafts title for any quilter seeking to personalize products.

Potter Craft
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, NY, NY 10019-4305
www.pottercraft.com

Lily Chin's Crochet Tips & Tricks (9780307461063, $16.99) provides a nearly toteable sized book gathering over seventy of her best techniques - many gathered from her regularly sold-out classes. From easy solutions to crocheter's peeves to working with coned yarns, cheating at the beginning of a row, and more, this is packed with insights any knitter or knitting library needs. Chin's KNITTING TIPS & TRICKS: SHORTCUTS AND TECHNIQUES EVERY KNITTER SHOULD KNOW (9780307461056, $16.99) is also a fine acquisition, offering tips and insights for knitters of every level and using clear picture examples throughout. Clara Parkes' KNITTER'S BOOK OF YARN (9780307352170, $30.00) offers a comprehensive examination of wool, considering how it's classified, processed, and where different sheep breeds come from. Factors that contribute to yarn makeup are provided for knitters who would understand differences within each skein of yarn, pairing this information with some twenty patterns designed to display the qualities of wool yarns.

American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com

GARDEN NOUVEAU QUILTS (9781574326512, $24.95) offers Vicky Lawrence's original designs and patterns in a series of handwork applique designs inspired by nature that can be fused for quicker results. Beginners learn the basics of applique while those more advanced find clear patterns and new directions in a series of 7 very different projects from bolsters and totes to bed-size quilts. Sarah Ann Smith's THREAD WORK UNRAVELED (9781574329995, $28.95) packs in all the detailed needed about thread and machine quilting notions. From how thread's made to what threads work for different jobs and how to enhance piecing and quilting projects, THREAD WORK UNRAVELED is for any serious quilter's collection.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Taekwondo
Doug Cook
YMAA Publication Center
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594391286, $14.95, www.ymaa.com

Martial arts is more than creative ways to hurt people. "Taekwondo: A Path to Excellence" is a guide to those who want to understand this martial art, and the benefits in health, spirituality, and skill it can bring. A complete and comprehensive history of its roots and what it means today, "Taekwondo" is a very highly recommended read for any who want to better understand this historic martial art.

Kalaripayat: The Martial Arts Tradition of India
Patrick Denaud
Destiny Books
One Park St., Rochester VT 05767
9781594773150, $16.95 www.destinybooks.com

Kalaripayat: The Martial Arts Tradition of India provides a powerful blend of cultural and marital arts information, covering a form that is also a spiritual discipline. Its martial arts techniques are designed to create meditative states through focused, silent breathing techniques. KALARIPAYAT is a pick for any new age or martial arts library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Sunken Realms
Karen Mutton
Adventures Unlimited
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventureunlimitedpress.com
9781931882965, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Whole cities submerged leave much for the mind to wonder about. "Sunken Realms: A Survey of Underwater Ruins from Around the World" discusses these unique sites that would have been lost to the tides of history if not for science's exploration of the ocean floor. Examining sites throughout Africa, Europe, and Asia, as well as the potential true existence of an Atlantis, "Sunken Realms" is a top pick and fascinating read for those who find them fascinated by the untold stories of history.

Soul Currency
Ernest D. Chu
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577318514, $14.95 www.nhewworldlibrary.com

Ernest Chu's concept of 'soul currency' refers to a divine force circulating in our lives and offers a look at spiritual abundance and personal growth and prosperity. Pages that show how to remain true to self and psyche while being prosperous make for engrossing reading in SOUL CURRENCY: INVESTING YOUR INNER WEALTH FOR FULFILLMENT & ABUNDANCE. New age, business and spirituality collections will relish this.


The Criminology Shelf

It Happens Every Day
Robin Sax
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2219
9781591027584, $26.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY: INSIDE THE WORLD OF A SEX CRIMES DA tells of a veteran prosecutor who worked as a deputy DA specializing in sex crimes against children. She personally reviewed at least five new cases daily - and in Los Angeles there were some sixty prosecutors with the same caseload. This offers an outstanding survey of law enforcement's campaign against child sexual assault, and is a powerful survey of not just sex crimes, but how the DA prosecutes. General libraries as well as college-level law enforcement collections will find this enlightening.


The Social Issues Shelf

Home Away From Home
Richard B. McKenzie
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594032455 $25.95 www.encounterbooks.com

Home Away From Home: The Forgotten History of Orphanages is an anthology of essays by learned authors offering surprising insights into America's largely abandoned orphanage system. Today's focus on placing children in foster care (originally intended as only a temporary solution) has its own flaws, resulting in care that has been too inadequate for too many children. Home Away From Home explores the problems with the orphanage system that led to its bad reputation and eventual discontinuation - but also highlights the little-discussed positive aspects to the social institution, notably that it provided a stable environment for young people in need of one. Home Away From Home takes a step further, suggesting that orphanages could once again become a socially beneficial institution to care for children who are difficult (or legally impossible) to place in adoptive families. A thought-provoking account, worthy of consideration and contemplation for readers on all sides of the issue.

Abortion, Execution, and Consequence of Taking Life
James D. Slack
Transaction Books
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412810210, $49.95, www.transactionpub.com

What does it mean to take the life of another? "Abortion, Execution, and the Consequences of Taking Life" discusses these topics under the banner of taking life from another. Discussing the government's role in these matters, how they are inspired by the Bible, the intentions of the founding fathers, morality, and the American voter's role in this big picture, there is much scholarly reading to be had. On the matters of abortion, capital punishment, and other life and death topics that commonly take center stage in political debate, "Abortion, Execution, and the Consequences of Taking Life" is a read very much worth considering.

Everyday Justice
Julie Clawson
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830836284, $16, www.ivpress.com

For every action there is a reaction. "Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Choices" discusses the impact of the American lifestyle on the world and states that even the most conservation-friendly consumers may not be aware how much of an impact their lifestyles are having on the world. With ideas for solutions to help the world live a more ethical and earth-friendly life, "Everyday Justice" is a must for environmentally focused social issues collections.

Iran and Post-9/11 World Order
Anwar Alam
New Century Publications
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9788177081909, $39.50, www.newcenturypublications.com

If Iran obtained Nuclear weapons.... "Iran and Post-9/11 World Order: Reflections on Iranian Nuclear Programme" discusses the Iranian nuclear program and its potential impact on modern world order. With many scholarly opinions and ideas, Anwar Adam puts together a fine volume that is well worth reading for those concerned about Iran and its impact on the world. "Iran and Post 9/11 World Order" is a very strong read for international issues collections in community or college libraries.

Getting What We Deserve
Alfred Sommer
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801893872, $21.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Is America's health care really the best available? "Getting What We Deserve: Health & Medical Care in America" discusses the modern health care debate with many intriguing ideas. Stating that America's policies have not changed despite increasing lifespans and technological revolutions, author Alfred Sommer comes to readers with a straightforward and informative read, as well as solutions for the future. "Getting What We Deserve" is a solid addition to any collection focusing on the health care debate.

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

Elizabeth Pisani's THE WISDOM OF WHORES: BUREAUCRATS, BROTHELS AND THE BUSINESS OF AIDS (9780393337655, $16.95) blends science and medicine with social issues and considers how the author's profession as an epidemiologist specializing in HIV prevention leads to international disease prevention. Politics, science, and medicine mix on the frontiers of AIDS developments and this book covers them all, offering an even hilarious account of AIDS issues around the world. Tristram Stuart's WASTE: UNCOVERING THE GLOBAL FOOD SCANDAL (9780393068368, $27.95) tells the overlooked story of how what we don't eat is destroying our environment. About 50 percent of all food is wasted by farmers and manufacturers - enough to food the world's hungry and more. Solutions to this problem are provided in a survey of the issue, human food chain waste habits, and how they may be remedied.


The Crafts Shelf

Big & Bold
Editors of BeadStyle Magazine
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162861, $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

Make dramatic, big, eye-catching jewelry with BIG & BOLD: HOW TO MAKE DRAMATIC BEADED JEWELRY. Projects here come from the pages of BeadStyle Magazine and offer over thirty projects with step-by-step directions, photos, and coverage of all the tools and techniques for beginners. Any crafter's collection or general library strong in easy jewelry-making handbooks needs this.

A Year in Earrings
Editors of BeadStyle Magazine
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162960, $17.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

A YEAR IN EARRINGS offers jewelry makers 365 ways to show different styles, packing in dozens of earring projects and variations on themes to display the styles. Color photos offers step-by-step instructions to guide readers through each project, and make for a top pick for any crafts collection.


The Education Shelf

Community Organizing for Stronger Schools
Kavitha Mediratta, Seema Shah, & Sara McAlister
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
9781934742341, $29.95, www.harvardeducationpress.org

It takes a village to raise a child, and the village must take its part in education as well. "Community Organizing for Stronger Schools Strategies and Successes" is a guide to what the community can do for its local schools to improve their quality. Looking at community organizing and what it can do for public schools. Discussing everything from strategies to help, to the political battles that often come up, for anyone who wants to push their schools to flourish, "Community Organizing for Stronger Schools Strategies and Successes" is a complete and comprehensive reference that should not be ignored.

Weather Reporter
The College of William & Mary's Center for Gifted Education
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593633943, $39.95, www.prufrock.com

Weather is something we face every day, and its elements astound young learners. "Weather Reporter: Project Clarion Science Unit for Primary Grades" is a guide for science teachers who want to give their second graders to best weather unit they can. Focusing on how weather is reported and how the meteorologists on TV and other weather reporters present their results, there is no shortage of fun activities to encourage learning in those gifted second graders. "Weather Reporter" is a top pick for science and education collections focusing on gifted and talented students.

The Great American University
Jonathan R. Cole
Public Affairs
250 West 57th Street, #1321, New York, NY 10107
9781586484088 $35.00 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

Written by the former provost of Columbia University, The Great American University: Its Rise to Preeminence, Its Indispensable National Role, and Why It Must Be Protected is an exhaustive and compelling presentation focusing on the invaluable contributions that American Universities have made to scientific, technological, and societal knowledge - and therefore the wealth and standard of living of the nation. From genetic and medical research, to the convenience of bar codes, to potentially life-saving GPS technology, America's universities have helped to keep the nation on the cutting edge - but that could change (and perhaps already has). Restrictive post-9/11 policies have discouraged talented foreign graduate students from training in America; fallout from the international financial crisis threatens university endowments and state investments; and perhaps most insidious, governmental ideological constraints on freedom of inquiry (especially notable during the Bush administration) threaten to undermine the academic and scientific bedrock of the university system. Appendices listing top-ranked American Research Universities, and an online source of information about university discoveries, as well as exhaustive notes and an index round out this thorough, cautionary account of the benefits universities bring, and how they need to be protected.

Women in Academic Leadership
Diane R. Dean, Susan J. Bracken, & Jeanie K. Allen
Stylus
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2102
9781579221898, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

It's a recent thing for women to be anything more than primary school teachers. "Women in Academic Leadership: Professional Strategies, Personal Choices" discusses women in academic administration and the challenges and advances they have at these high level positions. Many women reflect on their own positions in academia, and how some gender barriers still remain, if being ever weakened by time and common sense. A sample of the thoughts of the thoughts of today's leadership in Academics, "Women in Academic Leadership" is a fine read for any educational or women's studies collection.

The New Teacher's Companion
Gini Cunningham
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416608820, $25.95, www.ascd.org

Being in charge of young minds can be an overwhelming thing. "The New Teacher's Companion: Practical Wisdom for Succeeding in the Classroom" is a guide for the rookie teacher who looks at the mountain of their career and doesn't know what to do. Procedures, planning one's time, curriculum, lesson plans, assessment, students, are all discussed and covered, giving new teachers the orientation they so often do not get. "The New Teacher's Companion" is a fine acquisition or gift for any new teacher who wants to start their career on the right foot.

College Without High School
Blake Boles
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716551, $16.95,www.newsociety.com

It's a big step to skip, but it's doable. "College Without High School: A Teenager's Guide to Skipping High School and Going to College" discusses how exceptional individuals and gifted and talented children can skip the drudgery of high school to leap to their future in college. These aspiring individuals tell their tale and give many high schoolers and middle schoolers with high aspirations for life the advice they need to start on that fast track now instead of later. "College Without High School" is a top pick for any collection focusing on gifted and talented education, and as a gift for these exceptional children.

Lives of Passion, School of Hope
Rick Posner
Sentient
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810841, $17.95, www.sentientpublications.com

When the kids run the school, unbelievable things can occur. "Lives of Passion, School of Hope: How One Public School Ignites a Life Long Love of Learning" tells the story of a truly unique school where the students run the show. In spite of all pessimistic outlooks, the school under this method has had untold success and Rick Posner does well in telling readers how this unique method works. "Lives of Passion, School of Hope" is a top pick for those considering alternative educational methods.

School Libraries Head for the Edge
Doug Johnson
Linworth
c/o ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781586833923, $35.00, www.abc-clio.com

If you don't change with the times, you will be left in the dust. "School Libraries Head for the Edge: Rants, Recommendations, and Reflections" is a guide for libraries that want to advance with technology and stay on the cutting edge. With some fresh and innovative ideas, Doug Johnson comes to readers with no shortage of creative advice for readers. "School Libraries Head for the Edge" is a must for any school library who wants to be the best resource for their students they can.

Whatever Happened to Language Arts?
David Booth
Pembroke Publishers
538 Hood Road, Markham, Ontario, Canada L3R 3K9
c/o Stenhouse Publishers (distribution)
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781551382456 $21.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812

David Booth (Professor Emeritus, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto) presents Whatever Happened to Language Arts?, a lifetime's worth of strategies for teaching literacy combined with practical ideas, tips, tricks, and techniques for grade-school teachers. True-life teaching vignettes pepper this compendium designed to prepare teachers not only to teach literary skills today, but also to prepare for changes in literacy education tomorrow. "Before the events of September 11, I had been planning to teach the novel 'The Breadwinner', but didn't proceed because of the book's mature content. A year later, a mentor (Larry Swartz) asked whether I had taught the book yet. When I mentioned that it might be too sensitive fro some of my students, Larry suggested that this is exactly why the class should read and discuss it. It proved to be so." Of special note is the author's recommendations to take advantage of technological opportunities to help children get involved in doing their best work, from showing them how to use features of MS Word to encouraging recalcitrant children to tell stories on video. Every writing and literature instructor (including home schoolers!) should read Whatever Happened to Language Arts? and keep it on their personal reference shelf.

Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism
Pat Crissey
Attainment Company
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
1578616913, $39.00, www.attainmentcompany.com

Communication skills are by far the most vital things one can have. "Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism" is a guide for educators who are in charge of teaching students with Autism and Aspergers syndrome. From Pat Crissey's decades worth of experience, she gives much vital educational advice that should not be ignored, as she discusses advising them though confrontations, everyday life, requests, explaining yourself, and the power of communication without ever opening one's mouth. "Teaching Communication Skills to Children with Autism" is a vitally and highly important read which is a core addition to any autism or education collection.

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

Carolyn Chapman and Rita King's DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR WRITING IN THE CONTENT AREAS (9781412972321, $31.95) is for teachers who want to know how to work with a classroom full of unique writing skills and needs. It updates a previous best-selling book and explains strategies for differentiating writing instruction, covering thinking skills, text writing, and working with ESL students. Evelyn S. Johnson, et.al.'s HOW RTI WORKS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (9781412971003, $31.95) provides a host of tested, practical solutions for implementing RTI in grades 6-12. Secondary school administrators will benefit from a host of ideas based on the latest research and current best practices, with case studies supplementing guidelines for building leadership to make RTI a success. A top pick for any educator's collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

A New Era for Wolves and People
Marco Musiani, Luigi Boitani, & Paul C. Paquet
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AL Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382707, $29.95, www.uofcpress.com

Wolves have been vilified and romanticized, but they are endangered in reality. "A New Era for Wolves and People: Wolf Recovery, Human Attitudes, and Policy" discusses wolves and their current status and relationship with humans in North America and Europe. With much in the way of science to discuss the current status of wolves, "A New Era for Wolves and People" is a worthwhile pick for anyone concerned about the status and future of these wild canines.

Dog Show Judging
Chris Walkowicz
Dogwise Publishing
405 S Mission St. Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781929242665, $12.95, www.dogwise.com

How does one call a show parading the best of the canine species? "Dog Show Judging: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" discusses dog show judging and how would be judges can do their best to be unbiased, clear calling judges, including how to break into the business. A career path for those who truly love dogs, Chris Walkowicz draws on his own experience to create a solid and very recommended read. "Dog Show Judging" is a top pick that is a must for anyone who wants to pursue this career.

Creatures of the Deep
John Woodward
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764162322, $18.99 www.barrons.com

This 'Discoverology' title is an appropriate pick for libraries but is enthusiastically recommended for any home user interested in pop-up science books. It packs in a 3-D journey into the ocean's life and depths, offering pop-ups of fish using digital artwork that brings them to life, pull-tabs, wheels, flaps and more. A 'must' for any family or home user interested in exceptional pop-up collections.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil
Ber Van Perlo
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780195301557, $39.95 www.oup/com/us

Any birdwatcher planning a trip to Brazil needs A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. It is the first modern, in-depth guide to Brazil's birds and offers information on size, call and identifying features for nearly 2,000 birds. Clear color drawings pack a portable dictionary including an English-Portuguese dictionary especially for birders and some 1,700 species-distribution maps. Simply invaluable.

Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Clinicians using MRI in the diagnosis and treatment of animals will find Patrick R. Gavin and Rodney S. Bagley's PRACTICAL SMALL ANIMAL MRI (9780813806075, $175.99) a key acquisition offering specialist references on applied MRI. From normal anatomy and specific clinical conditions to basic information on physics and equipment and over 1,000 image examples, Practical Small Animal MRI's chapters on diseases and diagnosis are key to any college-level or clinical vet's library. Also key are Lars Mecklenburg, Monika Linek and Desmond J. Tobin's HAIR LOSS DISORDERS IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS (9780813810829, $169.99), the first veterinary text devoted just to hair loss and written by an international team of expert editors. Hair follicle biology and clinical diagnosis are covered in an in-depth survey packing over 300 color images into a text key for any veterinary library. Such collections will also value the sixth updated edition of Donald C. Plumb's VETERINARY DRUG HANDBOOK (9780813810973, $79.99). It is packed with dosage, drug interactions laboratory considerations and monitoring advice for animals, provides sidebars of prescribed highlights and cautions, and is a 'must' for any serious vet's library.

Red Dog Rising
Jeff Schettler
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Rd., Crawford, CO 81415
9781577791041, $12.95 www.alpinepub.com

RED DOG RISING provides a fine memoir of a bloodhound and his owner who shared a passion for tracking down criminals. It follows the duo through their investigations of crime and the process of their search for justice and makes for riveting true crime reading for any general lending library.


The Art Shelf

New Deal Art in Arizona
Betsy Fahlman
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816522927 $49.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu 1-800-426-3797

One hundred black-and-white photographs illustrate New Deal Art in Arizona, an effectively researched historical chronicle of the photography, painting, and sculpture created under federal art patronage during the Great Depression era. From the photographic portraits of America's internment camps by Japanese-American photographer Toyo Miyatake, to the murals of Native American artist Gerald Nailor, to how mankind's encroachment on Arizona wilderness affected landscape artworks of the era, New Deal Art in Arizona is a choice pick for Arizona history shelves.

Malefic
Luis Royo
Nanthier Beall Minoustchine (NBM)
40 Exchange Pl., Ste. 1308, New York, NY 10005
9781561635726, $32.99, www.luisroyo.com

Some artists can portray words and charisma with simply a pencil and paint. "Malefic" is a remastered edition of Luis Royo's gothic and fantasy artwork. With two decades in print, this art work is presented his fantastic artwork in full color. With sketches, commentary, the best selling artists work will delight those who delight in gothic, fantasy, and science fiction artwork. Not recommended for young readers, "Malefic" is highly recommended for everyone else.

Marie Louise von Motesiczky
Ines Schlenker
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953225, $150.00, www.amazon.com

By the time of her death in 1996, European artist Marie Louise von Motesiczky had created more than 300 paintings and several hundred drawings in a career that stretched back some seventy years. Considered to be one of Austria's premier artists of the 20th Century, Marie Louise von Motesiczky's primary subjects for her paintings were portraits (including self-portraits and still-life images). "Marie Louise von Motesiczky" is a biography of this remarkable artists eventual life and career by Ines Schlenker who has the distinct advantage of being a researcher at the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout out from her first oil painting "Vase of Flowers" that she created in 1924 at the age of 17, to "Still-Life", a work of the same them that she was working on in 1996 shortly before she died, "Marie Louise von Motesiczky" is a 560-page, superbly composed compendium of information and example that is the definitive work on her life and work, making it a seminal and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Art Of The Shoemaker
M. de Garsault, author
D. A. Saguto, translator
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttup.ttu.edu
9780896726505, $65.00, www.amazon.com

In an era predating the industrial revolution and the mass production of footwear, shoes were hand crafted one at a time. in 18th century Paris and London there were thousands and thousands of shoemakers who labored at the craft with creating shoes by hand, sometimes transforming ordinary footwear into works of wearable art with their basic tools and materials. With the coming of mass production technologies, the personal art of shoemaking was in danger of being lost because the costs of handcrafted footwear was seriously disadvantaged with the far cheaper footwear mass produced in factory settings. That's why "M. de Garsault's 1767 Art of the Shoemaker: An Annotated Translation" (part of the Texas Tech University Press 'Costume Society of America Series' series is such an invaluable resource and reference. Ably translated and with informative annotations by D. A. Saguto (a master boot- and shoemaker for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation since 1990 and a leader authority on 18th century footware), "Art Of The Shoemaker" is a 304-page compendium of information on all the techniques and tools involved in hand-making shoes. Enhanced with a facsimile of the original French text, impressive illustrations, a glossary of 18th century terms, translations of other thematically relevant 18th-century commentaries on shoemaking, and an extensive bibliography for further studies, "Art Of The Shoemaker" is strongly recommended for both academic and community library Fashion History reference collections, and the supplemental reading lists for students of 18th century period costuming.

Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney Editions
114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011-5690
9781423117162, $50.00, www.amazon.com

The artists and 'imagineers' of the Walt Disney Studios have always been at the forefront of animation technology and set constantly rising standards of excellence for all other animation studios and artists to aspire to. Now in a illustrative 272-page compendium, that Disney flair for animation is documented with hundreds of working sketches from Disney artists ranging from Ub Iwerks, to Fred Moore, to Ward Kimball, to Tony Bancroft, and so many others. Drawn from the archives of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, "Animation" is an informative and profusely exampled sampling of the visual magic that is the enduring and justified Disney claim to fame for the last three generations and well into the foreseeable future! "Animation" is especially recommended for personal, professional, art school, and community library Art History reference collections.

Speed: Art 2003-2009
A. M. Homes & Julie Speed
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719941, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Julie Speed is a distinctively American artist whose approach to paintings, collages, and drawings is a kind of realism that is impacted with a unique blend of visual humor and foreboding. Her work embodies the detailed excellences of the Dutch Masters with an avant garde bohemian flair for incorporating ironic and iconoclastic elements of current events. Compiled with contributions by author A. M. Holmes, an informative essay by art curator Elizabeth Ferrer, and beautifully reproduced images of Julie Speed's work from the past six years, "Speed: Art, 2003-2009" is clearly a significant and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Contemporary American Art History reference collections and supplemental studies lists.

Gaston La Touche
Selina Baring Maclennan
Antique Collectors' Club
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011
www.antiquecc.com
9781851496020, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Working during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gaston La Touch was an impressionist painter that is just now emerging from decades of obscurity to be appreciated for his techniques and images that range through a wide diversity of subjects from genre paintings, to balls and fetes, to parks and fireworks, to landscapes, portraits, and mythology. This deftly written, superbly produced, and profusely illustrated compendium of the life and work of Gaston La Touch is the result of seventeen years of meticulous and original research. That's why "Gaston La Touche: A Painter Of Belle Epoque Dreams" by Selina Baring Maclennan is such a superbly informative and highly recommended addition for personal, academic, and community library European Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Glimmer
Warren Berger
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202339, $27.95 www.penguin.com

GLIMMER: HOW DESIGN CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE, AND MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD offers insights into how great modern designers design new product lines from iPhones to social network systems, considering how the art of professional design can teach everyone how to achieve a breakthrough just by learning how designers think. It focuses on insights of designer Bruce Mau, a powerful modern designers, and considers the works of ten top designers, interviewing over 200 leading design experts to provide an analysis and synthesis of 'glimmer' thinking. Arts and design collections need this.

Down by the Sea with Brush & Pen
Claudia Nice
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
160061163X, $26.99 www.artistsnetwork.com

Down by the Sea with Brush & Pen offers different chapters of basics for step-by-step artistic progression, using more than 60 step-by-step demonstrations from short min-demos to full paintings. Each chapter breaks down a different element of coastal scenery painting, offering complete directions for mixing colors of active and still water and dozens of tips to add details for drama and realism. Very highly recommended!

Imaginative Realism
James Gurney
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740785504, $24.99 www.amuniversal.com

IMAGINATIVE REALISM: HOW TO PAINT WHAT DOESN'T EXIST packs in an explanation of how to take fantasies and dreams and paint them as though they have substance and reality. Sculpting, modeling, sketching, and painting are all included in displays of imagined animals and worlds and information on equipment, step-by-step techniques, and lovely color displays of finished results perfect for any arts collection.

The Unguarded Moment
Steve McCurry
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780714846644, $59.95 www.phaidon.com

The Unguarded Moment offers college-level art libraries a powerful oversized presentation of Steve McCurry's portraits and scenes of peoples around the world. His lovely photos from the last thirty years are captured in full color and full splendor: facing pages are largely white with a small line to identify each photo, detracting not at all from the image's presentation. Highly recommended.

Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
www.hudsonhills.com

Mike Glier's ALONG A LONG LINE (9781555953195, $60.00) pairs lovely color images with text by Mike Glier, Lisa Corrin and Carol Diehl, displaying Glier's paintings of nature and the outdoors and accompanying his works with poetic descriptions from an internet blog kept by the artist. Pictures and photos here blend in a stunning presentation of his world travels and nature observations, perfect for any college-level art library strong in nature painting. AN AMERICAN ARTIST by Fletcher Benton (9781555952969, $75.00) profiles the works of a geometric sculptor whose painted steel works use grids, crystals and architecture for high impact. Here Benton's work is considered in three essays examining different periods of his career, packing in large-size color photos of his works, a timeline of 20th century artists, and a profile of some of his finest achievements. Very highly recommended for any serious arts collection; particularly those incorporating architectural achievement.

Wildlife in American Art
Adam Duncan Harris
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806140155, $35.00 www.oupress.com

Wildlife in American Art: Masterworks from the National Museum of Wildlife Art packs in a lovely series of sketches and paintings capturing the tradition of wildlife in American art. For over two decades the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Wyoming assembled these works: this volume captures the museum's holdings for the first time, providing a history of this theme in American art. College-level art libraries will welcome this.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Mack Sennett's Fun Factory
Brent E. Walker
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786436101, $125.00, www.amazon.com

In the 'Golden Age' of silent movies, Mack Sennett was famous for both the quality and the quantity of his physical comedy films. He co-founded Keystone Studios and his 'Keystone Cops' became an icon as he produced, directed, wrote, and/or was featured in more than a thousand movies beginning in 1908 and continuing to delight audiences as the 'talkies' took over the motion picture industry, and worked as a successful filmmaker with his final production taking place in 1955. In "Mack Sennett's Fun Factory", film historian Brent E. Walker has compiled and published an impressively detailed 671-page compendium comprising an exhaustive and chronologically presented filmography. Of special note is Walker's historical overview of Mack Sennett's enduring contributions to the film industry. Also included are biographies of Keystone and Mack Sennett Studio Personnel. Enhanced with numerous illustrations, a section of chapter notes, an extensive bibliography, and an index, "Mack Sennett's Fun Factory" is a welcome and seminal addition that should be a core part of personal, academic, and community library American Film History reference collections.

130 Projects to Get You Into Film Making
Elliot Grove
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764142963, $21.99 www.barronseduc.com

130 Projects to Get You Into Film Making provides a fine review of the basics of filmmaking and provides a complete introductory course under one cover. From using techniques based on low-budget equipment and software to movies that led to a better understanding of cinematography as a whole, this is a fine pick for any film library.

Inventory
A.V. Club
Scribner
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781416594734, $18.00 www.simonandschuster.com

INVENTORY: 16 FILMS FEATURING MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRLS, 10 GREAT SONGS NEARLY RUINED BY SAXOPHONE, AND 100 MORE OBSESSIVELY SPECIFIC POP-CULTURE LISTS offers an entertaining gathering of lists from film, music, TV and more and is based on THE A.V. CLUB's weekly inventory. A sampling of the most popular lists accompanies fun opinions, facts and details gained from the film and arts worlds and is a pick any general lending library will relish.


The Sports Shelf

More Than a Game
Jim Brown
Legacy Book Company
c/o Greenleaf Book Group
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9780984189205, $24.95, www.more-than-a-game.com

A good coach can make all the difference in the world. "More Than a Game: A Vehicle for Child Development" is a collection of tales and advice from Jim Brown, a successful coach for much of his year for juvenile football games. Using short tales of fiction, Brown creates examples of the impact a coach can have on people's lives as a child growing up into adults. Emphasizing the power of youth sports, "More Than a Game" is a worthwhile read to anyone who is about to delve into the world of youth coaching.

Performance-Enhancing Technologies in Sports
Thomas H. Murray, et.al., editors
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801893615, $50.00 www.press.jhu.edu

College-level sports collections serious bout ethical and scientific technologies in sports will welcome Performance-Enhancing Technologies in Sports. It brings together an interdisciplinary group of experts in bioethics, sports, law and philosophy who examine the need for regulating such athletic performance-enhancing technologies as steroids and gene doping. The policy and culture surrounding doping in competitive athletics provides both a history and analysis of past and present drug use in sports and is key to any serious sports collection.

Second Wind
Lee Bergquist
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736074910, $17.95 www.hkusa.com

SECOND WIND: THE RISE OF THE AGELESS ATHLETE offers 18 stories to inspire effort in older men and women who want to achieve better fitness. From an 80-year-old who has completed over 150 marathons to a 70-year-old with a polished physique, this packs in outstanding stories of athletes who are succeeding far past the perceived optimum age for fitness. Any general or sports collection will find this compelling.

The Stack and Tilt Swing
Michael Bennett, Andy Plummer, Peter Morrice
Gotham Books
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592404476, $30.00 www.penguin.com

THE STACK AND TILT SWING: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO THE SWING THAT IS REMAKING GOLF is a 'must' for any golfer, going beyond traditional moves to present two maverick golf instructors' unique method dubbed 'stack and tilt'. The move's being used on the PGA tour and this book shows how all levels of golfers can adapt their simple approach into a game. Over 200 color photos show how in a pick for any golfer's library.

Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.hkusa.com

Shannon Sovndal, MD's CYCLING ANATOMY: YOUR ILLUSTRATED GUIDE FOR CYCLING STRENGTH, SPEED, AND ENDURANCE (0736075879, $21.95) offers tips on how to improve performance by increasing muscular strength and movement. Some seventy of the most effective cycling exercises offer step-by-step directions and color anatomical illustrations showing the muscles in action in a guide recommended for any general or sports library strong in cycling handbooks. Ian McLeod's SWIMMING ANATOMY (0736075712, $21.95) packs in color exercises and drills perfect for swimmers seeking to strengthen their performance. Over seventy of the most effective swimming exercises are illustrated in color and offer insights into competition with illustrations of active muscles for starts, turns and the four competitive strokes.


The Gaming Shelf

Dark Places
Kevin Siembieda
Palladium
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185-7606
9781574571769, $12.95, www.palladiumbooks.com

There are few better ways to spend an evening than fighting off a zombie apocalypse. "Dark Places: Dead Reign Sourcebook Two" is a followup to Palladium's previous zombie-themed role playing game sourcebook. With new zombie types, new rules, diseases, and many more elements to make you and your party's war against the undead hordes ever more interesting, "Dark Places" is a choice addition to any pen and paper RPG collection.

It's Your Call
Marshall Miles
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, ON, M5M 1H2
9781897106570, $19.95, www.masterpointpress.com

There's the game of bridge, and then there is refining it down to a science. "It's Your Call" explores the world of bidding, and bridge theory. Marshall Miles and other minds that delve into the game of bridge and bidding, make a whole other game in itself. For those trying to crunch the numbers for another edge to their game, or are simply fascinated by so called games of 'chance', "It's Your Call" is a strong and very recommended read.

Halo Encyclopedia
Tobias Buckell, Editorial Consultant
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780756655495, $40.00 www.dk.com

Any Halo gamer more than casually involved in the program will find this an exhaustive, comprehensive companion to the characters, history and locations of Halo, Halo2 and 3, Halo Wars and ODST. It uses never-before-seen material from the Halo story and is more than just a listing of Halo specifics: it's a tour of Halo's entire structure and universe, and promises lasting and vivid reading packed with full color for any Halo player.


The Automotive Shelf

Legendary Race Cars
Basem Easef
Motorbooks
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 1st Avenue North #300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760335482, $35.00 www.motorbooks.com

Legendary Race Cars is a strong pick for any automotive history collection, offering a lovely illustrated examination of race cars from Mario Andretti's Lotus 79 to Jim Lark's Lotus 49. Ferraris, off-road racers, and more are profiled in an exploration of over twenty-five race cars and their stories.


The Music Shelf

Canyon Of Dreams
Harvey Kubernick
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781402765896, $29.95, www.amazon.com

A lavishly illustrated insider's look at 80 years of music and culture in Laurel Canyon (located in Southern California just outside of Los Angeles), the area was home to such music industry icons as Sonny & Cher, The Doors, The Turtles, Canned Heat, Monkees, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Eagles, and Carole King. Covering some 80 years of popular music associated with the composers and performers who resided and worked in Laurel Canyon, "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" is the collaborative effort of author Harvey Kubernik, editor Scott Calamar, and photographer Diltz Henry. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" provides a detailed history of this unique musical community. Of special note are the candidly informative interviews conducted with Laurel Canyon musicians. From the story about the Eagles first performance, to Graham Nash's comments on life with Joni Mitchell, to behind-the-scene insights into the formation of Guns N' Roses, "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended repository of stories that will fascinate and inform the reader, making this an outstanding addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century American Music History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Analyzing Jazz
Steve Larson
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576471869, $99.00, www.amazon.com

While jazz is an original American music, it has achieved and enduring world-wide popularity, with improvisational jazz being considered its purest form of expression. It is also the subject to theories originating with Heinrich Schenker with respect to such factors as melody, rhythm, and harmony. In "Analyzing Jazz: A Schenkerian Approach", the latest title in the outstanding Pendragon Press 'Harmononologia: Studies in Music Theory' series, musicologist Steve Larson provides analytical transcriptions into musical notation for five recorded performances of the classic jazz composition 'Round Midnight' by the legendary improvisational jazz musician Theolonious Monk. Of these five, two are by Monk, one by Oscar Peterson, and two by Bill Evans, allowing the jazz student to benefit from comparisons from three different musicians. "Analyzing Jazz" is a 204-page compendium that should be a part of every professional and academic 20th Century American Music History reference collection in general, and American Jazz Studies curriculum supplemental reading list in particular.

25 Razor-Sharp Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos
Larry McCabe
Red Dog Music Books
PO Box 1074, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
www.reddogmusicbooks.com
9781934777022, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Whether acoustic or electric, the guitar has been and continues to be intimately associated with blues, jazz, and country music. In whatever musical genre he plays in, Larry McCabe is a master guitarist and performance educator. He's also the author of thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manuals for aspiring guitarists seeking to improve and perfect their technique. "25 Razor-Sharp Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos" is McCabe's newest spiral bound book/CD combination with an especial focus on 'electric urban' Chicago style' blues showcasing twenty five guitar solos. With each individual solo fully transcribed in standard notation and tablature, the student guitarist operating at an early intermediate level can easily play along with the companion CD note-for-note. Of special value are the guitar phrases providing an informative introduction to new hand positions and fingerings, as well as chords and theoretical concepts which can be readily adapted into personally distinctive styles. Particularly noteworthy is the succinct advice on 'Writing Your Own Variations And Solos'. In summary, Larry McCabe's "25 Razor-Sharp Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos" is especially recommended for anyone seeking proficiency as a creative blues guitarist and is an excellent supplemental addition to music school curriculums for the guitar.

Let It Bleed
Ethan A. Russell
Grand Central Publishing
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446539043, $35.00 www.hachettebookgroup.com

LET IT BLEED: THE ROLLING STONES, ALTAMONT, AND THE END OF THE SIXTIES is a powerful pick for any library seeking personal stories from the Rolling Stone's 1969 Let It Bleed tour, a tour that ended in tragedy at Altamont. The author was one of only sixteen people who made up the tour, and its only photographer. He was with the Stones behind the scenes throughout the tour - and his photos blend with quotes from his interviews with the band and crew to pack in an outstanding memoir essential for any serious rock music library.

The Way I Am
Eminem
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780452296121, $25.00 www.penguin.com

Eminem's autobiography details the controversial rapper's life and art, offering views of family, friends, hip-hop and rap battles, and more. Over two hundred color and black and white photos include original family snapshots and personal Polaroids and pack in a lively visual survey of Eminem's life and influence. A 'must' for any library strong in hip-hop or rap music history and culture.

Led Zeppelin and Philosophy
Scott Calef, Editor
Open Court
70 East lake St. #300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696721, $19.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed is a recommendation for any music fan of the group Led Zeppelin. It covers their music, draws important links between song lyrics and philosophical reflection, and offers the insights of sixteen Zep fans who are also professional philosophers,

Trust: Photographs of Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corp
237 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10010
9781847721105, $34.95 www.musicsales.com

Trust: Photographs of Jim Marshall offers an oversized and exceptional collection of rock star photos from the 'rock and roll photographer' Jim Marshall. For the first time photos from his extensive color archive appear in book form and gather under one cover all the fine figures of music history, documenting great musicians since the late Fifties. Photography as well as music libraries will find this a compelling gathering.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Faith at the Edge
Robert N. Wennberg
Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802864734, $14.00, www.eerdmans.com

There are times in life where your faith will be in question. "Faith at the Edge: A Book for Doubters" is a Christian inspirational guide aimed at those who are having a crisis of faith. Drawing upon biblical and historical examples of people doubting their faith, the author gives readers much hope to help them find their love of God again by remembering that God will always be there, even when it seems as if he isn't. "Faith at the Edge" is a strong addition to any Christian book collection.

Subversive Sequels in the Bible
Judy Klitsner
The Jewish Publication Society Philadelphia
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
9780827608887, $35.00, www.jewishpub.org

An intriguing web of history and faith is the Bible. "Subversive Sequels in the Bible: How Biblical Stories Mine and Undermine Each Other" is an exploration of the Bible and the inter relationship the stories have along each other. An intriguing look into the Bible, judging the Bible's virtues and ideas through itself, Judy Klitsner provides quite the fine and recommended read. "Subversive Sequels in the Bible" is a fine addition to any biblical studies collection.

Breaking the Worry Habit... Forever
Elizabeth George
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736919272, $12.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Worrying has been proven to carry negative health issues. "Breaking the Worry Habit... Forever: God's Plan for Lasting Peace of Mind" is a Christian inspirational guide that encourages readers to stop worrying and lay their faith more with God. Encouraging people to focus on other things that are more prevalent and to always remember God is with you, Elizabeth George provides a very inspiring manual. "Breaking the Worry Habit..." is a worthy read for Christians weighed down with worry.

Now Go Forward
J. David Eshleman
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194456, $19.99

No one believes in a detached leader. "Now Go Forward: Reaching Out to Grow Your Congregation" is J. David Eshleman's discussion of how a pastor must form personal and strong relationships with members of their congregation in order to be the powerful spiritual leader in their life they look towards. A close bond is a tight bond, and Eshleman executes his advice and tips in "Now Go Forward" quite well.

The Long Yearning's End
Patrick Hannon
ACTA Publications
5559 W. Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879464035, $12.95, www.actapublications.com

God is not all of life, but he's a good companion. "The Long Yearning's End" is a spiritual memoir from Patrick Hannon, as he reflects upon his own journeys in life and how his bond as a Holy Cross priest helped him through his times as he traveled across the country serving as a minister. Inspirational and spiritual, "The Long Yearning's End" is a choice pick for those who want a divinely inspired memoir.

Trauma Recalled
Dirk G. Lange
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440
9780800664626, $20.00, www.fortresspress.com

Faith in Christ has more to it than the surface would have you believe. "Trauma Recalled: Liturgy, Disruption, and Theology" discusses Christian belief through the scholarly ideas and thoughts of Dirk G. Lange, as he muses on the belief in Christ and his story and how it plays into the modern spirituality. Offering a very comprehensive dissection of faith, the ideas of Dirk G. Lange in "Trauma Recalled" make for enlightening and intriguing reading, highly recommended.

Autism's Hidden Blessings
Kelly Langston
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825429774, $13.99

How do faith and autism meet? "Autism's Hidden Blessings: Discovering God's Promises for Autistic Children & Their Families" is a Christian mother's reflection on Autism when she considered God's hand in her life when it came to her autistic son, Alec. Stating that God truly does care about Autistic children and Autistic children will not be denied his grace, she encourages parents to show their love in spite of any doubts they may have had. "Autism's Hidden Blessings" is a treasure and a highly recommended read for parents of autistic children.

Reflections on St. Francis
John Michael Talbot
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814633021, $15.95, www.litpress.org

The work of St. Francis of Assisi is truly legendary. "Reflections on St. Francis" is a scholarly look at the work of the Saint through the eyes of religious and community leader John Michael Talbot, as he states how St. Francis of Assisi has changed his life for the better. Intriguing, introspective, and educational reading for religious readers, "Reflections on St. Francis" is an example of the greatness of one man inspiring others to the same.

Waking Up To This Day
Paula D'Arcy
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570758492, $17.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Waking Up To This Day offers inspirations and spiritual insights for daily living, from discussions of how to start each day anew and fresh based on 12-Step Program methods to how 'detours' in life have lasting impact and importance. A fine, simple addition to any spirituality shelf.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

You Don't Have to be Buddhist to Know Nothing
Joan Konner
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027577, $17.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Nothing is more than nothingness. "You Don't Have to be Buddhist to Know Nothing: An Illustrious Collection of Thoughts on Naught" is a discussion of the concept of nothing, tracing the history of nothing, as many minds come together and discuss nothing. As these assorted individuals come into a collection compiled by Joan Konner expertly, "You Don't Have to Buddhist to Know Nothing" is nothing more than utterly fascinating, and highly recommended.

Healing God
Marie Levit
Hampton Roads
1523 Montessori Terrace, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Red Wheel, Weiser, & Conari (distributor)
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746191, $16.95, www.hrpub.com

When you ignore Him your whole life, He just may show you the way still. "Healing God: Wake Up and Heal Yourself" is Marie Levit's recollection of her path to faith, as she migrates to America and finds God. Saying that God can heal your life if you just let Him in, she uses her life story as a manual bring greater faith into one's life and be happier. "Healing God: Wake Up and Heal Yourself" is a strong consideration for those who want to find their way back to faith.

Justice & Rights
Michael Ipgrave
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589014893, $24.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Understanding the other side is the first step in searching for peace. "Justice & Rights: Christian and Muslim Rights" is a series of essays from writers who have seen and know both sides of the coin. Through their writing, the reader will come to understand and learn many facts and views that are deep ingrained and history from both cultures. For anyone with hopes for a peaceful future, the wisdom and ideas within "Justice & Rights" are not to be missed.

Eyes Wide Open
Mariana Caplan
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781591797326, $18.95

Enlightenment is a vague term that many pursue but few truly understand. "Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path" is a spiritual guide that encourages people to seek enlightenment by asking themselves many, many questions in order to find out who they really are in life. Catering to readers of any faith or spiritual path, "Eyes Wide Open" is a worthwhile read with some solid advice.

Beauty Awakening Belief
Jon M. Sweeney
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
9780819223708, $20.00

Beautiful cathedrals, artistic masterpieces, and the foundation of classical music. "Beauty Awakening Belief" looks at medieval belief, the belief that fueled art and much of society and how it impacts the faith of the modern day. These works of art and architecture do much to help those retain their belief in God, and Jon M. Sweeney offers much spiritual insight to the why of this. Intriguing and fascinating reading, "Beauty Awakening Belief" is a very recommended read.

The Faith Instinct
Nicholas Wade
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202285, $25.95 www.penguin.com

THE FAITH INSTINCT: HOW RELIGION EVOLVED AND WHY IT ENDURES comes from a longtime reporter for the New York Time's Science section and presents new evidence that human beings are hard-wired to be religious, and that religious instincts evolved because it lent a survival advantage on groups united by religion. Both spirituality and general collections will find this an intriguing theory, worthy of consideration and library addition.

Patience With God
Frank Schaeffer
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306818547, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

PATIENCE WITH GOD: FAITH FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE RELIGION (OR ATHEISTS) provides a powerful survey of polarizing forces that exist in both politics and religion, and offers a survey for religious and secular people like who treasure both faith and their freedom to question beliefs. It's both a personal look at religion detailing the author's on/off relationship with God and a survey of changing spiritual perceptions, and makes for a powerful consideration for any religious collection.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

A Spacious Path to Freedom
Karma Chagme
Commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche
Translation by B. Alan Wallace
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393409 $18.95 www.SnowLionPub.com

Translated into English by B. Alan Wallace, a Buddhist monk for fourteen years, A Spacious Path to Freedom is a classic manual of Tibetan meditation, offering the Dzogchen and the Mahamudra systems of practice. Chapters explain the stages of meditation, and author Karma Chagma applies his extensive experience and familiarity with Tibetan oral traditions to reveal how these two meditative systems can be integrated into a single approach. Commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche enhances this core addition to advanced Buddhist Studies shelves.

Momentary Buddhahood
Anyen Rinpoche
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9780861715985, $15.95, www.wisdompubs.org

Enlightenment is not a sudden thing. "Momentary Buddhahood: Mindfulness and the Vajrayana Path" discusses momentary Buddhahood, those moments that come when people realize a universal truth, one bit of the giant puzzle they are trying to assemble. Author Anyen Rinpoche uses his spiritual studies to help readers along their path and to find their own wisdom. "Momentary Buddhahood" is a choice pick for any spirituality reader or for Buddhist studies collections.

The Art of Happiness, 10th Anniversary Edition
The Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, MAD
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594488894, $25.95 www.penguin.com

The 10th anniversary edition of The Art of Happiness is a winner, updated with new material by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler and offering a message that happiness is attainable. Chapters tell how to get it and are based on a series of conversations held over many years on the purpose of life and the way to find happiness in it. General collections and spirituality libraries will find this a 'must'.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

After the Prophet
Lesley Hazleton
Doubleday
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780385523936, $26.95 www.doubleday.com

AFTER THE PROPHET: THE EPIC STORY OF THE SHIA-SUNNI SPLIT IN ISLAM tells the story behind the divide in Islam that begins with the death of Muhammad and fifty years later is still being reenacted in the hills of Iran and across the Middle East. Understanding the origins of the Shia-Sunnit split is key to understanding affairs in the region, making this a 'must' for any serious Middle East collection.


The Parenting Shelf

Whale Done Parenting
Ken Blanchard & collaborators
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Franscisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605093482, $14.95, www.bk-life.com

Whales are mammals. Your children are mammals. The techniques to teach the former can be applied to the later. "Whale Done Parenting: How to Make Parenting a Positive Experience for You and Your Kids" is a different, yet effective approach to parenting. whale trainers take their lessons from their careers and grant it to parents who want to make their children behave and be better parents. A unique set of analogies, "Whale Done Parenting" a fine collection of parenting material that is worthy of any community library parenting collection.

While We Wait
Heide Schlumpf
ACTA Publishing
5559 W. Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077-2621
9780979464066, $12.95, www.actapublications.com

Adoption is a long process, and rightfully so. "While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt" is a guide to the process of adoption to would be adoptive parents who want to best understand the process and prepare to raise a child who is not biologically their own. With advice on dealing with the bureaucracy, facing your own family, and why to adopt, "While We Wait" is a fine and very recommended read for those who have the hearts to take care of the child of another.

How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You
Alan Thicke
Sterling & Ross Publishers
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9780981453538, $14.95, www.sterlingandross.com

Starting around age thirteen, any resentment one's child has suddenly comes out in spades. "How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You: Bringing Up Rockstars and Other Forms of Children" is a parenting guide from celebrity and father Alan Thicke, as he delves into the realm of parenting and how to parent without the result of your child groaning at talking to you later in life. Light hearted and plainly spoken, Thicke dives into the many problems that parents face and has sage advice, making "How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You" a fine and highly recommended read.

My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus
Nancy Tringali Piho
Bull Publishing
Box 1377, Boulder, CO 80306
9781933503172, $ 16.95 www.bullpub.com

Why are so many kids picky eaters, and how can a parent raise a kid to 'eat anything'? My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus is a fine survey that asks everyone from chefs to medical researchers to food enthusiast parents how to best teach kids to appreciate a range of foods and flavors. From parental attitude towards trying new things to changing the paradigm on 'children's meals', this is an outstanding recommendation for any parents' library.

Raise Winning Kids Without a Fight
William H. Hughes, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801893402, $15.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Raise Winning Kids Without a Fight: The Power of Personal Choice is a key to understanding the idea of personal choice in all aspects of life, offering parents different perspectives and skills to encourage good behavior in kids. A tested step-by-step approach goes beyond most theoretical child-rearing surveys to teach parents how to allow kids to decide cooperation on their own - and how to clarify expected behavior patterns.


The Economics Shelf

The World Bank Unveiled
David Ian Shaman
Parkhurst Brothers
415 North McKinley Street, Suite 510, Little Rock, AR 72205
1935166034, $38.95, www.pbros.net

If no one knows what you're doing, what's to stop you from being selfish? "The World Bank Unveiled: Inside the Revolutionary Struggle for Transparency" is David Ian Shaman's call for more transparent management in the affairs of the world. One of the most influential and powerful organizations in the world, Shaman states that transparency will fight corruption, and encourage the bank to act more as it should, stating that many of the world's current problems lie within its poor management. "The World Bank Unveiled" is a very recommended pick for economics studies collections.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Economic Indicators
R. Mark Rogers
Alpha Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
9781592579228, $18.95 www.diotsguides.com

Learn how the business cycle works and how to apply business data to personal ventures with The Complete Idiot's Guide to Economic Indicators. This discusses common economic indicators and how to read and understand them, from real estate trends and early inflation warnings to how to read manufacturing reports. A 'must' for any who would understand investments and business trends.

Shoptimism
Lee Eisenberg
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9780743296250, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

SHOPTIMISM: WHY THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WILL KEEP ON BUYING NO MATTER WHAT offers a fine survey of American consumption patterns and shopping, surveying the world of buying and selling alike and discussing pricing tricks retailers play, consumer savvy, differences between impulsive shopping and compulsive buying patterns, gift-giving and differences between how men and women shop. Both business and general collections will find this a fine survey.

The Dollar Meltdown
Charles Goyette
Portfolio
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781591842842, $27.95 www.penguin.com

The Dollar Meltdown: Surviving the Impending Currency Crisis with Gold, Oil and Other Unconventional Investments discusses how gold is continuing to rise as the value of the dollar declines. It tells readers the period of financial transition is only beginning - and the dollar's role as the world reserve currency is unstable. THE DOLLAR MELTDOWN surveys the history, present and possible futures of the crisis and tells how readers can prepare for economic disaster. Financial collections will find this engrossing.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Your Next Move
Michael D. Watkins
Harvard Business Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422147634, $26.95 www.harvardbusiness.org/press

YOUR NEXT MOVE: THE LEADER'S GUIDE TO NAVIGATING MAJOR CAREER TRANSITIONS tells how to survive and thrive in all major transitions leaders can expect to face during their career, from promotions to leading former peers. Modern business leaders face new roles and responsibilities: YOUR NEXT MOVE provides the strategies and tools needed to identify and navigate major turning points.

Girl on Top
Nicole Williams
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781599951928, $19.99 www.centerstreet.com

GIRL ON TOP: YOUR GUIDE TO TURNING DATING RULES INTO CAREER SUCCESS tells how to take tactics used to land a man and apply them to a career to handle virtually any work situation. From learning how to get others to praise your work to keeping interest alive, playing hard to get, and networking as though on a date, this packs in easy links between a woman's relationship tactics and business.

101 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable At Work
Carol A. Silvis, M.Ed.
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
1435454324, $12.99 www.courseptr.com

101 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable At Work provides a guide to making the most of your job and appearing valuable to upper management. It teaches how to build positive work habits, foster people skills, expand leadership abilities, and more through a series of tips for workers at all skill levels. Any library catering to the general public needs this.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Fire Your Stock Analyst!, second edition
Harry Domash
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137010233, $19.99, www.ftpress.com

How can one be completely confident in stock analysts who didn't see the current crisis coming? Now in an expanded and fully updated second edition, "Fire Your Stock Analyst! Analyzing Stocks On Your Own" is a guide for those who want to save money and have faith in themselves to make wise economic decisions. Harry Domash, a MSN Money investing columnist, comes to readers with wise advice on stock trading, stating that with a little research, anyone can play the stock market on their own, without an analyst leeching their dollars. "Fire Your Stock Analyst!" is a choice and very recommended pick for those who look for financial success in stocks.

Conquer the Crash, second edition
Robert R. Prechter Jr.
John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470567975, $29.95 www.wiley.com

CONQUER THE CRASH: YOU CAN SURVIVE AND PROSPER IN A DEFLATIONARY DEPRESSION provides a newly updated, second edition. Readers of the first edition who followed its ideas found their money safe as many stocks, real estate and commodities plunged. This book continues advice - and the author maintains here that the most intense portion of the financial crisis is yet to come - with those properly positioned prospering from this book's strategy. A 'must' for any who would do more than survive hard economic times.

The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning
Taylor Larimore, et.al.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470455579, $24.95 www.wiley.com

Any who want to form a viable retirement plan in the face of the current economic crisis will find The Bogleheads' Guide to Retirement Planning inspiring reading. It comes from a group of investors, the Bogleheads, who follow the general business beliefs of Vanguard Group former CEO John C. Bogle, offering explanations of savings, annuities, risks, managing and funding retirement accounts, and more. Libraries strong in retirement guides will find this a fine pick.


The Business Shelf

Think Big!
Les Pardew & Brant Slade
Course Technology Cengage Learning
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
9781435454750, $19.99, www.cengage.com

To beat them, you have to join them first. "Think Big! An Entrepreneur's Guide to Partnering with Large Companies" is a business guide that encourages aspiring businessmen to not overlook the power of partnering with existing big corporations in order to gain power and grow one's own business. Even for a small company, the boon of partnership can have untold benefits to both sides of these relationships, and authors Pardew and Slade give readers what they need to know to strike these deals. "Think Big!" is something not to be missed by small business owners.

The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook
Richard Wiswall
Chelsea Green Publishing
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603581424, $34.95, www.chelseagreen.com

You can still be good to the earth and do good business. "The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Managing Finances, Crops, and Staff -- and Making a Profit" is a guide for aspiring organic business people who want to attain that business like efficiency while staying true to their values. With advice for many levels of the business, there is no shortage of organic advice. "The Organic Farmer's Business Handbook" is an ideal addition to any organic farmer's business shelves.

Creativity in Public Relations, fourth edition
Andy Green
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749456504, $37.50, www.koganpage.com

Innovation sells. "Creativity in Public Relations" is a guide to bringing new ideas to the world of public relations. Emphasizing the creative process, the value of developing new methods over letting old ones stagnating, and using methods to create new opportunities for one's business. A fully updated fourth edition uses recent developments to provide many new ideas, making "Creativity in Public Relations" a must for any business' PR department.

The Art Of Mastering Sales Management
Thomas A. Cook
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781420090758, $59.95, www.amazon.com

The commercial world, once the province of locally owned family enterprises, is now dominated by the corporation. This is partly due to the evolving nature of commerce which is now global in orientation, partly from technological advancements in production, distribution, and communication, partly from increasingly sophisticated developments in management skills. That's why "The Art of Mastering Sales Management" by Thomas A. Cook (Adjunct Professor, World Trade Institute of Pace University, New York) is such a timely and appreciated instruction manual in which 'real-world' principles and practices of exemplary and practical salesmanship are laid out. But more than just a 'how to' guide for increasing salesmen effectiveness, "The Art Of Mastering Sales" identifies and analyzes world trends influencing what Cook so accurately describes as the 'art of selling'. Of special note is a proposed daily routine for developing and practicing effective selling habits. Articulate, insightful, practical, and offering a wealth of tips and techniques, "The Art Of Mastering Sales Management" is especially recommended reading for anyone engaged in a commercial enterprise of any kind or category.

Crisis-Proof Your Practice
Lynn Grodzki
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393706116, $21.95 www.wwnorton.com

Crisis-Proof Your Practice: How to Survive and Thrive in an Uncertain Economy offers psychotherapists solid business advice on how to build and preserve a private practice during uncertain economic times. From a 4-step process for crisis-proofing a practice to what to charge and how to save, Crisis-Proof Your Practice's therapist-specific guidelines are key to success and recommended for business and health libraries alike.

Adland
James P. Othmer
Doubleday
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780385524964, $26.95 www.doubleday.com

ADLAND: SEARCHING FOR THE MEANING OF LIFE ON A BRANDED PLANET comes from an author with over two decades in the business as a former Executive Creative Director at an advertising firm. His insights on the advertising industry and its demands offers an insider's survey of how ads are created and brought to life in a lively, outstanding analysis recommended for both business and general libraries.

Creating Demand
Gerardo V. Tabio & Sally Beamer
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027553, $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

CREATING DEMAND: GENERATE COOL, CUSTOM MARKETING IDEAS is based on over forty years of combined market experience of two consultants who teach a marketing strategy to develop innovative ideas targeted to customer interests. From creating a positive marketing program with measurable results to a formula for synthesizing ideas while holding to high standards of success, CREATING DEMAND is a pick any business library will want.


The Travel Shelf

1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die
Michael Bright, General Editor
Barrons
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764162330, $35.00 www.barronseduc.com

1001 Natural Wonders You Must See Before You Die covers some of the most beautiful sites on Earth and comes from the world's best traveled writers, ecologists, photographers and conservationists. From the Arizona desert to the Scandinavian archipelagos, this packs in details on natural wonders and compelling 'must see' destinations. Highly recommended for any general lending library.


The American History Shelf

Big Steel
Kenneth Warren
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, 5th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
9780822960027 $27.95 www.upress.pitt.edu/upressIndex.aspx

Big Steel: The First Century of the United States Steel Corporation 1901-2001 is an exhaustively researched history of an American industry juggernaut. United States Steel Corporation was the largest industrial corporation in the world when it was formed; a behemoth controlling the best of the best directors, managers, engineers, and technical innovators. Yet in practice, many of the presumed advantages of its size did not prove to be as overwhelming or effective as might seem. Chapters follow the story of Big Steel through the Great Depression, its expansion after World War II, and its subsequent decline and reconstruction, and projections for the near future. An excellent and worthy addition to American history shelves, Big Steel gives the inside story of a quintessentially American industry with a scholar's precision and attention to detail.

The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers
Thomas Fleming
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
9780061139123, $27.95, www.harpercollins.com

They were important, groundbreaking men, but they were still men. "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers" analyzes the women behind the men. And not just wives, but mothers, lovers, and other women. These men were just men, and men can be heavily influenced by women in their lives. From Franklin's love of women, the plight of Abigail Washington, to Sally Hemings, "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers" is a unique look by proxy at these men who shaped our country and the sources that shaped them.

Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century
Joann Faung Jean Lee
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, NY, NY 10013
9781595584786 $16.95 www.thenewpress.com

Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century is a compilation of oral histories of first-generation to fourth-generation Asian-Americans with roots in China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, or Laos. The first-person testimonies are grouped by general topic - from a passion for music that transcends cultures, to education and work, to the difficulties involved in carrying on after the 9/11 attacks. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this compelling anthology of riveting testimonies. Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century is both a worthy contribution to multicultural studies shelves and an extraordinarily fascinating experience that readers of all backgrounds can enjoy. "More than ten years ago the conditions in China weren't that good; it was hard to make a living, so everyone wanted to come to the united States... Today, not everyone wants to come to the United States. It is sort of half and half. There are jobs now in China, people have money, and life is even better than in the United States - there is a chance to live in a nice place, earn money, and have a good job, so coming to America isn't what it used to be in terms of demand."

Put To Work, second edition
Nancy E. Rose
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672068 $14.95 www.monthlyreview.org 1-800-670-9499

Now in an updated and expanded second edition featuring a new introduction and afterword, Put To Work: The WPA and Public Employment in the Great Depression chronicles the history of the juggernaut job-creation programs of the 1930's, including the Works Progress Administration, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and the Civil Works Administration. Author Nancy E. Rose (Professor of Economics, California State University) explores the contributions each program made during the dire years of the Great Depression, and where each program failed to live up to its potential, particularly with regard to how women and African-Americans were treated. The new introduction offers a historical perspective of the Obama administration's economic stimulus package, and the new conclusion offers lessons learned from FDR's New Deal work programs that can be applied to modern day quandaries. An excellent examination of history with solid insights for the present and future, highly recommended especially for American history and economic studies shelves.

"Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart..."
John H. Tidyman
Gray & Company, Publishers
1588 E.40th St., Cleveland, OH 44103
9781598510164 $24.95 www.grayco.com

"Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart...": Tales From the Last Glory Days of Cleveland Newspapers Told by the Men and Women Who Reported the News collects true-life testimonies from people who worked on Cleveland's newspapers during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s - an era when severe competition between the "Cleveland Press" and the "Plain Dealer" brought the best (or the worst?) in professional competitive spirit. The tales range from humorous to exciting to tragic, following individuals who worked on all aspects of the papers - the police beat, the rewrite desk, sportswriters, critics, photographers, and more. Other chapters deal with intriguing topics such as the life and times of women reporters, hazardous assignments on the job, and instances of political wrangling. Most of the individual anecdotes are 1-2 pages or less, many only a paragraph or two - a glimpse of some particularly memorable moment. "Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart..." is not only a welcome primary source of American History, but also utterly fascinating to read for pleasure, and highly recommended anyone curious about heyday of newspapers as well as for college and public library collections. "...they sent me to the Washington bureau for two years and I covered the White House for one of those years. It was a good experience but it was a shitty job. I don't know why anybody wants to spend their lives covering the place. You're a captive. You're totally captive. If you're with the 'New York Times', maybe you had some clout. The 'Plain Dealer' had no clout in Washington. One White House secretary thought it was the 'Plane Dealer' and that I worked for an airline."

The Fourth Part of the World
Toby Lester
Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10020
9781416535317, $30.00 www.simonandschuster.com

The Fourth Part of the World: The Race to the Ends of the Earth, and the Epic Story of the Map That Gave America Its Name tells of a great map drawn in 1507 that was bought in 2003 by the Library of Congress for, $10 million - the highest price ever paid for a historical document. The map named America and was the first to show the New World as surrounded by water, separate from Asia - but its value lies in more than its depictions. Its history covers world events and crosses continents in an epic survey key for both history and general-interest collections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Apex Book of World SF
S.P. Somtow & Zoran Zivkovic
Apex Publications
PO Box 24323, Lexington, KY 40524
9780982159637, $18.95, www.apexbookcompany.com

Science fiction is about infinite possibilities. "The Apex of World SF" is a collection of stories from Apex Publications featuring some of the best new Science fiction writers to appear on the scene in recent years. Authors from around the world present very different pictures for a wide ranging picture of what has been called "The Apex of World SF" is a fine collection for short fiction fans who need a science fiction fix.

Hunting Memories
Barb Hendee
ROC Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10010
9780451462916, $15.00 www.penguin.com

HUNTING MEMORIES by Barb Hendee tells of Eleisha, who knows she has to connect with another vampire. She's learned how to draw blood from her victims without killing them - and wants to share her knowledge with like-minded vampires and create a haven where they can live together. But first she must face a dangerous vampire who's been killing his own kind in this fast-paced blend of fantasy and intrigue.

Time Travelers Never Die
Jack McDevitt
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson, New York NY 10010
9780441017638, $24.95 www.penguin.com

TIME TRAVELERS NEVER DIE tells of a physicist who mysteriously vanishes and whose sun discovers his time-travel device. When son Shel and linguist Dave embark on a rescue mission through time, their journey through history lends a wild ride to a story of a searcher who violates an agreement, views the future, and finds his life and world forever changed as a result. It's a powerful pick, not to be missed!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II
Larry Gonick
HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
9780060760083, $18.99 www.harpercollins.com

The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II provides a lively survey from Bastille days to modern times and offers a hilarious graphic take on modern history's personalities and events. This concludes Gonick's award-winning series and examines world events, ideologies, and more, using funny cartoons to show how world events are linked. An easy way of refreshing one's world history knowledge, The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II will appeal to students and adults alike.

Book of Genesis Illustrated
R. Crumb
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393061024, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE BOOK OF GENESIS ILLUSTRATED concludes nearly five years of work and comes from one of the biggest names in underground comics. This black and white collection is faithful to the actual Bible (King James Version and Robert Alter's new translation) and includes a map from Crumb that depicts the world of Abraham and eight pages of Crumb's own commentary on his intentions. The result is a 'must' for both cartoon and spiritual libraries.

The Squirrel Machine
Gary Groth, Editor
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
9781606993019, $18.99 www.fantagraphics.com

Set in a fictional 19th century New England town, THE SQUIRREL MACHINE details the relationship of Edmund and William Torpor, two brothers whose musical creations are built from strange science and scavenged animal bodies. Their discoveries will change the world in this fine graphic novel packed with black and white images and thought-provoking fantasy.


The Nautical Shelf

The Perfect First Mate, second edition
Joy Smith
Sheridan House
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092820, $19.95 www.sheridanhouse.com

The second updated edition of the classic THE PERFECT FIRST MATE helps boaters streamline tasks and offers tips on everything from storage challenges to moving below decks, sleeping well, and keeping the cabin warm or cool. Tips are intended both for day travel or extended cruising and provide an updated set of secrets for boaters. Any nautical library needs this.

Mudlark's Ghosts
Ian Scott
Sheridan House
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
0955024315, $19.95 www.sheridanhouse.com

MUDLARK'S GHOSTS AND THE RESTORATION OF A HERRESHOFF MEADOW LARK is an outstanding story deserving ongoing recommendation for any interested in ketch designs and boat overhauls. Mudlark, built in 1953, is about to sink - and author Ian Scott decides to save her and spend years restoring the wooden boat. His insights on wooden boat work are invaluable for any wooden boat owner and libraries catering to them.


The Library DVD Shelf

A Sea Change
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Winner of the Grand Prize of the FICA International Environmental Film Festival, A Sea Change is a harrowing documentary on DVD that reveals just how drastically human impact has changed the world's oceans. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a 30% increase in oceanic acidification; scientists nearly unanimously believe that burning fossil fuels is transforming the chemistry of the world's waters. If carbon dioxide emissions steadily increase and oceanic acidity continues to rise, most of the world's fisheries could collapse completely, and be unrecoverable for millions of years. Framed by the protagonist Sven Huseby seeking to explain the changes in the ocean's ecosystem to his oldest grandchild Elias, A Sea Change is both emotionally powerful and scientifically supported in its dire warnings. Highly recommended. 85 minutes, SDH Captions.

Ride Around the World
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
www.image-entertainment.com www.ridearoundtheworld.com
$19.98 DVD $24.98 Blu-ray

Originally produced for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Ride Around the World is an award-winning DVD documentary about the 1,200-year history of the cowboy. From the cowboy's origins in Spanish and Moroccan history, to their transition to the New World, and the rodeos and shows that help preserve and celebrate their cowboy way of life today, Ride Around the World is a breathtaking appreciation of the people and their partner horses who have labored throughout history to look after cattle. Bonus features include a trivia quiz and a making-of featurette. Also available in a Blu-ray version, Ride Around the World is the perfect gift for cowboy fans everywhere and an excellent addition to public library DVD collections. 40 min. plus 23 min. featurette.

Step-by-Step BellyDance with Leilainia
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$16.99 acacialifestyle.com

Expert bellydancer Leilainia walks the viewer through the graceful, sexy, and fat-burning moves of bellydance in Step-by-Step BellyDance with Leilainia, an introductory DVD to this sensual and adventurous dance style. A tutorial guides one to the basics of bellydance; then the viewer is free to try one, two, or all three of the 15-minute dance combinations. Bellydance moves work the quads, glutes, arms, and back muscles in this enjoyable addition to dance instruction or fitness DVD libraries. 57 minutes, widescreen. Also highly recommended for fitness DVD libraries is "Fit in 5: Ultimate Body Blitz" ($16.99).

Give Me 10!
Amy Dixon
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.amydixonfitness.com

Celebrity fitness trainer Amy Dixon presents Give Me 10!, a DVD packed with five, efficient 10-minute workouts that can be taken as a whole or individually squeezed into slices of one's busy day. The workouts are Fat Blasting Cardio, Upper Body Sculpt, Lower Body Firmer, Core Makeover, Yoga Stretch & Flex, and a bonus segment, KettleBell ToneUp. Though 3-5 pound dumbbells (for beginners) or 5-8 pound dumbbells (for those with a little more experience) are recommended, no other equipment is required, for these energetic and lively exercise sessions. Give Me 10! is an excellent choice and a great way to work fitness into one's busy routine. 61 minutes, stereo.

Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up!
Bethany Lyons
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up! is an invigorating exercise DVD featuring a dance workout by expert fitness instructor Bethany Lyons. Featuring three twelve-minute, fat-blasting dances (two promote a cardio workout, the third includes toning work), Dance Off the Inches is a user-friendly workout program intended for use by fitness enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels - even those who are just starting to get into shape. A great addition to high-energy workout collections. 44 minutes plus 13-minute step guide.

Michael Jackson
Rock City
c/o MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

Michael Jackson: The Life and Times of the King of Pop 1958-2009 is a DVD documentary of the last days and memorial service of famous singer, performer, and entertainer Michael Jackson. Born to a working-class family in the Midwest, Jackson earned legendary fame at his peak; he leaved behind a widely beloved musical legacy. Appearances at his memorial service included Usher, Janet Jackson, the Jacksons, Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and more. A fitting tribute to the so-called "King of Pop", and a must-have for Michael Jackson fans.

Prima Ballerina
Featuring Ulyana Lopatkina & Svetlana Zakharova
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Prima Ballerina is a documentary portrait of two modern-day icons of Russian ballet: Svetlana Zakharova of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, and Ulyana Lopatkina of the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg. Each has her own distinctive style; both are possessed of stellar grace and beauty. Prima Ballerina includes interviews with Zakharova and Lopatkina, interviews with their fellow dancers, coaches, and dance critics, as well as unforgettable sequences from classics such as Swan Lake, Scheherazade, Sleeping Beauty, The Legend of Love, and more. Prima Ballerina a beautiful and inspirational portrait of the best of the best of a high art form, and an absolute "must-have" for anyone who loves ballet. 52 minutes, color, Russian with English subtitles.

Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
0793695015 $29.98 www.shopPBS.org

Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu is the true-life documentary of the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic that ripped through the world's population, claiming an estimated 40 million victims - roughly four times the number of fatalities from the First World War. This pandemic was unusual in that it primarily killed young people with healthy immune systems, rather than the very young, very old, and those with compromised immune systems. Where did this strain of the flu come from, and why was it so lethal? Modern scientific researchers strive to answer these questions, not only for posterity, but also to better prepare against the threat of modern-day flu pandemics. An absorbing and educational documentary, highly recommended especially for public library collections. 60 minutes, widescreen.

Herbs & Spices
Paulette Mitchell, host
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571758364 $49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

Cookbook author Paulette Mitchell hosts Herbs & Spices, an educational DVD for grade 6 to adult viewers about how to use various herbs and spices to add flavor and zest to one's cooking. From the difference between robust and tender herbs, to creating dishes such as Herb-Roasted Vegetables, Caprese Salad, Basil Pesto and Pesto Butter, Herbs & Spices is an excellent introduction to refining basic cooking skills. Highly recommended especially for viewing in Home Economics classrooms and during study halls. 18 minutes, closed-captioned.

A Sense of Wonder
Directed by Christopher Monger
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Shot in HD by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, A Sense of Wonder is a documentary about the trailblazing environmentalist Rachel Carson (publisher of Silent Spring in 1962), who called to task the chemical industry, the government, and the press as she strived to bring her message to Congress and the American people. Even in her final years as she fought a personal battle with cancer, she never gave up the struggle to protect the natural world. Special features include comments from contemporary environmental leaders about the challenges to come, a visit with former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, a visit with Carson's adopted son Roger, and much more. A Sense of Wonder is more than an environmental documentary; it is the portrait of a strong and successful woman who made it her life's work to be an advocate for the natural world. Highly recommended. 55 minutes, SDH captions.

Homo Toxicus
Written and Directed by Carole Poliquin
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

An educational film ideal for viewers in grades 10 and up (including college students and adults), Homo Toxicus is a thought-provoking documentary about the side effects upon humankind of daily exposure to industrial compounds. Consistent, low-level exposure to chemicals through the food we eat, the air we breathe, or contact with our skin has the potential to cause health problems ranging from cancer to allergies, hyperactivity, and infertility. Homo Toxicus is ultimately a wake-up call about the immediate need for more stringent regulations to protect humankind as well as the environment from the deleterious effects of man-made chemical pollutants. Highly recommended. 88 and 52 minute versions, plus eight interviews, SDH captioned.

All In This Tea
Directed by Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$275.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Co-directors Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht present All In This Tea, the true-life documentary of one man's struggle to make the increasingly modernized nation of China aware of the value of its ancient tea-making crafts. American tea importer David Lee Hoffman has traveled to meet Tibetan monks in Nepal (and befriended the Dalai Lama), and coped with complicated Chinese business codes as well as language barriers in his efforts. His mission to convince the Chinese themselves that their traditional tea making crafts produce better tea than any factory, and that the ways of ancient tea makers should be remembered and preserved, makes for a fascinating saga of the importance of remembering one's roots no matter how drastically the world changes. Highly recommended. 70 minutes, closed captioned.

Jake's Corner
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943496 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Inspired by a true story, Jake's Corner is a movie set in a small rest stop for travelers crossing the harsh Arizona desert. Ex-football star Johnny Dunn left the game early in his career to live a quiet life, but his world is turned upside down when he is suddenly responsible for his young nephew Spence. The boy's innocence transforms this small town of adults, who get to teach him more about the world even as they learn from him. A heartwarming narrative, enhanced with a "behind the scenes" bonus feature, Jake's Corner is highly recommended for personal movie collections and as an enjoyable gift. 97 min., rated PG.

Infinity: The Ultimate Trip
A film by Jay Weidner
Sacred Mysteries Distribution
PO Box 1146, Ashland, OR 97520
sales@sacredmysteries.com
$24.95 www.sacredmysteries.com

Infinity: The Ultimate Trip is a DVD exploring the question: what happens to us after we die? Does oblivion await, or is there something else beyond? Testimony fromexperts such as Gregg Braden, Dannion Brinkley, Dzogchen Ponlop and many more for the core of this intriguing presentation, which offers surprising hope and insight into what mysteries might lie beyond the veil. Gorgeous imagery, personal accounts of near-death experiences and reincarnation, and more round out this incredible presentation that offers a remarkable level of optimism and hope to viewers of all backgrounds. 90 min. Also highly recommended for metaphysical studies shelves is "Sophia Returning: The Path to Planetary Tantra" (60 min.), a study of the wisdom nestled within the ancient Gnostic sects of Europe.

Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.TheNoOMZone.com

Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts is a fitness DVD designed to make yoga workouts accessible to all viewers - neither superhuman flexibility nor endless chanting are required! The No OM Zone consists of three fifteen-minute workouts, each focusing on a different portion of the body - the upper body, the core, and the lower body. Former pro triathlete, cancer survivor, and motivational speaker Kimberly Fowler is the viewer's guide to this fun and easy-to-follow introduction to the benefits of a solid yoga workout. 53 minutes 25 seconds.

The Path of the Wind
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

The Path of the Wind is a dramatic movie about the difficulties of starting a new life in the wake of past mistakes. After serving a ten-year prison sentence, Lee Ferguson (played by Joe Rowley) returns to the small town he once called home, in hope of living a simple life. When he rescues Katie (Liz DuChez) from attack, he begins to have and share feelings with her - but the malicious plots of a coworker and the violence in his past threaten to destroy any hope of stability. Lee must make a difficult choice, and decide to what lengths he is willing to take his quest for personal redemption. A moving saga, The Path of the Wind is wholly recommended to both teen and adult viewers. 103 minutes, English subtitles.

America's Living Constitution
MicroWerks
2042-A Armacost Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Infinity Entertainment Group (publicity)
$9.98 vicki@greenleafandassociates.com

Featuring a meticulous index for ease of use, America's Living Constitution: An Oral Presentation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is a DVD featuring professional narrators reading aloud the text of two of America's most important historical documents - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This oral presentation of the cornerstones of America's foundation and core principles is further enhanced with a bonus slideshow section of America's most beloved monuments. An inexpensive yet invaluable contribution to American history DVD shelves, and an excellent choice for public school, library, or even home schooling collections. 53 min.

For the Love of Movies
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism is an extraordinary documentary about the art of reviewing movies as practiced in America. Featuring commentary from some of America's most notable and popular critics including Roger Ebert (The Chicago Sun-Times), A.O. Scott (The new York Times), Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly), and Kenneth Turan (The Los Angeles Times), For the Love of Movies traces criticism from its origins alongside film to the modern day competition between online blogs and established print journalism. A particularly fascinating documentary for seasoned film buffs, For the Love of Movies is highly recommended. 80 min. (plus -40 min. bonus interviews & scenes), English and Spanish subtitles, widescreen.

American Experience: The 1930s
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831210 $39.99 www.shopPBS.org

American Experience: The 1930's is an anthology of documentaries on DVD reflecting upon America's history during the turbulent 1930's, an era best known for the crushing impact of the Great Depression. Individual programs examine the stock market crash of 1929 and the dire consequences of unrestrained economic optimism; the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (including personal testimonies from CCC veterans), the story of the Hoover Dam that brought electricity and water to millions in the western U.S., the struggles of American farmers during the severe dust bowl "blizzards" of 1931, and even the remarkable accomplishments of the gifted thoroughbred Seabiscuit. Printable materials for educators round out this excellent and informative collection, ideal for public library DVD shelves. 5 DVDs, 4.5 hours. "The Civilian Conservation Corps" is also available as a stand-alone DVD (9781608831234, $24.99).

Hitler's Bodyguard
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornmedia.com
AMP-8354, $79.99, www.amazon.com

The memory Adolf Hitler leaves exists in infamy for most, and hero worship for a few. He was the principle architect for the horror resulting in the deaths of more than 16 millions people throughout Europe and which was only concluded by his suicide in 1945 as the nation he led fell into the ruin and devastation of World War II. What is not so well known is that Hitler was also the target of numerous assassination attempts, more than 40 of them, over the 25 years that he led the Nazi party. To protect his personal safety an ever expanding network of bodyguards developed. This is the story documented and illustrated by the thirteen episode DVD boxed set "Hitler's Bodyguards" now available from the Acorn Media Group. Combining archival footage, period photography, captured SS documents, and eyewitness interviews, and computer generated illustrations, this 661 minute documentary provides a wealth of insider information into the rise of Hitler's security services, how his unpredictable patterns of movement, his diverse strongholds, and his transport security measures aided in his physical survival. Of special note is the detailed background into the suitcase bomb smuggled into a high command meeting in the Wolf's Lair that came closet to ending his life and which did result in serious and enduring physical wounding. Enhanced with the inclusion of a 20-page viewer's guide, a 'Killing Hitler in the Movies' filmography, photo galleries, and SDH subtitles, "Hitler's Bodyguard" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library World War II reference collections and supplemental viewing lists.

Dinosaurs Alive!
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff St., Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
014381343427, $24.98 www.image-entertainment.com

Dinosaurs Alive offers eye-opening animation and is loaded with special features, from a 'making of' documentary in HD to an educational section, dinosaur quiz, and more. CGI animation brings all to life with scientifically accurate images perfect for family viewing.

Anchor Bay
235 East 22nd St., Suite 15, New York NY 10010
www.anchorbayent.com/fitness

SLIM & TONE PILATES (01313165429, $14.98) packs in Pilates workouts set in a lovely location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Standard mat exercises and apparatus mat exercises, usually done in a Pilates studio on a reformer, enhance the routine and provide a Pilates approach without expensive equipment. 10 MINUTES SOLUTION: 5 DAY GET FIT MIX (01313163199, $14.98) packs in short 10-minute exercises for the entire body, from cardio kickboxing and power yoga to sculpting and belly fat burning routines. Each workout segment can be done once a day and offers five days of high-gear workouts - perfect for busy home users.

Real Body Work
www.realbodywork.com/yoga

YOGA: GENTLE VINYASA FLOW with Zyrka Landwijt (182064000353, $19.95) features a fine Pose Guide that gives detailed directions on 23 poses for positioning, covering common mistakes and featuring yoga sequences with different difficulty levels and lengths in two-hour sequences. Beginners will find this very accessible. YOGA: SPIRIT OF VINYASA FLOW with Deb Dobbin (182064000377, $19.95) is for intermediate to advanced yoga users and provides three sequences in 3.5 hours of practice. Some 20 pose lessons pack powerful routines perfect for yoga students.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Sing Me A Love Song
The David Berger Jazz Orchestra
Arranged by David Berger
Lyrics by Paul Mendenhall and Ira Gershwin
Such Sweet Thunder
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$21.99 www.davidbergerjazz.com www.millerwright.com

The David Berger Jazz Orchestra presents Sing Me A Love Song: Harry Warren's Undiscovered Standards, a music CD featuring vocal performances by Freda Payne and Denzal Sinclaire bringing to life previously unrecorded and unpublished melodies by three-time Academy Award-winning composer Harry Warren (1893-1981) - the creator of such timeless hits as "Lullaby of Broadway", "At Last", and "Jeepers Creepers". Now featuring new lyrics written by Paul Mendenhall, these songs span a gamut of styles from Italian waltz to Latin beat and heartfelt ballad. A treasure trove of almost-lost music, Sing Me A Love Song is highly recommended for public library collections, and an absolute "must" for any fan of Warren's work. The tracks are "Me and You" (2:50), "I Wonder Who" (3:04), "With Your Hand In Mine" (4:27), "Positano Afternoon" (4:47), "Double Trouble" (4:40), "Sing Me A Love Song" (4:20), "I'm Sorry" (3:54), "Hard To Get" (4:03), "There Is No Music" (3:43), "But Here We Are" (3:38), "With Your Hand In Mine" (2:48), "I'm Sorry" (3:47), "But Here We Are" (4:31), "Double Trouble" (3:02), and "Hard To Get" (3:23).


The Library Science Shelf

Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring
Emily Knox
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 Willian Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706784, $65.00, www.neal-schuman.com

Money is always an issue for libraries, but the things expected of a modern library often seem so out of reach. "Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring" is a library science guide for librarians who are trying to integrate these new features into their library without spending bankrupting their coffers. A guide to every step of the journey and how to penny pinch a lot of it, Emily Knox draws on her own experience and gives much legal advice that libraries must face before fully embracing these services as another feature of their library. "Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring" is a core acquisition for librarians who are faced with that ever decreasing budget but still want to offer everything a library can.

Hiring, Training, and Supervising Library Shelvers
Patricia Tunstall
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910108, $43.20, www.alastore.ala.org

Good help is hard to find, but it's easier when you know what to look out for. "Hiring, Training, and Supervising Library Shelvers" is a guide for the librarian who is in charge of hiring help for their place of work. With plenty of tips on what to look for in a good shelver, the procedures of training, and what to do when you have to let someone go, "Hiring, Training, and Supervising Library Shelvers" is a choice pick for library science collections.

Library Mashups
Nicole C. Engard, Editor
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873727, $39.50 www.infotoday.com

LIBRARY MASHUPS: EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO DELIVERY LIBRARY DATA is a pick for any library seeking to keep their website dynamically up to date. From examples of real-world library applications to the latest Web 2.0 tools for engaging library users, LIBRARY MASHUPS is key to any collection appealing to library science students and practicing librarians alike.

The Complete Library Technology Planner
John M. Cohn & Ann L. Kelsey
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
www.neal-schuman.com
9781555706814, $99.95, www.amazon.com

The modern library is dependent upon technology to provide a wide range of services to its patrons. The collaborative work of John M. Cohn (Director of the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center, County College of Morris, Randolph, New Jersey) and Ann L. Kelsey (retired Associate Director of the Learning Resource Center), "The Complete Library Technology Planner: A Guidebook with Sample Technology Plans and RFPs on CD-ROM" is a 163-page instruction manual that will enable librarians for community, school, and specialty libraries to develop and implement a coherent and coordinated technology plan for their institutions. Covering every aspect, "The Complete Library Technology Planner" will enable librarians to define the scope of their plan, identify and addresses its purposes and funding requirements, and set it all down on paper. Of special note is the five-step model plan that presents a plan development from beginning to end. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM offering more than 35 time-saving, easily adaptable technology plan samples, "The Complete Library Technology Planner" is highly recommended for Library Science curriculum reference resources and engaged librarians for any working library system, private or public.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing And Publishing
Carol Smallwood, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838909966, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Most community libraries have some form of newsletter designed to provide information to their patrons. Often these newsletters are the responsibility of an associated 'Friends of the Library' group. Along with such information as operating hours, book sales, special events like summer reading programs, and introductory bios of library staff members, are lists of books newly arrived. One of the most useful things such newsletters can afford the public is the inclusion of reviews for these new arrivals. That's why "Writing And Publishing: The Librarians' Handbook" by professional author and editor Carol Smallwood will prove to be such an invaluable instructional reference and resource with its succinct and thoroughly 'user friendly' information on how to write book reviews for not only library newsletters, but library websites, librarian and personal blogs, online book review columns, and more. Whether writing formal or informal book reviews, from getting started to writing with others as a joint project, to compiling bibliographies to creating news releases to writing on specific subjects, "Writing And Publishing" is an ideal 224-page compendium of practical information that will prove indispensable for the novice and provide a great deal of value for seasoned professionals as well.

The Making of a Story
Alice LaPlante
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393337082 $18.95 www.wwnorton.com

Alice LaPlante pours her fifteen years of experience as a writer and educator into The Making of a Story, a solid and instructional guide to writing, from inspiration to the process of getting ideas on paper to editing and refining one's work. Presented in a format that lends to being read straight through or used as a reference tool in response to specific issues, The Making of a Story is accessible, user-friendly, packed with examples and an all-around solid pick for aspiring writers everywhere. "One good way to think about openings is to think in terms of balance. Either things are out of kilter, or they will soon be; there's an imbalance, or a missing link, some mystery about what is happening that draws us into the story. It can be subtle... but it has to be there."

Writers And Their Notebooks
Diana M. Raab, editor
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570038662 $24.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress 1-800-768-2500

Writers And Their Notebooks is an anthology of essays by established and professional writers, discussing the value of simple notebooks to collect ideas, play around with words, discover new insights into evoking emotion with language, and much more. From sample journal entries that evolved into published pieces, to valuable advice for aspiring writers, to individual approaches to notebook keeping and much more, Writers And Their Notebooks is filled with tips, tricks, and techniques for getting creative juices flowing. An excellent supplementary reference for any would-be writer's shelf.

The Elements of Subtitles
D. Bannon
Privately Published
9780557130726, $14.95

Language is a hard thing to show through text alone, especially when you have dialogue and nothing else. The Elements of Subtitles discusses translating and subtitling modern media and explains that subtitles need to be more than literal translations, and need to truly grasp the nature of the subject. The Elements of Subtitles is a must for anyone who wants to get into the world of translation or simply gain an understanding of why things are done the way they are with foreign media. Practical, user friendly, and replete with illustrative examples, The Elements Of Subtitles will prove to be of immense and practical value for anyone engaged in translating written expressions from other languages into English.

Girl in a Library
Kelly Chery
BkMk Press
5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157668, $16.95, www.umkc.edu/bkmk

Writing is a key way of expressing oneself. "Girl in a Library: On Women Writers & the Writing Life" reflects on the writing life and how women's face unique and special challenges that women writers pursuing writing as a career, and the unique lifestyle that comes with this pursuit. Profound and poignant writing which has much for readers to read into and relate to, "Girl in a Library" is a worthwhile addition to any memoir collection focusing on the trade and life of writing.

Bang The Keys
Jill Dearman
Alpha Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014-3658
www.penguin.com
9781592579143, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Writing, whether it's the next 'Great American Novel' or an article for a local magazine or newsletter, begins with an idea that must be arranged into an orderly presentation that will interest, involve, and engage the reader. That's why "Bang The Keys" by writing coach and editor Jill Dearman is such an invaluable instructional resource for the novice writer, with an enduring and practical value for even the more experienced author. Beginning with a four-step writing process; then proceeding with setting writing hours and goals, "Bang The Keys" covers such diverse factors, tools, and aids as the use of a 'writing buddy', meditation, writing journals, the natural structure of a story, utilizing dreams, writing an ending and working through a story backwards to the beginning, meeting deadlines, and so much more. Enhanced with an extensive ten page resource guide and a comprehensive index, "Bang The Keys" is a thoroughly 'user friendly', highly recommended and highly rewarding read.


The Fiction Shelf

Columbus
Derek Haas
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980683, $24.00, www.pegasusbooks.us

When your life is on the line, help can come from where you least expect. "Columbus" is the follow up to author Derek Haas' successful 'The Silver Bear'. After the events of the last novel, Columbus finds himself on the run from constant assassins, something he himself is very familiar with. Trying to find the source, he must turn to old enemies, among other people he's unsure if he can trust. "Columbus" is a fine and riveting pick for mystery thriller readers.

The Mammoth Book of the World's Best Crime Stories
Maxim Jakubowski, editor
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762437252, $13.95, www.runningpress.com

The other side of the law is exotic and exciting. "The Mammoth Book of the World's Best Crime Stories" is a collection of stories from countless writers around the world, originally written in several different languages. Within these stories, readers will find many exciting stories, offering views of crime throughout the world leading to an exceptionally interesting volume. "The Mammoth Book of the World's Best Crime Stories" is a top pick for short fiction collections.

The Call of Zulina
Kay Marshall Strom
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
9781426700699, $13.99, www.abingdon.com

The family business is not something you have to continue. "The Call of Zulina" is the story of Grace Winslow, daughter of a English nobleman and African woman, as she finds herself fighting against her family's business of the slave trade in the late eighteenth century. Fighting the very people she's trying to save at times, her story is a unique one, as Kay Marshall Strom puts together a very entertaining tale. "The Call of Zulina" is a read that shouldn't be ignored for historical fiction collections.

From Ice to Ashes
Jessica Simon
NeWest Press
#201 8540-109 Street, Edmonton, AL T6G 1E6
9781897126479, $19.95, www.newestpress.com

In the snowy lands of the Yukon, North America's biggest threat hides. "From Ices to Ashes" tells the story of Markus Fanger, an American agent sent into the Yukon during the Yukon Artic Ultra, a combination foot, skiing, and mountain bike race through the harsh lands of the Yukon. With only a few people to call allies, Fanger has to look for one man amid the biggest annual event in the Yukon. "From Ices to Ashes" is a fascinating thriller, highly recommended.

A Measure of Mercy
Lauraine Snelling
Bethany House
11400 Hampshire Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764206092, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

When one is divided between love, faith, and duty, every decision is a hard one. "A Measure of Mercy" is the first book of the Home to Blessing series from Lauraine Snelling. Astrid is a student of medicine in the small town of Blessing. A call is made for doctors in Africa, and Astrid seems to believe that God may want her to go. But to complicate matters, an old flame returns to town, and opportunity for greater training also eludes Astrid. Torn apart, Astrid's tale in "A Measure of Mercy" is a story that will speak to many Christians.

In Days of Knights
Philip H. Young
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
0880938552, $17.95, www.uindy.edu

The setting has attracted countless fans, and for good reason. "In the Days of Knights" is Philip H. Young's own take on Arthurian legend as he brings a series of his own short stories using these characters of legend and provided his own tweaks and twists. For fans of these stories of knights, damsels, and wizards, "In the Days of Knights'" is a fascinating read and a surefire winner.

The Purple Culture
Stephen Boehrer
Oceanview
61 Paradise Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
Smith Publicity (publicity)
1930 E. Marlton Pike., Suite I-46, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
9781933515243, $24.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

The church has been brought to trial for what they been suspected of for ages. "The Purple Culture" is a novel where three bishops are brought to trail for conspiracy to protect sexually abusive priests. William Goulding, the prosecution, faces off against defense attorney James Kobs in this landmark case on just how untouchable the Roman Catholic Church really is in America. Touching on the avenues of religion, philosophy, and law, "The Purple Culture" makes for a highly entertaining and very recommended read.

Beyond the Station Lies the Sea
Jutta Richter, author
Anna Brailovsky, translator
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
9781571316905, $14.00, www.milkweed.org

The most important things aren't recognized as needed until they're gone. "Beyond the Station Lies the Sea" is an offbeat tale of Cosmos and Niner, two men who dream of life on the sea. Selling off Niner's guardian angel for a chance at that life, they soon find that survival and continued friendship makes their nautical aspirations secondary. "Beyond the Station Lies the Sea" is a choice pick for any looking for original fiction.

Nibble & Kuhn
David Schmahmann
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 West Erie Street, 7th Floor East, Chicago, IL 60654
9780897335928, $24.95, www.academychicago.com

The world of law can be more cruel than the criminals. "Nibble & Kuhn" tells the story of Derek, an up and coming lawyer who is on the verge of partnership at his local law firm. But saddled with a very hard to win case, Derek has to defend his clients while digging for the truth within his own company of those out to sabotage him, but the truth may tear it apart from the inside. "Nibble & Kuhn" is a fascinating legal thrillers fan will relish.

Hellie Jondoe
Randall Platt
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726635, $16.95, www.ttup.ttu.edu

Being hardened by one's environment doesn't make it impossible to lighten up. "Hellie Jondoe" tells the story of an east coast orphan girl who after a rough early child hood goes to Oregon to live under a western ranch woman. Not only does she have to answer to authority for the first time, but she seems to have to care for others. A charming story of a early twentieth century orphan, "Hellie Jondoe" is a very entertaining and riveting story that should not be ignored.

True Cow Tales
C. R. Lindemer, editor
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608440610, $12.95, www.dogearpublishing.com

Beef, milk, cheese, cows are a big part of one's life even if one is a city slicker. "True Cow Tales: Literary Sketches and Stories by Farmers, Ranchers, and Dairy Princesses" tells the story of cows and the people who manage them. Exciting and unique, it beats the myth that all cowhands do is milk cows and lead so called boring lives. With plenty of excitement and strangeness in these tales, "True Cow Tales" is a top pick and very highly recommended.

Lost Mission
Athol Dickson
Howard Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416583479, $14.99, www.howardpublishing.com

Evil can linger on for hundreds of years. "Lost Mission" tells the story of the Mission de Santa Dolores, a site in Mexico, which was devastated by a mysterious crime in the eighteenth century. Now, centuries later, four individuals may have their lives torn apart by the supernatural remnants of something much bigger than them all. With plenty of intriguing horror and psychological elements, "Lost Mission" is a read that should not be overlooked by those with a love of Christian thrillers.

Hard Numbers
Jackson Bass
Durban House Press
5001 LBJ Freeway, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75244
9780981848655, $15.95, www.durbanhouse.com

When financial times get tough, some take it as a sign to play dirtier. "Hard Numbers" is a thriller following attorney Leland Denton and his client James McKenzie as they dive deep into the sour side of economics, turning to the world of crime to make their fortune when the economy crashes around them. But when you play dirty, everyone around you plays dirty as well and you may find yourself turning up dead. "Hard Numbers" is an entertaining read that can't be beat.

Every Boat Turns South
J. P. White
The Permanent Press
4170 Noyac Road, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
9781579621889, $28.00, www.thepermanantpress.com

The wanderlust of mid-life combined with a boat can make for an intriguing adventure. "Every Boat Turns South" is the story of Matt Younger, a 30 year old facing the death of his father. Taking the long way to his next destination, he drifts through the Caribbean with two close friends and finds himself in a slew of intriguing circumstances. A riveting read that even non-sailors will find something to relate to within, "Every Boat Turns South" is an intriguing and fine literary fiction, highly recommended.

A Circle of Souls
Preetham Grandhi
Sweetwater Books
c/o Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 S. Springville, UT 84663
9781599552354, $15.99, www.cedarfort.com

Horrible things only beget more horrible thing. "A Circle of Souls" tells the story of a small town and the murder which rocks it. Leia Bines, an FBI Agent who has been charged with solving this crisis, and Peter Gram, a psychologist dealing with a seemingly unrelated child who has horrible nightmares. The two find their problems have more in common than it seems at the surface, and the mystery makes "A Circle of Souls" a very intriguing and recommended read.

The Girl in the Lighthouse
Roxane Tepfer Sanford
Llumina Press
PO Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
9781605942384, $13.95, www.llumina.com

The beauty of childhood is ever fleeting for so many. "The Girl in the Lighthouse" tells the story of Lillian Arrington, a young girl who loses her dream life in a lighthouse to live under the thumb of an evil grandmother. Desiring to find her history, she finds her idealistic life has some truly nasty roots. "The Girl in the Lighthouse" is a solid and fine read for younger readers.

600 Hours of Edward
Craig Lancaster
Riverbend
PO Box 5833, Helena, MT 59604
1606390139, $14.00, www.riverbendpublishing.com

Closing oneself off to the world isn't as bad as it seems. "600 Hours of Edward" tells the story of Edward Stanton, a man facing middle age and his own solitary life. But all barriers eventually crumble, and Edward has only the matter of weeks to decide if he wants to rebuild those walls or see what lies beyond them. "600 Hours of Edward" is a quirky and entertaining novel, highly recommended.

A Lineage of Grace
Francine Rivers
Tyndale Fiction
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9780842356329, $16.99, www.tyndalefiction.com

The will of woman has the power to change the world. "A Lineage of Grace" is a collection of Christian fiction from Francine Rivers as she presents the tale of five women and their relationships with God. Tragic pasts, oppressive environments, obedience, and more, "A Lineage of Grace" is a collection of spiritual tales that will lift the spirits of many Christian women, highly recommended.

In Memory of Central Park 1853-2022
Queenelle Minet
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
9781934454251, $13.95, www.syngergybooks.net

In pursuit of safety, some will give up anything. "In Memory of Central Park 1853-2022" tells the story of New York, a few decades in the future where central park is gone, the Statue of Liberty is in ruins, but at least everything is safe. Noah, faced with this paranoid world, has found love in the wrong place; people begin to die of a strange illness, and nothing seems to be done. A story of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, "In Memory of Central Park 1853-2022" is an entertaining and highly humorous read on the direction of society.

Ex-Girlfriends United
Matt Dunn
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753184141, $32.50, www.amazon.com

A riveting read, "Ex-Girlfriends United" by Matt Dunn is the story of Dan Davis, a skirt-chasing man who just can't seem to succeed with the ladies on any kind of enduring level. Then he encounters an online dating web site where women rate their experiences and learns, to his amazement, that one of his own ex-girlfriends has rated him -- and not favorably! In an effort to avoid having to be single forever, Dan tracks down his old girlfriends in an attempt to learn about himself and what he must do. That's when he once again meets Polly -- the woman with whom he would really like to spend the rest of his life with. "Ex-Girlfriends United" is a superbly crafted story published in a large print edition and highly recommended for both community library general fiction collections and personal reading lists for anyone who enjoys an original story about self-discovery and the arduous challenge of change.

The Space Between
JP Rodriguez
Darkstar Fiction
c/o Napoleon & Company
235-1173 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 3P1
9781894917889, $19.95, www.napoleonandcompany.com

Wanderlust drives people to strange things. "The Space Between" tells the story of a man beaten down by life and the loss of his former lover to a violent death. In a search for meaning, he travels high and low throughout the world; his tale is one of uncertainty and regret, finally learning his own purpose and meaning in life as his travels continue. A psychological story of redeeming oneself, "The Space Between" is a read many will relate to.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition
Daniel C. Matt, translator
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804762199, $49.95, www.amazon.com

The Kabbalah is a form of Jewish mysticism that stretches back for centuries. One of the cornerstones of Kabbalah is 'Sefer ha-Zohar (The Book of Radiance) written in medieval Spain around the end of the 13th Century. Originally composed in Aramaic, it largely consists of commentary on the Torah (the Five Books of Moses from Genesis through Deuteronomy). "The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition", translated into English with commentary by Kabbalah authority and academician Daniel C. Matt is the fifth volume in a series and begins after the revelation is delivered at Mount Sinai. Starting with a narrative story of two rabbis meeting and elderly donkey-drive on the road who turns about to be a sage and provides interpretations of Kabbalah secrets, including the reincarnation of the soul, "The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition" continues with Zohar's commentary on the mishkan, the desert Tabernacle, and the theme of prayer. This fifth volume of the series concludes with a section of the Zohar called 'Sifra di-Tsni'uta' (The Book of Concealment), which provides a descriptive commentary on God's body, the relationship between male and female energies, and divine breath animating all life. "The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition" is essential reading for students of Kabbalah and a highly recommended addition to academic library collections. Also very highly recommended are the first four volumes of "The Zohar: Pritzker Edition" published by the Stanford University Press.


The Language Studies Shelf

Garner's Modern American Usage, third edition
Bryan A. Garner
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780195382754, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a significantly expanded and thoroughly up-dated third edition, "Garner's Modern American Usage" continues to hold title to being a superb guide to the effective use of the English language in contemporary society. Of special note is the inclusion of a language-change index based on grammarian, lexicographer, and editor Bryan A. Garner's original research, along with contributions drawn from a panel of more than 120 commentators helping to assess and update the text for virtually every entry. Of special note are the newly added entries relevant to the various elements of the internet and other electronic advances. This 942-page compendium is an essential and strongly recommended addition to every academic and community library English Language Studies reference collection, and an invaluable resource for both aspiring writers and professional authors as well.


The Genealogy Shelf

Evidence Explained, second edition
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806318066, $59.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace" by archival and genealogical expert Elizabeth Shown Mills has brought this core instructional reference fully into the cutting edge of research resources by including a wealth of thematically appropriate web sites, as well as the incorporation of blogs and online discussion groups germane to locating and evaluating historical sources of information and evidence. Of special note is the practical and insightful commentary on evaluating source material credibility and reliability. Replete with citation models of American and international documents, "Evidence Explained" is an ideal as a curriculum text and highly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Historical Research reference collections in general, and Genealogical Research supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Civil War Shelf

The Maps of Chickamauga
David A. Powell, author
David A. Friedrichs, cartographer
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714722 $39.95 www.savasbeatie.com

The third volume of the Savas Beatie Military Atlas series, The Maps of Chickamauga sheds light on the story of Chickamauga during the American Civil War. Featuring 126 full-color maps drawn by expert cartographer David A. Friedrichs, The Maps of Chickamauga offers an almost hour-by-hour depiction of the battle - virtually every two-page spread involves a careful text reconstruction of what happened on the left, and a vivid map on the right. Endnotes, a bibliography, and a complete orders of battle (with strengths and losses) round out this absolute must have for Civil War historians, college library collections, historical battle re-enactors, and anyone with a serious interest in the nitty gritty details of the Civil War's conflicts. Highly recommended.

Lincoln Under Enemy Fire
John Henry Cramer
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572336698 $35.00 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

Lincoln Under Enemy Fire: The Complete Account of His Experiences During Early's Attack on Washington is a new edition of the classic analysis of how President Lincoln observed a skirmish near Fort Stevens, only a few miles from Washington - and was sharply instructed to retreat immediately. Written by professor of history John Henry Cramer and first published in 1948, Lincoln Under Enemy Fire reconstructs this fascinating event that could have changed the course of history had Lincoln been killed. Lincoln Under Enemy Fire applies research and theory in search of answers to two questions: who told the President to get off the parapet, and what exactly was said to convince him? An excellent supplement to Civil War history shelves, especially recommended for college library collections.

Indiana's War: The Civil War in Documents
Richard F. Nation and Stephen E. Towne, editors
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, Athens, OH 45701
9780821418475 $18.65 www.ohioswallow.com

Edited by Richard F. Nation (Associate Professor of History, Eastern Michigan University) and Stephen E. Towne (Associate University Archivist, Indiana University-Purdue), Indiana's War: The Civil War in Documents is an anthology of written primary sources from residents of Indiana during the Civil War. From private letters to official records, newspaper articles, and more, Indiana's War is an invaluable contribution to Civil War history shelves, and particularly recommended for college library collections. Notes, discussion questions, an extensive timeline and an index round out this fascinating glimpse into the lives and minds of people who struggled to survive an America divided against itself.


The Poetry Shelf

The Edge of Damage
Heather Swan
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781934795170 $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

The Edge of Damage is a chapbook by award-winning poet Heather Swan; several of its free-verse poems have previously been published in various magazines, but all are gathered into a single compilation for the first time. The momentary, day-by-day cadence of the verses expresses an earthy vitality that reflects the human drive to persevere through the ups and downs of life. A thoughtful poetry collection worth savoring at length, highly recommended. "The Words of Noah's Wife: Day 1": The rain begins. / Inside the pitch / walls we breathe / quietly, animals / and humans, / exhausted from the labor / of preparation, / waiting. The sound / of the rain is a comb / which untangles / any knots remaining, / and we slip into sleep / until the ark shifts / finally lifting, / leaving a world, / heaving us into / an ending.

Dialect of a Skirt
Erica Miriam Fabri
Hanging Loose Press
231 Wyckoff Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
9781934909102, $18.00, www.hangingloosepress.com

Looks can be deceiving, there can be quite the mind behind the person you may dismiss as another New York girl. "Dialect of a Skirt" is a collection of poetry from Erica Miriam Fabri, a poet and teacher of creative writing and performance poetry at the City University of New York. Her experiences are raw, and make "Dialect of a Skirt" quite the read. "The Monster": After she made love to the Monster,/she wanted to burn her hair./Can you blame her?/He left something rotten there./Even witch hazel/won't make her clean.

Once Upon a Neighborhood
Evelyn D. Klein
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393459, $14.95, www.northstarpress.com

The neighborhood you grow up in is a key source of memories. "Once Upon a Neighborhood" is a collection of poetry from Evelyn D. Klein, offering insights into her hometown in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Simple and profound wisdom from the world around you, "Once Upon a Neighborhood" is a treasure trove of fine verse, highly recommended. "At Her Door": delicate stems of/Smartweed/blue heads of/Day Flower/flourish//she holds the blossoms/on her open palm/releases them again/priceless jewels//Angel/tending/nature's garden.

Flood Song
Sherwin Bitsui
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556593086, $15.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

A man with a different background brings many different views. "Flood Song" is a collection of poetry from Sheriwn Bitsui as he offers her own viewpoints on the world through the eyes of a modern Navajo, with influences from much in the way of traditional western culture. A unique and enlightening read, "Flood Song" is a fine volume of poetry for those looking for a native American perspective. A sample: Bluebirds chirp icy rocks from their stomachs/and crash,/wings caked heavy/with the dark mud a gunmetal sky,/to the earth's bandages/shivering with cold spells and convulsions/in the market/underneath an avalanche of apples.

The Journey
Alice Taylor
Brandon Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780863223914, $30.95, www.brandonbooks.com

Poetry is rhythmically presented memory. "The Journey: New and Selected Poems" is a collection of fine poetry from Alice Taylor. A novelist as well as poet, her poetry reflects on the importance of family and the events surrounding it. "The Journey" is a poignant collection of poetry, well worth considering. "Words": Words/are messengers of thought, A brush/which on the canvas paints/A Picture/That reflects the mind./I pen these words/To paint my thoughts/Upon the pages here within:/Gently absorb/The scenes you find:/You have crossed the threshold/Of my mind."

Gifted at Risk
Jean Sunde Peterson
Great Potential Press
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
9780910707978, $18.95, www.giftedbooks.com

Poems can be used to enhance lessons. "Gifted at Risk: Poetic Portraits" is a collection of poetry and prose, paired together as Jean Sunde Peterson reflects on her time as a teacher and counselor. Simple poetry is accompanied by wisdom, making for an entertaining as well as informative read. "Gifted at Risk" is quite the treasure and should not be overlooked. "Goosebumps": He got an A in AP History/and a B in physics,/and I go goosebumps/when his dad showed me/at conferences.//It had been a long time.//But his poetry showed the spark,/and I remember he lately said/(about college),/"I think I'm ready to be a student now."

Voice Recognition
James Byrne & Clare Pollard
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Edition
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248383, $22.95, www.dufoureditions.com

With new generations, come new voices. "Voice Recognition: 21 Poets for the 21st Century" is a collection of poetry from new poets. These European poets demonstrate a fresh voice of young people in this new century and give a taste of what is to come in the poetry world. "Voice Recognition" is a collection that should not be ignored. "Bonnie 'Prince' Billy" by Jack Underwood: He is also singing how I will split/the atom and leave it for you cleaved/in two on the breadboard like an apple,/will peel your star-sign off the sky,/dissolve and serve it hot in a cup.//He sings how ugly and complex/I have become, sitting at the table,/gripping the stupidity of wood.//He sings how deeply I am weakened/by a single drip of water/falling from the end of your nose/and soaking into my jeans/like an excuse into the wider scheme of things.

Museum Crows
Ron Houchin
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056178, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

The crow has been quite the symbolic creature through much of its existence. "Museum Crows" is the work of Ron Houchin, using his poetry to explore the crow, and what it means to humanity and the human spirit. With intriguing ideas on the matter, "Museum Crows" is a fine volume that will give poetry fans much to enjoy. "The god of pepper": A checkered cloth/makes a table all the more/a surreal painting/wherein you are hunger personified/perching on sharp elbows//Or a stage where souffles/and soups, gravies and casseroles/struggle, Italian and French characters/sweating, steaming in their own dilemmas.//Shakers and mill make it church -- /utensils of sacrifice and thurible. Beside/you, a seraph with a towel on his arm.

Tips for Domestic Travel
Hayden Saunier
Black Lawrence Press
8405 Bay Parkway C8, Brooklyn, NY 11214
9781934703816, $14.00, www.blacklawrence.com

An educator with a flair for drama, Hayden Saunier brings readers a fine volume of poetry with "Tips for Domestic Travel" is a collection of poetry drawing on her own experiences as a teacher and actress, and gives readers her own unique view of the world through her expert verse. "Tips for Domestic Travel" is a worthy addition to poetry collections. "Small Memory": My mother is riding a bicycle/for the last time,//turning slow careful circles/around a sandy road//that ends abruptly at the sea./She's seventy-three.//She lets go the handlebars,/claps twice like a magician,//and waves goodbye to me.


The Philosophy Shelf

This Is Ethical Theory
Jan Narveson
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696462 $36.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Jan Narveson (Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Waterloo, Ontario) presents This Is Ethical Theory, a straightforward analysis of ethics and moral theory that covers perspectives including utilitarianism, natural law, egoism, virtue ethics, moral relativism, intuitionism, emotivism, prescriptivism, and more. A solid introduction to diverse branches of ethical theory that scrutinizes the roadblocks and difficulties endemic to each viewpoint, This Is Ethical Theory is a solid introduction and enthusiastically recommended for Philosophy students as well as college library collections.

Staring into the Void
Harold Skulsky
University of Delaware Press
c/o Associated University Press
440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
http://ww2.lib.udel.edu/upress
9780874130713 $53.00, www.amazon.com

Professor of English Language and Literature Emeritus and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy Harold Skulsky presents Staring into the Void: Spinoza, Master of Nihilism, an in-depth examination of Spinoza's vision of reality, broken down into twelve stages. Spinoza's remarkable vision of God and society are explained step-by-step, from his "monism" claim that there is only one thing or "substance", to the concept of "attributes" and why God's "attributes" are infinitely many, to his dismissal of moral realism in favor of a more strictly biological theory of human nature and the societies that human nature can make, to Spinoza's view of politics and support of federal democracy. Extensive notes and an index round out this meticulously scholarly work, especially recommended for anyone studying Spinoza at length, as well as college library philosophy collections.

What the Furies Bring
Kenneth Sherman
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., Erin, ON N0B IT0
9780889843189, $19.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca

Tragedy brings most to grief; it brought Kenneth Sherman to study. "What the Furies Bring" is a collection of essays on his musings on the world, reflecting on Judaism, poetry, other religions, terrorism, the works of Anne Frank, and so much more. His thoughts bring many ideas to his readers, to help them reevaluate how they look at the world themselves. "What the Furies Bring" is a choice pick for any collection of scholarly philosophy.

John Milton: Reasoning Words
Kristin A. Pruitt & Charles W. Durham
Susquehanna University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
9781575911236, $49.50, www.susq.edu

The works of John Milton have inspired much philosophical debate for ages after the man himself has passed. "John Milton: Reasoning Words" is a scholarly discussion from many authors discussing the works of John Milton, his works on human nature and the status on man as a creature of reason and understanding the world around him. These essays dig deep into the themes of Milton's work, including his work on nationalism, education, religion, and more. "John Milton" is a worthy and intriguing read that is a must for philosophy studies collections or those intrigued with his work.


The Literary Shelf

The Metamorphoses of Tintin
Jean-Marie Apostolides
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804760317, $24.95, www.sup.org

Long running cartoons are long running for a reason. "The Metamorphoses of Tintin: Or Tintin for Adults" discusses the creation of Tintin, created by Belgian Georges Remi, or Herge as he's known, nearly a century ago and has captivated European readers ever since. Tintin's evolution went from a strong semblance of Herge's own politics, to being more of a general, everyone can enjoy approach. "The Metamorphoses of Tintin" is a must for anyone fascinated by the story of this figure and wishes to know the behind the story history.

The Representation of Business in English Literature
Arthur Pollard
Liberty Fund Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
Chicago Distribution Center (distributor)
11030 S. Langley Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
9780865977587, $12.00, www.libertyfund.org

The Establishment has had many roles in fiction. "The Representation of Business in English Literature" is a scholarly critique of businesses role in fiction and how it has shaped the public's opinions on big business in America. Stating that many novelists seem to vilify big business, he offers interesting insight into this history. "The Representation of Business in English Literature" is a strong pick for literary analysis collections.

An Angle of Vision
Lorraine M. Lopez
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472050789, $22.95, www.press.umich.edu

"An Angle of Vision: Women Writers on Their Poor and Working-Class Roots" is a collection of memoirs from women writers offering their reflections on their childhood and the rough times of their parents struggling to make ends meet for a better future. From realizing one's poverty, to the challenges of day-to-day lower class life and how things are different in the role of women, sex, and the future, there is no shortage of ideas. "An Angle of Vision" is a fine and very highly recommended read; many women will relate.


The World History Shelf

Puerto Rico Inside and Out
Fernando Pico
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558764828 $22.95 www.markuswiener.com

Puerto Rico Inside and Out: Changes and Continuities is an anthology of essays by historian and columnist Fernando Pico, covering topics ranging from police harassment of Puerto Rican dissenters in the early 1970's to in-depth portraits of how Puerto Rican rural landscapes and cultural traditions have been vanishing. Most of the essays span the years from 1969-1980 (only four essays reminisce from later vantage points up to 1987); are from an up-close and personal perspective, while others reflect from the vantage point of Paris, France. An unforgettable glimpse into the extraordinary diversity of cultures that compose Puerto Rico in general and San Juan in particular, Puerto Rico Inside and Out is highly recommended.

The Department of State in the Middle East 1919-1945
Philip J. Baram
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801226, $39.50, www.ktav.com

The Middle East has been in chaos ever since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. "The Department of State in the Middle East 1919-1945" analyzes the United States involvement in the region, at least in diplomacy, and how the United States helped and made worse the problems throughout the region. A research into the formerly classified files of the period, Philip J. Baram grants readers an intriguing bit of insight into the period, making for an intriguing and educational read. "The Department of State in the Middle East 1919-1945" is a fine addition to history collections.

"In Case Atom Bombs Fall"
Michael Scheibach, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786445417, $39.95, www.mcfarlandpub.com

The fear of nuclear annihilation was very real for a decent period of the twentieth century. "In Case Atom Bombs Fall: An Anthology of Governmental Instructions and Warnings from 1940s to the 1960s" looks at the fear of the atom bomb and how it was expressed in much of the propaganda and information of these three decades. Bomb shelters, protecting the home, and more, Michael Scheiback presents a very intriguing and insightful volume that tells much of the American mindset during the era. "In Case Atom Bombs Fall" is a fine addition to any collection focusing on the history of the twentieth century.

Robin Hood
John Paul Davis
Peter Owen Publishers
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780720613391, $29.95, www.peterowen.com

The legend of Robin Hood is a famous one, but there is much that people don't understand beneath it. "Robin Hood: The Unknown Templar" delves into the existence of Robin Hood and how the man may have truly existed, and been closely tied to the famous Knights Templar. Offering new insight to the man who may have been behind the legend, and gives much to intrigue readers. "Robin Hood" is a choice pick for those with an interest in British folklore and its ties to real history.

Martyrs and Murderers
Stuart Carroll
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199229079, $34.95, www.oup.com

The lust for power can be a family wide affair. "Martyrs and Murderers: The Guise Family and the Making of Europe" tells the story of this family, whose ambitions for power gave them bloodlines to the throne in many of the major European countries. Author Stuart Caroll covers this family's plots that changed the direction of Europe and had a hand in the death of thousands. A very entertaining read and another angle to the political intrigue of Europe's royal families centuries ago, "Martyrs and Murderers" is a fine and excellent pick.

The Legacy of the Great War
Jay Winter, editor
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218728, $19.95, www.press.umsystem.edu

It was the first international conflict that spanned the globe, and changed the world as we know it. "The Legacy of the Great War: Ninety Years On" is a collection of essays from many notable historians who offer unique and intellectual views on World War I. From the soldiers to the cause, to the new kind of warfare that took place, there is no shortage of scholarly information within. "The Legacy of the Great War" is a fine addition to any collection focusing on World War I.

The Unknown Cultural Revolution
Dongping Han
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583671801, $16.95, www.monthlyreview.org

Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution is often quoted as one the great travesties of the 20th century. "The Unknown Cultural Revolution: Life and Change in a Chinese Village" brings another perspective of the Cultural Revolution, the rapid change it brought to the rural farmers of China, and how it was for the better. Bringing another perspective of something so often completely condemned, "The Unknown Cultural Revolution" is a strong addition to any history collection focusing on China.

When Edmonton Was Young
Tony Cashman
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House2, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645111, $19.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

Edmonton may not be the first city to come to mind when thinking of Canada, but it doesn't make it any less special. "When Edmonton Was Young" discusses the capital of the province of Alberta, and tells its story. Edmonton was a rapidly growing town for much of its existence; author Tony Cashman spins an intriguing tale of the town's roots, its contributions to the nation of Canada, and its original culture. "When Edmonton Was Young" is a top pick for Canadian history collections.

From Ruins to Reconstruction
Karl D. Qualls
Cornell University Press
Sage House, 512 E. State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780801447624, $49.95, www.cornellpress.cornell.edu

When one's city is destroyed, things are rarely the same ever again. "From Ruins to Reconstruction: Urban Identity in Soviet Sevastopol After World War II" is the tale of this Russian town and its people. This Russian city was rebuilt, and although Ukrainian in location, it's a Russian city in architecture and nature. A story of how a city keeps its soul and personality in a land where communist homogenization was the order of the day, the people of Sevastopol resembled something closer to Czarist Russia than Communist Russia when the reconstruction was complete. "From Ruins to Reconstruction" is a fine and solidly recommended read that should not be ignored for history collections focusing on post World War II Soviet States.


The Humor Shelf

The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook
W. M. Mumfrey
HOW Books
c/o FW Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781600611629, $14.99, www.howbookstore.com

Will you be prepared to fight off the evil Alien overlords? "The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook: A Defense Manual for the Coming Extraterrestrial Apocalypse" is a guide for those who want to be prepared for the coming alien invasion. With tips on realizing you're a former abductees, arming yourselves against the intergalactic interlopers, and how the aliens have already arrived and assaulting our world, "The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook" is a humorous journey into the world of alien invasion and is highly recommended.


The Science Shelf

What Science Knows and How It Knows It
James Franklin
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York 10003-1239
9781594032073, $23.95, www.encounterbooks.com

Asking questions is the pursuit of knowledge. "What Science Knows and How It Knows It" discusses science and its pursuit of natural truth through math, biology, and many other scientific disciplines. With a philosophical and historical approach, author James Franklin shows the science behind science, and so much more. "What Science Knows and How It Knows It" is a fascinating discussion of the sciences.


The Native American Shelf

Native People of Southern New England 1650-1775
Kathleen J. Bragdon
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806140049 $32.95 www.oupress.com

Professor of Anthropology Kathleen J. Bragdon presents Native People of Southern New England 1650-1775, her continued study of Native American cultures through the end of the colonial era with particular emphasis on the impact of colonization. Bragdon presents a particularly convincing case that Native American cosmology, societal values, community organization and material culture resulted in a way of life resistant to assimilation - and that when Native American tribes did adopt English cultural aspects such as Christianity and writing, they did so on their own terms. Volume 259 in "The Civilization of the American Indian Series", Native People of Southern New England 1650-1775 is a thoroughly researched, well-presented, and worthy addition to Native American studies and college library shelves. Also highly recommended is Bragdon's previous volume, "Native People of Southern New England 1500-1650".

Power in the Blood
Linda Tate
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, Athens, OH 45701
9780821418727 $22.95 www.ohiou.edu/oupress

Power in the Blood: A Family Narrative is the true-life memoir of author Linda Tate's journey to learn more about her Cherokee-Appalachian heritage. Refusing to sugar-coat the domestic violence, poverty, and discrimination that have left their effects on the lives of Tate's Cherokee-Appalachian relatives, Power in the Blood also tells stories of individual and communal strength in the face of adversity. Tate embarked on exhaustive research through archives, libraries, and courthouses to track down distant relatives (all descended from her great-great-grandmother Louisiana), and in the process helped orchestrate family reunions with swapped stories that unearthed her family's forgotten past. An extraordinary family journey, highly recommended especially for Native American memoir shelves.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

International Law and the Use of Force
Shirley V. Scott
Anthony John Billingsley
Christopher Michaelsen
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313362590 $94.95 www.abc-clio.com

International Law and the Use of Force is a scholarly resource that scrutinizes over forty documents pertaining to the legality of taking international military action. A vital and cutting-edge approach to international debate in the wake of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, International Law and the Use of Force includes competing points of view assessing such critical issues as national right to self-defense, anticipatory and preemptive self-defense, terrorism, the role of the UN Security Council, and more. Ultimately seeking to deduce whether the international laws designed to limit the proliferation of war has in fact been successful in its goal, International Law and the Use of Force is an absolutely vital resource for anyone seeking the latest balanced and reasoned research and extrapolation on its topic.


The Reference Shelf

Representative American Speeches 2008-2009
Brian Boucher, editor
H. W. Wilson
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
9780824210939, $50.00, www.hwwilson.com

Some speeches are landmarks of history. "Representative American Speeches 2008-2009" analyzes the most important speeches that affected the American political landscape during the period. From the criticisms from a former administration, to the controversial political moves of the current, these important speeches are presented and offer much valuable insight into modern America. "Representative American Speeches 2008-2009" is a choice addition to any political history collection focusing on recent politics.

Archaeology and Landscape in the Mongolian Altai
Esther Jacobson-Tepfer and James E. Meacham, authors
Gary Tepfer, photographer
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589482326 $79.95 www.esri.com

Archaeology and Landscape in the Mongolian Altai: An Atlas is an extraordinary reference presenting the exploration and survey of one of the last, remote corners of the world to be cartographically documented. In 1994, authors Esther Jacobson-Tepfer and James E. Meacham began to survey the western-most part of the Mongolian Altai, and their findings - including tremendously beautiful color photographs, detailed maps, and vividly detailed verbal descriptions accessible to readers of all backgrounds - are offered not only as a scholarly reference, but also as a testimony to the wonder of the rugged natural world. A singularly stunning coffee table book, highly recommended especially to armchair travelers.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Erotic Love
David J. Roof
Vintage Publishing
1010 W. Church St., Urbana, IL 61801
9780984175901, $19.95

Sex is a cornerstone of any romantic relationship. "Erotic Love: A Holistic Guide to Lasting Sexual Intimacy" is a guide to the finer points of the sexual relationship, discussing matters from relationships outside the bedroom to taboo, to why women become more attached to men than the other way around. "Erotic Love" is an intriguing exploration of sex and relationships and could bring new life and sparks to any coupling.


The Self-Help Shelf

Burnt Toast & Jam
D. Kinza Christenson
Peebles Publishing Unlimited
512 Lac La Belle Drive, Suite 130, Oconomowoc, WI 53066
9780972827744, $12.95, www.kinza.net

Dealing with life isn't about not making mistakes. It's about dealing with those mistakes. "Burnt Toast & Jam: Stories and Thoughts to Fill Your Heart & Lift Your Spirit" is a collection of short stories from D. Kinza Christenson encouraging readers to make the best out of the worst situations. With a simple wisdom and stories that will make readers smile, "Burnt Toast & Jam" is a collection that should not be ignored.

50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food
Susan Albers
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246768, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com

Comfort food is a common fall back in rough times. "50 Ways to Sooth Yourself Without Food" is a guide for those who want to stop looking towards food for their security blanket when times get tough for them. With tips on how to fight the temptation of stress eating and how to find an alternative that works, Susan Albers presents plenty of non-food based activities. "50 Ways to Sooth Yourself Without Food" is a choice pick for self-help collections.

Starting Over
Mary Lee Gannon
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931-0669
9780882823119, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Unemployment can be a tough condition to get out of. "Starting Over: 25 Rules When You've Bottomed Out" is a guide for getting that fresh start so many want when faced with recent job loss. With much advice on completely rebooting one's career, making those new connections, filling out that resume, and getting the job you truly want, Mary Lee Gannon does not fail in arming readers the best she can.


The Marriage/Divorce Shelf

Kiss Me Again
Barbara Wilson
Multnomah
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
www.waterbrookmultnomah.com
9781601421586, $13.99, www.amazon.com

When that spark is lost, the essence of the marriage is as well. "Kiss Me Again: Restoring Lost Intimacy in Marriage" is a guide for relationships that have lost their luster and want to recover that spark that they once had and make the marriage have the allure it had before. With plenty of advice for re-finding those bonds and re-kindling the passion, "Kiss Me Again" is a solid pick.

Unfaithful
Gary and Mona Shriver
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434765338, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

The betrayal of trust that comes from infidelity is a hard wound to heal from. "Unfaithful: Hope and Healing After Infidelity" is a guide for couples who have shown this weakness and want to overcome it for the sake of their family, their friendship, and their love. Drawing upon their own experiences, Gary and Mona Shriver give much advice and state that with enough time and patience, any wound to a relationship can be healed. "Unfaithful" is a top pick for those who are uncertain of their marriage's future.


The International Studies Shelf

Inside Fallujah
Ahmed Mansour
Olive Branch Press
c/o Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567787, $20.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

The other side of the coin can prove enlightening and informative. "Inside Fallujah: The Unembedded Story" is another perspective from the battle of Fallujah during the oft criticized American War in Iraq. Offering a shocking other opinion, being one of the only reporters to stay inside the city during the US Invasion. Well worth considering for those studying the Iraq war, "Inside Fallujah" is infinitely interesting and very highly recommended.


The Political Science Shelf

Redemption Song, updated edition
Niall Stanage
Liberties
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781905483716, $17.95, www.libertiespress.com

High expectations are always hard to live up to. "Redemption Song: Barack Obama: From Hope to Reality" is an updated edition of the volume originally published last year. Now a year into Obama's term, author Niall Stanage brings new contents and details from both the campaign trail and his first year in office. "Redemption Song" is quite the read for those with a strong interest in the political career of Barack Obama.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Country Plumbing, updated edition
Gerry Hartigan
Alan C. Hood & Company
PO Box 775, Chambersburg, PA 17201
9780911469349, $12.50, www.hoodbooks.com

Not all houses were built with the idea of plumbing in mind. "Country Plumbing: Living with a Septic System" is a guide for those in those houses designed before modern plumbing and the reality of having to live with the solution many turn to - a septic system. An updated edition, this guide elaborates on what people need to know to legally, responsibly, and sanitarily deal with their own waste. "Country Plumbing" is a solid guide to septic management, and a top pick.


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


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