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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Geography of Genius
Eric Weiner
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781451691658 $26.95 www.amazon.com
The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places, from Ancient Athens
to Silicon Valley comes from a travel writer and former NPR correspondent who considers how
innovations occur and when, where and why these leaps take place. In keeping with his interests
in travel and other cultures, Weiner researches circumstances of genius with an eye to exploring
its geographic connections and presence, offering a survey that traverses history and place to
examine how creative genius is fostered so that ingenuity takes place. Chapters argue that genius
is not a personal or private event as much as a public event that is heavily influenced by
surrounding environment, and he discusses the ways genius is typically examined, the fallacies in
logic that result, and the influences and approaches that attack genius and innovation in the
world. From why trauma and hard times fosters genius to how tension encourages leaps in
thinking, The Geography of Genius provides a powerful survey that's a highly recommended pick
for both leisure readers interested in geography and innovation and for those who would probe
the historical connections between genius and worldviews and influences.
Pixyjack Press Inc.
PO Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
www.pixyjackpress.com
Two examinations of science, nature, and relationships to humans and general and homeowners
in particular are recommended picks that should be on any homeowner's reading list. Ancient
Fire, Modern Fire by Einar Jensen (9781936555642, $19.95) presents the author's experiences as
a firefighter, environmental historian and life safety educator to consider the history of how
people deal with fire and fire safety. Chapters delve into the history of fire prevention methods,
how it differs from urban to rural settings, and how changing one's basic understanding of fire is
key to preventing tragedies. From the basics of fire science (geared to a general-interest,
non-expert reader) to arson, world myths surrounding fire, and sacred ceremonies conducted with
fire, this provides a treasure trove of details. Linda Masterson's Living with Bears Handbook
(9781936555611, $24.00) pairs a basic natural history of bears and understanding their behavior
with a focus on what happens when the homes and lives of people intersect with bear interests,
and gathers solutions to many of these problems of bear encounters and conflicts. A basic
understanding of bear behavior is necessary to adopt measures that help bear-proof a home and
keep them from being attracted to gardens, garbage, and other human habitats or habits, and this
is provided in the course of explaining real-world solutions to bear problems. A bear manager's
experiences and case studies from across the U.S. and Canada round out the information and
make for a fine study that should be in every rural homeowner's library.
The Agriculture Shelf
Pesticides, A Love Story
Michelle Mart
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049
www.kansaspress.ku.edu
9780700621286 $34.95 www.amazon.com
Those who were active in the 1960s well know the dangers of pesticides and the warning
message in Rachel Carson's Silent Spring; but it seems this message, though acknowledged at the
time, has long been lost as pesticide use in America has actually soared in recent decades. Why
has this happened? Pesticides, a Love Story seeks out the answer as it considers the bigger
pictures of American beliefs in progress and chemical solutions to common problems. Chapters
trace the evolution of this belief system with an eye to showing how chemical pesticides became
an intrinsic part of American culture, and details how acceptance of their risks and dangers
overruled cautions. Chapters tackle how this kind of acceptance was fostered by the pesticide
industry, and how economic and social pressures have led to hazardous conditions. More than
another 'warning' book and more than an analysis of agricultural choices, Pesticides, a Love Story
presents real answers on the ongoing lure of the chemical solution and is an essential read for any
who puzzle about the connections between pesticide use, special interests, and the American
public's malleable psyche.
The Jewelry Shelf
Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide, third edition
Antoinette Matlins, P.G.
GemStone Press
Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780943763736 $18.99 www.gemstonepress.com
Diamonds: The Antoinette Matlins Buying Guide appears in its third updated, expanded edition
to provide basic insights on the process of purchasing, caring for, and understanding diamonds,
and is recommended as a basic primer for any who would examine what influences diamond
quality and cost. Chapters don't presume any prior knowledge of gemstones or jewelry and
provide newcomers with plenty of detail about how to understand diamonds and how they are
valued. From common cautions to take when purchasing diamonds to common diamond grading
systems, cut and proportion considerations, and how to compare stones, this covers all the details
any newcomer to diamonds will need to know.
The Art Shelf
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling
John Muir Laws
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com
9781597143158 $35.00 www.amazon.com
The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling is a drawing exercise book with a difference:
it teaches not just the basics of nature drawing, but how to become a better artist as well as a
better observer of nature by capturing it more accurately. This process is imparted through
exercises that teach how to capture animals, plants, landscapes and the outdoors for artists at all
levels of expertise. Designed to improve the work of advanced artists as well as introduce
newcomer to the process, it uses a journaling format and step-by-step details that contrast the
basics of art (i.e. how to apply watercolors) with that of nature observation (i.e. how to
speed-draw dragonflies or capture butterfly wings in motion). Color art throughout makes this a
visual winner, accompanying all descriptions with clear examples that leave nothing to wonder.
The result is an outstanding survey, highly recommended for aspiring nature artists who want
details on how to use journaling and art to best advantage.
The Education Shelf
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com
Gravity Goldberg's Mindsets & Moves: Strategies that Help Readers Take Charge
(9781506314938, $28.95) is directed to educators working with grades 1-8 and discusses various
protocols for encouraging students to read. Unlike most approaches, Gravity shows how to shift
the educator's typical role from that of a manager to encouraging kids to take charge of their own
reading processes. The idea is to evolve and encourage a 'growth mindset' that offers a model for
new ways of reading. More than a philosophical presentation, this book provides practical
examples, reading strategies, and a photo tour of a classroom organized with this in mind. From
journaling and reading notebooks to producing more effective summaries, notes from student
efforts appear in color throughout and highlight a very specific set of directions that will provide
teachers with much food for thought. Karen D. Wood, D. Bruce Taylor and Katie Stover's
Smuggling Writing: Strategies That Get Students to Write Every Day in Every Content Area
(9781506322629, $28.95) shows teachers how to incorporate written response activity results
into lesson plans that empower students in grades 3-12 to take charge of their own reading and
writing growth. The idea is that more writing can be added to even the heaviest curriculum
approach, and this is supported through classroom-tested lesson plans that show students how to
use a particular set of strategies in all of their educational pursuits. Tested tools such as
Herringbone and Anticipation Guides are re-arranged into sections on concept development and
comprehension while sample lessons are backed by traditional teaching methods and online
support and activities. The idea is to 'smuggle' writing into or after the lessons for greater
effectiveness.
The Autism Shelf
Our Brains Are Like Computers!
Joel Shaul
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849057165 $24.95 www.amazon.com
Our Brains Are Like Computers! explores social skills and cause and effect and is designed for
parents and educators working with children on the autism spectrum. Photocopiable worksheets
accompany discussions of common life encounters that range from how people develop
long-lasting bad memories of others to examples of good people who are trying to get others to
like them.
The Cookbook Shelf
Medieval Cooking in Today's Kitchen
Greg Jenkins
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764348426 $24.99, www.amazon.com
Medieval Cooking in Today's Kitchen compliments a relative handful of other medieval
cookbooks on the market today and offers nearly eighty recipes for drinks, breads, appetizers,
main courses, and rich desserts. While all these originate from cultures throughout Europe, they
have been translated for modern cooks and kitchens and offer not exotic foods so much as
unusual combinations that one might not expect. Thus a pudding is baked with raspberries,
brandy, and cocoa power and topped with a meringue crust, or potatoes are mashed with
rutabagas, turnips, radishes and chives for a fuller flavor. Add introductions to each section and
recipes that explain medieval culture and you have a cookbook packed with appealing, accessible
dishes that pair history with new dishes.
Go With Your Gut
Robyn Youkilis
Kyle Books
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1DX
www.kylebooks.com
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487352 $22.95 www.amazon.com
Go With Your Gut: The Insider's Guide to Banishing the Bloat with 75 Digestion-Friendly
Recipes comes from a certified wellness expert who has written about and done TV shows on
health and discusses how digestive system health affects body processes as a whole, and what to
do about it. It goes far beyond giving lip service to wellness and a healthy lifestyle, advocating a
series of recipes and lessons on how to properly eat, breathe, relax, and enjoy life. Many of these
approaches lead to weight loss and better digestive health overall, as the tips go beyond
gut-friendly recipes alone. The result is a combination cookbook and health plan which is highly
recommended for any woman who wants to not just listen to her body, but improve her
health.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Shoot Like Scorsese
Christopher Kenworthy
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932320 $14.95 www.amazon.com
Shoot Like Scorsese: The Visual Secrets of Shock, Elegance and Extreme Character takes one of
the most influential filmmakers in cinema history and uses them as examples to teach key
techniques on framing, space, and more. The author is himself a writer, director and producer and
so is well versed in what devices help keep audiences on the edges of their seats, but the strength
of his approach lies in how to use screen direction, camera positions, actor positioning, and scene
set-up to best advantage. Filled with black and white film examples throughout, Shoot Like
Scorsese is highly recommended for any cinema photographer, cameraman, and film director
who want to make the most from their choices.
The Gardening Shelf
Container Theme Gardens
Nancy J. Ondra
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612123981 $19.95 www.amazon.com
Container Theme Gardens: 42 Combinations Each Using 5 Perfectly Matched Plants packs
full-page color plant photos in a discussion of over forty foolproof gardens for all kinds of styles
which use only five matched easy plants paired with different kinds of containers. Using her
approach the casual gardener interested in containers for a variety of spaces need only choose a
color scheme and container to create themes suitable for shade gardens, Spring celebrations, and
more. There are other books covering container gardening, but this title's special focus on themes
offers gardeners many more options to create a unified appearance.
The Needlecraft Shelf
An English Paper-Pieced Sampler
Darlene Beltman and Teresa Justice
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781604603972 $24.95 www.amazon.com
An English Paper-Pieced Sampler blends a history of this paper piecing method with an
instructional book that offers background, basics, and everything a beginner needs to get started
with quilting using the block instructions provided. From traditional to modern block choices and
colors, readers are provided with templates, many color photos of all sizes, tips on attaching
fabric to paper templates, and sewing instructions. The result is a vivid collection of varied
projects and ideas which introduces the history and concept of English paper piecing to quilting
newcomers.
The Activity Shelf
Coloring Ocean Mandalas
Wendy Piersall
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612435466 $10.00 www.amazon.com
Coloring Ocean Mandalas provides thirty designs for relaxation and uses nautical themes and
underwater worlds to link mindful mindsets with art. These themes range from whales and
mermaids to sea horses, jellyfish, and dolphins, and sometimes add a good touch of whimsy and
fun into the mix, as in a circular submarine with flowers, a periscope, and a mariner looking at
the world through a spyglass. Most especially, it's a colorful celebration of the ocean for any who
love the sea and adds an extra dimension of relaxing detail to the adult coloring world.
Origami Boxes Super Paper Pack
Maria Noble
Creative Publishing International
9781589238992 $12.99
www.QuartoKnows.com
Origami Boxes Super Paper Pack contains ten box designs and over two hundred pages of
double-sided origami paper, along with step-by-step instructions for folding boxes with and
without lids, and is recommended for paper folders who have some basics down and who want to
move to the next step. Some thirty different colors and patterns are printed on both sides and
bound into a book but can be easily removed to make the boxes, while instructions are simple
enough to follow that any new to origami will find it easy to produce their first project. With over
thirty pages of instruction and two hundred papers, crafts users will find plenty to appreciate
here, in a collection recommended as a gift for any interested in crafts in general and
paper-folding projects in particular.
The Technology Shelf
Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and LIDAR: A Workbook
Kathryn Keranen and Robert Kolvoord
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
www.esri.com/esripress
9781589484290 $79.99 www.amazon.com
Making Spatial Decisions Using GIS and LIDAR: A Workbook is a technical reference
providing the third book in the Making Spatial Decisions series, and is recommended for ArcGIS
program users who want an approach that features Lidar as its primary data source. Chapters
covering analysis, applications, and GIS approaches revolving around this source will find here a
series of progressive lessons in a workbook format that includes downloadable data and a
180-day free trial of ArcGIS. Exercises teach how to handle data, draw conclusions, solve typical
geographic-based problems, and more, and offer important tools and strategies for a more
effective use of ArcGIS.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Kingfisher
Patricia A. McKillip
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguingroup.com
9780425271766 $27.00 www.amazon.com
Kingfisher is a fine fantasy and coming-of-age story and revolves around Pierce, who has grown
up working in his mother's restaurant. She's a powerful sorceress who has hidden her son to
protect him - until strangers passing through town lure him with promises of another world that
holds a better place for him. There's nothing but a bleak world in the one he currently inhabits,
and Pierce's determination leads her furious mother to tell him the truth about his father and
family connections - and about his unfaithful father's dangerous love and his mother's
determination to raise Pierce away from that danger, now undermined by both strangers and her
own son's desire to find his own destiny. Secrets, bad decisions, and a quest join in an epic
journey that will lead readers into a riveting saga of self-determination and change.
Poseidon's Wake
Alastair Reynolds
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguingroup.com
9780425256794 $27.00 www.penguin.com
Poseidon's Wake concludes an epic saga begun in On the Steel Breeze and is especially
recommended for prior fans who will find this continuation of the story to be involving.
Newcomers should really look at the prior story line for easier involvement in this tale, which
tells of Ndege Akinya, who lives under permanent house arrest for killing over four hundred
thousand people through her actions. Her biologist daughter joins a crew sent to uncover the
source of a strange message that came from seventy light-years away, and what they will find
will change all their lives in this riveting, engrossing story which takes its time to move slowly
and relentlessly towards a surprise conclusion.
The End of All Things
John Scalzi
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765376077 $24.99 www.amazon.com
The End of All Things provides a new story in the 'Old Man's War' universe and deserves
ongoing mention and recommendation both for prior fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Fans might recall that the first book, Old Man's War, earned Scalzi the John W. Campbell Award
for Best New Writer and started a series that would eventually be adapted into a TV show. This
book was released as four e-only serial novellas before its appearance here as a final hardcover,
and begins where The Human Division ended as it returns to a world where humans have
expanded into space only to face a universe of different alien species, all of which wants to
destroy them. It sounds complex and it may also seem that familiarity with the prior books are a
prerequisite, but newcomers will find it easy to enter this universe at this point and the only real
requirement is an interest in military and political sci-fi and alien/human confrontations. Such an
audience will find The End of All Things filled with satisfying twists and human/alien
confrontations that build solid characters and exciting, believable scenarios between them.
The Computer Shelf
The Dart Programming Language
Gilad Bracha
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321927705 $49.99 www.informit.com/aw
The Dart Programming Language provides a class-based, objected-oriented language coverage
for programmers and computer science students who want to know how to apply it most
efficiently, and teaches the basics of the Dart object model's unique attributes. It not only covers
applications, but how Dart handles statements, its unique attributes that lend to asynchronous
programming, and how its key features can be streamlined in the implementation process. Charts
serve as examples covering widgets, code examples support functions and Dart classes, and
generics survey a host of techniques for synthesizing Dart into real-world applications. The result
is a powerful survey highly recommended for any who would learn more about how Dart
operates.
The Audiobook Shelf
The China Mirage
James Bradley
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781611136692 $35.00 www.amazon.com
The China Mirage: The Hidden History of American Disaster in Asia appears in an unabridged
audio presentation narrated by Pete Larkin and includes a .pdf of photos as it explores American
political encounters with China in the 1800s and beyond. Early and famous Americans made
their fortunes in the China opium trade, addicting millions in the process, while American
churches sent their missionaries to the country hoping to convert peasants. Novelist Pearl Buck
and others perpetuated common myths about China among the American people before Mao
came to power to change the long-perpetuated myths about the country. Any who believe they
know the history of American and Chinese relationships needs to listen to this account, which is
packed with many eye-opening revelations about common Chinese myths.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Back Pain: How to Get Rid of It Forever
John Perrier
Hale & Iremonger
PO Box 652, Willoughby, NSW, 2068
http://www.ghrpress.com
0 86806 675 3 $29.95 www.amazon.com
The sheer volume of health books on the market about back pain should be an indicator of not
only how pervasive this condition is, but how tricky it is to alleviate. This title makes some big
claims: that its readers may be able to permanently end their back pain; but this achievement
doesn't come without work. That work is provided by physiotherapist John Perrier, who designs a
coverage that leaves no treatment option unturned in the quest for a better back. First, suffers
need to understand some basic physiology, and the introductory sections focus on the spine's
structure, different kinds of common injuries that cause back pain, and how muscles, nerves, and
vertebra injuries can change. Next, a self-assessment quiz allows readers to narrow the causes of
their back pain, while a final section offers a blend of back exercises and tips to sit, stand, walk,
lift, and even sleep to lesson impact on the back. From drugs and diets to common myths about
what causes back pain, this isn't a light and quick overview, but delves into a variety of treatment
options, questions, and insights on back health. Spinal pain is complex, but this book helps
suffers understand the factors influencing pain and its alleviation, and will find it an excellent
self-help approach to supplement physician advice and physiotherapy. Note: the ebook version is
in two volumes: Back Pain: How to get rid of it Forever, Volume 1: The Causesand Back Pain:
How to Get Rid of It Forever Volume 2: The Cures.
Living with Lymphoma: A Patient's Guide
Elizabeth M. Adler, PhD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421418100 $26.95 www.amazon.com
Living with Lymphoma: A Patient's Guide comes from a neurobiologist who was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and who set out on a mission to learn everything she could about the
disease. The results of her findings blend science with personal odyssey in a book about
understanding and managing the condition. Included in her coverage are the latest facts and
scientific research, insights on symptoms and new therapies, the use of medical marijuana and
different kinds of directed therapies, and genetic influences on the disease's progression. Highly
recommended for any patient or family member seeking a clear health book with the latest
facts.
The Photography Shelf
Infrared Photography
Laurie Klein, BFA, MFA and Kyle Klein, BFA
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com
9781608959259 $37.95 www.amazon.com
Infrared Photography: Artistic Techniques for Brilliant Images is a 'must' reference for digital
photographers who would learn and apply some of the basic artistic techniques surrounding
infrared to photo results. It covers the basics of how to expose infrared in digital images, how to
handle their different tones and how to apply them to portraits and landscapes alike, and how to
understand the special challenges of the medium which can lead to common problems. It also
covers some of the strengths of infrared and tells how to make the most of them. From shutter
speeds and changing viewpoints to shooting structures or nudes or just adding an infrared glow,
this coverage is loaded with color photo examples throughout in a pick highly recommended for
photographers who have basic skills down but who are just entering the realm of infrared's many
options.
The Automotive Shelf
Amazing Barn Finds and Roadside Relics
Ryan Brutt
Motorbooks
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760348079 $35.00 www.motorbooks.com
Amazing Barn Finds and Roadside Relics takes the popular TV show approaches of Pawn Stars
and American Pickers into the auto realm as it discusses forgotten and abandoned vehicles that
have been located and restored to former beauty. Here the process of locating, assessing,
restoring and understanding the history and culture behind these selected gems comes to life in a
collection filled with old car images, stories of how they were lost and found, and discussions of
the restoration process. Packed with color photos, Amazing Barn Finds and Roadside Relics
builds on the automotive restorer and collector's interest and provides a compelling collection of
nearly-forgotten gems and what it takes to return them to their former glory. No automotive
history holding should be without this, which holds the potential to reach into general-interest
audiences with its lively history and fine color images.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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