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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Safest Family on the Block
Jason Brick
https://www.safestfamilyontheblock.org
YMAA Publications
www.ymaa.com
9781594399923 $32.00 hc
9781594399909 $24.00 pbk / $12.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Safest-Family-Block-Tricks-Protect/dp/1594399921
Synopsis: With the publication of "Safest Family on the Block: 101 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Habits to Protect Your
Family", Jason Brick is an invaluable and 'real world practical' guide for parents aiming to protect their families without
succumbing to fear.
An accessible DIY instructional offering crucial advice for enhancing your family's physical, mental, and emotional health
without causing anxiety or alarm, "Safest Family on the Block" is comprised of 101 brief essays (perfect for reading during
short waits or while on the go) each one of which provides quick tips, expert guidance, and empowering insights to
immediately enhance your home and family's safety in practical, approachable ways.
In the pages of "Safest Family on the Block" you will discover how to:
Implement a simple alternative to "Situational Awareness" effective and suitable for all ages
Prepare yourself with the right mindset before discussing safety with your children, ensuring calm and constructive
conversations
Secure your front door in just five minutes for only two dollars
Transform a family vacation into a fun and effective safety-building experience
And so much more!
You will also receive advice on handling those rare but challenging days, with strategies to turn potential emergencies into
mere inconveniences, empowering you to manage unexpected situations confidently.
"Safest Family on the Block" deftly combines Jason's experiences as a journalist, father, and martial artist, offering skills
and insights for a proactive, positive approach to family safety.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Safest Family
on the Block: 101 Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Habits to Protect Your Family" will prove to be a long-term and effective
resource to insure a family's safety as individuals and as a group. "Safest Family on the Block" covers fire and accident
prevention, care and driving safety, safety at school, online safety, safer sex and relationships, communication and safety,
travel safety, crime prevention, and emergency preparation. Of special note is the section devoted to 10 'Golden Rules' for
insuring personal and family safety. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional,
community, and college/university library Security and Parenting collections, it should be noted that this hardcover edition
of "Safest Family on the Block" from the YMAA Publication Center is also readily available in paperback
(9781594399909, $24.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Jason Brick (http://www.brickcommajason.com/) is a career journalist, podcast host, father of two sons,
husband, homeowner, and member of a multigenerational family dwelling. His hobbies include martial arts, travel,
role-playing games, and arguing with strangers on the internet.
The AI Studies Shelf
Generative AI with Python
Bert Gollnick
Rheinwerk Publishing
c/o Rheinwerk Computing
https://www.sap-press.com/generative-ai-with-python_6057
9781493226900, $59.95, PB, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Generative-Python-Developers-Pretrained-Generation/dp/1493226908
Synopsis: "Generative AI with Python: The Developer's Guide to Pretrained LLMs, Vector Databases, Retrieval
Augmented Generation, and Agentic Systems" by Bert Gollnick is your ideal and 'reader/user' friendly guide to generative
AI with Python.
It begins with an introduction to generative AI, NLP models, LLMs, and LMMs -- and then dives into pretrained models
with Hugging Face. Work with LLMs using Python with the help of tools like OpenAI and LangChain.
Comprised of step-by-step instructions for working with vector databases and using retrieval-augmented generation, and
with up-to-date information on agentic systems and AI application deployment, "Generative AI with Python" provides you
with all you need to become an AI master including:
Work with pretrained LLM and NLP models on Hugging Face and LangChain
Create vector databases and implement retrieval-augmented generation
Add an agentic system using frameworks such as crewAI and AutoGen
"Generative AI with Python" also covers:
Large Language Models -- Set up LLMs and then learn how to apply your models using Python. Walk through the
available tools: OpenAI, Meta's Llama model family, Mistral models via Groq, and open-source LLMs. Work with prompt
templates, chains, and more.
Vector Databases -- Create and use vector databases to store and query large collections of documents. Master all aspects
of the pipeline, from importing a raw document, to processing it, to storing it in a vector database.
Retrieval Augmented Generation -- Leverage large-scale pretrained language models and external knowledge sources with
retrieval-augmented generation. Retrieve relevant information from large corpora, integrate it into the generation process,
and evaluate the quality and diversity of the generated texts.
Agentic Systems -- Use AI models to build agents that act autonomously to achieve their goals. Discover the different
Python packages for this task: crewAI, AutoGen, and LangChain.
"Generative AI with Python" also deals with:
Natural language processing (NLP) models
Large language models (LLMs)
Pretrained models
Prompt engineering
Vector databases
Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
Agentic systems
OpenAI
LangChain
Hugging Face
crewAI
AutoGen
Critique: This large format (1.25 x 7 x 10 inches, 1.57 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Generative AI with Python: The
Developer's Guide to Pretrained LLMs, Vector Databases, Retrieval Augmented Generation, and Agentic Systems" by Bert
Gollnick is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. A complete and comprehensive course of DIY instruction,
"Generative AI with Python" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Computer Science & AI collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted
that "Generative AI with Python" is also readily available from Rheinwerk Publishing in a digital book format (Kindle,
$51.44).
Editorial Note: Bert Gollnick (https://www.udemy.com/user/bert-gollnick) is a senior data scientist who specializes in
renewable energies. For many years, he has taught courses about data science and machine learning, and more recently,
about generative AI and natural language processing. Bert studied aeronautics at the Technical University of Berlin and
economics at the University of Hagen. His main areas of interest are machine learning and data science.
The Economic Studies Shelf
A World Safe for Commerce
Dale C. Copeland
Princeton University Press
https://press.princeton.edu
9780691172552, $38.00, HC, 504pp
https://www.amazon.com/World-Safe-Commerce-Revolution-International/dp/0691172552
Synopsis: When the Cold War ended, many believed that expanding trade would usher in an era of peace. Yet today the
United States finds itself confronting not just Russia in Europe but China in the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
Shedding new light on how trade both reduces and increases the risks of international crisis, "A World Safe for Commerce:
American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China" by Professor Dale C. Copeland traces how, since the
nation's founding, the United States has consistently moved from peace to conflict when the commerce needed for national
security is under threat.
Professor Copeland shows how commerce pushes the United States and its rivals to expand their spheres of influence for
access to goods even as they worry about provoking a breakdown in trade relations that could spiral into military conflict.
Taking readers from the wars with Britain in 1776 and 1812 to World War II and the Cold War, Professor Copeland aptly
describes how America's leaders have grappled with this inherent tension, and why they have shifted, sometimes
dramatically, from peaceful, mutually beneficial policies to coercion and force in order to increase control over vital trade
and prevent economic decline.
"A World Safe for Commerce" also reveals how trade competition could lead the United States and China into full-scale
confrontation. But it also offers hope that both sides can work to improve their overall trade expectations and foster the
confidence needed for long-term peace and stability.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "A World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the
Revolution to the Rise of China" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-two page
Bibliography, fifty-two pages of Notes, and a ten page Index. Original, exceptional, informative, insightful, and unreserved
recommended for community and college/university library International Economics collections and supplemental
American/Chinese Economic History & Policy curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, economists, corporate executives, and governmental policy makers that this hardcover edition of "A
World Safe for Commerce: American Foreign Policy from the Revolution to the Rise of China" from the Princeton
University Press is also readily available in paperback (9780691256320, $27.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$26.55).
Editorial Note: Dale C. Copeland is professor of international relations at the University of Virginia. He is the author of
Economic Interdependence and War (Princeton) and The Origins of Major War.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_C._Copeland)
Inclusive Finance
Alessandro Hatami, author
Meaghan Johnson, author
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398610453, $134.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Inclusive-Finance-Innovation-Transform-Financial/dp/1398610453
Synopsis: Financial institutions are under growing pressure from their customers, regulators and employees to play more
active roles in supporting underbanked and unbanked individuals.
With the publication of "Inclusive Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion", co-authors
Alessandro Hatami and Meaghan Johnson review what is currently socially broken in the existing financial system and
identifies opportunities for how incumbent players, fintech start-ups and scale ups can improve their social impact and
meet compliance requirements while delivering financial profit.
"Inclusive Finance" also explores how innovations such as blockchain, distributed ledger technology, AI, cryptocurrencies
and stablecoins, tokenization and DeFi can all play a role in democratizing finance. Written by two esteemed finance
experts that are driving digital innovation, this is an indispensable guide for finance professionals and organizations who
need to address financial exclusion, making the global economy larger and fairer.
Critique: A thoroughly comprehensive introduction to the economic issues concerning corporate and business financing,
"Inclusive Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion"is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation -- making it an ideal textbook for college and university level MBA curriculums. Essential
reading for anyone with an interest in the financing aspects of banking and business development, it should be noted for
personal and professional reading lists that this hardcover edition of Alessandro Hatami and Meaghan Johnson's "Inclusive
Finance: How Fintech and Innovation Can Transform Financial Inclusion" from Kogan Page is also available in paperback
(9781398610439, $38.99
Editorial Note #1: Alessandro Hatami (https://www.alessandrohatami.net) is the founder and managing partner of advisory
firm Pacemakers.io, specialising in driving digital transformation in payments, financial services and banking
organisations. He has been driving digital innovation for over 15 years at firms such as the Lloyds Banking Group, PayPal
UK, PayPoint.net and GE Capital. He is a non-exec director of Cashplus Bank, mentor to several fintech start-ups and an
investor in a number of early-stage tech companies. He is a well-known figure in European fintech and is a frequent
speaker at events across the globe. His book Reinventing Banking and Finance(2021), also published by Kogan Page, was
rated Best Overall Book on Banking of 2021 by Investopedia.com in the US. He is based in London, the UK.
Editorial Note #2: Meaghan Johnson (https://meaghanjohnson.com) is a fintech researcher and consultant with an interest
in using emerging technologies and business models to increase financial inclusion. She is the co-founder of 11:FS and
Digital Mags and the Chief Strategy Officer at Bazara Tech. She is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of
Aveiro.
The Political Science Shelf
Future-Generation Government
Nicholas Chesterley
McGill-Queen's University Press
www.mqup.ca
9780228024750, $34.95, HC, 300pp
https://www.amazon.com/Future-Generation-Government-Legislate-Long-Term/dp/0228024757
Synopsis: In the decades preceding COVID-19 there were nine pandemics or near-pandemics, from SARS to Ebola.
Despite this turbulent recent history, many governments were unprepared for the recent pandemic and remain ill-equipped
for the next.
Our impact on future generations has never been greater, and the challenges we face will increasingly play out over the
long term. Climate change is accelerating, antibiotic resistance is rising, underground aquifers are depleting, natural
disasters catch us off guard, fish stocks are dwindling, and automation and population aging may transform our economies.
Drawing on insights from behavioral science, with the publication of "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate
for the Long Term", Nicholas Chesterley offers a fresh perspective on short-termism and proposes clear, practical reforms
that can help leaders respond to tomorrow's challenges without compromising today's democratic rights and freedoms.
People value the present over the future, research shows, so governments balance the scales by rewarding future-planning
behaviours: granting tax deductions for retirement savings or supporting educational savings, for example:
"Future-Generation Government" explains how individuals, in turn, should reward our governments for making durable
policy decisions that anticipate future crises.
Critique: Given the current political backdrop of the Trump administration's massive reductions and seemingly
indiscriminate cut backs in America's health care infrastructure, "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the
Long Term" is incredibly timely, necessary, and fundamental if we are to prepare for the next (and inevitable) pandemic.
Being unprepared for the last one (Coved-19) cost the loss of multiple millions of men, women and children and brought
the world economy to a disastrously crippled state.
Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long
Term" is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a twenty-two page Bibliography, twelve
pages of Notes, and a fifteen page Index., this seminal and urgently needed study is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers, healthcare
reformers, political activists, members of the medical community, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that this hardcover edition of "Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term" from the
McGill-Queen's University Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.22).
Editorial Note: Nicholas Chesterley (https://www.nchesterley.com) is a behavioral economist and public servant. He
completed his PhD in behavioural economics at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral
Fellow and has held a range of leadership roles in government. He lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process
Victor Bekkers, author
Merino Fenger, author
Peter Scholten, author
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781781004524, $192.00, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Public-Policy-Action-Perspectives-Process/dp/1781004528
Synopsis: Co-authored by Victor Bekkers, Merino Fenger, Peter Scholten, "Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the
Policy Process" is a comprehensive textbook that definitively explores the policy process from a multitude of perspectives,
including rationalism, culturalism, institutionalism and from a political point of view.
This approach allows political science students to discover key concepts from the policy science literature and gain a
deeper understanding of how public policy is discussed academically and shaped empirically.
"Public Policy in Action" also gives a detailed breakdown of all stages of the policy process by discussing the emergence
of policy problems affecting the agenda, the formulation of policy alternatives, the decision-making process, the
implementation of policies and the progression to evaluation, learning and policy change.
The co-authors also outline the sets of factors which influence the steps of the policy process internally and externally.
"Public Policy in Action" is supported by a wide variety of case studies from a number of national and international
contexts of relevance to an international audience.
The key features of "Public Policy in Action" include:
Up-to-date review of the literature on the policy process
Coverage on all key elements of the policy cycle
Insight into the complexity of policy making in practice
Multiple perspectives of the policy process
Critical reflections on the roles of policy analysts
Multiple case studies including water management, migration and social policies.
An extensive and detailed textbook, "Public Policy in Action" will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and
masters students of public policy, policy analysis and public administration, by providing an insight into the complexity of
policy making in the real world.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Public Policy in Action: Perspectives on the Policy
Process" is an ideal and recommended for college/university library Political Science/Public Policy collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers, political
advocates, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Public Policy in
Action: Perspectives on the Policy Process" from Edgar Elgar is also available in paperback (9781781004609,
$62.95).
Editorial Note: Victor Bekkers, Menno Fenger and Peter Scholten are each with the Department of Public Administration
and Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
How to Save the Amazon
Dom Phillips
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
www.chelseagreen.com
9781645023203, $27.95, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/How-Save-Amazon-journalists-answers/dp/1645023206
Synopsis: During the dark days of the Bolsonaro administration, British journalist Dom Phillips set out to accomplish an
ambitious goal: through research, interviews, and site visits deep in the rainforest, he would emerge with a book answering
the question -- how can we save the Amazon?
Traveling with his companion Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, Dom's adventure includes trekking through Amazonia to
see where ranching, fires, illegal fishing, mining, the drug trade, and urbanization have deforested and degraded millions of
acres of important forest, degraded ecosystems, and created dangerous conditions for the Indigenous tribes who have called
the Amazon home for thousands of years.
Jair Bolsonaro came into power on a platform of anti-environmental exploitation and deregulation. During his term,
deforestation in the Amazon, the "lungs of Planet Earth," increased exponentially as environmental criminals took
advantage of lax rules, advantageous land use policy, and the difficulty of enforcing laws in a remote area of immense size.
Lawlessness reigned and environmental activists found themselves in danger.
With the intention of discovering strategies to protect both the land and the people who inhabit it, Dom connected with
politicians, farmers, and Indigenous activists to study the benefits and pitfalls of solutions like agroforestry, tourism, and
the bioeconomy.
While traveling by boat in the Javari Valley, Dom and Bruno were brutally murdered. Unwilling to see her late husband's
work be for naught, Dom's widow, Ale, and his literary agent assembled a team of expert writers, journalists, and activists
to complete his work, with each tackling one unfinished chapter and grappling with the challenge of interpreting his field
notes and discovering his conclusions.
"How to Save the Amazon: a Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers", therefore, is a book both by and about Dom Phillips,
his quest for answers, and his search for hope.
Critique: Absolutely and unreservedly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the struggle over protecting vs.
exploiting the internationally important and essential natural resource that is the Amazon, "How to Save the Amazon: a
Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers" is an essential and critically important acquisition selection for personal,
professional, community, and college/university library Environmental Policy and Natural Resources collections, as well
as supplemental Environmental Economics & Amazon Rainforest curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students,
academia, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "How to Save the Amazon: a Journalist's Fatal Quest for Answers" from the Chelsea Green Publishing Company is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Dominic Mark Phillips (23 July 1964 - 5 June 2022) was a British freelance journalist who wrote for The
Guardian and The Washington Post, and contributed to The Times,[ the Financial Times and Bloomberg News.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Phillips)
The Cookbook Shelf
Taste of Home: Made From Scratch
Taste of Home, editor
https://www.tasteofhome.com
c/o Trusted Media Brands
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9798889771128, $21.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Made-Scratch-HEARTWARMING/dp/B0DJZBNMFG
Synopsis: Each of the 275 recipes comprising "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" is carefully curated and presented
with complete with step-by-step instructions and vivid photos to make sure even the most novice of cooks will
succeed.
Readily organized into chapters covering every meal and occasion, including Breakfast and Brunch, Soups and Stews,
Main Courses, Sides and Salads, and Desserts and Sweets. Whether you're making handmade biscuits, hearty casseroles, or
decadent pies, these recipes will help you cook meals that taste better from scratch.
Need pantry staples? Included are 30 creative, money-saving recipes for homemade essentials like broth, sauces, and spice
blends that reduce food waste while keeping your meals all-natural.
Stay informed with nutrition facts provided for every recipe, allowing you to seamlessly plan healthy meals for you and
your loved ones. All recipes celebrate the magic of whole, quality ingredients, making this cookbook an essential for every
kitchen.
Whether perfecting family favorites or exploring new cuisines, this "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" cookbook will
inspire countless culinary memories for both formal and informal dining.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished dishes, this large format (8.06 x
0.7 x 8.94 inches, 1.8 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" will prove a welcome
addition to personal, professional, and community library American Family Cookbook collections. A simple and inspiring
pleasure to browse through and menu plan with, it should be noted that "Taste of Home: Made From Scratch" is also
readily available for family cooks and professional chefs in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is America's #1 food/lifestyle brand, inspiring togetherness through cooking, baking and
entertaining. Featuring recipes shared by today's home cooks, Taste of Home magazine has hundreds of thousands of
subscribers throughout North America and publishes best-selling cookbooks and newsstand specials. The brand's web site
is a top destination, featuring kitchen-tested recipes, how-to techniques, cooking videos and more. Taste of Home has more
than 6.4 million fans on Facebook, 2 million followers on Instagram, 2.7 million Pinterest followers and receives more
than 28 million unique monthly visitors. Visit Taste of Home on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to learn more.
The Midlife Kitchen
Mimi Spencer & Same Rice
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
97818409194, $32.99, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Midlife-Kitchen-Health-boosting-recipes-midlife/dp/1784723509
Synopsis: This new edition of "Midlife Kitchen: Health-boosting recipes for midlife & beyond " is arguably a life-changing
cookbook, Co-authors Mimi Spencer and Sam Rice assert that Midlife is not a time to be concerned with food fads and
foibles, but rather a glorious opportunity to wrest back control of your eating in the interests of health, happiness and a
long life. Taste must come first, but coupled with health and well-established nutritional common sense. Busy lives require
simple, sustaining recipes that incorporate wholesome, health-giving ingredients without too much fanfare or fuss.
Alongside each of the 160 recipes is the Midlife Kitchen emblem, the star anise. With each of the eight seeds representing
a specific Midlife Health category - (including Hormone Harmony; Mind, Memory & Mood; or Heart Health) "The
Midlife Kitchen" also provides simple nutritional information. Health tips explain the benefits of certain ingredients, while
"Why We Love It" sections explore the advantages of cooking each dish.
Of special note is that the Midlife Must-Haves show how to create homemade essentials such as Midlife Grown-up
Granola, Midlife Power Porridge and Midlife Sweetener.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photos of finished dishes, this large format (7.75 x
1.25 x 10 inches, 2.95 pounds) this new hardcover edition of "The Midlife Kitchen: Health-boosting recipes for midlife &
beyond" by Mimi Spencer and Same Rice is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
and community library Health/Dieting/Nutrition themed cookbook collections.
It should be noted for family cooks that "The Midlife Kitchen" from the publishing house of Mitchell Beazley features
recipes for British dishes that are relatively unknown to American cooks including: Ricotta Angel Cakes; Red Chicory &
Walnuts; Watercress Powerhouse Soup; TeaTime Walnut & Banana Loaf -- as well as a chapter on Drinks that includes
recipes for Bedtime Chai; Ginger & Mint Muddle; Karkade (Hibiscus Iced Tea); and Wake Up Tonic.
Editorial Note #1: Mimi Spencer is the co-author of "The Fast Diet" with Dr Michael Mosley, which introduced the
concept of 5:2 intermittent fasting to the world. Mimi went on to write "The Fast Diet Recipe Book" and "Fast Cook".
Mimi's background is in lifestyle and style journalism, with an early career as a fashion writer for Vogue, the Evening
Standard and then as editor of ES Magazine. She has been a columnist for You Magazine (Mail on Sunday), Observer
Food Monthly and Waitrose Kitchen, while also writing lifestyle, fashion and food features for The Times.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/423862.Mimi_Spencer)
Editorial Note #2: The career of Sam Rice (https://samricefoodhealth.substack.com/about) has taken her from management
consultant and travel business owner, to sommelier, wine columnist and more recently, food writer.
The American History Shelf
The Library of Congress
Jane Aikin
Georgetown University Press
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647125714, $32.95, HC, 356pp
https://www.amazon.com/Library-Congress-Jeffersons-Vision-Digital/dp/1647125715
Synopsis: The Library of Congress is the research arm of Congress, it is also the home of the US Copyright Office and a
public forum for artistic and literary culture. It is generally considered the national library of the United States, and it has
influenced cultural affairs worldwide in myriad ways since its founding more than two centuries ago.
With the publication of "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age", Jane Aikin draws on a
wealth of primary and secondary sources to weave a narrative of the individuals, events, and controversies that have
shaped the history of this venerable institution.
Punctuated by stories about key donors and pivotal performances by poets, authors, and celebrities, ": From Jefferson's
Vision to the Digital Age" is engaging and informative narrative sheds new light on the world's largest library and its
global impact on knowledge and culture.
Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well written, organized, and 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The
Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" by Jane Aikin is informatively enhanced for the reader's
benefit with the inclusion of a six page Appendix (Librarians of Congress), eighty pages of Notes, and a twenty-four page
Index. An extraordinary history of an extraordinary institution, "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the
Digital Age" is especially and unreservedly recommended for highschool, community, and college/university library
American History and Library Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for
students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition
of "The Library of Congress: From Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age" from the Georgetown University Press is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.30).
Editorial Note: Jane Aikin served as director of the Research Division at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her
publications include The Nation's Great Library: Herbert Putnam and the Library of Congress, 1899 - 1939 (1993) and, as
coeditor with John Y. Cole, Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation & the World (2005).
The World History Shelf
Amazons: The History Behind the Legend
David Braund
Cambridge University Press
www.cambridge.org
9781108834490, $39.99, HC, 318pp
https://www.amazon.com/Amazons-History-Behind-David-Braund/dp/1108834493
Synopsis: The idea of the Amazons is one of the most romantic and resonant in all antiquity.
Greeks were fascinated by images and tales of these fierce female fighters. At Troy, Achilles' duel with Penthesilea was a
clash of superman and superwoman. Achilles won the fight, but the queen's dying beauty had torn into his soul.
"Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by Professor David Braund is vibrant new study offers the first complete
picture of the reality behind the legends. It shows there was much more to the Amazons than a race of implacable warrior
women.
David Braund casts the Amazons in a new light: as figures of potent agency, founders of cities, guileful and clever as well
as physically impressive and sexually alluring to men.
Black Sea mythologies become key to unlocking the Amazons' mystery. Investigating legend through history, literature,
and archaeology, Professor Braund uncovers a truth as surprising and evocative as any fiction told through story or
myth.
Critique: Original, informative, fascinating, exceptionably well written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'reader
friendly' in presentation, "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by Professor David Braund is a seminal, meticulous,
insightful, and groundbreaking study that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and
college/university library Ancient History collections and supplemental Greek Antiquity/Mythology/History curriculum
studies lists. Informatively enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction (Amazons in Love, War, and Mind -- Their
Significance in Ancient Greek Culture), a illustrative section of Plates, a twenty-three page Bibliography, and a four page
Index, this hardcover edition of "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $37.99) to students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.
Editorial Note: David Braund is Emeritus Professor of Classics at the University of Exeter. An internationally acclaimed
authority on the ancient Black Sea, his books include Georgia in Antiquity: A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian
Iberia, 550 BC - AD 562 (Oxford University Press, 1994) and Greek Religion and Cults in the Black Sea Region:
Goddesses in the Bosporan Kingdom from the Archaic Period to the Byzantine Era (Cambridge University Press, 2018).
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/526219.David_Braund)
The Military History Shelf
Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War
Ben Connable
Georgetown University Press
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647125417, $110.95, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ground-Combat-Puncturing-Myths-Modern/dp/1647125413
Synopsis: With the publication of "Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War", Professor Ben Connable
reveals the gritty details of land warfare at the tactical level and challenges today's overly subjective and often inaccurate
approaches to characterizing war. Professor Connable's motivation for writing the study is to offer an evidence-based
approach to examining the future of war.
In "Ground Combat" Professor Connable created and analyzed an original dataset of more than four hundred global ground
combat cases, showing that there was an evolutionary rather than revolutionary shift in the characteristics of ground
combat from World War II through the early 2020s. Despite advances in military technology, tanks, artillery, and infantry
remain central to how war is waged on land. "Ground Combat" asks readers to stop and think about the implications of
these findings for force planning and future predictions about military-technical revolutions.
"Ground Combat" sets an essential evidentiary baseline for military officers, policymakers, and scholars who think about
the future of modern war.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Ground Combat: Puncturing the Myths of Modern War" is
an original, seminal, and groundbreaking study of extensive and meticulous scholarship. Of special and particular interest
and value to readers concerned with historical and contemporary military strategy and national/international security,
"Ground Combat" is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university Military History & Strategy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that
this hardcover edition of "Ground Combat" from the Georgetown University Press is also readily available in paperback
(9781647125424, $36.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.10).
Editorial Note: Ben Connable, (https://benconnable.com) is an award-winning research leader, a retired US Marine Corps
intelligence and foreign area officer, a former senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and an adjunct professor
in Georgetown University's Security Studies program.
Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders
James Holland, author
Al Murray, author
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802166418, $28.00, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Victory-45-End-War-Surrenders/dp/0802166415
Synopsis: In May 1945 and then again in August and early September, the seemingly endless World War II finally came to
a close in six dramatic surrender ceremonies, four in Europe and the last two in Japan.
With the publication of "Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" and in celebration of the 80th anniversary of
those historic events, historians and co-authors James Holland and Al Murray chronicle each of them in turn -- focusing
especially on the human dramas behind each surrender and relating stories and perspectives on the end of the war that have
not previously been told.
Germany's armies submitted to the Allies in four ceremonies between May 2 and June 7, the latter after considerable delays
by the Germans and threats from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander.
Japan then finally conceded only after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, initially on August 15th and then in a
formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on September 2.
Holland and Murray focus on specific characters participating in each of these world-changing events -- from ordinary
servicemen and women and civilians to generals and political leaders.
The saga of the first German surrender, in Italy, revolves around senior SS general Karl Wolff's personal battle to save his
own neck and involves VIP prisoners locked up in a resort in South Tyrol, art theft, money laundering, and the resistance
of other German commanders to give up.
The German surrender to the Americans on May 5 follows the fortunes of private Alan Moskin from New Jersey, whose
6th Infantry Regiment found themselves liberating Gunskirchen, one of Mauthausen's sub-concentration camps, the terrible
reality of which affected the rest of his life.
The stories surrounding the war's end are in their own way as dramatic as the strategy and battles themselves. As Holland
and Murray make clear, they add greatly to our understanding and appreciation of World War II and its legacy.
Critique: An original, seminal, unique, ground-breaking, and deftly crafted contribution to the ever expanding library of
World War II histories and biographies, "Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" by James Holland and Al
Murray is a welcome, informative, exceptional, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, and college/university library World War II History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Featuring a sixteen page Timeline, twelve pages of Notes, a six page bibliography of Selected Sources, and a seventeen
page Index, it should be noted for students, academia, and War War II history buffs that this hardcover edition of "Victory
'45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders" from the Atlantic Monthly Press is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $23.75).
Editorial Note #1: Arguably one of WWII's finest historians, James Holland is the author of Cassino '44, The Savage
Storm, Brothers in Arms, Sicily '43, Normandy '44, Big Week, The Rise of Germany and The Allies Strike Back in the
War in the West trilogy, Burma '44, and Dam Busters. He has written and presented the BAFTA shortlisted documentaries
Battle of Britain and Dam Busters for the BBC. (www.goodreads.com/author/list/78267.James_Holland)
Editorial Note #2: Al Murray (www.goodreads.com/author/list/660491.Al_Murray) is the author of Arnhem: Black
Tuesday and Command: How the Allies Learned to Win the Second World War. He is the co-host, with James Holland, of
the popular World War II history podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk.
The Civil War Shelf
Gettysburg Surgeons
Barbara Franco
Stackpole Books
c/o Globe Pequot
https://www.globepequot.com
9780811776486, $34.95, HC, 376pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gettysburg-Surgeons-Facing-Common-Deadliest/dp/0811776484
Synopsis: The battle of Gettysburg was arguably the bloodiest conflict of the American Civili War.
At Gettysburg's makeshift hospitals (set up in barns, churches, and blood-soaked fields) military and civilian surgeons
from both North and South worked around the clock performing life-saving operations under fire.
Drawing from a decade of meticulous research, with the publication of "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in
the Civil War's Deadliest Battle", independent historian Barbara Franco reveals how these courageous medical
professionals revolutionized battlefield medicine and established principles still saving lives today.
Through vivid accounts and previously untold stories, readers will discover:
How surgeons improvised new techniques that became standard trauma procedures
The harrowing reality of Civil War field hospitals during the three days of battle
How lessons learned at Gettysburg transformed American military medicine
The lasting impact on modern emergency and disaster response
"Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle" by Barbara Franco (the founding
director of the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum) is an unforgettable narrative of medicine, courage, and innovation
that speaks to both history enthusiasts and medical professionals. This definitive account shows how the medical crisis at
Gettysburg continues to influence how we treat mass casualties and train combat medics today.
Critique: Special, unique, meticulously researched, substantively informative, exceptionally well written, and thoroughly
'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common Enemy in the Civil War's
Deadliest Battle" is an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and
college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for students, academia, and Civil War buffs that this hardcover edition of "Gettysburg Surgeons: Facing a Common
Enemy in the Civil War's Deadliest Battle" from Stackpole Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$32.76).
Editorial Note: Barbara Franco (www.gettysburgsurgeons.com/about-the-author) is an independent scholar and nationally
recognized leader in the museum field. She has served as executive director of the Historical Society of Washington, DC,
the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and the Gettysburg Seminary Ridge Museum, where she was
founding director. She is past chairman of the American Association for State and Local History. Franco lives in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Lee Besieged
John Horn
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217384, $34.95, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Besieged-Petersburg-Offensive-18-July/dp/1611217385
Synopsis: The nine-month siege of Petersburg was the longest continuous operation of the American Civil War. Contrary
to popular belief, it was anything but static trench warfare, as John Horn ably demonstrates with the publication of "Lee
Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864".
Large-scale Union "offensives," grand maneuvers that often triggered major battles, broke the monotony of siege warfare.
Once his First Offensive (the assaults of June 15 - 18) failed to capture the city, the Union commander planned and
launched his next major effort within hours. This Second Offensive was one of the most dramatic operations of the entire
war.
To pave the way for success, Grant brought the city's bridges under the fire of his siege guns to slow the transfer of enemy
trips in and out of Petersburg. He also seized a bridgehead at Deep Bottom on James River's north bank to draw
Confederate forces out of Petersburg by menacing Richmond.
Next, he took more ambitious measures by sending infantry to hem in Petersburg from the Appomattox River below the
city to the Appomattox above. The move was designed to cut the critical Weldon and South Side railroads and force the
Rebels to abandon Petersburg and Richmond. As his infantry went to work, his cavalry set out to sever the Confederate
railroads below Petersburg to cut off supplies and reinforcements from the south and west.
Grant's opponent, however, was Gen. Robert E. Lee with his veteran infantry, not the inept John Floyd of Fort Donelson or
the distracted John C. Pemberton of Vicksburg.
Lee and his infantry division commander William Mahone marched to meet the enemy, and in a stunning turn of events,
routed Grant's foot soldiers at Jerusalem Plank Road. Together, Confederate cavalry under Wade Hampton and Mahone's
infantry smashed Grant's troopers at the battles of Sappony Church and First Reams Station.
Thousands of Federal prisoners flooded into Confederate camps. Not until April 1865, after seven more offensives, would
Grant reach the Appomattox above Petersburg and force Lee to relinquish that city and the capital of Richmond.
This is tactical battle action at its finest. Horn's explanation for the context and consequences of every decision is grounded
in hundreds of primary sources and supported by 40 original maps. Lee Besieged is the first full-length book to put Grant's
second effort into its proper perspective -- not only in the context of the Petersburg siege and the Civil War, but in the
context of warfare's history.
Critique: Comprehensive, meticulously researched, exceptionally well written, featuring numerous B/W illustrations. two
Appendices (Strength, Casualties, Effectiveness & The Orders of Battle), a twenty-six page Bibliography, and a seventeen
page Index, "Lee Besieged: Grant's Second Petersburg Offensive, June 18 - July 1, 1864" by John Horn is essential reading
and a welcome addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library American Civil War History
collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and Civil War history
buffs that this hardcover edition of "Lee Besieged" from Savas Beatie is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $20.95).
Editorial Note: John Horn has written three more books about the siege of Petersburg and that city's soldiers and co-edited
another. John's previous book, The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th Virginia Infantry from
John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859 - 1865 (Savas Beatie) won the 2019 Army Historical Foundation's
Distinguished Writing Award for Unit History. John is popular on the speaking circuit and has blogged at
www.johnhorncivilwarauthor.blogspot.com since 2015.
The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign
Stephen Davies, editor
Savas Beatie LLC
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611217278, $24.95, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/National-Tribune-Remembers-Atlanta-Campaign/dp/161121727X
Synopsis: As a repository for old soldiers' writings, the National Tribune is unequaled yet remains mostly unused. Indeed,
it is so good one might call it the Confederate Veteran for Billy Yank.
From 1877 to 1943, the National Tribune served as a compendium for Union veteran reminiscences, war yarns, and
postbellum reflections. The firsthand treasure-trove began as an eight-page monthly newspaper in 1881 and within a few
years it became a weekly. The Washington-based paper was founded by George E. Lemon, a veteran of the 125th New
York. Initially an advocate for Union veteran pensions, the National Tribune hit its stride when it began publishing articles
about the war penned by the Northern soldiers themselves.
Within three years, John McElroy, a Union veteran with editing experience and the author of a dramatic memoir about his
confinement at Andersonville (1879), assumed the reins as managing editor. His keen eye for detail and deep connections
elevated the quality and quantity of the content and resulted in the publication of thousands of exclusive firsthand
accounts. The National Tribune's final issue was on December 30, 1943. By that date, the Union veterans who had fought
the war were nearly all gone.
More than 1,000 items were published on the Atlanta Campaign alone: articles, memoirs, and letters on every topic
imaginable sent in by Union soldiers who had followed General Sherman into Georgia in 1864. The first appeared in June
1879 on the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta Campaign, edited by Stephen
Davis, offers 70 selections pertaining to the Atlanta Campaign. These entries, coupled Davis's insightful annotations,
advance the cause of Civil War scholarship by bringing back into print an array of some of the most important writing
about the conflict penned by the men who fought in it.
Critique: Unique, exceptional, informative, a seminal source for eyewitness accounts of fighting and endurance in the
American Civil War. and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "The National Tribune Remembers the Atlanta
Campaign: Battles, Skirmishes, Marches, and Camp Life as Recalled by the Union Veterans Themselves", compiled and
edited by Stephen Davis, is a very special and unreservedly recommended acquisition for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library American Civil War History collections and supplemental curriculum studies
lists.
Editorial Note: Stephen Davis of Cumming, Georgia, is the author of many books related to the Atlanta Campaign,
including a pair for the Emerging Civil War series: A Long and Bloody Task: The Atlanta Campaign from Dalton through
Kennesaw to the Chattahoochee, May 5 - July 18, 1864 and All the Fighting They Want: The Atlanta Campaign from
Peachtree Creek to the Surrender, July 18 - September 2, 1864 (Savas Beatie, 2016, 2017). He is also the editor, with
Theodore P. Savas, of a forthcoming volume of essays on the Georgia Campaign and Sherman's March to the Sea.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14735260.Stephen_Davis)
The Tenacious Nurse Nichols
Eileen Yanoviak
The Lyons Press
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
www.globepequot.com
9781493053339, $29.95, HC, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Tenacious-Nurse-Nichols-Unsung-Civil/dp/1493053337
Synopsis: There are only two known images of Lucy Higgs Nichols, a Civil War nurse who escaped enslavement to join
the Indiana 23rd Regiment.
In one captivating photograph dated to 1898, the elderly Lucy is the sole female and the only person of color. She stands
stately in the middle of a large group of war veterans at a reunion that she diligently attended every year. Some of these
soldiers were from the Indiana 23rd Regiment, the men whom she nursed and with whom she marched and fought.
These soldiers fiercely advocated for her Civil War nurse's pension in the 1890s.
Her life story is remarkable -- a journey from enslavement in Tennessee, to freedom and service among the ranks of the
Union Army, and finally to independence and national recognition from the press, the Grand Army of the Republic, and
even Congress.
Despite harrowing obstacles and unimaginable pain, Lucy achieved notoriety, nobility, and self-sufficiency in a post-Civil
War era that often denied Black Americans and women justice and opportunity.
Critique: "The Tenacious Nurse Nichols: An Unsung African American Civil War Hero" by biographer Eileen Yanoviak
ranges from the horrors of slavery to the battlefields of the Civil War, a personal journey that resulted in Lucy Higgs
Nichols has become a symbol of resilience and a trailblazer for justice and equality. A unique Civil War biography that is
enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative Introduction and Epilogue, "The Tenacious Nurse
Nichols" also features a nine page Selected Bibliography the includes a listing of Select Newspaper Articles, Documents,
and Manuscript Collections. An impressive and seminal work of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "The Tenacious
Nurse Nichols" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library American Civil
War History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia,
American Civil War buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of
"The Tenacious Nurse Nichols" from Lyons Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.46).
Editorial Note: Eileen Yanoviak holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Louisville. She is the former Director
of the Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana. She is the co-editor of a collection of essays entitled
Formations of Identity: Society, Politics, and Landscape (2016) from Cambridge Scholars Publishing and author of Gaela
Erwin: Reframing the Past (2016) from the Speed Art Museum. She has authored numerous scholarly essays for Art
Inquiries, among others. She also teaches for Northern Kentucky University and the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock.
The Wildlife Shelf
The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past
Sandra Swart
Ohio University Press
www.ohioswallow.com
9780821426258, $26.95, PB, 392pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lions-Historian-Africas-Animal-Past/dp/0821426257
Synopsis: "Until the lion has a historian of his own, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."
With the publication of "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past", Professor Sandra Swart takes up the challenge of that
African proverb and, with this study, becomes the lion's historian.
As a species, humans are not alone; but our history has been written as though we were. Swart insists on a multispecies
retelling of our more-than-human past as she reconstructs a shifting series of significant interspecies relationships, from
quirky, idiosyncratic connections to others that triggered major changes.
Embracing a radical interdisciplinarity informed by a background in history and environmental studies, Professor Swart
combines the natural sciences with the social sciences, oral history, indigenous knowledge, and archival research. She
blends current thinking about animal sentience, agency, cognition, and emotion to offer a new way to understand animals'
role in our shared history.
The animals in this book (baboons, cows, elephants, hippos, horses, jackals, lions, Nazi cattle, okapi, police dogs, quagga,
sheep, and white ants) exemplify different facets of our shared past. With this animal-centric lens, decades of research are
brought together in a collection that takes animals seriously.
This is a study with claws and fangs, tearing through conventional narratives to ask, Are we prepared to move beyond the
convention that "history" is the story of only our own species? The entanglements between humans and other animals have
shaped our past, but they suggest something more.
The possibility of our shared future pivots on a reckoning with our shared pasts. Professor Swart shows what
human-animal history can do, not only to understand our place in the world better but to make our world (however
slightly) a better place.
Critique: Original, unique, the product of exhaustive and meticulous research, impressively informative, expertly written,
organized and presented, "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past" by Professor Sandra Swart is a seminal and
groundbreaking study that will be of particular interest to readers with a concern for African Human/Wildlife History,
Biology, and Environmental Science. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library African Wildlife Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it
should be noted for students, academia, environmentalists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that this paperback edition of "The Lion's Historian: Africa's Animal Past" from the Ohio University Press is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.60).
Editorial Note: Sandra Swart is a professor and chair of the Department of History at Stellenbosch University. She received
her DPhil in modern history from Oxford University while simultaneously obtaining an MSc in environmental change and
management, also at Oxford. She studies the socioenvironmental history of southern Africa, focusing on the shifting
relationship of humans and animals. (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=AhJ7nIwAAAAJ&hl=en)
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
Mosaic
Laura Gaddis
https://lauragaddis.com
Unsolicited Press
https://www.unsolicitedpress.com
9781956692914, $22.95, PB, 290pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Laura-Gaddis/dp/1956692916
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mosaic-laura-gaddis/1146431247
Synopsis: "Mosaic" is a deeply personal life story with a universal resonance. It's a story of exploration and
self-identification, of grief, relationships, tackling mental health, and how to walk through difficult times when there is
nowhere else to go.
"Mosaic" follows Laura, who along with her husband Jason, embarked on having a baby, only to go on a journey that
spanned over five years.
Over this time, Laura learned the hard truth about pregnancy loss, the medical field, and how to negotiate unforeseen
difficulties. She persevered through four high-risk pregnancies, with the last one being a pregnancy more successful than
the rest. Yet, it posed many tribulations, launching Laura and her husband into the world of an unpredictable birth, fetal
abnormalities, their premature baby, the NICU, and breath-holding.
"Mosaic" delves into grief and resilience, and how they work together to get Laura through a difficult time in her life. It
also shows how relying on her own mother also taught her how to enter motherhood for herself, no matter at what stage
she considered herself to be a "mother."
"Mosaic" explores how to use challenges to change us into better versions of ourselves.
Critique: Deftly written, emotionally engaging, informative, insightful, inspiring, "Mosaic" by Laura Gaddis is one of those
memoirs that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book has been finished and set back upon the
shelf. Especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary American
Biography/Memoir collections and supplemental Pregnancy/Childbirth curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for
readers with an interest in books focused on love, loss, death and grief, that this paperback edition of "Mosaic" from
Unsolicited Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Laura Gaddis (https://lauragaddis.com) is a writer, book coach, and educator. With a former career in
clinical psychology, and more recently earning her MFA in creative writing from the Miami University (of Ohio), she is
interested in writing about the human condition, whether it be her own or that of others. Laura writes fiction and nonfiction
that centers around the idea that through storytelling we can connect humanity on profound levels, elevating us to be better
for ourselves and for each other. Her writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and she has publications in literary
nonfiction, poetry, and humor fiction in Thin Air Magazine, The Avalon Literary Review, Adelaide Literary Magazine,
Ligeia Magazine, Pif Magazine, Vita Brevis Press, Kitchen Sink Magazine, The Dillydoun Review, Evening Street
Review, 805 Lit + Art, Stonecoast Review, The Weekly Humorist. Additionally, she has published articles on parenting
and mental health on the popular websites Scary Mommy, Tiny Buddha, and The Mighty.
The General Fiction Shelf
In Berlin
Eric Silberstein
Liu Book Group
9781737351979, $32.00, HC, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Eric-Silberstein/dp/1737351978
Synopsis: Software engineer Anna Werner lives at a rapid clip, relishing her work and adopted city as much as her early
morning runs. All comes undone on a sweaty August evening when, in the course of a 20-minute commute, Anna goes
from worrying vaguely over a sore shoulder to staggering her way into an ambulance. She has suffered a spinal stroke.
Over the coming months, her parents join the insurance man in telling her to get ready for life in a group home.
The only person who recognizes what Anna is still capable of is Batul al-Jaberi, a recent Syrian immigrant who meets
Anna while doing her rounds as a janitor at the hospital. Batul is applying to medical school, where she hopes to regain
control of a life hijacked by her family's flight from persecution in the early days of the Arab Spring.
At first the friendship is what Anna and Batul each need to regain mobility. But as their relationship deepens, Batul finds
she must choose between her family and Anna-a choice that will force both women to rewrite their notions of loyalty!
Critique: With the publication of "In Berlin", author Eric Silberstein presents a finely crafted novel of geopolitics,
ambition, and competing loyalties. Original, exceptional, inherently compelling, and as relevant as today's nightly news
headlines, "In Berlin" is a fascinating read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for
community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this
hardcover edition of "In Berlin" from the Liu Book Group is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
Editorial Note: Eric Silberstein (https://www.ericsilberstein.com) is also the author of "The Insecure Mind of Sergei
Kraev".
Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop
Sharon Booth
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836567578, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 288pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836567578
Synopsis: The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in
action. But there's more to the place than any visitor would guess...
Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that
the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too... as a ghost!
When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of
war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since
her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.
A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families' connections to a head and tragic secrets to light. Can
Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever
after?
Critique: An original and simply delightful blending of the supernatural with romance, suspense, family tragedies, and life
in an English village, this large print trade paperback edition of "Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop" by Sharon Booth
is a fun and engaging read from cover to cover and a very special and praiseworthy addition to personal reading lists and
community library General Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Sharon Booth (https://www.sharonboothwriter.com) writes cosy romances, as warm and welcoming as a
mug of hot chocolate, served in delicious, small-town settings, stirred with family relationships, close friendships, and
tight-knit communities, and topped with a swirl of humour. They are also available with a scoop of the supernatural, and/or
sprinkles of magic and mystery! New for 2025! Ghosts of Rowan Vale is a brand-new series set in the stunning Cotswolds.
Cosy contemporary romance with a dash of ghostly goings-on! Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall, the first in the series, is out
now. Sharon lives in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
Lancaster Gold
Katia Lebeau
Independently Published
9798282164336, $21.99, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/LANCASTER-GOLD-Suspenseful-Tale-Faith/dp/B0F7XX59YY
Synopsis: Shielded by tradition, one family rules the region's most unlikely operation with old-world precision, bound by
loyalty, silence, and secrets.
When a million-dollar shipment sparks a high-stakes road trip, two sisters and three rogue brothers hit the highway,
chasing freedom and outrunning suspicion. A young couple amongst them, defying tradition for forbidden love, risks
everything to face the dangers ahead.
But as state lines blur, so do the truths of their past. Loyalties fracture, secrets unravel, and redemption demands its price.
Is their path guided by God's will -- or is faith just a cloak for betrayal?
Set against the haunting beauty of the Amish country of Lancaster County, "Lancaster Gold: A Suspenseful Tale of Faith
and Risk" by Katia Lebeau explores loyalty, faith, and a love willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, inherently fascinating, and a memorable read from start to finish (and all the more
impressive when noting that it is her debut as a novelist), "A Suspenseful Tale of Faith and Risk" artfully showcases author
Katia Lebeau's authentic and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling skills that will be especially
appreciated by readers with an interest in Amish and Mennonite family saga and crime fiction novels that are populated by
interesting characters, forbidden love, and unexpected plot twists. While especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted that this
hardcover edition of "Lancaster Gold" is also readily available in paperback (9798315400639, $15.00) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Katia Lebeau is a Canadian author and educator from Montreal. A lifelong storyteller and passionate
teacher, she draws inspiration from her roots, her deep love of language, and the beautiful chaos of raising four
daughters.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Wayward Girls
Susan Wiggs
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063118270, $30.00, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Girls-Novel-Susan-Wiggs/dp/0063118270
Synopsis: Set in 1968, "Wayward Girls" by novelist Susan Wiggs is the story of six teens who are confined at the Good
Shepherd (a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns). Locked away merely for being gay,
pregnant, or simply unruly, the include:
Mairin -- free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.
Angela -- denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a
predator.
Helen -- the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her "temporary" stay at the Good Shepherd
stretch into years.
Odessa -- caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her
sentence.
Denise -- sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.
Janice -- deeply insecure, she couldn't decide where her loyalty lay, except when it came to her friend Kay, who would
never outgrow her childlike dependency.
The there is Sister Bernadette -- rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as
her conscience weighed on her.
"Wayward Girls" is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find
the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, memorable, emotionally engaging, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover,
"Wayward Girls" reveals author Susan Wiggs' immense talent as an imaginative, compelling, and narrative driven
storyteller. Raised to an impressive level of literary excellence, "Wayward Girls" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that this hardcover edition of "Wayward Girls" from William Morrow is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $14.99). There is also a large print paperback edition of "Wayward Girls" (9780063441903, $34.00, 640pp) from
William Morrow Large Print.
Editorial Note: Susan Wiggs (https://www.susanwiggs.com) is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved
Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville
Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Once Upon A Thyme
Jane Lovering
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835332511, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 346pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835332511
Synopsis: All her life, Natalie Fisher has been taught not to ask questions. Why risk uncovering uncomfortable truths,
when you can stay in the safety of blissful denial?
Since taking over the family herb farm, Natalie has stuck with what she knows, rarely venturing much further than the
nearby village where her invalid mother now lives. But then, one day, everything changes with the arrival of unexpected
visitors.
First comes Zeb, employed by Natalie's mother to help with the business but soon hinting at other motives. Then comes
Simon with the famous band he manages, wanting to film in Natalie's beautiful garden. The band causes chaos and the
attitude of one particular member throws Natalie's ordered life into confusion.
Over one magical summer of revelations and uncovering secrets, Natalie starts to blossom and by the time autumn arrives
she knows nothing will ever be the same again.
Will she finally get an answer to the mystery of her childhood? And can she embrace the fresh start she so deserves -- but
which means she'll have to take one enormous and brave leap of faith?
Critique: A fun, original, memorable, and emotionally engaging read from start to finish, this large print trade paperback
edition of "Once Upon a Thyme" by novelist Jane Lovering will have a particular appeal to readers with an interest in
carefully crafted romances that are conflicted, authentic, and creative. This edition of "Once Upon a Thyme" from
Boldwood Books" is an ideal and popular pick for personal reading lists and community library Large Print Romance
Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: British author Jane Lovering is a highly regarded novelist of romance and paranormal novels, creating
stories that really stand the test of time. Infusing her fiction with comedy and a sense-of-humor, she's a gifted writer
drawing in readers from all over. This is something that she's come to excel at in recent years, being one of the foremost
writers currently working within her field to date. Instantly accessible, she's extremely talented, knowing exactly what it is
that she wants to say and precisely how to say it. There is an online listing of her books available at:
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/jane-lovering
To Catch a Lord
Emma Orchard
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836338536, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 439pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836338536
Synopsis: London, 1813. As a daughter of the notorious Wyverne family, Lady Amelia is used to being the subject of
gossip. But while she has accepted her marred reputation (however unfair it is) she hates the horrible men it attracts.
Amelia decides she needs a suitor of impeccable repute to save her from the attentions of ungentlemanly gentlemen, and
who better than the handsome and famously moral Lord Thornfalcon?
Since coming into his title, 'Thorn' has been besieged by women who want to marry him, or have an affair with him, or
both -- so perhaps a pretend relationship might suit him too? There's just one small catch. Thorn's childhood sweetheart
Lavinia has also set her sights on him again, and rallied half the ton behind her.
But what does that matter to Amelia -- it's only a fake engagement, isn't it? Except, as Lavinia and her friends try to tear
Amelia and Thorn apart, she starts to realise that her feelings may not be quite so fake after all. Because the trouble with
brave and handsome Lords is... they might just steal your heart!
Critique: Regency romance at its most original and best, this large print trade paperback edition of "To Catch a Lord" is a
fun read from cover to cover. Novelist Emma Orchard demonstrates and impressive master of this romance genre with her
distinctive, effective, and narrative driven storytelling style and expertise. "To Catch a Lord" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal reading lists and community library Large Print Romance collections.
Editorial Note: Emma Orchard Emma Orchard was born in Salford. She studied English Literature at the Universities of
Edinburgh and York, before working behind the scenes in publishing and television for many years. Her first job was at
Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. She now lives in North London. Her
books are listed online at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23140742.Emma_Orchard
The Western Fiction Shelf
Long John
D. D. Lang
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855210, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 208pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855210
Synopsis: William Henry John was a small time rancher. But when his wife died in a riding accident, he became a broken
man. He turned to drink. At first his neighbors were helpful and sympathetic, but Henry John soon became the town drunk
and was ignored by all. Then one day his life changed. He saved the life of a young woman who he thought was his dead
wife. She thanked him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. From that day forth, William Henry John became a changed, if
disturbed, man.
Critique: An inherently fascinating and extraordinary novel set in the west, this large print paperback edition of "Long
John" by historical novelist D. D. Lang is both unique and memorable. Simply stated, "Long John" is a highly
recommended addition to both personal reading lists and community library Historical Fiction and Western Fiction
collections.
Editorial Note: D.D. Lang is the author of more than 40 Black Horse Westerns. He lives in Hawarden, North Wales.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/408937.D_D_Lang)
Shadow Shooters
George Arthur
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855197, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 296pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855197
Synopsis: Released from Yuma Prison in the fall of 1878, after serving three years for bank robbery, Anson Hawkstone
returns to the Apache village where he lived, determined to find Rachel, his former love, and give up the outlaw trail.
However, things do not go as planned when he is forced to take part in a stagecoach hold-up after Hattie, an Apache
princess, is taken hostage. Hawkstone is pushed to the limit in trying to avenge the wrongs committed by other men before
he can finally be reunited with Rachel.
Critique: Original, exceptional, memorable, and a fun read that will be particularly appreciated by dedicated fans of
western action/adventure novels about flawed heroes going up against great odds with guns blazing! This large print
paperback edition of veteran author George Aruther's "Shadow Shooters" from the Linford Western Library series will
prove a welcome and appreciated pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: George Arthur has published more than 53 books and dozens of short stories and articles. George is now
committed to writing westerns, and has started his Hawkstone series of western novels.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1991135.George_Arthur)
Trouble at Painted River
Matt Cole
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855227, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 232pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855227
Synopsis: Outlaw Birch Hamilton was born Birch Kent, a bastard boy who was thrust into a life of crime at the age of 16.
Now he was attempting to do the near impossible -- break out of the Yuma Territorial Prison. Once out, his plans are
two-fold: to return home to see his beloved mother, and to be reunited with the woman he has loved since his youth. He
also intends to settle a score with the meanest man he ever knew -- his father. But with bounty hunters and the law on his
trail, and his outlaw partner Molly Floyd at his side, Birch's plans prove far from straightforward.
Critique: Deftly crafted, original, clever, compelling, and a fully entertaining action/adventure western from start to finish,
"Trouble at Painted River" showcases veteran western author Matt Cole's genuine flair for the kind of storytelling that
keeps his readers fully engaged with unexpected plot twists and memorable characters. This large print paperback edition
of "Trouble at Painted River" will prove an immediate popular pick for the personal reading lists of western novel fans and
community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: Matt Cole is the author of more than 20 novels. A listing of his books is available at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/990012.Matt_Cole.
Texan Secrets
Dirk Hawkman
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444855203, $25.00/$21.25, PB, Large Print, 248pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444855203
Synopsis: Sheriff Owen Rowlands' closest friend Renard has gone missing. Searching his friend's ransacked house, the
lawman finds a dying man on the bed -- but no sign of Renard. Determined to track down his friend, Rowlands investigates
links to a mysterious gang, only to find that his old friend was not what he seemed. As he hunts down the gang to their
mountain lair, a deadly secret is unraveled, and the sheriff finds that his world is flipped upside down.
Critique: Compelling action/adventure replete with unexpected plot twists and turns, this large print paperback edition of
Texan Secrets" by the veteran western author Dirk Hawkman is a fun and riveting read that will be especially appreciated
by dedicated western novels fans. This large print edition of "Texan Secrets" from the Linford Western Library series is a
welcome and recommended pick for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Editorial Note: A complete listing of titles by western novelist Dirk Hawkman can be found online at
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17769233.Dirk_Hawkman
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Dangerous
Essie Fox
Thorpe/Charnood
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444856033, $42.00/$35.70, PB, Large Print, 360pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781444856033
Synopsis: Living in exile in Venice, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city
But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The
Vampyre is published under his name, rumors begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer!
As events escalate and tensions rise (and his own life is endangered, as well as those he holds most dear) Byron is forced to
play detective, to discover who is really behind these heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the scandals of his own infamous past
come back to haunt him...
Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron's life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling
historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself...
Critique: This large print trade paperback edition of "Dangerous" by author Essie Fox is an impressively crafted blending
of an historical murder mystery with a compelling action/adventure vampire theme that is an original, clever, and fun read
from cover to cover. This large print edition of "Dangerous" from Thorpe/Charnwood is an especially welcome and
wholeheartedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.
Editorial Note: Essie Fox (https://essiefox.com) was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her
writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the
Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin - before becoming self-employed in the
world of art and design. Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The
Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. The Last Days
of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Her latest
novel, The Fascination is based in Victorian country fairgrounds, the glamour of the London theatres, and an Oxford Street
museum full of morbid curiosities. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on
this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.
Murder In the City of Light
Michael Mandaville
Creative Explorer Publication
https://creativeexplorer-michaelmandaville.com
ASIN: B09FZTJDRJ, $4.99 Kindle, $24.99 PB, 322pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Death-Aristotle-Witzer-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09FZTJDRJ
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-the-city-of-light-michael-mandaville/1145998918
Synopsis: In Paris, American film student Adele Longet is found murdered. Aristotle Witzer (a Defense Analyst new to
America's Paris embassy) receives a late night call to get a police report. Witzer is drawn into hunting for her killer,
leading to encounters with film fanatics, Catacombs lovers, and scum from France's Nazi past.
In the Paris Catacombs, underground rave parties blaze until dawn with ecstasy, sex and cinema as Witzer scrambles
through this subterranean web -- the haunt of French kings, the sanctuary for Resistance Fighters and the domain of
partying 'Cataphiles'.
Who murdered Adele? Unexposed French collaborators? Drug dealers? Criminal kingpins? He can trust no one. On a hot
summer night, when a famed music festival shuts down the City of Light, he searches for a drug lab with answers to
Adele's murder - and the clue to his own daughter's kidnaping - before he loses her to "A Cold Death".
In the words of author Michael Mandaville: "Paris is among the greatest and probably is greatest city in the world. The
City of Light. To me, the magic of Paris is found on every street corner and turn. The city itself is a treasured vault of
history, architecture, art, language and learning. I visited the Lutece - an ancient Roman amphitheatre - and the Pompidou
Centre in the same day. Having gone to Paris numerous times, I was excited to actually visit their libraries. Geek that I am.
I went to the Bibliotheque Mazarine and the Bibliotheque Richelieu. In their old stately buildings, they were magnificent.
The old book collection at Mazarine was enthralling. And there's a cool secret entrance hidden on the book shelves for the
library workers - which is a door looking like book shelves. I also went to a great World War II museum there in Paris
about the Resistance Fighter hero, Jean Moulin. Enthralling if you are a World War II history junkie. There is no place like
Paris with its energy and intrigue, history and great thought. Paris is a creative explorer's mindset."
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Murder in the City of Light" showcases
author Michael Mandaville's complete mastery of the suspense thriller mystery genre and genuine flair for the kind of
narrative driven storytelling style that fully engages the reader with its memorable characters and unexpected plot twists.
This digital book edition of "Murder in the City of Light" is especially and unreservedly recommended for readers with an
interest in classic noir murder mysteries and suspense thrillers.
Editorial Note: Michael Mandaville graduated from the University of Southern California with a Masters Degree in their
Professional Writing program. He received a B.A. in Philosophy at UC Santa Barbara and attended the B.A. Film program
at Columbia College. As a Film Industry professional, he works as a Line Producer/Unit Production Manager on feature
films and TV. (https://creativeexplorer-michaelmandaville.com/about-michael-8733-4233-4764)
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter
D. K. Thorne
Independently Published
ASIN: B0DYFB8SCS, $4.99 Kindle
9783000815683, $TBA print, 374pp
https://www.amazon.com/Onyros-Chronicles-Splinter-Dystopian-Consciousness-ebook/dp/B0DYFB8SCS
Synopsis: In a dying world, the last frontier is the mind. -- And reality is a relic.
Humanity has abandoned the physical world for the digital world of Onyros -- a vast, dystopian virtual sprawl where
consciousness thrives and flesh is obsolete.
Logan Bochniak is an illegal extractor, pulling minds out of digital paradise before they collapse for good. Years of
jumping between realities have left his own psyche dangerously frayed.
Then he finds it: An impossible anomaly. A hidden signal. Something even the creators of Onyros can't explain.
As reality fractures and enforcers close in, Logan races to uncover the source of the anomaly -- and the truth behind
humanity's final escape.
Critique: With the publication of "The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Book for Adults about
Consciousness and Identity", author D. K. Thorne has created an inherently fascinating, deftly crafted, and original story
that will hold a special attraction for science fiction fans with an interest in dystopian science fiction in a cerebral,
high-concept thriller akin to the Matrix trilogy. A high tech thriller about 'identity, consciousness, and the cost of living
inside your own illusion', "The Onyros Chronicles I: Splinter" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Science Fiction collections and the personal reading lists of dedicated, hardcore cyber punkscience fiction fans.
Editorial Note: D. K. Thorne (https://dkthorne.net) studied philosophy and sociology and holds a B. Sc. in Psychology.
With philosophical science fiction as his first love, Thorne crafts stories that explore the complex intersection between
consciousness and reality.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Huxley
Ben Mauro
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500298435, $35.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/HUXLEY-Ben-Mauro/dp/0500298432
Synopsis: "Huxley" by Ben Mauro is a boundary-breaking graphic novel whose story takes place on a once-thriving world
that is now buried in the ashes of a nuclear holocaust and ruined by generations of planetary wars -- it lies in perpetual
waste.
To save humanity from itself, the remaining AI-bred and cloned elite humans are trained to become workers, soldiers, and
enforcers (including armored warriors known as Ronin) to help keep order and give humanity a purpose in this brave new
world. After a certain age, the clones start to think for themselves and are sent on increasingly dangerous missions until
they are killed or "retired," replaced by younger and more compliant clones, until the cycle repeats itself.
While humanity limps on, the lives of two soldiers, Max and Kai, become intertwined on a routine mission upon
discovering an ancient sentient robot known as Huxley, and soon find themselves caught up in a mystery of galactic scale,
as the robot's true purpose is slowly revealed.
A thrilling sci-fi debut by artist and world-builder Ben Mauro's "Huxley" sets the stage for an immersive postapocalyptic
adventure that will leave readers captivated and hungry for more.
Critique: Comprised of 230 color illustrated, deftly crafted, storytelling images by artist/illustrator/storyteller Ben Munro,
this large format (8.1 x 0.8 x 10.6 inches, 2.4 pounds) paperback edition of "Huxley" from Thames & Hudson is original,
imaginative, extraordinary, fascinating, and memorable. Especially and unreservedly recommended for fans of Post-
Apocalyptic Science Fiction fans, "Huxley will prove an enduringly popular pick for community library Graphic Novel
collections and reading lists.
Editorial Note: Ben Mauro (https://www.benmaurodesign.com) is a luminary in the world of concept art and visual design.
He has contributed to blockbuster hits such as Elysium, Chappie, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Lucy, The
Amazing Spiderman 2, and the iconic The Hobbit Trilogy, working with directors Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro, Luc
Besson, and Neill Blomkamp to help bring their visionary films to life. His personal IP, HUXLEY(R), showcases his
prowess as a storyteller and creator, blending captivating visuals with compelling narratives.
Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My Business
Raymond Chandler, author
Arvind Ethan David, author
Ilias Kyriazis, illustrator
Cris Peter, colorist
Pantheon Books
www.pantheonbooks.com
9780553387599, $29.00, HC, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Raymond-Chandlers-Trouble-My-Business/dp/0553387596
Synopsis: In 1940s Los Angeles, a sour-faced millionaire hires Philip Marlowe, a hard-boiled, harder-drinking detective, to
scare off a suspected gold digger who has gotten her claws into his even wealthier stepson. Marlowe takes the case but
quickly discovers that the woman, Harriett Huntress, isn't just after gold: she's playing a long, cold game of revenge...
Marlowe forms an alliance with George, the client's chauffeur-cum-bodyguard-cum-fixer. George is a Black,
Dartmouth-educated veteran with a sniper's skills and his own agenda, and the two uneasy allies find themselves on the
wrong end of a brace of hired killers and an enigmatic casino boss... It quickly becomes clear that Marlowe, sticking his
nose where it doesn't belong, is just asking for trouble. But that's the thing. Trouble is his business.
Critique: A true crime noir classic now brilliantly adapted to a graphic novel format, "Raymond Chandler's Trouble Is My
Business" is a compelling and entertaining read from start to finish. Based on the late Raymond Chandler hard-boiled
detective novel, "Trouble is My Business", this large format (7.51 x 0.55 x 11.24 inches, 1.44 pounds) hardcover graphic
novel edition is part of the Pantheon Graphic Library series and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and
college/university library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Raymond Chandler's
Trouble Is My Business" from Pantheon Books is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note #1: Raymond Thornton Chandler (1888 - 1959) was the master writer of American hard-boiled crime
fiction. At the age of forty-five began writing fiction, publishing his first stories in Black Mask. Chandler's detective
stories often starred the brash but honorable Philip Marlowe (introduced in 1939 in his first novel, The Big Sleep) and
were noted for their literate presentation and dead-on critical eye. Never a prolific writer, Chandler published only one
collection of stories and seven novels in his lifetime. Some of Chandler's novels, like The Big Sleep, were made into
classic movies that helped define the film noir style. In the last year of his life he was elected president of the Mystery
Writers of America.
Editorial Note #2: Arvind Ethan David is a Stoker Award nominated graphic novelist who has also written chart-topping
Audiodramas (The Crimes of Dorian Gray, Earworms), television (Anansi Boys) and plays (The Boy with Wings). Arvind
is also a producer of film and theater, including the Emmy & Grammy award winning musical Jagged Little Pill. Arvind's
career started when he adapted the Douglas Adams novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency as his college play and
Adams came to see it. Years later, Arvind brought Dirk Gently to a global audience as a Netflix/AMC TV series.
The Audiobook Shelf
Murder at the Ponte Vecchio
T. A. Williams, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781835187869, $83.95/$71.36, 6 CDs (8 Hours 19 Minutes)
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781835187869
Synopsis: Private investigator, Dan Armstrong, lives and works in Florence and knows the world famous Ponte Vecchio
well. Usually a magnet for tourists, on this occasion it is the scene of an unexplained death, and Dan finds himself
involved in the intriguing case.
Dan quickly discovers that the victim, an elderly jeweller, was every bit as hard as the diamonds he sold in his shop on the
bridge. Few people liked him, not even his adult children, and his business dealings look murkier than the waters of the
River Arno. Dan suspects more secrets lie hidden -- perhaps inside the massive safe in the old man's luxury villa...
As the evidence begins to mount up, so too do the several suspects with their different motives. With a fortune in gold
bullion and precious stones involved, Dan thinks the only way to catch the killer is to lay a trap, but might he be caught in
the killer's sights? Fortunately, he has Oscar, his canine wingman at his side, always eager to prove that he's as good as
gold.
Can Dan and Oscar sniff out the killer's tracks or will this case be a bridge too far?
Critique: Once again the wildly popular 'Armstrong & Ocare another cosy mystery series title is available in a full 'theatre
of the mind' experience with complete and unabridged audio book release of T. A. Williams's "Murder at the Ponte
Vecchio" from Boldwood Books. Once again the narrative storytelling talents of Simon Mattacks does full justice to the
characters and storylines comprising "Murder at the Ponte Vecchio". This traditional 6 CD edition with its hard plastic
clamshell casing is an ideal and solidly recommended pick for community library Mystery/Suspense audio book
collections. It should be noted for fans of the cozy mystery and private investigator genres that "Murder at the Ponte
Vecchio" is also readily available from Boldwood Books in an MP3-CD format (9781835187876, $83.95/$71.36).
Editorial Note #1: A male author, T. A. Williams is a pseudonym used because 65% of books are read by women. He has
written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories, romances and whodunnits.
Editorial Note #2: Simon Mattacks (https://www.simonmattacks.com) has been doing voice over and narrator work for
advertisements, cartoons, corporate videos, video games, and audio books for more than 30 years.
Tide of Waves and Secrets
C. L. Mecca, author
Kate Handford, narrator
Max Dowler, narrator
Boldwood Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781836562900, $90.95/$77.31, 7 CDs (8 Hours 48 Minutes)
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781836562900
Synopsis: A daring spy.
A rebel princess.
A kingdom on the brink of war.
When a mysterious human, Sir Rowan arrives in the immortal realm of Thalassaria seeking the legendary Tidal Pearl,
Thalassarian guard Nerys is assigned as his escort and to keep close whilst he's in the palace. But her duty wars with her
desires as the more time she spends with Rowan, the harder it becomes for them to ignore their growing attraction.
Powerful, enigmatic, and devastatingly mortal, Rowan stirs something deep within her that could change the course of her
future.
Trapped within the palace while the queen decides the humans' fate, Nerys realizes her allegiances are shifting. With the
tidal peal at risk, there is only one way to protect it... by challenging the Queen's crown. But as the moment approaches,
Nerys and Rowan are forced to confront a choice between loyalty to their realms or a love that defies the laws of
mortality.
In a kingdom where magic flows like the tides, one secret could drown them both!
Critique: Action/adventure high fantasy at its best, "Tide of Waves and Secrets" by C. L. Mecca has been brought to
fantasy fans in a complete and unabridged listening experience with the impressive narrative storytelling skills of
experienced vocal actors Kate Handford and Max Dowler. This Boldwood Books audio book production will prove to be
an immediately welcome and enduringly popular pick for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book
collections. It should be noted that this hard plastic clamshell casing traditional CD edition for "Tide of Waves and
Secrets" is also readily available in an MP3-CD format (9781836562917, $90.95/$77.31).
Editorial Note: C.L. Mecca (a.k.a. Cissy Mecca) writes romance with a twist loves to transport readers to another time and
place. Her debut romantasy series, Heirs of Elydor, begins with Whisper of War and Storms, a story packed with forbidden
love, elemental magic, and a lost princess. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149245.C_L_Mecca)
Editorial Note #2: Kate Hanford (https://www.voicesquad.com/artist/kate-handford) is an actress and award winning voice
over artist. She has narrated over 100 audiobooks; performed in video games and voices projects for international brands
and charities.
Editorial Note #3: Max Dowler (https://maxdowler.com) always brings his vocal acting A-game to any project he works
on. He is always interested in trying something new.
A Lethal Cocktail
Ciar Byrne, author
Jilly Bond, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399189873, $100.95/$85.61, 8 CDs (8 Hours 56 Minutes)
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399189873
Synopsis: Three ex-husbands.
Two ex-wives.
One shocking murder.
A wedding that's the talk of the town...
Tudor Close Hotel, Rottingdean, is the most glamorous venue of the season. And not somewhere Virginia or her sister
Vanessa would usually choose to frequent. They're far happier at home with their writing or painting, than brushing
shoulders with debutantes or starlets.
But Lady Ottoline has had a difficult year, so (despite her rather outlandish tastes) they let her choose the meeting spot.
And when the group bumps into fashion designer Mimi Mason in the hotel bar, they begrudgingly accept an invite to her
wedding breakfast the next morning.
No one imagined that, a few cocktails later, Mimi would be dead.
Critique: A wonderfully entertaining cozy mystery by a master of the genre, "A lethal Cocktail" by Ciar Byrne has been
deftly produced as a complete and unabridged audio book featuring the remarkable storytelling skills of narrator Jilly
Bond. The result is a welcome, extraordinary, and highly recommended pick for fans of the cozy mystery genre and for
community library audio book collections. It should be noted that this tradition 8 CD audio book is also readily available
from Isis Audio in an MP3-CD format (9781399189880, $100.95/$85.81).
Editorial Note #1: Ciar Byrne (https://www.ciarbyrne.co.uk)is a freelance gardening writer for the Daily Mail and The
Lady magazine, and has previously worked on staff for The Independent, The Guardian and Private Eye.
Editorial Note #2: Jilly Bond (https://www.jillybond.co.uk/audio) has been narrating audiobooks since 1996, with about
450 books to her credit. This strand of her career started as a result of a year spent with the BBC Radio Drama Company,
during which I recorded 70 radio plays and many readings, both fictional and factual. This was an invaluable learning
experience and ignited her passion for audio work. Jilly also won four Golden Earphones awards and am on the shortlist
for the One Voice 2020 Awards.
The Darkest Winter
Carlo Lucarelli, author
Joseph Kloska, narrator
Isis Audio
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399189552, $112.95/$96.01, CD (9 Hours 44 Minutes)
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399189552
Synopsis: In November 1944, Bologna's bomb-scarred streets are filled with starving refugees fleeing the advancing Allies.
The Fascist Black Brigades, S.S. officers, and Italian Resistance partisans compete for control. Comandante De Luca, once
Bologna's most brilliant investigative officer, now works for the Political Police in a torture facility. He faces three
murders: a professor shot through the eye, an engineer beaten to death, and a German corporal gnawed by rats in a flooded
cellar. De Luca must solve these cases to save ten Italian hostages from a Nazi firing squad. As he navigates personal and
political motivations, risking his life, De Luca uncovers secrets in the frozen heart of Bologna.
Critique: A deftly crafted and riveting story brought vividly to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the narrative
storytelling skills of Joseph Kloska, "The Darkest Winter" by Carlo Lucarelli is an extraordinary and recommended pick
for community library audio book collections. Complete and unabridged, and with a sturdy hard plastic clamshell casing,
this traditional 10 CD edition from Isis Audio is also available in an MP3-CD format (9781399189569,
$112.95/$96.01).
Editorial Note #1: Carlo Lucarelli (born 26 October 1960) is an Italian crime-writer, TV presenter, and magazine editor.
He was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger in 2003 for the novel Almost Blue.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Lucarelli)
Editorial Note #2: Joseph Anthony Kloska (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kloska) is an English actor. He began his
career in radio, moving on to work in television, theatre, and film. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kloska)
Falconer's Judgement
Ian Morson, author
Mark Meadows, narrator
Soundings
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroft.com
9781399186728, $83.95/$71.36, CD (6 Hours 59 Minutes)
https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/9781399186728
Synopsis: Spring 1261. In Rome, Pope Alexander lies dying. Across Europe, in Oxford's Oseney Abbey, ambitious Bishop
Otho is already positioning himself as successor.
Almost immediately, a student protest against the greed of the Church spirals out of control and the bishop's brother is
killed. Everyone assumes the fatal arrow is meant for the bishop himself. The protesters are swiftly accused of murder and
imprisoned in an Oxford gaol. But with no motive, William Falconer can't believe his students would do such a thing.
The next day the prime suspect is found hanging in his cell. Now Falconer knows there's more to this than a case of
mistaken identity. With his trusted friend, and town constable, Peter Bullock, Falconer must use his famed logic to solve a
murderous riddle.
Who is the real killer? And who is the real target?
Falconer's investigations turn up a plot that extends far beyond the walls of Oxford -- and puts him directly into the killer's
range.
Critique: William Falconer (Regent Master of Aristotle's Hall at the University of Oxford) has a fascination for the obscure
and an unusual interest in scientific experiments. He is considered an eccentric. Suffering from poor eyesight, he has been
able to obtain eye-lenses -- a cause of great wonder among the townsfolk. However, Falconer's keen logic draws him into
curious murder cases. Featuring real life medieval characters and situations, William Falconer is the original Oxford
detective and "Falconer's Judgement by novelist Ian Morson is the latest of Falconer's adventures to be brought vividly to
life with the narrative storytelling talents of Mark Meadows in a complete and unabridged edition of "Falconer's
Judgement" from Isis Audio. An outstanding medieval mystery that is a 'must' for the legions of Ian Morson fans, this
traditional 6 CD edition with its plastic clamshell casing is especially and unreservedly recommended for community
library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections. It should be noted that "Falconer's Judgement" is also readily available
from Isis Audio in an MP3-CD format (9781399186735, $83.95/$71.36)
Editorial Note #1: Ian Morson (https://www.ianmorson.com/about-me-1) As well as his Falconer series, Ian has written
crime stories about a Venetian explorer in the mould of Marco Polo whose name is Nick Zuliani. He has also have written
short stories for anthologies put together by a fellow group of crime writers calling themselves The Medieval
Murderers.
Editorial Note #2: Mark Meadows is a British actor and narrator known for his work in audiobooks, including titles like
"Immortality is a Bummer" and "How the Christian Revolution Remade the World." He has also appeared in television
shows such as "EastEnders" and films like "Nicholas Nickleby." --
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Meadows_(actor)
The Library CD Shelf
Message
Satoko Fujii, Natsuki Tamura, and Takashi Itani
Libra Records
www.librarecords.com
$TBA CD / $TBA digital
https://satokofujii.bandcamp.com/album/message
Message is the third music album performed by the Japanese trio This Is It! - pianist/composer Satoko Fujii, trumpeter
Natsuki Tamura, and percussionist Takashi Itani. All songs are composed by Fujii. The original, instrumental pieces
balance modern jazz with elements of classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music. Message is a magnificent musical
tour de force and a welcome addition to personal and public library international jazz music collections, highly
recommended. The tracks are Message; Cryptography; Falafel Feast; Ernesto; Never Mind; and Orange Flicker.
Armageddon Flower
Ivo Perelman & Matthew Shipp String Trio
Tao Forms
$14.98 CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Armageddon-Flower-Ivo-Perelman/dp/B0F2P3RJ3Z
Armageddon Flower is an instrumental album of four long, original and complex compositions performed by Ivo Perelman
on tenor saxophone, Matthew Shipp on piano, Mat Maneri on viola, and William Parker on bass. The multilayered
compositions weave into duo and trio performances at times, but most of Armageddon Flower is a four-way musical
medley. Richly layered, emotional, showcasing the fine essence of cooperative harmony, Armageddon Flower is a
wonderful symphonic soundscape, highly recommended for both personal and public library collections. The tracks are
Pillar of Light (16:04); Tree of Life (21:00); Armageddon Flower (11:26); and Restoration (16:11).
Memories of You
David M. Edwards
www.davidedwardspiano.com
Independently Published
$9.00 CD / $9.00 digital
https://davidedwardspiano.bandcamp.com/album/memories-of-you
The fourth album released by music artist David Edwards, Memories of You is a captivating collection of original solo
piano music featuring a wide range of styles and elements. The multifaceted journey reflects Edwards' perseverance to
create despite severe osteoarthritis that disrupted his ability to play for three years. After multiple surgeries and physical
therapy, Edwards has composed and performed an extraordinarily beautiful and inspirational album. Memories of You is
highly recommended especially for solo piano connoisseurs and public library collections, and also makes an excellent gift.
The tracks are Saturday Morning; Swallows In Flight; Melancholy Mood; The Mountains Were Calling; Pale Blue Dot;
Aspen Leaf Waltz; Tempest; The Way You Smile; Canopy of Stars; Come Take My Hand; Lovely Lady; A Walk in the
Park; Rainbow in the Mist; Memories of You; and Dolphins Swimming Underwater.
Echoes From The Forest
Ann Licater
www.AnnLicater.com
Cul de Sac Mystic Productions
$16.98 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Forest-Ann-Licater/dp/B0FB293QNG
Echoes From The Forest is an astonishingly beautiful new age flute album by award-winning music artist Ann Licater. All
songs are original solo or duet compositions, ideal for meditation, relaxation, or fostering creativity. A mellifluous audio
experience that lingers gently in the mind and the heart, Echoes from the Forest is a treasure for connoisseurs and highly
recommended for public library music collections. The tracks are Sky Dreaming; Cedar Sanctuary; Wisdom of the Pines;
Echoes from the Forest; Peaceful Willow; Ancient Vistas; Redwood Canyon; Rose Moon; Circle of Trees; Woven
Reflections; Wings in the Mist; Earth Calling; Bird and Breeze; and Journey Beyond.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World
Marianne Julia Strauss, editor
Gestalten
c/o Roedl LLP
https://us.gestalten.com
9783967041361, $70.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Temples-Spiritual-Places-Around/dp/3967041360
Synopsis: "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World" is a compendium of full color captioned photos and
informative commentaries that offers the reader with a visually stunning and spiritually enriching exploration of sacred
sites worldwide that will prove especially appealing to anyone with an interest in religious architecture, spirituality, and
travel. Its comprehensive and inclusive approach, featuring diverse and carefully curated temples and places of worship,
combining stunning photography and detailed illustrations with informative and thought-provoking essays.
Critique: Original, magnificent, informative, this large format (9.45 x 1.06 x 11.81 inches, 4.15 pounds) coffee-table style
hardcover edition of "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around the World" from Gestalten is compiled and edited by
Marianne Julia Strauss. Unique, special, and unreservedly recommended, "The Book of Temples: Spiritual Places Around
the World" is especially fitting as a community or college/university library Memorial Fund acquisition and a prized pick
for personal collections and reading lists as well.
Editorial Note: Marianne Julia Strauss (aka Janna Strauss) is an award-winning travel journalist renowned for her
captivating storytelling and in-depth exploration of global destinations. Her work highlights the beauty of travel and delves
into the rich histories and traditions of the places she visits. Janna's insights and vivid narratives inspire readers to embark
on their adventures. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20289587.Marianne_Julia_Strauss)
Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked
Ezra Stuyvesant, author
Gary W. Moore, author
Patrick, Standing Bear, author
Newman Springs
9798896172307, $15.95, PB, 120pp
https://www.amazon.com/Questions-about-Life-Grandchildren-Asked/dp/B0F8K9GJ4F
Synopsis: An impressive work of experience, insight, observation, reflection and love, "Questions about God and Life I
Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" is compendium showcasing a series of succinct 'Words of Wisdom' by Ezra
Stuyvesant, drawing from his 75 years on Earth and his late wife and children for 57 of them.
Here is sampling of what comprises "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked":
God's greatest gift to man or woman is their free will. Man's greatest gift to God is the willful surrender of their free will
back to God to do God's will. (p. 7)
Your lies are what create the pebbles, the rocks, the boulders that interfere with the stream of God that flows within you.
Lies strengthen your ego, blocking the flow of God. (p. 14)
It is important to become the glory on the mountaintop, not the little light in the valley. (p. 14)
The joke is you can never leave God. Wherever you go, there you are! (p. 47)
Become the buoy to flow across the waves of life! (p. 42)
"Never again, dear Lord, dear God, will I have someone else cry tears of pain because of me." (p. 18)
Your job is to rediscover the God within you so that everything you do emanates from the God within. So that when you
face your guides and teachers and God at the end, you will be able to account for everything that you have done in the
breath of the great white buffalo. (p. 21-22)
Critique: Eloquent, elegant, unique, inspired and inspiring, "Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had
Asked" by Ezra Stuyvesant (assisted by Gary W. Moore and Patrick, Standing Bear) is an inherently fascinating read from
start to finish, and the kind of legacy that will prove more life changing, life affirming, and life enhancing than anything
else a parent could leave their children, their grandchildren, and the future generations of their descendants yet unborn.
"Questions about God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" will be of special and particular value to readers
with an interest in Religion & Spirituality, Self-Help & Psychology. Especially and unreservedly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library collections, it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Questions about
God and Life I Wish My Grandchildren Had Asked" from Newman Springs is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Mythology Shelf
The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture
Robert M. Sarwark
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476685298, $39.95, PB, 260pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-World-Mythology-Culture/dp/1476685290
Synopsis: A dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs
about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in Western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often
been depicted as winged, horned, and capable of breathing fire. Dragons in eastern cultures are usually depicted as
wingless, four-legged, serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence. Commonalities between dragons' traits are
often a hybridization of reptilian, mammalian, and avian features. (Wikipedia)
Dragons are everywhere, seemingly hidden in plain sight. These mythological reptilian monsters date far into known
human history in nearly every part of the world and are still prevalent in today's media and entertainment. The wide
cultural, geographical, and linguistic diffusion of dragons or dragon-like creatures shows how modern humans have
influenced each other through shared tales of monsters while simultaneously hinting at a shared genesis.
With the publication of "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture", Robert M. Sarwark introduces his readers to
dragon myths and legends from around the world by following human culture's shared evolutionary past via language,
folklore, the arts, and commerce.
Dragons in folklore, literature, and pop culture are analyzed from Eastern and Western perspectives, leading to a dual
analysis of dragons in today's popular culture and media. While other books on the topic have focused primarily on
classical sources, or on cataloging various dragon tales in general, this work identifies the subtle yet profound ways in
which the dragon figure or related motifs have slyly entered into our collective psyche as participants in the modern,
interconnected world.
Critique: Featuring numerous B/W illustrations, "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" is a deftly written and
impressively comprehensive compendium of dragon related information drawn from various countries and cultures from
around the world. Consisting of twelve chapters organized into three major sections (Birth of the Dragon; East and West;
Dragons of Today and Tomorrow), "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" is informatively enhanced for the
reader's benefit with the addition of a four page Bibliography, sixteen pages of Notes, and a three page Index. An absolute
'must' for the legions of dragon fans and an ideal addition for both community and college/university library
Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that this trade paperback
edition of "The Dragon in World Mythology and Culture" from McFarland & Company is also readily available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $25.99)
Editorial Note: Robert M. Sarwark (https://www.robertsarwark.com) is a librarian and writer living in Atlanta, Georgia. He
has previously been published in Vexillum, The Porch Press, Reverb.com, and the American Library Association's
Intellectual Freedom blog
Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld
Sharon Paice MacLeod
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476669076, $29.95, PB, 293pp
https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Cosmology-Otherworld-Sovereignty-Liminality/dp/1476669074
Synopsis: The early medieval manuscripts of Ireland and Britain contain tantalizing clues about the cosmology, religion
and mythology of native Celtic cultures, despite the later censorship and revision by Christian redactors.
Focusing on the latest research and translations, with the publication of "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic
Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality", Sharon Paice MacLeod provides fresh insight into the beliefs and practices of the
Iron Age inhabitants of Ireland, Britain and Gaul. Chapters cover creation and cosmogony, the deities of the Gaels,
feminine power in narrative sources, druidic belief, priestesses and magical rites.
Critique: The result of impressively original and meticulous scholarship, "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic
Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality" is a welcome and invaluable contribution to the study of the Celtic religion and
culture. Author and Celtic Studies authority Sharon Paice MacLeod has also included a twelve page Bibliography, thirty-
four pages of Chapter Notes, and a six page Index making this trade paperback (6 x 0.59 x 9 inches, 10.4 ounces) edition
of "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins, Sovereignty and Liminality" from McFarland & Company an
invaluable and strongly commended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Celtic
Religion/Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld: Mythic Origins,
Sovereignty and Liminality" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant-funded researcher, historical consultant. She
has taught Celtic literature, mythology and folklore at the university level.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3468898.Sharon_Paice_MacLeod)
Celtic Myth and Religion
Sharon Paice MacLeod
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786464760, $25.00, PB, 244pp
https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Myth-Religion-Traditional-Translated/dp/0786464763
Synopsis: With the publication of "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated
Prayers, Poems and Songs", Sharon Paice MacLeod provides a comprehensive overview of Celtic mythology and religion,
encompassing numerous aspects of ritual and belief.
The topics covered include the presence of the Celtic Otherworld and its inhabitants, cosmology and sacred cycles, wisdom
texts, mythological symbolism, folklore and legends, and an appreciation of the natural world.
Evidence is drawn from the archaeology of sacred sites, ethnographic accounts of the ancient Celts and their beliefs,
medieval manuscripts, poetic and visionary literature, and early modern accounts of folk healers and seers.
Of special note are the new translations of poems, prayers, inscriptions and songs from the early period (Gaulish, Old Irish
and Middle Welsh) as well as the folklore tradition (Modern Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, Breton and Manx)
complement the text.
Information of this kind has never before been collected as a compendium of the indigenous wisdom of the Celtic-speaking
peoples, whose traditions have endured in various forms for almost three thousand years.
Critique: What we deem today to be 'mythology' was once the religion believed in and practiced by earlier generations of
men and women. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional
Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is an ideal introduction for readers new to the study of folklore,
mythology and religion of the ancient Celtic tribes.
An inherently fascinating and engaging study of meticulous and detailed scholarship, "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study
of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is organized into three major sections (Celtic
Religion and Mythology; Celtic Shamanism and Wisdom Traditions; Celtic Legends and Folklore).
This seminal study is further enhanced with the inclusion of an Introduction (Journeying to the Well of Wisdom), three
Appendices (The Rights of Women in Early Celtic Culture; The Celtic Folksong Tradition; Suggested Reading and Further
Study), fourteen pages of Chapter Notes; a ten page Bibliography, and a five page Index.
"Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is a seminal
and groundbreaking study that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Mythology/Folklore collections and supplemental Celtic History/Culture curriculum studies lists.
It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this trade
paperback (7 x 0.49 x 10 inches, 15.2 ounces) edition of "Celtic Myth and Religion: A Study of Traditional Belief, with
Newly Translated Prayers, Poems and Songs" is also available from McFarland & Company in a digital book format
(Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant-funded researcher, historical consultant. She
has taught Celtic literature, mythology and folklore at the university level.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3468898.Sharon_Paice_MacLeod)
The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf
Into the Fairy Hill
Michael S. Newton
McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476690025, $35.95, PB, 276pp
https://www.amazon.com/Into-Fairy-Hill-Folktales-Highlands/dp/1476690022
Synopsis: Headstrong heroines and hot-tempered chieftains, loch monsters and hill fairies, cattle raids and clan feuds, wise
animals and foolish saints: the Scottish Highlands' folktales date back centuries and preserve the history and beliefs of a
people deeply rooted in their land and culture. Oral traditions connect the modern world with the hearts and minds of
Scottish Highlanders across the ages, bringing their world to life in vivid detail.
Compiled, translated, and presented by Michael S. Newton, "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish
Highlands" is a simply fascinating anthology that includes new and approachable translations of folktales from the Scottish
Highlands and Nova Scotia, providing extensive commentary on this rich storytelling tradition. Each individual story is
annotated with information about its origins and any insights into its meaning. The original Scottish Gaelic texts (collected
from a wide variety of rare and obscure sources) are provided in an appendix.
Critique: This large format (7 x 0.55 x 10 inches, 1.1 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic
Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" by Michael S. Newton is an informative and fun read from cover to cover. A seminal
compendium of Scottish folklore, myth and history is informatively enhanced with an appendix of Original Gallic Sources,
chapter notes, and bibliography. While this trade paperback edition of "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish
Highlands" from McFarland & Company is a welcome and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Mythology & Folklore collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in Scottish mythology, folklore and fairy tales is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $25.99).
Editorial Note: Michael S. Newton was an assistant professor in the Celtic Studies department of St. Francis Xavier
University in Nova Scotia from 2008 to 2013. He has written a multitude of books and articles about Gaelic culture and
history and is a leading authority on Scottish Gaelic heritage in North America. He lives in Carrboro, North Carolina.
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Odyssey
Homer, author
Daniel Mendelsohn, translator
University of Chicago Press
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226604428, $39.00, HC, 560pp
https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/022660442X
Synopsis: With this newly translated edition of Homer's Odyssey from the University of Chicago Press, the celebrated
author, critic, and classicist Daniel Mendelsohn brings the great epic to vividly poetic new life.
Widely known for his essays on classical literature and culture in The New Yorker and many other publications,
Mendelsohn gives us a line-for-line rendering of The Odyssey that is both engrossing as poetry and true to its source.
Rejecting the streamlining and modernizing approach of many recent translations, he artfully reproduces the epic's formal
qualities (meter, enjambment, alliteration, assonance) and in so doing restores to Homer's masterwork its archaic grandeur.
Mendelsohn's expansive six-beat line, far closer to the original than that of other recent translations, allows him to capture
each of Homer's dense verses without sacrificing the amplitude and shadings of the original.
The result is the richest, most ample, most precise, and most musical Odyssey available in the English language as it
conveys the beauty of its poetry, the excitement of its hero's adventures, and the profundity of its insights.
Supported by an extensive introduction and the fullest notes and commentary currently available, Daniel Mendelsohn's
Odyssey will most certainly become the authoritative version of this magnificent and enduringly influential literary
masterpiece.
Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of a forty page Introduction (A Note on the
Translation), a three page Pronunciation Guide, a twenty page bibliography (Further Reading), seventy-eight pages of
Notes, a two page listing of Variants from Allen, and a fourteen page Glossary of Proper Nouns. Of special note is a two-
page B/W map of Odyssius' World. A work of seminal and meticulous scholarship, this new edition of "The Odyssey" by
Daniel Mendelsohn is especially and unreserved for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Epic
Poetry and Classic Literature collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and the general reading public that this
hardcover edition of "The Odyssey" from the University of Chicago Press is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Memoirist, critic, translator, and frequent contributor of essays to The New Yorker and The New York
Review of Books, where he is Editor-at-Large, Daniel Mendelsohn is the author of ten books, including the international
bestsellers The Lost: A Search for Six of Six Million, winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the National Book
Critics Circle Award, and An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic, an NPR and Kirkus Best Book of the Year. His other
honors include the Prix Medicis in France and the Premio Malaparte, Italy's highest honor for foreign writers. In 2022 he
was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Republic of France. He is currently the Charles Ranlett Flint
Professor of Humanities at Bard College. (https://www.danielmendelsohn.com/about)
The Sports Shelf
Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball
Gestalten, editor
Gestalten
c/o Roedl LLP
https://us.gestalten.com
9783967041798, $70.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Courtside-Candy-Culture-Influence-Basketball/dp/3967041794
Synopsis: With the publication of "Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball", the editorial staff of
Gestalten take a deep dive into basketball's influence on contemporary cultural expression and urban identity in a
magnificently illustrated exploration of basketball as a cultural force that transcends the sport itself, deeply influencing art,
fashion, street art, urban interventions, urbanism, architecture, and graphic design.
"Courtside Candy" presents a visually compelling narrative, focusing on basketball's role as a creative catalyst within
specific subcultures. By capturing the intersection of the game with various forms of expression, "Courtside Candy"
reveals how basketball shapes and reflects the unique character of the places where it thrives. As basketball intertwines
with diverse forms of creativity, it drives innovation in spaces where art, architecture, and culture converge.
"Courtside Candy" visually documents how the sport fuels connection and transformation, offering readers a focused
exploration of basketball's ability to inspire across disciplines.
Critique: Original, spectacular, informative, thought-provoking, and a simply fascinating read from cover to cover, this
large format (8.86 x 1.1 x 11.42 inches) hardcover edition of "Courtside Candy: The Culture and Influence of Basketball"
from the Gestalten editorial staff is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and
college/university library Sports Culture (Basketball) and Graffiti/Street Art collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists.
Editorial Note: As a publisher, Gestalten began with a focus on the aesthetic, particularly that of graphic design and, over
the last two decades, the scope of both our content and our expertise has widened. Today, using a myriad of observations
of culture, people, art, and other intimate inspirational informants, we document and anticipate vital movements in
architecture, visual culture, design & fashion, escapism, food & beverages, travel, and contemporary art. In 2014, Little
Gestalten joined the literary ranks and ensured that there was a place for readers of all ages within the world of gestalten.
(https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5115380.Gestalten)
Ultra: The World Atlas of Ultramarathons
Jen Benson & Sim Benson
Cassell
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781788405775, $32.99, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-World-Ultramarathons-Jen-Benson/dp/1788405773
Synopsis: In this ultimate guide to ultrarunning, dive into 50 of the world's most breathtaking and brutal ultramarathons
ranging from the icy tundras of Sweden to the sun-scorched deserts of the USA, and the rugged mountains of Europe.
Whether you are a seasoned marathoner in search of your next challenge or an aspiring runner eager to tackle your first
ultra, each individual race is meticulously detailed with all the essential information: where to start, how to get there, and
what it takes to reach the finish line.
Informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of insightful interviews with world-renowned runners
and the visionary founders of these epic races, alongside detailed maps, stats, and stunning photography, "Ultra: The World
Atlas of Ultramarathons" is the definitive guide to the world of ultrarunning, crafted by adventurers and co-authors Jen and
Sim Benson.
Critique: Original, unique, and featuring a ten page informative Introduction along with a four page Index, "Ultra: The
World Atlas of Ultramarathons" is deftly organized six major sections: Europe; United States & Canada; Central & South
America; Africa; Asia; and Australasia. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Ultra: The World Atlas of
Ultramarathons" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Sports Marathon collections. It should be noted that this hardcover edition of "Ultra: The World
Atlas of Ultramarathons" from Cassell is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
Editorial Note #1: Jen Benson is a runner, writer and PhD researcher exploring the psychology and philosophy of running.
She has completed over 50 marathons and the UK Ironman and Ironman 70.3 triathlons. She is a qualified podiatrist with a
master's degree in sport & exercise medicine.
Editorial Note #2: Sim Benson is a running journalist who plans trails for Komoot app and Trail magazine. Together with
his wife Jen, they have co-authored several books including Wild Running, Short Runs in Beautiful Places and The
Running Bible.
The Architecture Shelf
The Right to Nature: For a New Urban Landscape
Emanuele Bortolotti, et al.
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
https://actar.com
9781638400431, $34.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Right-Nature-Towards-Urban-Landscape/dp/1638400431
Synopsis: In dialogue with other architects and committees (among others, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, BIG Bjarke
Ingels Group, Stefano Boeri Architetti, Credite Agricole, Fondazione Riccardo Catella), the contributors to "The Right to
Nature: For a New Urban Landscape" underline the importance of a shared quality of the daily urban landscape as a key
quality of our contemporary cities.
"The Right to Nature" is a new chapter of reflection and work of the AG&P greenscape, centered on the current and
renewed relationship between man and nature. Through out seven main topics including Sociality/Collectivity,
Infrastructure, Inhabit, Work/Welfare, Regeneration, Care, and Heritage.
"The Right to Nature" also explores contemporary urban landscape issues at the different scales of the project, in the light
of the relationship between human beings and nature.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Simona Galateo and Andrea Bortolotti, this large format (7.75 x 1.25
x 10 inches, 2.35 pounds) hardcover edition of "The Right to Nature: For a New Urban Landscape" from Acta is the
seminal, groundbreaking, and collaborative work of co-authors Emanuele Bortolotti, Paolo Palmulli, and Alessandro
Frigerio. Exceptionally 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, plus profusely illustrated throughout, "The Right
to Nature" will be of special interest to professional and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Landscape
Architecture, as well as being a core and highly recommended addition to community and college/university library
collections and is an ideal choice for supplemental Urban/Land Use Planning curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Graduated in agricultural science with a subsequent Master's Degree in Garden Design, Emanuele
Bortolotti is one of the founders in 1986 of AG&P greenscape, landscape architecture firm of which he is now partner with
Paolo Palmulli. In 2001 he was the first Italian to win a medal in the international competition of the Chelsea Flower Show
in London. He is the author of the book "Il Giardino Inaspettato" published by Electa in 2011 and brought out in a new
edition in 2015. In the last few years he participated in the projects of Parco Te in Mantua, the "New Milan Stadium" for
the Sportium-Manica group, Bosconavigli in Milan with Stefano Boeri Architetti and Arassociati, the headquarters park of
Credit Agricole Italia in Parma and the regeneration of the tourist town of Albena in Bulgaria.
Editorial Note #2: Graduated from Milan Polytechnic University, Paolo Palmulli is the General Manager of AG&P
greenscape, landscape architecture firm of which he is partner with Emanuele Bortolotti. He works in the field of
landscape design, focusing on public spaces and overseeing both the design process and its implementation, in Italy and
abroad. Co-author of the book "Paesaggio diffuso: l'esperienza di un nuovo quartiere a Segrate", published by Electa in
2013. Member of the works supervision group of the new "BAM Biblioteca degli Alberi" the public park at Porta Nuova in
Milan; among the most recent projects, he is working on the Levante Waterfront in Genoa with Renzo Piano Building
Workshop and OBR, the CityWave for BIG studio in Milan-CityLife, and the regeneration project of Centroparco in
Segrate (Milan).
The Money/Finance Shelf
Make Your Living Trust
Nolo Editorial Staff
Nolo Press
www.nolo.com
9781413332827, $39.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Living-Trust-Editors/dp/141333282X
Synopsis: You can use a living trust to keep your estate out of probate and distribute property after you die. But how do
you know whether a living trust is right for you, how do you get one, and what other documents do you need?
With the publication of "Make Your Living Trust" addresses these concerns and more by explaining:
What probate is (and why to avoid it)
How living trusts work
Why you might not need a living trust
The pros and cons of making a living trust without a lawyer
What kinds of property go into a living trust, and
How to choose a successor trustee.
"Make Your Living Trust" also explains, step-by-step, how to make a living trust -- on your own or with help from an
attorney. It also covers other aspects of your estate plan, like what to do with your digital assets and why you still need to
make a will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive.
Critique: Exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader/user' friendly in organization and presentation, "Make Your
Living Trust" by the editorial staff of Nolo Press is an ideal and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional,
community, and college/university library Retirement Planning, Estate planning, and Wills/Trusts collections and
supplemental Financial Management/Planning curriculum studies lists.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Unforgettable Presence
Lorraine K. Lee
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781394281725, $28.00, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394281722
Synopsis: In today's rapidly evolving technology and business climate, just being great at your job isn't enough anymore. In
today's competitive workplace, ambitious professionals need to master both how and where they show up if they want to
stand out and be recognized.
Lorraine K. Lee knows this journey firsthand. As a shy, overlooked introvert who became a sought-after keynote speaker,
she discovered that success comes not from working harder, but from being intentional about your professional presence.
Through her role as a founding editor at LinkedIn and work with Fortune 500 companies, she's helped millions of
professionals develop an intentional, powerful presence that takes them from invisible to unforgettable.
Drawing from research-backed principles, personal anecdotes, and insights from interviews with dozens of industry
leaders, including bestselling author Daniel Pink and Radical Candor's Kim Scott, with the publication of "Unforgettable
Presence: Get Seen, Gain Influence, and Catapult Your Career" teaches you how to:
Master virtual presence using proven frameworks for standing out in today's workplace
Deliver impactful presentations with confidence and authority
Develop executive presence at any career stage
Leverage LinkedIn to stay top-of-mind and be recognized for your expertise
Transform your team's presence and impact as a leader
Give and receive feedback that inspires change
Lead meetings that your teammates don't dread
This invaluable and 'real world practical' guide introduces practical frameworks to help you build influence and be seen as
a leader, and gives you concrete tools to increase your impact immediately. You will learn to communicate with
confidence, build strategic relationships, and advocate for yourself and your team effectively.
Whether you are an introvert seeking greater visibility or a leader looking to amplify your team's impact, or striving for
success with respect to job or promotion interviews "Unforgettable Presence" provides the proven frameworks and
practices to ensure you're remembered for all the right reasons. It's time to take control of your career trajectory by
mastering both how and where you show up so that you can create a presence that makes you truly unforgettable.
Critique: A complete DIY Self-Help/Self-Improvement course in one book, "Unforgettable Presence: Get Seen, Gain
Influence, and Catapult Your Career" fully lives up to the promise of its title. Exceptionally well written, organized and
presented, "Unforgettable Presence" is presented in three major sections: Building Your Foundation; Today's Key Skills;
and Career Advancement. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and
college/university library Business Management/Jobs-Careers collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists,
it should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business mangers, and employment job seekers that
this hardcover edition of "Unforgettable Presence" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.00) and as
a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Publishers, 9798228584310, $45.95, CD).
Editorial Note: Lorraine K. Lee (https://lorraineklee.com) is an award-winning keynote speaker who brings unique
expertise in empowering both high-potential and established leaders to supercharge their presence, influence, and impact.
She is passionate about helping ambitious professionals go from invisible to unforgettable in the modern workplace, and
her frameworks have been adopted by Fortune 500 companies and other globally recognized organizations including
Zoom, Amazon, Cisco, and McKinsey & Company.
The Business Shelf
Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play
Suna L. Nielsen, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
www.e-elgar.com
9781035325801, $170.00, HC, 362pp
https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurship-Theory-Practice-Paradoxes-Fourth/dp/1035325802
Synopsis: This newly updated and expanded fourth edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in
Play" by the team of co-authors Suna L. Nielsen, Kim Klyver, Majbritt Rostgaard Evald, and Torben Bager expertly
unravels the central paradoxes every entrepreneur must face. Written in a comprehensive and engaging style, it combines
essential theories with real-world examples, making complex concepts accessible and relatable.
This new fourth edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" also includes case studies crafted by world-renowned
experts, offering fresh insights into the more nuanced aspects of entrepreneurship.
"Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" includes:
A broad overview of entrepreneurship from a theoretical and practical perspective
Opportunities for student involvement through theory, paradoxes, actions and exercises
New content exploring diverse types of external crises and how they shape the world of entrepreneurship
Learning essential crisis strategies and actions that entrepreneurs can use not only to survive but to thrive in the face of
adversity
"Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice" is specifically designed for all students with or without prior entrepreneurship
education. It is ideal for introductory courses in entrepreneurship but is also highly valuable for advanced students seeking
to deepen their understanding of entrepreneurial opportunities, processes and contexts. This latest fourth edition will
furthermore prove immensely beneficial for aspiring entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, startup mentors, entrepreneurship
advisors, and educators at universities, colleges, and business schools, who are currently face-to-face with a world full of
multiple crises.
Critique: An ideal textbook for college/university based MBA and Entrepreneurship curriculum studies lists,
"Entrepreneurship in Theory and Practice: Paradoxes in Play" is exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'reader
friendly' and coherent in presentation. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Entrepreneurship in Theory and
Practice: Paradoxes in Play" from Edward Elgar is also available in paperback (9781035325825, $55.00).
Editorial Note #1: Suna Lowe Nielsen, University of Southern Denmark
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Suna-Nielsen)
Editorial Note #2: Kim Klyver, University of Southern Denmark (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kim-Klyver)
Editorial Note #3: Majbritt Rostgaard Evald, University of Southern Denmark
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Majbritt-Evald)
Editorial Note #4: Torben Bager, University of Southern Denmark
(https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Torben-Bager)
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
A Calculated Restraint
Richard Breitman
Harvard University Press
www.hup.harvard.edu
9780674293649, $35.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Restraint-Allied-Leaders-Holocaust/dp/0674293649
Synopsis: The Allied leaders rarely spoke directly about the Holocaust in public. When Churchill and Stalin alluded to
Nazi mass murder of civilians in early speeches, they said much less than they knew. Not until December 1942 did Allied
governments issue a joint statement about Nazi Germany's policy of exterminating the Jews of Europe. Roosevelt deferred
his own public statement until March 1944. Why didn't these leaders speak up sooner?
Through close readings of public and private statements, with the publication of "A Calculated Restraint: What Allied
Leaders Said about the Holocaust", Professor Richard Breitman pieces together the competing motivations that drove each
leader's response to the atrocities.
All three knew that their reactions would be politically sensitive, as Nazi propagandists frequently alleged that the Allies
were fighting on behalf of Jews, and that Jews were the puppet masters behind their governments.
At a time of globally prevalent antisemitism, these calumnies had force.
After the German invasion of the USSR, moreover, Stalin clearly wanted to focus on the threat to the Soviet state and
people. At the same time, Churchill and Roosevelt realized that complete silence would prompt accusations of willful
blindness. They usually finessed this dilemma by denouncing Nazi atrocities in general, prioritizing wartime constraints
over moral considerations.
Timely and incisive, "A Calculated Restraint" sheds new light on the relationship between World War II and the
Holocaust. Ultimately, the Allied leaders' responses cannot be reduced to a matter of character. What they said (and chose
not to say) about the Holocaust must be understood in light and context of the political and military exigencies that drove
their decision-making.
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "A Calculated
Restraint: What Allied Leaders Said about the Holocaust" is seminal and groundbreaking work of comprehensive and
meticulous scholarship that is essential reading for anyone studying the Holocaust of World War II. Informative, insightful,
and an inherently fascinating, thought-provoking, and memorable read from start to finish, "A Calculated Restraint" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Holocaust
Studies collections and supplemental World War II History curriculums.
Editorial Note: Richard Breitman is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at American University. His many books include
The Berlin Mission: The American Who Resisted Nazi Germany from Within; FDR and the Jews, coauthored with Allan
J. Lichtman; Official Secrets: What the Nazis Planned, What the British and Americans Knew; and The Architect of
Genocide: Himmler and the Final Solution. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Breitman)
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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