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Volume 19, Number 9 September 2009 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

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


Reviewer's Choice

In the Course of My Walks
August Derleth
Borderland Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780981562025 $25.00 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

In the Course of My Walks is an anthology of reflections by August Derleth (1909-1971), a resident of Sauk City, Wisconsin who sought the meaning of life in the natural beauty surrounding his home, from the woods, marshes, and waters to the beasts and birds. Derleth identified strongly with Henry David Thoreau, and even considered his home near the Wisconsin River to be "Walden West". Derleth's writings draw heavily upon his observations of nature during his daily walks, and span a gamut of topics from natural history essays to philosophy to narratives of the natural world and more. Written by an erudite nature lover, for erudite nature lovers, In the Course of My Walks is highly recommended for both personal and public library collections.

GIS Tutorial II
David W. Allen
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589482012, $79.95, www.amazon.com

Geographic information system (GIS) technology is now ubiquitous across the globe. The sequel to "GIS Tutorial: Workbook for ArcView 9", this second volume, "GIS Tutorial II: Spatial Analysis Workbook" focuses on how to perform spatial analysis using the tools in ArcGIS Desktop. Thoroughly 'user friendly', detailed, step-by-step procedures will help guide the reader through a number of spatial analysis methods ranging including comparison, overlay, density, proximity; and statistical, to temporal, distribution, pattern, cluster, auto correlation, and hot spot factors. In addition to the step-by-step instructions, each individual tutorial exercise, also features a review, study questions, and a list of possible real-world applications. Author David Allen draws upon his years of experience and expertise as the GIS manager for the City of Euless, Texas where he designs data structures and custom applications, and as a GIS instructor at the Tarrant county College helping to develop a GIS degree program to make "GIS Tutorial II: Spatial Analysis Workbook" completely user friendly and an ideal, highly recommended textbook for either classroom curriculums or a self-instruction manual.

Combating Violence & Abuse Of People With Disabilities
Nancy M. Fitzsimons
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781598570014, $34.95, www.amazon.com

All too often overlooked or discriminated against by their communities, adults with disabilities are also vulnerable to bullying, exploitation, abuse and neglect. That is why the publication of "Combating Violence & Abuse Of People With Disabilities" by Nancy M. Fitzsimons (MSW Program Director and Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Minnesota State University, Mankato) is so timely and so necessary and so valuable. This is an informed and informative instruction manual providing sound advice and practical approaches professionals, family members, and self-advocacy empowered disabled adults can employ to prevent violence and avoid abuse by projecting self-confidence and assertiveness, effectively communicate with others, form healthy interpersonal and intimate relationships, and develop practical safety skills for any and all occasions. "Combating Violence & Abuse Of People With Disabilities" also covers what to do and how to do it with respect to identifying, reporting, and dealing with physical assaults, sexual assaults, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. As practical as it is insightful, "Combating Violence & Abuse Of People With Disabilities" is a very strongly recommended addition to professional, academic, and community library reference collections, and personal resource reading lists for anyone having to deal with the threat of abuse toward themselves or in behalf of a loved one.

Imagining Science
Sean Caulfield and Timothy Caulfield
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
www.uap.ualberta.ca
0888645082, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled and co-edited by Sean and Timothy Caulfield, "Imagining Science" is a distinctive collection of informative essays and memorable original artwork by artists, scientists, and social commentators from around the world addressing complex and controversial legal, ethical, and social concerns about advances in biotechnology ranging from stem cell research, to cloning, to genetic testing. The result is a synthesis of seminal scientific and creative research. "Imagining Science" is a unique series of collaborations highlighting the functional role art plays in accessibly assessing biomedical technologies and challenging ethical, religious and philosophical boundaries. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Imagining Science" is highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Encyclopedia Of Death And The Human Experience
Clifton D. Bryant & Dennis L. Peck, editors
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.sagepub.com
9781412951784, $350.00, www.amazon.com

Death is the universal experience all human beings will encounter. How those encounters will be interpreted and responded to is heavily influenced by family, tradition, culture and religion. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly co-edited by Clifton D. Bryant (Professor of Sociology, Virginia Tech University) and Dennis L. Peck (Professor of Sociology, University of Alabama), the two-volume "Encyclopedia Of Death And The Human Experience" is an impressively comprehensive and detailed compendium of information and scholarship surveying and examining the beliefs, traditions, mores, customs and social rituals associated with the process of dying and the ritualization of death. Also addressed are such relevant factors as bereavement, mourning, and the process of grieving. Superbly organized and enhanced with figures, tables, images, organizational resources, and detailed appendices, the "Encyclopedia Of Death And The Human Experience" also includes funeral customs and practices, legal issues, cross-cultural perspectives, and the symbolisms associated with death and dying. A seminal work of impeccable scholarship, "Encyclopedia Of Death And The Human Experience" is a core and highly recommended addition to community and academic library reference collections.

Future: A Recent History
Lawrence R. Samuel
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
9780292719149 $45.00 www.utexaspress.com 1-800-252-3206

Future: A Recent History is a social history that examines how intellectuals, artists, scientists, businesspeople, and others perceived the impending future, all during the past century. Classifying six different eras of "future narratives" and pervasive tropes permeating in public consciousness, Future: A Recent History reveals as much about ourselves as it does about our predictions past of what the future would bring. Human society's discoveries in everything from space travel to atomic and nuclear weapons to the women's and civil rights movement served to shape not only the actual future, but the visions people had of the future. An amazing and insightful collection, recommended to anyone curious about the future or (more importantly) about those individuals curious enough to dream of something and risk life and limb to fin it.

Museums and the Construction of Disciplines
Christopher Whitehead
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715635087 $24.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Museums are not just storehouses for old stuff. "Museums and the Construction of Disciplines: Art and Archaeology in Nineteenth-Century Britain" is a scholarly discussion of the debate of museums in the nineteenth century where there was a debate between what to classify much of the ancient art that was found - was it a representation of art, or should it be icons of that culture? Thought provoking reading about the thin line that divide the two disciples, "Museums and the Construction of Disciplines" is a fine addition to any scholarly collection comparing archeology and art.

The Compassionate Life
Marc Ian Barasch
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576757567, $16.95 www.bkconnection.com

Personal growth and spirituality blend in a fine survey of kindness and compassion in THE COMPASSIONATE LIFE: WALKING THE PATH OF KINDNESS. From what can be learned from Buddhist monks and emphatic apes to case histories of individuals who showed great compassion against all odds - even murder and death - THE COMPASSIONATE LIFE is an outstanding pick for any community library collection or personal reading list.

Uncle John's Gigantic Bathroom Reader
Bathroom Reader's Institute
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
1592236065, $14.95, www.amazon.com

The large-sized omnibus edition Uncle John's Gigantic Bathroom Reader blends UNCLE JOHN'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY BATHROOM READER with UNCLE JOHN'S ABSOLUTELY ABSORBING BATHROOM READER in a large omnibus edition perfect for casual reading. Hundreds of pages of information are for readers who do most of their serious reading in the privy: interesting, little-known facts from books, web sites, articles and more offer fun tidbits of detail on pop culture, forgotten history, strange lawsuits, and much more in a top pick packed with entertainment value.

Research Strategies for a Digital Age, third edition
Bonnie L. Tensen
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
1428231293 $36.95 www.cengage.com/wadsworth

This third updated edition of a research classic appears in a spiral format perfect for lay-flat consultation and blends traditional research methods with options on using and evaluating electronic research technologies. Examples and tips provide the latest details on styles, Internet search tools, online databases and more and discuss e-Books to illustrate the new digital resources presented. Any reference library strong in digital research options needs this.

Arcade Mania!
Brian Ashcraft with Jean Snow
Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.kodanshaamercia.com
9784770030788, $19.95, www.amazon.com

ARCADE MANIA! THE TURBO-CHARGED WORLD OF JAPAN'S GAME CENTERS provides a history for any who have been enthralled by arcade games, touring the unusual, often bizarre rituals that make up a Japanese arcade. Gamers and any interested in Japanese society and culture will find this packed with game descriptions and fun insights perfect for fans of Japanese culture.

Newton and the Counterfeiter
Thomas Levenson
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780151012787, $25.00 www.hmhbooks.com 1-800-225-3362

NEWTON AND THE COUNTERFEITER: THE UNKNOWN DETECTIVE CAREER OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST SCIENTIST tells of Isaac Newton's surprising career move, leaving university life where he made his revolutionary discoveries to become Warden of the Royal Mint in London. His encounters there with counterfeiter criminal William Chaloner provide a riveting, unusual aspect of Newton perfect for any general lending library!

Chop Suey
Andrew Coe
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016-4314
9780195331073, $24.95 www.oup.com

Popular books about Chinese culinary history are in general libraries but any college-level collection strong in culinary history courses will find even more satisfying CHOP SUEY: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF CHINESE FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES. The focus is on how Chinese food came to be seen as part of American culture - a focus that differentiates CHOP SUEY form say Jennifer Lee's more popular approach in FORTUNE COOKIE CHRONICLES. Western history and psychology are far more prominently examined here for the college-level audience that will welcome it.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Light Returning
Acoustic Ocean
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$20.49 myspace.com/creativeservicecompany

Light Returning is a beautiful CD featuring melodies played on the Celtic Harp, accompanied by instruments ranging from the guitar to hammered and mountain dulcimer, mandolin, piano, voice, and even sounds from nature. The acoustic, melodious arrangements promote a sense of relaxation and wonder. Light Returning is a joy to experience, and especially recommended for listening to while one meditates, or sheds the stress from a long and difficult day. The tracks are "Light Returning" (6:26), "Refuge from the Storm" (7:03), "We Are the Ones" (5:41), "Innocence Recalled" (9:44), "Ancient Forest" (7:07), "Always in my Heart" (8:53), "Prayer for Peace" (6:41) and "Stillness at the Center" (8:26). 1 hour.

Golden Earrings
Laura Theodore, vocals
Joe Beck, alto guitar & acoustic guitar
Whaling City Sound
c/o Mixed Media Promotion
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$14.99 www.mixedmediapromo.com

Recorded over the course of four months from October 2006 to February 2007, Golden Earrings is the collaborative effort of jazz singer Laura Theodore and the late, great guitarist Joe Beck (who passed away in 2008 due to complications from lung cancer). Golden Earrings is a tribute to some of America's most beloved songs - and some songs less widely known, but nonetheless heart-touching. The beautiful musical stylings reflect how deeply these songs touched Laura and Joe, and the result is an album of pure audio splendor. Highly recommended for pure listening pleasure. The tracks are "Johnny Guitar" (3:27), "Why Don't You Do Right?" (2:25), "Take a Little time to Smile" (3:44), "Fever" (3:55), "My Small Senor" (2:33), "Don't Smoke in Bed" (2:23), "I Get Along Without You Very Well" (3:36), "You Was Right Baby" (2:32), "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" (2:59), "Solitude" (3:10), "Everything Is Moving Too Fast" (2:05), "When You Speak With Your Eyes" (3:17), "Golden Earrings" (3:16), "I Don't Know Enough About You" (2:59), "What More Can a Woman Do?" (3:21), and "Manana" (2:27).


The Library DVD Shelf

Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet
a film by Luc Schaedler
Icarus Films
c/o First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet is a DVD documentary and portrait of Gendun Choephel, a monk who chose to refute monastic life and spoke out severely against the extreme religious conservatism and cultural isolationist attitude permeating the government of his nation. After he left the monastery in 1934, he traveled through Tibet and India to better understand the history of Tibet and Buddhism. Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet includes rare archival footage, Choephel's paintings, modern-day scenes of sites he traveled to, and above all, the wisdom and insight of an outcast critic, whose determination has made him an immortal symbol of political and spiritual reform in Tibet. Highly recommended. Bonus features include a director interview and biography, writing extracts by Gendun Choephel, and a Tibetan film gallery.

The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$29.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Based on the book "The Bible Unearthed" by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion is a captivating examination of the origins of the Bible, offering firsthand visits to archaeological digs in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel (including Megiddo, one of the most fundamental sites of Biblical archaeology known). Computer simulations and rare archival footage bring to life the wisdom of world-renowned archaeologists and biblical scholars, including experts from the Louvre, the British Museum, and the museums of Cairo and Jerusalem. Our body of knowledge today about the society and history of the men who wrote the Bible continues to evolve with new discoveries; The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion is sure to fascinate casual viewers and religious scholars alike. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD collections. Four episodes, 208 minutes.

Undeliver@ble
Vat19
11783 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146
$24.95 www.Vat19.com

Undeliver@ble: E-mail Etiquette for Today's Workplace is a simple and straightforward training DVD ideal for teaching one's employees how to professionally handle customer service issues via e-mail. Topics covered range from sending attachments to addressing recipients, inappropriate content, proofreading, professional signatures, the value of clarity and brevity, issues to watch out for when writing e-mails that contain good or bad news, and much more. Real-life re-enactments and easy-to-see graphical animations help drive home the solid lessons on formatting and phrasing quality business e-mails. Four interactive quizzes and printable certificates of completion round out this easy-to-use resource. An absolute must-have for businesses in today's modern world, where e-mail is a more important tool for communication than ever before! 40 minutes.

Beethoven's Guitar Shred
Music Video Distributors (distribution)
Thomas Public Relations, Inc.
734 Walt Whitman Rd., Suite 206, Melville, NY 11747
$9.95 www.greatkat.com

Beethoven's Guitar Shred carries a parental advisory warning with regard to explicit content - specifically, graphic references to torture, including torture devices, blood and playacting victims - as guitar performer Kat (aka Katherine Thomas) refuses to let America indulge in forgetfulness about the human right abuses at Abu Ghraib. "The Great Kat" is shocking to behold regardless, wantonly discarding all cultural preconceptions of female behavior to dress in bloody leather wear and crucifix tattoos. Her guitar performance is beyond energetic, transcending to the level of mania, as she shreds a ferocious medley of Beethoven, Bach, and raw fervor. The seven shred videos share a raucous blend of classical music, heavy metal, and stinging social commentary. Bonus features include a cartoon and hot photos of Kat at her finest (or wildest)! Beethoven's Guitar Shred is truly unforgettable, and especially recommended for metal fans.

America's Test Kitchen Season Nine
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781593758851 $39.99 www.ssapr.com

America's Test Kitchen Season Nine is DVD thinpack set collecting the latest season of the most-watched cooking show on public television. A great way to learn delicious home cooking, America's Test Kitchen Season Nine guides viewers step-by-step through such recipes as French Chicken in a Pot, Almost No-Knead Bread, Crispy Breaded Pork Chops, Blueberry Pie, and much more. Also present are no-nonsense taste tests of supermarket ingredients, ratings of kitchen equipment, and handy shopping tips for the smart consumer. Cooking enthusiasts of all skill and experience levels are sure to enjoy this excellent compendium, which includes printable versions of each of its fifty-two recipes! 4 DVDs, 26 episodes, 11.5 hours.

Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
$24.95 www.simplelivingtv.net www.janson.com

Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska presents five episodes of the popular public television series designed to teach the viewer about ways for more cost-effective, conscientious, and sustainable living. The first nationally syndicated series of this kind, Simple Living shows ways ordinary people everywhere can be better stewards of the environment and more informed consumers, while promoting a strong, positive message of fiscal responsibility and community involvement. From reducing one's carbon footprint to doing a "green remodel" of one's home to enjoying the pastime of gardening, Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska is a wonderful and refreshing show - the frugality and energy-saving tips especially are and more valuable than ever during tough economic times. Highly recommended. 135 minutes.

The Beatles: Rare and Unseen
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

The Beatles: Rare and Unseen is a DVD packed with long-hidden treasures concerning one of the most popular and beloved bands in the world: previously unseen home movies, personal photographs, recently rediscovered film, and true stories related firsthand from the witnesses who were there. From the earliest known footage of the Beatles on stage (Liverpool, Feb. 1962), to the one existing film of their Scotland tour (Caird Hall Dundee, Oct. 1964) to highlights of an interview with John Lennon (recorded in New York for French TV), The Beatles: Rare and Unseen is an absolute "must-have" for Beatles fans everywhere. Highly recommended. 90 minutes.

Menopause Illustrated
Jan Brehm
Planet Sweet Pea
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Menopause Illustrated is a brief, lighthearted and witty DVD and accompanying booklet created especially to for men in need of advice to help their wives or significant others through the devastating change that is menopause. Created by Jan Brehm, a wife whose loving husband had the best of intentions but nearly drove her off the wall during the change of life, Menopause Illustrated lays out just how men everywhere can deal with this difficult time - and why a woman's issues with and feelings about menopause can't simply be "fixed" the way one might fix a leaky faucet. The wry humor permeating Menopause Illustrated is what distinguishes it as something that men will find not only enlightening but also thoroughly entertaining. Highly recommended.

Pilates Power Ball Sculpt
Bernadette Giorgi
JustBMethod
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.98 www.justbmethod.com www.411videoinfo.com

Pilates expert Bernadette Giorgi presents Pilates Power Ball Sculpt, an exercise DVD featuring Pilates-style mat work that incorporates an inexpensive sculpting ball or hand weight to enhance effectiveness. An exercise program designed to promote a lean physique, Pilates Power Ball Sculpt includes classic Pilates-based exercises such as "The Hundred", "Teaser", and "Mermaid" incorporating the sculpting ball for a new experience. Pilates Power Ball Sculpt features one complete workout, and three options for quick workouts: Lower Abs & Butt Express, "Pilates Style Magazine" Power Sculpt, and Recovery Stretch. A user-friendly, easy-to-follow regimen perfect for helping to develop the strength and physique of an expert dancer, Pilates Power Ball Sculpt is enthusiastically recommended. 52 minutes.

Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
$24.99 www.ssapr.com

As seen on public television, Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy is an exercise DVD focusing upon yoga sun salutations that work the entire body, and that can be performed by viewers of all skill and experience levels. Movements for the spine, lunges, side stretches, breathing techniques, leg stretches, relaxation poses, and more make for an easy-to-follow yoga workout at home perfect for viewers age nine to ninety. Host Peggy Cappy, a yoga instructor of 30 years' experience, guides the viewer through this solid workout perfect for easing stress and improving balance, joint flexibility, and endurance. Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy is especially recommended for anyone who is new to Yoga and wants to learn what all the positive word of mouth is about! Closed-captioned, 100 minutes.

Breaking the Bank
PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
079367090X $24.99 www.ssapr.com

Breaking the Bank is an episode of the award-winning "Frontline" television series, now available on DVD. The true-life story of Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis and former Merrill CEO Jon Thain and the risks they took amid a financial crisis threatening to destroy the American economy, Breaking the Bank presents a dramatic yet unbiased accounting of the facts as the federal government was forced to seriously consider nationalizing the banking industry - or risking nationwide economic collapse. Readers of all backgrounds will appreciate this riveting glimpse into the inner workings of economic titans with glass ankles; Breaking the Bank is especially recommended for public library DVD collections - the modern economic morass is one piece of history that everyone needs to learn about, because no one can afford to repeat it!

Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 each www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

Two closed-captioned DVDs from Learning ZoneXpress continue to uphold the excellent, educational tradition of the publisher on timely and important topics. It cannot be overstated how important the financial management basics of "Cash, Credit and Your Future" (1571757317, 23 min.) are for teens (and adults!) to know, particularly in today's economy which is still reeling an excess of consumer debt and shady monetary practices. Some debt may be necessary to pursue dreams such as a college diploma or one's own car; "Cash, Credit and Your Future" outlines one's options and warns against common mistakes while planning for the financial future. "Easy Being Green" (1571758429, 20 min.) offers basic, easy-to-follow tips that viewers of all ages should know in order to not only help protect the planet, but also conserve energy and money. Starting with a brief overview of the environmental issues that affect all of humanity, how driving habits impact the environment (with a demonstration on how to properly inflate one's car tires), to things one can do around the house to conserve energy, to which electronic items are the worst energy hogs and why it's important to look for the Energy Star logo when purchasing new electronics. Both DVDs are particularly recommended for public library collections and classroom viewing, and have invaluable insights for viewers of all ages.

Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
www.collagevideo.com.fordummies
www.anchorbayent.com/fitness

These fine new fitness DVDs are top picks for any seeking to lose weight. CRUNCH LATIN RHYTHMS: FAT BLASTING DANCE ($14.98) is from Crunch Fitness and advocates a fun dance routine that doesn't feel like work. Hot Latin dance draws on several kinds of Latin dance from mambo to cha cha and samba and provides an easy, equipment-free routine. DANCE IT OFF BALLROOM: SAMBA, CHA CHA AND JIVE YOUR WAY TO A DANCER'S BODY ($14.98) offers a ballroom routine designed to be a workout. Ballroom dancer Kristina Milova has created mini dance routines for the workout - and no partner's needed. DANCE OFF BELLY FAT ($14.98) joins other '10 Minute Solutions' workouts designed to shape abs. These 10-minute routines are for any busy person and focus on belly-blasting dance workouts to release stress and burn calories. The hefty 10 MINUTE SOLUTION: KNOCKOUT BODY ($24.97) workouts pairs a DVD with five workouts with weighted gloves and ten-minute routines designed for those who have 'no time to exercise'. The kickboxing mix promotes all-body toning, from abs to upper body workouts and cross-training cardio routines, and offers routines that can even be split into 5 separate workouts to fit any schedule. These are fine fitness additions for any workout collection.

Lionsgate
2700 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
www.lionsgatedvd.com

Two new Kathy Smith workout routines are powerful dance-inspired workouts. TOTAL BODY LIFT ($14.98) shows how to develop a leaner, younger-looking body through upper body, leg, butt and tummy lifts. Floor exercises, light weights, and lifts using chairs are all featured. DANCE YOUR BODY SLIM: 6 HOT DANCE ROUTINES! ($14.98) features a 2-disc set of routines for belly dance and Latin rhythms. They work both with and without partners and offers stretches and dance routines perfect for trimming inches. All are top recommendations.

The Round Up
The Line King
Line King Productions
$19.95 www.worldstages.biz

The Line King appoints his leader, Harvis Williams to involve five ordinary people to complete the challenge of three stages of line dance. The result is a fine video consisting of three instructional dance videos, King's Dance, and deleted scenes which will both entertain and educate any interested in dance.

Cardio for Beginners
Petra Kolber
Acacia
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$14.99 www.acacialifestyle.com

If you're new to exercise, CARDIO FOR BEGINNERS is the perfect program to begin with. It offers a range of easy mix-and-match workouts and blends easy dance moves with athletic-based cardio workouts in 10- and 20-minute segments. A top pick for beginners new to cardio workouts who want a gentle, easy yet effective introduction.


The Library Science Shelf

Sequels, fourth edition
Janet G. Husband & Jonathan F. Husband
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909676 $95.00 www.alastore.ala.org

Now in a fully updated fourth edition, Sequels: An Annotated Guide to Novels in Series is a gigantic compendium of listings of titles in series that are ideal for library collections - the authors have deliberately selected titles suitable for (and common to) a medium-sized public library, and weeded out obscure or unpopular series. Identifying novels by title, author, and a very brief (typically one sentence) description of the novel's contents, the fourth edition of Sequels includes series started since 1989 and updated through 2007. An effective and easy-to-use librarian's resource.

Inside, Outside, and Outline
Chrystie Hill
ALA Editions
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909874, $48.00, www.alastore.ala.org

A library is more than a building that grants access to information. "Inside, Outside, and Outline: Building Your Library Community" is a guide for librarians to adapting one's library to the community around it. Every community is different, and therefore every library should be different to suit local needs. With advice on identifying the needs and desires of the communities, attracting the community, and more, "Inside, Outside, and Outline" is of strong recommendation for any librarian who wants their library and their community to be successful.

The Accidental Library Marketer
Kathy Dempsey
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873680, $29.50 www.infotoday.com

Avoid common pitfalls that marketing amateurs encounter when tailoring programs to advocate library services using an A-Z guide by the longtime editor of the Marketing Library Services newsletter. Real-world examples of strategies and the pros and cons of different approaches and ideas combine with checklists and expert advice in a fine how-to resource for library marketing recommended for any library sciences collection.

The Library PR Handbook
Mark R. Gould, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838910023, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Public relations is at the heart of any library's success with respect to the community it is designed to service. Every staff librarian carries part of the responsibility for a successful public relations campaign with respect to a library's patrons and community supporters. From the large multi-site urban library systems, to the small town and village library, the need and necessity for public support is universal -- and public relations is how that support is best generated and maintained. That's why "The Library PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is such an important and invaluable instruction manual comprising informed and informative essays by professional and successful librarians from around the country. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Mark R. Gould, "The Library PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is replete with practical ideas ranging from the creation of public service announcements, to recruiting community partnerships, to establishing outreach programs, to utilizing podcasts, to hosting special events, and so much more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, "The Library PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is highly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of summoning up community support and involvement in behalf of a school or community library.

The Library Journal
Maria Roncevic, editor
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706852, $55.00, www.neal-schuman.com

The Internet is a massive resource of information, for use by everyone, put together by everyone. And that fact is commonly the problem. "The Library Journal Guide to E-Reference Resources" is a far-reaching guide to trustworthy references on the internet, to help librarians cut through the difficult jungles of electronic misinformation. With straightforward reviews of each of these resources, covering what they offer by category, "The Library Journal Guide to E-Reference Resources" is an enthusiastically recommended acquisition for librarians and librarian administrators who don't want to be led around loops of verifying sources.

Next Chapter Book Club
Tom Fish & Paula Rabidoux with Jillian Ober & Vicki L. W. Graff
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627799 $24.95 www.woodbinehouse.com 1-800-843-7323

The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) is a nationwide network of over 130 book clubs to help adolescents and adults with disabilities (and all levels of reading abilities) read, discuss books, and socialize. Next Chapter Book Club: A Model Community Literacy Program for People with Intellectual Disabilities is a step-by-step guide to creating just such a club in one's own community. Chapters spell out how to form and sponsor a club, find and train volunteer facilitators, attract members, choose an ideal meeting location, build literacy skills, select books, and much more. Tips, tricks, and suggestions fill this user-friendly manual, and the eighteen appendices provide all the blank forms, reports, and surveys one will need to get one's club off the ground. The forms are also present on a companion CD-ROM for ease of printing and duplication. Next Chapter Book Club: A Model Community Literacy Program for People is a "must-have" for anyone interested in starting a book club to enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, especially librarians. Highly recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Bark Beetle Outbreaks in Western North America
Bark Beetle Symposium
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
9780874809657 $4.95 www.uofupress.com

Bark Beetle Outbreaks in Western North America: Causes and Consequences is a flat-spined, softcover summary of an urgent environmental problem: the destruction that bark beetle infestations have wreaked, particularly since 1990. The report covers bark beetle ecology and biology, bark beetle outbreaks, contributing factors to bark beetle devastation, and steps that can help preserve forest ecosystems for the future. "Although there are no known management options to prevent the spread of a large-scale bark beetle outbreak, land-use activities that enhance forest heterogeneity at the regional scale - such as creating patches of forest that contain diverse species and ages of trees - can reduce susceptibility to bark beetle outbreaks." An excellent and informative report especially recommended for anyone responsible for taking care of private or public forested land.

Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems
Ravinder Kumar Kohli, et al.
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781420043372, $129.95, www.amazon.com

When a plant that is not native to the region appears and gains a foothold in the local ecological environment, it can prove to be overwhelmingly destructive to native plants and alter an ecological balance of flora and fauna that took tens of thousands of years to establish. That's why "Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems" is such a critically important contribution to the literature. The international editorial team of Ravinder Kumar Kohli (Certified Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America), Shibu Jose (Associate Professor of Forest Ecology, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville), Harminder Pal Singh (Lecturer of biotic Environment, Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India), and Daizy Rani Batish (Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India) have expertly compiled contributions from forty-two scholars and environmentalists focused specifically on the impact invasive plants have had and continue to represent to forest-based ecosystems around the world with respect to their sustainability, integrity, management issues, socioeconomic impact, and necessary political policies and laws to address the issues raised. "Invasive Plants and Forest Ecosystems" is a seminal work of impeccable scholarship that will prove to be a core addition to academic and governmental Environmental Studies and Forest Management reference collections.

Pandora's Locks
Jeff Alexander
Michigan State University Press
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste. 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138577, $29.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

A gem of engineering genius, the St. Lawrence Seaway was not easily built, not by any stretch of the imagination. "Pandora's Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway" tells the story of the canal's creation and the road leading up to its historic opening. A story of trade, politics, and science, "Pandora's Locks" discusses the canal from many perspectives, with special care to the environmental approach. "Pandora's Locks" is a far reaching and scholarly look at the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The Great Experiment In Conservation
William F. Porter, et al.
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
0815632312, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Adirondack Park, located in the state of New York, is composed of six million acres of land that is half public and half private, making it one of the signal case studies in U.S. conservation history and development. In "The Great Experiment In Conservation: Voices From The Adirondack Park", the team of William F. Porter (Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Director of the Adirondack Ecological Center at SUNY ESF), Jon D. Erickson (Associate Professor of Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and fellow of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont), and Ross S. Whaley (Emeritus President and Professor of SUNY ESF, as well as the former chairman of the Adirondack Park Agency, and who served on the Governor's Commission for the Adirondacks in the Twenty-First Century) have knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited informed and informative contributions and commentaries from Herman Daly, Bill McKibben, Barbara McMartin, Philip G. Terrie, Amy Vedder, and Bill Weber to provide a historical overview and analysis of the ecological, cultural, and economic aspects and relationships of the communities and the environment of the Adirondack Park. A seminal work of impressive scholarship, "The Great Experiment In Conservation" is a core addition to academic library Environmental Studies reference collections, and especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in American conversation history and land preservation in general, and the Adirondack Park in particular.

Greening Your Home
Clayton Bennett
McGrawHill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071499095, $24.95, www.mhprofessional.com

Little tweaks around the house can go a long way toward helping the planet. "Greening Your Home Sustainable Options for Every System in Your House" is a guide full of simple tips and tricks to green one's home. Greening one's home not only has benefits for the environment but can also bring efficiency in energy to one's power usage, saving money. "Greening Your Home" is a top pick for any concerned homeowner.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Just Do Something
Kevin DeYoung
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610-3284
9780802458384, $10.99

God gave us free will for a reason. "Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will" approaches the intentions of God with a shocking new strategy - to not try to interpret God's will in the first place. Many people waste much of their lives looking for signs and signals, but Kevin DeYoung informs people that God's plan is clear - and he isn't a control freak in our lives. "Just Do Something" is a strong pick for spiritual readers.

The Joseph Smith Revelations Text & Commentary
H. Michael Marquardt
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851260 $44.95 www.signaturebooks.com 1-800-356-5687

Retired civil servant and independent historian H. Michael Marquardt presents The Joseph Smith Revelations Text & Commentary, a thoughtful and insightful examination of how canonical Mormon text - indeed, the revelations of Joseph Smith himself - have allegedly been revised and altered in significant ways, an issue visibly noted as early as within Oliver Cowdery's 1835 letter to Bishop Newel K. Whitney, which complained that "the original copy of... The Law of the Church" had substantial alterations from its 1831 rendition. Marquardt advances to the viewpoint that when studying church documents, one should be avoid assumptions of absolute infallibility, but instead explore a dynamic model of revelation, and scrutinize how the text is transformed over time. An in-depth, scholarly, and thought-provoking analysis of doctrine, policy, and history, The Joseph Smith Revelations Text & Commentary is an absolute "must-have" resource for college libraries and private collections featuring extensive studies of Mormon religious belief and history.

Illumine My Family
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2844
9781931847629 $12.00 www.BahaiBooksUSA.com 1-800-705-4925

Illumine My Family: Prayers and Meditations from the Bahai Faith is an anthology of prayers and meditative selections from writings of the Bahai religion, chosen to aid believers of all walks of life to incorporate more spirituality into their daily routine. The passages chosen cover a wide range of topics, from marriage, children, love, and healing to the loss of a beloved family member or friend. A compilation meant to help families grower closer together and closer to God, Illumine My Family is a spiritual treasury, and highly recommended. "When soldiers of the world draw their swords to kill, soldiers of God clasp each other's hands! So may all the savagery of man disappear by the Mercy of God, working through the pure in heart and the sincere of soul. Do not think the peace of the world an ideal impossible to attain! Nothing is impossible to the Divine Benevolence of God."

Religion as Art
Steven Loza, editor
University of New Mexico Press
MSC04 2820, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826345707 $39.95 unmpress.com

Religion as Art: Guadalupe, Orishas, and Sufi is an anthology of essays by learned authors examining religious icons, and their spiritual value above and beyond symbolism. From the devotion of people's belief in the Virgen de Guadalupe, to the West African Yoruba religion's foundation in a divination system called "orishas", to the Sufi sect of Islam's worship of God through musical and textual pieces of blissful devotion, Religion as Art seeks to compare and contrast cultural practices in search of a better understanding of the human regard for physical embodiments and representations of religious faith. Highly recommended.

Connected
Peter Wallace
Morehouse Publishing
c/o Church Publishing
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780819223081, $18.00 www.amazon.com

However you feel about Him, God seeks to connect with you. "Connected: You and God in the Psalms" is a collection of inspirational scripture to help readers better connect with God. The text focuses on ninety psalms, analyzing and explaining them to readers so that they may obtain a greater grasp of God's word. For those trying to meditate on their faith, "Connected" is an ideal guide, recommended.

Love, Sex, Fear, Death
Timothy Wyllie
Feral House
1240 W Sims Way #124, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781932595376, $24.95, www.feralhouse.com

Cults are strange things, and with a little fame, they catch on fast. "Love, Sex, Fear, Death: The Inside Story of the Process Church of the Final Judgment" is an inside account of one of the most notorious and famous cults of the 1960s, the Process Church, which gained celebrity membership, nationwide coverage, and members around the world. With plenty of propaganda posters, personal stories from members, and more, "Love, Sex, Fear, Death" is a treasure for any reader who is fascinated by cults.

Art and Spiritual Transformation
Finley Eversole, Ph.D.
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772818, $24.95 www.innertraditions.com

Spirituality and art join hands in this seven-stage journey represented in art form and exploring the author's own meditation practice. Modern and postmodern art from 1945 onward are surveyed in a blend of history, myth, literary and philosophical survey of the seven stages of spiritual death and rebirth of the soul possible through art.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Gospel As Taught By Calvin
R. C. Reed
Banner of Truth
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
www.banneroftruth.org
9781848710306, $11.00, www.amazon.com

Born in Tennessee in 1851, R. C. Reed graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of Virginia and served several pastorates before being appointed in 1898 to the position of Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity at Columbia Theological Seminary, South Carolina. He died a revered figure within the Christian community in 1925. A part of his legacy was "The Gospel As Taught By Calvin", a book that he wrote to provide a clearer understanding of, and an enhanced appreciation for, the theological contributions of John Calvin. Now brought back into print for a new generation of appreciative readers, "The Gospel As Taught By Calvin" covers such issues as the origins of Calvinism and Arminianism; the effects of Adam's fall upon human nature; God's grace with respect to a sinner's conversion; the nature of atonement; the meaning of 'grace'; the biblical roots of Calvinism; and so much more. As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Gospel As Taught By Calvin" is very highly recommended and rewarding reading.

One Heart One Soul Many Communities
Mary Forman, editor
Saint John's University Press
c/o The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814699256 $24.95 www.litpress.org

One Heart One Soul Many Communities preserves the essential discussions and attempts to answer fundamental questions at the annual Monastic Institute of 2006, sponsored by Saint John's University specifically to offer educational and spiritual enrichment for American monastics and everyone curious about monastic spirituality and practical implementation. Essays by a diversity of authors include "Global View of Monasticism Today", "Practices at the Heart of Community Life", "How Women's Experience of Monastic Life Can Speak to Hungers for Community Today", "Summative Probings for the Movement of Monasticism 'Into the Future'", and much more. An erudite and philosophical collection, One Heart One Soul offers an insightful glimpse into daily monastic life as well as meticulous discussion of issues affecting monasticism in today's ever-changing and increasingly globalized world. Highly recommended anyone curious about the subject, regardless of individual background.

My Daily Walk 2010
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
9780687655120 $16.00 www.abingdon.org 1-800-251-3320

My Daily Walk 2010: Living a Generous Life is a consumable calendar and journal designed to help Christians spend the year of 2010 contemplating how to best live a generous life. Beautiful color photography intersperse the pages; each half-page proffers an inspirational biblical passage (for example, the passage for March 22 is "Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it - because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you." from 1 Corinthians 14:1), followed by a blank space for the user to write down his or her spiritual reflections. A simple and beautiful tool to foster spiritual growth.

Facing Death
Linda Watson, author
Maggie Sale, photographer
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529487 $21.95 www.healthpropress.com 1-888-337-8808

Featuring a wealth of beautiful, full-color nature photography, Facing Death: A Companion in Words and Images is a thoughtful and helpful book intended particularly for the terminally ill or those in the final days or weeks of their lives. Reflective text passages meant to be read aloud or contemplated in private offer comfort and spiritual guidance, and several pages of blank lines for the reader to write down his or her thoughts allow Facing Death to be personalized and passed on as a keepsake. Some of the text passages are religious or spiritual, but Facing Death does not limit itself to any one branch of a faith - there are quotes from Jesus, a Rabbi, the Prophet Mohammed ("I put my trust in God, My Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving creature, but He hath grasp of its forelock.") and many others. Highly recommended as a gift book for anyone confronting the end of their lives, as well as and those closest to them.

The Uncluttered Heart
Beth A. Richardson
Upper Room Books
1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212
9780835899949, $13.00, www.upperroom.org

Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year, and we sometimes end up forgetting the most obvious aspect of the holiday - God. "The Uncluttered Heart: Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas" presents much inspiration for the religious in remembering God and Jesus through this hectic and stressful time. For each of the days of th Advent, author Beth Richardson brings scripture and inspiration to help keep the season holy. "The Uncluttered Heart" is a fine addition to any Christian inspiration collection.

Newman on Lent
John Henry Newman
Roman Catholic Books
PO Box 2286, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781934888117, $19.95, www.booksforcatholics.com

One of the more trusted cardinals in the Catholic church today, John Henry Newman speaks out in "Newman on Lent". Discussing Lent, he brings his vast spiritual knowledge of scripture and tradition to the table. Offering an educated Catholic's opinion on a wealth of issues, "Newman on Lent" is an ideal acquisition for discussion and thought, recommended for any intellectual Catholic.

Secondhand Jesus
Glenn Packiam
David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
B&B Media Group (publicity)
109 South Main Street, Corsicana, TX 75110
9781434766397, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

The religion that so many follow is often so heavily filtered that it's barely religion anymore. "Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith" is an encouragement to Christians to read the Bible and do other theological research in their own right to create a stronger bond with God. The focus is on learning to understand God oneself, instead of having one's understanding passed down and around like a used car. "Secondhand Jesus" brings a solid message that deserves extended contemplation.

Cutting Jesus Down to Size
G.A. Wells
Open Court
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696561, $44.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

For Christians, it goes without saying he's the messiah. But is he perfect? "Cutting Jesus Down to Size: What Higher Criticism Has Achieved and Where It Leaves Christianity" is a discussion of criticism and modern Christianity. Higher criticism focuses on the origins of the sources of the Bible, hoping to visualize the writers for a greater understanding of the Bible. Also responding to religious and right-wing fire against these thinkers, "Cutting Jesus Down to Size" is not an atheist or agnostic book, but presents another way to think about religion.

The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus
Dale C. Allison Jr.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802862624, $16.00, www.eerdmans.com

There is no historic figure in history who draws as much bias in interpretation than Jesus of Nazareth. "The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus" is a discussion of the true history of one Jesus of Nazareth and the historians who want to approach his story without the bias that many Christian researchers unknowingly add to their work. "The Historical Christ and the Theological Jesus" is an intriguing and scholarly work that compares conflicts between religious accounts and world history, and is an enthusiastically recommended read.

Cathedrals of Bone
John C. Waldmeir
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230600, $50.00, www.fordhampress.com

Something as old as the Catholic Church has taken many interpretations through the years. "Cathedrals of Bone: The Role of the Body in Contemporary Catholic Literature" is a study of the Church and the metaphor of it as a body of Christianity in contemporary literature. Discussing how the concept has evolved, author John C. Waldmeir puts a scholarly study forth that will educate readers on the art and the history behind it and how it has become what it is today, with intellectual criticism of recent developments. "Cathedrals of Bone" is well worth the read for anyone studying modern Christianity.

Warrior from Heaven
Kermit Zarley
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, Texas 78758
9780981546223 $17.95 www.synergybooks.net

Jesus is commonly depicted as a bastion of peace, but in the second coming, could he be riding out for war? "Warrior from Heaven" discusses the idea of Christ as liberator in the eventual rapture to stand against the Antichrist. Spinning this theory into an entertaining tale, "Warrior From Heaven" is of strong interest to any Christian wondering about the rapture and what Christ's return will be like.

Where is Knowing Going?
John C. Haughey
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589014862, $34.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

There are many courses that are taught in colleges that strongly conflict with the Catholic dogma. "Where is Knowing Going?: The Horizons of the Knowing Subject" explores modern Catholic Schools such as Notre Dame and the conflicts they face today as academic institutions in today's ever changing world where religious ties can prove to be detrimental to the school's credibility and options of courses to offer. John C. Haughey discusses this conflict at length and leaves both academics and Christians much to think on. "Where is Knowing Going?" is a solid addition to any Christian academia collection.

The Dark Night
Daniel P. Schrock
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194258, $16.99, www.heraldpress.com

Could the depression of some Christians truly be a yearning for God? "The Dark Night: A Gift of God" is an analysis of Christian depression and how it may not be depression, but merely believing that God has abandoned them. Speaking to Christians who feel depressed and abandoned, author Daniel P. Schrock urges readers do what they can to find God once more and get their lives back. "The Dark Night" is the inspiration some Christian readers may need. Also from Herald Press of Christian interest, is "Like a Mustard Seed: Mennonites in Paraguay" (9780836194203, $16.49), focusing on the Mennonites and their ministry in Paraguay.

Theological Foundations
J.J. Mueller
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9780884899204, $27.95, www.college.smp.org

Faith is not something easily understood; it has baffled philosophers and thinkers for centuries. "Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith" is a scholarly text for amateur and professional theologians who want to better understand the most basic concepts of faith, from a thinker's standpoint. Breaking down Christian faith in the chapters and books of the Bible, J.J. Mueller presents a fairly complete and comprehensive treatise on faith. "Theological Foundations" deserves a place in any community or college library collection on theology.

Did the Resurrection Happen?
David Baggett
Veritas Books
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830837182, $16.00, www.ivpress.com

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most key point of his divinity. "Did the Resurrection Happen?: A Conversation with Gary Habermas and Antony Flew" discusses the realty of the resurrection. Covering historical records and scientific evidence, this debate will provide much food for thought in this religious debate which holds one of the most vital beliefs of Christianity in the balance. A top pick for any scholarly collection on Christianity, "Did the Resurrection Happen?" is enthusiastically recommended.

God Has Not Forgotten About You
Leslie Haskin
Bethany House
11400 Hamsphire Ave., S., Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764206047, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

To Christians, there is always someone who cares. "God Has Not Forgotten About You: ...and He Cares More Than You Can Imagine" is an inspirational manual for those who have lost touch with their faith and want to re-establish it in tough times. Profound and spiritual, "God Has Not Forgotten About You" gives readers what they need to make that connection with God once more. "God Has Not Forgotten About You" is a strong recommendation for Christian readers.

A Family Guide to the Bible
Christin Ditchfield
Crossway
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781581348910, $15.99, www.crossway.org

Fully understanding the Bible is a challenge for any young Christian. "A Family Guide to the Bible" is a guide for parents that want to help their children better understand the Bible and the fundamentals of Christianity. Written by a man experienced in educating young readers about Christian matters, "A Family Guide to the Bible" lives up to its title. "A Family Guide to the Bible" is a worthwhile consideration for any Christian family with young children.

The Infancy Gospels of Jesus
Stevan Davies, translation
Sky Light Paths Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rt. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594732584, $16.99, www.skylightpaths.com

The lessons of Christ did not wait until he was an adult. "The Infancy Gospels of Jesus: Apocryphal Tales from the Childhoods of Mary and Jesus Annotated & Explained" explores the three principal infancy gospels, fictionalized accounts of the early life of the Virgin Mother and Jesus. Although viewed by many as folktales, these stories still hold strong in the hearts of many Christians. "The Infancy Gospels of Jesus" is a very much recommended read for those looking for a greater understanding of these books.

50 Ways to Help Save the Earth
Rebecca Barnes-Davies
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
9780664233709, $14.95, www.wjkbooks.com

It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference. "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth: How You and Your Church Can Make a Difference" is a guide for the individual and the community about being responsible stewards of the environment. Faith based but still of value to readers of all religious backgrounds, "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth" empowers readers with what they need to do to make the world a better place. "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth" is a solid and valued read for those looking for fresh ideas.

Purpose-Filled Presentations
Tony Jeary
Standard Publsihing
8805 Governor's Hill Drive, Suite 400, Cincinnati, OH 45249
9780784723142, $14.99, www.standardpub.com

If Jesus wasn't a good orator, his message would have never gotten out. "Purpose-Filled Presentations: How Any Christian Can Communicate More Effectively to Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere" is a church leader's guide to speaking like a businessman and getting one's ideas and concepts across in a church or other religious environment. With seven steps to improving presentations, finding confidence, and what to do in a pinch for time, "Purpose-Filled Presentations" is a solid and highly recommended read for any Christian who wants to improve their presentation skills.


The World History Shelf

Blood in the Forum
Pamela Marin
The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781847251671 $29.95 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704

Historian Pamela Marin presents Blood in the Forum: The Struggle for the Roman Republic, a close dissection of the last days of the Roman Republic including the assassination of Julius Caesar and the subsequent ascension of Rome's first emperor, Augustus. Marin examines the lasting controversies concerning the interpretation of history - did Julius Caesar doom the Republic, or was he among the first to realize how severely Rome had changed? Was the assassination of Julius Caesar a heroic effort, a necessary evil, or simply an evil? Of particular note is the evidence that the Roman culture had shifted toward indulgence in the first century B.C.E., causing figures of the time to bemoan the loss of Republican values. Blood in the Forum is a worthy addition to world history shelves, and particularly recommended for college and public library collections.

The History of the Kings of Britain
Geoffrey of Monmouth, author
Michael D. Reeve, editor
Neil Wright, translator
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834410 $47.95 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Originally written in the 1130s, "The History of the Kings of Britain" is Geoffrey of Monmouth's history of the Britons from Brutus to Cadwallader is one of the first texts to relate the travails of Lear and the legend of Arthur. Now this classic text is reprinted in its first critical edition since 1929; each two-page spread features the original Latin text on the right page and the English translation on the left page. A seventy-six page introduction, a wealth of footnotes, and an index round out this remarkable classic text. "The History of the Kings of Britain" is a seminal source particularly recommended for college library world history collections.

Murder of a Medici Princess
Caroline P. Murphy
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195385830, $16.95, www.oup.com/us

The Medicis were one of the most powerful families in old Florence. "Murder of a Medici Princess" tells the true story of Isabella de Medici, the controversy surrounding her murder, and the story of her life. A riveting biography of high society in one of the most romanticized times in history, "Murder of a Medici Princess" does well in telling Isabella's tale. "Murder of a Medici Princess" is of interest to any historical biography collection.

The Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany
Cynthia J. Cyrus
University of Toronto Press
2250 Military Rd, Tonawanda, NY 14150
9780802093691, $75.00, www.utppblishing.com

Before the printing press, books were rare, and made mainly by religious institutions. "The Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany" discusses this manuscript production of women during this era, and how these manuscripts differed from those of their male counterparts. Scrutinizing a forgotten portion of women's history, author Cynthia J. Cyrus goes over the work of women from nearly five hundred convents who did much in the production of the era's literature. Granting insight on the stories of these unsung copyists, "The Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany" is a top pick for any medieval history or women's studies collections.


The Travel Shelf

The Little Black Book of Maui & Kauai
Joanne Miller, author
Kerren Barbas Steckler, illustrator
Maps by David Lindroth Inc.
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
9781593597665 $14.95 www.peterpauper.com

The Little Black Book of Maui & Kauai is a pocket-sized, hardcover travel guide with a spiral binding enabling it to lay flat for easy reference. Packed with everything Hawaiian travelers need to know about the popular favorite islands of Maui and Kauai, The Little Black Book of Maui & Kauai covers these islands region by region with a plethora of suggestions regarding what to do and see, places to eat or drink, where to shop, and where to stay. Ten fold-out maps enhance this portable reference, making The Little Black Book of Maui & Kauai an excellent navigational reference for anyone traveling light.

The Voluntary Traveler
Nola Lee Kelsey, editor
Dog's Eye View Press
PO Box 888, Hot Springs, SD 57747
www.DogsEyeViewMedia.com
9780980232363, $18.00, www.amazon.com

There is a new and growing trend. Men and women leaving their homes for vacations that will take them to other lands and other peoples. Then instead of simply seeing the sights, they participate in directly helping those communities by volunteering their labor and expertise to accomplish whatever tasks are needed to elevate the standard of living and/or the quality of life for the people who reside there. In "The Voluntary Traveler: Adventures From The Road Best Traveled", Nola Lee Kelsey has compiled and edited the personal stories of more than twenty men and women who have engaged in traveling around the globe to become more than simple tourists, participating in helping, often through the focus of a charitable organization, those communities they have visited. As 'volunteer travelers', their personal service brought memories and feelings of accomplishment that ordinary tourists and recreational visitors could never know. From Thailand, India, South Africa, and the Marshall Islands, to Mexico, Romania, Nepal, and Cambodia, these are personal stories that illustrate and exemplify what volunteer travel is all about. Of special note is the final section profusely listing additional volunteer organizations, resources, opportunities, and more. For anyone seeking adventure beyond their own local communities and ordinary lives, reading "The Voluntary Traveler" can be the first step towards making a difference when and while journeying to anywhere else in the world.

Waterfalls of British Columbia
Tony Greenfield
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550174625, $26.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

There are few natural beauties that can compare to a waterfall. "Waterfalls of British Columbia: A Guide to BC's 100 Best Falls" is a guide for the nature lover who wants to experience the very best British Columbia has to offer with regard to its splendid waterfalls. Discussing individual waterfalls, their locations, and other natural attractions, "Waterfalls of British Columbia" is enthusiastically recommended for any nature lover who plans on visiting British Columbia.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Jewish Day Schools Jewish Communities
Alex Pomson & Howard Deitcher
The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland OR, 97213-3786
9781904113744, $24.95, www.littman.co.uk

Judaism has its own array of private religious schooling. "Jewish Day Schools Jewish Communities" discusses modern Jewish schools across the world which current teach hundreds of thousands of children. Though spread among different continents, the Judaism is the same, though authors Alex Pomson and Howard Deitcher bring light on the cultural differences and their effects on the Jewish community as a whole. "Jewish Day Schools Jewish Communities" is of strong recommendation to any Jewish educator or community leader.

Jews and Judaism in African History
Richard Hull
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558764965, $26.95, www.markuswiener.com

Judaism to this day still holds a very strong presence in African culture. "Jews and Judaism in African History" discusses Judaism and its impact on the African continent - an influence which many people commonly ignore despite its prominence. For thousands of years Judaism has had a strong showing on Africa, and to this day a good portion of Judaism's followers still reside there, breaking the stereotype that all Jews are white. "Jews and Judaism in African History" brings to light an important aspect of African history.

Farewell to Dejla
Tova Murad Sadka
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60654
9780897335812, $16.95, www.academychicago.com

What is not public knowledge is that Iraq holds one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. "Farewell to Dejla: Stories of Iraqi Jews at Home and in Exile" is a collection of these stories with a focus on how a good majority of these people who stayed there for thousands of years finally fled to Israel upon its formation. Their story, not often heard, is a fascinating one for historians seeking to learn about Jews around the world.

Judaism Does Not Equal Israel
Marc H. Ellis
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584250, $24.95, www.thenewpress.com

Just because it houses Jerusalem and is the world's only Jewish state does not mean Jews should support it without question. "Judaism Does Not Equal Israel" is an attack on the current policies of Israel, from a source that isn't usually listed as one of its opponents - political critic Marc H. Ellis, himself a Jewish man. Claiming that Israel has strayed from Jewish principles in favor of Holocaust victimization and cruelty to Palestinians, "Judaism Does Not Equal Israel" is a frank and blunt volume that reflects what many American Jews feel about their so-called homeland, and a top pick for community library collections on current Jewish issues.

Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe
Raphael Israeli
Transaction Publishers
c/o Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
1412810353, $39.95

Anti-Semitism still lives, and in some regions is as strong as ever. "Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe: Elemental and Residual Anti-Semitism" discusses Muslim anti-Semitism and its presence in Europe today. Portraying a unique situation which fails to garner much attention since much of it happens in societies where both Jews and Muslims are minorities, "Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe" paints a vivid picture of a serious standoff that goes unnoticed by a Christian public. Produced by a man with much education in the fields of Muslim culture and history, "Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe" is an ideal scholarly addition to any modern social issues collection.


The Business Shelf

The Truth About Trust in Business
Vanessa Hall
Emerald Book Co.
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
Planned Television Arts (publicity)
1110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022
9781934572177, $22.95, www.emeraldbookcompany.com

Trust is a more valuable resource than people give it credit for being. "The Truth About Trust in Business: How to Enrich the Bottom Line, Improve Retention, and Build Valuable Relationships for Success" is a guide to inspiring employee loyalty and trust, and pushing businesses to expand further on this trust. On so many levels, from customer and employee to CEOs, trust is something that is simply needed to keep a business honest, moving, and profitable. "The Truth About Trust in Business" is a must read for any business leader and a valuable addition to any community library business collection.

Without Warning
Rodney N. Johnson
Adams Business & Professional
c/o Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
9781592982745, $22.00, www.beaverspondpress.com

The worst disasters are the ones you don't see coming. "Without Warning: Breakthrough Strategies for Solving the Silent Problems taking Aim at Your Organization" is a guide to facing subtle problems that can potentially snowball and destroy a company. With much advice on prevention and treatment, using real world examples from major corporations, "Without Warning" is recommended reading for any business.

eBay Income Advanced
John N. Peragine
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601381231, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Ebay can be far more than a way to just get rid of old junk. "eBay Income Advanced: How to Take Your eBay Business to the Next Level - For PowerSellers and Beyond" is a followup to the previous 'eBay Income' book, this time taking its research and advice further, interviewing a greater selection of people who have 'PowerSeller' status, who make their living through eBay. One of the most basic ways to make one's living using the internet, "eBay Income Advanced" is well worth the consideration for any would be entrepreneur.

Do the Right Thing
James Hoggan
Capital Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102863, $16.95, www.capital-books.com

Damage control, creative lying, spin - Public Relations has become a more and more tainted concept. "Do the Right Thing: PR Tips for a Skeptical Public" is a guide for public relations professionals who want to improve their own and their company's image in the face of a public which has been led through the motions so many times that they won't give most PR professionals the time of day anymore. "Do the Right Thing" is well worth the read for those who want to be wise to a wise society.

Building Your Leadership Resume
Johnny M. Hunt
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9780805449648, $14.99, www.BHPublishinggroup.com

A good resume gets you ahead, especially when it comes to leadership. "Building Your Leadership Resume: Developing the Legacy That Will Outlast You" is a Christian business guide from Johnny Hunt hoping to inspire Christians to embrace faith and use what they have learned to lead - both in spiritual matters, and in business. "Building Your Leadership Resume" is a fine and recommended book for Christians who want to carve their own niche in the world of Leadership.

Helping People Win at Work
Ken Blanchard & Garry Ridge
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americas, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137011711, $21.99, www.ftpress.com

A helping hand can go a long way further than harsh criticism. "Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called 'Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A'" speaks of a more progressive business philosophy that seeks to improve performance in the workplace by correcting errors instead of punishing them. With many helpful corporate examples of the philosophy in practice, "Helping People Win at Work" gives business leaders much to learn from about strengthening weaknesses in one's organization. "Helping People Win at Work" is a worthwhile read for any manager.

Don't Bring It to Work
Sylvia LaFair
Wiley
989 Market Streeet, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
Creative Energy Options (publicity)
45 Country Place Lane, White Haven, PA 18661
9780470404362, $24.95, www.josseybass.com

Work and the home are best kept apart, for the greater good of both. "Don't Bring It to Work: Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success" is a guide for leaving one's personal problems at home, the better to improve productivity. Too often people let outside influences distract them and these distractions cause people to fall behind in their goals. "Don't Bring It to Work" explains what one can do to make oneself a better employee with greater self-control. Highly recommended to any who want to rise up higher in their organization.

The Inspiring Leader
John H Zenger, et al.
McGraw Hill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9780071621243, $29.95, www.mhprofessional.com

What's the difference between an average leader and a truly great one? "The Inspiring Leader: Unlocking the Secrets of How Extraordinary Leaders Motivate" is John Zenger and his collaborators Joseph R. Folkman, and Scott K. Edinger discussing what an important and inspiring leader should be. Outlining what one needs to do to establish themselves as a leader optimizing everything they need such as empathy, long term planning and goal setting, cooperation, and more, there is much to motivate and inspire someone to motivate and inspire others. "The Inspiring Leader" is a top pick and recommended reading for anyone faced with the task of leadership.

Heart and Sold
Valerie Fitzgerald
Atria
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416542926, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Recessions don't have to devastate one's business; they can be an opportunity to survive or even thrive. "Heart and Sold: How to Survive and Build a Recession-Proof Business" tells the story of a woman who crafted her business to do just that. A real-estate agent and a good one at that, author Valerie Fitzgerald has made her millions through wise business practice and following her heart as a mother. "Heart and Sold" is a top pick for any who want reliability from their business.

They Don't Teach Corporate in College, revised edition
Alexandra Levit
Career Press
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630582, $15.99, www.careerpress.com

The corporate world is different from the real world. Now in a newly revised edition, "They Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World" is a guide to understanding the complex world of business and its countless rules which are never, ever explained to people outright and can often make an early business career incredibly challenging. Giving the lessons that college should, "They Don't Teach Corporate in College" is a high recommendation to anyone who wants to get a heads up on the rat race.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web Site Design Business
Bruce C. Brown and Charlotte Evans
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
9781601381439, $39.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Web Site Design Business is a 'must' for any who would turn a talent for web design into a business. Either a part-time or a full-time job can be started in your own home: this gives the nuts and bolts of building your own such design business quickly, offering a comprehensive study of the business side of web site design suitable for both business and general-interest collections.

The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing on the Web
Bruce C. Brown
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
9781601381255, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Affiliate marketing is a profitable, web-based advertising method in which internet merchants pay independent third parties to promote their products or services. While Amazon.com developed it, it is available to any business, and The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing on the Web provides six steps to developing a successful web marketing campaign to increase web visitors and sales. Case studies supplement the practical tips in a guide perfect for any business library catering to web-based businesses.br>
Guide to Contract Pricing, fifth edition
John Edward Murphy, CPA, CPCM
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike, Suite 800, Vienna, VA 22182
www.managementconcepts.com
9781567262414, $99.00, www.amazon.com

John Edward Murphy has over 40 years experience in financial management and procurement, working in government public sectors and founding his own consulting form specializing in procurement, public policy and litigation support. His book offers specific and clear pricing and cost analysis for government agencies and contractors alike, and is a 'must' for any serious business collection.

How to Tell Anyone Anything
Richard S. Gallagher
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814410154, $14.95 www.amacombooks.org

HOW TO TELL ANYONE ANYTHING: BREAKTHROUGH TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AT WORK uses the latest findings in psychology to provide a step-by-step application for the business world. From typical negative-ending communications patterns to more positive, effective strategies, this offers concrete, successful verbal techniques.

Online Recruiting and Selection
Douglas H. Reynolds and John A. Weiner
Wiley/Blackwell
350 Main, Malden MA 02148
9781405182294, $29.95 www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

ONLINE RECRUITING AND SELECTION; INNOVATIONS IN TALENT ACQUISITION is a key to understanding the shift in hiring practices that Internet usage has introduced to the business world. Chapters explore online recruiting and systems, considering common hiring issues and offering HR and professional staff clues to recruiting candidates from around the world. Any business collection catering to HR professionals in particular will find this important.

The Luxury Strategy
J.N. Kapferer and V. Bastien
Kogan Page
525 S. 4th St. #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749454777, $49.95 www.koganpage.com

THE LUXURY STRATEGY: BREAK THE RULES OF MARKETING TO BUILD LUXURY BRANDS discusses the luxury market and how to break in, and comes from two industry insiders who analyze what makes a luxury brand and how to employ strategies to make the most of pricing, distribution and more. Models for profitable luxury businesses compliment tips on learning from luxury experiences in a title highly recommended for any basic business collection.

The Introverted Leader
Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D.
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104
9781576755778, $19.95 www.bkconnection.com

THE INTROVERTED LEADER: BUILDING ON YOUR QUIET STRENGTH covers the common challenges introverts face at work, from perception gaps to seeking invisibility, and offers alternatives which embrace natural lifestyles and integrate introverted strengths into workplace activities. Introverts bring value to the workplace: this tells how to succeed in an extroverted business world and is a 'must' for any business collection.

e-Riches 2.0
Scott Fox
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814414621, $25.00 www.amacombooks.org

Any small business owner looking to translate brick n morter success to the Internet needs e-RICHES 2.0: NEXT-GENERATION MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR MAKING MILLIONS ONLINE. It comes from an Internet success coach who has helped many realize online profits and covers everything from capitalizing on free social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and using 'viral marketing' to spread a brand name, making online videos, and attracting free press coverage of news. A powerful set of practical tips!

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

Anthony T. Meola's 90 DAYS TO SUCCESS AS A MANAGER (1598638653, $19.99) provides a manager's action plan for any new on the job. It tells how to manage people and processes through a fact-based approach backed by 30 years of proven success by both the author and his coaches, and uses actual job situations to pair with real work scenarios and solutions. Any business library catering to managers needs this. Jason I. Miletsky provides the agency perspective in PERSPECTIVES ON MARKETING (1598638718, $29.99) and PERSPECTIVES ON BRANDING (1598638726, $29.99), two powerful business titles covering both sides of the story in business operations. In MARKETING Michael Hand provides the client perspective in topics covering everything from how to get the most from a client/agency relationship to decision-making and personality perspectives. BRANDING has Genevieve Smith providing the brand perspective in a range of topics from brand analysis and marketing to analysis and evolution. The authors have not collaborated and what results are unbiased, unfiltered viewpoints key to business success.


The Poetry Shelf

Reservoir Voices
Brendan Kennelly
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248369, $19.99

Hearing voices when one is alone doesn't necessarily mean one is crazy. "Reservoir Voices" is the contemplation in verse of poet Brenden Kennelly, reflecting on the inspiration he received when enjoying the peace of a reservoir. Profound and intriguing, "Reservoir Voices" is a fine volume of poetry by a skilled writer. "Touch": I work best with flesh/but don't use me overmuch./The most memorable moment can be/a gentle touch.

One Stands Guard, One Sleeps
Nancy Scott
Plain View Press
1509 Dexter Street, Austin, TX 78704
www.plainviewpress.net
9781891386329, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Some people just seem to be born for the craft of poetry. Judging by the quality of her verse, Nancy Scott is clearly one of those gifted with a lyrical mind's eye. "One Stands Guard, One Sleeps" is an impressive compendium of free verse that draws as its source material the poet's family members, social service clients, businessmen, and herself. 'Lyla, 1992': I stop to have a cup of tea with Lyla./Nearly eighty, she counsels parents of suicides,/shows me a photo of a pony-tailed teen.//My daughter slashed her wrists, she says./She says her husband, now deceased,/used to cater fancy meals for Broadway stars.//OJ was there once, she says, grinning./He was something. He could park his shoes/under my bed anytime.

Going Wrong
Marilyn L. Taylor
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
9781934795088 $10.00

Going Wrong is a chapbook collection of brief, sonnet poetry by poet laureate and teacher Marilyn L. Taylor, touching upon those moments and aspects of life where one's decision is of paramount importance - the choice for woe or weal could potentially have lifelong or greater repercussions. Other verses skillfully capture everything from love between eighty-year-olds to the symphonic sound of nighttime crickets chirping. An evocative and at times surreal collection, enthusiastically recommended for poetry lovers everywhere. "To a Young Diver" (For R.R.T): So long, silversides. / The lips of the sea / close over you. // I watch you shimmer / and vanish into / the inverted garden // where minnows flock / like sparrows / and tiny pods of air // sequin the powdered / shoulders of / the reef. // Deeper: obsidian walls / flicker with mystery- / fish are flame, coral sways // to the throb of / the young planet / in its skin.

Boys Whistling like Canaries
Jorn Ake
Eastern Washington University Press
534 E. Spokane Falls Blvd, Suite 203, Spokane, WA 99202
9781597660501, $15.95, www.ewupress.ewu.edu

Cruelty is something that happens at all levels, from siblings to the government oppressing its people. "Boys Whistling Like Canaries" explores the politics of the past century, in particular the oppressive nature and viciousness that have happened. Seeking to paint with emotion and inspire people to stand against corruption in their governments, "Boys Whistling Like Canaries" is of strong interest for many readers who enjoy political thought as well as poetry. "Some Truths Noted While Walking Alone": The triangular window holds its corners differently/than the square window./The square window is open to suggestion./The circular window is afraid/of what comes from the sky/and makes its view known simply./The sky always dreams of a dress/made of yellow squares each night/but forgets the image entirely upon waking.//Blue then is the absence of memory.//The clouds are farm animals.//There is no pig.

Obstructed View
Wendy Vardaman
Fireweed Press
PO Box 482, Madison, WI 53701-0482
www.wendyvardaman.com
9781878660244, $12.00, www.amazon.com

Madison, Wisconsin's Wendy Vardaman knows poetry. She is co-editor of Verse Wisconsin and someone whose poems, reviews and interviews have appeared in a large number of anthologies and journals ranging from 'Poetry Daily', to the 'Portland Review'. Now "Obstructed View", a volume of her some of her best work, has been published and made available to the reading public by Madison-based publisher Fireweed Press. A skilled wordsmith and storyteller, Wendy is also a consummate artist whose written poetry is the literary equivalent of a series of impressionist paintings of ordinary life events -- but with words and lines instead of paints and canvas. Highly recommended for poetry readers who appreciate a touch of the 'avant garde' interpretations of the common place and the uncommon moment in verse. 'Unemployed': Mid-week dinner for eight,/husband's work, leave everywhere/early but still run late. Juggle dishwasher,/pots, knives, vegetables, cacuum, a four-layer cake/that wants to fall apart. Before my daughter caught/the bus she said, how nice that I could fit whatever/I like into my day, in contrast to her,/a homework slave. for a minute//I consider leaving mid-mess,/water boiling, onion peel scattered, tomato/dripping, table covered and my bitter/eggplant just/half-baked. Instead I finish my assignment, leave two/wishful sinks soaking for someone else later.

Downstate
David Gardiner
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780956128737, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

In every community, there are countless bloodlines that compose that society. "Downstate" is a collection of poetry discussing people and their heritage. Author David Gardiner reflects wistfully on society and its reverence for its heritage; "Downstate" is a fine, insightful, and entertaining volume. "Plains Storm, Omaha": Around here, a truck's rumble past is/as natural as wind that rocks the porch swing in your absence.//"God doesn't give his thunder to us all."/We tell ourselves we're lucky; with our daylilies and dogwoods -//we're the stuff that survives, has roots and mind/enough not to stick our heads above neighboring flowers.//The winds, the sirens, and the early bathtimes/all fall together to make our long horizons,//hang together as front porchswing rocks/with silhouettes of wild roses waiting for the storm./The front of a life that blows in from elsewhere.

The Looking House
Fred Marchant
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555975289, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

Veteran poet Fred Marchant brings readers more of his fine work with "The Looking House". Focusing on the human evolution and the wars that cause so much suffering, Marchant paints in broad strokes and hopes to give readers much to ponder. Highly recommended. "Camp and Locust": House on the corner where I grew up, second floor flat I still find in dreams,//window from which I see Candy/squirm out of his collar again.//It is always a lurid, purple night,/the middle of summer. He is taking off,/having figured it out, and is headed toward/ all that existence promises, even to dogs.

Coal and Roses
PK Page
The Porcupine Quill
68 Main St, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
9780889843141, $16.95, www.porcupinesqull.ca

A Companion to the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest civilian arts, PK Page brings her excellent expertise to the table with "Coal and Roses". An exploration language using a the concept of Glosas, "Coal and Roses" discusses poetry by channeling sources of many other famous Canadian poets to execute her work, staying true to the original work while getting her message across with fine technique. "On a Far Shore": It is summer, early evening/stars beginning/no dog barking./The morning star/promises daylight,/and the moon is full./Yet darkness fights for itself./It has its methods,/is infinitely resourceful./The night unravels its blue wool.

Deaf American Poetry
John Lee Clark, editor
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
Chicago Distribution Center (distribution)
11030 S. Langley Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
9781563684135, $35.00, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu

What is the world like, completely devoid of sound? "Deaf American Poetry" is a collection of poetic work from over two hundred years of deaf American poets, with nearly one hundred pieces from thirty-five renowned poets across that period. Offering a perspective for readers that they do not commonly see and to help them empathize with the deaf throughout history, there is much for readers to enjoy and understand. "Deaf American Poetry" is a solid, commonly unheard voice in American poetry. "On My Deafness" by Howard L. Terry: "All things go well until they feel his wrath./O silence, there are marvels in thy state!/Flora may bud and bloom despite the drouth,/Impelled of God, and I, despite my fate,/Believing, yet may bloom in fairer fields./If listening inwardly to unheard sound/Is reaping all that's best, what silence yields,/Then sound deceives; truth is in silence found.

The Poems of Vikram Babu
Jesus Aguado
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047596, $12.00, www.hostpublications.com

Eastern philosophy presents many pressing questions to the western reader. "The Poems of Vikram Babu" is a collection of bilingual Spanish/English poetry from acclaimed author Jesus Aguado as he uses seventeenth century Indian mystic Vikram Babu, and presents profound writing in the voice, provoking readers with intriguing questions. "The Poems of Vikram Babu" is a fresh and intriguing collection, sure to provoke much thought. A sample: Like the long line of ants in single file:/an I detached/must find a hole,/shelter,/a name,/what we so proudly call the world//Vikram Babu asks:/you too?

Crush Depth
Michael Spence
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112901, $15.95, www.tsup.truman.edu

Poets come in all shapes and sizes, including Navy men. "Crush Depth" is a collection of poetry from Michael Spence, a veteran Naval officer with much military and life experience. Discussing naval life through his verse, he does well in capturing the emotion along with the day to day life he lived. "Crush Depth" is original, fresh, and educational, and highly recommended. "A Cairns Idyll": Oblivious to starfish chewing up/The coral of the Great Barrier reef,/While Dad walks off for tickets for our trip//To watch its vanishing, I lounge and leaf/Through Chaucer as a palm tree pricks my back./The fronds clack overhead - tongues gone stiff//With salt and sun. I can't keep track/Of where the story leads, trying to ignore/The sea beyond me. Medieval spellings frac-//Ture my attention, and my eyes grow sore/From footnotes. I try to raise lust for the wench/of Bath while waves pull sparks of light ashore.//A thump! I feel through my buttocks makes me flinch: The coconut rocks to a stop. I shift to a bench.

As Is
James Galvin
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556592966, $15.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

James Galvin brings fans of his previous work a treat with "As Is", his seventh collection of poetry. More of what Galvin excels at, his work speaks on a wide array of subjects, with articulate verse. "As Is" is a collection that many poetry fans will very much enjoy. "The Fall Guy": Hello?/Is this the Fall Guy?/Speaking./Did you take the fall?/It's what I do./So, you're in prison now?/You call it prison. Prison is my heaven,/My afterlife.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Dust of Death
Paul Charles
Brandon
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780863223853, $14.95, www.brandonbooks.com

In the search for the truth, it all comes out. "The Dust of Death" is an entry into author Paul Charles' planned mystery series focusing on Inspector Starrett, a grizzled veteran of law enforcement. Working in a small quiet town, he soon finds it's not as quiet as he hopes as a death by crucifixion is found outside the local church. Searching for the one or ones responsible, Starrett finds more truth than he ever bargained for. "The Dust of Death" is a very much recommended read for mystery fans.

The Legend of Burial Island
David A. Crossman
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727858, $15.95, www.downeast.com

Abandoned islands are usually abandoned for a reason. "The Legend of Burial Island: A Bean and Ab Mystery" follows Crossman's mystery series of teens Bean and Abigail as they try to understand Burial Island - which has a sinister secret behind its name. As they search for a lost friend, they find more adventure than they bargained for. "The Legend of Burial Island" is a solid and recommended read for any who want a fun mystery.

Port City Shake Down
Gerry Boyle
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727957, $24.95, www.downeast.com

Good intentions never go unpunished. "Port City Shake Down" is the first Brandon Blake mystery from Gerry Boyle. As protagonist Brandon Blake begins to learn of the world of law enforcement and quickly makes powerful enemies, he gets a crash course he never asked for. An exciting mystery of rookie detective work, "Port City Shake Down" is a recommended read for anyone looking for a new mystery series to enjoy.


The Fiction Shelf

The Fifth Ace
Loretta Jackson and Vickie Britton
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780803499515 $23.95 http://avalonbooks.com

The second novel in the "Luck of the Draw" western series, The Fifth Ace is an exciting, action-packed adventure capturing the roughshod spirit of the Old West. A supposedly friendly poker game ends with a murdered candidate for governor, and the only clue left behind is a fifth ace by the victim's feet. A swarm of vigilante gunmen seek retribution for the murder. The other poker players finger Drew Woodson's mining partner, an innocent man, for the crime. Woodson must track down the real killer before his partner is wrongfully hanged or the witnesses are themselves murdered one by one! A thrilling tale of old-style justice (and injustice!), The Fifth Ace is highly recommended.

Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.goldenagestories.com
$9.95 each, www.galaxypress.com

Galaxy Press has reprinted four inexpensive anthologies of classic pulp tales of two-fisted action by legendarily popular writer (and Scientology religion founder) L. Ron Hubbard which are sure to satisfy avid readers of the pulp fiction action/adventure genre. "The Sky Crasher" (9781592123308) is a wild adventure about embarking on a round-the-world flight back when making the claim was so great an achievement that the attempts attracted a criminal element. Also present are the stories "Boomerang Bomber" and a preview of "Hurtling Wings". "Wind-Gone-Mad" (9781592122691) is an exciting saga set in the last days of pre-World War II China, where the stalwart Jim Dahlgren, representing the amalgamated Aeronautical Company, is one of the few who can stand against the a ravenous warlord and would-be conqueror known as "The Butcher". Also present are the stories "Tah", "Yellow Loot", and a preview of "Golden Hell". "Hostage to Death" (9781592122820) follows Legionnaire Bill Reilly, challenged by a renegade Berber chieftain to rescue a kidnapped American named Kay MacArthur, possibly from a fate worse than death, even though he knows that he may be plunging headlong into a deadly trap. Also present is the story preview "Yukon Madness". "Under the Diehard Brand" (9781592122615) is a western about a young Lee Thompson, whose aging sheriff father is losing control over the thugs and troublemakers of Wolf River. Thompson must step into his father's shoes and defend his town from the horde of criminals who have heard rumors of his father's infirmity and see Wolf River as easy prey! Also present are the stories "Hoss Tamer", "The Ghost Town Gun-Ghost", and a story preview of "Baron of Coyote River". Each action-packed volume of Stories from the Golden Age is further enhanced with a glossary of regional terms, dialects that have fallen into disuse, and other words that may be esoteric to the casual reader. All are excellent picks for anyone who loves pulp fiction.

Trust Me
Jeff Abbott
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780525951216, $25.95, www.penguin.com

The war on terror takes on many forms. "Trust Me" follows Luke Dantry, a man who is charged with infiltrating a group known as the 'Night Road'. Underestimating them, he soon finds himself kidnapped and left in a forest. Finding that the 'Night Road' goes deeper than he thought, he has to live on the edge of his life to stop catastrophe. "Trust Me" is a riveting story of infiltration and how sometimes one has to work with the bad guys for the greater good.

Toxin
Paul Martin Midden
Millennial Mind Publishing
c/o American Book Publishing
5442 So. 900 East #146, Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204
Mary Glenn McCombs Book Publicist (publicity)
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-274
9781589824928, $24.95

The most devastating assaults are the most treacherous. "Toxin" is the story of one United States Senator who must stand against a sinister plot that leaks out from the inside of the government. Despite his fears, he must go beyond the call of duty as a statesman to save the country he loves. "Toxin" is an entertaining political thriller, sure to please.

The Whaler's Forge
Christine Echeverria Bender
Caxton Press
312 Main St., Caldwell, ID 83605
9780870044748, $16.95, www.caxtonpress.com

The most difficult thing someone might have to do in life is survive. "The Whaler's Forge" tells the story of a lost Spanish Whaler who washes up on the coast of North America, before the continent ever gained that name. With winter approaching and no hope of rescue in sight, Kepa De Mendieta has to fight for his very life. "The Whaler's Forge" is an intriguing novel of survival, highly recommended.

A Slow Burn
Mary E. DeMuth
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310278375, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

Vengeance is a strong reason. "A Slow Burn" is the second story in the Defiance Texas Trilogy, following Emory Chance as she is driven to find her daughter's murderer. But it seems that the pursuit of justice may not be Emory's biggest obstacle, but rather her own grief, as mysteries and problems appear along the way. "A Slow Burn" is a fine novel of a woman overcoming her own grief, and leaves readers seeking the third book in the series.

2045
Peter Seidel
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027058, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

There's a pervasive fear of what could happen should corporations grow too powerful. "2045" is a novel of the near future where gigantic corporations have gained the grasp of almost everything in the world. Following a businessman of the early twenty-first century as he falls into a coma and wakes up four decades later, "2045" views the bleak future world through contemporary eyes. "2045" is worth considering for any seeking for modern fiction with a dystopian twist.

The Shovel
Baker Fore & Tom Massey
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759349, $12.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

Messages can be conveyed in many ways, and Dr. Massey and Dr. Fore have chosen the novel to convey their message of business inspiration. "The Shovel" tells their story of motivation via the parable of A.B. Lincoln, who is faced with the task of moving mountains, something that many people in today's society feel they are faced with. "The Shovel" is a unique approach, highly recommended.

The Departure Lounge
Paul Eggers
The Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210
9780814251959, $24.95, www.ohiostatepress.com

People are very different when put under a different microscope. "The Departure Lounge" is a collection of stories of people displaced from their nations of origin and forced into different societies, and how this has caused them to gain a better understanding of who they really are. Strained relationships, past glories, remembering relatives, and much more are gathered into intriguing and fascinating stories. "The Departure Lounge" is a top pick and a recommended read for short fiction lovers.

Brush with Destiny
Mono Ingram
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780803499430, $23.95, www.avalonbooks.com

Love isn't something that's going to stand by and wait. "Brush with Destiny" follows the story of saddened mother and divorcee Ashley Stewart, who tries to find her peace on the islands of British Columbia. An artist, she finds there is more than just her paintings in art, and that family may have not have totally escaped her yet in a the widowed father Matt. "Brush with Destiny" is a pick that many a romance reader will enjoy snuggling up with.


The Economics Shelf

100 Ways to Profit in a Volatile Economy
Barry R. Schimel, CPA and Gary R. Kravitz
Capital Books, Inc.
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781933102818 $20.00 www.amazon.com

Even when the economy isn't booming, one can still make their fortune. "100 Ways to Profit in a Volatile Economy: Battle-Tested Business Strategies" is a guide to making a business work in a rough economy that doesn't seem to be improving anytime soon. There are ways to play it safe and claim one's piece of the pie, and the authors Barry Schimel and Gary Kravitz offering readers much to learn with advice on everything from hiring practices to marketing, and more. "100 Ways to Profit in a Volatile Economy" is of strong interest to any business leader who isn't optimistic for the economy as a whole, but is optimistic for their own business.

Entrepreneurship And Organised Crime
Petter Gottschalk
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848443167, $115.00, www.amazon.com

In every nation there is a division of economic enterprises and activities providing goods and services that are classified as illegal. But there is still a higher overriding economic law of supply and demand that fuels these outlawed transactions. How do some aspiring entrepreneurs select and develop their criminal business? "Entrepreneurship And Organised Crime: Entrepreneurs In Illegal Business" by Petter Gottschalk (Professor of Information Systems and Knowledge Management, Department of Organisation and Leaders, Norwegian School of Management, Norway) examines this fundamental question. His inquiries are analyzed with stage models that denote and illustrate the similarities between lawful and unlawful business practices. Informed and informative, "Entrepreneurship And Organised Crime" is a seminal study and a unique contribution which is especially recommended for professional and academic library Economic Studies and Modern Criminology Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Super Rich
George Irvin
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745644653, $24.95, www.polity.co.uk

America is the richest country in the world, yet some of its citizens are so poor. "Super Rich: The Rise of Inequality in Britain and the United States" discusses the growing gap of wealth in the western world, focusing on Great Britain and the United States. Globalization has supposedly increased the gap of wealth between countries further, where the richest and most elite only become more so while the poor continue to suffer and struggle day to day. "Super Rich" discusses a truly real issue in today's western economies and offers many intriguing insights, highly recommended.

The Economic Naturalist's Field Guide: Common Sense Principles for Troubled Times
Robert H. Frank
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
2300 Chestnut, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780465015115, $26.00 www.basicbooks.com

The economic boom has ended and the connections between money and happiness have become quite tenuous: THE ECONOMIC NATURALIST'S FIELD GUIDE discusses this link, considers how the crisis has changed middle class perceptions and values, and offers a key to consuming less as part of the solution. From reducing consumption to working towards a national health plan, this provides a host of theories on how to win in troubled times.

The Myth of the Rational Market
Justin Fox
Harper Business
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780060598990, $27.99 www.harpercollins.com

THE MYTH OF THE RATIONAL MARKET: A HISTORY OF RISK, REWARD, AND DELUSION ON WALL STREET comes form a Time editor and economic columnist who tells of the rise and fall of a powerful belief that financial markets are rational and capable of regulating themselves. This belief has led to dangerous actions and market hypothesis and this history introduces a new wave of analytical approach that points out the pitfalls of market strategies and investor psychology. Any collection strong in economics, from college-level holdings to general-interest libraries with solid business sections, needs this.

IT Savvy
Peter Weill
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422181010, $29.95 www.harvardbusiness.org/press

Managers face an increasingly competitive global world and must know some degree of IT (information technology) savvy to be successful. IT SAVVY teaches how to link IT to bottom-line results and comes form IT expects who argue that success in the digital economy will go to companies smart about using IT successfully. Fifteen years of field-tested research contributes to a fine guide for managers on how to link IT to success.


The Parenting Shelf

The Daddy Shift
Jeremy Adam Smith
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807021200, $25.95, www.beacon.org

Fifty years ago, it would have been heresy for a father to stay home as the mother brought home the paycheck. "The Daddy Shift: How Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared Parenting Are Transforming the American Family" tells the story of the changing American culture on its stance towards parenting and gender issues. No longer is the father forced to break his back to feed his family, or the mother forced to abandon career ambitions, and Jeremy Smith argues the positives of this changing American Dream. "The Daddy Shift" is an intriguing look at changes in American parenting, recommended.

The Ultimate Dream
Heather Chabino & Sherri Watson
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812334, $15.95, www.brownbooks.com

Gift giving can be one of the most thoughtful or thoughtless things, and Heather Chabino wanted to make sure her daughter knew to do the former. "The Ultimate Dream: A Child's Gift Giving Journey" is a memoir of her mother and the lesson that she hoped to teach her daughter through experience. Little Kenzie learns that not all gifts are physical things, and Heather Chabino wants Kenzie's lessons to inspire other parents and their children. "The Ultimate Dream" is of interest to any parent who puts value on the many gifts of life, no matter what they are.

Autism Handbook for Parents
Janice E. Janzen
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593633615, $16.95, www.prufrock.com

Autism is a tricky subject for many parents. "Autism Handbook for Parents: Facts and Strategies for Parenting Success" is a guide for parents who have recently found that their children have been diagnosed with autism, and who are confused and anxious about what they as parents should be doing. Offering simple, straight to the point answers, "Autism Handbook for Parents" has much wisdom to be found. Well worth the acquisition for parents inexperienced in matters concerning autism.

Love You More Than You Know
Janie Reinart & Mary Anne Mayer
Gray & Company, Publishers
1588 E. 40th St., Cleveland, OH 44103
9781598510553, $14.95, www.grayco.com

It's hard to send one's child off to a dangerous situation. "Love You More Than You Know: 45 Powerful, Personal Tales of Love, Faith, and Courage" is a collection of stories from mothers who have faced with nerve-wracking event of sending their children off to war, with no certainty of their safe return. From the dread of enlisting, to the realization of deployment, there are many stories of parents coping with their worry and coping with a mix of pride and fear. "Love You More Than You Know" is a treasure any military parent will cherish.

Birth Without Violence
Frederick Leboyer
Healing Arts Press
1 Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772979, $14.95, www.healingartspress.com

If we could fully remember our births, we'd be completely terrified. "Birth Without Violence: A Revised Edition of the Classic That Changed the Way Children are Met When They Enter Our World" is an updated discussion of a different way of introducing children into the world, emphasizing peace that could lead to long-term benefits for both mother and child. Water births, less hospital chaos and more suggestions for improved birth environments fill "Birth Without Violence", which is worth consideration to any expecting mother.

What's Happening to My Teen?
Mark Gregston
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736924443, $13.99, www.harvesthousepublisher.com

Teenage rebellion leaves every parent baffled. "What's Happening to My Teen?" investigates teenage rebellion for Christian parents. Covering everything from sudden personality shifts to raging arguments to outright criminal behavior, "What's Happening to My Teen?" is a fine piece of counseling for the Christian parent who doesn't know what to do about their rebellious teenage son or daughter.

Some of My Best Friends Are Books, third edition
Judith Wynn Halsted
Great Potential Press
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
9780910707961, $29.95, www.giftedbooks.com

A good book can give a child so much. Now in a newly published third edition, "Some of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers" is an advice manual for parents and educators of gifted and talented children who have taken a liking to the world of reading. Aimed primarily at parents, "Some of My Best Friends are Books" discusses the social and emotional needs of these children, as well as ways to mentor them and help them find more books that they would enjoy. Well organized with indexes for easy reference, "Some of My Best Friends Are Books" is a fine and very much recommended read.


The Self-Help Shelf

Bail Yourself Out
Michael Laitman, Ph.D.
Kabbalah Publishers
info@kabbalahbooks.info
1057 Steeles Avenue West, Suite 532, Toronto, ON M2R 3X1 Canada
9781897448274 $5.00 www.kabbalahbooks.info

Professor of Ontology (with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Kabbalah) Michael Laitman presents Bail Yourself Out: How You Can Emerge Strong from the World Crisis, a unique self-help guide written in response to the current global economic crisis... emphasizing that the root of the crisis is not financial, but rather psychological. When people have too little trust in each other, trade and credit markets freeze up, replaced by isolation, paralysis, and in extreme cases, economic collapse. Furthermore, Laitman asserts that this epidemic of mistrust stems from a natural process that has been evolving over millennia. Therefore, the key to resolving economic woes is to first understand the process that has fomented such alienation, by drawing upon all available mans of communication (books, TV, internet, newspapers, public libraries) and then revamping one's relationships. The bedrock of justified trust is built from collaboration and compassion, traits that need to be cultivated in oneself and others in order to promote economic as well as psychological well-being. A unique perspective on how to respond to financial woes, Bail Yourself Out is highly recommended as a useful self-help supplement to books that focus solely on financial nuts and bolts.

Body, Mind, & Spirit
Gary D. McKay, W. F. Peate, & Erik Mansager
Impact Publishers
PO Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016
9781886230811, $19.95, www.impactpublishers.com

You can take vitamins for your body, but what about your soul? "Body, Mind, & Spirit: Vitamins for Your Whole Health" is designed as vitamin to one's whole being, stating that happiness and general well-being is the sum of multiple elements, not just one's physical health. Body, Mind, and Spirit are these three components, and within this text the authors give tips and advice for keeping all three in health. "Body, Mind, & Spirit" is a worthwhile read for those seeking health and happiness.

Unite and Conquer
Kyrsten Sinema
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781576758892, $16.95, www.bkcurrents.com

Sometimes aggression is not the best way to get things done. "Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions That Win - And Last" is a different approach to business ideals that suggest putting away the competition in favor of uniting to get things done. Drawing from her own wisdom from the campaign trail and her own political battles, author Kyrsten Sinema provides real-world proven examples for her theories. "Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions That Win - And Last" is well worth the read for leaders of these types of political organizations.

Just How Do Affirmations Work?
May Sinclair
Wheat Mark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85705
9781604942552, $11.95, www.wheatmark.com

You can say things all you want, but saying and doing are different things. "Just How Do Affirmations Work?" is a guide to understanding the purpose of affirmations and what they are supposed to bring people. Used without understanding, affirmations are nothing more than a useless wastes of time, but author May Sinclair hopes to bring readers a better understanding of the affirmations that can improve one's life. "Just How Do Affirmations Work?" is a worthwhile read.

How People Tick, second edition
Mike Leibling
Kogan Page US
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749454593, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

Everybody is different and everybody proves to be a different pain in the neck. Now in a newly updated second edition, "How People Tick: A Guide to Over 50 Types of Difficult People and How to Handle Them" is a guide to dealing with annoying, difficult people who overall just make one's life ever more unpleasant. Using various archetypes, author Mike Leibling gives readers solid advice in how to get out of certain situations with the least damage done. "How People Tick" is a strongly recommended read for any who want to deal with people better.

The Love-Shy Survival Guide
Talmer Shockley
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843108979, $19.95, www.jkp.com

Love is a hard ball game to break into. "The Love-Shy Survival Guide" is an advice book for those who are love shy and are having a hard time getting into the world of relationships. Author Talmer Shockley draws on his own experience as a Love-Shy, a term he gives to those who struggle with getting started in dating. "The Love-Shy Survival Guide" is just what some people may need to get out there and start their romantic life.

Living Fully Dying Well
Edward W. Bastian & Tina L. Staley
Sounds True
PO Box 8030, Boulder, CO 80306-8010
9781591797012, $24.95, www.soundstrue.com

You're going to die, and there's no way to stop that. "Living Fully, Dying Well: Reflecting on Death to Find Your Life's Meaning" is about using one's mortality as fuel for a better and more complete life. Fear of death should not make one paranoid, writes authors Edward Bastian and Tina Staley, but must push people to live more complete and spiritual lives, making the most of the time they have. "Living Fully, Dying Well" is of interest to any who are looking at their oncoming death in the eye.


The American History Shelf

Americanization in the States
Christina A. Ziegler-McPherson
University Press of Florida
University of Florida,
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813033617 $65.00 www.upf.com

Americanization in the States: Immigrant Social Welfare Policy, Citizenship, and National Identity in the United States, 1908-1929 is a scholarly study of American bureaus and programs in the early twentieth century that were designed to help immigrants blend into American society. Though some of these efforts were criticized for being culturally oppressive, forcing those from diverse cultures to conform to Anglo-American cultural norms, Americanization in the States reveals that many of the programs were sympathetic to the immigrants' cultures, and offered solid benefits ranging from adult education to environmental improvement, labor market regulations, or even conflict resolution. A heavily researched and thoughtful read, Americanization in the States is highly recommended as a balanced perspective on a complex social issue. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections. "...conservatives became active in citizenship education for children primarily because they were increasingly skeptical of their ability to influence immigrant adults. By 1921 most patriotic organizations that had been active in Americanization during and immediately after the war had scaled back their immigrant education programs and endorsed immigration restrictions as th best solution to the perceived problems of labor radicalism and undesirable foreign cultures in America. Only the DAR continued its Americanization work among foreign-born adults even as it withdrew support from a wide range of progressive projects and embraced immigration restriction in the mid-1920's."

California Odyssey
William R. Goulding, author
Patricia A. Etter, editor
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623738 $45.00 www.ahclark.com

Volume XXI of the American Trails Series, California Odyssey: An Overland Journey on the Southern Trails, 1849 is the articulate diary of William R. Goulding, a participant of California's legendary Gold Rush. Of particular note is Goulding's meticulous detail of important people, local flora and fauna along the Knickerbocker Exploring Company's alternate route to the Pacific Coast, his encounters with Hispanics and American Indians, and much more. An excellent primary source, highly recommended for college library American History shelves.

The Deadliest Outlaws, second edition
Jeffrey Burton
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412703 $34.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Now in an updated second edition with additional material and black-and-white photographs not present in the earlier printing, The Deadliest Outlaws: The Ketchum Gang and the Wild Bunch is the definitive historical chronicle of some of Texas' most notorious villains during the late 1800's. Orphaned at the age of nine, Tom Ketchum was raised by his older brothers, and worked as an itinerant trail driver and ranch hand before he committed his first murder. He and his brother teamed up with other former cowboys to rob trains and wreak havoc. The Ketchum Game would reach startling heights of infamy before their downfall came from the power of the telephone and telegraph (allowing quick communication over long distances), infighting, and their own disregard of the escalating odds against them. An almost luridly fascinating yet historically sound account, The Deadliest Outlaws is especially recommended to anyone curious about tales of true crime in the Old West.

In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, author
Robert C. Baron, editor
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917111, $9.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

One of the most celebrated figures in American history, he is now discussed in his own words with "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson". Drawing from Jefferson's own documents and writings, "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson" introduces a fresh picture of one of the most dear founding fathers and imparts wisdom about America through one of its most intellectual leaders. "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson" is a top pick for anyone who wants to know more about Jefferson. Also of interest in the "In His Own Words" series is "In His Own Words: John Adams" (9781555917128, $9.95), chronicling the writings of America's second president.

Slick As A Mitten
Ennis M. Larsen
WSU Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874223026, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Traveling the Oregon trail in 1852, Ezra Meeker built his fortune in hop farming and brokering in Puget Sound country. Platting Puyallup, Meeker served as the town's first mayor and was a key businessman. A scourge of hop aphids hit in the 1890s, followed by a national economic depression which wiped out Meeker's assets. When the Puyallup bank was on the verge of failure, Meeker came to the aid of his friends and neighbors by using his own greatly diminished finances to return funds to the depositors. 1898 saw the Alaskan Klondike gold rush and, even though he was now in his 60s, Meeker went north four times transporting and selling one hundred tons of vegetables, dried foods and canned goods in mining camps, primitive inns and restaurants while his wife Eliza Jane stayed behind to manage the family business. To put it mildly, Ezra Meeker led an interesting life and "Slick As A Mitten: Ezra Meeker's Klondike Enterprise" is his fascinating story superbly compiled with historic black-and-white photos by Dennis M. Larsen. An engaging and entertaining read from beginning to end, "Slick As A Mitten" is a splendid and enthusiastically recommended addition to academic library American History and American Biography collections.

Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers
James L. Baggett & Kelsey Scouten Bates
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
www.turnerpublishing.com
9781596525368, $29.95, www.amazon.com

It wasn't until the 1890s that technology was developed allowing newspapers to publish photographs. Prior to this time all newspaper illustrations were the result of engraving. Gifted artists were routinely employed to draw and engrave images of people, places, and events. These reproducible images were used to illustrate not only news stories of the day, but also to embellish poems and short stories -- and sometimes achieving such detailed excellence as to become works of art appreciated to this day. Drawing from national and international newspapers published from the 1850s to the 1890s, "Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers" showcases 250 engraved images showcasing Alabama scenes of city and country life, politics, the civil war, industry, agriculture, entertainment, and the everyday life of the common folk. With technically flawless reproductions that are the hallmark of the Turner Publishing Company, "Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers" is a very highly recommended addition to personal and academic library 19th Century American History collections. In the nineteenth century, the people of Alabama relied on newspapers to learn about the world outside their own hometowns. Prior to the 1890s, the technology did not exist to economically publish photographs in newspapers, so some publishers employed artists to draw and engrave images of places, events, and people. Many of these engraved illustrations, which accompanied news stories, poems, and short fiction, are impressive for their detail and artistic quality. From the 1850s to the 1890s, more than 250 engraved images of Alabama were published in national and international illustrated newspapers. This book contains nearly 50 of those illustrations from five nineteenth-century newspapers such as Harper's Weekly. These striking black-and-white images depict city and country scenes of everything from politics and civil war to agriculture, industry, entertainment, and everyday life, providing readers passionate about history and art a unique insight into Alabama's rich cultural past.

Stupid American History
Leland Gregory
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
0740779915, $9.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

STUPID AMERICAN HISTORY: TALES OF STUPIDITY, STRANGENESS, AND MYTHCONCEPTIONS blends humor and American history ideas for history buffs, covering myths, legends and quotes that are famous - and misleading. From the mystery of Christopher Columbus' real appearance to the truth about how many Presidents actually owned slaves, this is a top pick for American history buffs who want courses in light, humorous doses perfect for trivia games.


The Interior Design Shelf

Starting Your Career as An Interior Designer
Robert K. Hale & Thomas L. Williams
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
9781581156591, $24.95, www.allworth.com

Some people have more of a touch with design than others. "Starting Your Career as An Interior Designer" is a guide for those with the talent who want to break into the business of being an interior designer. From picking a specialized field, to finding clients, maintaining good relationships with them, doing the business half of operations, and so much more, "Starting Your Career As An Interior Designer" is an ideal acquisition for anyone who wants to make their interior design business dream a reality.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Career Success Without a Real Job
Ernie J. Zelinski
Ten Speed Press
PO Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781580089678, $16.95, www.tenspeeed.com

Steady employment and success are not the same thing. "Career Success Without a Real Job: The Career Book for People Too Smart to Work in Corporations" is a guide to success outside the corporate rat race and finding one's ideal dream job. If one is smart enough and wise enough, one can make one's own way in life under one's own terms, and still live fairly comfortably. A person who isn't under the stress of a cruel boss lives a happier life; "Career Success Without a Real Job" is a guide to attaining that happiness.


The Social Issues Shelf

Ethereal Shadows
Franco Berardi, et al.
Autonomedia
c/o AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
9781570271885, $16.95, www.autonomedia.org

New technology and media has changed more than just American politics. The collaborative effort of Franco Berardi, Maren Jacquement, and Gianfranco Vitali, "Ethereal Shadows: Communications and Power in Contemporary Italy" discusses the Italian media and its impact on its politics. Covering a media mogul turned politician, free radio, the internet, and pirate television, "Ethereal Shadows" is an intriguing journey into Italian politics, offering insight on how people around the world have adapted the media to their use. "Ethereal Shadows" is a fascinating read, recommended.

Conspiracy of Silence
Zachary Abuza
United States Institute of Peace Press
1200 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
9781601270023, $14.95, www.usip.org

Thailand, a place promoted as one of the finer Asian tourist attractions, has its own problems. "Conspiracy of Silence: The Insurgency in Southern Thailand" discusses a modern problem that many Thai face in their society today - southern insurgents are trying to tear the country in two through a violent secessionist movement. Exploring the roots of the conflict, what's going on in the present time, the religious conflicts, and the errors the Thai government has made, "Conspiracy of Silence" is a complete and comprehensive discussion of this serious issue in modern Thailand.

Iranophobia
Haggai Ram
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804760683, $19.95, www.sup.org

Imagine if the United States had to fear nuclear strikes from Canada - that's a similar fear Israelis have from the potential development of Iranian nuclear weapons. "Iranophobia: The Logic of Israeli Obsession" discusses the conflict of the middle east and how the root of the problem lies not in geopolitical conflicts, but instead a series of long, deep seated problems between the two cultures. "Iranophobia" is a recommended read for anyone trying to get a greater understanding of today's middle eastern conflict.

Boomers: The Cold War Generation Grows Up
Victor D. Brooks
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago IL 60642-2694
9781566637244, $24.95 www.ivanrdee.com

BOOMERS: THE COLD-WAR GENERATION GROWS UP offers a chronicle of newborn children during the period between the end of World War II and the close of the 1960s, analyzing how the influence on children of a new American pop culture monitored by adults contributed to the growing 'generation gap' of later years. An intriguing survey, this is recommended for any general interest library strong in American popular history and social issues.

Right Time, Right Place
Richard Brookhiser
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465013555, $27.50 www.basicbooks.com

This memoir of politics, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE: COMING OF AGE WITH WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR. AND THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT comes from one who wrote his first cover story for the renowned conservative magazine National Review in 1969 when he was fourteen, becoming its youngest senior editor at age 23, and is a fine memoir of his friendship with William F. Buckley Jr, who tapped him as his successor - until he suddenly changed his mind. Their friendship mirrors the progression of America's conservative movement, making for a powerful memoir.

The End of the Long Summer
Dianne Dumanoski
Crown
c/o Crown Publishing
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307396075, $25.00 www.crownpublishing.com

THE END OF THE LONG SUMMER: WHY WE MUST REMAKE OUR CIVILIZATION TO SURVIVE ON A VOLATILE EARTH offers a passionate, powerful argument that the current state of the planet is past the tipping point. It tells our focus should be on how to avoid the worst - and how to handle environmental change that is now inevitable. History, science and culture blend in a powerful survey essential for any library with books on environmental change and human survival.

A Day in the Life
Robert Greenfield
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
2300 Chestnut St #200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780306816222, $24.95 www.dacapopress.com

A DAY IN THE LIFE: ONE FAMILY, THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, AND THE END OF THE SIXTIES tells how an ideal marriage between two members of the English upper class fell part as the psychedelic dreams of the 50s became the hard-rock of the 80s. Using Tommy Weber and Susan Coriat as an example, the 60s and sentiments come to life in a solid true-life story of social change at its fastest pace.

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com

Moorthy S. Muthuswamy's DEFEATING POLITICAL ISLAM: THE NEW COLD WAR (9781591027041, $25.98) analyzes the threat of global jihad and the Islamic supremacist, considering what must be done to fight and win both the political and ideological arguments against human rights that jihadists pose. His survey uses a recent statistical analysis of Islamic doctrines and considers Muslim perspectives and how Islam promotes ideas of conquest. An outstanding survey, college-level libraries strong in Middle East issues in general and Islam in particular will find this a solid prospect for debate and discussion. Michael H. Stone, M.D.'s THE ANATOMY OF EVIL (9781591027263, $26.98) could have been reviewed in our Health section but is featured here for its wider importance to general collections and college-level social issues shelves, as well. It comes from a clinical psychiatrist and host of Discovery Channel's Mostly Evil series and scientifically explains and categorizes the habits of the world's killers. Over 600 biographies of murderers led to the author's 'scale' of evil and offers over 200 vivid case descriptions of such evil.

Citizen Wealth
Wade Rathke
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery #630, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576758625, $24.95 www.bkconnection.com

CITIZEN WEALTH: WINNING THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE WORKING FAMILIES tells of a rising gap between rich and poor and concurrent failing standards of living for millions of Americans. It shares the strategies that enabled ACORN founder and author Wade Rathke to pull together a holistic strategy for creating different types of wealth and assets, and provides a fine set of stories and examples of these lessons.

$20 per Gallon
Christopher Steiner
Grand Central Publishing
www.hachettebookgroup.com
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446549547, $24.99, www.amazon.com

$20 PER GALLON: HOW THE INEVITABLE RISE IN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES FOR THE BETTER projects a major gas price hike that will continue for decades - and will affect all aspects of everyday life. From how people choose to travel - via train, for example, rather than plane - to a future without garbage trucks and where outsourced jobs come back to America, this offers some startling images of social change. Any general lending library needs this.


The Music Shelf

The Orpheus Myth and the Powers of Music
Vladimir Marchenkov
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471760 $42.00 www.pendragonpress.com

The Orpheus Myth and the Powers of Music is a scholarly examination of how the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has affected humankind's perception of the power of music, up to the present day. A three-tiered probe explores the myth's history and alterations in its form, the myth's cultural status, and the impressions that a tale of lovelorn man whose music moved no less than the God of Death have on humanity's perception of music's power. Authors, composers, librettists, and more turn time and again to the ancient tale of Orpheus to express the hold music has over our hearts and souls; The Orpheus Myth and the Powers of Music is an excellent, thoughtful survey of a myth's roots in one aspect of the arts, and is especially recommended for college library collections.

White Face, Black Mask
Darien J. Davis
Michigan State University Press
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste. 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138348, $29.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

Brazil is a culture with much in the way of unique roots. "White Face, Black Mask: Africaneity and The Early Social History of Popular Music in Brazil" is a scholarly discussion of the history of Brazilian music and the move towards Africaneity during the first half of the twentieth century. Samba, classical, and other genres are discussed as author Darien Davis takes a wide- reaching look at the evolution of the country's music. "White Face, Black Mask" is of interest to any musical historian, be they amateur or professional.

A Lyrical Vision
Edward Foley
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814632796, $9.95, www.litpress.org

Music has always been a huge part of religious worship. "A Lyrical Vision: The Music Documents of the US Bishops" traces the history of Catholic music and its evolution through recent history in the United States. A scholarly eye and ear is paid to the history; author Edward Foley presents a fine chronicle. "A Lyrical Vision" is a top pick for religious studies collections, recommended.

The Supremes
Mark Ribowsky
Da Capo
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306815867, $26.00 www.dacapopress.com

THE SUPREMES: A SAGA OF MOTOWN DREAMS, SUCCESS, AND BETRAYAL offers a powerful biography of the most successful female singing group of all time. From the initial relationship of group members to their rise on the charts and their dance routines, THE SUPREMES tells how they fostered the growth of the soul genre and helped bridge gaps between black and white audiences alike. Any general lending library will find this a popular lend.

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

Simon Cann's BECOMING A SYNTHESIZER WIZARD: FROM PRESETS TO POWER USER (1598635506, $34.99) provides both a basic introduction to synthesizer magic and an advanced construction of the functions of synthesis and choices available to the audio manipulator. Analog synthesis, frequency, phase modulation, and specifics on four popular music synthesizers and their unique techniques makes for a solid, powerful guide perfect for any electronic musician's reference library. Also key is Todd M. Howard's GARAGEBAND 09 POWER! THE COMPREHENSIVE RECORDING AND PODCASTING GUIDE (1435454200, $29.99), a survey packed with details on remixing, mashing, video editing, DVD creation and more. Any musician or music publisher will find the coverage of this Mac-based program to be complete and extensive, offering easy tips on how to produce professional-sounding music, soundtracks, mixes and more. Screenshots blend with tutorials and examples for maximum effect.


The Biography Shelf

Duchess of Death
Richard Hack
Phoenix Books
c/o Hilsinger - Mendelson East
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10016
9781597776202, $25.95, www.phoenixbooksandaudio.com

There had to have been something going on in the mind behind that typewriter. "Duchess of Death: The Unauthorized Biography of Agatha Christie" hopes to paint a more complete and comprehensive portrait of the beloved author whose works have captured the imaginations of countless readers in countless countries around the world. Shunning the press, Christie kept her private life a mystery, but the inspiration behind much of her work comes to light in this compelling investigation of her life. "Duchess of Death" is a must read for anyone fascinated by Agatha Christie and her life's work.

Libation
Deirdre Heekin
Chelsea Green
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580861, $25.00, www.chelseagreen.com

Wine is an intriguing science in an of itself. "Libation: A Bitter Alchemy" is a collection of essays from author Deirdre Heekin, reflecting upon her life of wine making. The result provides a wealth of information about wine production and how the industry has evolved over the years, from old Italy to New Orleans and New England. Written by a wine lover for wine lovers, "Libation: A Bitter Alchemy" will be a delight for those who view wine as more than an alcoholic beverage.

Lost in Austin: A Nevada Memoir
Jim Andersen
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874177879 $21.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657

Lost in Austin: A Nevada Memoir is author Jim Andersen's memoir of leaving the congested hustle and bustle of California for Austin, Nevada - a tiny town of about 250 people situated on Highway 50, a.k.a. "the loneliest road in America". The little community had the hallmark of self-sufficiency on virtually every level - people ran their lives, their economy, and their local government their own way, sometimes in disdain of certain conventions. A treasury of wit, wisdom, insight, independence, and true small-town spirit, Lost in Austin is a delight to read from cover to cover. Highly recommended.

Addie of the Flint Hills
Adaline Sorace, as told to Deborah Sorace Prutzman
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602801233 $25.00 www.ktav.com

Addie of the Flint Hills: A Prairie Child During the Depression is the true-life memoir of 94-year-old Addie Sorace, with particular focus on the years of 1915 to 1935. Addie's family was rural, and they survived the ups and downs of the fluctuating U.S. economy during the 1920s and 1930s. The Great Depression, and the destructive "Dust Bowl" that all but obliterated the land many a farm dweller, remain fresh and vivid in her mind. Addie stays fair and impartial in her chronicle, inviting the reader to make his or her own judgments on the people she remembers. An absorbing saga of adjusting to hard times, Addie of the Flint Hills is highly recommended.

Policing the Fringe
Charles Scheideman
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 Canada
9781550174823, $24.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

The strangest things happen in small towns, no matter what country you are in. "Policing the Fringe: The Curious Life of a Small-Town Mountie" is a collection of anecdotes and intriguing stories from a Canadian Mountie. His strange adventures involve drunken Americans, axe-wielding maniacs, nudists, and more. There is no lack of humor and entertainment to be found in Scheidman's writings. A look into the lighter side of the iconic figures, "Policing the Fringe" is an enthusiastically recommended pick.

It's Uphill Most of the Way Down
Barry L. Lane & Jodi L. Raisl
Tate Publishing & Enterprises
127 E. Trade Center Terrace, Mustang, OK 73064-4421
9781606047750, $14.99, www.tatepublishing.com

The north is not a winter wonderland; it is, in fact, potentially deadly. "It's Uphill Most of the Way Down" is a memoir of a young man who accepted a dangerous northern exploration job at the tail end of the sixties. He reflects on the lessons he learned and the daily struggles he faced just staying alive during the expedition, and grants a vivid picture of northern exploration. "It's Uphill Most of the Way Down" is poignant and intriguing reading all the way through.

Welcome to the Zoo
Lloyd Kraal
Regent Press
2747 Regent Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781587901669, $20.00, www.regentpress.net

There's more than one way to stumble backwards into a den of tigers. "Welcome to the Zoo: A Whistleblower's Memoir" is the memoir of Lloyd Kraal, who took on the corruption of San Francisco when it reached so far it affected many parts of public life and government work, such as the titular topic of the zoo. A primary source detailing the corruption of public officials, "A Whistleblower's Memoir" is a top pick and highly recommended read.

On Native Ground
Jim Barnes
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806140926, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Jim Barnes was appointed the Oklahoma State Poet Laureate for 2009-2011 by Governor Brad henry in recognition and appreciation of his published accomplishments in the field of poetry. "On Native Ground: Memoirs And Impressions" by Jim Barnes (Distinguished Professor of English and Creative Writing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah) is an informed and informative biography of Jim Barnes beginning with his boyhood in rural southeaster Oklahoma during the Great Depression and World War II and concludes with a survey of his adult years and acclaim as an internationally recognized Native American poet. Of Welsh and Choctaw ancestry, Barnes is an eloquent word smith. For this University of Oklahoma Press edition, a new postscript has been penned by author and biographer Jim Barnes to bring the reader fully up to date on the life and times of a master American poet. A superb work of impeccable literary and biographical scholarship, "On Native Ground" is especially recommended for academic library American Biography and American Poet reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

River of No Return
Jeffrey Buckner Ford
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826531, $26.95, www.cumberlandhouse.com

There are idols of years gone past that captivated generations. "River of No Return: Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Woman He Loved" tells the life story of Ernie Ford, a renowned showman who is most known for his own television show in the late 1950s, 'The Ford Show' where he reached and entertained millions of Americans. With a focus on his personal life, a touching story in itself, "River of No Return" is well worth the read for those who want to learn who the legend is, or are feeling nostalgic.

Seth Bullock
David A. Wolff
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501
9780979894053, $12.95, www.sdshpress.com

Sometimes truth is more interesting than the fiction. "Seth Bullock: Black Hills Lawman" tells the story of the man who has become known in modern society for being portrayed in television, movies, and American folklore alongside famed President Teddy Roosevelt. He was a successful lawman, and he was a vital figure in South Dakota history. "Seth Bullock" is of interest to anyone seeking the man behind the legend.

In the Land of Long Fingernails
Charles Wilkins
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Ave. Suite 903, New York NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
1602397090, $24.95, www.amazon.com

IN THE LAND OF LONG FINGERNAILS; A GRAVEDIGGER IN THE AGE OF AQUARIUS tells of a college student who takes a job as a gravedigger - and discovers his job involves more than just digging graves. His witnessing of a midsummer gravedigger's strike, the unearthing of a victim of unsolved murder, and more makes for an involving guide packed with surprises, twists and turns of plot. An intriguing, different kind of memoir.

First Lady of Hope: Michelle Obama
Elizabeth Lightfoot
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599215211, $14.95 www.lyonspress.com

Author Elizabeth Lightfoot worked as a columnist and magazine writer; here she provides a biography to examine the background of first lady Michelle Obama. From her Chicago childhood to her meeting with Barack at the prestigious law firm where they were the only African Americans, this is a fine survey of her entire life, and a recommended pick for any general collection.

Orange Picnic
Deborah Chamberlain
Courage Publications
PO Box 26301, Wauwatosa, WI 53226-0301
Donaldson Media & Marketing (publicity)
8524 W. Wright Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53226-1940
9780982163801, $14.95, www.couragepublications.com

War has a high personal price which is never calculated. "Orange Picnic" is a memoir and love story of the Vietnam War era, telling of two teenagers who embark on the journey of romance in a time that seemed much simpler, but soon grew so much more complicated. Showing the lasting effects of deadly conflict on these baby boomers, "Orange Picnic" is a refreshing read that is sure to entertain and make the reader ponder love.


The Literary Shelf

Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries
Richard Kopley
Palgrave MacMillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
MPS (distributor)
16365 James Madison Highway, Gordonsville, VA 22942
9780230604704, $84.95

There is always a story behind every story. "Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries" is about world renowned author Edgar Allan Poe and the stories behind his beloved Dupin mysteries (Poe was one of the earliest writers of the mystery genre). Richard Kopley puts his education and research to good use as he offers studies of Poe, his life, and the inspirations that lead to the creation of his stories. A top pick for those intrigued with Poe, those studying his impact on literature, and scholarly literature collections, "Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries" is highly recommended.

Leo Tolstoy's 20 Greatest Short Stories
Andrew Barger
Bottletree Books
128 Ivy Brook Cv., Collierville, TN 38017
www.BottletreeBooks.com
9781933747149, $24.98, www.amazon.com

Most widely known in the west for his novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", the famed Russian author Leo Nikolaivich Tolstoy was also a master of the short story. Now for the first time, twenty of his best short stories have been compiled and edited into a single volume by Andrew Barger. Enhanced for the reader with informative annotations. The stories comprising this outstanding collection include: A Candle, After the Dance, Albert, Alyosha the Pot, An Old Acquaintance, Does a Man Need Much Land?, If You Neglect the Fire You Don't Put It Out, Khodinka: An Incident of the Coronation of Nicholas II, Lucerne, Memoirs of a Lunatic, My Dream, Recollections of a Scorer, The Empty Drum, The Long Exile, The Posthumous Papers of the Hermit Fedor Kusmich, The Young Tsar, There Are No Guilty People, Three Deaths, Two Old Men, and What Men Live By. A truly impressive anthology, "Leo Tolstoy's 20 Greatest Short Stories" is especially recommended for acquisition by community and academic libraries, as well as the supplemental reading lists for students of Russian Literature.


The Gaming Shelf

The Budapest Gambit
Timothy Taylor
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445923, $24.95, www.everymanchess.com

Chess has captivated thousands by being a game of endless strategy and metagaming. "The Budapest Gambit" describes this tactic embraced by chess grandmasters in incredible depth. Written by US Champion Chess player Timothy Taylor, "The Budapest Gambit" describes situations for both the black and white sides of the board. There is much to teach both the amateur and experienced player about the game and this complex strategy. "The Budapest Gambit" is a top pick for any collection with a focus on chess strategy.

Casino-ology
Bill Zender
Huntington Press
3665 Procyon Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103
0929712277, $39.95, www.huntingtonpress.com

Many things are an art, many things are a science, but a good deal of most of them are a bit of both. "Casino-ology: The Art of Managing Casino Games" is a business guide for casino owners who want to maximize their profits by mastering the art of defending against the con artists and cheats that casinos inevitably attract. In addition to anti-cheating tactics, poor practices that must be avoided when running a successful casino are also covered. "Casino-ology: The Art of Managing Casino Games" is a top pick and a must read for any running a casino or dreaming of one day owning one.

Fleets Of The Three Galaxies
Braden Campbell
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571479, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The 13th volume in the outstanding 'Rifts Dimension' gaming books from Palladium, "Fleets Of The Three Galaxies" is a compendium of additional information to be used in gaming with galactic war fleets including key figures, locations, and adventure hooks. Showcased in this 128-page gaming reference are 17 major military spacecraft from fighters to dreadnoughts; space tugs, lifeboats and special gear; missiles and weapon systems; ship classifications; fleet ranks, space combat strategies and tactics; a Three Galaxies time-line, even a little 'space magic'. Enhanced with occasional illustrations, "Fleets Of The Three Galaxies" is a highly recommended addition to Megaverse roleplay gaming reference and resource collections.


The Art Shelf

Selling Art 101, second edition
Robert Regis Dvorak
ArtNetwork
PO Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959-1360
9780940899964 $19.95 www.artmarketing.com

Author Robert Regis Devorak has been a professional artist for decades; in this newly updated second edition of "Selling Art 101", he shares tips, tricks, techniques, and practical advice for selling one's art. Now in an updated second edition, Selling Art 101 covers how to find and keep clients, developing rapport with potential buyers, studio selling, telephone techniques, suggestions for effectively closing the deal, and more. Checklists help the reader review and rehearse the helpful recommendations before putting them into practice. Selling Art 101 is so useful that readers charged with selling things other than art are also likely to find invaluable wisdom between its covers! "Answer and talk on the phone with a smile. Put a mirror in front of your telephone to help you remember this. When you smile, you sound more friendly. A friendly disposition and tone of voice help people relax and feel good, and they will like you."

God & Work
Brian Keeble
World Wisdom
1501 E Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316680, $19.95, www.worldwisdom.com

Many write off their work as nothing more than a chore to make ends meet, but there can be a spirituality and connection with God to go alongside it. "God & Work: Aspects of Art and Tradition" is a spiritual approach to the workplace and how to invite a more meaningful approach to what some dread waking up for every morning. Introducing much to inspire workers, "God & Work" presents a solid and unique message.

Hudson Hills Press
3556 Main St., Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com

STEPHEN HANCOCK (9781555952914, $85.00) provides a detailed monograph of the artist's paintings and drawings in full-page, full-sized living color to reflect his world travels and perspectives of cultures and the arts. Blended into these pictures are photos, clippings and messages from the artist's life, making for a treasure trove of personal perceptions and a visual 'diary' of observation perfect for any art library strong in modern art. Essays by Zahi Hawass and Wendy Doniger accompany JOHN RANSOM PHILLIPS; A CONTEMPORARY BOOK OF THE DEAD (9781555953157, $65.00), a powerful consideration of funerary texts drawn from the Book of the Dead but melded with art for modern readers. Using watercolors on papyrus, this collection of John Ransom Phillips's paintings creates a fine blend of modern interpretation and ancient spiritual reflection and is perfect for both art and spirituality collections.

Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Irene Emery's construction of a comprehensive system of terminology for describing fabrics, The Primary Structures of Fabrics (9780500288023, $49.95), was recognized as a classic on the first publication of The Primary Structures of Fabrics back in 1966. It is based on years of study of fabrics produced both by hand and by machine, and offers a solid survey of the structural makeup of fabrics and their pieces. Any college-level arts collection strong in fabric art - as well as many a needlework library - needs this definitive guide. Henri Cartier-Bresson's WALKER EVANS PHOTOGRAPHING AMERICA 1929-1947 (9780500543702, $50.00) is edited by Agnes Sire and includes an essay by Jean-Francois Chevrier, and uses a parallel between the work about America made by Evans and Cartier-Bresson from 1929-1947. Evans defined his work as a documentary, whereas Cartier-Bresson believed he was embracing new paths as a stills photographer. Vintage black and white images pack a powerful survey of the perspectives and approaches of both in a collection highly recommended for any college-level art library strong in American image history and analysis. John Gillow's AFRICAN TEXTILES: COLOR AND CREATIVITY ACROSS A CONTINENT (9780500288009, $44.95) is the first comprehensive survey to illustrate the textiles of the entire continent, region by region, covering the handmade textiles of every area and using an outline of techniques used to create the different works. Full color illustrations of items such as Pygmy bark cloth from the Congo and Ethiopian weavings makes for an outstanding presentation any library strong in African art history will relish.

Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter 11
Rhoda Grossman
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1598638939, $39.99 www.courseptr.com

Digital Painting Fundamentals with Corel Painter 11 is for any computer user interested in using Corel Painter 11, the industry standard for pixel-based drawing and painting. It provides step-by-step directions for using all the basic features of Painter 11, from the fundamentals of drawing and composition to images that illustrate all techniques. A CD-ROM with the book offers all the source images needed to complete the projects in the book, custom palettes and libraries, and more. A 'must' for any user of Corel Painter 11.

How to Survive and Prosper As An Artist
Caroll Michels
Henry Holt
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10110
9780805088489, $20.00 www.henryholt.com

Career coach and artist-advocate Caroll Michels uses three decades of experience and insights to provide a range of business details for aspiring artists, from obtaining gallery representation and establishing prices to developing an exhibition and handling rejection. The practical business savvy makes How to Survive and Prosper As An Artist a 'must have' for any aspiring artist and libraries catering to them.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Life As We Show It
Brian Pera and Masha Tupitsyn
City Lights Book
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865259, $18.95, www.citylights.com

The movie has long since passed the book as the primary method of American storytelling. "Life As We Show It: Writing on Film" is a blend of fiction and ponderings on film from many well known writers who offer their ideas on the concept of life imitating art. The result is intriguing, thought-provoking and high entertaining. Brian Pera and Masha Tupitsyn have put together quite a volume, making "Life as We Show It" a uniquely recommended read.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Texas Gulf Coast
Colby Sorrells
Wilderness Adventures Press
46 Buckskin Road, Belgrade, MT 59714
9781932098662, $28.95, www.wildadvpress.com

Separate regions require separate techniques to maximize productivity. "Flyfisher's Guide to the Texas Gulf Coast: The Flats and Off Shore" is a guide for fishermen who want to improve their catch on the Texas coastline. Discussing the countless locations and what each of them offer, author Colby Sorrells gives fishermen the information they need to enjoy their hobby to the fullest, including tourist information such as restaurants and lodging. "Flyfisher's Guide to the Texas Gulf Coast" is a treasure for fishermen, highly recommended.

The Saltwater Angler's Guide to Flordia's Big Bend and the Emerald Coast
Tommy L. Thompson
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813033389, $22.50, www.upf.com

There are few fishing waters like those of the Emerald Coast of Florida. "The Saltwater Angler's Guide to Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast" is a guide for both professional and amateur fishermen. With GPS coordinates, fishing advice, and tips on finding the good catches, and more, author Tommy L. Thompson equips fishermen with all the tools they need to fish well. "The Saltwater Angler's Guide to Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast" is a top pick for fishing collections.

Fly Fishing BC's Interior
Brian Smith
Caitlin Press
8100 Alderwood Road, Halfmoon Bay, V0N 1Y1, Canada
9781894759359, $24.95, www.caitlin-press.com

The waterways of British Columbia offer much to fisherman. "Fly Fishing BC's Interior: A Fly Fisher's Guide to the Central Interior and North Cariboo Waters" is a travel guide and fishing manual for the fisherman who either lives in British Columbia or will be traveling to the region soon to enjoy its unique array of fishing opportunities. With plenty of advice and techniques, anyone who plans to fish in British Columbia needs "Fly Fishing BC's Interior".


The Cookbook Shelf

Cooking Without Milk
Florence E. Schroeder
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
1581823096 $16.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

Cooking Without Milk: More Than 400 Recipes for Those Who Suffer with Allergies or Intolerance to Milk and Milk By-Products lives up to its title with a cornucopia of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes that avoid milk, dairy products, and lactose. From Oven Beef Stew to "Cream" of Vegetable or Mushroom soups (which use milk/lactose-free nondairy creamer instead of milk) to Rhubarb Custard Pie (which uses nondairy milk and butter substitutes) and much more, Cooking Without Milk is extremely user-friendly to cooks of all skill and experience levels. Of especial value are the tips and tricks scattered throughout for lactose-intolerance individuals, such as warning against any product packaged on the same line as dairy products, warnings to read the labels on items such as bouillon (which may contain milk sugars even though this might not seem obvious), suggestions on which dairy substitutes cook most effectively in which recipes, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for any household with lactose-intolerant residents!

The Art Of Making Fermented Sausages
Stanley Marianski & Adam Marianski
Bookmagic
11771 Park Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772
www.book-magic.com
9780982426715, $19.95, www.amazon.com

There is both an art and a science to the making of fermented sausages. And both will be found within the pages of Stanley and Adam Marianski's "The Art Of Making Fermented Sausages", a 272-page compendium of illustrated, step-by-step instructions that will enable even the most novice culinary hobbyist with all the information the non-specialist general reader will need to produce quality meats that would grace any dining occasion with friends and family. Readers will learn how to control meat acidity and remove excess moisture; select proper temperatures for fermenting, smoking and drying; both understand and exercise effective control over the fermentation process; choose appropriate starter cultures and make both traditional and fast-fermented products; select and operate the proper equipment, safety measures, and more. Of special note is the extensive section featuring fifty-one fermented sausage recipes. A superbly organized, unique, and highly recommended addition to personal and professional culinary collections. Readers of "The Art Of Making Fermented Sausages" will also want to visit the Marianski website at www.wedlinydomowe.com which is dedicated to the 'art and science' of smoking meats and sausages.

Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest
Carla Emery & Lorene Edwards Forkner
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
9781570615719 $16.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com

Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest is a no-nonsense, step-by-step guide to properly (and safely - improper canning can promote food poisoning) preserving one's food, from freezing, drying, and canning to creating a root cellar, making fruit preserves, pickling, and much more. The second half of Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest is devoted to recipes that make delectable use of one's preserved food! A "must-have", user-friendly guide for anyone interested in preserving what they have grown themselves, Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest is highly recommended.

Homegrown Whole Grains
Sara Pitzer
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603421539 $14.95 www.storey.com

Homegrown Whole Grains: Grow, Harvest & Cook wheat, Barley, Oats, Rice, Corn & More lives up to its title with meticulous instructions for testing soil, planting seeds, harvesting small plots, threshing, and much more. A smattering of tasty recipes for preparing one's own grain also included! An accessible and thorough guide to each step of the process from seed to bread, Homegrown Whole Grains covers how to raise one's own barley, buckwheat, corn, heirloom grains (amaranth, quinoa, spelt, emmer farro, einkorn), millet, oats, rice, rye, and wheat. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this handy and useful guide.

The Potluck Club Cookbook
Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800733490 $14.99 www.bakerbooks.com

Award-winning authors and potluck experts Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson present The Potluck Club Cookbook, a great, helpful tool especially for anyone interested in starting or participating in a potluck - a group agreement to share delicious, home-cooked food with one's friends. Potlucks are a wonderful idea to pool resources and save money, as well as forge friendships and sample superb homemade delights! The Potluck Club Cookbook offers a wealth of easy-to-make recipes, from crock-pot meals like "Texas Barbecued Chicken in a Crock-Pot" and "Turkey Chili" to light cooking dishes such as "Low-Fat Corn Bread Tamale Pie" and "Oriental Skillet", to breakfast potluck dishes such as "Crispy Potato Quiche" and "Yoder's Old-fashioned Oatmeal Cake", and much more. An excellent, user-friendly recipe book, highly recommended.

Love Soup
Anna Thomas
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393332575 $22.95 www.wwnorton.com

A follow-up to "The Vegetarian Epicure", Love Soup is a compendium of delectable vegetarian broths, soups, gumbos, and more, from "Pea Pod Broth" to "Creamy Potato and Roasted Garlic Soup", "Green Soup with Ginger", "Winter Squash and Yam Soup with Poblano Peppers", "Cauliflower Bisque", "Three- Bean Vegetable Chili", and even holiday-themed treats like "Chestnut Soup". Many of the proffered soups have a theme or flavor meant for the different seasons of the year. Featuring easy-to-prepare vegetarian (and many vegan!) soups for almost every occasion, "Love Soup" is enthusiastically recommended for vegetarian and vegan cooks everywhere.

In Search of The Lost Taste
Joshua Ploeg
Microcosm Publishing
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
9781934620014, $8.00

Some people make simple, filling meals. Others treat cooking like one big science experiment, and there are those who are more successful than others. "In Search of the Lost Taste" is a vegan cookbook from Joshua Ploeg, a man who takes a fresh and exciting approach to vegan cooking, doing everything from simulated fried food to Miso Marys. With a strange, surreal story alongside the recipes, "In Search of the Lost Taste" is a cookbook experimental chefs will love.

Notes on Cooking
Lauren Braun Costello & Russell Reich
RCR Creative
c/o Pathway Book Service
4 White Brook Road, Gilsum, NH 03448
9780972425513, $21.95, www.rcrcreative.com

Cooking is both an art and a science, making it all the more complicated. "Notes on Cooking: A Short Guide to an Essential Craft" is a book of simple tips, tricks, and profound knowledge to be used by the most dedicated of cooks, be they amateur or professional. Highlighting 217 'notes', as authors Lauren Braun Costello and Russell Reich put it, there is no shortage of information to be found here. "Notes on Cooking" is a top pick for any who find cooking to be a favorite pastime.

Wine Cocktails
A.J. Rathbun
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston MA 02118
9781558324077, $12.95 www.harvardcommonpress.com

Fifty recipes for wine cocktails offer twists on classics and come from the author of PARTY SNACKS! AND OTHERS. These recipes mix wine with fruit juice, herbs, spices and more and provide different cocktails perfect for entertaining. A lovely book any lending library will appreciate.

Dirty Dishes
Pino Luongo and Andrew Friedman
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 300, New York NY 10010
1596914424, $25.00 www.bloomsburyusa.com

DIRTY DISHES; A RESTAURATEUR'S STORY OF PASSION, PAIN AND PASTA provides a powerful story of a restaurant 'giant' who tells his side of the story of his legendary rise to fame. From his childhood afternoons spent in his mother's kitchen in Tuscany to his early introduction to the restaurant world, his memoir is a powerful and fun account of the New York food scene and his personal evolution within it.

The Asian Vegan Kitchen
Hema Parekh
Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
www.kodanshaamercia.com
9784770030696, $19.95, www.amazon.com

THE ASIAN VEGAN KITCHEN: AUTHENTIC AND APPETIZING DISHES FROM A CONTINENT OF RICH FLAVORS provides over 200 recipes from soups and side dishes to main dishes and noodle dishes, pairs these with over thirty pages of color photos, and includes highlights of each country's cuisine. Any interested in Asian vegan cuisine needs this: it covers a range of tastes and options in a fine, definitive guide.

Ani's Raw Food Desserts
Ani Phyo
DaCapo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213064, $17.95 www.dacapopress.com

Reap the benefits of raw foods in a cookbook offering such non-cook desserts as Lemon Pudding-Filled Coconut Cupcakes, Mulberry Pecan Cookies, Chocolate Raisin Bark and more. Raw food cookbooks usually focus primarily on main dishes, so it's pleasing to see a dessert-oriented cookbook to round out the offerings: perfect for libraries already including more extensive raw food cookbooks on their shelves and who see a rise in their popularity.

Thoroughly Modern Milkshakes
Adam Ried
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393068771, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

Plenty of cookbooks offer milkshake recipes which are mostly standards with a few variations, so it's a pleasure to see a cookbook entirely focused on milkshakes, offering staples plus new twists in classics - such as a Mocha-Cardamom shake, a Ginger-Chai Shake, or Coffee-Hazelnut Shake. Add some histories and colorful photos and you have an eye-catching cookbook perfect for any lending library.

The Best of Relish Cookbook
Relish Magazine Editors
Countryman Press
Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881508369, $24.95 www.countrymanpress.com

THE BEST OF RELISH appeared in May but deserves ongoing recommendation for any cookbook library strong in American home and regional dishes. Over a hundred 'best' recipes form the magazine range from Deep South Chicken to Gratin of Sweet Potatoes and Swiss Chard, and mix variations on traditional themes with many worldwide ethnic influences. Add color photos and you have an attractive winner.

Tassajara Dinners & Desserts
Dale and Melissa Kent
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423605209, $30.00 www.gibbs-smith.com

Any who visit the Tassajara Zen Center know about its careful routines and practices, and this cookbook offers a host of vegan and vegetarian recipes perfect for those adopting a gentler diet. Cook's stories in sidebars include topics such as 'How to Cook Vegetables and Let Go of Trying to Please Everyone' and accompany dishes such as Tofu Lasagna with Mushrooms, Goat Cheese and Chard and Parmesan Polenta Squares. Main dishes, desserts and more are packed with color photos throughout, making for an inviting vegetarian cookbook.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Philosophy Of Death
Steven Luper
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9780521709125, $28.99, www.amazon.com

A hot political topic these days, 'end of life' issues is seen by some as an essential consideration that everyone should address, while others seen it as an opening wedge for government operated 'death panels'. Death is the inevitable consequence of life. That is why "The Philosophy Of Death" by Steven Luper (Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department, Trinity University) is such a timely and highly recommended title for both academic library Philosophy collections and so well written that it is fully accessible and enthusiastically commended for non-specialist general readers as well. Professor Luper covers in the first half the philosophical aspects of a natural death as part of the process of life, and in the second half deals with the issues of an imposed death such as homicide, suicide, euthanasia, and abortion. A work of impressive and comprehensive scholarship, "The Philosophy Of Death" is enhanced with an extensive section of references and a thorough index.

Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity
Drucilla Cornell
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230136, $24.00, www.fordhampress.com

If you ask someone to name ten icons of manliness, there's a high chance that Clint Eastwood would be on that list. "Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity" is a study of what is viewed as manly in today's society using the film work of Clint Eastwood as a case study. Eastwood's career is decades long and as such, his career shifts the trending attitudes of manliness from the gun slinging cowboy to the grizzled grandfather. "Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity" is a fascinating read, highly recommended.


The Psychology Shelf

Becoming an Effective Psychotherapist
Derek Truscott
Marketing Department
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433804731 $59.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777

Written by experienced psychologist Derek Truscott, Becoming an Effective Psychotherapist: Adopting a Theory of Psychotherapy That's Right for You and Your Client lives up to its title by holding to the premise that there is no one, perfectly "right" theory of psychotherapy that fits all patients and situations. Instead, different therapeutic approaches are more effective for individual clients and therapists. Chapters examine the nine leading systems of psychotherapy, the rationale behind each, and each system's inherent assumptions about the relationship between client and therapist, the client's needs, and other critical factors. Terms are defined clearly and cogently, and the advantages and disadvantages of various methods in assorted situations are discussed. An excellent, well-rounded, and unbiased resource, Becoming an Effective Psychotherapist is an absolute "must-have" for college psychotherapy libraries and enthusiastically recommended reading for professional therapists as well as therapists in training.

Cognitive Therapy Techniques For Children And Adolescents
Robert D. Friedberg, et al.
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
www.guilford.com
9781606233139, $38.00, www.amazon.com

Psychotherapy has come a long way since the original contributions of such pioneers as Freud, Jung, and Adler. What began as cognitive-based therapeutic counseling with adults soon expanded to include children and adolescents and become a universally recognized and appreciated practice in every community across the country. In "Cognitive Therapy Techniques For Children And Adolescents: Tools For Enhancing Practice" the clinical psychology team of Robert D. Friedberg (Associate Professor and Director of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic for Children Adolescents), Jessica M. McClure (Clinical Psychologist, Cincinnati Children's hospital Medical Center), and Jolene Hillwig Garcia (Department of Psychiatry, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State University College of Medicine) provide a compendium of cutting edge interventions and activities enabling practitioners to expand their clinical repertoire of treatment tools for engaging difficult clients, resolving challenging problems, and dealing with and/or developing specific cognitive and behavioral skills. Enhanced with more than thirty reproducible forms and handouts (which can also be downloaded and printed from the Guilford publications website at www.guilford.com), "Cognitive Therapy Techniques For Children And Adolescents" is a seminal and highly recommended addition to professional and academic library instructional reference collections. Providing a wealth of practical interventions and activities--all organized within a state-of-the-art modular framework--this invaluable book helps child clinicians expand their intervention toolkits. Building on the bestselling Clinical Practice of Cognitive Therapy with Children and Adolescents, which addresses the basics of treatment, Friedberg et. al., in their latest volume, provide additional effective ways for engaging hard-to-reach clients, addressing challenging problems, and targeting particular cognitive and behavioral skills. Fun and productive games, crafts, and other activities are described in step-by-step detail.

Doing Couple Therapy
Robert Taibbi
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781606232446, $35.00, www.guilford.com

There is much people can do to restore that love and trust that so many couples lose over the course of their relationships. "Doing Couple Therapy: Craft and Creativity in Work with Intimate Partners" is a guide for both psychologists and the couples they council covering the stages ranging from newlyweds to senior couples who have spent more decades together than without each other. "Doing Couple Therapy" is a scholarly volume on the subject, and is a top pick for any community library or college library collection dedicated to psychology.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Living with Chronic Pain, second edition
Jennifer P. Schneider
Hatherleigh
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578262854, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Pain is something some people live with every day, but it can be treated. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Living with Chronic Pain: The Complete Health Guide tot he Causes and Treatment of Chronic Pain" is a guide for those who want to beat their chronic pains. Filled cover to cover with advice for advising these Americans in finding he doctor right for their problems, beating their problems without potentially habit-forming drugs, and how one can combat it just through their demeanor in life. "Living with Chronic Pain" is a top pick for any who are faced with such ailments.

Cancer on the Margins
Jennifer J. Nelson, et al.
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
9780802094346 $27.95 www.utppublishing.com

Compiled and collaboratively edited by the team of Jennifer J. Nelson, Judy Gould, and Sue Keller-Olaman, "Cancer on the Margins: Method and Meaning in Participatory Research" collects essays by diverse authors reporting the findings of the Ontario Breast Cancer Community Research Initiative, an organization formed expressly to learn more about the experiences of women with breast cancer who belong to marginalized or minority groups. Individual writings include "Ethical Considerations in Participatory Breast Cancer Research", "Listening for Echoes: How Social Location Matters in Women's Experiences of Cancer Care", "Making a Difference with Research", and much more. An enlightening and thoughtful exploration of the unique difficulties that cancer patients in certain marginalized groups face, Cancer on the Margins is highly recommended particularly for college and medical school library collections.

Simple Chinese Medicine
Aihan Kuhn
YMAA Publication Center
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594391248, $16.95, www.ymaa.com

Sometimes the best solution is the simplest solution. "Simple Chinese Medicine: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Healing & Well-Being" is a guide to traditional Chinese medicine and how it can bring much to the Western style of healing. Chinese medicine offers alternative and effective aid for many ailments, from the common cold to cancer. "Simple Chinese Medicine" is an ideal pick for those seeking to look eastwards for supplementary medical knowledge.

Life After Bread
Eydi Bauer
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
1879384779, $12.95, www.cypresshouse.com

One can have gluten intolerance and not know it. "Life After Bread: Get Off Gluten and Reclaim Your Health" is a guide to living without bread, something that up to one in every three people might need to do due to some intolerance to gluten at varying levels. It may seem daunting as bread is in everything, but author Eydi Bauer hopes to give readers the information they need to make it possible. "Life After Bread" is a solid choice for those who suspect they may be gluten-intolerant.

Healing Heart To Soul
Peter J. Rappa, MD
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812440, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Mental attitude can and does have a tremendous impact upon our physical well-being and upon our ability to recover from illness or injury. Often a dysfunctional mental/emotional condition can create serious health problems of a physical nature to begin with. In "Healing Heart To Soul: One Doctor's Journey Of Health, Healing And Life", Dr. Peter J. Rappa draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to illustrate this point through a collection of informative and illustrative medical narratives revealing the intimate connection between the soul and the body. The result is an increased awareness of the power of positive emotions to ameliorate and even heal bodily ailments. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781934812518, $22.95), "Healing Heart To Soul" is a highly recommended, thoughtful and thought-provoking read.

Chasing Medical Miracles
Alex O'Meara
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10010
0802716962, $25.00 www.walkerbooks.com

As a diabetic author Alex O'Meara had given up hope for a cure and for thirty years had to take two or more shots of insulin daily. But in 2004 he signed up for a clinical trial involving an experimental transplant - and his experience led to an investigation of the industry in CHASING MEDICAL MIRACLES; THE PROMISE AND PERILS OF CLINICAL TRIALS. It's the first book to offer a behind-the-scenes view of clinical trails and how they operate and are funded, and is key for any medical student and consumer who wishes to understand their organization and importance.

Forget Memory
Anne Davis Basting
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
0801892503, $19.95, www.amazon.com

FORGET MEMORY: CREATING BETTER LIVES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA is based on ten years of practice and research in the field of memory and studies innovative programs that stimulate growth, humor and emotional connections. From how medical advances are changing options for people with dementia to stories of memory loss without old age attached, this is an outstanding survey for both health and general collections.

Pill Head
Joshua Lyon
Hyperion
114 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10011
9781401322984, $24.99 www.hyperionbooks.com

PILL HEAD: THE SECRET LIFE OF A PAINKILLER ADDICT is a powerful story of substance abuse in an era where painkillers were freely available without a doctor. Their easy accessibility led to their spread around the country, and PILL HEAD is the author's account of the epidemic and a memoir of his struggles to recover from his addiction. Any lending library will find it a revealing memoir.

Free From Lies
Alice Miller
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393069133, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

FREE FROM LIES: DISCOVERING YOUR TRUE NEEDS is from any who denied that they suffered physical and emotional abuse as children. Former victims can heal by discovering and acknowledging their true history instead of denying it - and this explains why a therapist should become a witness to the survivor of such cruelty rather than the usual neutral therapeutic role. A powerful survey, this is a pick for any general or health lending library.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com

Grandparents trying to handle a child with special needs will find plenty of tips on how to effectively grandparent with love and care in Charlotte E. Thompson, MD's GRANDPARENTING A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (9781843109068, $19.95). It covers everything from understanding and accepting diagnosis to helping at different stages of a child's life, and covers everything from specialized care and resources to support systems. Public libraries and health collections alike will find this an excellent pick. Diane Austin's THEORY AND PRACTICE OF VOCAL PSYCHOTHERAPY: SONGS OF THE SELF (9781843108788, $45.00) discusses a new, voice-based model of psychotherapy, where singing and vocal improvisation are used to access unconscious aspects of the self. The basic ideas of this therapy draw on over twenty years of research and add case studies to the mix of insights on using vocal music therapy.

Smallpox: The Death of a Disease
D.A. Henderson, MD
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027225, $27.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

Any interested in a history of disease control - especially any health library - needs Smallpox: The Death of a Disease. It charts 3,000 years of the relentless, incurable disease and the author's own campaign to eliminate this disease from the world. Dr. Henderson's personal story of how he led the World Health Organization's efforts is riveting and provides an insider's account of international health issues. Recommended for health and general-interest libraries alike.

Planning Parenthood
Rebecca A. Clark, MD, PhD, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801891124, $18.95 www.press.jhu.edu

PLANNING PARENTHOOD; STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN FERTILITY ASSISTANCE, ADOPTION, AND SURROGACY offers all the latest insights on everything from adoption to fertility assistance, legal and medical risks, personal issues prospective parents need to consider, and more. Personal stories of parents' experiences blend with insights to make for a powerful presentation of options perfect for any general lending library.

The Fibromyalgia Controversy
M. Clement Hall, MD
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591026815, $18.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

Fibromyalgia is a disorder affecting as many as fifteen million Americans, mostly women, and presents with widespread pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and more. It also is one of the most contested conditions in modern times, offering ongoing debate and discussion. Here Dr. Hall reviews the latest opinions and studies on the condition and pinpoints controversies in a guide for sufferers and clinicians alike.

Getting Past Your Breakup
Susan J. Elliott
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213286, $14.95 www.dacapopress.com

GETTING PAST YOUR BREAKUP: HOW TO TURN A DEVASTATING LOSS INTO THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU is a powerful positive book that should be in every general lending library. It tells how to disengage from an ex, how to work through grief and break the pattern of failed relationships, and what to do when you can't stop thinking about your ex. Stories from real people blend with strategies to move on and make for an invaluable guide.

The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog
Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD and Maia Szalavitz
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
0465056539, $15.95 www.basicbooks.com

What happens when a young child is traumatized, and how can a child recover from terror? THE BOY WHO WAS RAISED AS A DOG AND OTHER STORIES FROM A CHILD PSYCHIATRIST'S NOTEBOOK examines what traumatized children can teach us about loss, love and healing processes. It explains what happens to the brain when children are exposed to extreme stress, reveals methods for helping kids move past pain, and offers a set of insights especially recommended for medical libraries as well as general lending collections.


The Nautical Shelf

The Annotated Sailing Alone Around the World
Joshua Slocum
Annotated by Rod Scher
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092752, $19.95, www.sheridanhouse.com

One man did what many thought was insane - sail around the world. He took it one step further and did it alone. "The Annotated Sailing Alone Around the World" presents Joshua Slocum's epic voyage with notes and research from Rod Scher, giving greater depth to Slocum's writings and logs of his lonely voyage around the planet. "The Annotated Sailing Alone Around the World" is a solid pick for those who enjoy true-life nautical adventures.

The Rules Book
Eric Twiname & Bryan Willis
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092806, $24.95, www.sheridanhouse.com

Nautical races are the pastimes of many people, and to understand them, one needs to understand their rules. "The Rules Book: Complete 2009-2012" is a collection of rules for boat racing that explains them fully for the aspiring nautical racer or the curious spectator, With many diagrams offering clarification, "The Rules Book" is an absolute must-have for those who want to play the game the way it is meant to be played.


The Education Shelf

Readicide
Kelly Gallagher
Stenhouse Publishers
PO Box 11020, Portland, ME 04104-7020
9781571107800, $17.50, www.stenhouse.com

Reading has been on the decline in recent years, but can some of the blame be put on schools? "Readicide: How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It" is a discussion of how some modern public schools are, without malice or intent, causing a decline in the amount of children embracing the written word. Placing blame on emphasizing tests, putting kids in too deep with difficult texts, not encouraging recreational reading, and more problems, "Readicide" is an intriguing look at many possible solutions to the problem of the decline of reading in American schools.

Gender, Bullying, And Harassment
Elizabeth J. Meyer
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807749531, $24.95, www.amazon.com

It took such tragedies as the Columbine killings to wake the nation up to the problems inherent in bullying and harassment in our nation's schools. Since then there has been a steadily growing literature on the subject of preventing and treating such destructive behaviors. Now advancing the subject is the publication of "Gender, Bullying, And Harassment: Strategies To End Sexism And Homophobia In Schools" by Elizabeth J. Meyer (a McGill University instructor and a researcher at the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec) specifically addresses the role that gender and gender identification play in school-based bullying. Examining the effects of gender on bullying and harassment, especially with respect to creating a climate for such abuse, along with the legal implications of such gender-based hostilities, "Gender, Bullying, And Harassment" is enhanced with the inclusion of resource lists, a glossary, extensive references, and an index. More than just a clarion denunciation of gender-based bullying, Elizabeth Meyers also provides recommendations for effectively transforming school cultures. Informed and informative, "Gender, Bullying, And Harassment" is especially recommended to the attention of teachers, counselors, student leaders, administrators, school board members, community activists, and concerned parents.

First Year Teacher, third edition
Randy Howe, editor
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th fl, New York, NY 10006
www.kaplanpublishing.com
9781607140658, $12.00, www.amazon.com

While everyone who aspires to the teaching profession must and should take a full course of instruction classes (including field assignment experience) from an accredited college or university to obtain their teaching license, there is still more the novice teacher must know in order to have a successful 'first year' classroom teaching experience. That's why "First Year Teacher: Wit And Wisdom From Teachers Who've Been There" is so critically important. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Randy Howe in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "First Year Teacher" is a compact 239-page compendium of succinct, practical, experienced and memorable advice from teachers of every grade level and subject area. These sage bits of advice and ideas cover everything from the daily realities of classroom instruction, to the importance of first impressions, the role of paperwork and prioritizing, being student oriented, working with parents, relationships with faculty and administration, dealing with prejudice, as well as issues with respect to professional growth and advancement, organizations and resources. Of special note is the final chapter on 'The ABCs of Success'. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and a source book that will be referred to advantage time and time again by the novice classroom teacher, "First Year Teacher" will prove to be an invaluable and enthusiastically reference book.

Understanding Response to Intervention
Robert Howell, et al.
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781934009345 $27.95 www.solution-tree.com

Collaboratively written by the team of Robert Howell, Sandra Patton, and Margaret Deiotte, Understanding Response to Intervention: A Practical Guide to Systemic Implementation is a straightforward guide to "Response to Intervention" (RTI), a system meant to help struggling students through a pyramid of interventions, problem-solving, the collection of data to monitor student progress, and solutions tailored to meet individual needs. Featuring solid recommendations for teachers, principals, district administrators, and parent advocacy groups, Understanding Response to Intervention applies solid examples to illustrate its useful points and suggestions. An excellent "how-to" guidebook for applying a system to improve the quality of education in one's classroom, particularly with regard to those students who need the most.

The Competency Curriculum Toolkit
Jackie Beere and Helen Boyle
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845901264 $51.95 www.CHPUS.com

The Competency Curriculum Toolkit: Developing PLTS Through Themed Learning is a guide for teachers to promote flexibility, self-motivation, and independent learning skills (traits more valuable than ever in today's rapidly changing global economy) in students aged 10-14. Offering a project-based approach, The Competency Curriculum Toolkit offers projects and activities connected to everything from saving the planet to managing one's money and more. An accompanying CD-ROM with all the worksheets needed to carry out the projects rounds out this excellent, easy-to-user resource enthusiastically recommended for junior high and high school teachers.

Save Our Children
Twyla J. Willaims
African American Images
PO Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412
www.africanamericanimages.com
9781934155165, $15.95, www.amazon.com

There are challenges facing black families that are unique to their causes. "Save Our Children: The Struggle Between Black Parents and Schools" discusses the dilemma that many black families face in educational situations. Though packed with tips and advice especially for black families, "Save Our Children" is a worthwhile read for any parent of school age children, regardless of race.

Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education
Andre P. Grace, Tonette S. Rocco, and associates
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780787978273 $40.00 www.wiley.com

Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education: John Ohliger and Contradictions in Modern Practice is an anthology of essays by learned authors examining the wisdom and legacy of John Ohliger, a radical educator with a strong passion for social democracy. Individual writings study Ohliger's work as an adult educator, social activist, and cultural worker, and include some works by Ohliger himself such as "Adult Education: 1984", "Is Lifelong Adult Education a Guarantee of Permanent Inadequacy?", and "The Social Uses of Theorizing in Adult Education", among others. Essays by other contributors include "The Adult Educator as Public Intellectual", "A Mindful Commitment to Connecting Women Toward Intellectual Community", "Mediating Challenges in Adult Education and Culture: John Ohliger's Radical Social Project", and so much more. A thoughtful and provocative discussion of Ohliger's critiques of adult education, "Challenging the Professionalization of Adult Education" is a highly recommended and core addition to academic library Contemporary Educational Issues reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Improving Student Achievement
Beverly Nichols
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586832905, $44.95, www.linworth.com

How does one inspire kids to do more with their education? "Improving Student Achievement: 50 More Research-Based Strategies for Educators" is a presentation of scholarly research designed to help schools, libraries, and other educational facilities push forward the ideas that will enhance the education of students. Including a multimedia CD filled with presentations and examples of said ideas, "Improving Student Achievement" gives tools to educators and educational administrators. "Improving Student Achievement" is a top and recommended pick for readers, sure to help many teachers take their work even further.

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

Jon Wiles' DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL K-8 SCHOOLS: A PRINCIPAL'S GUIDE (9781412966177, $26.95) provides a powerful guide to success, offering a model for K-8 school design with strategies for designing curriculums paired with state standards. From developing instructional methods and curriculums to activity charts and assessment techniques for the entire school model, DEVELOPING SUCCESSFUL K-8 SCHOOLS: A PRINCIPAL'S GUIDE belongs in any serious education collection. Bonnie M. Davis' THE BIRACIAL AND MULTIRACIAL STUDENT EXPERIENCE: A JOURNEY TO RACIAL LITERACY (9781412975063, $22.95) provides a critical assessment of race and its meaning to schools. From helping mixed-identity students develop racial identities to adjusting school culture to handle cultural diversity and understanding the bi- and multiracial experience in U.S. history, this guide considers modern classroom makeup and special challenges. Any educator will find it applicable and essential. Also key for any school manager is Julaine E. Field, et.al.'s UNDERSTANDING GIRL BULLYING AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT (9781412964876, $58.95), a powerful survey of social aggression between girls and its measurement, assessment, and control. Chapters offer case histories of parents and educators handling such conflicts at home and at school. Stephen J. Valentine's EVERYTHING BUT TEACHING: PLANNING, PAPERWORK AND PROCESSING (9781412967075, $25.95) is for any teacher who wants specific guidelines to managing paperwork, time management, meetings, and record-keeping - all the things accompanying teaching duties. From prioritizing common tasks to using paperwork to create better opportunities, this is not to be missed. Marilyn Katzenmeyer and Gayle Moller's AWAKENING THE SLEEPING GIANT: HELPING TEACHERS DEVELOP AS LEADERS (9781412960403, $33.95) is a powerful tool appearing in its third updated edition to provide a best-selling guide to teacher leaders. From how a teacher can accept a leadership role to working with peers and building upon relationships within the school and outside of it, this is a fine resource discussing keys to leadership qualities in teaching environments. Erin Marie Furtak's FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR SECONDARY SCIENCE TEACHERS (9781412972215, $30.95) provides a strong tool based in solid research and covering all areas of science assessments. Case studies, transcript excerpts, and templates for analyzing lessons for places where formative assessments might apply make this a top pick for any education collection. The second edition of Jeffrey Glanz's TEACHING 101: CLASSROOM STRATEGIES FOR THE BEGINNING TEACHER (9781412967150, $38.95) has been revised and updated to provide a fine set of tips on lesson planning, classroom management, assessments, literacy and more. The latest school concerns pack a basic teacher's guide highly recommended for any beginning teacher or library catering to them. Carolyn Chapman and Rita King's DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR READING IN THE CONTENT AREAS, SECOND EDITION (9781412972307, $33.95) has been completely revised and reorganized, offering creative methods for increasing students' content by helping them become better readers. New strategies, expanded coverage of key topics, and more offer tips on blending guided reading with vocabulary. Richard D. Parsons' THINKING AND ACTING LIKE AN ECLECTIC SCHOOL COUNSELOR (9781412966474, $26.95) presents a transtheoretical model school counselors can use to evaluate student information and intervention techniques. From presenting a model for effective counseling to introducing the basics of transtheoretical practices and pairing these with case studies and guided exercises, this is a 'must' for any professional school counselor. Edward H. Moore's SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS (9781412965682, $33.95) packs information into a guide for leaders interested in defining and organizing their school's PR plan. Step-by-step assessments of techniques that work cover how to set expectations, provide PR questions geared to needs, and provides tips on interviews from industry professionals. Daniel M. Perna and Sarah F. Mahurt's READING TO LEARN IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS: INCREASING COMPREHENSION AND UNDERSTANDING (9781412956123, $25.95) provides numerous classroom examples to show teachers how to use research-based, effective strategies before, during and after reading to reinforce student learning at different levels. From remaining focused and engaged to preparing for assignments and developing pre-lesson plans, this is a winning strategy for success. Ken O'Connor's HOW TO GRADE FOR LEARNING K-12, THIRD EDITION (9781412953825, $38.95) is a powerful implementation of standards-based grading practices in a new edition linking grades to standards and policies reinforcing them. Updated research and additional information on homework compliment the new sections on academic dishonesty and more, providing a new and thoroughly revised edition key to any education collection. Highly recommended for any education library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Arbatel
Joseph H. Peterson, translator, editor, & annotator
Ibis Press
c/o Nicolas Hays, Inc.
P.O. Box 540206, Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
9780892541522 $35.00 www.ibispress.net

Arbatel: Concerning the Magic of the Ancients is the new edition of a classic text concerning angels and magic, and the first English translation since Turner's translation in 1655. Experienced translator Joseph H. Peterson offers a meticulously annotated text, of which each two-page spread features the original Latin on the left and the modern English rendition on the right. The result is an eminently accessible esoteric study, which teaches the reader how to seek the aid of angels in matters both spiritual and physical. Arbatel is also a classic injunction against superstition and the trickery and manipulative ways of evil forces. An extensive introduction, black-and-white illustrations, and an index round out this superb addition to metaphysical and occult studies shelves.

The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts
Raymond Buckland
Weiser Publishers
65 Parker Avenue, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634514 $14.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts: Apparitions, Spirits, Spectral Lights, and Other Hauntings of History and Legend is a broad survey of ghosts, phantoms, and supernatural apparitions ranging from vampires to will-o'-the-wisp, as told of in cultures worldwide. Practical tips for seeking out ghosts enhance this excellent introduction to supernatural spirits, illustrated with a handful of black-and-white sketches. A pocket-sized guide perfect for ghostwatching on the go or simply curling up with for late night thrills and chills, The Weiser Field Guide to Ghosts is a treat for anyone intrigued by the paranormal.

Jesus and the Essenes
Dolores Cannons
Ozark Mountain Publishing
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
1886940088, $14.50, www.ozarkmt.com

How much truth does the Bible really state about the life of Jesus? "Jesus and the Essenes" is author Dolores Cannons' exploration of biblical times through conversations with one of Essenes, a Jewish group that existed circa the era of Christ's life. Cannons' encounter was made possible through past-life regression therapy. Offering a new perspective on the life of Christ and his teachings, "Jesus and the Essenes" is ideal for those who want to read more into Christian history with a nod to those with an interest in regression therapy.

Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing
Swami Sivapriyananda
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772894 $16.95 www.innertraditions.com 1-800-246-8648

Could the way we breathe alter our very being? "Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing: Techniques for Attaining Health, Harmony, and Liberation" is a discussion of tantrik breathing and what it can do for one's health. Saying that each nostril brings air with its own properties, author Swami Sivapriyananda presents his thoughts on this spiritual practice. "Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing" is a pick for spirituality and metaphysical studies readers.


The Sports Shelf

The Northwest Dive Guide
Mike Hughes
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 Canada
9781550174762, $29.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

Scuba is not limited to the tropical climates. "The Northwest Dive Guide: A Scuba Handbook for BC, Washington, and Oregon" is a guide to cold weather diving on the northwestern coast of the United States and everything one needs to know to enter into this exciting sport. From gear to resting up after one's undersea adventure, author Mike Hughes covers it all and supports it with countless full color photos. "The Northwest Dive Guide" is an intriguing and highly recommended read for anyone with an interest in cold weather scuba diving.


The Science Shelf

The Fluid Envelope of Our Planet
Eric L. Mills
Univeristy of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
9780802096975, $75.00, www.utpublishing.com

Over seventy percent of the planet is covered with water - oceanographers have their work cut out for them. "The Fluid Envelope of Our Planet: How the Study of the Ocean Currents Became a Science" discusses the history of oceanography. In the early twentieth century, scientists began to see the ocean as more than just something to be crossed, and thus the beginnings of early oceanology was born. Tracing its history, its pioneers, its early breakthroughs, and what it has evolved into today in the present era, "The Fluid Envelope of the Planet" is a fine read for any science historian who wants the details of the rise of oceanography.

Stephen Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution
David F. Prindle
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027188 $26.98 www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-853-7545

Some men fight long and hard for their beliefs, even on the side of their real careers. "Stephen Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution" discusses the man, widely renowned as a man of science, and his political body of work fighting for liberal causes such as gender equality, racism, and more, using science to back up his beliefs. He has been a particularly fierce opponent of creationism and intelligent design. "Stephen Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution" is a top pick for science and biography collections.


The Computer Shelf

Murach's ADO.NET 3.5 LINQ and the Entity Framework with C# 2008
Anne Boehm
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Ave., Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781890774530, $52.50, www.amazon.com

The latest addition to an outstanding roster of 'how to' books for computer professionals published by Mike Murach & Associates, "Murach's ADO.NET 3.5 LINQ and the Entity Framework with C# 2008" continues a distinctive tradition of publishing comprehensive instructional reference works that are as 'user friendly' as they are cutting edge in the field of software development and application. Author and C# expert Anne Boehm draws upon her more than twenty years of experience and expertise as a programmer specializing in Visual Basic and .NET, and as the author of several previous computer reference works, to instruct C# developers on employing C# 2008 and ADO.NET 3.5 for creating professional quality database applications. Of special note are the twenty-three complete database applications that showcase programming practices utilizing data sources and datasets for Rapid Application Development and prototyping of Windows Forms applications. She then goes on to step-by-step illustrated explanations with respect to building professional level triple layer applications (presentation, business, database classes), as well as the effective use of new LINQ features, XML documents, building database applications using Entity Framework for mapping business objects to database objects. "Murach's ADO.NET 3.5 LINQ and the Entity Framework with C# 2008" is a welcome and strongly recommended addition to personal and professional C# instructional reference collections.

Game Engine Architecture
Jason Gregory, author
Jeff Lander and Matt Whiting, editors
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
www.akpeters.com
9781568814131, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Jason Gregory began his career as a software engineer in 1994, and more specifically, began working in the games industry in March 1999 where he worked in game programming with respect to the tools, engine technology and game play code for 'Hydro thunder. He is the man who wrote the Playstation 2/Xbox animation system for 'Freaky Flyers' and Crank the Weasel. In 2003 he worked on engine and game play technology for 'Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault' and was one of lead engineers on the 'Medal of Honor: Airborne' project. Then he went on to develop engine and gameplay software for 'Uncharted: Drake's Fortune' and is currently working on 'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'. In his spare time he teaches courses in game technology at the University of Southern California. In 'Game Engine Architecture" (deftly co-edited by Jeff Lander and Matt Whiting), Jason Gregory draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to create a complete and comprehensive textbook on the theory and practice of game engine software development. Informed and informative, replete with examples for every aspect of the game development process, and fully accessible to aspiring game engine developers as well as a very useful reference for even experienced technicians in the field, "Game Engine Architecture" is an invaluable, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended core addition to personal, professional, and academic Computer Science reference and resource collections in general, as well as gaming engine design instructional reading lists in particular.

No Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius 2008
Indera E. Murphy
Tolana Publishing
PO Box 719, Teaneck, NJ 07666
www.tolanapublishing.com
9781935208051, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Drawing upon more than twenty years of experience and expertise, Indera E. Murphy has deftly written an ideal instructional guide to the use of Xcelsius 2008 (including Xcelsius Present 2008) by anyone seeking to learn how to turn Excel spreadsheet data into an effectively useable analysis tool, as well as enhanced PowerPoint data presentations. Thoroughly 'user friendly', the "No Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius 2008" covers various categories of charts, password protections, help windows, 'dashboards' (including the incorporation of calendars, dials, maps into dashboard designs), using an Add-On Manager, and a great deal more. "No Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius 2008" is especially recommended for those previously unfamiliar with Xcelsius and seeking to be able to deftly and effectively create dashboards.

Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.pearsoned.com www.informit.com/ph

Any library catering to Linux programmers will Benjamin Mako Hill, et.al.'s Official Ubuntu Book, fourth edition (0137021208, $34.99) an outstanding survey of a free operating system that teaches how to blend in and customize Ubuntu for home, business or small enterprises. From locating troubleshooting advice from Ubuntu users to using the accompanying DVD of the Ubuntu Linux operating system for PCs, this is a winning recommendation. Barrie M. North's FUNDAMENTALS OF JOOMLA! (0137017812, $69.99) is a fine survey combining a video package from a top Joomla consultant and author with a booklet showing how to build sophisticated websites easy to edit and update. Some 13 video lessons pair with the book to cover all the basics, with the video reinforcing the process of building four complete sites with Joomla! Edward L. Haletky's VMWARE VSPHERE AND VIRTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY: SECURING THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT (0137158009, $49.99) is for IT professionals involved in networking and offers complete hands-on help for securing Vmware Vsphere and Virtual Infrastructure. From considering attacker perspectives and security threats to learning how to secure deployment and management of virtual machines, this offers advanced network coverage for any advanced networking IT pro.

Mastering AutoCad 2010 and AutoCad Lt 2010
George Omura
Sybex, Inc.
c/o John Wiley & Sons
989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103
www.sybex.com
9780470466032, $49.99, www.amazon.com

There are a number of books on the market surveying AutoCad, but this is one of the best - a virtual 'bible' of detail packing in tips on using everything from hatches and tables to linking drawings to databases, presenting 3D models with x-ray views, importing PDF documents as drawings, and much more. Newcomers will find the tutorials build skills while advanced users will appreciate the detailed surveys of the latest features of the program. An accompanying DVD packs in further project details and includes a trial version of AutoCad 2010 and a searchable PDF of the book.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596521554, $54.99 www.oreilly.com

AUTOMATING SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION WITH PERL by David N. Blank-Edelman (9780596006396, $39.99) appears in its second updated edition for any systems administrator working with Perl. It's been updated and expanded to include the latest operating systems and technologies and replaces an outdated version, so is key for any serious Perl computing collection. Topics include spam control, analyzing log files, working with different configuration file formats, and more. Rich Shupe's LEARNING FLASH CS4 PROFESSIONAL: GETTING UP TO SPEED WITH FLASH (9780596159764, $44.99) offers beginning and intermediate users a fine introduction to the latest version of Flash, packing in color examples to cover both new and old features. No previous Flash experience is needed, making this an outstanding recommendation for both computer and general collections. Chris Grover's GOOGLE SKETCHUP: THE MISSING MANUAL (Pogue Press, 9780596521462, $34.99) offers an outstanding guide to an alternative to expensive, complicated 3-D drawing programs. Use the free SketchUp tools to draw in either 2-D or 3-D, add colors, design models, and develop models from photos or drawings. Even animate them or blend them into Google's other services with this winner. Jon Loeliger's VERSION CONTROL WITH GIT (9780596520120, $34.99) teaches software engineers how to use Git in several real-world development environments, exploring an open source version control program that permits a wide range of methods for development and collaboration. From using Git for different version controls to using it to manage merges and patches, this provides an invaluable developer's tool.

Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit/com/aw

J. Jeffrey Hanson's MASHUPS: STRATEGIES FOR THE MODERN ENTERPRISE (032159181X, $39.99) is a top pick telling how to create quality web 2.0 mashups, from using presentation-oriented styles to planning requirements, implementing a step-by-step guide to design and services, and securing mashups. Mashups give businesses new ways to compete, and this web services survey is the perfect place to start, offering a companion to MASHUP PATTERNS. Jim Clarke, Jim Connors and Eric Bruno's JAVA FX: DEVELOPING RICH INTERNET APPLICATIONS (013701287X, $39.99) tells how to build Rich Applications that run on the desktop, the web, or mobile devices alike. Using Java FX, developers and graphic designers will find plenty of enabling methods using the Java programming platform. From building JavaFX programs to adding special effects, motion, and blending in pictures and videos from other applications, this is a fine pick for any Java programmer's collection.

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

Learn to program games using Michael Snow's Game Programming with Silverlight (1598639064, $39.99), a web-based application ideal for game development. Any interested in game design will find this offers a fine survey of all the features of Silverlight 3 used in game creation, teaching application basics and then how to create objects, animate them, network a game to make it a multiplayer experience, and more. The complete source code for the book is also available for download in a fine guide for any game programmer. Jerry Lee Ford Jr.'s GETTING STARTED WITH GAME MAKER (1598638823, $34.99) shows game developers how to create their own computer games - without programming knowledge. Using Game Maker's simple drag-and-drop format and step-by-step instructions, this title shows gamers how to produce games without worrying about learning programming skills.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Just A Simple Wedding
Lynn Johnston
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740780974, $12.99, www.amazon.com

The Patterson family was first introduced to the reading public in 1979 and so began a three decade long relationship with a fictional but all too believable Canadian family whose lives were to provide a consistent measure of wit, wisdom, laughter, insight, and thoughtful reflection. The creation of cartoonist and storyteller Lynn Johnston, the manifold adventures of Elly, John, Michael, Elizabeth, Anthony, April, and their myriad friends, neighbors, and relations comes to a very satisfying closure with the publication of "Just A Simple Wedding". Simply stated, this concluding volume of the 'For Better or For Worse' newspaper comic strips is a 'must' for Johnston's legions of faithful fans. But for those for whom "Just A Simple Wedding" will be their first introduction to the Patterson family, be forewarned -- you will feel compelled to seek out and read all thirty years of their previous adventures, wanting to see these characters grow up and grow old -- just like the rest of us!

IDW Publishing
5080 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA 92109
www.idwpublishing.com

While the two dominate publishers of American comics continue to be DC and Marvel, several independent comic companies are giving them hefty competition. One of those companies is IDW Publishing who have breathed new and vibrant life into the comic book genre. There are four new IDW titles newly introduced that deserve special attention because of the quality of both the storytelling and the artwork. "Star Trek: Nero #1" is a continued expansion of the Star Trek universe which has been an IDW comic book staple. "Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #1" is still another addition to the growing and increasingly popular Transformer universe. "GrimJack: The Manx Cat #1" is a welcome return to one of the most imaginative British science fiction worlds ever created. "Starstruck #1" is an avante garde comic that is beautifully drawn and complex in its plotting. All four of these new titles are superlative contributions to IDW Publishing's line of science fiction and fantasy. All of them adhere to IDWs usual and impeccable high standards making them enthusiastic recommendations for anyone who enjoys terrific storytelling that is imaginative, coupled with great artwork that is truly memorable.


The International Studies Shelf

Laogai
Nicole Kempton and Nan Richardson
Umbrage Editions
111 Front Street, Suite 208, New York, NY 11201
9781884167775 $45.00 www.umbragebooks.com

Laogai: The Machinery of Repression in China is a compendium of black-and-white photographs smuggled out of the People's Republic of China, revealing the dark side of China's grim human rights record Images reveal the coal mines of Sichuan, the giant plantation farms of Zhejiang, and other outposts in which the Chinese prison system exploits over three million convicts as virtual slave labor to fuel the nation's insatiable economy. The text of Laogai discusses in depth human rights problems deeply affecting China, from issues of freedom of expression to religious freedom, police brutality, and the omnipresent threat of ruthless state execution. Further hot issues such as torture, organ trafficking, and forced sterilization are also treated in a serious and sober manner. A wealth of research backs Laogai's proffered timeline and modern Chinese history of human rights; Laogai relies on the combined values of exhaustive fact-finding and soul-touching imagery to drive home its points about the extent to which China's authoritarian government wields its absolute power. Highly recommended especially for college libraries and modern Chinese history shelves.

Berkshire Encyclopedia of China
Linsun Cheng, et al.
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9780977015948, $675.00, www.amazon.com

Knowledgeably compiled and professionally edited by the team of Linsun Cheng, Kerry Brown, Winberg Chai, and Joan Lebold Cohen, this five-volume, 2800 page encyclopedic compendium of information features almost one thousand informed and informative articles contributed by outstanding scholars from China and around the world covering a complete spectrum of issues ranging from the geopolitical role of China in the modern world, to adoption practices, to the Zhou Dynasty, to it literary, artistic, religious, financial, and cultural contributions. The "Berkshire Encyclopedia of China" contains both comprehensively broad and thematic essays, as well as short categorical entries focused on people, events, organizations, festivals, sports, and all other aspects required for a sound understanding of China and its people. Of special note is the up to date information on China in the information age of computers, blogs, and the Internet. Of special note is that each individual article can easily be photocopied making it an ideal curriculum resource for classroom instruction. The use of English, Chinese characters and Pinyin transliteration with tone marks further enhances the value of the "Berkshire Encyclopedia of China" for students of the Chinese language. Presenting an encyclopedic reference from a distinctively Chinese perspective, profusely enhanced throughout with illustrations, maps, timelines, sidebars, and even traditional Chinese proverbs, the "Berkshire Encyclopedia of China" is a core reference which is highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library International Studies collections in general, and Chinese Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Military Shelf

From Fledgling To Eagle
Brig-Gen Dick Lord
30th South Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781920143305, $39.95, www.amazon.com

In the southwestern region of Africa from 1966 to 1989 a bloody border war took place in Angola and Namibia. A key aspect of the conflict was the use of military air power. "From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force During The Border War" by Brigadier General Dick Lord has written a comprehensive and definitive history of the South African Air Force (SAAF) operations as part of every major South African Defence Force (SADF) operation from the outbreak of hostilities to the 'April Fool's Day War' in 1989. Lord writes with a particular expertise drawn from his own personal operational reports and diaries, enhanced with recorded anecdotes of aviators from individual squadrons and flyers from all manner of military aircraft from Mirages to C-160s to helicopters. Of special note is the descriptive information on SAAF coordination with various ground troop units. "From Fledgling to Eagle" is more than a simple recording of battles, but also offers analysis into such aspects of the conflict as Angola as a Soviet proxy in an attempt to weaken South Africa as a regional power. Informed and informative, is a terrific read and a welcome addition to personal and academic library Military History collections in general, and Military Aviation Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Art Of Time In Fiction
Joan Silber
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
www.graywolfpress.org
9781555975302, $12.00, www.amazon.com

To say that a novel or short story has a beginning, a middle, and an end is to grossly simplify the importance of the element timing in the process of crafting any work of fiction. In "The Art Of Time In Fiction: As Long As It Takes", Joan Silber draws upon her personal expertise as the published author of six books of fiction (one of which, "Ideas of Heaven" was the finalist for the National Book Award and the Story Prize) to focus on identifying and illustrating five fundamental ways in which time unfolds in fiction. In this slim 120-page compendium of practical instruction, Silber devotes specific chapters to discussing Classic Time; Long Time; Switchback Time; Slowed Time; Fabulous Time; and Time as Subject. Of special note is the listing of Works Discussed as Silber draws from the works of a range of influential authors from F.l Scott Fitzgerald, to Henry James, to Virginia Woolf. The latest addition to the outstanding Graywolf Press 'The Art Of' series of focused instruction and reference books for writers, "The Art Of Time In Fiction" is highly recommended for aspiring authors, and an invaluable reference for experienced writers as well.

Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences
Janis Bell
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393337150, $13.95, www.amazon.com

They used to teach grammar in elementary school. Judging by so much of what crosses a book reviewer's desk these days it's clear that there's a lot of defective instruction in the basics of English grammar going on in the school systems of today. That's why such remedial publications as Janis Bell's "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences: A Guide To Avoiding The Most Common Errors In Grammar And Punctuation" is so timely and so necessary. "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences" offers thoroughly 'user friendly' information on how punctuation marks work to make the written word truly effective, replete with illustrative examples. Of special note is that at the conclusion of each chapter, quizzes followed by their answers are provided to insure that the material covered has been understood. Written in a decidedly non-professorial and thoroughly conversational style, "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences" is especially commended to the attention of authors who are not otherwise well schooled or grounded in the grammatical and punctuation norms of written English.

Writers Workshop Of Horror
Michael Knost, editor
Woodland Press
118 Woodland Dr., Chapmanville, WV 25508
www.woodlandpress.com
9780982493915, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Every author can improve with respect to their skills as storytellers, as providers of information, as artists and craftsmen of the written word. That's why the assembled wisdom, advice, experience, insights, examples and counsels from an impressive roster of successful and influential published authors that Michael Knots has deftly compiled and skillfully edited in the "Writers Workshop Of Horror" is so impressive and so highly recommended to the attention aspiring writers seeking to become published, as well as experienced authors wanting to hone their craft to even greater standards of accomplishment. Although the principle focus is on writing horror stories, the gamut of useable information provided is just as applicable to all other genres including romance, westerns, mysteries, science fiction, general fiction, and even biographies. The "Writers Workshop Of Horror" is a recommended addition to the professional reference collections of all dedicated authors and small press publishers.

Social Networking For Authors
Michael Volkin
Volkin Associates
531 Tocia Court, Fairfield, CA 94534
www.sellatonofbooks.com
9780615299853, $24.95, www.amazon.com

First the bad news: More than 70% of published books in this country do not earn a profit for their publishers. The average shelf life of a hardcover book is between 3 and 6 months. For a paperback it is 3 to 6 weeks. More than 120,000 books are published each year in the U.S. alone. The percentage of the general population that reads for recreation is crashing harder and farther than a Wall Street stock market. And according to Michael Volkin who has written "Social Networking For Authors: Untapped Possibilities For Wealth", the average reader, browsing in a bookstore or on the internet, spends less than 8 seconds deciding whether to buy a book or not. Now the good news: Michael Volkin in the pages of "Social Networking For Authors" shows aspiring authors and limited budget publishers how to use social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the growing number of others, to create customers for a book. Volkin explains how anyone can create a book oriented website that will sell books. Readers of "Social Networking For Authors" will also discover how to take advantage of free tools specifically useful for authors seeking to increase their book sales and converting single copy sales into multi-copy sales. All this and a great deal more make "Social Networking For Authors" an invaluable and highly recommended read, especially for self-published authors who must bear the entire burden of book marketing upon themselves.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Spire
Richard North Patterson, author
Holter Graham, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427208071 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The Spire is the unabridged audiobook presentation of former trial lawyer Richard North Patterson's saga of buried crimes unearthed. Trial lawyer Mark Darrow heeds the call of his alma mater in its hour of need, becoming its new president in the wake of an embezzlement scandal that jeopardizes its continued existence. Yet returning brings back the painful memory of discovering the corpse of a black female student, followed by the arrest and life prison term of his best friend for the crime. Darrow encounters evidence that his best friend was wrongly accused - but the more he learns about the misdeeds of the past, the greater the danger to his own life! An enthralling saga that captivates the reader from the beginning to end, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11 hours.

Fire and Ice
J.A. Jance, author
Performed by Hillary Hubar and Erik Davies
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061776687 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737

Brought to life by Hillary Hubar and Erik Davies' memorable performance, Fire and Ice is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of J.A. Jance's sequel to "Partner in Crime". Seattle investigator J.P. Beaumont and Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady return, as grisly murders - one a serial killing of young women whose remains were found charred, one the homicide of the caretaker of an ATV park - cause their jurisdictions to cross. Once sparks flew between Beaumont and Brady, but now they must set aside the flames of their past and work together before a growing conspiracy claims the lives of those closest to them. An exciting crime thriller, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.

Crazy for the Storm
Norman Ollestad
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433290909 $35.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

An unabridged audiobook adaptation read by author Norman Ollestad, Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival is the story of a young man inducted into the world of surfing and competitive downhill skiing by the father he loved. In 1979, a chartered plane carrying Norman, his father, and his father's girlfriend crashed in the mountains due to a blizzard. Norman's father was dead, and eleven-year-old Norman had to descend the mountain alone, braving snow and ice without any gear. A story of confronting the challenges of survival, the exhilaration of pushing one's limits, and timeless familial love, Crazy for the Storm is utterly captivating and highly recommended. 6 CDs, 7 1/2 hours.

Graceling
Kristin Cashore
Full Cast Audio
PO Box 6110, Syracuse, NY 13217
www.fullcastaudio.com
9781934180891, $39.95, www.amazon.com

In the seven kingdom medieval fantasy world of Katsa and Prince Po a 'grace' is an inborn gift. Katsa's 'grace' is to be a preternaturally gifted fighter. Prince Po's 'grace' is a form of telepathy. And there are other 'graces' in the world -- some of which enable their possessors to commit horrific atrocities. That is the setting for Kristin Cashore's brilliantly imaginative action/adventure fantasy story that is so perfectly presented in a true 'theatre of the mind' full cast theatrical performance that includes strategically employed music. Of special note is the use of age-appropriate casting among the voice actors. A truly riveting fantasy adventure, filled with plot twists, populated by memorable characters, and flawless production values, "Graceling" will appeal to listeners from 12 to 82 and is an especially recommended addition to personal, school, and community library audio book collections.

The Bourne Deception
Eric Van Lustbader
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781600245992, $49.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Eric Van Lustbader brings Robert Ludlum's Bourne scenario to life in a new Jason Bourne novel with a gripping narration by Jeremy Davidson. When Jason Bourne is ambushed and nearly killed on Bali, he takes his own death and sets out to find his would-be assassin. Add international intrigue and you have a 'whodunnit' that just won't quit.

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

Joshua Cooper Ramo's THE AGE OF THE UNTHINKABLE: WHY THE NEW WORLD DISORDER CONSTANTLY SURPRISES US AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT (9781600247200, $34.98) comes from a managing director of one of the world's leading geostrategy firms, and offers a new model of hope for thinking about a newly unpredictable world order. He explains why the usual thinking patterns aren't working - and how a new environment of unpredictability demands different approaches and frameworks for success. Any business or general lending library will find his an involving audio, powered by the author's own voice. Michael Connelly's THE SCARECROW (9781600245749, $39.98) pairs L.A. actor Peter Giles' extensive TV and film background with a thriller telling of a crime reporter's final days and his choice to produce the definitive murder story of his career. His decision leads to a dangerous murder investigation where Jack is onto a ruthless killer with perfect knowledge of police routines. Dan Simmons' THE TERROR (9781600244858, $14.98) pairs Simon Vance's award-winning voice with the vivid story of an 1845 expedition of the first steam-powered vessels to search for the legendary Northwest Passage. When the leader meets a terrible death, surviving crewmen find themselves in desperate situations in a vivid adventure thriller. John C. Maxwell's HOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE THINK (9781600246098, $24.98) comes from a renowned leadership expert and speaker who offers a fine survey on how to be more creative and when to question popular thinking. Eleven keys to more effective thinking focus on insights for personal success. George Dawes Green's RAVENS (9781600246258, $34.98) provides a dual narration by Robert Petkoff and Maggi-Meg Reed as it tells of two drifters who stumble on the identity of the latest multimillion-dollar Jackpot winner - and who determine to blackmail the family. Both funny and thrilling, RAVENS comes to life under audio. Anne Rivers Siddons' OFF SEASON (9781600246340, $14.98) enjoys a fine reading by actress Jane Alexander as it tells of decades of marriage that ends in loss and a solitary life for Lilly, who is looking to get past tragedy. A moving, poignant story evolves. Brad Metzer's THE BOOK OF LIES (9781600246630, $14.98) pairs the seasoned voice of narrator Scott Brick with the moving story of a long-lost father, a murder, and a killer marked with the tattoos of Cain. A tense thriller evolves. James Patterson and Michael Ledwige's THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X (0316002925, $19.99) tells of a man born with a power to create: a deadly secret that is bound by his title as protector of Earth and Alien Hunter. The fate of the world rests on his unique gifts - and he's on a mission to capture his parents' murderer. The sequel by Patterson and Ned Rust, DANIEL X: WATCH THE SKIES (9781600246197, $22.98) tells of the small town of Holliswood packed with wealth - and evil. Daniel X is the only person to stop a tyrant from wiping out the city and all its residents in this fine audio listen. Wonderful picks for any audio collection, these!

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Dr. Denis Leary's WHY WE SUCK: A FEEL GOOD GUIDE TO STAYING FAT, LOUD, LAZY AND STUPID (9780143142553, $29.95) actually tells how to overcome all 6the things that lead to being 'sucky'. A memoir of his life blends with a funny assault on cultural norms to make for a fine audio listen good for any audio library strong in humor or autobiography. Clive Cussler and Paul Kemprecos' MEDUSA (978014314557, $29.95) is an abridged version fueled by the experienced voice of Richard Ferrone, an award-winning narrator of hundreds of successful audios. The thriller comes to life in a powerful presentation highly recommended for any audio collection.

Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Sean Doolittle's SAFER (1423377443, $34.99) is narrated by Patrick Lawlor and provides a vivid story of a young copy who moves into a idyllic neighborhood in a small town only to find a dangerous quarrel with a neighbor leads to false accusations and an unjust arrest. Suddenly Paul's career and marriage are threatened, all because of a vengeful man. Spell-binding twists and turns come to life under audio treatment. Dean Koontz's RELENTLESS (1423356950, $40.99) is a powerful rendition read by Dan John Miller, whose 'best voice' branding lends a mesmerizing quality to the story of a lucky man with a charmed life who finds one bad review of his new book changes his life. His search for the mysterious reclusive writer leads to dangerous, deadly encounters in this gripping saga of a sociopath. Ed Greenwood's DARK LORD (1423348915, $38.95) receives a fine narration by Christopher Lane who brings to life the fantasy of a writer drawn into his own world of brooding evil. This is the first in a saga listeners will find engrossing and compelling. Patrick Rothfuss' THE NAME OF THE WIND (1423389263, $44.99) receives a fine reading by Nick Podehl as it tells of Rvothe, who has stolen a princess from a dangerous world, burned down a town, and talked to Gods. This fantasy of a hero is told in his own voice, which makes this narrative even more compelling and vivid in audio form. Libraries strong in fantasy audios must have this. Roger Kahn's THE BOYS OF SUMMER (1423377680, $34.99) pairs veteran narrator Phil Gigante's warm and experienced voice with the story of a young man who learned to play baseball during the 1930s and 40s and went on to play for one of the most exciting major-league ball clubs in the world. Any fan of baseball history will find the story comes alive especially vividly in audio format. Linda Howard's BURN (1423310314, $36.99) enjoys veteran narrator Joyce Bean's smooth and polished award-winning voice as it tells of Jenner Redwine, who wines a lottery jackpot only to find her life falling apart. She doesn't fit into the world of the wealthy, but seven years later she's becoming close to another type of world in this story of romance, intrigue, and money. John Lescroart's A PLAGUE OF SECRETS (1423339770, $38.99) also enjoys a veteran's narrative skills as David Colacci provides a powerful story of a multiple murder case's terrible secret, protected by an attorney who may sacrifice his client's life in the process. Intrigue, homicide and danger mark a riveting thriller perfect for collections strong in intrigue and adventure. On MP3-CD is Blake Crouch's ABANDON (1423394712, $24.99), narrated by the fine voice of Luke Daniels and offering a novel beginning in 1893, where every man, woman and child in a remote mining down will vanish. Over a hundred years later two guides lead a history professor to the town to investigate a haunting - and discover the past comes to life. Malcolm Hillgartner narrates Dean Koontz's YOUR HEART BELONGS TO ME (142335687X, $44.99), a fine story of an Internet entrepreneur who has the world in his pocket, until he's diagnosed with incurable cardiomyopathy and finds himself awaiting a heart transplant. A year later he's feeling better - until gifts begin to appear with dangerous messages attached. An outstanding story evolves, especially powerful in audio. Dan Simmons' HYPERION (1423381408, $49.99) provides a riveting multicast narration as it tells of a creature called the Shrike on the world of Hyperion. With the whole galaxy at war, seven pilgrims journey to Hyperion to uncover personal insights in this fine science fiction drama. Matthew B. Crawford's SHOP CLASS AS SOULCRAFT: AN INQUIRY INTO THE VALUE OF WORK (1441800085, $29.99) receives an excellent narration by Max Bloomquist, whose smooth voice lends insights and philosophy to a probe of why everyone need not be trained to become a 'knowledge worker'. Working with one's hands has its own benefits, he maintains: his survey of the manual trades and their opportunities makes for a meaningful, involving dialogue. Jeffrey Mousaieff Masson's THE FACE ON YOUR PLATE: THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD (1423384202, $29.99) receives a fine reading by Fred Stella, an actor and voice expert, and explores our relationship with food animals. From psychological factors that determine food choices to how our choices affect the wider environment and animal lives, Jeffrey Moussaieff Mason draws important connections between food, health, and moral living. An outstanding presentation for any audio library. Karen Slaughter's novel UNDONE (1423342305, $38.99) receives Natalie Ross' stage acting background and smooth voice and tells of Sara, who treats the city's poor and unlucky in a trauma center in Atlanta, finding relief from a tragedy that changed her life - until she's drawn into a police investigation and becomes embroiled in a dangerous mystery. Three characters from Slaughter's previous novels FAITHLESS and FRACTURED interact and join forces in this memorable thriller. Diana Palmer's HEARTLESS (1423382560, $34.95) enjoys veteran Phil Gigante's smooth voice and tells of a Texas ranch where a teen worships her cowboy stepbrother who has left home early. When romance enters the picture and re-unites them, trouble leads Gracie to reject her love - and send him away. A powerful romance ensues, perfect for fans of romantic Westerns. Ridley Pearson's KILLER SUMMER (1423383494, $29.99) receives the veteran skills of narrator Phil Gigante as it tells of an Idaho sheriff who is charged with seeing that a wine action goes on without a hitch. The world's most elite wine connoisseurs are tasting and bidding, and when a bomb explodes, Walt is drawn into a dangerous game. Meg Gardiner's THE MEMORY COLLECTOR (142336161X, $36.99) comes alive in audio powered by Susan Ericksen's smooth and seasoned voice. It provides a thriller centered around forensic psychologist Jo Beckett, called upon to handle an airline passenger who has a type of amnesia that can't form new memories. Clues lead to a deadly biological threat in this winning thriller


The Language Studies Shelf

Contemporary Spanish-English Dictionary
Merriam-Webster
Federal Street Press
Box 281, Springfield, MA 01102
9781596950559, $7.98 www.merriam-webster.com

80,000 entries and 100,000 translations enhance a guide packing thousands of examples of word use in an affordable paperback dictionary perfect for high school to public lending libraries and many a home reference library. English to Spanish and Spanish to English are provided in a fine survey profiling both American English and International Spanish. Highly recommended!

First Start French: Student Edition
Danielle L. Schultz
Memoria Press
4605 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213
www.MemoriaPress.com
1930953658, $17.50, www.amazon.com

After English, French is perhaps the most world-wide of the European languages. "First Start French: Student Edition" is a specifically designed set of language instruction exercises designed by Danielle L. Schultz as an introduction to mastering the French language for children at grade levels three through eight. In addition to teaching the basics of French grammar, "First Start French" provides fluency with respect to developing a large and practical vocabulary, develop basic conversational skills when speaking French, translating and reading French, and even presents an informed introduction to French culture through 'user friendly' worksheet assignments. A highly recommended addition to private and public school French language instruction curriculums. Memoria Press also has available an accompanying "First Start French: Teacher's Edition" (1930953666, $17.50) and a "First Start French" CD containing the 36 lessons of the book edition, plus Fere Jacques; Tetes, Epoules, Genoux, Pieds; Airisi Font, Font, Font; Alouette; Au Clair de la Lune; Sur le Pont d'Avignon; and a Pronunciation Guide.

Talking About Arabic
Mourad Boutros, et al.
Mark Batty Publisher LLC
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York, NJ 10018
www.markbattypublisher.com
9780979554667, $16.95, www.amazon.com

To most westerners, Arabic script is simply exotic. In "Talking About Arabic", Mourad Boutros, and an impressive roster of professional experts examine and analyze Arabic script in a multi-country and multi-cultural context with respect to the use and strategic employment Arabic design and typography. Replete with numerous real-world examples deftly illustrating how technological advances in printing and other forms of communication have influenced the use of Arabic, whether it is published in print or online, "Talking About Arabic" deftly examines and illustrates how advances in font technologies have enabled digitized Arabic to advance Arabic calligraphic traditions in providing a discourse for both Arabic and non-Arabic speakers with respect cultural, religious and aesthetic linguistic issues in a contemporary and global cultural context with respect to Arabic fonts and web site designs. Also very highly recommended as a addition to professional and academic library Arabic language reference collections is Mourad Boutros' "Arabic For Designers" (9780976224556, $34.95).


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Transcendent Wisdom
The Dalai Lama, author
B. Alan Wallace, translator, editor, & annotator
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393294 $16.95 www.SnowLionPub.com

Based on an oral teaching that the Dalai Lama gave in Switzerland, and expertly translated into English, edited, and annotated by Buddhism expert B. Alan Wallace, Transcendent Wisdom is a commentary on the "Wisdom" chapter of the classic Buddhist text "A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life", one of the most important sources for the Mahayana branch of Buddhism. A precise, point-by-point discussion of core Buddhist tenets, chapters of Transcendent Wisdom include "Personal Identitylessness", "The four applications of mindfulness", "Proofs of the absence of true existence", and much more. An excellent and eminently accessible addition to modern Buddhist studies shelves, especially recommended to anyone intrigued by the teachings of the Dalai Lama.

The Novice
Stephen Schettini
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608320059, $24.95, www.schettini.com

When searching for oneself, it is not uncommon to consider Buddhism. Author Stephen Schettini didn't consider this the end all be all solution. "The Novice: Why I Became a Buddhist Monk, Why I Quit, & What I Learned" reflects on his own search for self and truth as he traveled through Europe and Asia looking for answers. When he encountered Tibetans in exile, he converted to Buddhism, then found it wasn't for him. He explains his reasons and his travels, making "The Novice" a very far-reaching spiritual read.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Kama Sutra Step by Step
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9780756650421, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Couples interested in erotic sensuality and 500 explicit color photos demonstrating sexual positions will find the illustrated Kama Sutra Step by Step a fine 'how to' guide to sensual sexuality. Kama 'sensation ratings' accompany not only instructions but insights on why various positions work. Highly recommended for couples interested in trying the kama sutra positions using a more visual aid than the original wordy text.

How to Get Your Man
Sally Huss
Huss Publishing
PO Box 206, La Jolla, CA 90038
9780982262528, $14.95

The pursuit of Mr. Right drives many women. "How to Get Your Man: The Slam-Dunk Formula to Getting the Love of Your Life" is written by a veteran of life and dating, Sally Huss. Using her enormous supply of wisdom, she offers helpful anecdotes and pieces of advice for any woman on the road to romance. A practical and handy guide, "How to Get Your Man" is a must read.

Your Sexually Addicted Spouse
Barbara Steffens
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931-0669
9780882823096, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Addictions aren't always to drugs, but they are devastating all the same. "Your Sexually Addicted Spouse: How Partners Can Cope and Heal" discusses sexual addictions - in the matter of pornography, use and abuse, among other issues - from the perspective of the spouse, who may or may not be a victim in the matter. With much support and help, "Your Sexually Addicted Spouse" may be the inspiration many need to move on with their lives after the pain.


The Mathematics Shelf

The Manga Guide to Calculus
Hiroyuki Kojima, Shin Togami, & Becom Co., Ltd.
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
9781593271947 $19.95 www.nostarch.com

The Manga Guide to Calculus frames a solid and straightforward introduction to calculus with a black-and-white manga (Japanese comic story) about a junior reporter whose boss is instructing her in how to analyze her stories from a mathematical perspective. The result is a fluid primer that makes calculus as easy to follow and understand as possible. Chapters cover how to use differentiation to understand a function's rate of change, the relationship between a function's derivative and its integral, how to integrate and differentiate trigonometric and other complicated functions, use multivariate calculus and partial differentiation to approach complicated functions, and much more. An excellent, calculus-savvy and user-friendly guide for any student needing to brush up on their calculus, whether tackling a course for the first time or seeking a refresher. Highly recommended, particularly for public library collections (and college library collections - especially to help those college students accustomed to a largely on non-mathematical curriculum).

The Math Book
Clifford A. Pickover
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781402757969 $29.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com 1-800-805-5489

Each two-page spread of The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics features text describing an amazing mathematical discovery or piece of history on the left, and a gorgeous full-color illustration on the right. The result is a chronicle of fascinating wonders of science revealed, paying tribute to the great minds who unraveled the universe's mysteries, in a format accessible to browsers of all mathematical skill and experience levels. A gorgeous compilation that is thoroughly enjoyable to browse through from first page to last, The Math Book is evidence that the history of mathematics can be beautiful, amazing, and even fun!


The Judicial Studies Shelf

A Good Quarrel
Timothy R. Johnson & Jerry Goldman
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472033263, $24.95, www.press.umich.edu

So often the most important events in history come in to play in the courtroom. "A Good Quarrel: America's Top Legal Reporters Share Stories from Inside the Supreme Court" discusses these monumental court cases and the participants who have fervently argued their beliefs. Designed to be read alongside clips on the internet of these speeches, "A Good Quarrel" is a top pick for readers who want an inside look at the cases that have shaped America.


The Criminology Shelf

The Ride
Brian MacQuarrie
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306816260, $26.00 www.dacapopress.com

In 1997 a ten-year-old was abducted and murdered close to his Cambridge home - and his father demanded the death penalty for his abductor. Four years later he'd change his mind. "The Ride" chronicles events leading to the murder, the investigation and trial, and how Bob Curley struggled through grief and anger, and devoted himself to activism against predators. An outstanding and dramatic account, "The Ride" will interest any general lending library.

Mob Files
George Anastasia
Camino Books
PO Box 59026, Philedelphia, PA 19102
9781933822143, $17.95, www.caminobooks.com

The power that the mob once had on the country has been weakening rapidly. "Mob Files: Mobsters, Molls, and Murder" tells the story of the decline of the American mafias through the files of a respected and veteran reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, George Anastasia. Diving into the stories of the mobsters themselves, Anastasia presents a fiction-like but true accounting of the mob. "Mob Files" is a read for anyone who enjoys learning about the classical gangster.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart
Chuck Black
Multnomah
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
9781601421265, $8.99, www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

Knighthood is more than knowing how to handle a weapon. "Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart" tells the story of Dalton, a well respected knight. But his peers are not so dedicated, as he's left to go on a mission himself - hundreds of his peers are mysteriously missing. With only the help of two close friends, he has to defeat a monstrous Shadow Warrior in order to protect his kingdom. "Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart" is a fine and entertaining adventure, sure to entertain many a fantasy fan.

Collected Stories V. 1-4
Roger Zelazny
NESFA Press
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
$29.00 each www.nesfa.org/press

Any definitive science fiction library needs the 4-volume series of collected stories by Roger Zelazny. These include every short story and poem written by Zelazny, including all of his award-winning nominations and stories. Volume 1, THRESHOLD (9781886778719, $29.00) covers early years through the mid-1960s with such works as 'The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth'. Volume 2, POWER & LIGHT (9781886778771, $29.00) covers the mid-1960s, his most fruitful period, and includes 'The Moment of the Storm' and his novel 'And Call Me Conrad'. Volume 3 (9781886778788, $29.00) runs from the late 1960s to the early 70s with stories such as 'Damnation Alley' and 'This Mortal Mountain'. Volume 4, LAST EXIT TO BABYLON (9781886778795, $29.00) covers the late 1970s and early 80s with works such as 'Unicorn Variations' and 'Home is the Hangman'. Edited by David C. Grubbs, Christopher Kovacs, and Ann Crimmins, these are a 'must' for any serious, definitive science fiction library charting the course of the early master authors.

Lifelode
Jo Walton
NESFA Press
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778825, $25.00 www.nesfa.org/press

Marakanda is a university town - one of three in the world that tell of Applekirk, a neighboring town where magic, dragons, and adventures abound. Taveth's lifelode is keeping the Applekirk Manor and its interlocking families safe during a time of change, but a scholar's arrival and time transition marks a world that can't be controlled. A powerful story, Lifelode is a top pick for any fantasy library.

Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Greg Cox's COUNTDOWN (9780441017188, $15.00) is based on the DC Comics series and provides a cast of comic book figures, from Jimmy Olsen and Mary Marvel to Jason Todd and ex-superheroes forced to retire and rejoin humanity - until all the superheroes are called upon to save the world. Kristin Landon's THE DARK REACHES (9780441017348, $7.99) tells of the remnants of the human race who seek refuge on the Hidden Worlds only to find that after six centuries, word comes that humans may have survived in Earth's own solar system. The Cold Minds have returned to ferret them out, and it's up to a renegade pilot to help save the worlds. Patrice Sarath's RED GOLD BRIDGE (9780441017355, $7.99) tells of a portal between our world and another, where two girls journey and return after paying a price - with a young man in tow. Colar doesn't fit in on Earth - and war threatens to embroil both universes.

Children of the Dawnland
Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
Starscape
c/o TOR
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10010
0765320193, $17.99 www.tor.com

At the end of the Ice Age, when glaciers are melting and the world is changing, 12-year-old Twig will discover she has talented Spirit dreams and powers that defy her mother's instructions to ignore them. Her journey is set thirteen thousand years ago, in what is now the border between Canada and the U.S., and provides a riveting story about a visionary girl whose quest affects her entire people. A fine pick for young adult and adult readers alike.

Pyr Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.pyrsf.com

Matthew Sturges' MIDWINTER (9781591027348, $15.98) offers a riveting story telling of an army war hero accused of treason and sentenced to life without parole at an ancient mountain prison. Now he has a last chance to gain freedom and honor - by accepting a suicide mission and struggling against dark forces with a band of unlikely companions. A swift, involving plot keeps readers guessing to the end. Chris Roberson's END OF THE CENTURY (9781591026976, $15.00) tells of a teen alone on the streets in a strange city with only her visions give her keys to her life. Alice finds herself pursued by strange creatures and a mystery challenge that will plague her with visions and possibly cost her life in this absorbing thriller. James Enge's BLOOD OF AMBROSE (9781591027362, $15.98) tells of Ambrosia, accused of witchcraft and put to trial by combat where she's forced to call on her brother for help - a magic swordsman and drunk. Change and adventure mark a fantasy hard to put down.

ROC Books
c/o Penguin Book Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Faith Hunter's SKINWALKER (9780451462800, $7.99) presents another Jane Yellowrock novel telling of a woman who is the last of her kind - a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires. Add lust and a mission working for one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans hunting a rogue vampire and you have a winning story of intrigue and fantasy. S.M. Peters' GHOST OCEAN (9780451462695, $7.99) tells of Te, who works for a paranormal investigator. When a friend of investigator Babu is murdered under impossible circumstances, Te learns the death has released an ancient power, and finds herself immersed in a world more dangerous than she anticipated. Both are outstanding fantasy leisure choices perfect for any general lending library.

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

Lieutenant General Michael O'Neal finds his Corp destroyed, his staff shot before him, and himself arrested for war times, facing an unjust trial and death in John Ringo's Eye of the Storm (9781439132739, $26.00). Add an invasion from a new alien race and one man's nightmare come true and you have a swift military action story perfect for any military science fiction collection. Michael Z. Williamson's CONTACT WITH CHAOS (1416591540, $24.00) provides any military science fiction collection with a strong story revolving around the first aliens humans encounter and a mass of political interests surrounding it. Add the revelation that the aliens are not as simple as first expected and you have a story line with many strong twists and turns. Poul Anderson's RISE OF THE TERRAN EMPIRE: THE TECHNIC CIVILIZATION SAGA (1439132755, $14.00) is a fine story of a flamboyant member of a league of star traders who is involved with a strong military fleet on earth - and in the founding of an empire. This is the third volume in the complete edition of his Technic Civilization saga, recommended for owners of the prior editions. Fred Saberhagen's OF BERSERKERS, SWORDS & VAMPIRES (1439132690, $23.00) provides a Saberhagen retrospective perfect for any fan of his overall works, whether it be his Berserker series of chaos and destruction, his 'Swords and Lost Swords' fantasy adventures, or his Dracula series. This retrospective presents short stories from all three series in a fine survey spanning some four decades of his varied productions. A set of fine paperbacks make for excellent take-along summer totes. Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce's 1634: THE BAVARIAN CRISIS (9781439132760, $7.99) provides a new novel in the 'ring of fire' saga in paperback for the first time, and continues the story of an alternate world in a troubled century where the United States of Europe is influenced by time travelers thrown from their universe. Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis' AND LESS THAN KIND (9781439132845, $7.99) tells of a duke and heir to a kingdom in an alternate universe where a queen's reign is dictated by a Dark Court. Twins stand between evil and the morals of England in a fine fantasy tale. Robert Heinlein's THE ROLLING STONES (1416591494, $13.99) is an outstanding classic presented in a fine work perfect for new audiences, and tells of the Stone family's tour of the solar system gone wrong. His classic THE PUPPET MASTERS (9781439132838, $14.00) also provides a solid classic for new audiences, telling of a flying saucer's landing in Iowa and the disappearance of agents involved in its landing. The truth is revealed in a riveting story.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Giv
Boston Teran
High Top Publishing
c/o Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
Kelley & Hall (publicity)
5 Briar Lane, Marblehead, MA 01945
www.giv-thestoryofadogandamerica.com
9781567030556, $22.00, www.amazon.com

Friends provide many inspiring stories, and man's best friend is no different. "Giv: The Story of a Dog and America" is a collection of stories about man and dog, and how they inspire one another. After saving a dog from near death, Boston Teran brings readers many inspiring stories from across the country about the unity of pet and master. An ideal gift for any pet lover, "Giv" will bring a smile to many faces.

Small Mountain Owls
Scott Rashid
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764332821, $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Over 160 photos and drawings of four species of small mountain owls to be found in the Rocky Mountains makes for a gorgeous book covering every aspect of their natural history, from anatomy and identification to natural history. Any library strong in detailed natural history of bird species in general and owls in particular will find this an appealing, gorgeous reference.

Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com

In a concise, systematic guide Peter Holt's Urological Disorders of the Dog & Cat (Manson Publishing, 9781840760958, $120.00) focuses on assessment of the patient and practical urological techniques involved in reaching a diagnosis. From different conditions and causes of all types of urinary incontinence to clinical diagnostic practices, Urological Disorders of the Dog & Cat is a pick recommended for both practicing vets and college-level collections catering to vet students. Mary A. Fraser and Simon J. Girling's RABBIT MEDICINE AND SURGERY FOR VETERINARY NURSES (9781405147064, $60.00) covers everything you need to know about rabbits and comes from two experts with much background on treating rabbits. From rabbit clinics and nutrition to medical problems and surgical nursing, color and black and white photos support procedural descriptions and make this a fine pick for any vet student. College-level vet collections will also relish the third edition of Steven E. Crow, Sally O. Walshaw and Jennifer E. Boyle's MANUAL OF CLINICAL PROCEDURES IN DOGS, CATS, RABBITS & RODENTS (9780813813042, $59.99), packed with expanded coverage of exotic small mammals and their needs. From the latest common vet procedures to expanded coverage of rodents and in-depth clinical processes, this is a 'must' for practicing vets and students alike.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Gimme My Money Back
Ali Velshi
Sterling & Ross Publishers
115 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001
9780981453569, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Ali Velshi is well known to the general public as the Chief Business Correspondent for the CNN television network. His analytical commentary has been a staple of CNN's coverage of the financial collapse of the country's financial infrastructure. Now he has compiled and presents a thoroughly comprehensive and 'reader friendly' guide to how financial markets work, how this current economic recession happened, and then provides sound, practical, applicable, steps that anyone can take to recover from the impact of these hard financial times. "Gimme My Money Back" is a step-by-step guide to calculating personal risk tolerance based upon such factors as personality, goals, age, and years to retirement. Velshi also covers how to avoid losing money, utilize mutual funds, index funds, stocks, ETF's, bonds, and other investment tools to accelerate personal recover from financial losses. Sensible, articulate, and candid, "Gimme My Money Back" is strongly recommended and essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how the country got into its present financial difficulties -- and how they personally can recover from the damages done to their portfolios.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sensational Slippers
Benedikte Rathmann Hansen
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05033
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781570764318, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Nothing is quite so nice as a warm and comfortable pair of slippers. Especially if they were specifically made by a loved one for a friend or family member. "Sensational Slippers: 30 Trendy, Cozy, Dainty, And Practical Designs For comfy Stylish Feet" by needlecraft expert Benedikte Rathmann Hansen showcases superbly presented, step-by-step, 'user friendly' instructions for the hand-made creation of thirty different pairs of felted slippers ranging from the open-toed, to the traditional, to Japanese Tabi Socks (with sequins), to 'Sunshine Boots'. Beautifully illustrated photos of finished slippers, black-and-white diagrams, left foot and right foot knitting instructions, all combine to make "Sensational Slippers" truly live up to its title. A unique and imaginative compilation of specialized needlecraft projects, "Sensational Slippers" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft reference collections.

Kanzashi In Bloom
Diane Gilleland
Watson Guptill Publications
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.wgpub.com
9780823084814, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Showcasing step-by-step instructions for twenty simple and easy to make 'fold-and-sew' needlework projects producing lovely items to wear as accessories or to gift to a friend, "Kanzashi In Bloom" by Diane Gilleland is beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photography of finished projects and/or construction instructions. After an informed introduction to the origins of this unique needlecraft art form, "Kanzashi In Bloom" goes one to cover materials and techniques, followed separate sections distinguished by projects to wear and projects to give as gifts. Enhanced with a Resource list, an afterword, and an index, "Kanzashi In Bloom" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended addition to personal and community library needlecraft project collections.

Tips for Knitters
Debbie Bliss
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road,
North Pomfret, VT 05033
c/o Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781570764394 $19.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com

Hand-knitting specialist and designer Debbie Bliss presents Tips for Knitters: Stitches and Seams to Finishing Touches, a compact guide spiral-bound to lay flat for easy reference that teaches the reader knitting basics as well as a host of tips, tricks, and techniques that knitters of all skill and experience levels will appreciate. From creating textures to managing color to embroidery and finishing touches, Tips for Knitters lives up to its title with a plethora of helpful hints, illustrated with full-color photography and easy-to-follow diagrams. Highly recommended for anyone who loves to knit by hand. "When knitting with beads, match the weight of your yarn to the beads you are using. Beads will add weight to your garment and beads that are too heavy on a light yarn will make the garment sag."


The Native American Shelf

The Aztecs, third edition
Richard F. Townsend
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500287910 $24.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com 1-800-233-4830

Now in a revised and updated third edition, The Aztecs is an in-depth history of this legendary civilization native to ancient Mexico. Exploring the influence of the cultures that preceded the Aztecs (Xochicalco and Tula), The Aztecs reveals breakthroughs in hieroglyphic cryptology (pictographic and phonetic elements combine in Aztec script similar to conventions in Classic Maya writing) and delves into what the latest discoveries (such as that of the twelve-ton monolith of the goddess Tlaltecuhtli) have to tell us about the Aztecs. Black-and-white and a handful of color photographs illustrate this excellent reference, thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds and particularly recommended for public and college library collections.


The Woodworking Shelf

Guide to Making Spinning Wheel Flyers and Wheels
Carson Cooper
Cooper Smith Publishing
PO Box 66554, Scotts Valley, CA 95067
9780981877204 $26.95 www.Ztwist.com

Author Carson Cooper draws upon his extensive expertise in tooling, hardware design, engineering, as well as his personal passion for the classic styled spinning-wheels of yesteryear, in Guide to Making Spinning Wheel Flyers and Wheels - a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough of the process of making or repairing the flyer or wheel of a classic spinning-wheel. A section devoted to basic spinning-wheel mechanics rounds out this specialized, extensively detailed guide, illustrated with black-and-white photographs and diagrams. An excellent resource especially recommended for anyone charged with fixing or maintaining a beloved antique spinning wheel.

Cabinetmaking, second edition
Alan Peters
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781933502267 $27.95 www.amazon.com

Written by professional furniture designer Alan Peters, Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach covers design principles, influences, suggested equipment, advice on finance and business efficiency, what to keep in mind when working to commission, batch production tips, techniques, and more. The result is a detailed, in-depth guide especially for anyone interested in making professional-quality cabinets for a profit. Black-and-white and a handful of color photographs illustrate this seamless blend of woodworking and business guide. Now in an updated second edition, Cabinetmaking is highly recommended for serious professional or would-be professional woodworkers.


The Photography Shelf

Watt Matthews of Lambshead, second edition
Laura Wilson
Texas State Historical Association
P.O. Box 28527, Austin, TX 78755
9780876112328 $39.95 www.TSHAonline.org

Now in its second edition updated with a new afterword that tells of the passing of Watt Matthews, his funeral, and what happened to his ranch since his death, Watt Matthews of Lambshead remains a stunning black-and-white photographic portrayal of life on a great, rugged ranch that retains a kernel of how America was before the wild west was tamed. Photographs capture natural scenery, moments of day-to-day ranch life, living spaces, cowboys hard at work, and much more. The essay perfectly complements the rugged imagery, making Watt Matthews of Lambshead an unforgettable experience for anyone who has ever wondered what life on a ranch, or as a cowboy, is really like.

First Light
Charles Cramer, et al.
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com
9781597141024, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Created by a team of outstanding photographers that include Charles Cramer, Karl Kroeber, Scot Miller, and Mike Osbourne, "First Light: Five Photographers Explore Yosemite's Wilderness" showcases the environmental splendors, majesty of Yosemite National Park. From its natural geological phenomena, "First Light: Five Photographers Explore Yosemite's Wilderness" is a beautiful browse for the armchair traveler as it showcases a superb series of iconic full color images enhanced with occasional captioning providing details and a bit of commentary with respect to the individual photographers and their contributions. Unique, memorable, filled from cover to cover with technically flawless reproductions, "First Light: Five Photographers Explore Yosemite's Wilderness" is highly recommended for personal and community library collections.

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

Any owner of a Nikon D90 camera will find David D. Busch's Nikon D90 Digital SLR Photography (1598639056, $29.99) an in-depth survey on how to use its many features. From selecting the best autofocus mode and f/stop to making HDTV movies in the camera and keeping the camera operating efficiently, this is a top pick for any new owner of the camera and uses lovely color images to demonstrating settings and options. A fine, specific survey recommended for any Nikon D90 owner. David D. Busch's CANON EOS REBEL T1I/500D (1435454960, $29.99) covers the basics of this digital SLR Camera; one of Canon's most advanced. Chapters show how to take advantage of its advanced previewing, video and flash capabilities and offer hundreds of hands-on tips for producing superior photos, illustrated by color images throughout. Matthew Bamberg's 101 QUICK AND EASY SECRETS TO CREATE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS (1598639021, $29.99) is a fine set of winning tips on how to blend composition and technical skills for maximum effect. Chapters cover themes in achieving these goals, use color photos to present results of different approaches, and teach everything form how to manipulate images with light and shadow to create moods and add special effects to applying skills to real-life challenges. An excellent course. Colin Smith and Tim Cooper's COMPLETE ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS4 FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (1584506857, $44.99) tells how to improve images using Adobe Photoshop CS4. This new edition provides new content covering all of the CS4 tools, offering a logical workflow of content for progressive learning and pairing examples with color images and a fine step-by-step approach perfect for any seeking to absorb Photoshop's powerful features. Stephen Burns' ADVANCED PHOTOSHOP CS4 TRICKERY AND FX (1584506830, $49.99) appears in a revised new edition to show digital artists how to blend their skills with Adobe Photoshop CS4. Each chapter is laid out as a tutorial and shows how to use the new Photoshop CS4 features to change ordinary photos to polished images. All files needed to complete the tutorials are included online, with a supporting CD- ROM offering full color Jpeg images for all and custom brushes. Highly recommended for any Photoshop user.

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com

Jeff Smith's GUIDE TO HEAD AND SHOULDERS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584282563, $34.95) discusses how to make close-ups more creative, flattering and profitable through techniques and equipment that pair with clothing choices and background options for maximum effect. Chapters pair color photo examples with tips on lighting, expression, and marketing finished products. Billy Pegram's LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR PHOTOGRAPHING MODEL PORTFOLIOS (9781584282594, $34.95) tells how to showcase a model's best attributes and appeal to her target market, with chapters showing how to match lighting to market the model, how to strobe for consistent results, and much more. Karen Dorame's THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S GUIDE TO MAKING MONEY (9781584282570, $34.95) uses the insights of a dozen top professionals to cover established, successful business practices in photography. From cutting costs to designing your own backdrops and making the most of a studio's location, this is packed with practical tips. Neil Van Niekerk's ON-CAMERA FLASH TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL WEDDING AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584282587, $34.95) tells how to create refined wedding photos using on-camera flash rather than waiting for perfect light or using other devices. From choosing equipment and understanding flash exposures to using high-speed flash sync and duplicating the effects of available light, this is a winner for any aspiring wedding photographer. Also a top pick is Ellie Vayo's GUIDE TO BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584282532, $34.95), teaching how to create flattering images of any woman. From attracting boudoir photography clients to a studio to selecting optimal lighting and designing appealing sets, any neo-professional will appreciate this.


The Fashion Shelf

20th Century Fashion
Jim Heimann and Alison A. Nieder
Taschen
6671 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1508, Los Angeles, CA 90028
9783836514613 $39.99 www.taschen.com

20th Century Fashion: 100 Years of Apparel Ads is a multilingual (all text is present in English, French, and German), visual reference featuring full-color photography of fashion advertisements and endorsements from throughout the twentieth century. A striking compendium sure to prove particularly useful to theater, movie, television, or even Halloween costume designers seeking to accurately reflect or recreate the advertisements and apparel of past decades, 20th Century Fashion also a treasure to simply browse through and observe how human garments (and ads!) have changed through time. A compendium that treats the history of modern fashion advertisement very seriously, 20th Century Fashion is highly recommended.

Nordstrom Guide to Men's Style
Tom Julian
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811868365, $19.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

Nordstrom Guide to Men's Style is a top pick for any fashion or arts collection, whether it be at the college level or for a general-interest library. It packs in details ranging from button counts to stitches and beyond, examining the progression of men's styles and staples in both classic and alternative looks. Very highly recommended as a basic foundation examining men's style trends.


The Political Science Shelf

Energy Politics
Brenda Shaffer
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
9780812242003, $29.95, www.amazon.com

With the onset of the industrial age, American politics was to become thoroughly entwined with the need for energy resources in the form of petroleum, both domestic and foreign. "Energy Politics" by Brenda Shaffer (Research Director, Caspian Studies Program, Harvard University, 2000 to 2006) draws upon her years of experience, research, and expertise to provide an informed and informed history of how regional, national, and international American politics has been influenced, financed, shaped, and distorted by the producers and consumers of energy. Of special note is the history of developing concerns with respect to climate change, the 'global energy divide', and the rise of a coordinated international policy, and how six of the world's largest producers and consumers of energy (Russia, Eur0ope, the United States, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia) politically interact with one on the necessity for the petroleum that fuels modern society. Enhanced with extensive notes and an accessible index, "Energy Politics" is a work of impressive scholarship and a critically important contribution to professional, governmental, academic, and community library Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Resisting McCarthyism
Bob Blauner
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804759229, $34.95, www.amazon.com

One of the bleakest times in post-war American politics were the 'Red Scare' years of McCarthyism, when the junior senator from Wisconsin was able to capitalize on a wide spread fear of Communism to corrupt the American political system and subvert the United States constitution. McCarthy was able to reach into the educational, social, cultural, governmental, and military institutions to wreck havoc in the lives of ordinary men and women. For example, a total of 69 college and university professors lost their jobs for political reasons during the McCarthy Era -- half of them from the University of California faculty. Yet a small number teaching on California's Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses were able to successfully defy the forces of McCarthyism showcased by their refusal to sign the non-communist loyalty oath imposed upon them by the university. While most college and university professors on other campuses around the nation agreed to sign non-communist oaths in order to keep their jobs, the Berkeley and L.A. "non-signers" felt it incumbent upon themselves to resist in defense of free speech. Reading like some kind of suspense novel, "Resisting McCarthyism: To Sign Or Not To Sign California's Loyalty Oath" by Boby Blauner (Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley) is the detailed story of that resistance in defense of academic freedom and the constitutionally guaranteed right of free speech against a troglodyte suppression born of political fearmongering. Especially relevant with respect to today's corruptions of the national dialogue on everything from health care reform to dealing with international terrorism, the lessons learned in "Resisting McCarthyism" make this an urgently recommended addition to academic and community library collections in general, and the personal reading lists for ordinary men and women concerned about preserving civil liberties in times of national distress.


The Civil War Shelf

Sharpshooting In The Civil War
Major John L. Plaster, USAR (Ret.)
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
9781581607031, $19.00, www.amazon.com

The American civil war was the most lethal land-combat on American soil from its founding down to the present time. It was this conflict that saw the introduction of deadly military inventions ranging from the repeating rifle to the Gatling gun. It was the beginning of the end for cavalry campaigns, saw battlefields where thousands on both sides were to die in a single day. But amidst the mass killings were the individual assassinations carried out by the sharpshooter, a man with a long range rifle and a superior aim who often killed from hiding at unbelievable distances. Now the story of these unique soldiers is related by Major John L. Plaster, USAR (Ret.) in the profusely illustrated pages of "Sharpshooting In The Civil War", an informed and informative account of how these men were recruited, trained, organize, and deployed. Fully revealed are the arms they used, and the tactics they employed. Of special note are the examples of dozens of these men and their battlefield accomplishments. "Sharpshooting In The Civil War" is a unique and seminal work that should be a core addition to personal, academic, and community library American Civil War reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

In The Shadow Of The Enemy
Mary L. Mackall, Stevan F. Meserve, and Anne Mackall Sasscer, editors
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
www.utpress.org
9781572336582, $44.95, www.amazon.com

It is often through the journals and diaries of ordinary people that we get the truest 'window in time' with respects to the events of history and the daily lives of the men and women who lived through them. Publishing such memoirs does critically important service for historians and for non-specialist general readers with an interest in history. Such is clearly the case with respect to "In The Shadow Of The Enemy: The Civil War Journal Of Ida Powell Dulany", the latest addition to the outstanding 'Voices of the Civil War' series published by the University of Tennessee Press. Deftly co-edited by the team of Mary L. Mackall, Stevan Meserve, and Anne Mackall Sasscer, "In The Shadow Of The Enemy" is a contemporary chronicle kept by Ida Powell Dulany who was mistress of a salve-holding estate and charged with the responsibility for its day-to-day operations when her husband enlisted with the Confederates shortly after the outbreak of the civil war. An elegant written account, "In The Shadow Of The Enemy" provides an informative perspective on how her neighbors and community conducted themselves amidst the turmoil and tribulations that war was to bring them -- including numerous direct confrontations with hostile Union troops. Of special note and value for the reader are the five appendices the editors have provided giving some outline and background providing additional context for the journal entries of Ida Powell Dulany. Enhanced with extensive notes and an index, "In The Shadow Of The Enemy" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Civil War and 19th Century American Biography collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Genealogy Shelf

Genealogical Resources Of The Civil War Era
William Dollarhide
Family Roots Publishing Co.
PO Box 830, Bountiful, UT 84011
www.familyrootspublishing.com
9781933194455, $32.95

In "Genealogical Resources Of The Civil War Era", William Dollarhide draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to provide a comprehensive, single-volume instruction and reference guide to utilizing various forms of American Civil War era records and resources for basic genealogical research. Included are both national resources (ranging from the American Civil War Research Database, to 1865-1867 Confederate Amnesty Papers, to General and Organizational Indexes to Pension Files 1861-1934, and more) and state resources (ranging from 1861-169 State Censuses, Statewide Militia Lists, Indexes to Statewide Records, and more). The state resources are listed alphabetically by state. Of special note and value is the final section identifying the best of the civil war resource centers for local and county genealogical research. "Genealogical Resources Of The Civil War Era" is an invaluable reference and research resource which is strongly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Genealogy Instructional Reference collections.


The Railroading Shelf

Iron Trails of North America 1978-2008
Robert W. Burns
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764332623, $49.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Modern trains still captivate audiences and provide invaluable services, as demonstrated in Iron Trails of North America 1978-2008, which foregoes the usual focus on antique vintage bygone trains of olden times to focus on modern trains that still provide important services. Over 450 color photos show engines and trains and explain modern mergers, engines, histories, and routes. Highly recommended for any library catering to rail buffs.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collectible African American Dolls
Yvonne H. Ellis
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325744, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

COLLECTING AFRICAN AMERICAN DOLLS: IDENTIFICATION & VALUES is a key reference for any neo-professional doll collector. Its specific focus and arrangement by doll maker allows for quick identification using the many color photos paired with each listing, while brief histories and the latest value ranges will prove key to collector's efforts.

Coin Collector's CDs
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krause.com

Two new CDs from Krause Publications and specifically designed for dedicated numismatists would make superb additions to reference resources for dealers as well amateur coin collectors. SILVER FEVER; THE COMSTOCK LODE TO THE CARSON CITY MINT (9781440202476, $14.99) is edited by Robert R. Van Ryzin and offers a story of the mines and miners of the silver lode. A searchable digital collection includes CC mint history and pricing in a disc made for either Mac or PC users. HEADS OR TAILS; A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO COLLECTING COINS (9781440203459, $9.99) also offers a PC or Mac-suitable CD: this geared to those wishing to get started collecting coins. From how to acquire coins in a collection to pricing, organizing and buying and selling coins, this packs in a powerful lesson for any beginning collector. Individuals looking for easy get-started packages will want these CDs.


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


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