 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
Home / The Bookwatch |
The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Against the Grain
Lowery Sims
Monacelli Press
236 West 27th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10001
9781580933445, $45.00, www.monacellipress.com
Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft, and Design considers the evolution of
conceptual trends in modern wood making and packs in examples ranging from furniture to
sculptures and installations created since 2000 which defy neat categorization aside from their
medium. Modern wood artists have incorporated whimsical and fun elements into their
often-surprising creations, with each of these displays offering technical departures from standard
wood art works. This book accompanies an exhibit on the topic and will prove key to attendees,
but also stands alone well as a fine art title recommended for any modern arts collection.
The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants
Lytton John Musselman and Harold J. Wiggins
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406712, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu
The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants: Easy to Pick, Easy to Prepare packs in over 100 color
illustrations to accompany detailed descriptions to help readers recognize edible plants from
nettles and day lilies to wild sorrel. The authors have, for decades, taught courses on locating and
preparing local plants: this pairs recipes with insights on plant properties and provides a
peppering international dishes that use the plants, from Softstem Bulrush to Black Locust Flower
Fritters. With its in-depth coverage of a wide range of roots, flowers, stems and leaves of wild
plants to its discussions of culinary applications, this is a reference recommended for culinary
and botanical holdings alike!
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writing the Science Fiction Film
Robert Grant
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931361, $26.95, www.mwp.com
Any collection strong in screenwriting, performing arts and film will find this a solid addition,
offering insights into how to write science fiction for the genre. Classic and cult science fiction
films from Star Wars to Aliens are used to show how the genre has changed, what makes it
compelling to modern viewers, and how writers can adjust their science fiction writing to lend to
a film production. From changing a cliche plot to turn it into something fresh and different to
handling new technology and its jargon in the film environment, Writing the Science Fiction
Film is packed with insights perfect for aspiring genre writers and film producers alike, and is a
pick for film and literary collections.
A Quick Guide to Screenwriting
Ray Morton
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9780879108045, $12.99, www.limelighteditions.com
A Quick Guide to Screenwriting joins others in the 'Quick Guide' series, with this gathering
together an assessment of principles key to understanding screenwriting basics. Any involved in
the art will find this blends history, business savvy, and writing insight along with specifics on
film industry requirements to teach the basics of formatting, differentiating between different
types of screenplays and their requirements, and developing a story. The attention to detail
without assumption of any prior industry knowledge makes this a fine recommendation for any
film and creative writing holding.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Debt Cures II
Kevin Trudeau
Equity Press
9780982513705, $29.95, http://freemoney2013.com
Debt Cures II They Really Don't Want You to Know About teaches how to avoid debt and build
wealth and packs its pages with not just advice on avoiding debt, but what goes on with banks,
credit card lenders, and others who would profit off consumer debt. The federal government and
the lending industry aren't working for the American people, and the public needs to know what's
going on so individuals can fight the trend. Consumer advocate Trudeau here shares information
about government and debt institutions alike, offering keys to freedom that will delight any
consumer who wants a different approach to getting ahead.
Free Money
Kevin Trudeau
Equity Press
978098189709, $29.95, http://freemoney2013.com
FREE MONEY "THEY" DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT offers insights on all kinds
of sources of 'free' money, from house ownership to locating free grant money from public and
private institutions alike, and provides methods to locating this free money. From quick cash
involving getting as much as $10K in a day to life insurance specifics and locating free medical
help, this title is packed with many important strategies and resources for gaining access to
money that is, technically, 'yours' already. Highly recommended for any business or consumer
collection!
Happy Money
Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451665062, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com
HAPPY MONEY: THE SCIENCE OF SMARTER SPENDING uses new research to
demonstrate that changing the way people spend as little as $5 can increase their happiness, and
provides principles that any reader can use to increase daily happiness as well as those of
customers and others. The focus on spending differently rather than earning more helps readers
focus on the money you have rather than strategies to keep increasing it, demonstrating the cost
of wealth and the kinds of behaviors that promote happiness. Five key principles to help readers
gain more happiness from their spending contribute to an important survey that should be in any
general lending library.
The International Studies Shelf
The World Through Arab Eyes
Shibley Telhami
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465029839, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com
The World Through Arab Eyes: Arab Public Opinion and the Reshaping of the Middle East is a
'must' for any who would understand the region, and offers insights from ordinary Arabs who live
and work there. Over a decade of original public opinion polling data from six countries lend to
an examination that uses not scholarly research but experiences from everyday Arab residents to
explore politics, social issues, and attitudes on everything from the U.S. to media and individual
countries in the region. Any who would understand the Arab psyche must have this: it charts the
evolution of different perceptions and attitudes in the region and shows how Arabs have come to
view their world.
The Legacy of Tiananmen Square
Michel Corimer
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864929027, $29.95, www.gooselane.com
The Legacy of Tiananmen Square comes from a veteran journalist who covers the history of
struggles to bring civil rights to China, and is a 'must' for any collection strong in Chinese history
and social order. Historical research blends with interviews with dissidents living in exile to trace
the events leading to social uprisings among the Chinese people, charting post-Tiananmen
Square history. This book was translated from French by Jonathan Kaplansky and updated by
Corimer to include updates to 2012, making for a strong study highly recommended for any
collection strong in Chinese history, culture and social evolution.
Asia's Unknown Uprisings V. 2
George Katsiaficas
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864885, $28.95, www.pmpress.org
Asia's Unknown Uprisings V.2: People Power in the Philippines, Burma, Tibet, China, Taiwan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia 1947-2009 provides a fine social history of uprisings
in the region, relating these uprisings to those of 1968 and providing a focus on events of the
1980s and 1990s for its second volume. It's difficult to find comprehensive histories of these
uprisings, but this offers not only accounts of events and social interactions, but places them in
perspective of world developments and major sociological theories. The result is a powerful
analysis that should be in the holdings of any college-level collection strong in Asian history: a
'must' for any who already have the prior volume.
Evolving Iran
Barbara Ann Rieffer-Flanagan
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589019782, $26.95, www.press.georgetown.edu
EVOLVING IRAN: AN INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS AND PROBLEMS IN THE
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC is recommended for any college-level Middle East studies collection, and
provides a strong political analysis to show how and why political decisions are taken in Iran.
Any who would understand the social and political forces at work in the country need this book,
which considers post-revolutionary Iranian events and which corrects much of mainstream
media's perceptions. Students of the Middle East, in particular, will find this offers many insights
in a reasoned and well-researched consideration of everything from the election process and the
birth of a new political system to human rights issues.
Democracy in East Asia: A New Century
Larry Diamond, et.al., Editors
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409689, $29.95, www.press.jhu.edu
Democracy in East Asia: A New Century is a pick for any political science collection at the
college level and offers an in-depth survey of the political climates throughout Asia, from China
and the Philippines to Thailand and Burma. A range of Asian and non-Asian authors debate the
desirability and presence of democratic forces in Asia, providing in-depth discussions that
embrace all the basic issues affecting the region. Any holding strong in Asian politics and social
issues will find this a solid, updated volume presenting the latest dynamic issues affecting the
entire region.
The Language Studies Shelf
Language Attitudes in the American Deaf Community
Joseph Christopher Hill
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563685453, $80.00, www.gupress.com
Language Attitudes in the American Deaf Community offers college-level readers an analysis
that assesses cognitive, affective and behavioral types of responses toward particular language
varieties, from ASL to contact signing and Signed English. It considers social groups in the
American Deaf community and how they use and choose among these disparate signing types,
considers racial and generational issues involved in signing communication, and evaluates
different signing standards and the values they hold. The result is a unique 'must' for any
collection strong in deaf community culture and issues.
The Criminology Shelf
The Anatomy of Violence
Adrian Raine
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307378842, $35.00, www.pantheonbooks.com
THE ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE: THE BIOLOGICAL ROOTS OF CRIME belongs in science
and social issues collections alike, offering research into the biological roots of violence and
discussing the new field of neurocriminology, which applies scientific investigation to crime and
its motivations. From genetic research that shows how abnormal physiological functioning lends
to criminal activities to how killers experience conditions that lend to violence, this covers social,
legal, scientific, health, and ethical issues in one fell swoop, and is recommended for
college-level science, health and social issues holdings alike. Any collection strong in
criminology will find this a 'must'.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Burdens of the Dead
Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint, Dave Freer
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451638745, $25.00, www.baen.com
Burdens of the Dead blends a vivid plot with issues of politics, magic and high drama set in an
alternate 16th century where magic is a daily part of life. Here an Italian captain., Benito must
deal with dangerous magic and the siege of Constantinople while discovering that his infant
daughter has been abducted by agents of Venice's enemy. His efforts to rescue her will place him
in conflict with his own father, who commands the evil duke's army - and the personal and
political conflicts that ensue will change his world. High drama and swift action make for a
powerful alternate history novel especially recommended for fans of military sci fi!
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
Martin Edwards's THE FROZEN SHROUD (9781564201059, $24.95) takes place on Halloween
just before the First World War, and tells of a young woman's corpse found frozen and battered.
Her ghost is said to haunt the area. Five years ago another women is killed in the same manner.
Daniel Kind, a specialist in murder history, is fascinated by the similarities between the cases, but
his fascination with history takes a frightening turn when a third murder occurs, reviving
long-cold cases and requiring professional intervention that brings two investigators in touch
with their own dangerous past secrets. A riveting mystery evolves, perfect for any mystery
library. Tina Whittle's BLOOD, ASH & BONE (9781464200939, $24.95) is for any who enjoy
the noir detective writings of Dashiell Hammett's style but who want the added bonus of a thriller
in the mix, and tells of one Tai Randolph, who seeks to escape the world of homicide
investigations by spending time in the bucolic Savannah. The only trouble is, the gun shop owner
finds trouble even there as her ex-boyfriend shows up, asks for her help, and involves her in a
case involving a stolen Civil War artifact and a new case. Murder is everywhere in her life in this
story that blends intrigue with the complexities of a relationship's evolution in a fine mystery
recommended for any mystery library.
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Denise Swanson's NICKLED-AND-DIMED TO DEATH (9780451239426, $7.99) provides the
second book in the Devereaux's Dime Story Mystery series featuring a store owner and sleuth.
Here Devereaux Sinclair faces a complex love life and seeks to escape confusion and intrigue by
looking over the antiques her friend Elsie has to sell. When Elsie is shot, she must clear her
friend's name and investigate the real murderer in this fine mystery. C.S. Harris' WHEN
MAIDENS MOURN (9780451414229, $7.99) is the seventh in the Sebastian St. Cyr historical
mystery and is set in 1812 London, providing a gripping saga as Sebastian investigates the
murder of his new bride's good friend and finds himself immersed in an investigation that also
complicates their newfound marriage. Heather Blake's THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE
WITCHY (9780451239693, $7.99) tells of Darcy Merriweather, the Enchanted Village's newest
Wishcrafter who has become involved in a town celebration when the cake delivery boy is found
murdered. His ghost imprints on Darcy and she finds herself more than casually involved in
uncovering the truth behind his murder in this fine supernatural thriller. Kate Carlisle's A
COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY (9780451415967, $23.95) provides a new bibliophile mystery -
the latest in the series - and tells of one Brooklyn, who discovers handwritten notes and strange
symbols in a cookbook she was restoring for her sister. When the cookbook's owner is found
dead and the cookbook goes missing, she comes to believe it was more than a case of mystery
meals and her ensuing investigation probes complicated relationships in a fine, twisting story
line. Laura Alden's CURSE OF THE PTA (9780451415066, $7.99) is the fourth book in the
best-selling series and tells of PTA president Beth Kennedy, who hires a consultant after a
financial windfall, but becomes involved in a dangerous game when he's found murdered on
school property. Ella Barrick's THE HOMICIDE HUSTLE: A BALLROOM DANCE
MYSTERY (9780451239747, $7.99) provides the third book in a fine ballroom dance-based
mystery series, and tells of a dance show competition turned deadly when its producer is
murdered, involving competitor Stacy in a dangerous search for the killer. Molly MacRae's
DYEING WISHES (9780451239563, $7.99) provides a fine 'Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery' and is
second in the series that includes not just a sleuth, but her supernatural sidekick. A visit to a farm
involves Kath and her friends with two murders - including someone they know. Melissa
Bourbon's A CUSTOM-FIT CRIME (9780451417190, $7.99) is fourth in a series of mysteries
centering around a custom dressmaking shop in Texas. Here Harlow is challenged to find the
murderer of a design rival before she becomes implicated in the crime - and finds her friends and
business are both at risk in this riveting thriller. All are outstanding recommendations for any
mystery reader.
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Betty Hechtman's YARN TO GO; A YARN RETREAT MYSTERY (9780425252215, $7.99)
provides an excellent title in a mystery series featuring a baker who hosts yarn retreats while
solving crime. Casey's inheritance of a yarn retreat business from her grandmother isn't the only
puzzle she's inherited: along with it comes a murder and an investigation only she can conduct.
Daryl Wood Gerber's FINAL SENTENCE: A COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERY
(9780425258040, $7.99) provides the first in a new series featuring Jenna, owner of a cookbook
store and cafe located in a small California town. When she helps her aunt open a culinary
bookshop, she faces more than opening day challenges when her former roommate and celebrity
chef is found murdered just before they can open. Is the murder connected to the store? Virginia
Lowell's ONE DEAD COOKIE: A COOKIE CUTTER SHOP MYSTERY (9780425260692,
$7.99) provides the fourth book in the Cookie Cutter Shop mystery series, this revolving around
a batch of special cookies and a murder. It's up to baker Olivia and her best friend to uncover the
murderer in a sweet mystery filled with satisfying cookies and queries. Annette Blair's TULLE
DEATH DO US PART: A VINTAGE MAGIC MYSTERY (9780425251935, $7.99) provides
the sixth book in the mystery series which revolve around the protagonist's visions received from
the vintage clothing she handles. Here a vintage petticoat leads her to an unsolved, old mystery
and its new ramifications. Lorna Barrett's MURDER ON THE HALF SHELF: A BOOKTOWN
MYSTERY (9780425262733, $7.99) provides a lovely new story of one Tricia Miles, who finds
herself once more involved in a puzzling murder when the co-owner of a new bed-and-breakfast
is found murdered. All are satisfying mysteries perfect for any collection!
The Fiction Shelf
Escape From Paris
Carolyn Hart
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781616147938, $13.95, www.seventhstreetbooks.com
Set in 1940s England before the German invasion, ESCAPE FROM PARIS revolves around two
American sisters in Paris who risk their lives to save a downed British airman from Nazi arrest,
realizing the danger they are in only when they read a public notice demanding that any harboring
English soldiers are to deliver them to Nazi authorities. The Gestapo sets a trap to find such
traitors, and the two sisters struggle with intrigue, danger, and romance as they find challenge
and danger in occupied Paris. Any who enjoy historical settings and powerful stories of courage
and love will find this a winning novel.
Baskerville: The Mysterious Tale of Sherlock's Return
John O'Connell
Atria Books/Marble Arch Press
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781476730233, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com
Baskerville: The Mysterious Tale of Sherlock's Return offers a delightful take-off on the
Sherlock Holmes tales and a focus on journalist Bertram Robinson, who meets his hero Arthur
Conan Doyle on a troop ship coming back from South Africa. He's even more delighted when
Doyle suggests they collaborate on a new story that brings the two to become not just friends, but
co-writers and adventurers, experiencing many of the mysteries intrinsic to The Hound of the
Baskervilles. Part true story and part creepy novel, Baskerville: The Mysterious Tale of
Sherlock's Return is a delightful page-turner that tells of love, companionship, and a dangerous
bog's deep secrets. Holmes fans will relish this engrossing tale.
G.P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Alex Grecian's THE BLACK COUNTRY (9780399159336, $26.95) provides a follow-up story
to Grecian's prior acclaimed debut novel The Yard and tells of detective Inspector Walter Day,
who moves outside the crime scenes of London to investigate the disappearance of a young boy
and his parents in a remote coal mining town. The only evidence is a human eyeball found in a
bird's nest - but it won't remain the only evidence as he uncovers close-held town superstitions,
misfortunes, and an epidemic which threatens everyone. With mining falling apart, the town also
seems to follow as Day embarks on a race against time to uncover the heart of a deadly mystery.
Beatriz Williams' A HUNDRED SUMMERS (9780399162169, $26.95) follows her acclaimed
debut novel of 2012, Overseas, with a follow-up offering a Depression-era story of love and
secrets. The setting is the summer of 1938 where a New York socialite travels to her family's
coastal cottage with her mother and six-year-old sister. A whirlwind romance has left her
broken-hearted and intent on recovering when her plans are challenged by her ex-best friend and
her former fiance, who also arrive in town for the season. Gossip, betrayal, and repressed feelings
arise to challenge and confuse all of their lives in this tense novel of romance, recovery, and new
beginnings. Royce Prouty's STOKER'S MANUSCRIPT (9780399158551, $25.95) provides a
powerful story of terror, suspense and mystery as it tells of brothers who were outcasts even
before they were orphaned as infants in Romania. Even in America the Barkeley brothers can't
escape the curse that lies over them. The story begins years later, following one brother, who has
become a priest in the Midwest, and the other who has become a buyer and seller of rare books.
Both face the dangers and evils of their past when Stoker's famous Dracula manuscript emerges
with clues hidden within its pages that reveal the burial sites of Dracul family members. Will
their investigations unearth a sleeping secret best left hidden? A fine story emerges, highly
recommended for any collection strong in mysteries and horror.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Seven Events That Shaped The New Testament World
Warren Carter
Baker Publishing
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780801039164, $21.99, www.bakeracademic.com
Seven Events That Shaped The New Testament World documents key moments in early
Christian history and provides an introduction to the worlds surrounding the New Testament,
narrowing its focus to seven selected key moments in the centuries before and after Jesus. It
considers the beginnings of the Christian movement, documents how religious and political
factors blended into the New Testament writings, and comes from a leading New Testament
scholar who provides a very accessible consideration of events. His style lends to a document
that is perfect for scholars and leisure readers alike, adding black and white illustrations
throughout and offering plenty of insights into the cultural mix of Greek, Roman and Jewish
experiences. No Christian library should be without this!
The Good Bishop
Phyllis Theroux
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980242, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com
THE GOOD BISHOP: THE LIFE OF WALTER F. SULLIVAN offers a fine account of a bishop
who reflected the love of Christ while leading his church by example, visiting prisoners,
celebrating Mass with the elderly, and embracing all kinds of people. His outgoing attitude and
perspective led to his humble yet spiritual message reaching a wide audience, and is covered in a
fine religious biography that considers his Christian life, background, and many achievements.
Any collection strong in Christian biography and following the lives of leaders will find this a top
pick.
Road Trip to Redemption
Brad Mathias
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414363943, $14.99, www.tyndale.com
Road Trip to Redemption offers important keys to family relationships as it provides the
autobiography of Mathias' own family structure and the revelations he faced as a busy yet
contented father who notices his middle child withdrawing but receives word from God that it's
more than normal teen angst. His resulting investigation into Bethany's secret will challenge their
family and prompts a road trip across the country that brings them into the knowledge of how far
apart they drifted, and how to return to a closer structure. Any seeking inspiring stories of
revelation and family changes will find this a powerful account.
The Military Shelf
Going for Broke
James M. McCaffrey
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143378, $34.95, www.oupress.com
GOING FOR BROKE: JAPANESE AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN THE WAR AGAINST NAZI
GERMANY provides a detailed history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World
War II and is a pick for any in-depth collection on the topic. When the Japanese attacked Pearl
Harbor in 1941 Americans responded with patriotic fervor and thousands of volunteers,
including Japanese Americans, rushed to recruitment centers. Most Japanese Americans were
turned away and many were detailed. When the army eventually decided to admit
second-generation Japanese Americans, it created the 442nd regimental Combat Team consisting
of mostly soldiers drafted before Pearl Harbor, volunteers from Hawaii, and other recruits: their
voices fill a collection that documents their achievements and conflicts at home and abroad, and
makes for a moving story.
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com
BOLT ACTION: ARMIES OF THE SOVIET UNION (9781780960906, $24.95) is a pick for
Bolt Action players who want extensive information on the military forces of the Soviet Union
for their war gaming endeavors. Detailed army lists will enable players to construct Soviet armies
for any battle period, while sidebars of information on cost, composition, options and special
rules for each game clarify what will be involved in re-creating the scenes. Any Bolt Action
player will find this in-depth supplement involving and specific, packed with color images
throughout. Mark Stille's THE NAVAL BATTLES FOR GUADALCANAL 1942: CLASH FOR
SUPREMACY IN THE PACIFIC (9781780961545, $21.95) follows six months of battles and
major encounters in Guadalcanal in 1942, and is a pick for any military history holding seeking
specific details on this arena of engagement. This title details the experiences of both navies over
the course of time, following its impact on the Japanese Empire and U.S. forces alike. Howard
Gerrard's color illustrations accompany maps and vintage black and white photos throughout.
Douglas C. Dildy & Warren E. Thompson's F-86 SABRE VS. MiG-15: KOREA 1950-53
(9781780963198, $18.95) considers the effect of advanced jet interceptors from Soviet forces
during World War II, and is a pick for military and aviation collections alike. It follows battles
and then de cades of competition between the world's superpowers in conducting air operations
over the Middle East, Vietnam and more, and it provides a dual focus on F-86 Sabre and MiG-15
fighters in particular, pairing the history with vintage black and white and color photos
throughout. Martin Pegler's THE VICKERS-MAXIM MACHINE GUN (9781780963822,
$18.95) is for collections strong in weapons development, and tells of American inventor Hiram
maxim, who perfected the world's first self-powered machine gun, the Maxim. He had hoped the
gun would put an end to war: instead it lead to slaughters beyond past history, and served to
pioneer a new era in guns. Expert Martin Pegler provides a close inspection of how this weapon
changed battles, with vintage black and white photos capturing the action. Stephen Manning's
THE MARTINI-HENRY RIFLE (9781780965062, $18.95) follows the British Army's first
purpose-designed breechloader, which replaced the successful Snider-Enfield and offered more
accurate shooting capabilities. This rifle was introduced in the mid-1870s and changed British
fire power forever, becoming the mainstay of British forces as they operated around the world.
Any collection strong in early colonial warfare will find this specific assessment of the rifle and
its function on the battlefield to be packed with detail and insights, including many illustrations
of the rifle itself. Mark Lardas' BRITISH FRIGATE VS. FRENCH FRIGATE 1793-1814
(9781780961323, $18.95) provides a solid account of early naval battles and provides a focus on
the frigates who faught over forty battles. Marine and military history holdings alike will find this
packed with discussion of frigate technology, battles, frigate warfare and more - all enhanced
with color artwork, diagrams and vivid, historically accurate illustration. Carl Molesworth's
CURTISS P-40 LONG-NOSED TOMAHAWKS (9781780969091, $18.95) documents the
evolution of a modern fighter that would blend the handling abilities of the P-36 with much more
performance, and is a pick for aviation and military collections alike. It provides the complete
story of this evolution, from design and development through its service with the RAF, and it is
packed with vintage photos and charts throughout, making it a solid visual reference as well. All
are top picks for any military holding!
The Computer Shelf
Network Security A Beginner's Guide, third edition
Eric Maiwald
McGraw-Hill/Osborne
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9780071795708, $40.00, www.mhprofessional.com
Network Security A Beginner's Guide is written by a professional with over twenty years of
experience in the field of network security and provides a fully updated third edition of a classic
guide to include the latest threats to systems and security best practices. From defining common
security terms and assessing their meaning and response potentials in a network environment to
four basic kinds of attacks, how they are implemented, and options to protecting information and
systems, this explains the basics of how to create a security policy, manage and assess risks, and
audit a company for best practices. With its guide to real-world practice, budget considerations,
tips on applying new techniques and management skills at work, and more, this updated new
edition is a 'must' for any network security collection.
Nagios: Building Enterprise-Grade Monitoring Infrastructures for Systems and Networks, second
edition
David Josephsen
Prentice-Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780133135732, $44.99, www.informit.com/ph
Nagios: Building Enterprise-Grade Monitoring Infrastructures for Systems and Networks appears
in its second updated edition to revise and update all information related to the Nagios platform
and its tools, and is a key acquisition for any computer holding appealing to network
programmers. From learning the basics of how Nagios works to optimizing it for large-scale
enterprise applications, using it for system monitoring, and covering the basics of managing a
Nagios system, this is filled with specifics programmers can apply to virtually any scale network
operation, and is a top recommendation packed with examples on how to handle any server
system - including remote applications. A 'must' for any network programmer and libraries
catering to them.
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw
Paul DuBois's fifth edition of MySQL (9780321833877, $49.99) continues to offer the definitive,
basic reference of using, programming and applying MySQL 5.5 and 5.6, updating all
information for these latest versions and providing important links between the program and
real-world business applications. From getting information into a database and formulating
queries to get the right feedback to the program's latest features and new opportunities, this
reference covers nearly anything a MySQL developer needs to know to write MySQL programs
using different languages, administer general MySQL applications, and optimize and customize
the program. Collections appealing to programmers will find this a powerful reference. Christian
Wenz's PHP AND MYSQL PHRASEBOOK (9780321834638, $29.99) has been updated to
include PHP 5.4, and provides a pocket-sized dictionary of key code and commands that
programmers will find a fine reference for any endeavor. It is concise, flexible, and packed with
over 100 customizable code bits to streamline the programming process: any PHP and MySQL
library will appreciate this quick reference!
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ciscopress.com
Wendell Odom's Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Official Cert Guide Library
(9781587143878, $59.99) packages two powerful books in one slipcase (CCENT / CCNA
ICND1 100-101 Official Cert Guide andCCNA ICND2 200-101 Official Cert Guide), provides
reviews of techniques and content for the latest exam strategies, and provides a complete
self-study package designed to help students identify weaknesses, understand the structure and
content of the exams, and prepare adequately. Over 150 minutes of video training by the author
accompanies templates to help organize study time, discussions of network fundamentals and
basics of management, troubleshooting sections to help master this segment of the exam, and
exercises and quizzes to back up all information. The result is an extensive survey packed with
specifics and keys to success that takes the latest exam structure and synthesizes the information
in such a way that any can further their abilities and applications in the real testing environment.
Oh - in case you want the books separately - they are available. Odem's Cisco CCENT/CCNA
ICND1 100-101 (9781587143854, $39.99) stands well alone, for example, as a complete study
guide in itself and offers the same format - including 90 minutes of video mentoring from the
author - that will help any test preparer ace the intricate, complex exam. All the successful
elements contained in the library are right here for test-takers of the 100-101 version to benefit
from.
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.dummies.com
Microsoft Office 2013 For Dummies (9781118407111, $27.99) now includes a new two and a
half hour DVD to accompanying a book packed with step-by-step directions covering Office
2013 basics. From entering and working with data to handling the new Ribbon interface,
enhancing Word documents, and crunching data in Excel, this offers details about using Office's
features and incorporating shortcuts to make the entire process easier. All of the suite's new
features are covered in a book and video training program that uses real-world applications for
creating documents and manipulating data. Any who look to get up to speed quickly, especially
those new to the 2013 version, will find this set essential for self-study. Arduino For Dummies
by John Nussey (9781118446379, $24.99) is filled with real-world examples of applied Arduino
functions and is a pick for any who would learn physical computing. Electronics engineering
collections as well as computer reference holdings will find this filled with keys to building basic
circuits that control things, showing how to build easy prototypes using the hardware and
software combination that represents an Arduino-based system. The result is a multi-faceted
step-by-step introduction perfect for any who would learn Arduino's systems and potentials.
The Music Shelf
Left of the Dial
David Ensminger
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604866414, $20.00, www.pmpress.org
LEFT OF THE DIAL: CONVERSATIONS WITH PUNK ICONS features interviews by musical
journalist and musician David Ensminger with some of punk music's most famous figures, from
Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys to Dave Dictor of MDC, and provides a fine survey of punk
music's political sentiments and cultural traditions. Punk music advocated social justice, created
different insights into values and social issues, and used music to change worlds. Ensminger used
key graphics from his large punk flyer collection to add visuals along with photos by Ben Desoto
shot during the punk and hardcore movements, making for a fine and outstanding
recommendation for any contemporary music history holding and many a social issues shelf.
Detroit Rock City
Steve Miller
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306820656, $16.99, www.dacapopress.com
DETROIT ROCK CITY: THE UNCENSORED HISTORY OF ROCK 'N ROLL IN
AMERICA'S LOUDEST CITY comes from an investigative journalist and Detroit native who
conducted over 200 interviews with musicians and promoters to provide an oral history of
Detroit's evolving music scene. It's a pick for Detroit and music history collections alike, offering
a vivid portrait of an American city and its many musical styles and musicians; from punk rocker
Iggy Pop to Alice Cooper's unlikely audience in the form of inmates from a hospital for the
criminally insane. Political, social and musical changes are surveyed in a powerful
recommendation for any popular music collection.
The Cookbook Shelf
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue
New York NY 10017
Kay Plunkett-Hogge & John Vincent's LEON: FAMILY & FRIENDS (9781840916195, $29.99)
provides the latest book from the LEON team and packs in over 200 recipes divided into three
unusual sections: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday. Advice includes how to encourage young
children to cook, and how to incorporate evening time in the family. Would-be teen cooks also
get their own section: "10 Things You Should Know How to Cook Before You Leave Home".
From feeding family and friends to make-ahead meals and more, this pairs family photos, stories
and recipes with a focus on food's connection to tradition and home. And with such fare as
Henry's Meatballs with Herb Salad or Lychees with Fresh Ginger & Sherry, there's plenty of
variety to enjoy! Any cookbook collection will find this an inviting addition. Alain Coumont &
Jean-Pierre Gabriel's LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN COOKBOOK (9781845337483, $29.99) comes
from a pioneer promoting organic food cookery and presents over 100 of the author's recipes for
breads, soups, main courses, and dishes for all meals. It opens with a focus on bread-baking,
providing recipes for world-famous breads and providing insider tips on everything from
achieving the right crust to creating sourdough starter. Baking bread at home is the first key to
embracing the 'slow life' which involves better foods produced at a slower pace. Accompanying
the bread recipes are ideas for sandwiches made with the fresh breads - then accompanying
dishes which build meals from whole grains and healthy choices. Add color photos and
commentary reinforcing the idea of slower foods and natural cooking and you have a fine book
for any whole foods cook.
The Southern Vegetarian Cookbook
Justin Fox Burks & Amy Lawrence
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781401604820, $24.99, www.thomasnelson.com
THE SOUTHERN VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK: 100 DOWN-HOME RECIPES FOR THE
MODERN TABLE is for any who want to use vegetarian dishes as either a mainstay or a side
dish accompanying meat, and comes from self-trained home cooks who seek new ways of cutting
back on meat consumption. The authors lost a combined 100 pounds in the course of putting
together these recipes, focusing on a diet of grains and vegetables and updating traditional
Southern fare. The result is a bright, appealing cookbook highly recommended for any Southern
cook who wants healthier, vegetable-based dishes based on familiar appealing fare.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Bon Appetit's THE GRILLING BOOK: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FROM BON APPETIT
(9781449427528, $45.00) is no light reference: it packs in over four hundred pages of reference
on grilling techniques, tips and recipes and illustrates every one with step-by-step color photo
instructions to cover not just grilling, but the basics of preparing foods for the grill, from
butterflying a bird to making pizza crust. Everything from gourmet sauces and rubs to a fancy
Lobster Paella or a tastier burger are included in a book packed with fresh new ideas, tried and
tested techniques, and tips for successful grilling whether it be for a party or for a family. If only
one grilling book were to be included in a collection - this would be a top contender! Brigit
Binns's THE NEW WINE COUNTRY COOKBOOK: RECIPES FROM CALIFORNIA'S
CENTRAL COAST (9781449419127, $35.00) offers a lovely survey of California history and
culinary developments based on local and natural foods from around the state. Don't expect these
dishes to be familiar regional specialties, either; Binns creates her own original dishes such as
Seared and Braised Feta-Stuffed Chicken Thighs with White Wine and Green Olives and uses
insights from local winemakers to pair her dishes with coastal California wines as well as wines
from other regions of the world. The result is a lovely cookbook that incorporates California
culinary culture and ingredients: perfect for California and regional American cookbook
collections looking for something different.
From a Polish Country House Kitchen
Anne Applebaum & Danielle Crittenden
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452110554, $40.00, www.chroniclebooks.com
From a Polish Country House Kitchen: 90 Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food began with a
family's acquisition of a falling-down Polish manor house in 1988 as Communism fell in the
country. The house had been confiscated and abandoned: they began rebuilding it - and author
Anne Applebaum was forced to make do with local, fresh ingredients from the Polish
countryside around her. Color photos by Bogdan and Dorota Baily accompany a fine survey of
modern Polish flavors and cooking and celebrates this country with dishes such as
Orange-Saffron Rum Cake, Roast Chicken with Clementines, and Eggplant Cavier. The result is
a satisfying collection of unique dishes highly recommended for any ethnic food collection; even
those which have traditional Polish cookbooks but who seek more modern touches and
interpretations.
200 Easy Mexican Recipes
Kelley Cleary Coffeen
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804369, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca
200 EASY MEXICAN RECIPES: AUTHENTIC RECIPES FROM BURRITOS TO
ENCHILADAS provides a fine assembly of basic Mexican dishes any American cook can
reproduce with a minimum of spices and ingredients, and tells how to use simple recipes to
produce authentic Mexican creations. From Tex-Mex favorites to adaptations of traditional
Mexican cuisine, this covers everything from specialty breads to fresh Baja Fish Tacos and Spicy
Grilled Vegetables, and is a top recommendation for any general cookery collection.
The Yankee Chef
Jim Bailey
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764341915, $34.99, www.schifferpublishing.com
The Yankee Chef: Feel Good Food for Every Kitchen packs in over five hundred New
England-based recipes in a top pick recommended for any American cookbook holding. Color
photos and lively discussions accompany recipes gathered from three generations of Yankee
chefs, offering a satisfying blend of traditional, classic comfort food dishes and innovations on
themes. The simple fare combined with culinary and regional insights makes The Yankee Chef
deserving of ongoing recommendation for any basic cookbook collection.
Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives: Funky Finds in Flavortown
Guy Fieri
Morrow
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062244659, $21.99, www.harpercollins.com
Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives: Funky Finds in Flavortown comes from a popular television show and
provides the third entry in his series, offering behind-the-scenes insights into restaurants and their
fare. The focus is on original chef creations and roadside stands, offering a book that acts as both
a travel guide to diners (complete with a color foldout map that shows the location of each diner
in this book) and a recipe guide for any who want something new, tested, and wide-ranging.
From a Cioppino fish stew tweaked by a third-generation-owned restaurateur in Santa Cruz to
Lauer-Kraut Burgers and a Potato and Cheese Pan-Fried Pierogi, this is packed with flavorful
finds that will earn it a place in cookbook and travel collections alike.
The Business Shelf
Keeping Up with the Quants
Jinho Kim
Harvard Business Review Press
c/o Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422187258, $27.00, www.hbr.org/books
Keeping Up with the Quants: Your Guide to Understanding and Using Analytics is
recommended for reference and business shelves alike, and provides an introduction covering
why everyone needs analytical skills. Managers especially need to make sense of a range of data
that could affect decisions, and this book reviews tools for improving an understanding of data
analytics and applying this to decision-making processes. From formulating a hypothesis to
interpreting analytical results and communicating these results in an organizational structure, this
provides a key coverage perfect for professionals who want a better grounding in understanding
and applying data results to business goals.
The Audiobook Shelf
Happy This Year!
Will Bowen
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781469278513, $24.99, www.brillianceaudio.com
Happy This Year! The Secret to Getting Happy Once and for All is read by the author and
teaches how to align thoughts, words and actions to achieve better personal achievement in and
satisfaction with life. The goal is to achieve an attitude change that transforms self and images of
success: Will Bowen is the founder of A Complaint Free World, a nonprofit that has affected
people around the world, and which promotes lifestyle changes and tools for happiness. Any
self-help or achievement-oriented collection will find this an inspirational and fine pick,
strengthened by the author's own fine narration of his words.
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com
Arte Johnson, known for his work on TV's Laugh In, narrates Carl Hiaasen's BAD MONKEY
(9780739385142, $40.00), an outstanding thriller which tells of Andrew Yancey's investigation
of a boating accident which may be murder. But first he must handle a cast of characters, from a
newly ex-lover to a voodoo witch, a new love, and a bad monkey. The outline of the saga is a
mystery but what Hiaasen does with it turns it into a fun tale packed with twists, turns, and
characters that come alive in audio. Any collection seeing popularity with Hiaasen's work will
find BAD MONKEY a winner! Jim Gaffigan's DAD IS FAT (9780804147996, $32.00) is
narrated by the author in an unabridged production which brings to life a comic account of five
children, a two-bedroom apartment in New York City, and fun experiences surrounding too
many children and too little space. It's a hilarious and fun story that any audio listener will relish,
commenting on parenthood and relationships.
The Education Shelf
When Writing With Technology Matters
Carol Bedard & Charles Fuhrken
Stenhouse Publishing
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571109378, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com
When Writing With Technology Matters provides teachers with theory that supports the
applications of technology in the classroom - and provides tested strategies for blending this
technology into the English Language Arts curriculum. It considers the development of critical
thinking, collaboration and empowerment that come from the curriculum and discusses how
these goals can all be enhanced through the proper application of technology, showing teachers
how to create a classroom environment that uses technology to allow students to become more
effective writers. Step-by-step projects provide all the basics and can be used as formulas for
success or samples for teachers planning their own technology-based projects. Education
collections concerned with integrating technology with classroom goals will find this a top
pick.
The Travel Shelf
Moon Colorado
Steve Knopper
Moon Publications
c/o Avalon Travel
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781612381213, $19.99, www.roadtripusa.com
Moon Colorado offers the author's inside information on where to go, what to see, and how to get
around the state, to choosing among the state's ski resorts. Trip strategies include short and long
tours, adventure experiences such as ice fishing, mountain biking to restaurants, and more. The
book's logical division by areas of the state makes it easy to locate activities and advice for
specific regions. Any destination-oriented collection covering travel to Colorado will find this a
fine addition.
Bradt Guides
1st Floor IDC House, The Vale
Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, England, SL9 9RZ
www.bradtguides.com
Catriona Rainsford's The Urban Circus: Travels with Mexico's Malabaristas (9781841624440,
$16.99) is a fine armchair read for any interested in Mexican culture and journeys and charts the
author's two-year adventure across Mexico as she encounters a band of traveling street
performers, or malabaristas, and learns circus skills and street entertainment culture. Humor,
insights, and fun encounters with the different byways and cultures that is Mexico offer readers a
lively survey that considers the nation's peoples, social issues, and underground worlds. Readers
who enjoy accounts of circus life in general will also find this a unique story, packed with lively
insights and accounts. Tom Chesshyre's A TOURIST IN THE ARAB SPRING (9781841624754,
$16.99) began a year after the first uprisings of the Arab Spring when author Tom Chesshyre
traveled as a tourist across Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. His is adventure travel writing at its best,
charting journeys sometimes arduous and frightening, and offering discussions and encounters
with all kinds of people, from preachers and smugglers to rebel soldiers. The result is a fine story
that armchair readers will find involving, revealing the cultures and everyday lives of a wide
range of peoples.
Italian Ways
Tim Parks
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393239324, $25.95, www.wwnorton.com
ITALIAN WAYS: ON AND OFF THE RAILS FROM MILAN TO PALERMO provides a new
Italian travel book suitable for any who are interested in either journeys via train in general or
Italian society in particular, and uses the author's train rides from urban to rural Italian byways to
argue that it's the Italian train system which best represents Italy in the 21st century. His
reflection on the history of rail travel in the country and how politics and social issues influence
the train's culture and progress blends a fine travel account with background history key to any
who would ride the Italian rails and understand their history. Lively writings offering insights
into Italian culture and psyche make for a powerful story for any who want more insights and
background.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Star Trek Cross-Stitch
John Lohman
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781476718668, $19.99, www.simonandschuster.com
STAR TREK CROSS-STITCH: EXPLORE STRANGE NEW WORLDS OF CRAFTING
provides needleworkers with a fun collection of some thirty cross-stitch projects made by Star
Trek fans and perfect for gift-giving ideas. From tote bags to pillows, this profiles fan creations
and also includes pattern images, photos of finished results, and many alternate patterns. The
projects range from images of classic Trek objects to quotable phrases and even tribbles. The
result is a fun array of whimsical Trek ideas
perfect for any Trekkie.
C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Drive
Concord, CA 94520-5206
www.ctpub.com
Jona Giammalva's The Essential A-line: Make 17 Flirty Skirts from 1 Basic Pattern
(9781607056690, $26.95) comes from a seamstress who tells how to make an A-line skirt from a
single pattern using 17 variations to make skirts in a range of sizes. Color photos throughout
accompany step-by-step instructions in a fine guide packed with keys to producing A-Line style
skirts with a range of 'tweaks' so they all look differently appealing. It's extraordinary to see some
seventeen variations created from one simple pattern: it comes printed on both sides so one will
need to trace the pattern to use it; but the clear photos and directions leave nothing to wonder.
Any sewer who likes skirts in general and the basic A-Line in particular will love this book.
Simply Retro with Camille Roskelley: Fresh Quilts from Classic Blocks (9781607056843,
$22.95) offers quilters new ideas on traditional quilting, exploring modern print combinations
and showing how to use precuts, yardage and scraps to supersize blocks or create alternative
block arrangements. From using simple half-square triangles to creating big sizes and unique
pattern combinations, this is a fine collection of ideas for any who would do something different
with traditional quilting approaches as a background.
Designing Fashion Accessories
Marta Rodriguez Hidalgo and Gabriel Martin Roig
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764342158, $45.00, www.schifferpublishing.com
Designing Fashion Accessories: Master Class in Professional Design uses photos, illustrations,
sketches, and insights from professional designers to document trends in fashion manufacture
and design, and is a pick for any serious needleworker interested in charting fashion accessories,
their construction, and their art. From hats to purses and beyond, each consideration includes a
materials list and tools along with a history of the accessory and its changing fashion impact.
While any arts collection strong in fashion design will want to include this, it's the needleworker
with an interest in fashion products who will also find it an inspiration and a revealing
history.
Gooseberry Patch Stitching for the Kitchen
Gooseberry Patch
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
9781936096572, $22.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com
Gooseberry Patch Stitching for the Kitchen offers a set of stitching projects teaching how to
stitch aprons, casserole covers, tea cozies, hot pads and napkins, and is a fine pick for any
looking to blend gift-giving stitching projects with kitchen-specific, useful items. Recipes,
artwork and two 28" x 40" pattern sheets are packed into a handy book filled with projects to
appeal to all levels of needleworker and any with an affection for cooking and entertaining.
Happy Endings
Mimi Dietrich
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781564775009, $24.99, www.martingale.com
Happy Endings: Finishing the Edges of Your Quilt teaches how to finish a quilt and is a
recommendation for beginners and experienced quilters alike. New ideas cover quilt backings,
battings, bindings and more, offering a new section on quilt borders and new creative ideas for
finishing edges. Patterns, step-by-step color illustrations, and fun finishing techniques make for a
fine collection of ideas perfect for any quilter who wants to produce polished borders and
finishing touches.
The Science Shelf
Unexpected Expectations
Leonard M. Wapner
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781568817217, $39.95, www.crcpress.com
Unexpected Expectations: The Curiosities of a Mathematical Crystal Ball explores how
paradoxical challenges revolving around math expectation often prompts a reexamination of
basic math premises, and considers those paradoxes associated with math expectations. Any with
a basic algebra background will appreciate this discussion of probability theory, the laws of
probability, and applications of mathematical expectation value to results and decision making.
College-level readers will find these discussions range from scientific to philosophical and
provide a lively discourse embracing everything from quantum mechanics to game theory.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com/go/vet
Sarah Wolfensohn and Maggie Lloyd's HANDBOOK OF LABORATORY ANIMAL
MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE (9780470655498, $64.99) is a 'must' for any collection
strong in laboratory animal management and veterinary science, and appears in its fourth updated
edition to update and reorganize all chapters and recommendations. It's designed with lay-flat
binding with side lettering to lend to easy laboratory and library use alike, it covers principles
applicable to all species as well as specific groups, and this new edition includes changes in
European legislation, adds new chapters on ethical considerations, and provides new information
on environments for lab animals. The result is a solid pick for any collection concerned with
laboratory and testing conditions. The fourth updated edition of Simon Platt and Natasha Olby's
BSAVA MANUAL OF CANINE AND FELINE NEUROLOGY (9781905319343, $149.99)
includes a companion DVD and provides a fine coverage of the latest diagnostic procedures and
clinical presentations of neurological diseases, expanding and adding to developments in the
field and addressing the genetics and biology of common diseases. Discussions of breed
associations and breeding policies, traditional Chinese approaches to medicine, and
advancements in imaging technology provide vets and their offices with a key reference that
offers the latest insights on changes in the field. A 'must' for any practice!
The Technology Shelf
Information Warfare and Electronic Warfare Systems
Richard A. Poisel
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608077052, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com
Information warfare is the latest battle in the new war arena around the world and this book
represents the first to address this style of warfare and communication electronic warfare's
special challenges. It surveys EW system performance, presents results if system simulations, and
provides engineers and researchers working in defense and aerospace with a survey of the
properties of information communication systems, theory, and changes. Any practicing electronic
warfare engineer will find this filled with key details essential for understanding the entire
process and its military applications.
Understanding Smart Sensors, third edition
Randy Frank
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075072, $139.00, www.artechhouse.com
The third updated edition of Understanding Smart Sensors provides a complete and authoritative
summary of the latest applications affecting smart sensors, and here presents a completely
expanded, revised edition offering new material on everything from sensor fusion and wireless
technologies to cloud sensing. Charts, diagrams and figures accompany discussions of the latest
research and development in smart sensor technology, providing engineers with a solid
discussion on microelectronics and its applications. Professionals will appreciate the technical
in-depth discussions, the resource guide and glossary of key terms, and the blend of history and
science that assure a complete understanding of the evolution and future of smart sensor
technologies. A 'must' for any electronics engineering collection.
Antennas and Site Engineering for Mobile Radio Networks
Bruno Delorme
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608077038, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com
Antennas and Site Engineering for Mobile Radio Networks provides electronics engineers with
the first book to discuss specific antennas for commercial and private mobile radio networks, and
offers descriptions of specific antennas used in mobile phone networks, how they operate,
antenna site engineering specs and challenges, and the math and physics needed to understand all
facets of antennas and site engineering. Explanations and real-world applications help antenna
professionals make the best decisions on deployment and applications, making for a complete,
solid reference.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Genetic Resources, Equity and International Law
Camena Guneratne
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9780857934949, $150.00, www.e-elgar.com
Genetic Resources, Equity and International Law joins other college-level contributions in the
'New Horizons in Environmental and Energy Law Series' and provides an in-depth, scholarly
analysis of existing international law as it pertains to genetic resources and manipulation around
the world. Different approaches to handling intellectual property rights and genetic materials are
analyzed in chapters that document sustainable development efforts, legal ramifications, and
issues of equity and resource management. Students and scholars in environmental and genetic
studies to legal professionals will find this offers a fine analysis of current international law
developments based on the interactions between scholars and lawyers, and will welcome the
in-depth focus on genetic resources and accompanying rights issues.
Signposts
Sally E. Hadden & Patricia Hagles Minter, Editors
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820344997, $26.95, www.ugapress.org
SIGNPOSTS: NEW DIRECTIONS IN SOUTHERN LEGAL HISTORY studies southern legal
heritage and is a recommendation for collections strong in regional legal history and Southern
culture alike. Contributors provide some seventeen essays by both established and rising scholars
that consider new directions in southern legal history across time, locales and more. They explore
everything from civil rights, succession, reapportionment, prohibition, legal institutions and their
evolution, and more, and they provide much food for thought in social issues areas. The result is
a scholarly collection recommended for any library strong in regional American history in
general and Southern history and culture in particular.
The Social Issues Shelf
Who Owns the Future?
Jaron Lanier
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451654967, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com
WHO OWNS THE FUTURE? examines the effects network technologies have had on our
economy, arguing that the rise of digital networks such as Facebook and Google has led to
recession and all but destroyed the middle class. Thanks to digital changes more industries face
even more challenges to success - but there is an alternative that would allow technology's
benefits to stabilize the middle class and allow it to grow, and this book focuses on these
possibilities. Examination of recent ventures consider how the modern digital revolution has
centralized wealth rather than benefiting society as a whole. The vision of a new model for a
more humanistic economy makes for an engrossing survey of future choices and how technology
can be purposely used to build a better social structure.
America 3.0
James C. Bennett and Michael J. Lotus
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594036439, $25.99, www.encounterbooks.com
America 3.0: Rebooting American Prosperity in the 21st Century-Why America's Greatest Days
Are Yet to Come offers an optimistic view of the future, maintaining that the country is set to
enter its greatest era of prosperity yet, and using a combination of historical, political and social
analysis to support this contention. Chapters present America's transition points as representing
America 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0. The focus is more closely on the tradition between the present (2.0) and
the future (3.0), considering the pattern of the last major transition the nation experienced from
small to big business and small to big worlds, and blending traditional cultural comparisons and
insights with surveys of the accompanying social and political processes which will herald the
new era. A fascinating survey, America 3.0 belongs in social issues and political studies
collections alike.
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
Donald B. Kraybill, et.al.'s THE AMISH (9781421409146, $29.95) is no light treatment of the
Amish people, but an in-depth survey from three authors who spent over twenty-five years
researching Amish history, religion and culture. It uses archival material, oral history, and
interviews to provide an in-depth survey of Amish society and provides intriguing chapters
exploring how they have interacted with the forces of modern society to create a culture that has
enabled them to thrive in America. Charts and black and white illustrations pepper an exploration
of faith, gender, family relationships, government and civil social behaviors, and much more,
offering an in-depth coverage highly recommended for any studying Amish culture. Valerie
Weaver-Zercher's THRILL OF THE CHASTE: THE ALLURE OF AMISH ROMANCE
NOVELS (9781421408910, $24.95) reveals the blossoming cottage publishing industry of
Amish fiction. In 2012 there was one Amish romance published every four days - and this is the
first book to analyze this growing trend in romance fiction and consider its roots in popular
culture and literature. Romance novels with Amish protagonists are discussed in chapter that
research and interview readers, publishers and authors alike to consider the roots of an Amish
romance and what makes it different from the genre as a whole. While literary collections will be
the most likely purchasers of THRILL OF THE CHASTE, it's reviewed here for its importance to
any social issues holding, as well.
Corrupted Culture
Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616147495, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
CORRUPTED CULTURE: REDISCOVERING AMERICA'S ENDURING PRINCIPLES,
VALUES, AND COMMON SENSE presents a strong case for restoring the traditions and values
associated with Western views of human nature. In this view such nature is imperfect but holds
much potential for goodness and wisdom: this analysis considers today's social problems in light
of these long-held values and advocates the root causes of a culture in decline and how the
downfall can be reserved. College-level collections will find this survey of cultural trends in
America makes for a powerful account.
The Psychology Shelf
Ungifted
Scott Barry Kaufman
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465025541, $29.99, www.basicbooks.com
UNGIFTED: INTELLIGENCE REDEFINED explores the latest research in genetics and
neuroscience and considers changes in the world of cognitive psychology and social development
as he considers the world of special abilities in children and how traditional assessments of gifted
and ungifted children lack in accuracy and diagnosis. Scott Barry Kaufman was himself deemed
'ungifted', sent to a school for learning disabled students, and told he would never achieve
greatness. UNGIFTED is his answer to the failures of a system, documenting the science of
assigning labels to children and revealing the psychology of achievement that often fails to take
the individual into account. Kaufman is a professor at NYU and received his PhD in psychology
from Yale, so he's in the perfect position to comment authoritatively about the labels of 'gifted'
and 'ungifted' and how they evolve. Any health or education collection needs this.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Spare Parts
Renee C. Fox and Judith P. Swazey
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412851572, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com
SPARE PARTS: ORGAN REPLACEMENT IN AMERICAN SOCIETY features a new
introduction by the author as it considers medical history and new major developments in the
field of organ replacement from the 1980s to the beginning of the 1990s. College-level readers
will appreciate the survey of biomedical advances, social and cultural changes in the perception
of organ transplantation, and the history of the Jarvik-7 artificial heart in the U.S. Descriptions
are based on primary data gained from interviews, participant observation, and analysis of
medical journals and newspapers alike, with a new introduction reviewing some recent
developments in the field. Any health or social issues collection needs this.
Step-by-Step Tapping
Sue Beer & Emma Roberts
GAIA
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781856753289, $16.99, www.octopuspublishing.com
Step-by-Step Tapping provides in-depth coverage of EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique, and
covers a self-help tool that provides any reader with an easy tool linking mental problem areas
with acupressure points on the body. The connections between the two can help reconnect
mind/body messages, and offers clear opportunities for restoring health and happiness by
applying EFT tapping techniques. There's no complexity in these procedures, and all that's
required is an awareness of mind/body links and how to use them, to make this a powerful pick
for self-help health and alternative health collections alike.
Tai Chi - The Perfect Exercise
Arthur Rosenfeld
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216607, $19.99, www.dacapopress.com
Ordinarily Tai Chi - The Perfect Exercise: Finding Health, Happiness, Balance, and Strength
would have been featured in our Sports section for its martial arts focus - but it's reviewed here
so that health holdings won't miss its important connection between tai chi and overall physical
and mental wellbeing. It comes from a tai chi master and Taoist monk who considers the martial
art form, explains its connections to building optimal health, and shows how it can become a part
of daily life. Beginners and advanced readers are provided with physical exercises to try on their
own, presented in order of difficulty for a graded learning process, and receive understanding on
how it helps lower blood pressure, helps with sleep, and heightens immune system response,
among other attributes. No health collection should be without this.
The Photography Shelf
Alvarado's Pin-Up Nudes
Robert Alvarado
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764344442, $34.99, www.schifferpublishing.com
Alvarado's Pin-Up Nudes offers a second collection of Alvarado's pin-up photography and
provides full-page color portraits exploring his penchant for costuming, texture, and adding
humor and color to his images of females. It's these techniques which set his pin-up nudes apart
from traditional works and other contemporary artists, offering styling and themes that transform
and expand the vision of what a pin-up art form can be. This volume celebrates the extent of his
recent pin-up nudes and creates an inviting, unique assembly that any arts holding will find a fine
addition.
The iPad for Photographers, second edition
Jeff Carlson
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321907479, $24.99, www.peachpit.com
The iPad for Photographers appears in an updated second edition to provide keys to using iPad
and iPad mini tablets for photographers working in the field who want to forego the usual laptop.
The lightweight iPad more readily lends to field work and provides a large screen, plenty of apps,
and online access to sharing work when in the field. Novices to professionals will find this an
in-depth discussion of how to apply iPad basics to photography, from taking shots and importing
and exporting them to arranging images in the field, assigning keyword tags, and editing photos
on the go. It's been fully updated with new tricks and tips, and is a 'must' for any who would use
their iPad in the field!
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Combating Climate Change: An Agricultural Perspective
Manjit S. Kang and Surinder S. Banga, Editors
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466566705, $99.95, www.crcpress.com
College-level collections strong in agricultural studies won't want to miss this collection of
articles discussing the impact of climate change on plant pathogens and diseases. Contributors
come from scientists around the world and cover everything from global food security to
agricultural changes, the development of more efficient food crops, and genetic mitigation of
climate change effects through developing climate-resistant crops. Many issues related to
agriculture's latest challenges are surveyed in a powerful collection that is technical, specific, and
discusses how human intervention on agricultural production can mitigate the rigors of climate
change. These articles will prove key to any student of agriculture, and should be in every
college-level agricultural studies program.
The Philosophy Shelf
The Politics of Survival
Lara Trout
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823232963, $26.00, www.fordhampress.com
The Politics of Survival: Pierce, Affectivity, and Social Criticism is a pick for any collection
strong in American philosophy and political structure and focuses on the reflections of Peirce and
discussions of social justice. Trout provides college-level philosophy students with a fine account
of how Peirce's philosophy rises above his personal prejudices to provide tools for analyzing and
criticizing those who believe they hold no prejudices. Chapters consider the juxtaposition of
sociology, philosophy, and psychology as they analyze Charles S. Peirce's philosophy and its
impact on social criticism as a whole.
The Wire and Philosophy
David Bzdak, et.al., Editors
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812698237, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com
The Wire and Philosophy: This America, Man joins over seventy others in the Popular Culture
and Philosophy series and is a pick for philosophy and TV and film collections alike,
documenting the evolution of HBO's The Wire and how the five-season, sixty-episode dramas
has achieved an enduring fame. Over twenty philosophers who are fans of the show reveal its
underlying philosophical issues and explore different facets of The Wire's culture in a lively
treatment that offers many links between traditional philosophical thought and modern TV and
film culture. The result will fascinate a wide audience and is a strong pick for any film
holding.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Bird Medicine
Evan T. Pritchard
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431589, $18.00, www.bearandcompanybooks.com
BIRD MEDICINE: THE SACRED POWER OF BIRD SHAMANISM is a pick for new age and
Native American holdings alike, and blends scholarly research with over 200 firsthand accounts
of bird encounters from traditional Native Americans and their descendants. Chapters explore the
spiritual traditions of birds in Native cultures, synthesize beliefs between tribes to consider how
different birds hold different spiritual meaning and impact, and consider how shamans have the
ability to travel inside of birds - even after death. The result is a powerful set of bird sign
interpretations that any can apply to their own beliefs.
Women and Ledger Art
Richard Pearce
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816521043, $24.95, www.uapress.arizona.edu
Women and Ledger Art: Four Contemporary Native American Artists covers a style of art
traditionally created by men to document the lives of male warriors on the Plains. Over the last
forty years the ledger art form has been adopted by Native female artists who are turning stories
of women's lives into ledger-style pictures. Author Richard Pearce focuses on four such modern
artists and their works, offering in-depth discussions to accompany their images. Native
American and arts holdings alike, as well as libraries concerned with women's history and issues,
will find this a unique contribution to these fields.
Indian Tribes of Oklahoma: A Guide
Blue Clark
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806140612, $19.95, www.oupress.com
Indian Tribes of Oklahoma: A Guide blends scholarship with Native organ traditions to provide a
fine story of each Indian tribe of Oklahoma. Each entry summarizes the tribe's history, culture,
and blends their origin tales with archaeological research to consider their evolution and
attributes. From tribal websites and bibliographical recommendations to photos of prominent
tribal members and overviews of tribal achievements, this is a fine and well-detailed survey for
any interested in Oklahoma Native American history.
The DVD Shelf
'Ellen Barrett Live' workouts
Ellen Barrett
No ISBN, $15.00 each, www.ellenbarrett.com
Ellen Barrett's DVD workouts offer up small pieces of exercise - each workout is about 30-45
minutes - but are designed to produce quick results, blending yoga and Pilates with dance moves
for maximum, fun enjoyment. ELLEN BARRETT LIVE: FUSION FLOOR WORKOUT is done
on a mat with no standing exercises, no props, and no shoes: it provides a complete workout with
moves building strength. SLEEK SCULPT EXPRESS graduates to hand weights and offers
choreographed movements designed to help muscles work naturally into other movements.
SUPER FAST BODY BLAST furthers the efforts, using a range of motions to work the body
while providing easy joint movements. The three together provide a powerful workout set that is
especially highly recommended for any with injuries or special exercise requirements. They go
where few workout programs go, and are designed to be easy on the body.
The Poetry Shelf
Voices of the Future
Presented by Etan Thomas
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781608462711, $18.00, www.haymarketbooks.org
Voices of the Future comes from an NBA star who created an opportunity for young poets to
openly express their thoughts on all kinds of social issues, gathering the results in this volume to
provide encouragement for kids to write about the issues and ideas that concern them the most.
Anticipate a collection that identifies the poet and the poet's age, and organizes all poems by
subject, from President Obama to racism, police brutality, and relationships. Voices of the Future
is a project designed to encourage young people to express themselves and this book is a
powerful portrait of that expression, highly recommended for literary, social issues and student
collections alike.
The American History Shelf
America 1933
Michael Golay
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781439196014, $26.99, www.simonandschuster.com
AMERICA 1933: THE GREAT DEPRESSION, LORENA HICKOK, ELEANOR
ROOSEVELT, AND THE SHAPING OF THE NEW DEAL comes from a celebrated historian
who focuses on Lorena Hickok's journalistic contributions to Roosevelt's administration during
the Great Depression, and is a special recommendation for any collection strong in Depression
history and analysis of American history. Its focus on the New Deal and how it was reported and
charted places Lorena Hickok's contributions in the limelight - as they should be - and provides
documentation of how millions of Americans experienced the Depression. A powerful account,
this will appeal to general-interest, American history and American political studies holdings
alike.
Yellowstone National Park Past and Present
Suzanne Silverthorn & I-Ting Chiang
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764341758, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK PAST AND PRESENT is a 'must' for any with an
interest in America's national park history in general and Yellowstone's evolution and
development in particular, and is packed with vintage and contemporary photos throughout its
discussion. From its natural wonders to the development of tourism and attention to preserving
Yellowstone's natural wonders, this title surveys all of Yellowstone's management, challenges,
and beauty and synthesizes all in an oversized title designed to reveal all of the park's many
wonders. Any American history collection, especially those strong in national park
developments, will find this a lovely addition.
The Crafts Shelf
Nails, Nails, Nails!
Madeline Poole
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452119021, $14.95, www.chroniclebooks.com
NAILS, NAILS, NAILS! 25 CREATIVE DIY NAIL ART PROJECTS comes from a Los
Angeles-based stylist who provides 25 nail art projects that range from stripes and printers to
glitter, and outlines professional nail-art techniques in the process. Chapters provide step-by-step
photos, provide notes on when one can do one's own nails and when one should use a helping
hand, and provides lovely shots of finished nails to help readers understand the entire design and
its results. Any who would produce winning nails will find this an artistic 'must'.
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