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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 15, Number 7 July 2005 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Buddhist Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Business Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Musicbook Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Humor Shelf
International Studies Shelf Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Black Studies Shelf Science Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Native American Shelf Art Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Photography Shelf Travel Shelf Nautical Shelf
Gardening Shelf Cookbook Shelf Political Science Shelf
Human Sexuality Shelf Architecture Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Railroading Shelf Library CD Shelf Computer Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Economics Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Library Science Shelf Psychology Shelf
Nature Shelf Library Video/DVD Shelf Poetry Shelf
Military Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Sports Shelf Literary Shelf
Civil War Shelf World History Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Gaming Shelf Social Issues Shelf Law/Justice Shelf
American History Shelf Education Shelf Parenting Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Everyone Eats
E.N. Anderson
New York University Press
838 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.nyupress.org
0814704964 $20.00 1-800-996-6987

There's a strong relationship between biological need and culture: a relationship emphasized by E.N. Anderson, professor of anthropology at University of California Riverside, in his survey Everyone Eats: Understanding Food And Culture. Discussions range from the aesthetics of eating and different sensory perceptions between cultures to the needs for foods as displayed in differing literature of cultures, and surveys of how food fads change over time. Plenty of cultural insights and background history lend to a survey particularly recommended for college-level students of anthropology and social science.

Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com

Katherine Lester and Bess Viola Oerke's Accessories Of Dress (0486433781, $45.95) first appeared in 1940 and its reprint by Dover allows new audiences to receive an excellent illustrated encyclopedia which sums a number of historical sources to create an account of how men and women have used personal adornment through the ages. Line drawings taken from rare books and magazines blend with photos of original paintings and sculptures and descriptions of wigs, cosmetics, shawls, handbags and more to provide an engaging history recommended for any college-level fashion library. Ernest Fenollosa and Ezra Pound's The Noh Theatre Of Japan (0486436993, $14.95) provides the complete texts of 15 classic plays and republishes Noh Or Accomplishment: A Study Of The Classical Stage Of Japan from 1917. Pound drew upon Japanese and Chinese poetic techniques to provide free verse in the poetry he created, inspiring Fenollosa's widow to send her husband's unpublished papers to him. The result is a blend of the two in discussing Noh theatre and Pound's complete translations of 15 Noh plays.

Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd Street, #510, NY, NY 10010
1-800-491-2808 www.allworth.com

These excellent business guides are quite specific but general-interest collections will also find them very useful. Achim Nowak's Power Speaking: The Art of the Exceptional Public Speaker (1581153619, $19.95) doesn't just cover public speaking; it focuses on the best speaking techniques which embody person presence and the finer skills of the presentation. Chapters follow a step-by-step set of rules, from using voice and body movement to personal energy, stories, and developing a compelling topic. Richard Weisgrau's Real Business Of Photography (1581153503, $19.95) is copublished with the American Society of Media Photographers, draws on the author's decades of experience as a working photographer and photographer's advocate, and provides a candid assessment which debunks many popular myths of a photography business. A healthy dose of business savvy lends to a photo-specific business guide.

Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622
1-800-462-6420 www.ivanrdee.com

Ogden Nash is known for his quick, light poems and verse which packs a punch with very few words: now receive a fuller appreciation for his poems and background in Douglas M. Parker 's Ogden Nash: The Life And Work Of America's Laureate Of Light Verse (156663637X $27.50). One wouldn't think a Harvard dropout would become an editor at Doubleday and associate with some of the most famous literary figures of his time; but Nash achieved this and more, beginning with the publication of his short humor poems in The New Yorker and evolving to publish more than two dozen books of verse along with screenplays, children's stories, scripts and more. This multi-faceted biography covers all aspects of his literary and social life, and is a 'must' for any Nash reader. Carl Rollyson's A Higher Form Of Cannibalism? (1566636426, $24.95) questions whether the enthusiasm over biography has in fact led to its downfall into bad taste. Carol Rollyson is himself a biographer, so is in the perfect position to provide an insider's perspective on the subject he knows best, offering chapters which use anecdotes and criticism to examine the foundations of biographical writing. His own practices as well as those of fellow biographers are put to the critical test in a lively survey of the relationships between scholarship, biography and popular culture.

Where Stuff Comes From
Harvey Molotch
Routledge
270 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
www.routledge-ny.com
0415950422 $18.95 1-800-634-7064

Where Stuff Comes From: How Toasters, Toilets, Cars, Computers, And Many Other Things Came To Be As They Are isn't just a review of invention history: Molotch spoke with product designs, marketers, and everyone involved in making everyday products part of our lives, surveying design options, the psychology behind consumer choices, and more. The origins of each product involve a life and evolutionary process: Molotch explains why some designs remain the same and some are constantly changing.

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

Homeowners interested in home building and construction have two different, intriguing books to choose from. Judy Ostrow's The House That Jill Built: A Woman's Guide To Home Building (158-6854593, $24.95) will appeal to females who wish to either renovate or build their own homes, offering a woman's perspective to the entire process, from choosing tools to stories of female builders and designers who were ahead of their times. Vignettes profiling both selected female builders and their projects accompany practical do-it-yourself details to blend both inspiration and tips. Dick Pirozzolo and Linda Corzine's Timberframe Interiors (0879059702, $24.95) blends interior design and decor suggestions with timberframe construction insights. From indoor lighting choices, to wall versus oriental carpets, to window treatments, Timberframe Interiors tells how to enhance a timberframe project.

Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
www.thames.wwnorton.com

Two new titles are excellent artistic presentations. Sandy Black's Knitwear In Fashion (0500284016, $29.95) reviews some of the works of the radical new designers creating knitwear styles. From avant-garde deconstructions to eye-catching new clothing and blends of traditional with modern knit styles, KNITWEAR IN FASHION showcases some of the best from modern knit fashion artists. Richard Calvocoressi's Lee Miller: Portraits From A Life (0500285225, $34.95) provides a powerful catalog of works by one of this century's most accomplished photographers. Miller photographed Man Ray, Picasso and other famous personalities; but Lee Miller: Portraits From A Life doesn't review just her familiar pieces: over two-thirds here are either unpublished or have been long out of print.

Costume, Textiles and Jewellery of India
Vandana Bhandari
Mercury Books, London
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
1904668895 $40.00 1-800-758-3756

Costume, Textiles And Jewellery Of India: Traditions In Rajasthan is a wondrously informative exploration of traditional Indian attire. Lavishly illustrated with full color photographs on every page, Costume, Textiles And Jewellery Of India reveals how Indian attire proclaims one's place of origin, social position, marital status, occupation, religious affiliations, and even reflections on the changing seasons as well as other psychological aspects of day-to-day life. Information drawn from fifteen years of dedicated research is transformed into a highly accessible and wondrous tour of the physical, historical, trade, cultural and spiritual factors inherent in Indian textiles. A beautiful and enriching tour as eye-catching for lay readers as it is for serious-minded garment designers understanding and inspiration in India's ancient traditions.

Science, Politics & Gnosticism
Eric Voegelin
ISI Books
Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
www.isibooks.org
1932236481 $12.00 1-800-526-7022

Science, Politics & Gnosticism presents two essays, the title piece, "Science, Politics & Gnosticism", and "Ersatz Religion: The Gnostic Mass Movements of Our Time" by Eric Voegelin (1901-85), one of the most influential political philosophers of the twentieth century. Voegelin contends that certain modern movements, including positivism, Hegelianism, Marxism, and the "God is dead" school are variants of the gnostic tradition. Striving to settle the confusion that arises from the dominance of gnostic thought, Voegelin further strives to classify distinctions between political gnosticism and the philosophy of politics. A lucid yet in-depth scrutiny of the interplay of complex ideals and their reverbations upon mass political movements, Science, Politics & Gnosticism is especially recommended reading for advanced students of philosophy and political science.

University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
1-800-621-2736 www.upress.wisc.edu

The University of Wisconsin Press ventures into new frontiers with simply outstanding CD music collections showcases Wisconsin's Swiss and German pioneer musical heritages. Ach Ya!: Traditional German-American Music From Wisconsin (0924119144, $16.00) is a double CD collection which had the honor of being named an outstanding American folk music recording by the Library of Congress American Folklife Center in 1985. Featured are acapella singers, yodelers, zither players, button accordionists, and a series of "Dutchman" bands drawn from Wisconsin communities from Watertown to Wausau, from Cedar Grove to Birnamwood. Almost 50 performances selected by folklorists Philip Martin and James P. Leary (and enhanced with an accompanying annotated booklet) with the music arranged around four themes: "Around the Table", "Children's Songs and Rites of Passage", Across the Generations", and "Dance Melodies and Marches". Swissconsin, My Homeland: Swiss Folk Music In Wisconsin (0924119195, $16.00) features virtuoso yodeling, accordion melodies, choral singing groups, alpine dance bands, all combining to present a delightful sampling of the best of Wisconsin's rich Swiss musical heritage. Selected by the Library of Congress American Folklife Center in 1988 as being among the best traditional music recordings of the year, was originally releases in an audio cassette edition for the Wisconsin Folklife Center. This new CD recording is perfect for school music department and community library collections. A third CD music heritage recording featuring traditional and original old-time music from America's upper Midwest and made available through the University of Wisconsin Press from the Wisconsin Folklife Center is Midwest Ramblin' (092411-9209, $16.00 which offers 27 pieces performed by the Goose Island Ramblers and ranges from "No Norwegians in Dickeyville", to "Milwaukee Fire", to "Good Morning Judge". All three of these outstanding CDs are expertly produced, thoroughly entertaining, and very highly recommended listening!


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Heart Of The Prajna Paramita Sutra
Tripitaka Master Hua
Buddhist Text Translation Society
3106 Crescent Avenue, Unit 7, Marina, CA 93933
088139484X $12.00 www.drba.org

Renowned as "the most recited sutra in the world", the Heart Sutra has been chanted daily in Buddhist monasteries for more than two thousand years. The Venerable Hsuan Hua (1918-1995) was one of the foremost Tripitaka and Chan Masters of Chinese Buddhist in the U.S. and in The Heart Of The Prajna Paramita Sutra: Verses Without A Stand And Prose Commentary offers western readers an informed and insightful commentary with an especially brilliant and completely accessible distillation of the Buddhist concepts of emptiness and non-attachment. A perfect introduction to Buddhist philosophy, the Heart Sutra was translated into English by Ronald Epstein (a practicing Buddhist for more than 40 years and a research professor at the Institute of World Religions in Berkeley, California), this 165 page text (enhanced with superb color illustrations in its beginning) is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, academic, or community library Buddhist Studies reference collection.

The Treasury Of Knowledge
Jamgon Kongtrul
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com
155939210X $35.95 1-800-950-0313

The Treasury Of Knowledge: Systems Of Buddhist Tantra is book six, part four of an encyclopedic set relating the entire breadth of Buddhist teachings as they were preserved in Tibet. Compiled by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye (1813-1899), a crucial figure in eastern Tibet's nonsectarian movement, and skillfully translated into English by trained linguists and practitioners of Buddhism Elio Guarisco and Ingrid Loken McLeod, Systems of Buddhist Tantra offers a systematic exposition upon the tantric path, often called "the indestructible way of secret mantra", which is the union of wisdom (the understanding of emptiness) and method (immutable great bliss). Chapters cover the nature, divistions, action, and conduct of tantra; yoga tantra; the nature of the mind and body; tantric scriptures; exposition methods; and much more. Extensive notes aid in the understanding of sometimes technical discourses related to yoga, scripture, states of being, and other matters. This is a superb resource for advanced Buddhist practitioners, students and scholars striving to better understand the wisdom and path to inner peace handed down through centuries.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Defining Acts
Ruth Nisse
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
0268036020 $23.00 1-800-621-2736

Associate professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Ruth Nisse presents Defining Acts: Drama And The Politics Of Interpretation In Late Medieval England is an in-depth reflection upon surviving English theatrical works of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and how they represent competing interpretations. The plays compose a sequence of contests concerning who could legitimately determine the meaning of texts - men, women, clerics, laity, rulers, subjects, Christians or Jews. A heavily researched and documented examination of discourses that revealed cultural intelligence in heated conflict, Defining Acts is geared towards college and graduate-level studies, libraries and reference shelves in medieval literature, and spares no depth in its struggle for interpretation.

112 Acting Games
Gavin Levy
Meriwether Publishing
Box 77110, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
www.meriwether.com
1566081068 $17.95 1-800-937-5297

Aspiring actors receive a fine gathering of tested theatre games for learning acting skills, divided into sections by type of skill learned, in the exercise set 112 Acting Games: A Comprehensive Workbook Of Theatre Games For Developing Acting Skills. From games devoted to increasing memorization and sensory awareness to improvisation and motor skills development routines, 112 Acting Games can apply equally well to adults and student actors.

The Dinosaur Films Of Ray Harryhausen
Roy P. Webber
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786416661 $45.00 1-800-253-2187

Ray Harryhausen was a pioneer of the cinema. He was the man whose expanded and advanced the utilization of "stop-motion" animation. This was the labor intensive and painstaking practice of making models and puppets seem to come alive through moving slightly moving them and taking a photograph of each movement, then position them again, taking another photograph, repeating the process again and again. Running those still photographs through a film projector gave the fascinating illusion of movement that was a popular breakthrough in "special effects" for early fantasy movies featuring all manner of monsters and dinosaurs. In particular, Harryhausen was essential to bringing to life the dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures that were integral to his four classic Hollywood films: "One Million Years B.C.", "The Beasts from 20,000 Fathoms", "The Animal World", and "The Valley of Gwangi". Harryhausen developed stop-motion animation techniques that were to influence subsequent generations of film makers and special effects professionals down to this very day. In The Dinosaur Films Of Ray Harryhausen: Features, Early 16mm Experiments And Unrealized Projects, Roy P. Webber provides a complete history of Harryhausen's cinematic work that rises to the level of archetypal scholarship, including an informative perspective on the paleontological accuracy of the saurians from a contemporary perspective given the advances of paleontology over the past few decades. Of special note is the exhaustive appendix regarding dinosaur-related films that Harryhausen had a hand in. Nicely illustrated throughout with vintage photos and a "must" read for all Ray Harryhausen fans, The Dinosaur Films Of Ray Harryhausen is a core addition to professional and academic library Cinematic Studies and Film History reference collections.

The Songwriter Goes To War
Alan Anderson
Hal Leonard Corporation
151 West 46th St., 8th fl, NY, NY 10036
www.halleonard.com
0879103043 $27.95 1-800-637-2852

The Songwriter Goes To War: The Story of Irving Berlin's World War II All-Army Production of This Is The Army is the long-lost true story of frontline show business - from the hustle and bustle of its large-scale production including the transportation of of a full-scale Broadway musical revue to Great Britain during the blitz, to its premier at theaters, subsequent reception, and role in keeping up morale. Carefully researched by Broadway stage manager, television director, and five-year army serviceman Alan Anderson, The Songwriter Goes To War is enhanced with a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, a roster of "This Is The Army" members and an index for easy quick referencing. A welcome contribution to both World War II era popular culture and American theatrical history, The Songwriter Goes To War is an enduring true story of a dyed-in-the-wool entertainer expertly applying his gifts to serve his country in its hour of need.


The Interior Design Shelf

Hannah's Art Of Home
Hannah Keeley
Capital Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
www.capital-books.com
1931868824 $17.95 1-800-758-3756

Written by the publisher of "HK Magazine", an online magazine geared toward families, Hannah's Art Of Home: Managing Your Home Around Your Personality is a straightforward guide to organizing and decorating a home that suits one's personality tastes. From learning how to de-clutter chaos, to top techniques for keeping things clean with less effort, to decoration formulas for success and more, Hannah's Art Of Home is filled cover to cover with tips, tricks, and techniques to make one's domain appropriate for one's spirit and family. Highly recommended.

The New Southwest Home
Suzanne Pickett Martinson
Northland Publishing
PO Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
www.northlandpub.com
0873588576 $34.95 1-800-346-3257

Beautifully illustrated with full color photographs on every page, The New Southwest Home is a showcase of innovate and stylish southwest home interiors. Spanning a range of styles, from incorporating Native American elements to neo- classical decor to stark simplicity verging on modern art, these dwellings are breathtaking to behold and evoke a variety sentiments connected to different aspects of daily life in the Southwest. A superb inspirational resource, absorbing to simply page through, and just as enticing for the casual browser as it is for the professional interior decorator.

Furniture Hot Spots
Jennifer Litwin
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Gilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
1592285899 $14.95 1-800-836-0510

While furniture shopper expect Jennifer Litwin's Furniture Hot Spots: Best Furniture Stores And Websites Coast To Coast could easily have been featured under our consumer's reviews, it's featured here so homeowners won't miss what might be the most valuable consideration of a home: its furniture choice. Learn where to locate the best furniture, how to identify the best, and how to bargain for it in a guide which reviews hundreds of furniture stores in 12 major cities across the nation: stores which specialize in unique, fine pieces from antique to modern, low end to high. Her excellent, candid assessment offers 'chair' ratings by quality, price, personnel and ambiance.

Beyond The Basics Mosaics
Elizabeth DuVal
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
1402709366 $19.95 1-800-805-5489

Beyond The Basics Mosaics presents more than 30 eye-catching mosaic projects best suited for intermediate-level crafters, but also accessible to beginners. From picassiete (break up old china and create motifs to add beauty to tables, walls, kitchen counters and more) to shard art (a free-form style that can incorporate almost anything into images) to shellwork (a distinct skill that can add splendor to box lids, picture frames and more), Beyond The Basics Mosaics describes techniques with explicit instructions, full-color photographs, tips on coloration, design and array, and much more. An excellent resource for crafting beautiful and memorable treasures, whether to decorate one's home or present as gifts.


The Business Shelf

Successful Website Marketing
Peggi Ridgway
Wordpix Solutions
PO Box 218, Buena Park, CA 90621-0218
0963583646 $26.95 www.wordpix.com

Award-winning author, web designer, and professional marketing consultant Peggi Ridgway presents Successful Website Marketing, a thoroughly "user friendly guide to marketing one's business or product on the internet at low cost. Written for business owners who may have only marginal familiarity with the World Wide Web, Successful Website Marketing includes worksheets and forms, general advice on defining one's market group and branding, designing an aesthetic and functional website, getting ready for search engines and showing up as a higher listing within them, creating an online buzz, using email and ezines (NOT spam!), and so much more. Successful Website Marketing is a "must-have" instructional reference, especially for small business owners in an era of ever-increasing e-commerce.

Perpetual Business Machines
Eric T-S. Pan
Meridian Deployment Corporation
40660 Las Palmas Avenue, Fremont, CA 94539
0975448005 $48.50 mdc-learning.com

Perpetual Business Machines is a business manual written especially for technical professionals striving to operate in the new economy: a global economic environment marked by knowledge, convergence of technologies, and free markets. Written by the president of Meridian Deployment Corporation in Silicon Valley, Perpetual Business Machines channels the author's personal experience in the high-tech industry during all phases of business cycles. Chapters address the key principles of profit-making, market analysis, product management, business procedure, troubleshooting, and more. Presenting its ideas enumerated point-by-point, Perpetual Business Machines is a "must-have" for anyone in the technology industry looking to strengthen their understanding of how business works and what common errors to avoid in collaborations and other ventures.

American Farmstead Cheese
Paul Kindstedt
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com
1931498776 $40.00 1-800-639-4099

Knowledgeably written by Paul Kindstedt (a professor of the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences of the University of Vermont) in conjunction with The Vermont Cheese Council (a nonprofit organization that supports Vermont cheesemakers), American Farmstead Cheese: The Complete Guide To Making And Selling Artisan Cheeses is an in-dept, "user friendly" guide to cheesemaking, from means of ensuring safety and quality in one's cheese and analyzing cheese composition, to marketing plans and business strategies of successful commercial cheesemakers. American Farmstead Cheese does cover some technical scientific concepts, particularly when discussing the science of cheese creation, but the language strives to be as accessible as possible to the lay reader and an index allows for quick and easy reference. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this in-depth resource, which is an absolute "must-have" for anyone involved in or contemplating the cheesemaking business, and a delightful addition to the libraries of cheese connoisseurs.

Global Call Centers
Erik Granered
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
3704 Beard Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55422
www.nbrealey-books.com
1904838030 $34.95 1-888-273-2539

Global Call Centers: Achieving Outstanding Customer Service Across Cultures & Time Zones is a straightforward guide to promoting quality customer service even when one's customer call service centers may be outsources around the globe. Erik Granered, communications expert and former course developer and trainer for WorldCom's customer service operations, walks the reader through outsourcing and offshoring, creating a customer service culture, strategic approaches, specific issues pertaining to English-language and Spanish-language customer service as well as European and Asian customer service options, and much more. From taking different national communication styles into account to basic cultural analysis in plain and simple terms, Global Call Centers is a groundbreaking book in its field and a "must-have" for anyone responsible for organizing or maintaining an international customer call service.

Talespin
Gerry McCuscker
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1573
www.styluspub.com
074944259X $29.95 1-800-232-0223

Talespin: Public Relations Disasters - Inside Stories & Lessons Learned is an anthology of true public relations gaffes - from the brouhaha that ensues when two sports mascots get into an all-to-real physical altercation on the field, to the infamous Ford vehicle/Firestone tire defects considered responsible for the loss of dozens of lives. Each incident is retraced, analyzed carefully in plain terms, with a summary of lessons learned about how to deal with public relations crises, keep a positive image, avoid slander and libel, and respond appropriately when bad things happen. An absolute "must-read" for any PR professional, packed with tips, tricks, and techniques on what to do or not do. Learning from one's mistakes is important, but it is far less costly to learn from other people's mistakes - Talespin allows the business owner or PR professional to do exactly that!

The Workforce Scorecard
Richard W. Beatty
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way , Boston, MA 02163
www.HBSPress.org
1591392454 $29.95 1-800-668-6780

Two Professors of Human Resource Management at Rutgers University and the Chairman of the Department of Organization and Human Resources of SUNY-Buffalo combine their knowledge in The Workforce Scorecard: Managing Human Capital To Execute Strategy, a guide written especially for business leaders and CEOs looking for a means to accurately assess their human resources and capital. Chapters address how to build an evenhanded and objective "workforce scorecard", the role of line managers, workforce metrics, ideal communication and learning programs for the workforce scorecard, how to focus on the goal of a more productive workplace through expert selection and management of human capital, and much more. A slightly general but solidly written treatise that covers both academic principle and the needs of practical reality.

LLC or Corporation?
Anthony Mancusco
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
1413300898 $24.99 1-800-955-4775

Attorney and business-law expert Anthony Mancuso presents LLC or Corporation? How to Choose the Right Form For Your Business, an in-depth guide to making the right choice when one's company has grown to the point where its legal structure needs to be upgraded to something that will protect one's assets and provide tax benefits. The question of "corporation or limited liability company?" isn't clear-cut, but since it will directly affect the legal and tax status of one's business, it is a crucial question indeed. LLC or Corporation? covers all aspects of this decision, including concerns of doing business out-of-state, money issues and personal liability concerns, converting a partnership or a sole proprietorship to another entity, converting an LLC to another entity, converting, dissolving or selling a corporation, and much more. Highly recommended for anyone confronted with the title question - it is much better to get all the facts and make an informed decision now than expend an excess of time and effort cleaning up after a mistaken choice later.

How to Keep Score In Business
Robert Follett
Alpine Guild/Follett Publishing
PO Box 4848, Dillon, CO 80435
0695811010 $15.95 www.alpineguild.com

No better book has been published for non-accountants than Robert Follett's older How To Keep Score In Business: Accounting And Financial Analysis For The Non-Accountant: here's a simple guide which tells all the basics: how to understand a balance sheet, how to understand an income statement, how to decipher the 'return on investment' figures. Plenty of competing titles say you should know these facts - few get to the nitty-gritty of just how to understand them.

The Art Of Business
Stan Davis & David McIntosh
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery, #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
1576753026 $19.95 1-800-929-2929

Whether you're a student, a business executive or an aspiring artist, all can benefit from seeing the world through eyes blending aesthetic appreciation and strategy. Using the artist's eye, The Art Of Business: Make All Your Work A Work Of Art shows how to use artistic flow patterns to use emotion, imagination and intuition to improve the outputs of a job. Even a company can benefit from blending the two flows of aesthetic and emotional richness with strategic fine tuning, using The Art Of Business as a guide.

Building Your Ebay Traffic The Smart Way
Joseph T. Sinclair
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814472699 $17.95 amacombooks.org

It's hard to believe eBay has only been round 10 years: today it's a major force in the retail world and offered 971 million items for sale in 2003 alone. Joseph Sinclair wrote the popular 'eBay the Smart Way' titles and here provides sellers with additional tips on using Froogle, datafeeds, and other advanced listing strategies. Datafeed marketing lets eBay sellers 'feed' their listings to other websites run by browsers which attract serious shoppers. Froogle is not only effective for boosting sales - it's free. Building Your Ebay Traffic The Smart Way is an invaluable guide any eBay regular seller won't want to be without.


The Language Studies Shelf

Understanding Chinese Characters
Ping-gam Go
Simplex Publications
575 Larkspur Plaza, Suite 4, Larkspur, CA 94939
www.simplexpublications.com
0962311375 $15.95 1-415-924-6508

Now in its fourth edition, Understanding Chinese Characters By Their Ancestral Forms by Ping-gam Go reveals the meaning of Chinese writing by providing and describing the historical pictograph for each Chinese character, thereby materially aiding the reader to identify, learn and memorize the most widely used Chinese characters with a minimum of effort. Enhanced with a full-color photo survey of business establishment signage in San Francisco's Chinatown, and a dictionary of 288 Chinese characters containing both Mandarin and Cantonese pronunciation), students and tourists are offered dozens of practice exercises to memorize the meanings of those Chinatown signs. There are even flashcards for 41 of the most prevalent characters found on a Chinese restaurant menu!. Compact and portably, with alphabetical and subject indexes to dictionary entries, Understanding Chinese Characters By Their Ancestral Forms is a welcome and "user friendly" resource for learning to decipher Chinese writing whether for simply fun or serious business. Also very highly recommended from Simplex Publications are two other Chinese language instructionals by Ping-gam Go: Read Chinese Today: A Walk Thro-ugh San Francisco's Chinatown, Understanding Chinese Characters By Their Ancestral Forms With Photographs And Map (0962311332, $6.95); What Character Is That?: An Easy-Access Dictionary Of 5,000 Chinese Characters, 2nd Edition (0962311359, $19.95).

Between You and I
James Cochrane
Sourcebooks Inc.
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
www.sourcebooks.com
1402203314 $11.95 1-800-432-7444

Bad English isn't just about swearing and slang: it's also to be found in seemingly educated language as well as in uneducated writing: Cambridge University graduate and editor James Cochrane here assembles some of the best faux paus of the English language, providing not only an a-z dictionary of commonly misused words and phrases, but examples of how they are misused and when a better word would be more appropriate. Between You and I is a lively, fun read as well as a basic primer in proper usage.

Dictionary Days
Ilan Stavans
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, #203, St. Paul, MN 55114
www.graywolfpress.org
1555974198 $17.00 1-651-641-0077

Ilan Stavans is a multiculturalist at its best: born in Mexico of Jewish descent with Eastern European origins, he speaks six languages fluently and has been immersed in dictionaries all his life. His history of lexicography surveys many different languages in essays which survey the history of words, cultures, and dictionaries alike. Fun anecdotes juxtapose serious scholarship combine in the pages of Dictionary Days providing a lively read which is very highly recommended for both leisure and study.

Webster's New Explorer Dictionary
Federal Street Press
c/o Merriam-Webster Inc.
PO Box 281, Springfield, MA 01102
www.m-w.com
1892859769 $10.98 1-877-886-2830

Now in a newly expanded and updated edition, Webster's New Explorer Dictionary offers 2,000 new words, enhancing many of the definitions with examples used in context and one hundred new illustrations to expand and clarify their meanings. Altogether, this new and highly recommended edition of Webster's New Explorer Dictionary offers more than 75,000 concise and easy-to-understand definitions and is enhanced with new special sections providing assistance to English Language learners. Also very highly recommended for personal, professional, school, and community library reference shelf collections are two outstanding companion reference works which are also available from the Federal Street Press: Webster's New Explorer Thesaurus: New Edition (1892859777, $10.98); and a reference title combining both their new dictionary and their new thesaurus editions, Webster's New Explorer Dictionary And Thesaurus: New Edition (1892859785, $19.98).


The Musicbook Shelf

Cinderella's Big Shore
Maria Raha
Seal Press
Avalon Publishing Group, dist.
1400 - 65th St., Emeryville, CA 94608
www.avalonpub.com
1580051162 $17.95 1-800-788-3123

Readers interested in punk rock music in general and women's contributions to the genre in particular will relish Cinderella's Big Score: Women Of The Punk And Indie Underground, a tribute to punk rock's female artists. Maria Raha works for Spin and Vibe magazines: her focus on the U.S. and English punk rockers of the 1970s and 80s details how women influenced groups of the times, and beyond. Recording history influence and background blends with details on the lives and contributions of major female musicians and groups.

Jazz Piano Cocktails
Bob Kail & Tony Santorella
Santorella Publications
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
877-600-0049 santorellapublications.com

A universal characteristic of Santorella musical instrument instruction books and manuals are their quick and easy mastery formats allowing even the most novice of beginners to readily become proficient with their chosen instrument in a wide variety of musical styles. One of the newest additions to their line of outstanding instructional publications is Jazz Piano Cocktails: Popular Jazz Standards, a three volume series for the jazz piano which are arranged by Bob Kail and edited by Tony Santorella. The three individual titles ($14.95 each) comprising this outstanding three part series (Volume 1, TS291; Volume 2, TS292; Volume 3, TS293, $14.95) include an accompanying performance CD. The compositions comprising this enthusiastically recommended trilogy of instruction books range from After You've Gone; and Ain't She Sweet; to Frankie and Johnnie; Tico Tico; Bye Bye Blackbird; Billy Bailey, and so many more. The Jazz Piano Cocktails: Popular Jazz Standards series is ideal for either personal/private/independent student studies or school music department curriculum resource collections.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Salary Negotiation Tips For Professionals
Ron Krannich & Caryl Krannich
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
www.impactpublications.com
157023230X $16.95 1-703-361-7300

The collaborative effort of career training experts Ron and Caryl Krannich, Salary Negotiation Tips For Professionals: Compensation That Reflects Your Value is an ideal introduction the the art and craft of bargaining with an employer with respect to compensation for the employee. This informed and informative work covers how to make more money through the art of salary negotiation, common negotiation mistakes to be avoided, compensation options and issues, calculating worth, dealing with compensation issues, salary questions, negotiating a complete compensation package, as well as getting raises and promotions. Of special note is the chapter devoted to "The Quick and Easy Salary Advisor". Salary Negotiation Tips For Professionals should be seriously considered as "must" reading for anyone seeking to improve the quality and quantity of their wages and fringe benefits.

Davies-Black Publishing
1055 Joaquin Road, #200, Mountain View, CA 94043
www.daviesblack.com

Two excellent titles cover clues to advancing career goals and are recommended picks for any who would bring new ideas into play. Helen Harkness' Capitalizing On Career Chaos: Bringing Creativity And Purpose To Your Life And Work (0891062092, $18.95) advocates two basic steps and shows how to achieve them: looking inward to connect with real needs, then looking outward to match core instincts and talents to workplace realities. Chapters cover the basics of how to redesign a career by pinpointing important strengths and using them appropriately. Lacey T. Smith's Get It! Street Smart Negotiation At Work (0891062076, $18.95) is also a winner, offering insights and tactics for successful business negotiation. From formal to informal negotiation, Smith shows that when emotions are factored into the process, the results improve. Chapters are devoted to identifying the heart of this process which brings emotions into play, using over sixty 'lessons from the street' to provide examples of positive resolution and negotiation techniques.

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

What Is Your Life's Work? (0060766867, $22.95) by Bill Jensen is more than just advice: it gathers life stories and case histories of those who succeeded in identifying what really matters, using the letters and work diaries of others to mirror reader struggles. While the overall message lies in identifying life purpose, all the advice in What Is Your Life's Work can be directed to business solutions and issues as well as more general life concerns over risk, worth, and achievement. An excellent, cathartic inspiration for change. You Can't Win A Fight With Your Boss & 55 Other Rules For Success (0060776625, $14.95) by Tom Markert tells how to climb the corporate ladder - by understanding your boss. Markert should know: he's a senior executive at a large company with decades of experience, and uses this experience to outline almost sixty rules every employee and manager must follow in striving for corporate success.


The Humor Shelf

The Peanuts Guide To Life
Charles Schulz
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
www.runningpress.com
0762423374 $12.95 1-800-345-5359

The Peanuts Guide To Life: Wit And Wisdom From The World's Favorite Cartoon Characters is a compilation drawn from more than fifty years of the cast of cartoon characters created by the late Charles Schultz. The focus is on bringing back to the attention of Peanuts fans a nostalgic look at the philosophy and insights so deftly revealed in the humor of small children and their observances on and about each other and the world in which they existed. The Peanuts Guide To Life will also admirably serve to introduce a whole new generation to the lively humor and pity quotes that were a large part of the newspaper cartoon strip's enduring popularity. A quick and easy read that is often inspired and occasionally inspiring, we are once again reminded of such clever truism as "Baby-sitters are like used cares...you never know what you're getting." and such earthy advice as "Never lick ice cream off a hot sidewalk." The Peanuts Guide To Life should be on the shelves of every community library in the country -- if only as a public and much appreciated service to the new generation of kids who will one day grow up to be parents with kids of their own!

Driving Under The Influence Of Children
Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740750054 $16.95 1-800-851-8923

Driving Under The Influence Of Children is the latest compiled treasury of "Baby Blues" comic strips, collecting the daily struggles of two parents and the three precocious young children who exist to exhaust their resources, wallets, and supply of clean clothes. Parents everywhere are sure to see their own experiences reflected in the good-natured humor of the stay-at-home "I prefer to think of it as twenty-five years of maternity leave" mother and well-meaning father with noticeably less stamina around babies at maximum volume ("How come when you look after the kids it's 'parenting' but when I look after the kids it's 'not working'?" asks the beleagured mother). Baby Blues remains a gem among comic strips, both in that its characters are permitted to age with the passage of time, and in that it remains as fresh, funny, and all-too-insightful of the human condition as it was in its inception. Highly recommended, not to mention just plain funny.

The Worst Baby Name Book Ever
David Narter
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
www.cumberlandhouse.com
1581824564 $9.95 1-888-439-2665

So many baby names books are on the market, and so much tension revolves around locating the perfect name assignment, that it's a relief to read David Narter's The Worst Baby Name Book Ever, a refreshing alternative with a healthy dose of humor to lighten a tense situation. Hundreds of names and hilarious sidebars tell what each name evokes, its origin, and likely sources of childhood teasing resolving around the selection. So if you pick a name from The Worst Baby Name Book Ever, it'll be with full knowledge of the likely consequences.

You Might Be A Redneck If This Is The Biggest Book You've Ever Read
Jeff Foxworthy
Rutledge Hill Press
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.rutledgehillpress.com
1401601936 $16.99 1-800-251-4000

Almost anyone who enjoys comedy will have either read Jeff Foxworthy's Southern redneck humor books or seen his numerous TV shows: now there's another fine volume helping to define the possibilities of the redneck personality: the 'monster truck of redneck books' covering such important topics as love and marriage, partyin', wheels, fashion and more. All with the Foxworthy brand 'you might be a redneck if ' pattern.


The International Studies Shelf

You Can't Get There From Here
Gayle Forman
Rodale Press
400 S. 10th St, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594860378 $23.95 www.rodale.com

Global cultures clash daily, but none so personally as in Gayle Forman's You Can't Get There From Here: A Year On The Fringes Of A Shrinking World. Forman's trip around the world covers the cultures and differences in eight stories of personal encounters among world groups, from a group of transvestites on Tonga to an odd group of Lord of Rings fans acting out fantasy games in Kazakhstan in an effort to reclaim their European roots. The planet is shrinking as cultures overlap traditional and modern in strange, new ways: that's the underlying message of You Can't Get There From Here.

The Asian Mystique
Sheridan Prasso
Public Affairs
250 W. 57th St., #1321, NY, NY 10107
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
1586482149 $27.95 1-877-782-1234

What are the West's visions of an 'exotic' Oriental mystique? Westerners have long harbored many images of the Orient, from fabled Geisha girls to illusions of the male mystique as effeminate and asexual: illusions which affect communications, relationships, and even professional perspectives. Enter The Asian Mystique by Sheridan Prasso, a recommended pick for any who would identify their own underlying stereotypes of Asian psychology and society. Chapters strive to tear away the illusions and offer a more realistic portrait of Asians - there's much food for thought in The Asian Mystique.


The Biography Shelf

Closing The Circle
Elsie H. Landstrom
QED Press
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
0936609389 $16.95 1-800-773-7782

Closing The Circle: An American Family In China is the story of a woman born in China, the daughter of devoted missionaries, who left the land of her birth and returned 60 years later to "close the circle". Black and white photographs illustrate this thoughtful portrait of pre-Communist China through young eyes, as well as a more sober understanding that comes with adulthood and age. Cherishing the friends old and new made within China's lands, as well as giving testimony to the efforts of programs and hospitals of the past and present to treat diseases, eradicate opium, slavery, and famine, and improve the quality of life, Closing The Circle resonates with the author's love for China's land its people. A jubilant and poignant testimony of one woman's love for China from the depths of her heart.

Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com

Two fine new biographies are excellent picks for public libraries and high schools seeking lasting biographical references with depth. Roger Bruns' Jesse Jackson: A Biography (0313331383, $29.95) provides 140 pages of background coverage on one of the most important civil rights figures of modern times. Jackson has been a key figure for decades: his biography covers his key contributions, the groups he's formed or joined, and civil rights history as a whole. Charlie Vascellaro's Hank Aaron (0313330018, $29.95) follows the developments of one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. When Aaron was born in 1934, Babe Ruth was baseball's home run king and the Negro Leagues were the only hope Aaron had of playing professional baseball. Aaron established thirteen Major League career records for both home runs and RBI and even broke Ruth's career home run record - despite death threats. An outstanding survey of an outstanding key player.

Innocent Heart, Laughter And Tears
Antonia Sparano Geiser
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
188289751X $19.95 cypresshouse.com

Innocent Heart, Laughter And Tears is the a personal memoir and biography concerning the life of Maria Marzia Maiello and her family. Born in 1920 in a small town in Italy, she had to abandon her beloved native land with her mother at the tender age of ten, to escape the rising tide of fascism. Together they came to the United States, where young Maria met her father in America. Written by Maria's daughter Antonia Sparano Geiser, Innocent Heart, Laughter And Tears is the amalgamation of many stories Maria and her Mother told directly Antonia, and so Antonia has taken the liberty of collecting and presenting them in first person narration. Innocent Heart, Laughter And Tears reads fluidly, yet it is more than a memoir and a biography; it beautifully preserves a piece of twentieth century Italian-American heritage, culture, and memory.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Click That Does The Trick
Robin Deutsch
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
www.tfh.com
0793805619 $14.95 1-800-631-2188

The Click That Does The Trick is an easy-to-use guide especially for exotic bird owners looking to train their pets to perform a wide variety of tricks, using a clicker as a training tool. From simple tricks such as extending or flapping wings, to more advanced or prop-related tricks such as playing dead in the owner's hands or ringing a bell, to advanced tricks like riding a scooter or using props to perform imitations of popular sports, The Click That Does The Trick walks the reader through a step-by-step process with explicit instructions and full-color photographs. The Click That Does The Trick emphasizes that exotic birds, from parrots are not fully domesticated animals like modern cats and dogs, and cannot be handled in precisely the same way due to their very strong natural instincts. Training must never force or frighten the bird, should be kept fun, and not all birds are suited to perform all tricks. A final section aids the reader in creating bird-sized props for the more elaborate prop-based tricks. Highly recommended for any bird owner interested in becoming better acquainted with his or her pet through training, and possibly even giving small performances to delight friends and family.

Rats
Robert Sullivan
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Avenue, #300, NY, NY 10010
1582344779 $14.95 bloomsbury.com

Rats: you have to loathe them if you're a city dweller; yet author Robdert Sullivan does just the opposite: he spent a year investigating a rat-infested alley just a few blocks from wall street, getting to know its habits, the efforts of exterminators, and others involved in the wild city rat's life. Rats: Observations On The History & Habitat Of The City's Most Unwanted Inhabitants provides a witty yet scientific review of the urban rat, from issues of plague and garbage to seasonal changes in its habits.

Robbing The Bees
Holley Bishop
The Free Press
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
0743250214 $24.00 1-800-223-2336

While Holley Bishop's Robbing The Bees: A Biography Of Honey informatively examines the honey more than the bee, readers are still provided with an impressive cultural and culinary history of the uses and harvesting of honey from antiquity down to modern times. From early harvesting techniques to modern health discoveries about honey, Robbing The Bees is filled with fascinating facts and history making it an invaluable and popular addition to personal, school, and community library collections.

Straight From The Horse's Mouth
Amelia Kinkade
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
1577315065 $14.95 1-800-972-6657

If animals could talk, they things they would say! But they can't talk - or can they? Straight From The Horse's Mouth: How To Talk To Animals And Get Answers advocates it is possible to foster animal communication: communicator Kinkade shares a program which has helped her clients understand and communicate with their pets. Prepare for guided meditations, exercises designed to foster intuition, and learn how to discern everything from illness and depression to accepting a pet's differences. An intriguing approach, for pet lovers only.

Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116
1-800-225-3362 www.hmco.com

It's all going to the birds with two new guides in hand to lend extra insights into the winged world. Bill Thompson III and the editors of Bird Watcher's Digest present Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges (0618514694, $19.95). Finally there's a guide for avid birders which explains why it's often so difficult to identify birds, from the challenges of separating immature colorings from adult to features which make common birds hard to tell apart. The focus on what elements make identification a challenge and how to overcome these challenges through alternate methods makes for a fine review of the major bird species and their unique attributes. Perhaps its birdsong which is the attraction: if so, pick up Donald Kroodsma's The Singing Life Of Birds: The Art And Science Of Listening To Birdsong (0618405682, $28.00). Learn about how birds acquire their songs, how they vary between species and places, and how to identify birds through song. First-person observation and reporting accompanies scientific facts and research. Professor Kroodsma has studied birds and their songs for over thirty years; but his The Singing Life Of Birds is that perfect cross between research and casual observation which makes it engrossing to a wider audience than college-level students of ornithology.

Horsekeeping On A Small Acerage
Cherry Hill
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 02147
158017535X $24.95 www.storey.com

It's even more important to manage one's horse in a small acreage situation, and that's there renowned instructor/horse trainer Cherry Hill comes in, offering her years of expertise and teaching how to refine horse care tasks. Horse behavior and needs supplement various management method alternatives for different goals and lifestyles in a practical how-to manual horse owners will find essential. This new edition features expanded focus on environmentally responsible management methods, acreage selection, barn designs and much more.


The Black Studies Shelf

Malcolm X
Robert E. Terrill
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
0870137301 $49.95 msupress.msu.edu

Written by an Assistant Professor of Communication at Indiana University, Bloomington, Malcolm X: Inventing Radical Judgment is a scholarly, intense, and philosophical analysis of Malcom X's oratory. Scrutinizing both the speeches that Malcolm X made while as a minister for the Nation of Islam and those made after he left the Nation, Malcolm X: Inventing Radical Judgment especially focuses upon the strategies of interpretation and judgment that Malcom X fostered in his audiences. Recontextualizing the radical judgment found in Malcolm X's rhetoric according to three disparate theoretical approaches, Malcolm X: Inventing Radical Judgment strives to reveal a better understanding of one man's speechmaking power that was so great its iconoclasm transcends the limits of individual contemporary definitions.

African Voices Of The Atlantic Slave Trade
Anne C. Bailey
Beacon Press
25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108-2892
0807055123 $26.00 www.beacon.org

There has long been silence on the issue of slavery and the Atlantic Slave trade: author Anne Bailey experienced this silence growing up in Jamaica, and as an adult became determined to break this silence, first researching the topic, than interviewing chiefs and elders in Ghana. African Voices Of The Atlantic Slave Trade: Beyond The Silence And The Shame focuses on the Anlo Ewe community in Ghana to examine the impact of slavery and slave traders, showing how the trade became unpredictable and moved from the control of Africans to the control of outsiders. Oral narratives reveal why Africans began selling others into transatlantic slavery, providing a hard-hitting alternative history.


The Science Shelf

Conducting Research Literature Reviews
Arlene Fink
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.sagepub.com
141290904X $37.95 1-800-818-7243

Now in its second edition, Conducting Research Literature Reviews: From The Internet To Paper is an informative guide to identifying, interpreting, and analyzing published and unpublished research literature. Checklists, sample cases, exercises and more illustrate the intricate difficulties and useful methodologies for selecting questions that will make the review most effective, identifying the most appropriate databases, setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting and evaluating descriptive literature reviews, and more. The second edition offers new features including tips for searching the web for research information, flow diagrams to aid the reader in applying each step of the review, new references and other online resources. A scholarly and extremely practical guide especially for students and professionals in need of a strict process to sift through the dross and find the hidden gold within the information highway.

Dark Light
Linda Simon
Harcourt Books
525 'B' St., #1900, San Diego, CA 92101
www.harcourtbooks.com
0156032449 $14.00 1-800-543-1918

In 1879 Americans were fearful of the 'new electricity': forty years later, the whole country relied on it. How did Americans come to change their minds? Dark Light: Electricity And Anxiety From The Telegraph To The X-ray explains the evolution of electrical acceptance in this country, providing a lively, popular discussion.

Spring Forward
Michael Downing
Shoemaker & Hoard, Publishers
3704 Macomb Street NW, Suite 4, Washington, DC 20016
www.shoemakerhoard.com
1593760531 $23.00 1-800-788-3123

Almost a hundred years ago lawmakers embraced the idea of saving an hour of daylight: their movement made law but leads to modern confusion over why clocks should change. Here's a history not just of daylight savings time's evolution, but all kinds of clock tinkering processes around the world. Spring Forward: The Annual Madness Of Daylight Saving Time uses news reports, Congressional hearings, and more to chart the origins and modern controversies of daylight savings.

The Joy Of Chemistry
Cathy Cobb & Monty Fetterolf
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr, Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591022312 $26.00 1-800-421-0351

Many titles assume chemistry facts should best be left to the weighty college-level text: not so Cathy Cobb and Monty Fetterolf's Joy Of Chemistry: The Amazing Science Fo Familiar Things, which relates basic chemistry concepts to everyday life instead of complex math formulas alone. Chapters blend science, invention history, and a lively survey which translates chemistry concepts to real-life examples. Yes, there are formulas and scientific notes - but also a wonderful layman's language which makes Joy Of Chemistry accessible to a wider audience than most.

Breaking The Time Barrier
Jenny Randles
Paraview/Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
0743492595 $13.00 1-800-223-2336

Time travel was once considered only the realm of science fiction: in Breaking The Time Barrier, Jenny Randles reveals recent experiments which are showing the time barrier may indeed be broken. Breaking The Time Barrier: The Race To Build The First Time Machine documents the evolution of research that began about a century ago, in which scientists from Marconi to Edison worked to create a real time machine. Modern physicists are experimenting on slowing the passage of information, freezing light, and breaking the speed of light - and the time barrier. Read all about it here: your future may be at stake.

Bone Wars
Tom Rea
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.pitt.edu/~press
0822958465 $16.00 1-800-666-2211

Knowledgeably written by former journalist Tom Rea, Bone Wars: The Excavation And Celebrity Of Andrew Carnegie's Dinosaurs is the award-winning true story of how a Diplodicus carngeii fossil (named after famous industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie) found in the Wyoming badlands helped bring about public fascination with the great beasts of millennia past. Though Bone Wars is entirely nonfiction, it is so deftly written that it reads like a novel as it follows the battles of individuals, conflicting scientific theories, and even instances of backstabbing and double-crossing in the bone-hunting world of a century past. An extensive bibiography and index enhance this truly enjoyable and informative history, which is especially recommended for dinosaur and paleontology enthusiasts.

Descent
Brad Matsen
Pantheon Books
1745 Broadway, New York Ny 10019
www.randomhouse.com
0375422587 $25.00 1-800-726-0600

The deep-sea expeditions of Otis Barton and William Beebe revolutionized undersea concepts and exploration - and at the height of the Depression years, when money was tight. Beebe was a famous naturalist who became obsessed with oceanography, and had his own research station off Bermuda, along with the support of many industrialists of his times. The younger Barton was heir to a fortune and had his own dreams of deep-sea exploration and adventure. Together the two opened a new world, directly observing new life in the abyss until a bitter dispute left them estranged. Descent: The Heroic Discovery Of The Abyss re-creates their adventures and discoveries.

Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.perseusbooks.com

The lives of world scientists can be almost as insightful as reviews of their major discoveries: that's why two new biographical coverages are recommended picks for any who would study scientific achievement. Nancy Thorndike Greenspan's The End Of The Certain World: The Life And Science Of Max Born, The Nobel Physicist Who Ignited The Quantum Revolution (0738206938, $26.95) tells of a physicist forced to emigrate to England when the Nazis took over - and found his pacifist nature compromised when he discovered his findings had helped the developers of the atom bomb. Born's complete story is presented here for the first time, from his achievement of the Nobel prize as discoverer of quantum theory to his exile from Germany and his teaching of nine Nobel physicists in turn. A splendid coverage of a major figure. Palle Yourgrau's A World Without Time: The Forgotten Legacy Of Godel And Einstein (0465092934, $24.00) follows the close friendship of physicist Albert Einstein and logician Kurt Godel during the last decade and a half of Einstein's life. The two walked home daily, shared ideas about physics, philosophy and politics, and acknowledged important connections between the world of physics and philosophy which exist to this day. Their discoveries and achievements are framed within the context of their unusual friendship.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Baen Books
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Each month Baen produces a mere handful of science fiction titles - but what riches, for readers who relish alternative history and military science fiction! This month's arrivals are no exception to the rule of fine productions: Eric Flint compiles and edits Howard L. Myers' The Creatures Of Man (074349900X, $7.99), set in a distant future where humans no longer need spaceships but journey the stars propelled by bodily implants, facing battles for galactic dominance; Flint joins with David Weber in Crown Of Slaves (0743498992, $7.99), beginning a new series set in Weber's 'Honorverse' where restless alliances between star kingdoms drives a queen to send her envoy on a dangerous secret mission, and Jack L. Chalker's The Return Of Nathan Brazil (0743-499018, $7.99), telling of a hive intelligence which infects humans and takes over their minds - until a powerful weapon threatens a supercomputer's control of time and space itself these are winning paperworks. New to the hardcover line: another fine alternative history collection edited by Harry Turtledove, Alternate Generals III (0743498976, $24.00) gather stories about John Paul Jones, Napoleon, and other famous generals now set into alternative scenarios; Andre Norton's Dark Companion (0743498984, $26.00), providing a combined reprint of two previously interrelated novels Dark Piper and Dread Companion, about a girl who faces her charge's seemingly imaginary but all-too-real invisible companion, Travis S. Taylor's The Quantum Connection (074-3498968, $24.00), telling of a computer hacker whose life changes when a swarm of huge meteors fall on the planet, shattering his family and his life. His involvement in video repairs and gaming involves him in politics which reveals the truth of the meteors which orphaned him. David Weber and John Ringo's We Few (07434-9881X, $26.00) tells of one Roger Chaing McClintock, a spoiled playboy prince who grows up watching his bodyguards die to protect him. Murderers have changed his family and spark revenge even as the Empire hasbeen told he himself is a traitor. Fast political action ensues.


The Native American Shelf

Indian Country
Gail Guthrie Valaskakis
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
0889204799 $28.95 wlupress.wlu.ca

Indian Country: Essays On Contemporary Native Culture is an anthology of essays by Gail Guthrie Valaskakis, a Chippewa by background and a founding member of the boards of Wasekun Healing Lodge, the Montreal Native Friendship Centre, the Native North American Studies Institute, and Manitou Community College. Offering a unique perspective on Native political struggles in both Canada and the United States, Indian Country discusses such topics as traditionalism and treaty rights in Lac du Flambeau, images of native women such as Sacajawea, what the pow wow contributes to "being Indian", and much more. Literate, well-researched, and matter-of-factly introducing the reader into how the American government, among other entities, regards Native Americans in modern times, Indian Country is a welcome contribution to contemporary Native studies shelves and recommended reading for individuals of all backgrounds striving to better understand the Native American experience.

The Cherokee Nation
Robert J. Conley
University of New Mexico Press
MSC11 6290, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
www.unmpress.com
082633234X $24.95 1-800-249-7737

On September 6, 2005, the Cherokee Nation will observe the 66th anniversary of the adoption of its constitution, but the Cherokee tribe itself has survived since prehistory, and in the 19th and 20th centuries, found itself having to cope with land cessation, forcible relocation, and bloody wars, as it evolved to become one of the largest and most influential of the Native American tribes within the continental United States. In The Cherokee Nation: A History, Robert J. Conley (who is an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees and lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma) provides the reader with a documented historical survey of the Cherokee people from their origins in the Old South, through forced relocation west along the infamous "Trail of Tears", to the formation of a sovereign government which negotiated treaties with the United States government. The Cherokee Nation brings the history of these enduring Native Americans up to the present day, complete with recent political trends, as well as economic contributions of the Cherokee. Presenting a wonderfully informative and readable text, The Cherokee Nation is enhanced for academia and non-specialist general readers with the inclusion of a number of appendices including "Principals Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation"; "Chiefs of the Western Cherokees"; Chiefs of the Texas Cherokees"; The Confederate Cherokee Nation and Chief Stand Watie"; "Chiefs of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians"; Chiefs of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians"; Cherokee Nation Treaties"; and "Western Cherokee Treaties". The Cherokee Nation is a seminal work of superb historical scholarship and enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies collections.

Paleo-Indian Artifacts
Lar Hothem
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
157432425X $29.95 collectorbooks.com

Not only collectors but archaeologists will want to have this basic reference on hand: it outlines all kinds of Native American artifacts and pairs excellent color photos of lanceolates, paleo tools, and uniface blades with discussions of values and descriptions of features. A very specific, outstanding guide for any who would collect or categorize paleo-Indian artifacts.


The Art Shelf

Marks Of Distinction
Barbara J. MacAdam
Hudson Hills Press
National Book Network (dist.)
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952755 $60.00 1-800-462-6420

Marks Of Distinction: Two Hundred Years Of American Drawings And Watercolors From The Hood Museum Of Art is the accompaniment of the centerpiece exhibition of a year-long celebration commemorating the Hood Museum of Art's twentieth anniversary as well is its permanent collection. An introductory essay leads into this elaborate visual tour of classic pastel, ink, and watercolor artworks by notable American artists ranging from John Singleton Copley to John James Audubon to James McNeill Whistler and many more. Each piece of art is featured on a two-page spread; to the right is an exquisite photograph of the work itself in full color, to the left is a detailed one-page essay concerning the history, composition, and other pertinent details concerning the work. Marks Of Distinction is as much a celebration of American artistic consciousness and legacy as it is a display of fine museum pieces, and surely the next best thing to visiting the Hood Museum of Art in person.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Hanbo The Aiki Way
John C. Goss Jr., 6th Dan
Imaginator Press
6400 Baltimore National Pike #194, Baltimore, Maryland 21228-3915
0974560324 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Now in a revised second edition, Hanbo The Aiki Way is an in-depth guide by 6th degree black belt John C. Goss to self-defense with the Hanbo - a three-foot long staff, though in the modern urban environment any medium-sized, stick-like object such as a cane or an umbrella can be improvised to serve as a hanbo. Hanbo The Aiki Way specifically applies techniques and principles connected to Aiki arts to using the Hanbo to protect oneself. Methods for self-defense against open-hand attacks, knife attacks, and bokken (wooden sword) or jo (staff) attacks are all depicted step-by-step with black-and-white photographs. The text is sparse and directly to the point, and the movements and actions depicted are intended as a starter point, allowing for an infinite number of combinations as needed. The principles of the Aiki way - do not match strength against strength, but rather focus on yielding to, redirecting, and controlling the force of the opponent - are ideal in a dangerous world where there is always someone bigger and stronger than oneself. Goss' years of experience in both practicing and teaching Korindo Aikido show through clearly in this superb supplementary resource useful for both dedicated martial artists and lay people studying basic principles of self-defense.

Extreme Shootfighting
Bart Vale
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
$49.95 1-800-392-2400 paladin-press.com

Extreme Shootfighting: Shootfighting Secrets From A Champion Fighter is a DVD that introduces the viewer to the martial art of Shootfighting: a mix of Thai kickboxing jujitsu, and submission wrestling, designed to make a well-rounded fighter skilled in both stand-up fighting and groundfighting. Expert Bart Vale presents tips, tricks, and techniques that he personally learned from some of the strongest fighters in the ring. From common punches and kicks in shootfighting and how to block them, to a variety of submission holds and single-leg takedowns, Extreme Shootfighting spares no detail and shows the detailed stages of each maneuver's execution. It should be clearly noted for martial arts students that Extreme Shootfighting is intended for informational purposes only. 85 minutes, color.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Izzy's Fire
Nancy Wright Beasley
Brunswick Publishing Corporation
1386 Lawrenceville Plank Road, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868
1556182074 $27.95 www.amazon.com

Izzy's Fire: Finding Humanity In The Holocaust is the triumphant true story of a holocaust survivor and members of her family escaped the Kovno Ghetto in Lithuania, survived trials and successfully hid until the war's end in a hiding places granted them by a Catholic farmer. She, her husband, and other refugees dug a hole between two potato cellars, and with the unselfish aid of that selfless, risk taking Catholic family, miraculously survived the Holocaust. Afterward she and her husband emigrated to America and encountered a joyful reunion decades later. Izzy's Fire gives voice to those who survived the Holocaust in hiding, and is a welcome addition to Holocaust studies shelves.

The Jewish Ethicist
Asher Meir
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881258091 $18.95 www.ktav.com

Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, economist and ethicist, presents The Jewish Ethicist: Everyday Ethics For Business And Life, a practical guide to morality and ethics in an increasingly complex modern world. Presented largely in a question-and-answer format, The Jewish Ethicist offers frank advice to such conundrums as "Is it ethical to buy from low-wage suppliers?", "Can I be frank in a letter of reference?", and "Are Commercial Dating and Matchmaking Services Ethical?" Rabbi Meir addresses each question in depth, discussing varying circumstances under which the given situation could take place, and explaining the rationale behind judgments of modern day morality and ethics. The Jewish Ethicist scrupulously avoids oversimplification of diverse complex dilemmas ("principles do not exist in a vacuum", Meir comments), while at the same time presenting Meir's wisdom in direct terms. Though The Jewish Ethicist scrutinizes modern morality from a distinctly Jewish perspective, its discussion and justifications reach well beyond scriptural law into the matter-of-fact realm of practical morality - actions can and are characterized as unethical not just because a holy text says so, but because they promote unhappiness, self-aggrandizement at the expense of others, or worse. Highly recommended for readers of all faiths.

Leading The Passover Journey
Rabbi Nathan Laufer
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.jewishlights.com
1580232116 $24.99 1-800-962-4544

Rabbi Nathan Laufer presents Leading The Passover Journey: The Seder's Meaning Revealed, The Haggadah's Story Retold, brings the fifteen pieces of the traditional Seder into plain-terms, contemporary rendition of the Passover story. Combining scholarly insight with an uplifting conviction in the power and meaning of the Passover journey to reinforce one's Jewish identity and relationship with God, Leading The Passover Journey transforms the experience and the history behind it into a message readily accessible to readers of all backgrounds and levels of familiarity with Jewish tradition. Highly recommended particularly as an introductory to lay readers and novice scholars striving to better understand the Seder and the Haggadah's story.

The Song Of Songs
Debra Band
The Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
082760811X $75.00 www.jewishpub.org

In The Song Of Songs: The Honeybee In The Garden, author, artist, and Hebrew manuscript expert Debra Band provides a beautifully illustrated exploration and analysis of the true meaning of the 117 verses comprising "The Songs of Songs". Is it a celebration of romantic love that was by some fluke included in a compilation of sacred writings or is it an allegory of divine love and redemption and therefore properly a part of holy scripture. With her fine calligraphy and original artwork, Debra Band presents the gracefully advanced argument that both perceptions of this remarkable Hebraic poem is to be taken literally and allegorically, sensuously and spiritually. Each of the 65 full-page illuminations and beautifully crafted papercut reproductions draws upon classic rabbinic text and modern scholarship, and is accompanied by images along with the Bible text in its original Hebrew. Of special note is the informed and informative foreword written by Raymond P. Scheindlin, a renowned scholar of medieval Hebrew literature at The Jewish Theological Seminary. The Song Of Songs: The Honeybee In The Garden is especially recommended for students of the Torah and as a Memorial Gift acquisition for synagogue and community library Judaic Studies collections.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Plastic Handbag
Kate E. Dooner
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764322133 $29.95 schifferbooks.com

Now in an updated second edition, Plastic Handbags: Sculpture To Wear by Kate E. Dooner is a visual guide to the handbag as an art form and as a collectible. Complete with an up-to-date price guide, this compendium of vintage plastic handbags that were originally introduced in the late 1920s and early 1930s, continued in popularity through the 1960s. The more than 300 handbags showcased are arranged by their manufactured. Plastic Handbags: Sculpture To Wear is a delight to browse through and an indispensable guide for professional dealers and dedicated collectors.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Producing Successful Magazines, Newsletters and E-Zines
Carol Harris
How To Books/Parkwest Publications
Box 20261, New York , NY 10025-1512
http://www.parkwestpubs.com
1857039645 $24.75 646-215-9003

Producing Successful Magazines, Newsletters and E-Zines by Carol Harris is a practical and accessible "how to" guide that is ideal for the non-specialist general reader wanting to venture into a commercial publishing activity. Currently the publisher and editor of "Effective Consulting" magazine, Harris teaches the reader how approach printed and electronic publications, helping the reader decide just what kind of publication is right for them, how to set up and run a magazine or newsletter, how to attract articles and paying advertisers, as well as how to interview and write articles. Of special note are the provision of additional contacts and resources for aspiring publishers. If you are contemplating publishing a magazine or newsletter, then begin by giving a careful reading to the informative advice to be found in Carol Harris' Producing Successful Magazines, Newsletters and E-Zines!

The Weekend Novelist
Robert J. Ray & Bret Norris
Billboard Books/Watson Guptill
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.wgpub.com
0823084507 $16.95 1-800-451-1741

The Weekend Novelist is deftly co-authored by Robert J. Ray (author of eight novels) and Bret Norris (founder of the Norris Literary Agency) who collaborate to provide the reader with a collection of practical lessons on successfully writing a novel. This revised and updated edition is a superbly organized and presented "how to" workbook and manual that offers the novice a 52 weekend schedule that will enable the writer to plot their novel, sculpt their characters, develop plots with more than one protagonist, build sciences and scene sequences, create rough drafts, and even tap the power of their manuscripts by writing a memoir, rewriting the novel, or writing a screenplay. A year-long workshop under one cover, The Weekend Novelist is a perfect initiation into the work and techniques of writing a novel from scratch to finished manuscript.

The Making Of A Bestseller
Brian Hill & Dee Power
Dearborn Trade
30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606
www.dearborntrade.com
0793193087 $19.95 1-800-245-2665

The collaboration of Brian Hill and Dee Power, The Making Of A Bestseller: Success Stories From Authors And The Editors, Agents, And Booksellers Behind Them answers the fundamental question of why certain authors seem to be able to have what they write consistently end up on best seller lists. Readers will learn how literary agents affect the publishing process, how good and bad reviews affect sales, what the role of the bookseller is with respect to a book's success or failure in the marketplace, the importance of marketing and publicity in determining a books impact upon the reading public. The Making Of A Bestseller reveals just how more than fifty best-selling authors approach the craft of writing and marketing their books in ways that aspiring authors can emulate with their own works. If you want to be a professional author whose books are commercially successful, then give a very careful and considerate study to The Making Of A Bestseller.


The Photography Shelf

Brutal Kinship
Michael Nichols & Jane Goodall
Aperture
20 East 23rd St., New York NY 10010
0893818062 $25.00 aperture.org

Brutal Kinship wonderfully showcases Michael Nichols' artistic and lovely color photos which are perfect accompaniments to wildlife expert Jane Goodall's informed and informative essay backing up the photos as she deftly explains and explores the relationship between humankind and the chimp. The gorgeous, striking, and often memorably stunning photography pack discussions of chimp issues and human treatment. Brutal Kinship is a welcome and entertaingly educational contribution to personal, academic, and community library Animal Photography collections.

Legends Of Light
Ed Wargin
Ann Arbor Media Group, LLC
2500 So. State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
www.annarbormediagroup.com
1587262517 $39.95 www.amazon.com

Legends Of Light: A Michigan Lighthouse Portfolio is a stunning, full-color photographic showcase of Michigan's lighthouses, inside and out. A brief introduction embellishes the compilation of full-page and some two-page spread photographs. From simple, cozy lighthouse interiors to panoramic scenes of the ocean shore at sunset, Legends Of Light is a very special tribute which is hallmarked by visual splendor and is a superb giftbook selection -- especially for lighthouse aficionados.


The Travel Shelf

Island Grinds
David B. Goldman
The Bess Press
3565 Harding Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816
www.besspress.com
1573062243 $11.95 1-800-910-2377

Island Grinds is a traveler's guide to the best local dining at the most economical prices on the Hawaiian islands of O'ahu, Hawai'i (a.k.a. "The Big Island"), Kaua'i, and Maui. Arranged by geographical location of the restaurants they describe, each one-page entry includes address information, hours when open, whether a restaurant is "BYOB" or accepts credit cards, average cost of a meal per person, and an in-depth description of each location's specialties, quirks, and charms. A "bottom line" sums up each eatery in a single sentence. Island Grinds is a "must-have" especially for vacationers seeking to sample the finest points of local Hawaiian cuisine. A highly recommended traveling supplement!

Hiking Death Valley
Michel Digonnet
Wilderness Press
1200 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.wildernesspress.com
0965917800 $19.95 1-800-443-7227

Hiking Death Valley: A Guide To Its Natural Wonders And Mining Past is a travel guide for hikers of all backgrounds. Illustrated with 65 original computer-generated topographic maps, Hiking Death Valley offers 280 hiking or driving destinations, paths ranging from simple day hikes to multiple- day treks, eight desert ranges, distance and elevation tables for all routes, geology, flora, and fauna information, advice for desert hiking, and much more. In order to get the most out of a trip to Death Valley National Park, Hiking Death Valley is emphatically recommended!

Hiking Hot Springs In The Pacific Northwest
Evie Litton
Falcon Press/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
0762736232 $16.95 1-800-582-2665

Now in an updated fourth edition, Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest is a no-nonsense travel guide to exploring the mountains of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia for unique geothermal experiences, from streamside pools to hand-crafted bathhouses and much more. Hiking Hot Springs In The Pacific Northwest includes detailed maps, hiking descriptions, difficulty ratings, trail lengths, information on seasonal access and restrictions to various locales, details on the quality of each soaking pool, its water temperature, and the scenery of its setting, and much more. An easy-to-use, quick-lookup "must-have" guide for anyone interested in getting the most out of a Northwest hot springs hiking trip.

Avalon Travel Publishing
1400 - 65th Street, Emeryville CA 94608
www.travelmatters.com

Avalon Travel's diverse line is largely directed to independent travelers who would forego the package tour in favor of discovering byways - or, would even think of moving to a foreign country. Such is the case with Erin Van Rheenen's Living Abroad In Costa Rica (1566916526, $17.95), an important guide for any contemplating retiring in the country. And, who better to write this than an author who left her own life in San Francisco to make a home in Costa Rica? You get all the details on everything from visas and jobs to health, housing and more. You may not wish to move to your destination: you may just want to visit: if so, take long Moon Handbooks' guides: designed for pocket tote and advanced research alike, each offers independent travelers keys to forming superior trips. Take along Moon Metro San Francisco (1566914736, $14.95) when you go: its compact size fits right into a purse or coat pocket, yet its pages all unfold to reveal maps which are nearly full-size in scale, and easy to consult without the folding challenges of larger car maps. It's easy to pinpoint the sights and how to find them, with the compact Metro San Francisco in hand. Andrew Hempstead's Vancouver & Victoria Including Whistler And Vancouver Island (1566918952, $16.95), Kim Weir's Monterey & Carmel Including Santa Cruz And Big Sur (1566919037, $15.95) and Bill Weir's Arizona (1566916895, $21.95) each pack in destination-oriented tips. Small print allows for a greater depth of detail - and the young folk using these independent-minded guides won't strain eyes, but will appreciate the fact the guides come packed with small maps, tips on eating and budget to luxury accommodations, byways and off the beaten path choices - everything covered in depth with pros and cons included where applicable. Add regular updating to keep these handbooks current and you have take-alongs which are invaluable references. Speaking of take-alongs, maybe it's the dog you wish to have join your trip. If you're California-bound, don't miss packing Maria Goodavage'sThe Dog Lover's Companion To California: The Inside Scoop On Where To Take Your Dog (1566914035, $21.95) and her shorter Dog Lover's Companiopn To The Bay Area: The Inside Scoop On Where To Take Your Dog (1566916941, $17.95): each packs in hundreds of off-leash areas, parks, trails, and campsites - all rated from a dog's perspective on a one- to four-paw scale. Coverage doesn't stop with the great outdoors, however: hotels, restaurants - even dog-friendly shops and wineries are revealed, along with human attractions. Highly recommended picks, all.


The Nautical Shelf

Sheridan House
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com

Four boating guides are highly recommended picks for a range of boaters, from the newcomers to the neo-professional. All levels will benefit from keeping on board John C. Payne's Understanding Boat Diesel Engines (1574092996, $13.95): one of the foremost international authorities on marine electrical systems provides a basic primer to boat diesel engines, from basic theory and maintenance to troubleshooting and maintenance of both the engine and electrical system. A 'must' reference. Eric Twiname's The Rules Book: Complete 2005-2008 Rules (1574092057, $19.95) has been revised here by Brian Willis to reflect the latest rules for boat racing, adding the rule changes but keeping Twiname's original method of presentation intact. From rules by race situation to those graded for clubs and competition, boat racers should keep this on board, close at hand. Peter H. Spectre's A Mariner's Miscellany (1574-091956, $19.95) will make the perfect gift for any who love boats, ships, and the sea. Stories and reflections range from how to buy a used boat and how to navigate by the seaweed line to how to bring on seasickness and how to survive in a lifeboat. Nautical knowledge blends with random survival skills in a fine compendium sailors will appreciate. Tom Cunliffe's Hand, Reef And Steer: Traditional Sailing Skills For Classic Boats (1574092030, $24.95) gathers basic details on how to handle classic sailing boats, from setting up the rig and hoisting the sails to handling the boat under different kinds of sailing, and dealing with topsails, watersails and more. Add watercolor drawings and color photos and you have both a practical and a visual treat.


The Gardening Shelf

Hardy Gingers
T.M.E. Branney
Timber Press
133 SW 2nd Ave, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881926779 $49.95 1-800-327-5680

T.M.E. Branney is co-owner of a nursery that specializes in rare, temperate-woodland plants, and is also a garden designer: this professional background lends well to a unique, authoritative guide in Hardy Gingers Including Hedychium, Roscoea And Zingiber. Color photos of hardy gingers supplement notes on growing needs, rarity, plant origins and history, and propagation. While most may associate ginger with tropical climates, it's the more unusual temperate-zone gingers that are the focus here - and there's a wealth of them.

The Japanese Garden
Seiko Goto
Peter Lang Publishing USA
275 Seventh Ave., 28th fl, NY, NY 10001
www.peterlangusa.com
0820463507 $39.95 1-800-770-5264

Written by a practicing landscape architect and scholar of East Asian and European garden history, The Japanese Garden: Gateway To The Human Spirit is a beautiful tour of spiritual gardens in Japanese temple precincts. Covering gardens connected to Shinto, Buddhist, and Confucianist traditions, The Japanese Garden offers black-and-white photographs, diagrams of garden layouts, and in-depth discussion of how each garden incorporated the spiritual traditions connected to its cultivation. An excellent orientation to the view, function, and flow of traditional Japanese gardens, whether they were designed to be walked in or simply observed, The Japanese Garden is a superb source of both reference and inspiration for garden designers of all skill and experience levels.


The Cookbook Shelf

Cooking Moroccan
Tess Mallos
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Advantage Publishers Group
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
www.pgw.com
1592234038 $14.95 1-800-788-3123

Cooking Moroccan by Tess Mallos is a mouth-watering, menu-inspiring compendium of step-by-step recipes showcasing some of the best of Moroccan ethnic and regional cuisine. Superbly enhanced by gorgeous photography throughout, the recipes range from Fava Bean Dip; Preserved Lemon and Tomato Salad; Filled Savory Pancakes; and Lamb Tagine with Sweet Tomato Jam; to Couscous with Chicken and Vegetables; Briouats with Goat Cheese; Trout Stuffed with Dates; and Fried Honey Cakes. Thoroughly "kit-chen cook friendly", Cooking Moroccan is especially recommended for those who have a special interest in authentic ethnic cooking in general, and North African cuisines in particular.

Please Feed Me
Niall McGuirk
Soft Skull Press
71 Bond Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
1932360093 $15.95 www.softskull.com

Please Feed Me: A Punk Vegan Cookbook is a unique and welcome addition to any avant garde music enthusiasts cookbook collection because every recipe is accompanied by an anecdote by a band that performed at the Hope Collective -- a popular punk event in Dublin, Ireland, which Niall McGuirk helped to maintain for over a decade and which became a kind of template and inspiration for punk music events across Ireland and the United Kingdom. The collaborative effort of more than 120 people who donated their vegan recipes and thoughts on the importance of the punk rock community and culture, Please Feed Me uniquely illustrates the connections between community, art, activism, health, and the vegan diet.

Supper At Richard's Place
Richard Jones
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
www.pelicanpub.com
1589802993 $21.00 1-800-843-1724

Supper At Richard's Place: Recipes From The New Southern Table presents the recipes of Chef Richard Jones, whose passion for Southern food (or "the original fusion cuisine" as he calls it) is vividly evident both in the recipes themselves and the story vignettes sprinkled throughout. Recipes include Cocktail Meatballs, Georgia Peach Salad, Smothered Pork Chops, Crusty Skillet Corn Bread and so much more. In-depth step-by-step instructions worthy of a professional restaurateur, tips, tricks, and techniques for preparation, and a come-home-for-supper friendly tone distinguish this superb collection for anyone looking to apply their kitchen talents to good old-fashioned Southern cuisine.

Dining On A Dime
Tawra Kellam & Jill Cooper
Living On A Dime
PO Box 4252, Wichita, KS 67204
0974255211 $19.95 LivingOnADime.com

Dining On A Dime Cookbook is a unique, spiral-bound cookbook that emphasizes frugality, and is packed with no less than one thousand money saving tips, such as "reuse aluminum foil - to store, flatten and save in a file folder" and "popcorn should be stored in the freezer; it lasts longer and pops more kernels". Dining On A Dime includes not only quick, easy, and inexpensive recipes such as Ninety-Minute Rolls, Bean Salad, and Cheese Enchiladas, but also recipes for non-edible but useful (or fun) items such as Scented Cinnamon Ornaments, Sidewalk Chalk, Face Paint, Outdoor Window Washer, Tarnish Remover, Herbal Foot Bath, and a great many more. An extremely useful resource for anyone responsible for serving nutritious meals and keeping a neat home on a limited budget.

New American Cooking
Chuck Williams, editor
Oxmoor House/Sunset Books
80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
0848730593 $34.95 1-650-321-3600

New American Cooking: The Best Of Contemporary Regional Cuisines is an anthology of the most flavorful neo-classic dishes prepared and served across America, from New England to the Heartland to the Pacific Northwest. Each two-page spread features a recipe with explicit, enumerated instructions, and a full-page color photograph of the finished dish. Mouth-watering creations such as Salt & Pepper Squid, Risotto with Fresh Corn & Basil Oil, Angel-Light Beignets and so much more are reasonably simple to prepare, and sumptuously scrumptious to see and taste. New American Cooking is very highly recommended for kitchen cooks of all skill levels eager to taste-test uniquely American culinary creations.

Cucina Romana
Sara Manuelli
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060
1566566010 $29.95 interlinkbooks.com

Part cookbook, part travel guide, and part armchair tour, Cucina Romana reveals the gastronomic secrets of Rome, as recorded by Rome native, travel writer, and gastronomic connoisseur Sara Manuelli. Chapters reveal both famous and hidden restaurants and food shops in all parts of Rome, complete with an address book for food lovers on vacation, sample recipes, and dazzling full-color photographs of such treats as '"torta ai frutti di bosco", a succulent dessert pastry that has to be seen (if not tasted) to be truly appreciated. A pleasure to browse through; though the sumptuous illustrations, descriptions, and recipes of succulent Rome cuisine are sure to make the reader hungry!

Culinary New Mexico
Sally Moore
Fulcrum
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, #300, Golden, CO 80403
1555914918 $18.95 fulcrum-books.com

Even residents of New Mexico may not realize all the gourmet events happening around the state, nor the culinary trends taking place: that's why professional food writer Sally Moore's Culinary New Mexico: The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide will prove eye-opening to so many. From restaurants and bakeries to food festivals, cooking stores and even wineries, Culinary New Mexico outlines all food oriented destinations, from handmade chocolate makers to breweries and cafes. The recipes scattered throughout also assure many dishes will be reproduced outside the state; but the meat of Culinary New Mexico lies in its destination-oriented tips travelers and residents will appreciate!

Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1-800-387-5085 www.fireflybooks.com

Hungry campers and hikers will enjoy Dan and Pam Philpott's Trailside Cookbook (1552979520, $15.95), a handbook for whose who frequently camp and want gourmet trailside cooking. From knowing which herbs and spices to take along to lightweight cooking stoves and utensils and 80 specially created recipes for the trail, make sure The Trailside Cookbook is consulted both before and during the camping trip. Acques L. Rolland's Cook's Essential Kitchen Dictionary: A Complete Culinary Resource (0778800989, $14.95) blends food history, trivia, and cultural insights with over 4,000 definitions of dishes and terms. From Native American fry bread to Cornish pasty, enjoy an excellent dictionary which packs in terms and culinary history.

Wine Appreciation Guild
360 Swift Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
www.wineappreciation.com

If you aren't already aware of it, be informed Chile is not just an up-and-come wine region: it's already there, and has been for years. Two new Chilean wine guides are essential tools for understanding the vintage attractions of Chile. Rodrigo Alvarado's Chilean Wine: The Heritage (1891267779) is the perfect place to begin an introduction to Chile's regional offerings. Alvarado is one of Chile's first wine writers and specializes in his country'' wine history: he'' produced a dozen titles so far, has received awards and merits for his knowledge, and has been a speaker and educator for years. From initial grape production to winery development and key individual contributions to the industry, Chilean Wine covers it all, past to present. Add lovely color pencil drawings and you have a lasting introduction. Sara Matthews' Chile: The Art Of Wine (1891267736) offers armchair travelers their own personal tour of Chile's wineries. Full-page color photos abound in a coverage which outlines Chile's vineyards, offering a side-by-side bilingual text for Spanish and English speakers alike. Matthews specializes in wine photography and her views of both vineyards and wineries are exquisite.

My New Mediterranean Cookbook
Jeanette Seaver
Arcade
141 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
1559707232 $27.00 arcadepub.com

Followers of the Mediterranean diet will want to have Jeanette Seaver's My New Mediterranean Cookbook: Eat Better, Live Longer By Following The Mediterranean Diet in their collection: it comes from a French-raised gourmet chef who provides hundreds of recipes based on the diet plan, emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables. Recipes are easy to prepare, especially with an approach geared to beginners which takes a step-by-step approach and includes tips for complete menu plans.

Dictionary Of Japanese Food
Richard Hosking
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0804820422 $16.95 tuttlepublishing.com

Any interested in Japanese cuisine will find A Dictionary Of Japanese Food: Ingredients & Culture an essential reference providing not just definitions, but clear explanations surrounding Japanese food and culture - in both Japanese and English. Each entry includes Japanese terms in kana or kanji or both, a Latin name, an English definition, and an annotation along with line drawings. Supplementary appendices add more insights on Japanese cuisine and ceremonies. Simply invaluable.

The Big Book Of Easy Suppers
Maryana Vollstedt
Chronicle Books
85 - 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
www.chroniclebooks.com
0811843505 $19.95 1-800-722-6657

Too busy to cook? Not with the aid of Big Book Of Easy Suppers: 270 Delicious Recipes For Casual Everyday Dining, packing in almost three hundred recipes which rely on a degree of processed foods paired with appropriate fresh foods for quick production. From entrees and side dishes to dessert, tips include how far ahead the dish can be made, insights on what will make flavors blend better, and advise on what makes the dish bake up better. No color photos, but the very simple directions and recipes don't need 'em.

Chocolate: The Sweet History
Beth Kimmerle
Collectors Press
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
www.collectorspress.com
1933112042 $39.95 1-800-423-1848

Chocolate makers and company evolution are the focus of a tasty selection of historical notes in Beth Kimmerle's Chocolate: The Sweet History - but the focus doesn't end with company profiles alone. Historical details trace chocolate's Aztec origins, cocoa plant myths and usage, timelines of chocolate trade development, and more, adding depth and insights which include notes on different varieties of chocolate. Add luscious historical photos and ads in full color and you have a delicious presentation indeed, packed with history and appeal.

The Modern Indian Restaurant Cookbook
Pat Chapman
Metro Books
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
1843581345 $17.00 1-800-423-4525

Pat Chapman is Britain's authority on curries, being the founder of the 20-year-old Curry Club, having a string of shops selling curry ingredients, and organizing culinary tours of India, so he's in the perfect position to foster The Modern Indian Restaurant Cookbook, which takes Indian restaurant specialties and adapts them for easy home cooking. From a Baked Tandoori Sardines to Meat Cooked in Pickle, there are many unique dishes not to be found elsewhere, promising to satisfy even the seasoned Indian home cook.

Salmon: The Cookbook
Bill Jones, editor
Whitecap Books, Ltd.
351 Lynn Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, Canada, V7J 2C4
www.whitecap.ca
1552856453 $24.95 1-888-980-9852

In Salmon: The Cookbook, culinary expert, author, chef and food consultant Bill Jones has gathered together more than 120 deliciously creative recipes showcasing Atlantic and Pacific species of salmon. Enhanced with color photography an botanical drawings of the various salmon species and their characteristics, the featured recipes are drawn from such noted contributors as Karen Barnaby, Dan Atkinson, Jamie Kennedy and other such dedicated salmon fanciers. Nicely organized by the dining categories of soups, salads, and entrees, Salmon: The Cookbook also features marinades, as well as curing instructions and even various cooking approaches. High in omega-3 and low in fat, salmon is one of the healthiest fish available to the human diet -- and now this compendium of "kitchen cook friendly" recipes makes salmon readily available in a variety of mouth-watering dishes which range from simple family fare to elaborate dining occasions. If you like salmon, then you need a copy of Salmon: The Cookbook as part of your personal culinary reference collection!


The Political Science Shelf

The Castro Obsession
Don Bohning
Potomac Books
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
www.potomacbooksinc.com
1574886754 $29.95 1-800-775-2518

Any in-depth political science library, particularly those with close coverage of Cuba, will want to be sure The Castro Obsession: U.S. Covert Operations Against Cuba 1959-1965 is in their collection. Journalist Don Bohning was Latin American editor for the Miami Herald, and here uses his reporter's inspection eye to examine the covert U.S. operations against Cuba at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. tried for economic and political destabilization, hit-and-run raids, and assassination plots during this time: Bohning's The Castro Obsession basically asks "was it worth it" and supports the conclusion "no".

The Almanac Of The Unelected Staff Of The U.S. Congress 2005
Alan Bjerga, editor
Bernan Press
4611-F Assembly Dr, Lanham, MD 20706
1886222274 $99.99 bernanpress.com

Now in its 18th edition, The Almanac Of The Unelected Staff Of The U.S. Congress 2005 is a detailed reference compendium filled from cover to cover with professional and educational background information of nearly 575 senior congressional committee staff members. Each member's profile includes their current title, contact address, phone number and email, area of expertise, and a one-page discussion of the member's past contributions and current post. A black-and-white portrait photograph is displayed if available. An index allows for quick and easy reference in this singularly valuable resource.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Book of Weird Sex
Chris Gordon
Allison and Busby/IPM, dist.
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
0749083468 $10.95 1-800-758-3756

If you ever wanted to know the strange world laws surrounding sex, the odd advertising strategies of major cereal promoter Dr. John H. Kellogg, or legends and mysteries surrounding sex and old age - here's the place to go: consult The Book Of Weird Sex, with its chapters covering everything from political and animal sex to sex and the law. Guaranteed to keep you laughing, with a dose of health education in the process.

Biological Substrates Of Human Sexuality
Janet Shibley Hyde, editor
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
1591472504 $59.95 1-800-368-5777

Biological Substrates Of Human Sexuality is an anthology of scholarly essays written by experienced scientists concerning the biological substrates of human sexuality. Originating with a conference on this topic at the beginning of a meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality in June 2002, Biological Substrates Of Human Sexuality covers topics ranging from the role of genetics in sexual orientation, to pharmacological modulation of sexual function, and a great deal more. A serious amalgamation of cutting-edge academic study intended especially for scholars and scientists, Biological Substrates Of Human Sexuality is very highly recommended for professional and college/university library Biology, Human Sexuality and Psychology reference collections.


The Architecture Shelf

HouseTransformed
Matthew Schoenherr
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
1561587117 $32.00 1-800-477-8727

Written by professional architect Matthew Schoenherr with assistance from Linda Mason Hunter and Wendy Jordan, Housetransformed: Getting The Home You Want...With The House You Have is a no-nonsense guide to the seven keys successful remodeling, whether one is redoing a room, building an addition, or making over the entire house. Filled with color photographs and floor plans of 19 beautifully remodeled houses, House Transformed offers pros and cons for the design issues that every homeowner faces. An excellent resource for inspiration and innovation when making tough decisions on how to transform one's home.

Introduction To Indian Architecture
Bindia Thapar
Periplus/Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794600115 $24.95 tuttlepublishing.com

The architectural heritage of the Indian subcontinent spans thousands of years and layers of diverse civilizations, beginning with the Indus Valley settlements and the early Vedic traditions. Impressively illustrated by Suparna Bhalla and Surat Kumar Manto, Introduction To Indian Architecture by architect Bindia Thapar (currently a visiting lecturer at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi) surveys the Hindu, Jain, Mughal (Islamic) and colonial (British), and post independence architectural styles. Showcased are monuments and/or buildings which represent the various individual schools of architecture singled out. Enhanced with maps, site plans , and other visual materials, Introduction To Indian Architecture is ideal for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Indian culture and history, students of multicultural architecture, as well as an essential addition to both academic and community library Architectural History reference collections.


The Self-Help Shelf

Miss Manners' Guide To Excruciatingly Correct Behavior
Judith Martin
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Ave., NY, NY 10110-0017
www.wwnorton.com
0393058743 $35.00 1-800-233-4830

Yes, there's a need for this newly updated Miss Manners' Guide To Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, as older editions fail to address such modern problems as how to handle a ringing cell phone in church and how to seek recompense for the dangers of mental lapse which cause a present lover to be called by a former lover's name. A lively question-and-answer format offers the familiar format of Miss Manners' own columns and allows her sense of gentle admonishment and fun to shine while surveying the latest etiquette challenges.

What You Wear Can Change Your Life
Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
1594481482 $22.00 1-800-847-5515

If the duo authors Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine look familiar on the jacket of What You Wear Can Change Your Life, that's because you've probably seen them on TV, hosting BBC series shows of surprise fashion makeovers for their chosen targets. Here's a follow-up to their prior two fashion guides, and a supplement to the idea of a fashion makeover which advocates that fashion choices CAN change one's life. Chapters cover all the foundations of how to re-define looks and style to achieve maximum results and get down to the basics of what to wear.


The Railroading Shelf

A Railroad Atlas Of The United States In 1946, Volume 2
Richard C. Carpenter
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801880785 $65.00 1-800-537-5487

A Railroad Atlas Of The United States In 1946, Volume 2 covers New York and New England, in this meticulously researched and presented reference series. A brief introduction including instructions for how to use the atlas to find stations, cross-reference with other maps and similar tasks leads into the extensive map selection. By far the majority of A Railroad Atlas Of The United States In 1946, Volume 2 is comprised of maps, compiled from the research and generosity of many sources and presented in multiple colors for easier reference. An in-depth index facilitates quick and easy location in this unique and highly accessible resource.


The Library CD Shelf

Log Cabin Songs
Wayne Erbsen & Laura Boosinger
Native Ground Music
109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 28805-1521
www.nativeground.com
NG-CD-115 $9.95 1-800-752-2656

Log Cabin Songs is an impressive performed and recorded collection of ten vocal and six instrumentals songs drawn from the early days of the American frontier. The sixteen songs drawn from our American pioneer tradition include Sugar in the Gourd (2:43); My Old Cottage Home (3:01); Red Rocking Chair (2:49); Little Log Cabin in the Lane (2:53); Fracas on York Ridge (2:21); Blackest Crow (2:58); Cricket on the Hearth (3:07); Mary of the Wild Moor (3:45); Cabin Creek (2:52); East Virginia (3:18); Little Whitewashed Chimney (2:49); Lost Jug in the Cornpile (2:50); Goodbye to My Stepstone (3:52); Darling Cory (3:43); Puncheon Floor (2:46); and The Hound Dog Song (2:38). Also very highly recommended for personal, school, and community library CD music collections are two companion recordings from Native Ground Music: Wayne Erbsen's The Home Front: 17 Authentic Tunes Of The Civil War (NG-CD-006, $9.95) and Waterdance: Melodies And Rhythms Of Nature On Hammered/Lap Dulcimers And Celtic Harp (NG-CD-222, $9.95) performed by Katie LaRaye Waldren and Candace Kreitlow.

Cottage In The Glen
Jody Marshall
Maggie's Music
PO Box 940, Shady Side, MD 20764
www.maggiesmusic.com
MM232 $15.99 1-877-624-4436

Cottage In The Glen features the impressive and memorable instrumental performances of Jody Marshall with twelve spirited Celtic music selections enhanced with hammered dulcimers, piano, and harmony vocals. Backed up by an impressive roster of guest musicians, the Celtic performances include: Three Sisters of Erin/Little Martha (3:31); Cau'l Chousano (4:34); The Gaudy Bauble/In the Grip of Stronger Stuff/Ides of March/The Gaudy Bauble Reprise (7:13); Brandy Tree (3:29); Mrs. Anne McDermott Rowe (2:48); Ross' Reel, No. 4/Robertson's Hornpipe/Banks Hornpipe (3:36); Ragtime Tabby/Catnip Fling/Scattercat Polka (5:20); Words Unspoken/Labyrinth (7:33); Vivace (2:42); Pumpherston Hornpipe/Puddleglum's Misery (4:30); Summer Garland/Miss Stewart of Grantully/Half-Past Three/The High Road to Linton (5:55); and the title tune, A Cottage in the Glen (3:19). Featuring superbly recorded performances and with a total running time of 55:07, Cottage In The Glen is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, music department, or community library music CD collection.

Full Moon Session
Skychasers
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
CR-7070 $15.98 1-800-268-1141

Skychasers is Native American guitarist Aaron White and Native American flutist Tommy Lee who, in Full Moon Session, effectively collaborate to showcase new music for guitar and Native American flutes and percussion. The result is an impressively memorable CD album of thirteen pieces that reflect traditional ethnic music flavored with a contemporary flair in their performance. The compositions performed in this imposing collection which is especially recommended for inclusion in Contemporary Native American Music collections includes Bringing Us Home (3:56); Beyond the Sky (4:45); Edge of the Rez (5:19); People of the Sun (4:35); Shandiins Song (2:56); Shadow Traveler (3:57); From Oahu to Wapatki (3:18); Two Warriors Crossing (2:47); Memories (3:54); Prayer to the Holy People (2:34); Essence of Life (3:42); Journey Across Turtle Island (5:09); and River Cane Honor Song (2:09).

Fargo Country
Donna Fargo
Collectables Records Corp.
PO Box 35, Narberth, PA 19072-0035
www.oldies.com
COL-CD-6727 $12.98 1-800-446-6426

Back in the 1970s Donna Fargo had a voice that could light up the room and a stage presence that marked her as someone very special in the competitive field of country music to anyone who saw her perform. Now Collectables Records (a premiere producer of "time lost classics" in American music noted for the breadth, diversity, and sheer size of their music catalog) offers Fargo Country in which the talents of Donna Fargo are once again made available to a whole new generation of country music fans -- and an absolutely wonderful nostalgic treat for those who first knew her work almost thirty years ago. The pieces showcased in Fargo Country include: Mockingbird Hill (2:58); Do I Love You (Yes In Every Way (3:07); I Want To Learn A Love Song (3:32); Second Choice (2:29); Sing Me (2:53); The Cricket Song (2:38); A Couple More Years (3:53); Hey, Mister Music Man (2:10); That Was Yesterday (3:17); and Gifts Of Life (2:53).

Never Felt The Sun
Julie Lavender
Covenant Records
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
122201-02 $12.95 www.amazon.com

Singer/songwriter Julie Lavender trained extensively as a classical guitarist before advancing into jazz and pop singing. In Never Felt The Sun, Lavender offers a collection of some of her best work to date as she blends smooth-jazz stylings with hints of traditional jazz, a personable vocal styling with a whisper of classical music influence, and even something of Broadway showtune phrasing. A superbly produced CD album that would grace any personal or library jazz CD music collection, Never Felt The Sun features: Stop (5:44); Veil (5:08); Tree (4:06); Tin Man (5:19); Morning Song (4:30); Velvet Arms of Midnight (6:16); Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 Aria (4:57); When I Fall (4:36); Here Come The Dreamers (2:52); and the title piece, Never Felt the Sun (5:21).

Renascence
Waldemar Bastos
Times Square Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
TSQ-CD-9043 $16.98 www.amazon.com

When Angola fell into a bloody civil war, singer/musician Waldemar Bastos found himself in exile until the conflict ended in 2003, allowing him to return to his homeland. In Renascence he musically documenting the dreams of peace and the struggle to build again what was once ravaged. Of special note is the song "Georgina" imagining what it must have been like for many soldiers to return to Luanda after the war to find that their girlfriends had either died, or left for parts unknown, or took up with someone else. The other outstanding compositions in this strongly recommended recording include: Outro Tempo Nova; Aua Do Bengo; Esperanca; Pitanga Madurinha; Dongo; Sabores Da Terra; Paz Pdo A Amor; Twende Vossi; Kuribota; Pitenga Madurinha II (featuring Chaka Deumus); and the title piece Renascence.

Duende
Romero
Bolero Records
18653 Ventura Blvd., Suite 314, Tarzana, CA 91356
BOL7118 $16.98 bolero-records.com

Duende is a superbly performed and flawlessly recorded compilation of ten new compositions by Romero, an Argentine guitarist, producer, arranger whose work showcases a blending of classical, flamenco, Middle Eastern, and other world beat rhythms with an improvisational twist, eloquence, and originality. The pieces comprising this highly recommended addition to any multicultural or acoustic guitar CD collection includes: Tangos P' Ti (4:29); Adore (4:05); 16 Secundos De Alegria (3:17); El Sonido En El Aire (4:07); El Arte De Amarte (4:05); Todo Lo Que Empieza (4:04); Una De Esas Lunas (6:16); Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (4:53); Concierto de Guitarra a un Diajero (6:46); and the title piece, Duende (5:50).


The Computer Shelf

Wireless Networks First-Step
Jim Geier
Cisco Press
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
1587201119 $29.95 ciscopress.com

As a basic introduction to wireless networking, Wireless Networks First-Step assumes that readers have no previous wireless experience. Wireless network expert Jim Geier provides an overview of wireless networking, along with details of applicable standards and technologies. Newcomers to wireless technologies will find practical information along with an abundance of examples. Case studies throughout the chapters provide real world implementation examples, presented in a nontechnical fashion. Implementation details are discussed only to the extent that readers can identify what type of wireless network may be appropriate for their needs. An especially recommended instructional "how to" manual for the novice, Wireless Networks First-Step would make a welcome and appreciated addition to high school computer class reference collections and community library resources for non-specialist general readers wanting to understand the new wireless technologies.

Silence On The Wire
Michael Zalewski
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco CA 94107
1593270461 $39.95 www.nostarch.com

Silence On The Wire: A Field Guide To Passive Reconnaissance And Indirect Attacks by computer security expert Michael Zalewski could deserves the widest possible readership for its powerful message on computer vulnerabilities in a today's computer-oriented society. From tracking the source of attacks to security issues in ethernet systems and internet security, Silence On The Wire provides plenty of technical details as well as invaluable overviews of system vulnerabilities and results of attacks. If you have a computer, and are concerned with online scams and attacks, then you need to read Silence On The Wire!

Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1-800-428-5331 www.mcp.com

Two new titles From Sams Publishing are especially commended for both their comprehnsive expertise and their "user friendly" utliity. Expanding Choice: Moving To Linux And Open Source With Novell Open Enterprise Server (0672327228, $29.99, 264 pages) by the team of Jason Williams, Peter Clegg, and Emmett Dulaney provides a detailed, hands-on guide to all of the technical and business benefits of implementing open source software in an enterprise environment, particularly when combined with select proprietary technologies. A review of the benefits and costs of both open source and closed source software systems is provided, as well as an analysis of the benefits of an approach that blends the choice and flexibility of open source with the reliability of Novell's proven networking software. This is an essential core addition to the Linux reference user's reference shelf. Now in an expanded and updated third edition, the popular MySQL (0672326736, $49.99) by computer software expert Paul DuBois provides a comprehensive and superbly organized guide to using MySQL, effectively, productively, and immediately. This massive, 1320 page manual describes everything from the basics, to using MySQL to generate dynamic Web pages, to administering MySQL servers. This newly revised third edition covers the new features and improvements of MySQL 5 in detail, and incorporates feedback from readers and top MySQL developers to make this the most comprehensive and thorough edition to date.

Skinning Windows XP
Joe Habraken
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
078973348X $19.99 1-800-428-5331

In just 336 pages, Skinning Windows XP by Windows expert Joe Habraken provides even the most novice user with all of the information necessary to take the Microsoft Windows Graphical User Interface to a whole new visual and functional level. Readers of the book will be provided with an understanding of how the Windows desktop and its various components are actually represented on the computer screen and how through the use of add-on software and other special design tools a whole new visual environment can be created. Skinning Windows XP is the ideal introduction and continuing reference to utilizing Windows XP.

Programming a Multiplayer FPS in DirectX
Vaughan Young
Charles River Media
10 Downer Avenue, Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com
1584503637 $49.95 1-800-382-8505

Programming a Multiplayer FPS in DirectX is a manual for intermediate to advanced computer programmers familiar with C++ and DirectX who desire to program their own first-person shooter game for multiple players. Breaking down the typical game development process into its component parts, Programming a Multiplayer FPS in DirectX covers such topics as engine design and control, rendering, sound issues, networking, scene management, classifications of weapons, and more. Sample code along extensive instructions that cover both the abstract and concrete programming issues behind each topic make Programming a Multiplayer FPS in DirectX as user-friendly as a game programming guide can be. An accompanying CD-ROM is packed with source code, a DirectX SDK 9.0c installation package used to develop code in the book, Panda DirectX Exporter to use with 3ds max to produce meshes in .x file format, PaintShop Pro full-featured trial version, and more. A "must-have" resource for amateurs or professionals looking to test their programming skills and create their very own FPS for the computer.

The Focal Easy Guide To Flash MX 2004
Birgitta Hosea
Focal Press
200 Wheeler Road, Burlington, MA 01803
0240519590 $24.95 focalpress.com

The Focal Easy Guide To Flash MX 2004 is a straightforward guide to the Flash MX 2004 upgrade for creating graphics & animation. Illustrated throughout with computer screenshots in full color, The Focal Easy Guide To Flash MX 2004 combines enumerated instructions with displays of exactly what to click on where to achieve which visual effects. An index for quick reference rounds out this "must-have" starter instructional that will prove as useful to amateurs as it will to professionals who need to swiftly look up a specific tip or feature. Highly recommended.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N.
Sebastapol, CA 95472
1-800-998-9938 www.oreilly.com

Two Photoshop designer's manuals are excellent, unusual resources for Photoshop users. Photo Retouching With Photoshop is translated by Marie-Laure Clech (0596-008600, $24.95) and tells how to digitally restore old photos, improve holidays photos and perform basic retouching. The authors are a variety of contributors from the freelance world who present step-by-step workshops of their methods. William Rodarmor edits Illustrations With Photoshop (0596008597, $24.95), a commercially-oriented professional's guide which provides the insights of nine graphic artists who illustrate the secrets of their approaches to illustrations. From books to ads to games, each author imparts a unique approach and perspective which expands upon Photoshop options.

Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Two outstanding new guides are highly recommended picks. If you regularly surf the image section of the web you'll undoubtedly notice many original creations stemming from the use of the Poser 6 program. Conversely, there are relatively few handbooks on Poser on the market. Kelly L. Murdock remedies this problem with his Poster 5 Revealed: The Official Guide (1592005233, $24.95): owners of the Poser 6 program receive a basic guide to both artistic and technical concepts, covering basic introduction through intermediate skills and presenting example projects for posing figures, creating hair styles, and more. Murdock's background in computer graphics and engineering lends to a series of lessons which provides plenty of examples and hands-on applications, with black and white images and screen shots throughout. Dan Irish's The Game Producer's Handbook (1592006175, $39.99) comes from the producer of Myst III: Exile and is intended to answer the query "what does it take to be a successful video game producer?" Irish's background with success allows him to cover the pitfalls and common mistakes of game programmers, telling how to acquire effective production habits, how to translate vision to a workable presentation, and how to test for game quality.

Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
www.infotoday.com

Two powerful new Internet guides are recommended picks for serious searchers. Raldolph Hock's Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide For The Serious Searcher (0910965684, $24.95) provides strong tips, clear explanations, and a basic set of guidelines for any Internet searcher, whether they be students or library professionals. Chapters cover not only print but audio and video results, examining various search engines and different strategies for achieving optimum results. Nicholas G. Tomaiuolo's The Web Library: Building A World Class Personal Library With Free Web Resources (0910965676, $29.95) is edited by Barbara Quint and provides an equally essential guide to free and inexpensive online resources. From great reference sites and the observations of their contents by an online reference librarian to outstanding news and image source sites, The Web Library doesn't just list sites: it explains what makes them stand out.

Advanced Macromedia Coldfusion MX7 Application Development
Ben Forta
Macromedia Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321292693 $54.99 macromedia.com

Written by programmers for programmers, Ben Forta's sequel to his prior Macromedia Coldfusion Mx 7 Web Application Construction Kit provides a weighty and thorough instruction on all of ColdFusion's advanced features. From clustering solutions and building and integrating secure applications to understanding different security systems and extending ColdFusion capabilities with COM., C/C++ and more, nearly a thousand pages pack in extensive technical details and discussions of related technologies for maximum benefit.

New Riders
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.peachpit.com

Three excellent new publications are highlights of Peachpit's latest offerings. Scott Kelby's Photoshop For Wedding Photographers Personal Seminar (032135673X, $45.00) is more than just a book, and more than just a DVD: together the two provide a package which compliments each other. Most book/DVD packages are to be avoided, frankly. The DVD either rehashes the book or holds files already covered in the book, in other packages not so Photoshop For Wedding Photographers Personal Seminar: here the DVD accompanies the color handbook, each providing supporting examples and instructionals the wedding photographer will find not just useful, but essential. Want more? Scott Kelby also presents The Photoshop CS2 Book For Digital Photographers (0321330625, $39.99), a survey of the latest new Photoshop CS2 techniques updating an outstanding reference. Techniques are covered in an easy step-by-step format that teaches how - and most importantly, when - to use the myriad of complex settings Photoshop features. Professional secrets not to be found in competing Photoshop handbooks are the heart and meat of Kelby's excellent guide. Kelby is president of the national Assn. of Photoshop Professionals and one of the leading Photoshop instructors in the industry, making his guide the item of choice. Victor Gavenda's Garageband For Mac Os X 2 Visual Quickstart (0321335449, $19.99) sets itself apart from other GarageBand program guides in emphasizing it's a 'visual quickstart' production designed for quick consultation through example pictures. Many reference books and seminar titles require hours of study and reading: Gavenda's is designed for quick reference consultation, complete with concise commentary and a price tag that's easy on the pocketbook. Excellent references, all.

Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.peachpit.com

Mac users take note: Mary Plummer's Garage Band 2: Create And Record Music On A Mac (0321330196, $29.99) is the introduction of choice, pairing a handy CD-ROM of lesson and media files with focused training lessons which use desirable projects as examples for creating and recording music. It's these real-world examples, ranging from building and editing rhythm and instrumental tracks to customizing loop browsers and adding effects to a song, which makes Garageband2 a special recommendation - that, and the fact that it's an Apple Certified lesson plan. John McWade's Before & After Graphics For Business (0321334159, $29.99) is geared to business professionals who need direction on business graphics. McWade's a designer, teacher and has produced numerous solutions to graphic design and desktop publishing needs: he founded the first desktop publishing company to take advantage of PageMaker, and founded Before and After Magazine, packed with tips for designers. From how to make a captivating newsletter to matching typefaces with style and creating strong sales materials and maps for business purposes, Graphics For Business: Make Your Business Look Its Best is packed with professional, tested graphics applications not to be missed! David Pogue and Derrick Story's iPhoto 5: The Missing Manual (0596100345, $29.95) offers the tech columnist and professional photographer's guide to iPhoto 5, one of Apple's iLife 05 software programs. From the basics of how to use iPhoto without a photography background to using its editing features and using photos as screen savers and more.

Paraglyph Press
1238 East Cambridge Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85006
www.paraglyphpress.com

Two excellent new 'Degunking' titles are perfect problem-solvers for computer users, teaching the fundamentals of how to clean up program problems so they run more efficiently. Joli Ballew and Jeff Duntemann's Degunking Your PC (1933-097035, $24.99) covers device which don't work property with PCs, from cables which get in the way or won't reach to a slow processor or non-working backup methods. A 12-step program is taught which any user - even relative beginners- can easily follow to tackle everything from setting up a wireless network to updating device drivers and using scans to clean up fragmented hard drives. Wayne Palaia and Christina Palaia's Degunking Microsoft Office (1932111956, $24.99) promotes keeping office clean and clutter-free, teaching how to make it run better and more effectively. Get rid of unused programs which just take up system space, customize Outlook and fix overwhelmed calendars, and tweak security on all programs. Both are excellent references which stand out from the crowd.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Patchwork Puzzle Balls
Jinny Beyer
Breckling Press
283 Michigan Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126
0972121854 $19.95 brecklingpress.com

In Patchwork Puzzle Balls, needlecraft expert Jinny Beyer shows how to play with fabric in a truly unique and creative way through combining simply patchwork shapes in the creation of a colorful and perfectly round ball which can be used as a child's or pet's plaything, a holiday ornament, or a decorative accent. Featuring nine quick and easy patterns, four challenge designs, step-by-step drawings and photography, each project requires only basic sewing skills to create truly memorable works of the needlecrafting art. Patchwork Puzzle Balls is especially commended to the attention of anyone who quilts from the aspiring novice to the seasoned expert wanting to do something a little different for gift giving or toy making.

The Amish Circle Quilt
Rosemary Youngs
KP Books/F&W Publications, Inc.
700 E State St, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krausebooks.com
0873498917 $24.99 1-800-289-0963

Award-winning quilter Rosemary Youngs presents The Amish Circle Quilt: 121 Quilt Block Patterns That Tell A Story, an anthology of 121 actual-size piece and applique quilt block patterns and correspondence between 11 women who maintained their friendships lifelong. A brief introduction walks readers through the basics of quilting, but most of The Amish Circle Quilt is devoted to the patterns themselves and the letters of true friends. A heartwarming survey of easy-to-make Amish quilt blocks, excellent for direct use or inspiration for one's own cozy creations.

Minnesota Quilts
Greg Winter & Lee Sandberg
Voyageur Press
123 North Second Street, Stillwater MN 55082-0338
www.voyageurpress.com
0896580792 $35.00 1-800-888-9653

Greg Winter's Minnesota Quilts: Creating Connections With Our Past is a remarkable treasury of one-of-a-kind quilts and the stories of the quilters who made them. Lee Sandberg's full-color photography throughout reveals each quilt's unique features, from a quilt incorporating pages from an alphabet book to Irish Chain Quilts to cross-stitch quilts and more. The text explores the connections that quilts and quilting brought among individuals, families, and friends, as well as the histories of individual quilts and fascinating vignettes of those who owned the quilts destined to become museum pieces. A beautiful collection and the perfect giftbook for quilters of all skill and experience levels, whether as a source for inspiration or just a breathtaking assembly of style and originality that is most enjoyable to simply page through.

Lark Books
67 Broadway, Asheville NC 28801
www.larkbooks.com

Lark is known for lovely crafts and how-to guides, but their latest beading project guides are a cut above even their own high-quality offerings, presenting a much richer, thicker set of offerings with more detail than beading books usually receive in project guides. 1000 Glass Beads: Innovation & Imagination In Contemporary Glass Beadmaking (1579904580, $24.95) provides an introduction by Cathy Finegan and over 400 pages of detail on glass bead works of art, from jewelry to sculptures and functional projects. Packed with good-sized color photos on every page, 1000 Glass Beads outlines contemporary bead artists' works, includes a quote of their objectives, adds materials lists, and offers much inspiration. Ditto for 500 Beaded Objects: New Dimensions In Contemporary Beadwork (1579905498, $24.95), which goes beyond the bead itself to review the various art works which use beads to generate a finished piece. Again, packed with color photos and thick with artist, materials and techniques insights, there's much food for inspiration here.

Creative Arts/Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07548
www.creativehomeowner.com

Two wonderful crafts guides are picks for any crafter seeking new projects with practical applications. Ellen Kharade's Quilted Bags In A Weekend: 25 Purses, Totes, And Bags That You Can Make In No Time (1580112420, $19.95) outlines over twenty designs for both experienced quilters and novices alike. Here's a delightful range of purses, evening bags and totes which can be pieced from leftovers to create a unique piece of art. The inclusion of templates, clear instructions and embellishments make these useful and delightful projects. Jema Hewitt's Complete Beading: Jewelry & Accessories (158011-2234, $24.95) tells how to create beaded jewelry and accessories ranging from anklets to chokers. Pages packed with color step-by-step photo examples make it particularly easy for beginners to produce satisfactory results from first efforts. Sewers and quilts have three excellent guides which take beginners into the world of the neo-professional with easy step-by-step techniques, projects which produce polished, professional results in no time, and simple reviews of key techniques. Chris Jeffreys' Learn To Sew (15-80112439, $14.95) takes the beginner through all the basics of sewing, packs in the color photos for examples throughout, and presents practical projects for the home to reinforce the learning, from easy pillow covers to curtains and bags. From cutting out to stitchery techniques and choices, Learn To Sew is the perfect starting point for all ages. Sharon Chambers' Learn To Machine Quilt (1580112390, $14.95) offers instructions and photos for a range of projects for beginning machine quilters, from a baby's blanket quilt to throws and bedspreads. Color sidebar materials lists contrast with details on binding, finishing, color coordination and contrasts, and much more, but the heart of the guide lies in its focus on easy machine quilting techniques that produce polished results. Continue the lesson and follow up with Flora Roberts' Crazy Quilting In A Weekend: 25 Home D‚cor Projects That You Can Make In No Time (180112412, $19.95), offering over twenty designs which use the 'crazy quilt' concept to create home accessories from pillows to laundry bags. Templates for projects, techniques reviews, and easy numbered step-by-step instructions compliment a host of color photos for each project. All are highly recommended picks for beginners.

Arts & Crafts Patterns & Designs
Phoebe Ann Erb
Stemmer House
4 White Brook Road, Gilsum, NH 03448
0880451564 $7.95 www.stemmer.com

There are other pattern books readily available for the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements; but comparatively little for the Arts & crafts movement: that's why Phoebe Erb's excellent reproductions of the era's unique designs is so valuable. Erb researched among the crafts of the period, from woodcuts to embroidery and ceramics, to create a handbook of pattern designs of the era. Any who would reproduce the designs must have Arts & Crafts Patterns & Designs.

KP Books
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.fwpubs.com www.krausebooks.com

Stephanie Kimura's Bags And Accessories With Style (0873498115, $22.99) will appeal across the board to a range of readers; from fashion students to all levels of sewers and teachers alike. Stephanie Kimura is a wearables artist who promotes creative sewing in her lectures: Bags And Accessories With Style blends plenty of color photos of complete projects with not only how-to instructions, but finishing style tips. If it's more depth on just the bags you wish, don't miss her Bags With Style (0873497406, $21.99), which covers bags alone, from purses and totes and evening take-alongs. Detailed sewing and assembly techniques accompany finishing touches such as beading or fringing, with well over a hundred color photos depicting the finished products in use. Both are outstanding project-oriented fashion guides.

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

Three fine new quilter's guides are different, recommended picks. Julia C. Wood's Fabric Photo Play (1574328794, $19.95) allows quilters to develop applique patterns from photos for use in not just quilts, but for wallhangings, tote bags and more. You don't need an art background to achieve this: not with Julia Wood's step-by-step photo examples on how to accomplish this, from selecting fabrics to achieving the transfer using photo-editing software. Judy Allen's Art Of Feather Quilting (157432876X, $22.95) shows how to use crosshatching, crossover designs, and feather patterns to produce both quilts and wearable art. Feathers can be placed virtually anywhere using Allen's placement techniques, which apply equally well to blocks, borders and even corners and come packed with patterns for easy use. What's the perfect gift for the avid busy quilter, besides more stash material? Klaudeen Hansen and Annette Baker's Quilt Art 2006 Engagement Calendar (1574328727, $12.95), of course: a practical, spiral-bound lay-flat guide which juxtaposes a lovely set of winning quilt photos on one page with blocks for a week on the opposing page.


The Economics Shelf

A Guide To International Monetary Economics
Hans Visser
Edward Elgar Publishing
136 West Street, Suite 202, Northampton, MA 01060-3711
www.e-elgar.com
1843765950 $120.00 1-800-390-3149

Now in a third edition emphasizing recent developments such as the creation of the euro and the radical concept of dollarisation, A Guide To International Monetary Economics: Exchange Rate Theories, Systems And Policies is a scholarly and systematic overview of exchange rate theories. Chapters discuss asset models, dependent-economy models, exchange-rate policy, monetary unions, and much more. Expertly researched and coherently articulated by international economics professor Hans Visser, A Guide To International Monetary Economics is a "must-have" for college library and economics reference shelves, as well as intermediate to advanced economic students and professional economics seeking to stay abreast of the latest changes in common understanding of economic theory.

New Wealth
George Kozmetsky, et al.
Praeger
88 Post Rd, West, Westport, CT 06881
156720631X $59.95 www.praeger.com

How has scientific research and advancements been commercialized for business and economic advancement? Any who want to create wealth from scientific achievement would do well to understand the processes involved, and the intention of New Wealth: Commercialization Of Science And Technology For Business And Economic Development by the collaborative team of George Kozmetsky, Frederick Williams & Victoria Williams is to provide the aspiring entrepreneur with a thorough, technical assessment of how technology translates to business wealth. Chapters discuss the evolution and applications of the 'technolopolis network', survey regional revitalization and catalysts for change, and apply a business framework to scientific discovery. College-level audiences will find this important.

The Future Of State-Owned Financial Institutions
Gerard Caprio, et.al., Editors
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
0815713355 $39.95 www.brookings.edu

Publicly-owned banks and other commercial establishments serve a large number of countries -but these countries suffer from slower economic development and less private sector credit. Experts in The Future Of State-owned Financial Institutions analyze the challenges of these enterprises and their continued relevance and existence, evaluating their performance, value, and methods of privatization.

The Rent-Seeking Society
Charles K. Rowley, editor
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
www.libertyfund.org
0865975353 $20.00 1-800-955-8335

The fifth volume of Liberty Fund's "The Selected Works of Gordon Tullock" series, The Rent-Seeking Society: Gordon Tullock is expertly edited by Charles K. Rowley (Duncan Black Professor of Economics, George Mason University) who also provides an informative introduction to this volume of selected papers by economist and academician Gordon Tullock which he wrote between 1954 and 2002. This collection has the specific focus of Tullock's views on the integration of rent seeking (outlays by individuals and interest groups to secure economic rents and privileges through government) into a general public choice model of political markets, the cost of rent seeking to society, and the current status of the field. Of special note are two critically important monographs: "Rent Seeking" and "Exchanges and Contracts", as well as definitive chapters drawn from Tullock's "The Economics of Special Privilege and Rent Seeking". This fifth volume, and all four of its predecessors, are core contributions to academic and professional library reference collections for Economic Studies.

Three Billion New Capitalists
Clyde Prestowitz
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.basicbooks.com
0465062814 $26.95 1-800-242-7737

Many economists agree: the next great capitalist wealth trend is to the East - which makes international economist author Clyde Prestowitz's Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift Of Wealth And Power To The East so important. American world domination can't last forever: new trends are rapidly shifting wealth and power to Asia, political strengths will follow, and America's trade deficit will provide some of the impetus for this change. An important key to understanding trends and indicators and Asia's rising importance in the world.


The Audiobook Shelf

Captain Alatriste
Arturo Perez-Reverte
Books on Tape
400 Hahn Road, Westminister, MD 21157
www.library.booksontape.com
1415920435 $63.00 1-800-733-3000

A thrilling "theatre of the mind" adventure of swordsmanship and intrigue set in the streets and manors of Madrid during a time of the Thirty Years' War (still raging in Flanders), Captain Alatriste is the riveting story of Captain Diego Alatriste as largely told through the perspective of his young apprentice in the combat arts of survival in a dangerous city where politics is as much governed by assassination as it is by edicts from the King and his councilors. Having had to return to Madrid to heal from battlefield wounds, and still compelled to make his living with his sword, Captain Alatriste is hired by dark forces to kill two English visitors. But in the course of what should have been a routine and professional assassination, Captain Alatriste finds that honor compels him to abrogate his assignment -- at the very risk of his own life by his disappointed employers. Superbly narrated by Scott Brick, this 7 hour, five cassette, complete, unabridged, enthusiastically recommended audiobook edition of Arturo Perez-Reverte's Captain Alatriste is a singularly impressive adventure that engages the listener's total attention from beginning to end.

Garlic And Sapphires
Ruth Reichl
Random House Audio Publishing
1745 Broadway, 8th fl, NY, NY 10019
0739308807 $27.50 1-800-726-0600

Ruth Reichl went undercover as a NY Times food critic to sample the Epicurean world incognito: Garlic And Sapphires, enjoying a lively reading from the author herself, provides a lively expose of an undercover taster who disguises herself in order to experience the real treatment of the ordinary diner at the hands of high-power staff at Le Cirque. Later returning above-board as the well known food critic she is, Ruth found herself treated quite differently. Garlic And Sapphires provides an intriguing assessment of restaurant practices and makes for a lively, informative discussion.

The Healing Connection
Harold G. Koenig
Templeton Foundation Press
Five Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 120, 100 Matsonford Rd, Radnor, PA 19087
www.templetonpress.org
1932031855 $14.95 1-800-621-8476

Featuring informative remarks by John M. Templeton Jr., The Healing Connection is the personal story of Dr. Harold Koenig (founder and directory of the Duke University Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health) in which he shares the memorable true story of just how his own life trials become a catalyst for his pioneering research in the area of spirituality and health which is quite literarily changing the core practice of medicine. In this complete and unabridged audiobook edition (ably narrated by John Matthew and Lisa Friedman), The Healing Connection describes Dr. Koenig's on-going battle with a chronic debilitating physical disease and how it provided keen insights with respect to his professional work and research as a medical doctor. Also related are pertinent observations on the impact of religion upon mental and physical health, and challenges for individuals and churches to utilize the benefits of faith in the mental and physical healing processes of the human mind and body. Especially recommended for Medical School and community library "Spirituality & Health" reference collections, 6 CDs for a total running time of 6 hours, 13 minutes.

Dangerous Women
Otto Penzler, editor
Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com
140010145X $34.99 1-877-782-6867

Dangerous Women is an audiobook anthology of original short stories featuring femme fatales and deadly anti-heroines. Some written in the spirit of ancient legends, others very much owing their heritage to modern popular culture, these women range from seductive to murderous to superbly manipulative. Featuring stories by Ed McBain, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Connelly, and many more, these suspenseful tails are sure to keep the listener guessing about what's in store - whether for the predatory female or the males who come too close. 10 CDs, approximately 11.5 hours, unabridged.

The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz
Mordecai Richler
BTC Audio Books
c/o Goose Lane Editions
469 King Street, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 1E5
www.gooselane.com
0864923635 $29.95 1-888-926-8377

Written by a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Award, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz is a searing classic novel about the hidden costs of discounting the welfare of others in pursuit of one's dreams. Desperate to escape Montreal's Jewish ghetto, Young Duddy Kravitz lives by his grandfather's maxim that "a man without land is nobody", and he lies, cheats, and steals in his voracious pursuit of property. Even though his magnetic charisma sustains his business presence, he soon learns that the realization of his dream is not all he expected it to be. Originally written in 1959, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz rings more strongly true than ever in today's materialistic and greed-fueled society. Narrated by award-winning actor Paul Hecht, this audiobook version was originally broadcast on CBC radio. 4 CDs, approximately 4.5 hours, abridged.

Love Song
Nikki Gemmell
Bolinda Publishing, Inc.
2 Trap Falls Road, Suite 113, Shelton, CT 06484
www.bolinda.com
1740935772 $80.00 1-888-235-2019

Love Song is a haunting love story about a woman from a locked and insular religious community who dares to venture into the strange new world of England and discovers the pleasure of love, the pain of grief, and the accusation of murder. Empathetically read aloud by award-winning narrator Caroline Lee, Love Song touches the heart with its affirmations of life and passion amid cold exile. A memorable and resonating narrative from beginning to end. 10 CDs, approximately 11 hours, unabridged, tracks every 5 minutes for easy bookmarking.

Audio Partners Publishing
1133 High Street, Auburn, CA 95603
1-800-788-3123 www.audiopartners.com

Two excellent audios are strong, recommended picks for discriminating audio cd listener seeking powerful readers combined with powerful plots. Agatha Christie's Death In The Clouds (1572704535, $29.95) comes to life under Hugh Fraser's experienced voice: his past experiences bring other Hercule Poirot mysteries in the series to life lends a uniformity of experience and sound to this latest. The sudden death of a female passenger on an intercontinental plane flight involves investigator Hercule Poirot in a search for the culprit - even when the investigation seems to point to Poirot as the possible perp. Fine tension and mystery evolve slowly and grippingly. Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase (1572704691, $29.95) offers a powerful full-cast dramatization of the third book in Adams' famous 'five part trilogy', Life, The Universe And Everything. Here Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are stranded on a prehistoric Earth, rescued by a time-travelling sofa, and face homicidal robots. The zany drama springs to full life in an exceptional play-like presentation packed with the drama of multiple voices.

No Place Like Home
Mary Higgins Clark
Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
www.simonsaysaudio.com
0743540034 $39.95 1-800-223-2336

Jan Maxwell's experienced, truly gripping voice lends heartily to an unbridged audio drama revolving around a grown woman haunted by her childhood and the stigma of having shot her mother at age 10. A new marriage results in an unexpected gift which dredges up the past and reveals someone who knows Celia's past in this haunting novel.

The Book Of Job
King James Bible
Full Cast Audio
618 Westcott Street, 1st Floor, Syracuse, NY 13210
1930276654 $25.00 fullcastaudio.com

Representing a departure for the narrators of Full Cast Audio is their recording of The Book Of Job, as found in the King James version of the Bible. Aimed at older listeners, the story of a prosperous man's faith tested by a series of misfortunes comes to life under the narrative styles of readers Gerard Moses, Cynthia Bishop and Full Cast narrators. An impressive saga comes to life.

The Sign Of The Book
John Dunning
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
1-4193-4074-3 $37.50 1-800-638-1304

Cliff Janeway is a former Denver Colorado homicide detective who retired from the force and took up the buying and selling of rare books. His girlfriend is Erin D' Angelo, Janeway's bookstore partner and a first-rate criminal defense attorney. When an old childhood friend of Erin's confesses to killing her husband, Janeway is sent to check things out. He finds that the victim has what seems to be an incredible library of signed (and therefore very valuable) editions, providing a quite plausible motive. Through in an autistic boy who may have seen what really happened but who cannot speak, an abusive bullying deputy sheriff, an aging but still competent local attorney, an abrasive local judge, a ring of suspicious book dealers, and you have a cast of characters that take the ready through a series of wholly unexpected plot twists to an amazing and unforeseen conclusion. The Sign Of The Book is superbly narrated by professional actor George Guidall in a flawlessly recorded, complete and unabridged, 7 cassette/10 hour production that is not only highly recommended for mystery buffs, but will prove simply fascinating listening for bibliophiles as well!

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859 brillianceaudio.com

Veteran Sandra Burr narrates Leslie Montgomery's Were It Not For Grace (1596003839, $21.95), a gathering of stories about God by prominent women of faith from Laura Bush and Condoleezza Rice to Anne Paulk. These twelve women share stories of how God has influenced their lives, and Burr captures their different experiences in her lively narrative style. Philip Yancey's Finding God In Unexpected Places (1597371157, $29.95) receives Mel Foster's voice: sharp, clear, and evocative as it provides a tour to religion and the finer art of locating God in the everyday world.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Physical Dimensions Of Aging
Waneen W. Spirduso, et al.
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
0736033157 $69.00 1-800-747-4457

Now in an updated second edition, Physical Dimensions Of Aging by the team of Waneen W. Spirduso, Karen L. Francis, and Priscilla G. MacRae is a textbook resource and reference especially for students and professionals in need of the latest research concerning the physical process of aging and the practical ramifications for anyone working with the elderly, particularly in the field of health care. Chapters discuss changes physical structure, capacity, and endurance; motor coordination and motor control; psychosocial relationships; what distinguishes "physically elite" older adults; and much more. Charts, graphs, and the results of the most recent studies fill this serious-minded text, which avoids an excess of overly technical medical jargon despite its focus upon professionals and field trainees. Highly recommended.

Genetics: A Reader
Thomas A. Shannon, Editor
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.romanlittlefield.com
0742532380 $21.95 1-800-462-6420

For a reader in bioethics, don't miss Genetics: Science, Ethics And Public Policy: it gathers writings from the leading bioethicists of our times: essays which comment on major issues present and emerging in the science fields. From setting genetics policies and agendas to genetic counseling for the disabled, all manner of public policy issues are surveyed.

The Edison Gene
Thom Hartmann
Park Street Press/Inner Traditions
PO Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
1594770492 $16.95 1-800-246-8648

Now in paperwork is an outstanding coverage of ADHD and self esteem written by one who himself was expelled from school for ADHD behavior, but supported by a mother who rescued his self-esteem. Thom Hartmann surveys new genetic evidence that kids with ADHD have gifts and unique abilities. Their brains are wired to make them innovators, inventors, and more - the same qualities which often cause school problems reflect an underlying genius.

Polio: An American Story
David M. Oshinsky
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., NY NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com
0195152948 $30.00 1-800-451-7556

The struggles with and conquest of polio wasn't just a medical issue: it mobilized America and instilled rumors, fear, and struggle into the most ordinary lives. Polio: An American Story recounts the national mobilization against the disease, examining the early 1950s period from attempts to find a cure to mass vaccinations against it. An outstanding history of the entire polio experience: not just the usual medical focus, but a social history powerful in its review.

Saving Women's Lives
Janet E. Joy, et.al., Editors
National Academies Press
500 - 5th Street, NW, Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055
0309092132 $47.95 www.nap.edu

Saving Women's Lives: Strategies For Improving Breast Cancer Detection And Diagnosis is an essential college-level collection important for any health library: it builds on the 2001 report Mammography and Beyond, explaining ways new detection technologies can be implemented into the detection screening process. Research integrating these developments is encouraged in essays outlining both public and health sector participation in such processes.

Home Guide To Pills & Medicines
Simeon Margolis, MD, editor
Black Dog & Leventhal
151 W. 19th Street, New York NY 10011
www.workman.com
1579123597 $19.95 1-800-722-7202

The price tag is a positive bargain for the weighty Johns Hopkins Complete Home Guide To Pills & Medicines: Indispensable Advice From America's #1 Medical Center, making it as recommendable for home reference collections as for libraries. Here's all the latest details on over 700 generic and 2,300 brand-name prescriptions, from dosage, over-dosage and interactions to side effects. Each entry is reviewed by a Johns Hopkins expert in the field, and all are offered in clear, concise language to make it easy to understand. Add a special section on herbs and dietary supplements and you have you have a simply wonderful handy reference.

When Painkillers Become Dangerous
Drew Pinsky, M.D.
Hazelden Foundation
PO Box 11, Center City, MN 55012-0011
www.hazelden.org
159285107X $9.95 1-800-328-9000

Written by the program medical director of chemical dependency services at Las Encinas Hospital of Pasadena, California, When Painkillers Become Dangerous offers straight facts and medical information concerning legal, painkilling prescription drugs. These drugs are highly effective, but also severely addictive. When Painkillers Become Dangerous is emphatically not a substitute for the diagnosis and evaluation of a physician, as an internal disclaimer warns, it is a "must-read" to acquaint oneself with the basics of the drugs and their dangers, how addiction develops, how addiction treatment works, how to intervene on a loved one's addiction, and much more, all presented in terms immediately accessible to the lay reader. Highly recommended.

Coping With Chemotherapy And Radiation
Daniel Cukier, MD, et.al.
McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
0071444726 $14.95 1-877-833-5524

Dr. Daniel Cukier has been a radiation oncologist for over thirty years, and works with other oncologists and health writer Virginia McCullough on Coping With Chemotherapy And Radiation: a consumer's guide to everything from common side effects to preparing physically and emotionally for treatment and managing pain. While some of the details on specific drug effects may become outdated as they're replaced over time, the book's overall value won't decline anytime soon - as long as cancer remains and chemo and radiation are the preferred method of treatment.


The Library Science Shelf

Planning And Evaluating Library Networked Services And Resources
John Carlo Bertot & Denise M. Davis eds.
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1563089645 $45.00 www.lu.com

Planning And Evaluating Library Networked Services And Resources is a selection of eleven essays by a variety of authors describing in depth techniques to accurately evaluate services provided through library networks. Essays involve such topics as "E-Metrics and Performance Indicators", "Getting the Most out of Vendor-Supplied Usage Statistics", "Resource Allocation in the Networked Environment", and much more. Though Planning And Evaluating Library Networked Services And Resources does not shy from technical detail, the essays make every effort to describe the steps a librarian must undergo to be sufficiently competent in his or her understanding of networked systems. Charts, sample surveys, diagrams, checksheets and more round out the no-nonsense text in this "must-read" guide for expanding libraries in the age of modern technology.

Cultural Programming For Libraries
Deborah A. Robertson
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
0838935516 $35.00 1-866-746-7252

Written by the director of the American Library Association's Public Programs Office, Cultural Programming For Libraries: Linking Libraries, Communities & Culture is a practical-minded how-to manual for putting together a broad cultural program. Covering basics, common problems and troubleshooting for all the steps from planning to funding and promoting, Cultural Programming For Libraries offers resources such as sample courtesy letters for notifying educational and other institutions of one's exhibit, case studies of successful collaborations, a selection of "five star" program series, and much more. A superb resource for public librarians, offering methods tested through direct experience.


The Psychology Shelf

Cultural Zoo
Salman Akhtar & Vamik Volkan
International Universities Press
50 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT 06443
0823610934 $37.50 1-800-835-3487

Cultural Zoo: Animals In The Human Mind And Its Sublimations is an anthology of essays by learned psychologists in regard to connections between the human psyche and animal avatars. Individual writings include "Cross-Cultural Perspectives on the Bond Between Man and Animals", "Artists and Beasts: Sacred and Sanctified", "Immigration, National Identity, and Animals", and much more. Exploring psychodynamic themes in depth, Cultural Zoo proffers a multitude of insights from interpretations of animals in dream imagery to lasting effects that human encounters with live animals can have on the unconscious mind. A welcome contributions to psychoanalytic study, research and reference shelves.

Psychoanalysis And Women
Jerome A. Winer, et al., editors
The Analytic Press
101 West Street, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
0881634212 $55.00 analyticpress.com

Competently edited by the team of Jerome A. Winer, James William Anderson, and Christine C. Kieffer, Volume 32 (2004) of the "Annual of Psychoanalysis" series, Psychoanalysis And Women" is an anthology of essays by distinguished authors concerning the psychology of women in clinical and theoretical contexts, as well as the personal narratives of those involved in the psychoanalysis of women and the stories of women who shaped psychoanalysis. Researched in-depth, and presenting cutting-edge insights by experts of the field, Psychoanalysis And Women is intended specifically for intermediate to advanced students and professionals in the psychoanalytic field. A welcome contribution to psychological research and women's studies shelves.

The Invasion From Mars
Hadley Cantril
Transaction Publishers
390 Campus Dr., Somerset, NJ 08873
www.transactionpub.com
1412804701 $24.95 1-888-99-6778

Hadley Cantril was chairman of the Institute for international Social Research: his Invasion From Mars: A Study In The Psychology Of Panic originally appeared in 1940 but remains a modern classic even in its reprint edition over fifty years later. The focus on the lasting effects of Orson Welles' radio adaptation of the fantasy War of the Worlds explores how radio could have such an effect - and how people judged the accuracy of what they were hearing on the radio.


The Nature Shelf

A Safe And Sustainable World
Nancy Jack Todd
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave. NW #300, Washington, DC 20009
1559637781 $28.95 islandpress.org

Ecological design issues were in the news in the late 1960s, the height of ecological understanding; yet today it remains relatively in the background. A Safe And Sustainable World: The Promise Of Ecological Design provides a personal account of those who set out to discover more sustainable methods of shelter and energy - and comes from research and work of a couple who served as sustainable leaders of ecological design for thousands. What can be done and what should/will be done is discussed in chapters defining elements of success and ecological failure.

The Philosopher Fish
Richard Adams Carey
Counterpoint
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.perseusbooks.com
1582431736 $26.00 1-800-242-7737

The sturgeon has been associated with the luxury food caviar since the days of the Persian Empire, with both wealth and sex appeal associated to its ingestion over the centuries - but today it's a fast-vanishing fish, threatening to take with it the people who depend on it for a living. Sturgeon natural history is examined by Carey, who journeys around the world to uncover its habits, habitat, and those profiting from it. Anticipate more than a natural history alone though: international politics, economics, and world diplomacy are all deftly examined with the sturgeon at the heart of all issues.

University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
www.unmpress.com

Amphibians and reptiles abound in New Mexico: the state holds over 123 species, with almost fifty snakes alone. For a detailed, college-level review which includes technical art supplements, identification keys, distribution patterns, similar species outlines and more, make sure William G. Degenhardt, et.al.'s Amphibians And Reptiles Of New Mexico (0826338119, $39.95) is on your bookshelf. Though a centerfold does pack in color photos, the meat of this study lies in its detailed natural history coverage, suitable for college-level study. Lucien Niemeyer and Thomas Lowe Fleischner's Desert Wetlands (0826332617, $29.95) is a 'must' for any collection focused on ecology and desert environments. 'Desert wetlands' may seem an inconsistent term, but there are indeed wetlands in the desert, as photographer Lucian Niemeyer and environmental scientist Thomas Fleischner demonstrate. While Niemeyer photographs such wetlands in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, among other states, naturalist Fleischner provides stories about water and his encounters with desert wetlands during his field research in the southwest.

Outposts And Bushplanes
Bruce Lamb
Hancock House Publishers
1431 Harrison Avenue, Blaine, WA 98230
www.hancockhouse.com
0888395566 $15.95 1-800-938-1114

Outposts And Bushplanes is a celebration of the northern British Columbia wilderness, and the rugged people who called the frontier home. Written in simple, down-to-earth prose, Outposts and Bushplanes follows the flights and memories of former bush pilot and veteran outdoorsman Bruce Lamb, preserving the memorable quirks and hardy endurance of the land's settlers during the latter half of the twentieth century. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this sometimes thrilling, sometimes poignant memoir, sure to appeal especially to armchair travelers.


The Library Video/DVD Shelf

MPI Media Group
16101 S 108th Ave, Orland Park IL 60467
www.mpimedia.com

If it's true-life stories and high drama you seek, ala Lifetime Television or the popular miniseries movies taking place on TV lately, don't miss the new 'True Stories' DVDs from the MPI Media Group, leading the way in presenting dramatic events based on real life. These aren't just small-name actors, either: Brad Pitt stars with Juliette Lewis in Too Young To Die? (07-88606476, $9.98), about a teen girl who has endured cruelty and neglect and falls prey to a seductive hustler, only to find herself involved in a murder; Fifteen And Pregnant (0788606433, $9.98) features Kirsten Dunst and Park Overall in the story of a teen who must reach out to her mother to survive her pregnancy; Brian Dennehy and Barbara Hershey star in A Killing In A Small Town (0788606441, $9.98), telling of a small-town wife's passionate affair and a brutal murder; Cathy Lee Crosby's Untamed Love (0788606-492, $9.98) reveals a disturbed child who has been deemed psychotic and seems doomed to a mental hospital; And Then There Was One (0788606409, $9.98) tells of two people whose daughter becomes the center of their lives until she falls ill with AIDS, and Darkness Before Dawn: A True Story Of Drug Addiction (0788-606417, $9.98) tells of a methadone clinic nurse haunted by her past. All are simply gripping dramas; impossible to stop watching, solid entertainment.

Making Up Faces
Bryan D. Furer & Dj Colbert
Prosperity Corner
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$24.95 www.prosperitycorner.com

Making Up Faces is an instructional guide for theater make up artists, halloween partygoers, clowns and entertainers, and anyone interested in learning how to use makeup to transform one's face into something fantastic. From the basic techniques of applying foundation and blending color, to contouring with highlights and shadows, the simple art of crafting realistic wounds, and advanced techniques for applying fake hair, and more, Making Up Faces walks the viewer through its instructions step by simple step. An ideal resource that can help turn anyone into a space alien, a zombie, a beast-man, or a wide variety of other exciting and exotic appearances, Making Up Faces is hosted by award-winning make-up artist Bryan D. Furer and fashion designer/body art practitioner DJ Colbert.

Inside Indy Racing With Rick Vukovich Amabile, Volume 1
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Inside Indy Racing With Rick Vukovich Amabile, Volume 1 draws upon the experience of former Indy 500 crew member Rick Vukovich Amabile and up-close footage to reveal the inside world of Indy Racing as never seen before. Secrets never before released to the public are presented with wit, humor, and a down-to-earth narrative style. An extensively researched documentary that delves equally deep into hard facts, personal love for the sport, and respect for the drivers who risk all - sometimes even their lives - to take part in the race. Inside Indy Racing contains no adult language, making it a "must-see" for Indy Racing fans of all ages. 70 minutes, color.

Chi Kung For Health
Terence Dunn
Koch Vision
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
1417227990 $19.98 411videoinfo.com

From the creator of "T'ai Chi for Health", Chi Kung For Health is a DVD that introduces the viewer to Chinese healing art of "energy exercise", Chi Kung (also known as qigong), that stimulates the body's innate natural energy to promote health, vitality, and longevity. Instructor Terence Dunn, who has more than 30 years of experience in the Flying Phoenix Celestial Healing Meditation discipline of Chi Kung developed over 400 years ago, guides the viewer through exercises designed to release tension, promote mind-body harmony, and encourage the fullness of energy. In Chi Kung For Health, viewers learn five basic standing meditations: Monk Holding Pearl, Monk Gazing At Moon, Monk Holding Peach, Bending the Bows, and Wind Above the Clouds. A highly welcome and recommended introduction and supplement to martial arts, yoga, exercise and health regimens, encouraging tranquility, balance, and flexibility in the practitioner. 58 minutes, color.

Island At War
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
1569387524 $59.99 acornmedia.com

Island At War is a DVD boxed set of the Masterpiece Theatre drama mini series that draws upon the real experiences that Channel Islanders endured when a hostile Nazi command imposed control upon their lives. Set on the fictional island of St. Gregory, a suspenseful saga of occupation unfolds through the eyes of three families. A gripping saga, skillfully performed and capturing the moral quandaries of war as surely as the heart-rending emotions of having one's life and future thrown into jeopardy. DVD special features include historical background, cast reflections, behind-the-scenes photos, and cast filmographies. Due to the dark nature of the subject matter, Island At War is expressly recommended for mature audiences. 3-volume DVD boxed set, 398 minutes, 16:9 widescreen, color.


The Poetry Shelf

Collected Poems
David Constantine
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
1852246677 $31.95 1-800-869-5677

Collected Poems is an anthology of three decades of poetry by award-winning poet David Constantine. Including work from seven previous titles and two limited editions, as well as a gallery of brand new poems, Collected Poems showcases the transformation of Constantine's gift and message over the years of his life. Poignant, sometimes sharply insightful, sometimes wistful and distant, the free-verses communicate their tales of varying length directly to the reader's heart and spirit. Absence: Absence is easy to imagine lasting / Always in a place / He was. Shall I visit again / Because it is a place I missed him in? // All's a museum now. You can watch a silent film / Of dockers freighting the big ships / Of the five oceans tucked in snug / Thirty-five miles inland. The living image.

Circe, After Hours
Marilyn Kallets
BkMk Press
5101 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City MO 64110
1886157510 $13.95 umkc.edu/bkmk

The author of ten previous books and currently the editor of "New Millennium Writings" and holder of the Hodges Chair for Distinguished teaching, University of Tennessee--Knoxville, Marilyn Kallet's poetry has appeared in hundreds of publications. Her latest (and enthusiastically recommended!) anthology is Circe, After Hours and clearly documents her abilities as a wordsmith and her mastery of creative writing. Mezuzah: In the doorpost of her house, a hollow/where the mezuzah used to hang,/I press my hand against the indentation,/my way of speaking to the past.//Tough the hollow where the mezuzzah/used to hang. In Horeb, Nazis renamed her street/Hitlerstrasse. My way of speaking to the past/is to listen, press the old men for answers.//1941, Jews were packed into Hitlerstrasse./Now it's a winding picture postcard road,/Jew-free, pleasant as it seemed/before Nazis pressed my family into Judenhausen.//I press my hand against the indentation./Over Horb, a hundred doorposts echo, hollow.

Good Morning And Good Night
David Wagoner
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6903
0252072391 $19.95 press.uillinois.edu

The impressively accomplished author of seventeen books of poems and ten novels, David Wagoner is also the recipient of six prizes from "Poetry" and winner of the 1981 Ruth Lilly Prize for poetry. Good Morning And Good Night is the latest anthology showcasing a master poetry at the height of his craft and is a strongly recommended compendium of verse for personal reading as well as academic library literary collections. The Getaway: They had to act natural. They had to look like/They were still parts of an ordinary day/Together on the sidewalk across the street/To the unfamiliar car, yet they had to be/Quick about it without running. They had to think/Taking those steps, remembering, knowing/Every foot they could put between their bodies/And the scene behind them, where the noise/Of buzzers and bells and yowling/And terribly shocked voices was growing/Louder and louder. They pulled away/As calmly as possible, staring straight ahead/Straight-faced, not glancing once/To either side or backward, let alone/At each other, and took a turn in the most unlikely/Direction they could think of. Under the limit,/They drove steadily, legally toward home.

A View From The Heart
Seamus P. O'Cuinn
Fithian Press/Daniel & Daniel
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
www.danielpublishing.com
1564744450 $14.00 1-800-662-8351

Seamus O'Cuinn is a retired school teacher who was twice named Connecticut and New England's "Poet of the Year" by the New England Association of Teachers of English. Under the name James Quinn he published more than 300 poems in literary magazines. Now under his own name readers are treated to a new and confidently recommended volume of his work, A View From The Heart, in which he writes with humor and affection in a variety of poetic styles which range from Japanese haiku and senryu, to formal sonnets, to free verse. Still Life: Today, brilliant sunlight/on a bouquet of roses/in a crystal vase/on the dining room table.//Tomorrow, a single dried rose/pressed between the pages/of an old photo album/lying on the dark attic floor.

From My Heart To Yours
Lilly Bell Scott
Tate Publishing, LLC
127 East Trade Center Terrace, Mustang, OK 73064
www.tatepublishing.com
1933148071 $16.95 1-888-361-9473

In her poetry, 83-year-old Lilly Bell Scott draws upon her personal life experiences of being born and raised in eastern Kentucky, including her marriage, raising four children, her widowhood while in her early forties, the death of her youngest sun, and other "life-difficulties" that compelled her to turn to poetry as a kind of therapy to over her pain, confusion, and heart-ache. The best of which are compiled within the pages of From My Heart To Yours and are highly recommended reading -- especially for anyone having to struggle with their own sadness and heartache. Beauty That Money Can't Buy: I look at the beauty money can't buy,/The twinkling stars you see in the sky,/The sunshine bright, the moon at night,/God made it all; He made it right.//So many different kinds of trees,/Some red and purple and green to see/God put them there for a special reason, Just like He gave us different seasons.//Everything is made for us with love,/We sometimes forget it comes from above,/We fail to stop and think and look/All the beauty you can't describe in a book.//All the things of beauty God gave is a treasure,/The worth of all no man can measure./Thank you Lord, for all you've done./We should remember them everyone.


The Military Shelf

To Be A Soldier
Tom McCourt
Southpaw Publications
400 East 3000 South Price, Utah 84501
www.southpawpublications.net
0974156825 $17.95 www.amazon.com

To Be A Soldier is the personal story of one of many draftees who heeded the call to serve his country in the Vietnam War. Confronted with deadly combat, the loss of friends, and perhaps worst of all, the bitter homecoming and even the patronizing contempt of older fellow veterans from World War II, To Be A Soldier offers honest feelings, fears, elations, and ponderings. The author was proud to fight for freedom, yet acknowledges that the leaders that sent him into battle were weak-willed, and the South Vietnamese government that American forces shed blood to defend was corrupt. To Be A Soldier explores these contradictions and the painful toll of surviving when so many of one's fellows have fallen, yet is also ultimately a celebration of the virtue of being willing to risk one's life for the greater good of one's nation and the noble ideal of liberty, even if tarnished reality falls short of higher visions.

B-24 Liberator
Bill Holder
Squadron/Signal Publications
1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010
0897474899 $14.95 www.squadron.com

As a staple of the United States air force during World War II, the B-24 Liberator was either loved or hated, there was no in between for the men who flew them. But the giant four engine bomber, in many different models, was undeniably a key reason why the Allies won over the Axis powers. Enhanced with a wealth of both historic black and white photography, and superb full color illustrations, Bill Holder's informative text in B-24 Liberator from Squadron/Signal Publications offers the perfect introduction and overview of this remarkable aircraft and is highly recommended, informative reading for World War II military buffs in general, and Military Aviation History enthusiasts in particular.

Helicopters
Stanley S. McGowen
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851094687 $85.00 1-800-368-6868

New to the "Weapons and Warfare" series, Helicopters: An Illustrated History Of Their Impact is an in-depth study of how the helicopter has transformed warfare, from the first successful machines in the early 1900s to the latest technological advances of the twenty-first century. Written by an adjunct professor of military history at Columbia College, Helicopters is the story of innovation against opposition, as time and again helicopter designers created more capable rotocraft and had to persuade doubting military planners to allocate the funds to build and deploy them. Black-and-white photographs of numerous helicopter models flesh out this extensively researched, at times technical survey that nonetheless will appeal to non-specialist general readers and military aviation history scholars alike.

Long Way Back To The River Kwai
Loet Velmans
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th fl., NY, NY 10010
www.arcadepub.com
1559707062 $24.95 1-800-759-0190

The inspiration for the classic book and film "Bridge Over The River Kwai", Long Way Back To The River Kwai: Memories Of World War II is the painfully honest true story of one man's gut-wrenching and nearly fatal three and a half year tenure as a slave laborer for the Japanese army during World War II. A prisoner of war. An insert of black-and-white photographs illustrate this testimony, which presents the unvarnished truth about inhumane, brutal, and ultimately deadly torments the POWs suffered during the course of the war. Long Way Back To The River Kwai also tells of the war's end, the author's rescue and slow recovery from near-death, and his gradual readjustment. The final section tells of the author's business dealings in modern-day Japan, his reflections and friendships, and his observance of the Japanese "cultural amnesia" concerning the war and the atrocities it committed during that era. Highly recommended reading and an impressive contribution to the growing library of World War II combatant memoirs.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Ron Schara's Minnesota Fishing Guide
Ron Schara
Tristan Publishing
2300 Louisiana Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN 55427
097265044X $19.95 tristanoutdoors.com

Ron Schara's Minnesota Fishing Guide is the ideal angler's guide to all of the best fishing Minnesota's lakes, rivers, streams and ponds have to offer. Compiled by expert fisherman Ron Schara (who can be seen on "Backroads with Ron and Raven" over the ESPN2 television channel, and on "Minnesota Bound" over KARE 11) this superbly organized and thoroughly "user friendly" 276-page guidebook will prove to be an indispensable planning guide for anyone wanting to enjoy casting for fish against the outdoor wonders that Minnesota has to offer. Schara begins with present the basis that range from equipment, to the weather, to lures, "catch and release", trip planning essentials, fishing with kids, and even "Where Anglers Gather". Then he proceeds with chapters devoted to panfish, walleye, trout, largemouth and small mouth bass, muskie and northern, catfish, carp, and more. Enhanced with DNR Charts, an Index, as well as "Fish Stories", Ron Schara's Minnesota Fishing Guide is enthusiastically recommended for the novice, and holds much of valued interest for even the seasoned angler.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Wandering Schoolgirl: Book 01
Gary L. Gallegos & Louis C. Gallegos
Icecat Books
1243 Old Canyon Drive, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
0976430800 $9.95 icecatbooks.com

The Wandering Schoolgirl: Book 01 debuts a lighthearted graphic novel series following Breanna Cota, a young Hispanic girl called upon to save the princess of a faraway land... a land that is peculiarly reminiscent of Japanese anime, from the Chibi village filled with perky tiny girls to fierce mecha-suit battles! The princess is under a terrible curse of seven governors, and until the curse is lifted, she will embody each of the governor's worst traits - sloth, envy, gluttony, anger, lust, covetousness, and deadliest of all, pride. Aided by a magical talking backpack shaped like a pig and other friends, Breanna must break the spell by defeating each of the seven, starting with the lascivious Governor of Lust! Humorously poking fun at the conventions of Japanese popular culture television ("try attacking without letting her know what you're going to do," Breanna suggests to a warrior who insists on yelling things like "Extreme Neon Blast!" whenever he fights), The Wandering Schoolgirl doesn't take itself too seriously and as a result the story breezes by so quickly the reader is left eager for the next installment. The black-and-white artwork is in a simple, uncluttered style that is easy on the eyes and fits the upbeat tone of the story perfectly. Highly recommended for all ages, and especially for fans of Japanese anime and manga.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Word Without End
Christopher R. Seitz
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
1932792147 $24.95 1-800-710-3217

Professor of Old Testament and Theological Studies Christopher Seitz presents Word Without End: The Old Testament As Abiding Theological Witness, a theological approach to interpreting the Old Testament. Meticulously dissecting terminology, theological, exegetical, liturgical, and hermeneutical issues pertaining to the study of the Old Testament, Word Without End explores the fundamental connections and disassociations between Christianity and Judaism. An exactingly written testimony of scholarship, designed to refine and stimulate thought and debate concerning fundamental issues of biblical interpretation, Word Without End is highly recommended for Biblical studies shelves and scholarly reading lists.

In Search Of Sacred Places
Daniel Taylor
Bog Walk Press
1605 Lake Johanna Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55112
0970651112 $19.95

Literature and writing professor Daniel Taylor presents In Search Of Sacred Places, the testimony of his spiritual quest and journey toward understanding in his experience among islands once considered holy to the ancient Celts. Part history, part memoir, part travelogue, part spiritual quest, and part personal introspection, In Search Of Sacred Places ponders both the unknowable and the mundane, and brims with the author's abiding insights and wonder. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this deeply respectful and spiritual account.

Sacred Sanskrit Words
Leza Lowitz & Reema Datta
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
1880656876 $14.95 stonebridge.com

Sacred Sanskrit Words For Yoga, Chant, And Meditation is the collaborative work of experienced and expert yoga instructors Leza Lowitz and Reema Datta. Introducing more than 160 spiritually significant Sanskrit words (including some of which like karma , nirvana, and chakra have entered the English language) with Devangari scripts, pronunciations, chants, and brief cultural as well as historical explanations, Sacred Sanskrit Words is a practical and exceptionally portable paperback reference book with native script renderings large enough to reproduce as tattoos or decorative art. Especially recommended as a resource for dedicated students of yoga, and meditation, Sacred Sanskrit Words is an invaluable addition to personal and academic library Eastern Religion reference collections and supplemental studies lists.


The Sports Shelf

Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore
Terry Funk with Scott E. Williams
Sports Publishing L.L.C.
804 North Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
1582619913 $24.95 1-877-424-2665

Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore is the biography of professional wrestling veteran and former holder of NWA heavyweight title Terry Funk. Told directly from Funk's perspective, in first-person point of view, with the assistance of award-winning wrestling columnist Scott E. Williams, Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore offers a straightforward glimpse into the ups and downs of wrestling, from its show business aspects to life on the road traveling from nation to nation, to the twilight of the WCW. An absolute "must-read" for professional wrestling fans interested in learning what a life devoted to this thrilling sport is truly like.

Stories Of Minnesota Women In Sports
Kathleen C. Ridder et al.
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0451
0878392122 $16.95 1-888-820-1636

The collaboration of Kathleen C. Ridder, Jean A. Brookins and Barbara Stuhler, Stories Of Minnesota Women In Sports: Leveling The Playing Field is an anthology of true stories of Minnesota women athletes, in their own words. From a tennis player on her way to Wimbledon, to an Olympic hockey pioneer, to women in the fields of coaching, sports administration, sports research, and more, Stories Of Minnesota Women In Sports span the twentieth century and offer an up-close and personal view of competition, discipline, self-improvement, and dreams to achieve. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this outstanding regional sports history.


The Literary Shelf

Subterranean Worlds
Peter Fitting
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
www.wesleyan.edu/wespress
081956723X $29.95 1-800-421-1561

Subterranean Worlds: A Critical Anthology is a compilation of essays about hollow earth fiction and science fiction literature, from the 17th century to the present, including some excerpts translated into English for the first time. Helpful introductions to each major selection or body of hollow earth literature, from Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic and popular tales to those of more obscure and overlooked authors, help broaden the reader's understanding of the mindset of each tale's era. Also included are explanations of the geological theories of the day that produced many of these stories. A welcome contribution to science fiction literary criticism and reference shelves.

The Voice Of The Phoenix
Bryant Creel
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
0866983155 $40.00 1-865-974-3321

Spanish literature scholar and professor Bryant Creel presents The Voice Of The Phoenix: Metaphors Of Death And Rebirth In Classics Of The Iberian Renaissance, an in-depth examination of how Spanish and Portuguese literary masterpieces from between the late fifteenth and early seventeenth centuries subtly contributed to the changing social attitudes and cultures in a "Renaissance" transitional era, that gradually transformed the restrictions of a dominant medieval traditionalism. Arguing that Renaissance authors sought to develop literary culture along secular lines in order to "modernize" a society while slipping under the watchful radar of theology-based censorship, The Voice Of The Phoenix scrutinizes such classics as poems of Fray Luis de Leon, and works of prose fiction including "Lazarillo de Tormes", Jorge de Montemayor's "Diana", and Cervantes' "Don Quixote". Divided into independent essays each scrutinizing a specific topic yet all linked by common themes of (often metaphorical) death and rebirth, The Voice of the Phoenix is a welcome contribution to college library and Iberian literature study shelves.

Why Shakespeare
Gerald M. Pinciss
The Continuum Publishing Group
15 East 26th St, #17, NY, NY 10010-1505
www.continuumbooks.com
0826416888 $24.95 1-800-561-7704

Professor Emeritus of English Gerald M. Pinciss presents Why Shakespeare: An Introduction To The Playwright's Art "demystifies" the talents and skills of the immortal bard, whose theatrical works were created centuries ago under conditions best called primitive yet which resonate among audiences worldwide today. Why Shakespeare explains the structural, plotting, theatrical, and language elements that distinguished Shakespeare's work in plain terms, avoiding technical jargon to better reach the lay reader as surely as the would-be playwright and the learned literary critic striving to better understand how Shakespeare's works so transcended their time. Particularly focusing on a dozen of Shakespeare's best-known plays, Why Shakespeare is highly recommended reading for all who appreciate and wish to better understand Shakespeare's genius.


The Civil War Shelf

The Voyage Of The Shenandoah
William C. Whittle, Jr.
The University of Alabama Press
Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
www.uapress.ua.edu
0817314512 $45.00 1-800-621-2736

The Voyage Of The Shenandoah: A Memorable Cruise presents a primary source of history long thought lost - the log of William C. Whittle, Jr., executive officer of the CSS Shenandoah, the last raider ship of the Confederate Navy to learn of General Lee's surrender and the end of the Confederacy (the Shenandoah continued the war effort for two and half months after Appomattox). Whittle's log resurfaced in the attic of a descendant in the 1980s; now, with meticulous editing and annotations of history professors D. Alan Harris and Anne B. Harris, Whittle's testimony vividly describes the Shenandoah's time at sea from its departure from London in 1864 (as the "Sea King") to its surrender in Liverpool in November 1865. Most individual entries are relatively brief, yet they are descriptive, and at times poignant in their reflection. A superb primary source and reference particularly for Civil War history and library reference shelves.


The World History Shelf

Doctors From Hell
Vivien Spitz
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
www.sentientpublications.com
1591810329 $23.95 1-303-443-2188

Written by skilled journalist Vivian Spitz, who counts being the youngest court reporter at the Nuremberg Trials among her many accomplishments, Doctors From Hell: The Horrific Account Of Nazi Experiments On Humans presents literal testimonies of Nuremburg war crimes trials specifically pertaining to murderous medical experiments performed on living people. A bleak, stark, and severe account; the dry yet thoroughly detailed testimony speaks for itself. Information concerning the conviction and sentencing of defendants is also included. The author offers closing chapters about adapting to a normal life after her role in bearing witness to unspeakable atrocities, including her encounters with poisonous and sometimes threatening Holocaust deniers. A straightforward primary source appreciable to scholars and lay readers alike, and a welcome contribution to Holocaust Studies and reference shelves.

Danger, Death And Disaster
Karen Buckley
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.uofcpress.com
1552381323 $34.95 1-800-565-3770

Danger, Death And Disaster: In The Crowsnest Pass Mines 1902-1928 is the true story of the Crowsnest Pass Mines in Canada, and the community surrounding it. During the first part of the twentieth century, disasters and accidents claimed over 400 lives - forcing those living in the area to cope with death on an immediate basis. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this true story of how people learned to cope, from poignant grave marker epitaphs to the camaraderie of mining songs. A unique and welcome contribution to Canadian history, also offering anthropological and psychological insights to human survival mechanisms in the face of constant life-threatening danger and loss.

One River Two Cultures
Paula Wild
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
1550173421 $34.95 1-604-883-2730

One River Two Cultures: A History Of The Bella Coola Valley is a thoroughly researched historical account told in a friendly, narrative style of the beautiful Bella Coola Valley deep within the central coast wilderness of British Columbia. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this chronicle, which tells of the Nuxalkmc people whose culture was heavily intertwined with the natural and spiritual world; the drastic changes that came about when gold-seekers, traders, missionaries and a group of Norwegian settlers came; to modern-day conflicts concerning the land and the extent to which its resources should be consumed. Award-winning writer Paula Wild gathers the rich and complex story of the valley and the people who called it home into a smoothly flowing whole, that absorbs the reader from cover to cover. A superbly crafted regional history.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

What Animals Tell Me
Dr. Monica Diedrich
Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
www.llewellyn.com
0738706299 $12.95 1-800-843-6666

What Animals Tell Me: True Stories Of An Animal Communicator is a collection of testimonies from an animal communicator. Dr. Monica Diedrich has been speaking with animals since the age of eight, earned a Doctorate of Metaphysics from the Metaphysical Fellowship Church in Anaheim, California, and has also worked as a veterinary assistant. Chapters recount her experiences with the strong wills of living animals, as well as the spiritual essence of animals that have crossed over to the other side. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this heartwarming and spiritually uplifting anthology, sure to touch the hearts of devoted pet owners especially.

Beyond Fear
Don Miguel Ruiz
Council Oak Books Ltd.
2105 East 15th Street, Suite B, Tulsa, OK 74104
www.counciloakbooks.com
1571780386 $14.95 1-800-247-8850

Beyond Fear: A Toltec Guide To Freedom And Joy presents the spiritual teachings of Don Miguel Ruiz, trained as a medical doctor and surgeon, who became a nagual (one with the ability to guide others to spirit), initiated as a Master of Intent in the Toltec tradition. Drawing his wisdom from a vision of Teotihuacan, "the place where Men Become Gods", Ruiz puts forth the spiritual doctrine that reality is a dream that we create, and has the potential to become as we wish it to be. Fear is the source of negative agreements made with life; in order to achieve The Mastery of Love, one must move beyond fear. Beyond Fear quotes Don Miguel Ruiz's express words in long passages, supplemented with testimonies of his followers and others, as well as straightforward summaries of life after death, prayers, prophecies about the evolution of humanity, and an imaginary journey to Teotihuacan. A deeply spiritual book, offering insights that at times seem parallel to Buddhist truths and doctrine, particularly in its emphasis on meditation, focusing one's mental energies on love and kindness, and transcending the baser desires of the self.

Chi Energy Workbook
Simon G. Brown
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
1402717016 $17.95 1-800-805-5489

Fully illustrated with color photography of individuals demonstrating recommended stretches and exercises, Chi Energy Workbook: A Practical Guide To The Essence That Links All Holistic Therapies is a simple beginner's guide to the invigorating art of harnessing one's own life force. Chapters skim the basics of how to boost one's chi, feel another's chi, the principles behind the practices of shiatsu, tsubo therapy, feng shui, moxibustion, tai chi, chi gong, and more. Sections describe how apply one's chi to promote health and wholeness in the mind, body, and emotions in this straightforward and highly accessible primer.


The Gaming Shelf

Starting Out: Rook Endgames
Chris Ward
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.everymanchess.com
1857443748 $18.95 1-800-243-0495

Chess Grandmaster and former British Champion Chris Ward presents Starting Out: Rook Endgames, a guide for intermediate chess players striving to hone their skills. Rook-dominated endgames are one of the most common situations, and the estimated closing situation for one in five chess matches. Starting Out: Rook Endgames is filled cover to cover with diagrams, sample games, tricky situations, tips, tricks, techniques, suggestions, and general advice ("Be careful not to overwork or overload your king - or any other piece for that matter) that will prove valuable to serious-minded chess players everywhere. Like companion volumes in the "Starting Out" series, Starting Out: Rook Endgames is the perfect resource for anyone seeking to better understand individual facets of the ancient, complex, and often brilliantly surprising game of chess.


The Social Issues Shelf

Lives Of Dust And Water
Maria Luz Cruz-Torres
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816523886 $39.95 1-800-426-3797

Lives Of Dust And Water coldly spells out the negative side to the forces of globalization. In northwest Mexico, state and regional economic development policies have supported the commercial export of natural resources, causing growth in agriculture and shrimp aquaculture, yet the resulting environmental pressures have worsened the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems. Formerly self-reliant rural populations are forced into wage and subsistence labor in order to survive; economic impoverishment flows from forces beyond individual control and brings widespread suffering. Author and associate professor of anthropology Maria Luz Cruz-Torres traces the histories of two villages affected by the severity of change, and traces how men and women create innovative social and cultural forms in order to soften the brunt impact and not only survive, but also maintain individual dignity. Combining anthropology, ethnography, history, quantitative analysis, and compassionate awareness, Lives Of Dust And Water is a profound insight into transformations to promote adaptation to an increasingly globalized world.


The Law/Justice Shelf

Walking With The Devil
Margot Willett
Quinn & Associates
PO Box 24166, Minneapolis, MN 55424
097591250X $16.95 booksbyquinn.com

Michael W. Quinn is a retired Minneapolis police officer who is determined to bring to the attention of the public an informed and informative expose of what he calls the "police code of silence" in his book Walking With The Devil: What Bad Cops Don't Want You To Know And Good Cops Won't Tell You. Deftly edited by Margot Willett, Walking With The Devil reveals why this police version of "omerta" comes about and is enforced by the dangers of the job and the (sometimes misplaced) loyalties that arise from them. From training in a police academy, to the investigations of Internal Affairs, to scandal driven precinct shake ups, Willett lays out everything in language and example that is accessible to the non-specialist general reader. Of special note is the section devoted to ten myths about policing which range from "street justice teaching people a lesson" to once being a part of a police "Code of Silence" you can't extricate yourself, to the necessity to be macho if you want to be effective in law enforcement. Willett does more than just outline and document the problems, he also offers advice for police administrators and line officers as to what can be done to weed out lawlessness from law enforcement. With the inclusion of a Glossary, References, and an Index, Walking With The Devil should be considered required reading for all police academia curriculums, and is highly recommended for anyone who is "on the job", as well as an essential reference for civilian review board members and concerned members of the general community.


The American History Shelf

Dialogue On The Frontier
Margaret C. Depalma
The Kent State University Press
PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44240-0001
0873388143 $55.00 1-800-247-6553

Dialogue On The Frontier: Catholic And Protestant Relations, 1793-1883 explores the historiography of relations between early Catholic and Protestant settlers of the United States of America. Far more than simply a dry recounting of historical events, Dialogue On The Frontier strives to offer historical perspective and insight on modern Catholic-Protestant issues that cause confusion to this day: the controversy regarding the choice of a Catholic chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives, background issues pertaining to the removal of the Bible and prayer from the school classroom, the debate over vouchers for private religious schools, and more. Chapters focus upon specific notable religious figures and divides the ongoing debate between Catholics and Protestants into discrete eras, such as "Archbishop John Carroll: The New World and the Opening Dialogue, 1634-1793" and "Archbishop John Baptist Purcell: The Debate Turns into a Monologue 1855-1872". A scholarly, sober, and exhaustively researched and annotated scrutiny, especially recommended for religious history shelves.

When In Boston
Jim Vrabel
Northeastern University Press
360 Huntington Avenue, 416 CP, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
1555536204 $24.95 1-800-666-2211

When In Boston: A Time Line & Almanac is a reference chronology that traces landmark events in Boston year by year, from the 1600's to the present day. Each event is given an iconic category marker to distinguish its nature at an immediate glance, from hallmarks of social change, crimes, or disasters to events pertaining to religion, education, politics, sports and recreation, and much more. Vintage black-and-white photographs or reproductions of famous paintings illustrate this survey, and an index allows for swift lookup of pivotal events in Boston's history. A fascinating wealth of historical information, and an easy-to-use quick reference especially recommended for local Boston reporters, historians, and lay people or tourists interested in learning about the city's grand history.

Rescued By The U.S. Coast Guard
Dennis L. Noble
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
1591146259 $32.95 1-800-233-8764

Rescued By The U.S. Coast Guard: Great Acts Of Heroism Since 1878 is an anthology of the most daring, successful, and heroic efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard to save lives over the course of the past century. Man-against-sea stories, some told in the words of the rescuers themselves, abound in this exciting collection. Yet not every rescue attempt is successful; Rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard also pays homage to those who lost their lives. Historians will appreciate the attention to detail, particularly in the evolution of life-saving equipment across the years. Enthralling reading and a welcome revelation of the difficult work and life-changing achievements of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Making Steel
Mark Reutter
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
www.press.uillinois.edu
0252072332 $21.95 1-800-545-4703

Reporter and business and law editor Mark Reutter presents Making Steel: Sparrows Point And The Rise And Ruin Of American Industrial Might, a historical chronicle of the rise and fall of American steel industry that especially focuses upon what was once the world's largest steel mill at Sparrows Point, Maryland. Scrutinizing the business of steel, its production, daily lives of the workers, and the fallout as corporate leaders elected to enhance their own security and wealth at the expense of employees, community, or innovative technology. A poignant true tale, brought back in a new edition featuring an author's preface, 26 pages of black-and-white photographs, and a telling chapter on Bethlehem Steel's bankruptcy titled "The Discarded American Worker", Making Steel is enthusiastically recommended to economics students and professionals, historians, and lay readers alike.


The Education Shelf

What Successful Principals Do!
Franzy Fleck
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 010538
www.eyeoneducation.com
1930556977 $29.95 1-914-833-0551

What Successful Principals Do!: 169 Tips For Principals offers a wealth of practical, accessible, applicable insights provided by experienced school principal Franzy Fleck. What Successful Principals Do! is nicely organized into three section: "Beginning the School Year"; "During the School Year", and "Ending the School Year". With a text laced throughout with advice for getting the very best out of faculty and students, What Successful Principals Do! provides each individual tip is introduced by an inspiring quote and followed by methodical instruction on implementing the suggested strategy. To put it simply but emphatically, What Successful Principals Do! should be on the reading list of every building principal in every school district in the country.

19 Urban Questions
Shirley R. Steinberg & Joe L. Kincheloe
Peter Lang Publishing USA
275 Seventh Ave., 28th fl, NY, NY 10001
www.peterlangusa.com
0820457728 $34.95 1-800-770-5264

Collaboratively compiled, organized and co-edited by Shirley R. Steinberg (Associate Professor and Head of Graduate Literacy, Brooklyn College) and Joe L. Kincheloe (Professor of Education, CUNY Graduate Center Urban Education Program, Brooklyn College), 19 Urban Questions: Teaching In The City provides an detailed and accessible overview of urban education emphasizing its complexity in terms of what classroom educators will need to know in order to function best within urban private or public school settings. Through twenty informed and informative essays from experienced academics and researchers, 19 Urban Questions covers the differences in urban education, motives for teaching in city settings, understanding and dealing with dropouts, the role of counseling in urban schools, identifying resistance in urban settings, gangs and gang membership, evaluation and assessment, unique issues relating to disabilities, bilingual education, unique issues in urban literacy, urban students and the writing process, technology in urban classrooms, the value of teaching science in urban settings, the role of aesthetics in city schools, health risks among city students, and understanding the urban family. A collective work of impeccable scholarship, 19 Urban Questions should be considered critically essential reading.

Linking Teacher Evaluation And Student Learning
Pamela D. Tucker & James H. Stronge
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
1416600329 $26.95 1-800-933-2723

Researchers and education professors Pamela D. Tucker and James H. Stronge present Linking Teacher Evaluation And Student Learning, a study that reveals how including measures of student achievement in teacher evaluations can help schools improve their attempts to meet higher standards. Chapters address how to track progress on crucial content standards, set annual quantifiable goals for students' academic progress, analyze changes in student test scores, apply sample methodology, and much more. Case studies illustrate the general points and suggestions in this useful and practical resource especially for school administrators and principals


The Money/Finance Shelf

Start Your Own Tax-Exempt Think Tank
Jacques Kinau
Institute for Research
Georgetown Station, PO Box 3767, Washington, DC 20027
0976443708 $12.95 www.inre.org

In Start Your Own Tax-Exempt Think Tank, serial entrepreneur and nonprofit think tank expert Jacques Kinau clearly lays out the benefits to be lawfully gained by establishing a "Think Tank" -- an organization that doesn't not have to produce any tangible product, but can nevertheless qualify for (to the lay reader) some astonishing financial benefits with respect to contemporary American tax laws. Kinau reveals how existing and planned tax law changes push more of America's total tax burden onto middle income taxpayers and wage earners, and how extremely profitable corporations dodge tax responsibilities the rest of us must endure through their creation of foundations. An informed and informative "how to" guide, Start Your Own Tax-Exempt Think Tank will enable anyone to establish a Tax Exempt Nonprofit Think Tank which can deliver to ordinary people the huge benefits typically the reserved province of high-rolling corporate executives. By following the instructions and resources provided by Kinau, anyone can incorporate their own tax exempt nonprofit think tank within in their own state in only a few weeks, and secure an IRS tax exemption within three months. If you are tired of being the cash cow for corporate America and their congressional allies, then give a serious reading to Start Your Own Tax-Exempt Think Tank.


The Parenting Shelf

Achieving Success With Impossible Children
Dave Ziegler, Ph.D.
Acacia Publishing
c/o KSB Promotions (publicity)
55 Honey Creek, NE, Ada, MI 49301
0966657292 $24.95 acaciapublishing.com

Written by a psychologist, therapist, and foster parent of more than 30 years' experience, Achieving Success With Impossible Children: How To Win The Battle Of Wills is a down-to-earth guide for parents and professionals alike struggling to deal with challenging children in a wide variety of settings. Various chapters address the importance of modeling responsibility and creating an environment where responsible behavior is the norm, the power and methodology of positive discipline. Further discussion deals with more serious cases, including how to handle violent children, a process that can take years of patience, firmness, and vigilance, and how to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder in young children. Especially recommended for psychologists, caregivers, parents, and mental health professionals.


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