 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / The Bookwatch |
The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Contact! A Book of Encounters
Jan Morris
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393076400, $23.95 www.wwnorton.com
Contact! A Book of Encounters offers moments of prose that capture moments of travel
encounters in a paragraph or two. From Harry Truman to an Indian civil servant and an Egyptian
beggar, any interested in either travel or the human condition will find this a fine survey of Jan
Morris' many encounters on the path to exploring world cultures. Any who have enjoyed her
nonfiction will relish this!
Manual for Living: Reality
Seth David Chernoff
Spirit Scope Publishing
6525 Gunpark Drive, Suite 370-249, Boulder, CO 80301
9780984093090, $15.95 www.spiritscope.com
Manual for Living: Reality: A User's Guide to the Meaning of Life offers a fine survey of wisdom
and guidance to finding lasting happiness, learning how to fully experience life, and reconnecting
with inner truths. It offers a new vision of what it means to be a peaceful, Godly person and
tackles the hard topics of death, illness, fear, and toxic environmental influences. Highly
recommended as an empowering, top pick for changing personal reality.
The Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Discovery Book
Laurens Valk
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
9781593272111, $29.95 www.nostarch.com
The Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 Discovery Book provides a fine beginner's guide to
MINDSTORMS, offering clear instructions on how to use the NXT 2.0 software to build and
program your own robots. Step-by-step tutorials survey complex robots and advanced
programming techniques, making this a top pick for anyone new to building and programming
with Mindstorms.
Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals
Patti Polk
Krause Publications
701 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
1440204152, $17.99 www.krausebooks.com
Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals is designed with beginners in mind and packed with
valuable technical information for collectors. It offers an easily-used reference format arranged by
category and color of stone and covers lapidary and mineral materials, along with organics form
coral to pearl. Any collector will appreciate over 600 color photos and many basic, key references
to the gem and mineral world!
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
4-H Guide: Dog Training & Dog Tricks
Tammie Rogers
Voyageur Press
400 - 1st Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760336298, $18.99 voyageurpress.com
4-H Guide: Dog Training & Dog Tricks offers a fine survey to teach a dog the basic training tasks
and fun tricks, pairing advice and tips with basic commands. The author works with her husband
operating a professional dog-training facility: her tips are specific and come with color photo
examples to boot. Any general library catering to pet owners will find this an attraction.
The Private Lives of Birds
Bridget Stutchbury
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780802717467, $25.00 www.walkerbooks.com
The Private Lives of Birds: A Scientist Reveals the Intricacies of Avian Social Life comes from a
'bird detective' biologist whose field studies of birds offers many insights into bird behaviors. From
understanding bird social life to becoming more aware of their needs, The Private Lives of Birds
offers lay readers an opportunity to understand the science behind birding. Highly
recommended!
Wiley Professional/Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Bonnie Ballard and Ryan Cheek's EXOTIC ANIMAL MEDICINE FOR THE VETERINARY
TECHNICIAN (9780813822068, $69.99) appears in its second updated edition to provide a fine
introduction to exotic animal practices for technicians in classroom and clinic settings. The
emphasis on exotic species makes for a fine survey that includes the latest practices in exotic
animal medicine, with new information bird behaviors, aviary management, and more details on
reptiles, skunks, prairie dogs and more. Nutrition, husbandry, and step-by-step descriptions of
common procedures range from very basic to advanced details and makes this an important
acquisition. Xie's CHINESE VETERINARY HERBOLOGY (9780813803692, $129.99) is
edited by Huisheng Xie and Vanessa Preast and provides vet libraries an outstanding alternative,
homeopathic Chinese medicine guide for any animal. From history and dosages and
pharmaceutical ingredients to clinical applications and side effects, this provides specific insights
to herbs organized by ailment and should be a key acquisition for any vet collection. Also key is
Ron Banks, et.al.'s EXOTIC SMALL MAMMAL CARE AND HUSBANDRY (9780813810225,
$49.99), a reference for handling and treating small exotic animals in the vet clinic. From clinical
techniques and diagnosis to treatment and anatomy, this offers specific details vets must
have!
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Complete Guide to Chakras
Ambika Wauters
Barrons
250 Wireless, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764163132, $16.99 www.barronseduc.com
Complete Guide to Chakras appears in a fine vintage edition covering the exercises and
techniques involved in mastering inner energy and life. Fine color illustrations accompany
questionnaires and exercises, with qualities, attributes, and self-assessments throughout. Lending
libraries will find this an excellent, basic new age acquisition!
The Women's Studies Shelf
The Modern Girl's Guide to Sticky Situations
Jane Buckingham
Avon
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061776359, $19.99 www.harpercollins.com
The Modern Girl's Guide to Sticky Situations offers a collection of 'quick fixes' to common
questions, organized by situation, and covers everything from love and money to weddings and
family conflicts. With candid answers to such topics as what to do with guests that won't clear out
of a kitchen before a dinner is served to fighting with family over inheritance, this is packed with
key tips to success and a smoother life. Any general lending library will find this a popular
lend!
The Social Issues Shelf
WND Books
marketing@wndbooks.com
www.wndbooks.com
Floyd Brown & Lee Troxler's KILLING WEALTH FREEING WEALTH: HOW TO SAVE
AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND YOUR OWN (9781935071815, $25.95) comes from the
authors who predicted the 2008 financial collapse to one month and 100 points on the Dow. Their
return with new predictions about eco-terrorist links to the BP oil catastrophe and Wall Street
make for an eye-opening analysis by an economist and a seasoned broadcaster and political
advisor, and makes Killing Wealth Freeing Wealth a fine pick for any library concerned with social
change. Vox Day's THE RETURN OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION (9781935071181, $25.95)
tells of a columnist who predicted the collapse of the financial system some seven years ago - and
who here warns that the latest symptoms of economic meltdown have only been the tip of what is
to come. Ten reasons the next Great Depression will be wider, deeper and longer accompany an
analysis of why today's economics are incapable of recognizing the extent of the problems. Any
collection strong in economic analysis needs this.
Black Rednecks and White Liberals
Thomas Sowell
Encounter Books
900 Broadway #400, New York NY 10003
1594031436, $17.95 www.encounterbooks.com
Black Rednecks and White Liberals offers a fine challenge to many assumptions about blacks,
Jews, slavery and education, tackling the favorite notions of intellectual thinking and providing a
series of long essays covering mistaken policies and trends. From 'The Real History of Slavery'
re-examining events to 'Are Jews Generic?', this provides food for thought from one of the
country's leading commentators on racial and ethnic issues. Any social issues shelf needs this
discussion.
The Abundant Community
John McKnight & Peter Block
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605095844, $26.95 www.bkconnection.com
THE ABUNDANT COMMUNITY: AWAKENING THE POWER OF FAMILIES AND
NEIGHBORHOODS analyzes the impact of consumerism on families and communities,
suggesting that purchase and outsourcing choices are gearing us outside communities for services
and turning us into consumers and clients rather than neighbors sharing resources. This book
makes a case for returning to community-based interactions and deserves a spot in any
college-level social issues or business library.
The Political Science Shelf
Toxic Talk
Bill Press
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
9780312606299, $26.99 www.stmartins.com
TOXIC TALK: HOW THE RADICAL RIGHT HAS POISONED AMERICA'S AIRWAVES
answers media bullies who have contributed to a divided nation. From Conservative backlashes to
health care reform processes to how Right-Wing Conservatives control radio debates, this offers
an eye-opening survey of radio's right-wing extremists and how they are influencing the direction
of the nation, making this a top pick for any library strong in civil liberties and debates over
freedom of expression and radio programming.
The International Studies Shelf
Encountering the Chinese, third edition
Hu Wenzhong, Cornelius N. Grove, Zhuang Enping
Intercultural Press
20 Park Plaza #1115A, Boston MA 02116
9781931930994, $24.95 www.interculturalpress.com
The third updated edition of ENCOUNTERING THE CHINESE; A MODERN COUNTRY, AN
ANCIENT CULTURE is a fine pick for any college-level student surveying the history and
culture of the Chinese. It's been revised to explain how Chinese values are rapidly changing - and
how etiquette and common observations are moving in very different directions. A 'must' for any
who would study or understand Chinese history and modern culture.
The Automotive Shelf
Two Billion Cars
Daniel Sperling & Deborah Gordon
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199737239, $16.95 www.oup.com
TWO BILLION CARS: DRIVING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY offers a fine history of cars
and the global oil and car industries, with special focus on emissions and car cultures. Chapters
expose auto industry issues, problems in oil markets and distribution, and how to reform
American dependence on cars, creating a powerful survey for any library strong in environmental
and cultural issues.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Stieg Larsson, author
Simon Vance, narrator
Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780739384190, $40.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest receives Simon Vance's award-winning actor's skills and
voice which lends a gripping conclusion to the third and final novel in Stieg Larsson's best-selling
trilogy. Here Lisbeth lies in critical condition in a hospital and faces three murder charges if she
recovers. Her recovery will depend on fighting back in this powerful story.
Fever Dream
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, authors
Rene Auberjonois, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781607881940, $44.98 www.hachetteaudio.com
FEVER DREAM receives a fine narration from TV actor Rene Auberjonois, who vividly captures
the drama and tension involved when a special agent (who still mourns a beloved wife dead some
12 years in an accident) learns the death was likely murder. His search for answers - and revenge -
spices a dramatic, lively story of intrigue perfect for any general lending library.
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Stephen King's THE EYES OF THE DRAGON (9780142427880, $39.95) enjoys a fine narrative
style by Bronson Pinchot, known worldwide for his fine TV and film work, and provides an
engrossing story as it tells of a kingdom in chaos after the old king dies and his successor is
imprisoned by an evil prince. A fine fantasy springs to life in a new presentation, highly
recommended for fantasy libraries. Stephen King's THE TOMMYKNOCKERS (9780142427897,
$49.95) receives an award-winning narration by Edward Hermann, an actor who has produced
many films. His narrative spices the tense supernatural thriller telling of a small town affected by a
woman's archaeological find - a find that is changing the nature of humanity itself in the town. The
story line comes to vivid life in this moving audio! Equally vivid is King's CHRISTINE
(9780142428221, $49.95), brought to vivid life by award-winning audio narrator Holter Graham.
Christine is widely feared and mistrusted - but beloved by teen Arnie. Christine isn't a woman -
she's a hot car. King provides even a vehicle can provoke terror under the right circumstances -
and this masterful audio brings out the tension superbly! John Grisham's THEODORE BOONE:
KID LAWYER (9780142428696, $19.95) receives a fine narration by Richard Thomas, a prolific
stage and film actor who starred in The Waltons. His voice brings to life the story of a teen who
thinks he's one of the lawyer group - and who knows every judge, policeman and court clerk in
town. His knowledge gets him involved in a dangerous murder trial in this tense thriller!
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
L.J. Smith's 'Night World' novels come to life in audio format, and are top picks for any lending
library where vampires are of interest. WITCHLIGHT (1441820795, $19.99) receives Emily
Foster's fine performance, which brings to life the story set in a vampire world much like our own,
where vampires and creatures live among humans without their knowledge. Keller is a black
panther who meets her match when she's hired to protect Iliana, a blonde bimbo who may be the
legendary Witch Child. An exciting drama evolves. BLACK DAWN (1441820736, $19.99)
enjoys a fine performance by Ted Clark Linden, who brings to life the story of Maggie, a teen
whose brother is missing. Her search for him will lead her to a dangerous vampire kingdom, the
Night World, in this riveting saga of a vampire prince's forbidden romance with a human. Both are
picks for any fantasy audio collection. Lisa Jackson's WITHOUT MERCY (1441813209, $36.99)
tells of Julia, who has been plagued by nightmares ever since her father was stabbed to death in a
home invasion. Her involvement with her half-sister and a new school involves her in a dangerous
series of murders in this gripping story. J.T. Ellison's 14 (1441838511, $29.99) receives a
narration by Joyce Bean as it tells of a murder who suddenly stops - until four years later murders
start up again, marked with his fatal signature. Has the killer returned - or is a copycat killer on
the loose? Joyce Bean's gripping narrative style brings the plot to life! Deborah Coonts' WANNA
GET LUCKY? (1441843760, $29.99) receives a fine performance by Renee Raudman, an
award-winning narrator who spices the story of a young woman who plunges from a Las Vegas
sightseeing helicopter, landing in the middle of the Pirate Show. Lucky O'Toole, head of customer
relations at a resort, decides to investigate, and her findings uncover some dangerous perps in this
fine tense thriller! Steve Hodel with Ralph Pezullo's MOST EVIL (144180045X, $36.99) enjoys
Malcolm Hillgartner's acting and songwriting background and comes alive in audio as it tells of
the author's discovery that his late father had known the victim in the Black Dahlia murder case in
1947 Los Angeles. A hidden cache of documents involves Steve Hodel in further investigations
leading to the possible resolution of a decades-old series of killings in this riveting true crime
expose. Philip Pullman's THE GOOD MAN JESUS AND THE SCOUNDREL CHRIST
(1441857958, $19.99) receives a fine reading by an award-winning fantasy author, and provides a
retelling of the life of Jesus from quite a different perspective. Mystery and power blend in this
survey that considers different angles on the Christ image. Paolo Bacigalupi's THE WINDUP
GIRL (1441866868, $29.99) receives an excellent performance by audiobook veteran narrator
Jonathan Davis, who adds a passionate voice to this fine science fiction novel telling of an
undercover factory manager searching for extinct food in a future world. When he meets
half-human Emiko, he becomes involved in a dangerous underground world where calories
become currency. A riveting futuristic story evolves. Kirk Franklin's THE BLUEPRINT
(1441857893, $29.99) receives an excellent narration by HBO artist Dion Graham as it tells of
gospel artist Kirk Franklin's faith. He explains how communications with God helped him translate
life's challenges into success in this fine spiritual survey recommended for any spirituality listener.
Seanan McGuire's ROSEMARY AND RUE (1441861696, $29.99) provides an outstanding
urban fantasy powered by Mary Robinette Kowal's passionate reading, and tells of a parallel fairy
world that lives in secret next to human realms. A murder threatens its secrets and a dying curse
forces Toby to resume her old position as a knight in this fine thriller. Jack Campbell's
VICTORIOUS: THE LOST FLEET (1441858709, $29.99) receives fine performance by
Christian Rummel as it provides a sequel to LOST FLEET and the story of commander Geary.
War continues between two worlds and Captain Geary is promoted to admiral, giving him new
possibilities to either end the conflict or elevate it to new heights. A powerful military drama
evolves, perfect for any audio listener seeking nonstop action and solid thrills! Andre Norton's
classic WITCH WORLD (1441814078, $24.99) comes to life in a gripping audio production
spiced by Nick Podehl's dramatic voice. It's the first novel of her fantasy series and here
introduces Simon, a human who escapes his doom through gates to Witch World, there to find
himself embroiled in warfare. A gripping saga evolves! Karin slaughter's BROKEN (1423342399,
$38.99) is performed by Natalie Ross, an Earphones award-winning stage actor who lends spice
to the story of a special agent investigating a Grant County prisoner's death. His probe leads to
police secrets and danger from the men in blue themselves in this fast-paced thriller. Alexey
Pehov's SHADOW PROWLER (144181437X, $29.99) receives Macleod Andrews' fine stage
performances and background as it tells of a master thief who must work to defeat stirring danger.
Collections strong in fantasy will relish this adventure story of ogres, giants and dangers and one
shadow Harold, a legendary thief who may be the only one to keep the peace in a troubled
land.
The Literary Shelf
Ambrose Bierce's Write it Right
Jan Freeman
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780802717689, $24.00 www.walkerbooks.com
Ambrose Bierce's Write it Right: The Celebrated Cynic's Language Peeves Deciphered,
Appraised, and Annotated for 21st-Century Readers is a fun 'must' for any general or language
collection: it offers fun observations about applications of nouns, verbs and more, and is a fine,
revealing dictionary of insights perfect for any general or literary collection!
Hemingway: So Far From Simple
Donald F. Bouchard
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027560, $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com
Hemingway: So Far From Simple offers a new perspective on Hemingway's career and life, with
literary critic Donald Bouchard using the postmodernist writings of Michael Goucault and others
to consider Hemingway's career as a writer and how he addressed criticism of his work. High
school to college-level students of Hemingway will find this absorbing.
The Music Shelf
Abba: The Scrapbook
Jean-Marie Potiez
Plexus Publishing
110 Riverside Dr., Apt 5E, New York NY 10024
9780859654227, $24.95 www.plexusbooks.com
Abba: The Scrapbook is a 'must' for any Abba fan or popular music library. It is packed with
unique photos and memorabilia and offers a complete history of the band, from its early days in
Sweden to its evolution as a world band. It's a powerful visual biography and perfect keepsake
edition for any Abba fan.
MySpace for Musicians, second edition
Fran Vincent
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1435454197, $34.99 www.courseptr.com
The second updated edition of MySpace for Musicians: The Comprehensive Guide to Marketing
Your Music Online is a 'must' for any indie musician. It covers all the basics of how to use the
MySpace environment for promoting music, now considered the 'first step' for any serious
musician. From setting up the social network's page to using MySpace from either a musician or a
record label or music manager's vantage point, this in-depth coverage is a 'must' for musicians and
libraries catering to them!
The Christian Studies Shelf
Anatomy of the Soul
Curt Thompson, MD
Salt River
c/o Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414334158, $14.99 www.tyndale.com
ANATOMY OF THE SOUL offers some detailed surveys of neuroscience and spiritual practices,
and is designed to document how these connections can change spiritual approaches to life. The
Christian spirituality foundation and blending of science shows how it's possible to rewire your
mind, changing brain patterns to further a Godly approach to life and the soul. The unique
approach represents a smooth marriage between science and Christian belief.
The Sports Shelf
Soccer and Philosophy
Ted Richards, Editor
Open Court
70 East Lake St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696769, $21.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Soccer and Philosophy provides an unusual pairing: soccer notes by philosophers - and offers
insights on ethics, metaphysics, and issues of beauty and form in the soccer environment. By
blending philosophical principles and inquiry with soccer specifics, this will reach an audience not
ordinarily attracted to philosophy books, and deserves a dual location on philosophy and sports
shelves alike.
Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.humankinetics.com
Expertly edited by the team of Charles A. Santo and Gerard C.S. Mildner, SPORT AND PUBLIC
POLICY: SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE (0736058710, $65.00) is
the only text that examines some of the most compelling policy issues affecting the sports world.
It contains essays from a range of scholarly disciplines and offers a new perspective on economic
and political issues in sport, and it covers everything from global policies to a model of nonprofit
community ownership. Sports managers, in particular, as well as college-level students will find
this an important collection. Marie Dunford's FUNDAMENTALS OF SPORT AND EXERCISE
NUTRITION (073607631X, $29.00) provides a fine examination of sport and exercise nutrition,
covering its basic concepts and reviewing the field to provide a solid introduction. The latest
evidence-based information and its application to sports is revealed in a blend of success stories,
boxed highlights, and sidebars of information on sport nutrition. Claude Bouchard and Peter T.
Katzmarzyk edit PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OBESITY (0736076352, $79.00), which appears
in its second updated edition to survey links between physical activity, inactivity, and obesity.
From areas of controversy and uncertainty to underlying physical activity research and research
areas for further exploration, this packs in a fine survey highly recommended for any health or
sports collection. Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN. FACSM and Andrea Chernus, MS, RD, CDE's
NUTRIENT TIMING FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE (0736087648, $17.95) comes from two
sport nutritionists who have worked alongside today's top athletes, including football players and
marathon runners. They here combine their techniques with the latest dietary research to show
how readers can create an individualized action plan to meet sport and physical needs. Athletes
and collections catering to them must have this.
What Washington Can Learn From the World of Sports
George Allen
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
9781596985988, $27.95 www.regnery.com
What Washington Can Learn From the World of Sports belong on political and sports shelves
alike, offering a unique association between sports rules and team playing and the political world
of Washington DC. Chapters cover issues of ties, equal opportunity, government regulation, and
working as a team and make for inspiring reading perfect for a range of readers seeking clarity in
understanding Washington's political plays.
The Complete Triathlete's Training Manual
Oliver Roberts
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764143847, $14.99 www.barronseduc.com
The Complete Triathlete's Training Manual: A Unique Training Hide for Triathletes of All
Abilities offers six graded training regimens designed to take readers from beginning to long
distance and even Ironman status and focuses on routines that can build general fitness. Advice on
how to buy equipment and how to avoid injury make this an invaluable guide!
The Computer Shelf
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com
Jim Waldo's JAVA: THE GOOD PARTS (9780596803735, $29.99) offers a top pick for any
library strong in programming languages, showing how to build large-scale software using better
coding and memory management techniques. From reusable data structures to using Java RMI to
move code and data, this is a fine survey for any computer library! David Pogue's WINDOWS 7:
THE MISSING MANUAL (9780596806392, $39.99) covers all the new features of Windows 7,
its security protection, networking, software and more. Since Windows 7 comes without any
instruction, this primer serves as the 'bible' of reference details a bout how to customize and set up
the Windows 7 environment. A 'must' for any computer collection! Collections catering to web
developers will find solid detail and advice in Nicholas C. Zakas' HIGH PERFORMANCE
JAVASCRIPT (9780596802790, $34.99), a survey of the basics of identifying problem code and
improving scripts by learning how Javascript stores and accesses data. It comes from a Yahoo
engineer who works with five other JavaScript experts to help Javascript run efficiently and
quickly, and will appeal to any Java collection. Chris Grover's FLASH CS5: THE MISSING
MANUAL (9781449380250, $39.99) provides a powerful survey of using Flash in web design,
covering animation basics, Flash tools, using templates and pieces of code, and more. Learn how
to create rich, interactive animations with a fine survey of Flash's strengths! Joshua Noble, et.al.'s
FLEX 4 COOKBOOK (9780596805616, $49.99) provides a fine guide to web design and
development using Adobe Flex. It packs in problem-solving 'recipes' for a range of applications,
offering practical solutions for everything from Flex basics to working with data and developing
applications. Internet developer collections must have this! Also key is Yakov Fain, Victor
Rasputnis & Anatole Tartakovsky's ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT WITH FLEX
(9780596154165, $54.99) provides a fine key to using Adobe Flex to build production-quality
Rich Internet Applications. From choosing Flex-building frameworks and applying Flex designs to
improving design efficiency, this is a powerful presentation and a 'must' for any Flex
collection.
Information Representation and Retrieval in the Digital Age, second edition
Heting Chu
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573873932, $49.50 www.infotoday.com
Information Representation and Retrieval in the Digital Age offers a second updated edition of
Heting Chu's popular work on information representation and retrieval, and offers numerous
updates and revisions. The basics are surveyed in a review of key concepts as well as new
developments, making this a sold reference for any college-level collection.
Securing the Borderless Network
Tom Gillis
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1587058863, $45.00 www.ciscopress.com
Securing the Borderless Network: Security for the Web 2.0 World comes from a Cisco security
technology expert who brings together technical guidance for companies of all sizes, surveying
different scenarios from social networking systems to cloud computing and identifying key
security risks and proven best-practice techniques for each. The result is a basic primer highly
recommended for any advanced computer collection interested in network security issues.
Adobe/Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.peachpit.com
Michael Labriola, Jeff Tapper and Matthew Boles's Adobe Flex 4: Training from the Source V. 1
(0321660501, $49.99) tells how to build and debug Internet applications and how to use the
MXML language to lay out applications. Programmers learn how to create custom user interfaces
quickly through a step-by-step system to building them using Flex 4's powers. A team of authors
make this a powerful reference programming libraries need. Another top pick is an official training
workbook from Adobe Systems, DREAMWEAVER CS5 CLASSROOM IN A BOOK
(0321701771, $54.99). It offers a complete course on Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, offering 17
lessons covering all the basics of the program. Owners of Dreamweaver CS5 will find this packed
with tutorials. Owners of InDesign CS5 also have a winner in ADOBE INDESIGN CS5
CLASSROOM IN A BOOK (0321701798, $54.99). It's also the official training workbook, so
lends well to at-home study as it covers all the basics of InDesign with the intention of offering a
'classroom at home' for program owners who would do it themselves or supplement a
course.
Core JavaServer Faces, third edition
David Geary & Cay Horstmann
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0137012896, $54.99 www.informit.com/ph
The third updated edition of Core JavaServer Faces has been revised to JSF 2.0 and is a special
recommendation for any advanced Java programming collection. JavaServer faces is the standard
EE technology for building web user interfaces: this offers three new chapter on using Facelets
tags, coverage of many advanced tasks, and solutions to common troubleshooting and debugging
issues. Advanced Java computer collections should consider this a 'must' acquisition.
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789744279, $24.99 www.quepublishing.com
Jeffrey Hughes's IPHONE & IPAD APPS MARKETING: SECRETS TO SELLING YOUR
IPHONE AND IPAD APPS (0789744279, $24.99) offers a fine step-by-step guide to marketing
iPhone and iPad Apps. Learn how to identify value, target an audience, set the right price, and use
social networks to create excitement in this fine specific key to cross-marketing an app. Any
business or computer library will relish this! Steve Johnson's ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS5 ON
DEMAND (0789744457, $29.95) provides a winning survey using a visual step-by-step format
and illustrations to survey the basics of using Illustrator CS5. From creating complex objects and
text to applying graphic styles to design results, this packs in all the basics in an easily-used
format! Paul McFedries' FORMULAS AND FUNCTIONS: MICROSOFT EXCEL 2010
(078974306X, $39.99) provides a core program for building superior spreadsheets using Excel.
From creating better formulas and using formatting to pinpoint problems instantly to analyzing
data with PivotTables and using advanced filtering functions, this provides a fine key for any
advanced in Excel. Steve Johnson's ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS5 ON DEMAND (0789744473,
$34.99) tells how to improve productivity with the CS5 interface and templates, and is a key
acquisition for any Photoshop collection. From using content-aware options for scaling to
changing plan text into fine images, this packs in visual step-by-step references suitable for any
Photoshop library. Steve Johnson's ADOBE INDESIGN CS5 ON DEMAND (0789744465,
$29.99) offers a visual step-by-step format and guide to improving productivity using CS5. From
creating pages and books to applying styles to text and creating interactive PDFs, this is packed
with specific tips and guided lessons.
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw
Stephen G. Kochan's PROGRAMMING IN OBJECTIVE-C 2.0 I AND II (9780321720337, $TBA) is one of the most
important DVD videos Objective-C programmers can learn from. It is the first complete video
training course covering all the basics, assume no prior programming experience, and includes
plenty of real-world expels on how to put Objective-C to use in everyday programming for the
Mac. The instruction takes the form of short sessions that teach skills in 15-minute increments,
making this a top pick for any learner. Lyssa Adkins' COACHING AGILE TEAMS: A
COMPANION FOR SCRUMMASTERS, AGILE COACHES, AND PROJECT MANAGERS
IN TRANSITION (0321637704, $39.99) offers a fine guide to coaching agile teams, offering
agile coaches insights needed to create a productive software engineering environment. From
evolving a leadership style to staying engaged, this is a top pick for any agile coach.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Sunflower
Linda Baxter Lasco, Editor
American Quilters Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326581, $26.95 www.americanquilter.com
SUNFLOWER: NEW QUILTS FROM AN OLD FAVORITE provides a powerful selection of
nearly twenty quilts by over twenty-five quiltmakers who take the classic Sunflower block and as
a foundation of inspiration for their designs. Each expands on the sunflower design in different
ways. The result is a pairing of lovely color photos, black and white line patterns, and interviews
with the innovators themselves!
Knitted Flowers
Nicky Epstein
SixthandSpring Books
181 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
9781933027944, $19.95 www.sixthandspringbooks.com
KNITTED FLOWERS provides a fine collection of stitch pattern and cord flowers and more - all
of which can be knitted to add to a range of projects. Full-page color, close-up photos accompany
some outstanding flower designs with multi-hued tones perfect for any knitter seeking finishing
polish ideas.
The Military Shelf
Fighter Pilot
Robin Olds with Christina Olds & Ed Rasimus
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312560232, $26.99 www.stmartins.com
FIGHTER PILOT: THE MEMOIRS OF LEGENDARY ACE ROBIN OLDS tells of a West
Point football coach who was also a double ace fighter pilot during the jet age, and a leader best
known for his leadership of the F-4 Wolfpack over North Vietnam. His autobiography recaptures
the drama and passion of his times and provides a military aviation history account perfect for any
military or aviation collection.
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, Suite 806, New York, NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com
Gordon L. Rottman's GERMAN PIONIER 1939-45: COMBAT ENGINEER OF THE
WEHRMACHT (9781846035784, $18.95) provides a fine survey of the German Pionier troops
who were at the front of the blitzkrieg. They were assault troops and construction works, and
used new equipment to fight: original photos and art accompany a survey of the experiences of a
typical Pionier's training and actions against the Allies, and deserves a spot in any German
specialty collection! Kate Moore's THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN (9781846034749, $29.95) is
published in association with the Imperial War Museum in London and celebrates the 70th
anniversary of the battle, offering a lavish display packed with modern art, photos, propaganda
posters, and first-hand accounts. Any collection strong in British military history must have
this!
The Photography Shelf
Fast Track Photographer
Dane Sanders
Amphoto Books
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
9780817400019, $16.99 www.amphotobooks.com
FAST TRACK PHOTOGRAPHER: LEVERAGE YOUR UNIQUE STRENGTHS FOR A
MORE SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS has been revised and expanded to provide
a winning survey by a photographer who provides an assessment test online to evaluate 14
different factors to being a more effective professional photographer. This book was originally
self-published and geared toward wedding photographers - but any professional and many an
aspiring amateur will find its pages packed with photo business savvy!
Mastering HD Video with your DSLR
Helmut Kraus and Uwe Steinmueller
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission St., Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93111-2432
9781933952604, $34.95 www.rockynook.com
Mastering HD Video with your DSLR tells how to capture and edit video footage with the new
HD technology available in so many DSLR cameras. Tips on special effects, motion picture
footage, and more cover specific video features and equipment needed to shoot video. A top pick
for any serious photographer's library!
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com
Jeff Smith's CORRECTIVE LIGHTING, POSING & RETOUCHING (9781584289951, $34.95)
tells how to make subjects look their best using different lighting and posing techniques for studio
or location setups. From digital techniques for minimizing defects to addressing common age- and
weight-related issues, this is a 'must' for any photographer's tool kit! The second updated edition
of Bill Hurter's CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584289968, $34.95) offers a
fine collection of images of portraits that capture childhood. From picking camera and lighting
equipment for capturing kids on the go to studio lighting and creating natural images, this offers
posing tips for all ages and personalities and is a 'must' covering the various techniques of
children's photographers. Rolando Gomez's LIGHTING FOR GLAMOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
(9781584289999, $34.95) tells how to pose and capture more sensual, appealing glamour images
with insights into how light works. From basic beginning to complex set-ups, this packs in
excellent tips and basic instruction to further the works of any glamour photographer.
Sculpture
Carole A. Feurman
Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
9781555953232, $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com
Carole A. Feurman's SCULPTURE blends a realist technique with a humanist approach and offers
a monograph of her work blending photographer David Finn's close-ups and dramatic images with
three decades of Feurman's works. It deserves a place in any arts or photography library, offering
a fine collection of lovely works from one of the world's leading photographers of sculpture. Very
highly recommended!
Boyd Norton's Outdoor Digital Photography Handbook
Boyd Norton
Voyageur Press
400 First Ave North #300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760332986, $24.99 www.voyageurpress.com
Boyd Norton's Outdoor Digital Photography Handbook: How to Shoot Like a Pro provides a winning master course study from an internationally renowned nature photographer who shares his special field techniques here. From lenses and how to compose and shoot dramatic images to various challenges in field nature photography, this is a 'must' for any photography library, pairing lovely color photos from Norton's experiences with insights on how they were achieved.
Photoshop CS5: The Missing Manual
Lesa Snider
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781449381684, $49.99 www.oreilly.com
Photoshop CS5: The Missing Manual is a 'must' for any Photoshop CS5 reference collection. It
offers a guided tour of Photoshop's new environment, telling how to bring images to life and how
to take full advantage of its graphic design qualities. No technical jargon is used, here - just a
conversational style and an easy introduction to the program, building on the basics of its use. No
Photoshop CS5 library should be without this easy, basic handbook!
The Cookbook Shelf
Putting Food By, fifth edition
Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg and Beatrice Vaughan
Plume
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780452296220, $17.00 www.penguin.com
Putting Food By is a classic work on food preservation and here appears in its fifth updated
edition to include the latest canning procedures, equipment and prep times. Stephen Schmidt edits
this classic, which has instructed canners for over thirty years. Any library strong in basic food
preparation needs this - which will include many a high school collection for those that have home
economics courses!
The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook
Neal Barnard MD and Robyn Webb
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213583, $18.95 www.dacapopress.com
Any library strong in vegan cookbooks must have The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook. It
packs in over a hundred easy recipes and pairs them with color photos and explanations from a
noted physician who explains the basics of a vegan diet and its health benefits. The dishes are
based on ordinary ingredients and take no time, and they also have been created by Dr. Barnard
with Robyn Webb, so they're original to this cookbook. Any vegan collections must add this!
The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook
Vanessa Maltin
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470440889, $19.95 www.wiley.com
The Gloriously Gluten-Free Cookbook offers a range of recipes perfect for libraries focusing on allergy diet plans, packing in over a hundred Italian, Asian and Mexican recipes that cut gluten but add lots of flavor. From Chicken Parmesan and Coconut-Ginger Soup to Potstickers and a Chocolate Fudge cake that's gluten-free, this offers many gluten-free options and is a 'must' for any allergy cookbook library.
Muffins & Mayhem
Suzanne Beecher
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781439112878, $24.99 www.simonandschuster.com
MUFFINS & MAYHEM: RECIPES FOR A HAPPY (IF DISORDERLY) LIFE was inspired by
a reader diagnosed with terminal cancer and wondering how to leave a legacy to her children. The
author suggested a recipe box packed with memories and family stories - and this book reflects
her advice and pairs food recipes with soul-filling insights on happiness and relationships. General
libraries will find this a fine pick!
Viva Vegan!
Terry Hope Romero
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738212739, $18.95 www.dacapopress.com
Viva Vegan! 200 Authentic and Fabulous Recipes for Latin Food Lovers provides an outstanding
collection of dishes and comes from a vegan chef with experience working in a Latino-operated
restaurant. Using the basic spices of Latin cooking, this takes vegan dishes to a new level, offering
professional chefs and beginners a fine set of vegan choices. Every vegan library should acquire
this as an unusual addition to the collection!
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Michael Gibson's THE SOMMELIER PREP COURSE (9780470283189, $35.00) offers a fine
introduction to wine, beer and spirits for aspiring sommeliers, bartenders and wine lovers and
offers its review in layman's terms so that any studying for sommelier certification or who wishes
to improve their bartending skills won't be stymied by language! It packs in fine illustrations as it
covers New World and Old World wines, viticulture, and other fermented spirits and acts like a
study course complete with review questions, maps, key terms and more. A 'must' for any culinary
collection! Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian's EDIBLE: A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL FOOD
(9780470371084, $29.95) comes from the co-founders of Edible Communities Publications and
packs in a fine color celebration of North America's local foods. It blends profiles of farmers,
chefs and organizations with a review of local food strengths and adds some eighty seasonal
regional dishes to highlight local foods across the country. College-level culinary collections,
especially, will relish this!
Fast, Fresh & Green
Susie Middleton
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811865661, $24.95 www.chroniclebooks.com
Fast, Fresh & Green: More Than 90 Delicious Recipes for Veggie Lovers imparts basic secrets to
cooking superior vegetable dishes and pairs full-page color photos with spicy original vegetable
creations for both vegetarians and those who want innovative, different side dishes. From Smoky
Spanish Carrots and Fennel with Toasted Hazelnuts to Spicy Mustard Greens with Ginger-Garlic
Cream, these are innovations not to be found in any other competing vegetable cookbook - and
thus key for any culinary collection.
The Titanic Awards
Doug Lansky
Perigee
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780399535840, $13.95 www.penguin.com
Travel and humor blend in this entertaining, funny survey of the travel industry and its spectacular
snafus. From plane rides from hell to boat and auto disasters, this covers 'facts' such as which
countries have the worst roads, where to find the world's ugliest hotel, most unfortunate city and
restaurant names, and more. A hilarious presentation!
Moon Handbooks: Coastal Carolinas
Jim Morekis
Avalon Travel
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
9781596615939, $17.95 www.moon.com
COASTAL CAROLINAS details restaurants, activities, and accommodations that lend to
planning a fine trip to the Coastal Carolinas. From lighthouses and natural scenery to beaches, this
packs in detailed maps and the firsthand experience of Jim Morekis in a top pick for any
Carolina-bound!
The Crafts Shelf
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
BeadStyle Magazine's EASY BEADING V. 6 (9780871162915, $29.95) offers a crafts and
jewelry-making survey showing how to create lovely gifts and personal accessories in a snap.
Over 80 projects taken from the last year of BeadStyle Magazine showcase the best projects,
offering clear step-by-step photos for all project phases and lots of design notes for all levels of
jewelry makers. Patricia Kimle's PERFECTLY PAIRED: DESIGNING JEWELRY WITH
POLYMER AND METAL CLAYS (9780871162946, $21.95) packs in some twenty fine
projects with step-by-step instructions, reviews of techniques, and tool kits for working in
different mediums. Designs are varied and come from an award-winning polymer and metal clay
artist who designs her own jewelry. Highly recommended for any jewelry-making collection! Also
recommended for such a library is Irina Miech's METAL CLAY RINGS: SILVER JEWELRY
INSPIRED BY NATURE (9780871162786, $19.95). It tells how to shape metal clay into
showpiece jewelry and offers some 18 original designs, each with step-by-step photos and
instructions, including ideas for sizing and variations on designs. Any jewelry-making collection
will welcome this!
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Trials of the Diaspora
Anthony Julius
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199297054, $45.00 www.oup.com
Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-Semitism in England presents a fine history of
anti-Semitism in England from the middle ages to modern times. It identifies four separate
versions of English anti-Semitism and offers an in-depth survey of each version. The result is a
powerful coverage especially recommended for college-level or Judaic studies shelves.
The Science Shelf
The Science of Premonitions
Larry Dossey, MD
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452296329, $16.00 www.penguin.com
THE SCIENCE OF PREMONITIONS: HOW KNOWING THE FUTURE CAN HELP US
AVOID DANGER, MAXIMIZE OPPORTUNITIES, AND CREATE A BETTER LIFE comes
from a doctor who himself experienced a week of accurate premonitions about his patients - then
lost it. Here he documents cases of premonitions - some involving entire communities - and offers
a fine survey that includes field-tested techniques for inviting premonitions. Any general-interest
library will find this a winner!
Darwinian Fairytales
David Stove
Encounter Books
900 Broadway Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594031401, $27.50 www.encounterbooks.com
Darwinian Fairytales: Selfish Genes, Errors of Heredity and Other Fables of Evolution comes from
a philosopher who offers a critical inquiry into Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Stove isn't a
creationist nor a religious leader: he's a man of no religion' and skeptic who admits Darwin's
genius while attacking the theory's own evolution into dogma. Darwinian Fairytales is
thought-provoking title for any science debate!
Science Was Wrong
Stanton T. Friedman, MSC and Kathleen Marden
New Page
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631022, $16.99 www.newpagebooks.com
SCIENCE WAS WRONG: STARTLING TRUTHS ABOUT CURS, THEORIES, AND
INVENTIONS "THEY" DECLARED IMPOSSIBLE offers a fascinating blend of science and
history, charting scientific scofflaws whose criticism was later proved wrong. From the
impossibility of space travel to ancient Sanskrit germ theory proposals that were dismissed until
the 19th century, this is a fun, enlightening read!
The Architecture Shelf
Guide to Green Building Rating Systems
Linda Reeder, AIA
Wiley
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470401941, $75.00 www.wiley.com
Guide to Green Building Rating Systems offers a one-stop guide for choosing a green building
rating system, reviewing major national rating systems from both a broad and in-depth perspective
and discussing how these rating systems work differently for different types of buildings. Case
study examples and reviews of all kinds of rating requirements make this a 'must' for any
architectural or builder's library.
The Language Studies Shelf
Globish: How the English Language Became the World's Language
Robert McCrum
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393062557, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com
Globish: How the English Language Became the World's Language shows how and why English
grew from the language of an isolated island nation to become the world's main tongue. It
considers not just how English evolved in the past, but how it's still evolving today to become
'Globish', incorporating many world changes. Any literary collection from general libraries to
college-level holdings will find this a fine coverage!
Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts
John M. Swales and Christine B. Fak
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472033355 $16.00 www.press.umich/edu/esl/
Abstracts and the Writing of Abstracts provides Volume 1 of the expanded, revised edition of
ENGLISH IN TODAY'S RESEARCH WORLD, covering all the basics of writing abstracts and
revising material on the topic. It focuses on research artless and abstracts for short
communications, conferences and PhD dissertations, surveying options and linguistic challenges
posed by different abstracts. Any college-level library must have this!
The Thinker's Thesaurus
Peter E. Meltzer
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393337945, $19.95 www.wwnorton.com
The Thinker's Thesaurus: Sophisticated Alternatives to Common Words offers a fine new format
for the typical thesaurus entry, offering a range of entries such as thirty-two entries for 'woman',
each with a clarifier. This clarifier process allows for better understanding of language and makes
for a powerful presentation highly recommended for any English language reference library, from
high school and college to general public library holdings!
The Library Science Shelf
The Accidental Health Sciences Librarian
Lisa A. Ennis and Nicole Mitchell
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873956, $29.50 www.infotoday.com
The Accidental Health Sciences Librarian is a 'must' reference for any librarian involved in the
health sciences profession. It offers guidance on resources, tools and functions in the health
sciences library world, surveying career opportunities, tools, and case history and technology
reviews for any who would become a health services librarian. The approach and focus on this
position's rapidly-changing functions make this a top pick!
The Library DVD Shelf
Soul of a People
Smithsonian Networks/Infinity Entertainment
contact@smithsoniannetworks.com
No ISBN DVD, $19.98
SOUL OF A PEOPLE: WRITING AMERICA'S STORY offers a fine survey of 1930s America,
discussing the story behind the Federal Writers Project of the times - one of four arts programs of
Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. The writers portrayed human triumphs and failures
alike, sparking controversy in writings that changed a nation. Any American history collection
needs this!
Aligned and Well: From the Shoulders Up
Katy Bowman
Well Balanced Media
PO Box 194, Ojai, CA 93023
No ISBN, $14.95 www.AlignedandWell.com
Aligned and Well: From the Shoulders Up offers a range of easy motion exercises addressing
common pain, from chronic headaches and neck pain to shoulders impacted by computer work.
It's a basic program for improving head and neck circulation and is a fine pick for any health
collection.
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
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design