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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Fair Culture
Harold Lee Miller
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
9780871952783, $24.95, www.indianahistory.org
Even as life travels further from the farms, the fair still has a strong place in society. "Fair
Culture" a collection of full color photography on many state and county fairs from Indiana.
Focusing on the people, seeking the reasons that people of all walks of life are attracted to the
state fair. From the carnival aspects, to the competitions, to the costumes, and so much more,
Harold Lee Miller uses photography to paint an intriguing picture of Americana. "Fair Culture" is
an excellent pick and very much recommended.
John Bachman
Gene Waddell, editor
The University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820338187, $39.95, www.guapress.com
Through faith and science, he forged a scholarly view of the world. "John Bachman: Selected
Writings on Science, Race, and Religion" is a collection of essays from lauded Lutheran minister
and naturalist of the nineteenth century in John Bachman. Contributing much to science as much
as religion, his studies of and essays provide a strong standing view of life and history for years
to come. "John Bachman" is a vital and scholarly addition to community and college library
collections touching on history, science, faith, among other topics.
Father of Money
Jason Whiteley
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781597975445, $27.50, www.potomacbooksinc.com
Money is power, and power corrupts. "Father of Money: Buying Peace in Baghdad" is the
memoir of Jason Whiteley, who looks painfully back as his time as governance officer of Al
Dora, a rough district of Baghdad. He quickly found his task rough and ruled by greed. Candid
and honest about a task he viewed as a failure, he speaks on what may truly stand between Iraq
and peace. "Father of Money" is poignant and honest about Iraq, very much recommended
addition to international issues, history, and current events collections.
The Photography Shelf
Madison
Brent Nicastro
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, 3rd Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299283049, $19.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu
Madison, Wisconsin has been one of the beacons of the Midwest for over a hundred years, and
there is certainly much to embrace. "Madison" is a collection of photography of the city in all of
its seasons capturing the spirit of its people, its college town nature, and much more, showing the
traditional to the offbeat. With descriptions in Chinese, Spanish, and German, as well as English,
the full color nature entices any people to come to the city, proving to be an advertisement of
travel as well as a worthy coffee table book. "Madison" is a fine work of photography from Brent
Nicastro, highly recommended.
The Cookbook Shelf
Essential Pepin
Jaques Pepin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547232799, $40.00, www.hmhbooks.com
"Essential Pepin" is a fabulous cookbook collection the famous chef/performer author's favorite
recipes collected over 60 years of creative cuisine experiences. Accompanied by a DVD that
demonstrates "all the techniques that cooks need to know," "Essential Pepin" is a vast and varied
collection of French-influenced American-perfected plate-pleasing recipes. Fifteen chapters of
recipes are included, from Soups, Salads, Pasta and Potatoes to Meat, Charcuterie and Offal,
Vegetable and Side Dishes, and all sorts of amazing desserts. A final handy chapter on Basics
includes recipes and how-to's for seasonings. stocks. sauces, relishes and pickles (including
cornichons, sour French gherkins in vinegar), and drinks. Of course, with a chef/artiste as
accomplished as Jaques Pepin, there is a long list of producer's thank-you's and
acknowledgements that also may serve as a handy resource list for readers. As always, "Essential
Pepin" is mainly about enjoyment of wonderful food, a dazzling array of combinations of classic
and fresh flavors and combinations. The reader will savor every potential gustatory delight
almost as much as the cook will enjoy presenting these offerings for the nourishment of the soul
and the body. "Essential Pepin" is a classic that belongs on every serious foodie's cookbook
literature shelf, to be treasured, loved, and used frequently.
Notes From a Maine Kitchen
Kathy Gunst
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892729173, $27.95, www.downeast.com
"Notes From a Maine Kitchen: Seasonally Inspired Recipes" is both a seasonal sampler of
fabulous Maine foods deliciously prepared and a series of thoughtful seasonal meditations from a
creative food expert and a dedicated natural gourmet. Reflecting upon her choice to move to a
remote farmhouse and live in Maine to experience "slow food" at one of its most celebrated
sources, author Kathy Gunst helps readers remember some of the best good things about being
alive, while ruefully acknowledging the occasional bumps and challenges along the way. Thus
arises this seasonal sampler of Maine-inspired recipes. Month by month the tastes revolve, ever
new, always tempting, always fresh. Here are recipes for Pan-Fried Cornmeal-Coated Maine
Smelts in January, Triple Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Biscotti in February, Roasted Parsnips
and Carrots with Maple Glaze in March, Linguine with Maine Clam Sauce, Ramps and Garlic in
April, and of course, Best Blueberry Pie in July and Lobster Roll in August. The recipes are
clearly written with ingredients listed first and standard measurements, with extra information
and anecdotes about the food(s) in introductory notes and additional tips and trivia included in
sidebars. At the end of the book are suggested menus, added resources, and a recipe index.
"Notes From a Maine Kitchen" is a treat both to read and to sample the culinary delights of
Maine.
Great Chefs Cook Vegan
Linda Long, editor/photographer
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
9781423623274, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com
Meat and dairy have their appeal, but their merely crutches. "Great Chefs Cook Vegan" is a guide
to cooking truly vegan as many chefs come together and contribute their own recipes on how to
make truly magnificent dishes that truly embrace vegetables in their many ways or seek to
emulate meat and diary products. Presented in full color with a brief biography of every chef,
"Great Chefs Cook Vegan" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to try their hand at some high
quality vegan cooking.
Seasoned to Taste
Junior League of Chattanooga
FRP Inc
PO Box 305142, Nashville, TN 37230
9780961180614, $29.95, www.frpbooks.com
It's the little things that truly bring a dish together. "Seasoned to Taste: Savoring the Scenic City"
is a cookbook from the Junior League of Chattanooga, an assortment of cooks dedicated to
family, friends, and their community. With a certain dedication in their dishes, they range from
Pacific Rim Salad to Zucchini Muffins and Drunken Burgers. "Seasoned to Taste" is an enticing
read for anyone looking a cookbook with wide variety.
The Relationship Shelf
The 72 Hour Rule
Margot E. Brown
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780692013113, $15.95, www.atlasbooksdistrubution.com
Communication is the cure for many relationship woes. "The 72 Hour Rule: A Do-It-Yourself
Couples Therapy Book" is a guide filled with simple wisdom and recommendations for settling
the clash of couples personally, advocating communication and offering simple and
straightforward wisdom for dealing with many problems that can cause relationships to go sour at
any point. "The 72 Hour Rule" is worth considering for anyone who wants to harness the power
of communication in their relationship.
The Gay Studies Shelf
Coming Out, Coming Home
Kenneth A. Burr
Routledge
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780789038432, $35.95, www.routledgementalhealth.com
The anti-gay sentiment in many religions leaves homosexuals without any outlet for spiritual
fulfillment. "Coming Out, Coming Home: Making Room for Gay Spirituality in Therapy"
discussing counseling and finding faith and theology does not just dismiss homosexuality as an
abomination to be hated. Kenneth Burr, a family therapist, seeks to help many find that
spirituality they want in their life so that they can have their faith without the self-loathing.
"Coming Out, Coming Home" is a thoughtful and recommended read for anyone who is, or
knows a friend or loved one struggling with their spiritual life and its clash with who they
are.
The Memoir Shelf
Mind on the Run
Dottie Pacharis
Idyll Arbor
39129 264th Ave SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781882883912, $18.00, www.idyllarbor.com
The cruelty of bipolar disorder can shake one's life ever so strongly. "Mind on the Run: A Bipolar
Chronicle" is a memoir of Dottie Pacharis, who writes of her son and his struggles with bipolar
disorders. Through many major episodes which prevented Scott Baker from attaining normalcy,
as Dottie criticizes a broken mental health system which prevented him from getting the
assistance he needed. "Mind on the Run" is a poignant and tragic memoir of a mother losing her
son, a cautionary tale about the damage it can do to lives.
The Poetry Shelf
The Required Accompanying Cover Letter
Richard Fein
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library
728 State Street
Madison, WI 53575
9781934795255 $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
Digital photographer Richard Fein presents The Required Accompanying Cover Letter, a
chapbook of free-verse poetry collected from the many online and print poetry journals that he
has published in, including "The Southern Review", "Adagio Verse Quarterly", "The Loch Raven
Review", and many more. The mysterious and indefinable aspects of emotions are a recurring
theme amid these rhythmic glimpses into the workings of the psyche. Thought-provoking,
insightful, and written with keen feeling, The Required Accompanying Cover Letter is highly
recommended for poetry lovers. "Cetacean Creed": Imagine our fantasies about them are true, /
that they really had refined their songs / into a melody of words, / merged their herds into tribes, /
invented politics, became aware of death, / and now yearn for a faith. / All their feelings are
expressed lyrically / and through the flux of pressure waves.
In Confidence
Jim Tilley
Red Hen Press
PO Box 40820, Pasadena, CA 91114
9781597094733, $19.95, www.redhen.org
Even when we have what we want out of our lives, it all too often throws curve balls at us. "In
Confidence" is a collection of poetry from Jim Tilley as he presents an intriguing spin of poetry
that touches on life and its surprises with clarity. Educated and well put, "In Confidence" is a fine
debut volume, very much recommended. "One Would Hope": that life's final moments travel
slowly,/quieting the blood and brain and leaving/time enough to hear one's choice of music,/a
plucked lute for the teenage boy driving/through a crowded street -- barely entering/a Baghdad
square to gather his father/from work, talking to his mother about/new friends at school or
scoring the winning/goal in a soccer game -- when the bursts/of bullets rang. And for the
mother/leaning on her son, a lullaby, the one/her mother sang to her, and she to him./For both of
them, one would hope that life/ was long enough to hear each other's song.
Night Walk
John McKeown
Salmon Publishing
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056680, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com
Our nature leaves us with many questions and a lust to search for answers. "Night Walk" is a
collection of poetry from John McKeown as he presents a series of thoughts and opinions of life
and its challenges. With a certain hatred for the way we have lost and plenty of driven emotion
throughout, "Night Walk" is an original collection of work, very much recommended. "Moth":
I'm the moth who/ wants to get out/away from the light//into and as far as the dark stretches.//For
all the light is/is my wing's dance//broken on a nail.
About the Dead
Travis Mossotti
Utah State University
3078 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-3078
9780874218268, $19.95, www.usupress.org
When we see others meet the end of the road, we are left asking of our selves about what lies past
that. "About the Dead" is a collection of poetry from Travis Mossoti, as he speaks on the
staunchly realistic fears we all face and our own personal search for truths. "About the Dead" is a
poignant collection of work, very much recommended reading. "Reminiscing Skyros": Under the
couch cushion I find/a tangle of octupuses, olive groves/salting in the wind, Hera grooming/the
northern crags and vineyards/from Zeus's beard, a slight drizzle of/Mediterranean blue that could
upset/the rest of my afternoon. There goes/a fishing boat; there goes sunlight/dusting the worn
path; there goes/my wasted life, my decrepit mule.
Soul Clothes
Regina D. Jemison
Modern History Press
c/o Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
9781615990955, $8.95, www.modernhistorypress.com
Poetry and baring the soul merge well together. "Soul Clothes"is a work of poetry from Regina
D. Jemison as she speaks from her own soul, seeking to capture the essence of the blues and jazz
with simply words instead of music. "Soul Clothes" is worth considering, highly recommended
for poetry collections seeking to capture something different. "Writin' My Blues Away": I've been
busy chasin'/chasin' children/chasin' money/chasin' men//No time to write/my blues away;
chasin'//gave me the blues//chasin'/seekin',/workin'/meanderin'//No time to write/my blues
away.
Ghazal Games
Roger Sedarat
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Athens, OH 45701
9780821419502, $16.95, www.ohioswallow.com
The games we play with life give us results that leave us only with more questions. "Ghazal
Games" is a collection of poetry from Roger Sedarat. Clashing Western and Eastern philosophy,
the Iranian American poet offers unique food for thought. "Ghazal Games"" is a fine pick for
American poetry collections, highly recommended. "Mixed Metaphor": A Gemini, I'm a mixed
metaphor,/Both a strong and henpecked metaphor.//Basho's images are the things they are;/His
melon is no mud-flecked metaphor.//The hyper-real postmodern age mirrored/Our lives. It killed
art and wrecked metaphor.//New software scanned couplets of this poem;/It suggested rhymes
and checked metaphor.//Those drivers turning their heads towards the crash/Extend cliched
rubberneck metaphor.//His reading of post-structural theory/Explains the poet's Zizeked
metaphor.//Jonathan Edwards used the web to catch/Sinners (a divine elect metaphor).//Look,
here's the actor's hand holding a pen/To play the writer, a Brecht metaphor.
Come and See
Fanny Howe
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555975869, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org
For many, the idea of the twentieth century being the past is a strange idea to understand. "Come
and See" is a collection of poetry from Fanny Howe who sees a century coming that isn't too
unlike the last, and how the century changing seems like only a number. With poignancy and fine
verse, "Come and See" is an excellent volume of poetry, very much recommended. "At the Heart
of It": The dirt is spirit/The people both/Celtic and Baltic/Potatoes and onions,/Bread and
beets./Mystical, musical,/Violent and sad./Without a way/either right or left,/East or west./But
tears, plenty/Of tears to drink/While they dig.
Surpassing Pleasure
John Slater
Porcupine's Quill
68 Main Street, PO Box 160
Erin, ON, Canada N0B IT0
9780889843400, $16.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca
A lover of poetry, John Slater is a man of faith who has a unique way of staring into the world.
"Surpassing Pleasure" is the work of Cistercerian monk and professor of philosophy John Slater
as he presents a unique adventure through his life. "Surpassing Pleasure" is an excellent and
thoughtful collection that would do well in any poetry collection. "The Root of Obsession":
Obsidere, to sit across from/ in front of, some/brooding enemy in mental chess, to be,/literally
besieged by a fixed Idea, as in://For months a single thought sat opposite, cut/our water and
supply lines, until,/imprisoned in the walls we'd built for defence.//we stuffed ourselves with
excrement./Then ate the children.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
All Things Shining
Hubert Dreyfus & Sean Dorrance Kelly
Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416596158, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com
The western world marches further away from a divine being of any sort. "All Things Shining:
Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age" discusses the great classics of
the western world and how they connect with today's science driven and more secularized state.
Whether it was the Greek pantheon of Polytheism or the Abrahamic God of Jesus, religion has
always been a powerful force in the western world. Speaking on this lost spiritual connection and
its purpose in modern life, "All Things Shining" is an intriguing work of literary criticism, highly
recommended.
Soulshift
Steve DeNeff & David Drury
Wesleyan Publishing House
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
9780898274769, $17.99, www.wesleyan.org
To become something better than the same old is what a Christian should strive for. "Soulshift:
The Measure of a Life Transformed" is an inspirational read, as the authors advise readers to
transform into what God intends for them, and embrace it to find their own happiness and
fulfillment. With seven key shifts to make in one's life, "Soulshift" presents intriguing ideas that
may very well be worth embracing.
Deep Exegesis
Peter J. Leithart
Baylor University
One Bear Place, #97363
Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602580695, $29.95, www.baylorpress.com
To understand the scripture for yourself is a marvelous thing. "Deep Exegesis: The Mystery of
Reading Scripture" is a biblical study that focuses on the nature of reading scripture for oneself.
Peter Leithart hopes to inspire readers to take up the study themselves, open their eyes, and
realize Jesus's words for themselves, instead of through a filter like many simply accept. "Deep
Exegesis" comes with a powerful encouragement for personal theology, very much
recommended.
Four Seasons of Verse
Marcellus C. Miller
WinePress Publishing
PO Box 428, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781414118383, $14.99, www.winepressbooks.com
Through life, we try to find a role for faith in our lives. "Four Seasons of Verse: The Right Words
at the Right Times" is a collection of wisdom and scripture study through poetry from Marcellus
Charles Miller. "Four Seasons of Verse" is an intriguing collection of verse with plenty to uplift
the spirit. "Is This the End?": Here I sit, right by someone but still alone,/Like an outcast, an
orphan without a home./How I long for the old days, the way it used to be,/I still hear "I love
you," but no longer feel it on me.//I wonder what what happened, what did I do wrong?/The last
time I felt a touch, it seems to be so long.//Will we get it right, because my broken heart needs to
mend?/I don't know what will happen, but does this look like the end?
The Christian Studies Shelf
How to Stay Christian in College
J. Budziszewski
NavPress
PO Box 35001
Colorado Springs, CO 80935
9781576835104 $15.99 www.navpress.com
Written by a Christian, for Christians, How to Stay Christian in College is a measured and
well-reasoned discussion of ways to keep steadfast in one's faith when on one's own amid an
eclectic swirl of ideas, experiences, and opportunities in college. Chapters address common
political philosophies; myths about the search for knowledge; misconceptions about love and
sex; ways to hone one's Christian mind and faith as surely as one's intellectual and knowledge
capacity; and much more. "Your biology teacher says: 'Science shows that the world is aimless,
purposeless, and without meaning.' You think: Something smells fishy. How could science 'show'
a thing like that? Could I point a meaning-meter at the wonder of life and see the needle swing to
'empty'?" How to Stay Christian in College is a practical-minded guide with useful
recommendations, and warns just as sharply against common conservative myths (such as
"wealth is a measure of moral virtue", the false implication that all those in poverty are lazy and
all those with wealth earned it through hard work) as liberal myths. Highly recommended.
Acting Up in Church Again
M. K. Boyle
Meriwether Publishing
PO Box 7710, Colorado Sprigns, CO 80933-7710
9781566081788, $15.95, www.meriwether.com
When you bring humor into faith, you don't mock it, you use it as an enhancement. "Acting Up in
Church Again: More Humorous Sketches for Worship Services" blends humor, theatre, and faith
as M. K. Boyle presents many sketches to entertain readers and draw their enjoyment into a
faithful environment inspired by scripture. For plenty of fun and for Christian theatre enthusiasts
who want to combine their passions, "Acting up in Church Again" is an excellent and very much
recommended pick, not to be missed.
Keeping in Tune with God
Suzanne G. Farnham & Timothy H. Grayson
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
9780819224453, $16.00, www.churchpublishing.org
It's far too easy to lose sight of God. "Keeping in Tune with God: Listening Hearts Discernment
for Clergy" is a guide to keeping one's connection with God as one's ministry continues. As a
leader of people, one must help them find their ways through their faith as well, and while
helping others find their connection, it's important not to lose yours. With strong spiritual
wisdom to clergymen, "Keeping in Tune with God" is a fine read that shouldn't be
overlooked.
The Lord's Prayer
Mary Lou Redding
Upper Room Books
1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212
9780835810661, $14.95, www.maryglenn.com
Christ's gift to us is food for the soul. "The Lord's Prayer: Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray" is a
spiritual musing from Mary Lou Redding who discusses this spiritual discipline and how to make
it nourishment for the soul. For anyone who wants to make prayer matter in their lives and gain
wisdom from their connection with God, "The Lord's Prayer" is a top pick for Christian readers
who seek better understanding of their faith.
Family Ties
L. Tom Perry
Deseret Book
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130
9781609087685, $15.99, www.deseretbook.com
A man must be a leader of life, a leader of their family. "Family Ties" is a Mormon parenting
memoir from L. Tom Perry, although his wisdom rings quite true for any father of a Christian
family. With straightforward wisdom stating that a father can act to their family as Christ to
them, he encourages fathers to be the anchors of wisdom and life. "Family Ties" is a strongly
recommended read for any Christian father who wants to enhance the faith in their and their
family's lives.
Get Healthy...for Heaven's Sake
Lisa Morrone
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736927048, $11.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Good health is worth anything in the world. "Get Healthy...for Heaven's Sake: & Steps to Living
Strong, Loving God, Serving Others" is a Christian health guide from Lisa Morrone as she
advises readers on how to use faith to improve one's overall health, mental, physical, and
spiritual. Emphasizing the importance of good sleep, keeping the mind sharp, and avoiding
illness, "Get Healthy...for Heaven's Sake" draws from scripture and is filled with simple yet
important ideas throughout, highly recommended.
When Missions Shapes the Mission
David Horner
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433671371, $14.99, www.BHPublishingGroup.com
To spread the word of God, you need a worthy plan. "When Missions Shapes the Mission: You
and Your Church Can Reach The World" is a discussion of faith and ministry and the importance
of leadership when trying to spread the word of God abroad. Encouraging pastors to share their
thoughts with other church leaders and spread the value of mission, David Horner offers many
ideas for the power of mission. "When Missions Shapes the Mission" is well worth considering
for leaders of the faith, highly recommended.
Over It!
Hayley & Michael DiMarco
Revell
c/o Baker
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800731533, $14.99, www.revellbooks.com
Old wounds heal with time, but it the pain as they do so can prove quite daunting. "Over It!:
Letting God Get You Past Life's Hurts" is a guide to finding faith to inspire one forward over the
pains of life. Haley & Michael DiMarco state how remembering faith at your lowest can make
that a distant past that doesn't matter anymore. "Over it!" is inspirational and driven for any
Christian who needs God at their time of emotional need, highly recommended.
And God Said Let's Eat
Gary Graf
ACTA Publications
4848 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640-4711
9780879464325, $14.95, www.actapublications.com
Food and faith are cornerstones in many people's lives, and the two have more in common than
one would think. "And God Said Let's Eat!: Amusing and Thought-Provoking Parallels between
the Bible and Food" is a walk through faith and cuisine as Gary Graf presents connections of the
Bible and cooking, with Biblical recipes littered throughout. With a blend of humor, thought,
wisdom, and a love of food, "And God Said Let's Eat" is well worth considering for any
Christian foodie.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Amos Yong
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557256355, $16.99, www.paracletepress.com
The holy spirit is with us all, we simply need to know how to realize it. "Who is the Holy Spirit?:
A Walk with the Apostles" discusses the third figure in the Christian trinity among the Father and
Son, the Holy Spirit. Amos Young seeks to better explain this idea and draws from scripture and
the gospels to capture a more understanding view of the concept, with a strongly new testament
driven view. Spiritual and insightful, "Who is the Holy Spirit?" is an excellent read for any
Christian who ponders on the third part of the trinity.
Somewhere in the Bible
Harris F. Allen
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
9781449714598, $22.95, www.westbowpress.com
The evidence for biblical history does exist in the scientific world. "Somewhere in the Bible" is a
study from Harris F. Allen as he applies chemistry and other sciences to many biblical pieces of
history in order to give proof and credence to them. With many intriguing ideas and discoveries,
he offers a fine blend of memoir, science, and faith. "Somewhere in the Bible" is a fine read with
plenty to consider for students of biblical realities.
Mirror Ball
Matt Redman
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9780781405782, $12.99, www.tbbmedia.com
Your connection to the big life may be through your faith. "Mirror Ball: Living Boldly and
Shining Brightly for the Glory of God" is a guide to finding one's own grand life under God and
living to a higher standard as we follow Jesus. Written by an empowered Christian songwriter in
Matt Redman, he hopes his passion and spirit for faith will find its way to his readers. "Mirror
Ball" is a solid and recommended read for Christian readers.
Family Ministry Field Guide
Timothy Paul Jones
Wesleyan Publishing House
c/o Veritas Communications
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9780898274578, $17.99
The first spiritual teacher in a child's life is the parent. "Family Ministry Field Guide: How Your
Church Can Equip Parents to Make Disciples" is a guide to being the priest and preacher of the
home. With strong faith, Dr. Timothy Paul Jones equips readers with everything they need to
make the most out of their home life and set children onto a more spiritual place. "Family
Ministry Field Guide" is a fine pick for anyone who wants to be better ministers to their
homes.
A Survivor's Guide for Church Ministers
William J. Jerema
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Blvd. Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809147212, $19.95, www.paulistpress.com
Being the leader of a congregation can sometimes be incredibly daunting. "A Survivor's Guide for Church Ministers" is a guide for those leaders of men in spirit who may often find their position a daunting and demanding one. With plenty of humor and wisdom, the Reverend William J. Jerema comes with practicality and anecdotes of other people of the church overcoming the pressure of their position. "A Survivor's Guide for Church Ministers" is a choice and very much recommended pick for any newer minister.
The Forgiveness Project
Michael S. Barry
Kregel Publications
733 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
9780825426568, $14.99, www.kregel.com
Letting bygones be bygones is more than peace of mind; it's good health. "The Forgiveness
Project: The Startling Discovery of How to Overcome Cancer, Find Health, and Achieve Peace"
discusses the power of forgiveness and how a good Christian aspect of life and embracing
forgiveness can empower one's soul to give the body the extra strength it needs to fight off
cancer. "The Forgiveness Project" speaks to any who have the burden of life on them and are
facing tremendous odds of death.
The Native American Shelf
Lakota Woman
Mary Crow Dog
Grove Press
841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9780802145420, $14.95, www.groveatlantic.com
A strong woman will not let herself be held by the status quo. "Lakota Woman" is a memoir of
Mary Crow Dog as she struck out from nothing and away from her going nowhere community to
push for tribal pride in the modern world. What follows is a story of Native American pride in
the modern day, that is fighting save traditions that are dwindling in recent years after decades of
assimilation. Critical of history while looking towards the future, "Lakota Woman" is an
inspirational read for those who want to understand the new tribal pride movement in Native
American society.
The Self-Help Shelf
Wisdom from Beyond
H. Constance Hill
Diamond Clear Vision
c/o Illumination Arts
140 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169
9780982922521, $19.95, www.diamondclearvision.com
To connect with the masses takes more than charisma, it takes a powerful message. "Wisdom
from Beyond" is an inspirational guide that takes the wisdom from thirty five major figures of
recent history and touches on their words and what they mean to our daily lives. With a bit of art
blended in, H. Constance Hill presents readers with a unique adventure of spirituality,
inspiration, and much more to find their own drive and inspiration through life. "Wisdom from
Beyond" is packed with solid and very much recommended advice.
Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Erwin W. Lutzer
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414311432, $13.99, www.tyndale.com
Everyone is going to make bad decisions in life, and as soon as you realize as such, life can get
much better. "Making the Best of a Bad Decision: How to put your regrets behind you, embrace
grace, and move toward a better future" is an inspirational read from Erwin W. Lutzer, as he
offers Christian insight into making the best of one's life, which includes not living in fear of
making a wrong move, and acting more freely. "Making the Best of a Bad Decision" has a strong
message and is highly recommended reading.
How to Get What You Want
Richard Templar
FT Press
c/o Pearson
1330 Avenue of the Americans
35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780132824361, $18.99, www.ftpress.com
Unspoken communication is a powerful thing, you just need to be able to realize it. "How to Get
What You Want Without Having to Ask" is a guide to influence and persuasion in today's world.
Applicable to any element of today's life, Richard Templar's wisdom encourages readers to
become the type of person that people want to help in spite of their own problems. A guide to the
power of indirect communication, "How to Get What You Want" is worth considering for those
who want a lesson in the day to day psychology of life.
The Quantum Shield
Philip Petersen
Empyrean Quest Publishers
c/o Llumina Press
7101 W. Commercial Blvd., Ste 4E
Tamarac, FL 33319
9781890711245, $12.95, www.empyreanquest.com
Positive thinking can make more of a difference than one would think. "The Quantum Shield: Protecting Your Life from Destructive Thoughts and Feelings" is a well-written seminar in positive thinking from Dr. Philip Petersen. He advises readers to push themselves further with a blend of quantum science and positivity to shield themselves from thoughts that would oppose their dreams. "The Quantum Shield" is a unique work of inspiration, very much recommended.
The Fashion Shelf
Put Up Your Hair
Julie A. Brown
Heritage Books
229 Danagher Court, Holly Springs, NC 27540
9780788451980, $16.00, www.heritagebooks.com
Retro isn't limited to just a few decades ago. "Put Up Your Hair: A Practical Manual to
Nineteenth Century Hairstyles" is a guide to the hair fashions of the 1800s as Julie A. Brown
walks readers through them to allow them to apply for any purpose, for play, theatre, or perhaps
trying make what's old new again. "Put Up Your Hair" is a fine assortment of unique and useful
fashion advice, highly recommended.
The Gardening Shelf
The Complete Guide to Preserving Your Own Seeds for Your Garden
Katie A. Murphy
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383525, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com
If you care for your crops, you can enjoy them for a season. If you care for your seeds, you can enjoy them for a lifetime. "The Complete Guide to Preserving Your Own Seeds for Your Garden: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is a guide for managing seeds from Katie A. Murphy who teaches readers how to get the best seeds to start with and use them to maintain them for years to come and preparing them for next year's growing season. "The Complete Guide to Preserving Your Own Seeds for Your Garden" is a strong recommendation for those who want to maintain self-sutainability.
The Sports Shelf
Super Bowl Monday
Adam Lazarus
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589796003 $24.95 www.rowman.com
Adam Lazarus (member of the Pro Football Writers of America) presents Super Bowl Monday
From the Persian Gulf to the Shores of West Florida: The New York Giants, the Buffalo Bills,
and Super Bowl XXV, an in-depth examination of a defining moment in sports history when the
Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants battled for the NFL world championship on January 27,
1991. The stories of individual players lead up to a striking, moment-by-moment portrayal of a
dramatic match broadcast to American troops who had been deployed to the Persian Gulf only
ten days earlier for Operation Desert Storm. Super Bowl Monday is a choice pick for football
fans, highly recommended for sports libraries and as a giftbook for the sports lover in one's
life.
Rhythms of the Game
Bernie Williams, Dave Gluck, & Bob Thompson
Hal Leonard Books
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9781423499473, $24.99, www.halleonardbooks.com
Music and the world of sports have more in common than one would think. "Rhythms of the
Game: The Link Between Musical and Athletic Performance" is a reflection from Bernie
Williams, a major league baseball player and avid musician as he states that the two can enhance
one another and prove a powerful appeal to those who want to excel at both talents. Making this
connection, "Rhythms of the Game" is a must for any dual talented athlete and musician, very
much recommended.
A Thrilling Ride
Paul Chapman & Bev Wake, editors
Greystone Books
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC Canada V5T 4S7
9781926812915, $19.95, www.greystonebooks.com
A forty year legacy was almost topped off almost perfectly. "A Thrilling Ride: The Vancouver
Canuck's 40th Anniversary Season" tracks the 2010-2011 season of the NHL's Vancouver
Canucks as in their fortieth year, they took it to the final game in the playoff Finals, falling ever
so short of the Stanley cup. In full color, the entire endeavor of the odyssey that players and fans
experienced is covered, proving to be a treasure trove of photography for the hockey fan,
especially a Canucks fan. "A Thrilling Ride" is a top pick for any sports and photography
collection.
The Art Shelf
Adornment
Barbara Natoli Witt
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 3556 Main Street
Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953348, $50.00, www.hudsonhills.com
There are no rules saying jewelry must be a simple chain of pearls or gold. "Adornment: The Art
of Barbara Natoli Witt" catalogs in full color the work of Witt, as she creates jewelry and designs
that turn the necklace into a canvas all its own. The many designs scattered throughout the book
are accompanied by explanations explaining their formations, their materials with notes on their
influences. For anyone looking for inspiration for their own artistic jewelry, "Adornment" proves
a valuable pick, and also is well worth considering for general art collections and as a coffee
table book.
Concubines and Courtesans
F. M. Bertholet
Prestel
900 Broadway, Suite 603
New York, NY 10003
9783791346298, $60.00, www.prestel-usa.com
Long the objects of desire for a nation for thousands of years, concubines and courtesans have
long had their place in culture. "Concubines and Courtesans: Women in Chinese Art" looks at the
long line of erotic art produced. Paintings, sculptures, potteries, fan designs, fashions, and much
more have been produced in devotion to these objects of desire, doing things not expected of
respectable women. Presented in full color, it provides a unique look at the evolution of Chinese
art up until the fall of the Dynastic system and rise of the Nationalist and Communist conflicts.
Enticing and clearly not meant for children, "Concubines and Courtesans" is a very much
recommended addition to any collection focusing on Chinese art and its history.
The Computer Shelf
Continuous Testing
Ben Rady & Rod Coffin
Pragmatic Bookshelf
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356708, $33.00, www.pragprog.com
Troubleshooting begins as soon as you start forming a concept. "Continuous Testing: With Ruby,
Rails, and JavaScript" is a guide to programming with the titular languages and getting constant
feedback with their programming so they may fix problems as they come. Ben Rady & Rod
Coffin offer advice on making automated tests that constantly work on your code as you compose
it. "Continuous Testing" is a fine read for students of technology and these programming
languages, highly recommended.
Configuring Windows Server 2008, second edition
J. C. Mackin
Microsoft
1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399
9780735648784, $59.99, www.microsoft.com
Keeping a server going strong is vital in today's worlds where bad servers could send a project to
hell. "Configuring Windows Server 2008: Applications Infrastructure" is a guide to training
oneself for more excellent server management. J. C. Mackin guides readers through how to use
Windows based clients to more effectively meet your technological needs, and how to meet
technological dilemmas as they present themselves. Including a CD with plenty of practice tests,
"Configuring Windows Server 2008" is the training guide that any potential server administrator
should seriously consider.
The Travel Shelf
Caribbean Passagemaking, second edition
Les Weatheritt
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574093087, $27.95, www.sheridanhouse.com
There's more than sunny beaches to enjoy in the Caribbean. "Caribbean Passagemaking: A
Cruiser's Guide" is a guide to planning a trip through the Caribbean islands when one is in the
charge of a ship's path through the islands. For the captain of a small vessel who is planning on
taking their friends and family through quite the trip through these tropical isles, with a certain
degree of practicality as the focus. With tips on comfort, finding good harbors, watching the
weather, and being equipped for anything, "Caribbean Passagemaking" is a strongly
recommended pick that shouldn't be overlooked for any person who enjoys do-it-yourself
travel.
Discover New York City
Michael Grosberg
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781742202570, $21.99, www.lonelyplanet.com/new-york-city
The big apple attracts people from every walk of life and has become one of the greatest tourist
destinations for those visiting the United States. "Discover New York City" is a travel guide for
those who want to experience the maximum impact of New York City and everything it has to
offer people. From many highlights of entertainment and attractions all throughout the cities,
Michael Grosberg equips readers everything they need to do to experience New York realistically
for their budget. "Discover New York City" is a top pick for any traveler who wants to see one of
the great cultural capitals of the world.
The Fiction Shelf
Fighting in the Shade
Sterling Watson
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781936070985, $15.95, www.akashicbooks.com
The importance of football is all that some in small towns have to get them out. "Fighting in the
Shade" tells of such a small town in 1964, where football is anything and everything for nearly
adult Billy Dwyer, who has to train insanely to gain a spot on the high school football team. But
he soon discovers the small town of Oleander has plenty of secrets and that Billy is closer to it
than he really wants to be. "Fighting in the Shade" is a riveting novel of small town intrigue, very
much recommended.
A Warrior's Soul
SR Staley
Wheat Mark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85705
9781604945966, $19.95, www.wheatmark.com
You cannot run from the nature to protect. "A Warrior's Soul: Path of the Warrior 1" is the first
entry in SR Staley's novels about young Luke, who has abandoned his martial arts training. When
a violent gang begins to put pressure on his school, he's the only one who sees the threat for what
it is. Leaping to protect his friends, Luke will learn what it means to be a warrior and that it's
more than training. "A Warrior's Soul" is a fine and exciting read for younger readers, highly
recommended.
Born Ugly
Beth Goobie
Red Deer Press
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8
9780889954571, $12.95, www.reddeerpress.com
As you flee your life, it has an annoying tendencies to always catch up. "Born Ugly" follows Shir
as she tries to cope with the torment of her own life, targeted at school, ignored at home. With
her job and her own quiet getaway, her last two refuges of sanity, are forever changed, she is
uncertain how she will be able to deal with it all. "Born Ugly" is a fine spin on the coming of age
tale of a young woman pushed too far.
Perfect Architect
Jayne Joso
Alcemi
c/o DuFour Edtions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780956012524, $16.95, www.alcemi.eu
With the death of a husband, there are no more barriers to understanding what he was about.
"Perfect Architect" follows Gaia as she copes with the death of her architect husband. Quickly
falling into her late husband's profession, she learns much and quickly about the world and
competitive architecture. As she rises to the challenge and learns much along the way, "Perfect
Architect" is a humorous and entertaining journey through the world of architecture.
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com
L. Ron Hubbard was a master storyteller and a major literary figure in the 'Golden Age' of pulp
magazine publishing. Galaxy Press is dedicated to keeping Hubbard's stories in print and
available to new generations of appreciative readers. Three of the newest titles added to the L.
Ron Hubbard library are "Trouble On His Wings" (9781592122360, $9.95); "While Bugles
Blow!" (9781592122981, $9.95); and "Killer's Law" (9781592122875, $9.95). These trade
paperback reprints feature the original pulp magazine illustrations as cover art and give the 'feel'
of what pulp magazine fiction was all about. "Trouble On His Wings" was originally published in
the January 1939 issue of 'Five-Novels Monthly'; "While Bugles Blow" first saw print in the
December 1936 issue of 'Five-Novels Monthly"; while "Killer's Law" greeted avid readers in the
September 1947 issue of 'New Detective Magazine'. A master author in all of the diverse and
varied action-adventure genres, these three newly reprinted titles will be especially welcome by
those already familiar with Hubbard's work -- and serve as an admirable and highly
recommended introduction for those new to the 'Golden Age' of pulp magazine fiction!
The Business Shelf
Your Company Sucks
Mark Stevens
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781935618546 $14.95 www.benbellabooks.com
Written by the CEO of global marketing and management consultancy MSCO, Your Company
Sucks is a straight-talk, no-nonsense business guide to turning around an underperforming or
stagnating corporation. Chapters explain why the company leader needs to "declare war on
himself/herself" in order to ensure that neither the leader nor the company takes the easy way out
in the ruthless economic war that is today's business world, and the importance of going beyond
"customer satisfaction" to thrill the customer and drive repeat business. The four factors that lead
to business failure or stalling are scrutinized in detail, as well as ways to positively counter them.
"Except for the U.S. Supreme Court, there is no place for tenure. People, ideas, products,
services, strategies - all must earn their place in the real-world markets or be swept away by the
meritocracy established and upheld by the leader, the president, the CEO." Your Company Sucks
pulls no punches in its frank advice for fostering success and growth, and is especially invaluable
in today's uncertain economic times. Highly recommended.
Putting the Luxe Back in Luxury
Pamela N. Danziger
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780981986944, $34.95, www.paramountbooks.com
Luxury is still something special in today's world. "Putting the Luxe Back in Luxury: How New
Consumer Values are Redefining the Way We Market Luxury" is a business study touching on
the many aspects of business and how to see luxury in the modern day. The new generations
following the baby boomers have begun to define what is luxury quite differently from their
parents, and the modern business must understand this principle in order to survive in a luxury
market. "Putting the Luxe Back in Luxury" is an excellent read for any business leader who is
looking to stay on top of the game.
What is Global Leadership?
Ernest Gundling, Terry Hogan, & Karen Cvitkovich
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9781904838234, $34.95, www.nicholasbrealey.com
The world is smaller than ever, and a leader needs to be equipped for dealing with anything or
anyone. "What is Global Leadership?: 10 Key Behaviors That Define Great Global Leaders" is a
discussion of what it takes to lead on the world stage, to be all inclusive and avoid alienating
those in your world wide business. Good leadership has many similar values on any level, and
the combined expertise of Ernest Gundling, Terry Hogan & Karen Cvitkovich do well in
explaining what it means to take those values to the international level. "What is Global
Leadership?" is a must for any business leader who is about to cross oceans.
How to Manage an Effective Religious Organization
Michael A. Sand
Career Press
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631510, $15.99, www.careerpress.com
Even in faith, one must manage the finances to work towards a better status. "How to Manage an
Effective Religious Organization: The Essential Guide to Improving Your Church, Synagogue,
Mosque, or Temple" is a guide to being a religious institution leader and understanding the
financial aspect of it all. From hiring staff to picking up volunteers, making improvements to
buildings, and how much business can be done without losing the soul of the business. "How to
Manage an Effective Religious Organization" is a studious and thoughtful read, highly
recommended.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, & Matt Stone
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557049933, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com
When the creators of South Park took to Broadway, the musical got what they both didn't expect
and expected completely. "The Book of Mormon" is a script and lyric book for the growing in
fame play. Focusing on Mormon missionaries and making a comedy out of the daily tragedy in
Africa, "The Book or Mormon" is an excellent pick to see what the musical world is raving
about, highly recommended.
Boston Theater Marathon XII
Smith and Kraus Books
177 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755
9781575257785, $24.95, www.smithandkraus.com
Theatre is far from dead, most definitely so in Boston. "Boston Theater Marathon XII" is a
compilation of 10 minute plays from a grand assortment of authors providing material for plenty
of plays that can be done, drawn from the event that does 50 of this short plays in ten hours, at
five plays an hour. "Boston Theater Marathon XII" is a must for anyone looking for good
material for their own theatres or to simply gain an appreciation for the task.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Small Wonders
Lynette Jensen
Landauer
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, IA 50322
9781935726043, $29.95, www.landauercorp.com
Quilts have more uses than just as blankets. "Small Wonders: 44 Quilting Inspirations for the
Comforts of Home" is a guide to many applications of needlework. From creative pillow cases,
bags, table covers, or the ever traditional quilt, Lynette Jensen walks readers through countless
projects with a full color guide that has plenty to be considered. "Small Wonders" is a useful read
for any who are looking for new needlework project ideas.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Ultimate Trout Fishing
Larry E. Stefanyk
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC Canada V0N 2H0
9781550175486, $26.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
The trout of the Pacific Northwest have plenty to offer the ambitious fisherman. "Ultimate Trout
Fishing in the Pacific Northwest" is a guide for those who want to get those trout when going to
the forests, rivers, and lakes of the region. Larry E. Stefanyk advises readers on how to get their
fish no matter their method, be it fly, traditional bait, even in ice. Presented in full color and
illustrated with huge amounts of photographs, "Ultimate Trout Fishing in the Pacific Northwest"
may just be what a fisherman needs to excel when visiting the Northwest.
Salmon Country
Doug Underhill
Goose Lane
330-500 Beaverbrook Court
Fredericton, NB Canada, 5X4
9780864926296, $45.00, www.gooselane.com
The Salmon proves to be a favored fish of many. "Salmon Country: New Brunswick's Great
Angling Rivers" is an analysis of New Brunswick and the many aspects that surround the fishing
for salmon. From crafting boats, to the cooking of the fish, to the culture surrounding it, to the
actual act of fishing itself, Doug Underhill and his photographer Andre Gallant capture the spirit
of the salmon world and how it's more than catching fish, it's a world in itself. "Salmon Country"
is a strong pick for those seeking a coffee table book, a cultural study of Salmon, or just happen
to like salmon fishing.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects
Christie Golden
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781416550884 $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com
Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects is the latest fantasy novel set in the universe of the immensely
popular "World of Warcraft" massively multiplayer online role-playing game; prior readers of
Christie Golden's work will recognize her commitment to the integrity and continuity of World
of Warcraft lore. The story follows Thrall, the former orc slave and gladiator who rose to lead the
Horde as warchief. Although Thrall necessarily relinquished leadership of the Horde in order to
train further as a shaman, the brutal repercussions of that decision haunt him. Yet Thrall is not
the only troubled one; the majestic Aspects - great dragon guardians of the world itself - have lost
three of their number. The bronze dragon Aspect of Time Nozdormu has disappeared; the blue
dragon Aspect of Magic Malygos was killed at the close of his horrifically genocidal campaign
against all magic users, leaving the blue dragonflight leaderless; and the black dragon Aspect of
Earth Neltharion was long ago converted into the monstrous Deathwing, a despot dedicated to
destroying all other Aspects as well as the world itself. Deathwing's directed attack upon the red
and blue dragonflights inflicts horrific slaughter, leaving the red dragon Aspect of Life
Alextrasza wracked with inconsolable grief. The green dragon Aspect of the Dream Ysera,
recently awakened from her long slumber, foresees that Thrall will be a crucial in uniting the
scattered dragonflights against their deadly common enemy, but her visions are blurry and
indistinct at best. It will ultimately be up to Thrall to forge his own path, a journey destined to
take him through the recesses of time and a cruel alternate future, as well as test him against an
implacable enemy from his past. Meanwhile, the blue dragon Kirygosa, held captive in human
form, has had to suffer from unspeakable experiments at the hands of Deathwing's lackeys, and
has little more than her own will to fight back against a prospective fate worse than death! Thrall:
Twilight of the Aspects is highly recommended for fans of the game and the complex tapestry of
its legends.
Dark Solus
David Andrew Crawford
Strategic Book Group
PO Box 333, Durham, CT 06422
9781609113391, $26.95, www.strategicpublishinggroup.com
Vengeance is often a long time coming. "Dark Solus: An Assassin's Tale" follows the lust for
revenge carried by Dark Solus, a young man trained as an assassin to get revenge for the death of
his parents. With the list of those responsible long, Solus has much revenge to claim and no
shortage of targets to take it out on. "Dark Solus" is a fun read of pulpy fantasy, very much
recommended.
The Education Shelf
The Tragicomedy Of Public Education
James M. Kauffman
Full Court Press
c/o Attainment Company Inc.
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
9781578616824, $19.00, www.amazon.com
Despite an almost two hundred year history as the primary source of public literacy, national
identity, and economic advancement for succeeding generations of Americans, public education
has become the whipping boy of national politics and an object of either disappointment or
disdain for large segments of the general population. In "The Tragicomedy of Public Education",
James M. Kauffman draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as an educator in
public school, private school, and university settings to focus attention on the inherent irony of
previous and contemporary education reform attempts, and then lays out thoughtful and
thought-provoking ideas and commentaries on how to rehabilitate the image and efficacy that
public education once enjoyed with previous generations of Americans. Of special note are the
chapters on 'The Art of Poor Thinking' and 'How to Judge Whether a School Is Successful'. A
210-page compendium that is enhanced with the inclusion of thematically appropriates listings of
references and web sites, a comprehensive index, "The Tragicomedy Of Publication Education"
is highly recommended for anyone engaged in local, state, regional, and national debates over
public education and a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library
Educational Studies reference collections.
Getting Started with Lego Robotics
Mark Gura
ISTE
1710 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036-3132
9781564842985, $37.95, www.iste.org
From playing with bricks to advanced robotics is a more logical step than one would expect.
"Getting Started with Lego Robotics: A Guide for K-12 Educators" is a guide to walking readers
through the easy to get into and highly educational world of Lego robotics. Combining science,
technology, engineering, and math, embracing this endeavor for young people can prove very
educational, and more importantly, very fun. Mark Gura brings over twenty years of experience
to the table, and explains everything one needs to do to dive headfirst into this engineering
adventure. "Getting Started with Lego Robotics" is a strongly recommended for any science and
technology minded educator who wants to expand the horizons.
The Woodworking Shelf
Simply-Built Cabinets
Danny Proulx
Popular Woodworking Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440313059, $24.99, www.popularwoodworking.com
More cabinets is more space, something we can never have too much of. "Simply-Built Cabinets:
Plan, Build, Install" is a guide for home improvement to those who want to increase the amount
of cabinets available for their home. Danny Proulx advises readers on how to make more
cabinets in their home for no matter the use, be it kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, or any other
room of the house. A guide for those who like taking wood working into their own hands,
"Simply-Built Cabinets" is a top pick for either the home improvement enthusiast or simply one
who enjoys woodworking.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Deadly Endplay
Ken Allan
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave.
Toronto, ON Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106686, $19.95, www.masterpointpress.com
The mysteries of a small town can quickly consume it. "Deadly Endplay" is a mystery novel of
the small town of Pemberton, and retired cop Dan Cogan. Ignoring his retirement, he begins to be
drawn into the death of Elsie Carmichael, whose death is curious. Close to her widower, the
secrets of the small town may come out in the name of the truth. "Deadly Endplay" is a riveting
work of mystery and bridge, highly recommended.
Dumpster Dying
Lesley A. Diehl
Oak Tree Press
140 E. Palmer St., Taylorville, IL 62568
9781610090063, $14.95, www.oaktreebooks.com
The sunshine loses a lot of luster when it's helping to rot a corpse. "Dumpster Dying" is a
mystery following retiree immigrant to Florida Emily Rhodes as she finds a body and her best
friend accused of being responsible. As she sets out to find the truth, she finds that rural Florida
has a lot more obstacles to the truth than she really knew. "Dumpster Dying" is an excellent pick
for any fan of old fashioned mystery, highly recommended.
The Science Shelf
Gargoyle Country
Jerry D. Vineyard
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201
9780975971215, $24.95, www.umsystem.edu
Nature has many sights to see in itself if you know where to look. "Gargoyle Country: The
Inspiring Geology of Springfield & Greene County" is a full color guide with no shortage of
charts, photography and maps about this geological playground. Jerry D. Vineyard gives readers
plenty to enjoy even if they aren't particularly students of geology themselves, but gives plenty
more for any hobbyist rock lover. "Gargoyle Country" is a fine addition to any nature
photography collection that give a nod to geology.
Seashells
Witherington
Pineapple Press, Inc.
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230
9781561644971, $9.95, www.pineapplepress.com
Nature's design is vast and creative. "Seashells of Georgia and the Carolinas: A Beachcomber's
Guide" is a full color exploration of the shells one can find all throughout the Atlantic coast.
Identifying each creature's shell by noting certain qualities, discussing its habitat and where it is
found, "Seashells of Georgia and the Carolinas" is a strongly recommended pick for any avid
shell collector.
The Humor Shelf
Your Accomplishments are Suspiciously Hard to Verify
Scott Adams
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449401023 $16.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Your Accomplishments are Suspiciously Hard to Verify is a compendium of "Dilbert" comic
strips, a hilarious series focusing on the savage vagaries of office politics, managerial
inefficience, 9-to-5 slackers, and everything else wrong with the cubicle-stabled workforce today.
"'I'm pleased to report another stellar week of accomplishments! I moved more than 800,000 bits
of data to a disaster recovery back-up facility!' 'Did you just take credit for copying a file to a
diskette?' 'It was my resume.'" Color Sunday strips are included in this broad cross-section of the
best Dilbert cartoons, sure to prove a popular library lend as well as an excellent giftbook for any
friend or family who might be spending just a little too much time in the office.
The Practical Napper
Jennifer Eyre White
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
9781449403089, $8.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Napping is a small bit of peace in a chaotic day. "The Practical Napper: Tips, Facts, and Quotes
for the Avidly Recumbent" is a book of humor and empowerment surrounding the power of the
nap. Jennifer Eyre White suggests many ideas for getting those few extra winks during the day
and around life, filled with jokes and factoids abound. "The Practical Napper" is a choice pick for
those who want to justify their drowsing off as productive.
The American History Shelf
Principle Over Party
R. Alton Lee
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive
Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780979894091 $32.95 www.sdshspress.com
Principle Over Party: The Farmers' Alliance and Populism in South Dakota, 1880-1900 is an
in-depth examination of South Dakota's involvement in the Populist movement, one of the most
successful third-party establishments in the history of the United States. Author R. Alton Lee
(Professor emeritus of History, University of South Dakota) scrutinizes the causes that sparked
South Dakota farmers to become politically active, notable figures including Henry Loucks and
Alonzo Wardall, movements such as the Farmers' Alliance, and other factors that set the stage for
the Populist Party in South Dakota. Principle Over Party is an excellent, well-researched and
accessible contribution to South Dakota and American political history shelves, highly
recommended.
American Letters
Jackson Pollock & Family
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745651552, $25.00, www.politybooks.com
Through the depression and war, "American Letters 1927-1947: Jackson Pollock & Family" is a
compilation of history offering a snapshot of Americana and how the nation faces adversity.
These letters focus on Jackson and his brothers, his mother, and other family members to show as
the family drifted apart to find their own ways through these chaotic times. "American Letters" is
a vivid, and riveting snapshot of everyday life for Americans during this rough time, expertly
compiled and composed, highly recommended for any history collection.
Detroit Land
Richard Bak
A Painted Turtle Book
c/o Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 58201-1309
9780814334997, $24.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu
Detroit, for all its problems, is a major contributor to the concept of Americana. "Detroit Land: A
Collection of Movers, Shakers, Lost Souls, and History Makers from Detroit's Past" looks at the
past century of Detroit's history, which includes major boxing bouts, its temptation into the
underworld, the musicians of Motown, and even more known figures such as Charles Lindbergh.
"Detroit Land" is a must for anyone who wants another fine exploration of Detroit history.
The World History Shelf
Unveiling the Kings of Israel
David Down
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing Group
PO Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890516096, $29.99, www.masterbooks.net
Archeology has proven the Bible a fine source of history. "Unveiling the Kings of Israel" is a
walk through Biblical history and looking at the ancient kingdom of Israel. Looking at the
timeline of history and making connections between the Bible and history, the book is packed
with full color photography all throughout, noting excavated structures as well as some that stand
to this day. "Unveiling the Kings of Israel" is a riveting and Christian-driven exploration of the
Bible as a book of history and of Biblical archeology.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Twin Spica, volume 9
Kou Yaginuma
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10016
9781935654230 $10.95 www.vertical-inc.com
Have you ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut when you grew up? Volume 9 of Twin Spica
continues the black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) series about a school designed
especially to train young adults for the physical and mental rigors of a manned space flight
(volume 9 also works as a good jumping-on point to any reader who may be new to the series).
The main protagonist Asumi is a quiet, slightly shy yet absolutely dedicated girl, who runs laps
on her own every morning in addition to devoting herself to the school, all in pursuit of her
dream. Her many classmates share her drive to become part of the space program, but in different
ways - one simply wants to be the worthy equal of a young man who is on the cusp of being
chosen, while another has his hands full working a part-time job as a costumed mascot in
addition to the demanding educational program. In volume 9, dark connections are drawn
between the school's faculty and a terrible launch accident that claimed innocent lives. The tragic
past of one of Asumi's staunchest supporters, a young man in a lion mask, is revealed; can he
truly help Asumi achieve her destiny? "A compromise is always lying right in front of your
dream. It's easier to get. Just to live, most people accept compromises, little by little, and before
they know it, they're far away from their dreams... For a sapling to grow into a big tree, it needs
to be watered every day. It'll be years before it bears fruit. Dreams are the same. You have to hold
on or they'll never bloom large." Printed with right-to-left "unflipped" art, and suitable for readers
of all ages, Twin Spica is an emotionally moving story about dealing with all the little things in
daily life as well as coping with its greatest challenges and blows. Highly recommended.
The Audiobook Shelf
Out of Control
Mary Connealy, author
Sherri Berger, narrator
Oasis Audio
289 Main Place
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781598599787 $29.99 www.oasisaudio.com
Out of Control is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of The Kincaid Brides Book 1, a
Christian romance series set upon isolated land. Rafe Kincaid is accustomed to being in control
of his family ranch, and his predictable routine is upset when he discovers a fossil-hunting
woman trapped in the natural cavern on his land. He rescues her, and a relationship begins to
blossom - but their love threatens to sow a rift between Rafe and his brothers. Will Rafe be
forced to choose between family and love? Out of Control is a sweeping emotional story of
learning to deal with complexities and emotions that are to great to be rigidly directed, and highly
recommended. 8 CDs.
The Leftovers
Tom Perrotta, author
Dennis Boutsikaris, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427213228 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
The Leftovers is the audiobook adaptation of an electrifying novel by Tom Perrotta that asks,
what if the Rapture - or perhaps something indescribably more sinister - whisked away people's
loved ones all over the world? How would the survivors cope? In a traumatized land, one family
struggles to pick the pieces in the wake of a disaster that claimed an unknowable number of lives.
Mapleton's new mayor Kevin Garvey wants to lend his community a new sense of hope and
purpose, but his own family is disintegrating - his wife has left to join a cult of members who
take a vow of silence, his son has dropped out of college to follow a questionable prophet, and
his moody daughter has her own troubles. A bonus interview with the author enhances this
dramatic and enthralling story. Highly recommended. 8 CDs, 10 hours.
The DVD Shelf
Down & Out
Mark Hatmaker
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO 80301
$29.95 www.paladin-press.com
Mixed Martial Arts expert Mark Hatmaker presents Down & Out: MMA Grappling, Clinching,
and Takedown Techniques from the Gym to the Cage, a DVD packed with invaluable
information on how to successfully blend assorted elements of MMA into a personally
customized training program. Demonstrating a 17-link drill set, with the option to insert
alternative drills at any point, Hatmaker offers the foundation of a solid, practical training
routine. An excellent supplement to martial arts DVD libraries, Down & Out is highly
recommended. 56 min.
Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout
Bethenny Frankel and Mike McArdle
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781598286885 $16.99 www.acacialifestyle.com
Reality TV star Bethenny Frankel and professional yoga instructor Mike McArdle present
Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout, a fitness DVD featuring three easy-to-follow yoga workouts,
each roughly fifteen minutes in length, that can be done independently or all at once. No
expensive equipment other than a basic floor mat is required for these refreshing and toning yoga
routines, suitable for practitioners of all skill, experience, and fitness levels. A 12-minute bonus
stretching segment and a recipe booklet from "The Skinnygirl Dish" round out this user-friendly
DVD that superbly complements any exercise library. 50 min. plus bonus, widescreen.
Train 2 Cheer
Instructors Stacey DelPreore, Allison Guarneiri, and Ryan Jackson
Train2beFit
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.train2cheer.com www.411videoinfo.com
Train 2 Cheer: Strength and Conditioning is a fitness DVD program developed especially for
cheerleaders and dancers. The primary focus is on improving cardio and muscular endurance,
enabling more energetic cheerleading and dance performances. Exciting, upbeat music enhances
this high-energy workout designed to get one's heart rate up as well as targeting muscles in the
body. An excellent, high-intensity workout, Train 2 Cheer lives up to its title. The tracks are
"Warmup: Battlefield", "Low Impact Cardio: True Believer", "High Intensity Cardio: I Believe",
"Mixed Interval: Apologize", "Upper Body: Stay", "Extreme Cardio: Alone", "Explosive Reflex:
Look At Me Now", "Jump Cardio: Everywhere", "Core: Champion", "Stretch & Flexibility: The
Climb", and bonus track "Lower Body: Gotta Feeling". 60 min.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Two excellent fitness kits from the "Element" series published by Anchor Bay each come with an
instructional DVD and a useful piece of basic fitness equipment. "Hatha & Flow Yoga for
Beginners" (67 min., $21.98) lives up to its title with two solid yoga workouts; one based on
Hatha to promote flexibility and stress relief, one on Flow to improve strength and stamina.
Experienced yoga teacher Tamal Dodge guides viewers through easy-to-follow poses, as well as
the proper use of the included cotton yoga strap. "Total Body Pilates with Mini Ball" (54 min.,
$21.98) features a DVD of two Pilates workouts that employ the included lightweight mini-ball
(it's an appropriate size to be held firmly between one's ankles, and easily inflated with the
provided inflation straw). Certified Pilates instructor Lisa Hubbard guides the viewer through
their choice of a time-efficient 20-minute workout and a more intense, muscle-toning 30-minute
workout; both routines are excellent for improving core strength, flexibility, promoting overall
health and fitness. Both fitness kits are inexpensive, user-friendly additions to any fitness library
an excellent choice for anyone seeking to squeeze a solid workout into their busy schedule.
Dare to Cook Chocolate
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
"Chocolate Man" Bill Fredericks hosts Dare to Cook Chocolate, a two-DVD set that explores the
remarkable joy crafting chocolate candies by hand. "Basic Truffles" (9781604900637) walks
viewers through techniques for dipping, molding, and creating ganaches for delicious,
professional-quality truffles, and "Molding Techniques" (9781604900644) lives up to its title
with a step-by-step walkthrough of molding and sealing gourmet-quality truffles. Dare to Cook
Chocolate features hands-on demonstrations that viewers of all skill and experience levels can
follow step by step, and deserves the highest recommendation as a supplement to prospective
dessert chefs of all walks of life, from ordinary chocolate lovers to gourmet chefs.
Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry series
Chef Ray Duey, CEC
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com
The Dare to Cook: Food Carving Artistry DVD series is a hands-on, how-to guide to adding an
exceptional level of visual beauty to one's culinary creations. Chef Ray Duey hosts all three of
these informative volumes packed with tips, tricks, and techniques that food artists of all
backgrounds will find invaluable, whether creating a simple, symmetrical layout or an elaborate
carving. All three DVDs are simply beautiful to watch, and highly recommended for the
enjoyment of gourmets and connoisseurs as well as amateur and professional food stylists. The
series consists of "The Basics" (9781604900675), covering standard tools and how to handle
them as well as vegetable and fruit creations like Banana Dolphin or Pear Porcupine; "Advanced
Techniques" (9781604900682), with more in-depth instructions and sample creations such as
Potato Roses and Japanese Watermelon Lantern; and "Ultimate Creations" (9781604900699)
packed with nimble-fingered expertise in crafting beautiful items such as Papya Vase, Layered
Turnip, and Reversed Watermelon. All three DVDs of this exceptional series are also available in
Blu-Ray and a downloaded version!
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story
Directed and produced by Albert & Jayne Cloutier
World Class Productionz
$15.95 www.amazon.com
Tandem Surfing: The Love Story is an amazing documentary about the beautiful and demanding
sport of tandem surfing featuring male-female couples. Professional tandem surfers demonstrate
their extraordinary skills amid the waves, and vintage footage from California tandem surf
legends Steve & Barrie Boehne round out this exceptional presentation. A treat for armchair
travelers and sports fans, Tandem Surfing: The Love Story lives up to its title and is highly
recommended. 46 min. 39 sec.
The Parenting Shelf
Blessings and Baby Steps
Ilana Grinblat
Behrman House
11 Edision Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
9780874418781, $14.95, www.behrmanhouse.com
One's faith is something that is often shared with a child. "Blessings and Baby Steps: The
Spiritual Path of Parenthood" is a discussion of spirituality and parenthood from Rabbi Ilana
Grinblat as she advises parents on keeping the spirituality of life when the turmoil of parenthood
can wreak havoc on every phase of one's life. With practical parenting advice to go with the extra
touch of spirit, "Blessings and Baby Steps" is a moving and wise read for every step of the
process, from conception to watching them grow into independent beings.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
A Guide Book of United States Coins 2011: Professional Edition
R. S. Yeoman, et al.
Whitman Publishing
3103 Clairmont Road, Suite B
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
9780794831585, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Whitman Publishing is the premier producer of numismatist books for the dedicated collector. A
standard reference and now in an updated second edition, "A Guide Book of United States Coins
2011: Professional Edition" is a spiral bound, profusely illustrated, 348-page compendium on all
federal coinage issues from 1793 down to the present day. Of special note is the introductory
information on how to use this informed and informative reference work and sage
advice/instruction on investing in rare coins. With the inclusion of reliable valuations for dealers
and collectors, "A Guide Book of United States Coins 2011: Professional Edition" is an essential
and strongly recommended acquisition for personal, professional, and community library
Antiques/Collectibles collections in general, and U.S. coin collectors in particular.
The Psychology Shelf
Billing And Collecting For Your Mental Health Practice
Jeffrey E. Barnett & Steven Walfish
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433810176, $39.95, www.amazon.com
Ordinarily, a review of "Billing And Collecting For Your Mental Health Practice" by would be
found in our book review column "The Business Shelf". But it is here in "The Psychology Shelf"
because academic training and certification programs in psychology and psychiatry focus on
psychology and psychiatry -- not business. So graduates entering this professional field are often
woefully ill informed about the nuts and bolts of how the business aspects of their practice must
operate if they are to be financially successful in their chosen careers. That's why "Billing And
Collecting For Your Mental Health Practice", the collaborative and impressive work of licensed
clinical psychologists Jeffrey E. Barnett and Steven Walfish is so important. This 144-page
compendium of practical advice on the ethics, legal ramifications, and strategies for billing and
collecting for professional services. Drawing upon their many years of 'real world' experience,
the authors of provide a thorough and user friendly instruction manual (including
sample forms, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index) that should be considered
mandatory reading for anyone seeking to make a professional and financially successful career in
the practice of psychology and psychiatry.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Barbarian Rites
Hans-Peter Hasenfratz
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594774218, $16.95, www.amazon.com
The pre-Christian Germanic tribes of Western Europe had their own pantheon of gods, spirits,
sacred places, rites and rituals. In "Barbarian Rites: The Spiritual World of the Vikings and the
Germanic Tribes", Hans-Peter Hasenfratz (Professor Emeritus of the History of Religion, Ruhr
University, Bochum Germany) draws upon his many years of academic studies and research to
produce a 176-page historical treatise chronicling Teutonic pagan traditions with respect to
mythology, spirituality, and occult beliefs. Of special note is the chapter devoted to Germanic
'magic'. Enhanced with the inclusion of copious notations, an extensive bibliography, and a
useful index, "Barbarian Rites" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and a highly recommended addition
to personal, academic, and community library Folklore and European History reference
collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Political Science Shelf
Saving the Bill of Rights
Frank Miniter
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9781596981508 $27.95 www.regnery.com
Radio and television commentator Frank Miniter presents Saving the Bill of Rights: Exposing
the Left's Campaign to Destroy American Exceptionalism, a conservative call-to-arms against
efforts to erode the rights protected by the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Chapters defend waterboarding as "obviously not torture"; decry efforts to use "separation of
church and state" to force Christianity out of the public eye; attack net neutrality on the claim that
legally requiring internet service providers to give their customers equal access to all websites
would harm free speech; warn that property rights protected by the fifth amendment are under
attack from governmental avarice (a.k.a. "eminent domain"); and much more. "Here in America,
the concept of a 'living Constitution' would take the Constitution out of the hands of the people
and allow the government to do whatever it wants, regardless of what the Constitution says. Such
things may happen in China and Zimbabwe, but America is attractive to immigrants and has
created wealth because it has a stable, just democracy tethered to a Constitution that says what it
means and means what it says." An impassioned, sharply worded account, Saving the Bill of
Rights is a wake-up call of warnings that deserve careful scrutiny regardless of the reader's
personal political leanings.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Primal Body, Primal Mind
Nora T. Gedgaudas
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594774133, $19.95, www.amazon.com
"Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life" by
certified nutritional therapist Nora T. Gedgaudas is a 416-page compendium that examines what
we know about the diets and health of our Paleolithic hunter-gatherer ancestors before the advent
of agriculture. Applying recent scientific discoveries, "Primal Body, Primal Mind" reveals how
the coming of agriculture resulted in a marked decline in stature, bone density, dental health, with
a corresponding rise in birth defects, malnutrition, and disease directly related to an
agriculturally-based life style. Informed and informative, and occasionally iconoclastic, "Primal
Body, Primal Mind" is particularly noteworthy for Nora Gedgaudas' recommendations with
respect to our modern diets and 'real world' strategies to nutrition-based diets combined with
exercise to provide a roster of benefits ranging from stress reduction, to improved sleep, to an
enhanced immune system, to saving money on groceries, to extending our life expectancies.
Enhanced with eight appendices (including an impressive bibliography) and a comprehensive
index, "Primal Body, Primal Mind" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal,
academic, and community library Health & Nutrition instructional reference collections.
The Civil War Shelf
The Perfect Lion
Jerry H. Maxwell
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
9780817317355 $49.95 www.uapress.ua.edu
The Perfect Lion: The Life and Death of Confederate Artillerist John Pelham is the biography of
Civil War soldier and artillery commander John Pelham, also known as "Gallant Pelham". An
Alabama native, Pelham was a dashing young blond, blue-eyed man. known for his expertise in
his chosen field as well as his charm with the ladies. He was killed in action at the battle of
Kelly's Ford at age twenty-four, prompting three women of his acquaintance to go into mourning.
The Perfect Lion examines Pelham's life, death, and popularity in detail, and is a welcome
addition to Civil War biography shelves.
The Genealogy Shelf
Richmond, Virginia Lost Souls
Nancy C. Frantel
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104
Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
9780788453304 $20.00 www.heritagebooks.com
Richmond, Virginia Lost Souls: Restored African-American Interments as Listed in the Mt.
Olivet Cemetery Register, 1875-1908 is a genealogical reference that casts a disturbing shadow
on recent American history. Author Nancy C. Frantel originally sought to create a basic
internment register concerning the cemetery of Mt. Olivet, where African-Americans were
buried; her work revealed shocking amount of cases in which graves were reopened for multiple
burials, with few clues as to who or how many individuals were laid to rest in which plots.
Richmond, Virginia Lost Souls lists as much information as could be gathered from the register:
full name, date interred, age, marital status, gender, cause of death, partial gravesite location and
side remarks. An introduction by the author and an appendix transcribing a speech from the
mayor of Manchester in 1878 round out this sober and invaluable contribution to American
genealogy shelves.
The Architecture Shelf
Media-ICT
Encri Ruiz-Geli
Actar D
c/o ActarBirkhauser Distribution
151 Grand Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
9788492861026 $54.95 www.actar-d.com
Media-ICT is a technical, in-depth spotlight on the Media-ICT building recently constructed in
Barcelona as a practical, energy-efficient center of high standards to promote not only a solidly
serviceable headquarters for numerous institutions, but also a high level of sustainable living. A
trailblazer for more environmentally friendly and economically productive future construction
projects, the Media-ICT building offers a wealth on invaluable lessons in architecture. This book
includes numerous essays from individuals involved in or who have studies the Media-ICT
building; meticulously detailed architectural design and technical specifications; and a wealth of
full-color photographs visible on almost every page. A superb source of inspiration and practical
ideas for modern architects, especially in a world where energy costs and environmental concerns
are continually escalating, Media-ICT is highly recommended for college library and professional
architectural studies shelves, and comes with a bonus 130-minute DVD (region 0, compatible
with DVD players worldwide) with English subtitles.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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