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The Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 12 December 2009 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Audiobook Shelf Travel Shelf
Business Shelf Economics Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Art Shelf Education Shelf Photography Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Crafts Shelf Biography Shelf Music Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Sports Shelf Architecture Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Military Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf American History Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Fiction Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Literary Shelf
Poetry Shelf International Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Journalism Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Book Shopper
Murray Browne
Paul Dry Books
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 808, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9781589880566, $14.95, www.pauldrybooks.com

The world of used bookstores is certainly a unique one. "The Book Shopper" is a collection of thoughts and ideas for the used bookstore browser who wants to better understand this unusual world of dust, tattered books, and the never ending quest for excellent entertainment at an affordable price. "The Book Shopper" is a top pick for book lovers.

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes
Nevin Martell
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
9780826429841, $24.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Calvin and Hobbes has always been a truly unique and surreal comic strip. "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip" tells the story of the cartoonist behind the legendary strip and the strip itself, both sharing the qualities of being offbeat and unique. Calvin and Hobbes is one of the only intellectual properties that was never widely marketed due to the author's own integrity, a truly unusual trait in this world where Garfield the cat gets two full length motion pictures. "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes" is a choice pick for fans of the strip who want to understand the mind of its creator.

Go Green, Girlfriends!
Stacey Sorensen
Capital Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102740, $15.95, www.capital-books.com

Travel has been stated as a major contributor to the decay of the earth. "Go Green, Girlfriends!: 10 Earth-Friendly Getaways for You and Your Friends" discusses eco-friendly trips that one can take to have fun while keeping one's conscience clean. From eco-minded festivals to high adventure and a green girl's night out, "Go Green, Girlfriends" is a top pick for anyone who wants to party and keep the planet around for more parties.

American Hunks
David L. Chapman & Brett Josef Grubisic
Arsenal Pulp Press
Suite 200, 341 Water Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V68 1B8
9781551522562, $29.95, www.arsenalpulp.com

It's been said women are constantly objectified in the media... but could the same be said of men? "American Hunks" takes a scholarly look at the use of the perfect physical specimen of man and how it has been used as a sex symbol over the years. For well over a century the image of musclebound hunks has been on countless items, selling not only to women, but men as well, both gay and straight. The photos within do contain nudity, but the main focus is on the evolution of the use of the hunk in media. "American Hunks" is well worth considering for any coffee table book collector.

Code Switching
Claire Damken Brown, Ph.D. and Audrey Nelson, Ph.D.
Alpha
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781592579266, $16.95 www.penguin.com

CODE SWITCHING: HOW TO TALK SO MEN WILL LISTEN offers a method of opening communication lines between the genders, presenting a 'gender code' and common conflicts and outlining strategies based on examples and anecdotes showing how others have used these practices to break stereotypes. From underlying signals sent by common phrases ("are you wearing that?") to negotiating strategies and underlying tensions, CODE SWITCHING is a pick any general lending library will want.

Bathroom Readers' Press
Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
www.bathroomreader.com

These fine new titles offer excellent trivia facts and are picks for reluctant to busy readers. UNCLE JOHN'S BATHROOM READER SALUTES THE ARMED FORCES (9781592239801, $18.95) provides a survey of military history, from a history of the draft and the Lost Battalion to a Coast Guard reindeer rescue plan. INSTANT GENIUS (1592239153, $21.95) provides a fun reference of trivia facts, from how to tell if you're brain dead to what irony is and is not, and three cheeses south of the border. An excellent collection of trivia, these two books are top picks for any leisure library.

Morphic Resonance, revised edition
Rupert Sheldrake
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773174, $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

MORPHIC RESONANCE: THE NATURE OF FORMATIVE CAUSATION appears in a newly revised, expanded edition of A NEW SCIENCE OF LIFE, and will appeal to any interested in new science, biology and blends of new age thought. Using his theory of morphic resonance, Sheldrake was able to reinterpret the regularities of nature as being more like habits than laws. His ongoing research results in a vastly revamped title perfect for any collections with older editions.

The Conversation
Hill Harper
Gotham Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9781592404759, $22.50 www.penguin.com

THE CONVERSATION: HOW BLACK MEN AND WOMEN CAN BUILD LOVING, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS is a 'must' for any library where Afro-American patrons seek self-help titles. It's an analysis of the crisis in Afro-American relationships and families, and brings many issues out of the shadows and into the open, from why so few black couples manage to hold a relationship together to the experiences of friends, family members and strangers both divorced and married.

You Were Always Mom's Favorite!
Deborah Tannen
Random House
9781400066322, $26.00 www.randomhouse.com

You Were Always Mom's Favorite! Sisters in Conversation Throughout Their Lives shares insights and anecdotes from over a hundred women interviewed by author Deborah Tannen, who pairs moving recollections of her own two sisters with insights on relationships and sister dynamics. A fine set of observations paired with techniques for improving family communications, You Were Always Mom's Favorite! is a top pick for any general lending library.

Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com

The nation's most competitive four-year colleges receive the latest descriptions and appraisals form recent grads of each school, from assessments of social life on campus to discussions of off-campus facilities and activities and facts about admission, tuition and fees, academics, student body composition and more, in BARRON'S GUIDE TO THE MOST COMPETITIVE COLLEGES, 6th edition (0764142267, $21.99). Even more important, a Most Competitive Comparison Chart offers statistics to help cross-compare colleges, making this a 'must' for any library appealing to students looking at top-level colleges. The SAT SUBJECT TEST BIOLOGY E/M (0764142038, $16.99) provides the latest review and practice tests currently available in an updated second edition of a winner. From a short diagnostic test and two full-length Biology E/M practice tests to a study guide and subject review covering all test topics, this packs in test preparations and is a pick for any school reference collection. Any preparing for the AP Chinese Language and Culture test needs BARRON'S AP CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE (0764194003, $29.99), a powerful set of review and practice tests for the AP test. Questions in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters are just like the actual exam, offering two full-length practice exams with answers plus audio CDs of spoken material.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Health Professionals' Guide to Physical Management of Parkinson's Disease
Miriam P. Boelen
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736074929 $59.00 www.humankinetics.com

Health Professionals' Guide to Physical Management of Parkinson's Disease should be in the library of any clinician or doctor encountering Parkinson's patients, and many a physical therapy collection. It blends research sources and the author's own in-depth clinical experience and provides a quick reference for busy clinicians who want fast answers, not weighty chapters. From explaining the different management strategies and stages of Parkinson's, to the focus on dystonia and tremor, to an assessment of self-management strategies used at different stages of the disease to a survey of transfer problems and more, this text will prove key in addressing specific problems unique to Parkinson's patients.

Routine Miracles
Conrad Fischer, MD
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor, New York, NY 10006
9781607141198, $24.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com

ROUTINE MIRACLES provides a powerful survey of medical advances once called miracles, investigating the widening gap between these advances and the rise of physician dissatisfaction. Over 3,000 physicians and patients were interviewed to probe this underlying angst, and this provides a call to action to change the course and future of medicine. Any library strong in medical ethics and issues needs this.

Present on Admission, second edition
Gail S. Garrett, RHIT
AHIMA
233 N. Michigan Ave. #2150, Chicago, IL 60601-5800
9781584262244, $49.95 www.ahima.org

Present on Admission appears in its second updated edition to provide the basics of POA assignment, from concerns from the new regulations and the new requirement to provide hospital-acquired condition payment on all Medicare claims to coding and quality assurance. From a history of POA indicators to an explanation of coding and new requirements, this includes all the forms and resources needed.

Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics, fifth edition
Leslie E. Daly and Geoffrey J. Bourke
Wiley/Blackwell Science
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780632047635, $129.94 www.blackwell-science.com

Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics first appeared in 1969 and provided ideas on statistics' applications to medical science to those with no formal training in this area. This 5th updated edition represents a vastly expanded coverage with major changes: some sections have been totally rewritten, it's organized more logically based on the latest brain research studies and use-friendly approaches, and it flags chapters that are more difficult to absorb. Two new chapters have also been added too, making this a substantial addition to any medical collection.


The Psychology Shelf

An Introduction to Children with Autism
Tammy D. Barry
Prufrock
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593633707, $12.95, www.prufrock.com

Autism is something that many have yet few understand. "An Introduction to Children with Autism: The Practical Strategies Series in Autism Education" is a guide to help educators deal with autistic students to give them a more complete and comprehensive education that they need and deserve. Covering the basics of autistic behavior, how to deal with the various levels of the autism spectrum, and more, "An Introduction to Children with Autism" is a worthy investment for any educator or school counselor.

Men in Therapy
David B. Wexler
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393705720, $32.00 www.wwnorton.com

MEN IN THERAPY: NEW APPROACHES FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT presents an overview of the way cultural norms and assumptions color the male experience of psychotherapy. From how traditional ideas of masculinity keep men away from therapy to how men struggle with the process, this assessment of common male-specific issues is perfect for any psychology library.

Group Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Albert J. Cotugno
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Suite #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109105, $55.00 www.jkp.com

Group Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Focus on Social Competency and Social Skills is a powerful pick for any working with autistic children. It considers the implications of developing and implementing peer-based, group-focused therapeutic approaches with autistic kids, is intended for school, clinic, and general practitioners involved in group work with special needs kids, and provides an array of skill-based instructional approaches to compliment therapy. Models for interventions and tips on managing emotional responses make this a powerful, practical guide for any health library appealing to educators or therapists working with autistic kids.


The Self-Help Shelf

One Soul, One Love, One Heart
John E. Welshons
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577315889, $14.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

One Soul, One Love, One Heart: The Sacred Path to Healing All Relationships offers insights on how we perceive people and relationships. Tips that can be put into immediate practice to heal difficult relationships supplement insights on forgiveness, happiness, and how to turn off buttons that make family experience roadblocks instead of affection. Any library strong in self-help and guides to healthy relationships needs this.

Morning Sunshine!
Robin Meade
Center Street
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781599951645, $22.99 www.centerstreet.com

MORNING SUNSHINE! HOW TO RADIATE CONFIDENCE AND FEEL IT TOO comes form the host of HLN's Morning Express and tells how she fought the fears that nearly cost her career. How these fears evolved, nearly took over, and were eliminated forms the crux of a memoir packed with inspiration on how she rose to become a TV news personality. Her lessons offer confidence tips for all - and her humor makes it most accessible, making this a top pick for any general lending library.


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Scott Lasser's THE YEAR THAT FOLLOWS (1423393090, $24.99) receives a fine reading by Mel Foster and Tanya Eby Sirois as it tells of a woman's search for her brother's lost son, orphaned by his sudden death. The journey will bring families together and forge new relationships in this outstanding spirited story that comes to life on audio. Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D.'s STOP ACTING RICH AND START LIVING LIKE A REAL MILLIONAIRE (1423398106, $29.99) receives Fred Stella's warm and smooth voice as it provides the latest research from the expert on wealth. From choosing to live in communities where net worth is less to spending less and gaining life satisfaction by better using financial resources, this advocates a lifestyle over the usual money-making schemes and is a top recommendation. Christopher Andersen's BARACK AND MICHELLE: PORTRAIT OF AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE (1441820671, $29.99) receives Dion Graham's powerful and award-winning narrative style and benefits from his Broadway influence as it provides an intimate look at the partnership and love of President Obama and his first lady. The focus on their relationship's evolution provides another facet of insights into their character in this warm audio read. Peter J. Bentley, Ph.D.'s WHY SHIT HAPPENS: THE SCIENCE OF A REALLY BAD DAY (142337682X, $29.99) receives veteran narrator Phil Gigante's powerful voice as it covers the basics of everyday disaster spiced with humor. Science is respected and highly misunderstood in this survey of mishaps in which Murphy's law reigns and scientific truths depart. Terry Brooks' A PRINCESS OF LANDOVER (1423398459, $38.99) receives Dick Hill's warm and seasoned voice as it provides a fine fantasy of enchanted Landover, which has struggled with scheming barons and conjurers. Now Chicago lawyer Ben, mortal turned monarch of this land, must prepare for a teenage daughter who makes the rest look easy .the first new Magic Kingdom novel in ages is a winner. Steve Knopper's APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION; THE SPECTACULAR CRASH OF THE RECORD INDUSTRY IN THE DIGITAL AGE (1423375181, $34.99) enjoys American actor and musician Dan John Miller's vivid voice and approach as it tells how digital music brought the big business of recording to its knees. Based on interviews with over two hundred music industry sources, it's packed with an insider's observation of the industry's vast changes. David Kord Murray's BORROWING BRILLIANCE (1441801405, $24.99) enjoys classically trained actor Patrick Lawlor's fine voice as it reveals ideas on borrowing in the course of the creative process. Creative ideas come from every employee in a company and a new business discipline of innovation is emerging in many company structures. Murray's contention that creativity is learned more than a gift makes for a solid, revealing guide that comes to life in audio.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Ron Paul's END THE FED (9781600248665, $26.98) receives Bob Craig's fine radio personality training in an audio presentation that brings to life this account by a Congressman who blends history, economics and his own life experiences to explain the Federal Reserve and why it needs to be reigned in. Audio nonfiction listeners will find this thought-provoking listening. Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's NURTURESHOCK: NEW THINKING ABOUT CHILDREN (9781600248405, $34.98) receives the authors' dual narration and provides an essential set of insights on parenting and how it's changing. From how praise and reward change behaviors and how parents changed the ways they spoke to children to how sibling relationships are determined in preschool and how the best kids miss advanced school programs, this packs in many eye-opening revelations on the world of parenting. Robert T. Kiyosaki's RICH DAD'S CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH: THE 8 NEW RULES OF MONEY (9781600248986, $22.98) pairs Dave Mallow's experienced voice and background in everything form commercials and voice characterization with a fine interactive audio format discussing solutions to financial issues. CONSPIRACY OF THE RICH represents the first 'Rich Dad' book written entirely online during the worldwide financial crisis and includes a bonus PDF. Edward M. Kennedy's TRUE COMPASS (9781600247545, $49.98) also includes a PDF of historical photos from Kennedy's life and a video interview with him, and appears on 17 CDs in an unabridged set read by John Bedford Lloyd. Any collection strong in Kennedy's life and politics will find this a popular lend. James Patterson and Martin Dugard's THE MURDER OF KING TUT (9781600246357, $26.98) receives a powerful narration by Joe Barrett, an accomplished actor, as it tells of King Tut's murder and new evidence leading to a different account of his life and death. True crime comes to life combined with a powerful history. Nicholas Sparks' THE LAST SONG (9781600246401, $39.98) includes an original score and a fine narration by Pepper Binkley and Scott Sowers as it provides the story of a teen changed by her parents' divorce, and alienated from them both years later - until her mother decides she and her brother should spend a summer with him. Love between parents, children and family comes to life in a sensitive narration highly recommended for any general collection. Joyce Meyer's THE LOVE REVOLUTION (9781600247354, $29.98) receives daughter Sandra McCollom's fine and smooth reading and provides an outstanding audiobook manual revolving around a call to action. The idea is to live to give - chapters by guest contributors who embody this maxim provide fine coverage of how love can indeed conquer all. David Cross' I DRINK FOR A REASON (9781600246487, $29.98) comes from a comedian who finds a mysterious phone message that leads him into the dangerous and strange world of book publishing. He finds good deeds are punished and evil deeds are rewarded with fame: his experiences come to life in this fine audio memoir. Michael Connelly's VOID MOON (9781600247392, $24.98) receives L.J. Ganser's powerful and experienced audio narrative style as it tells of L.A. ex-con Cassie, out of prison and returning to her old habits. When the 'perfect heist' goes bad, Cassie's on the run from a killer in this gripping thriller, perfect for audio collections. Anita Shreve's A CHANGE IN ALTITUDE (9781600247644, $34.98) receives Anna Stone's fine singing and acting voice which brings alive this new novel about a marriage and an adventure. A climbing expedition changes their lives and Margaret's struggle to understand its impact on her marriage makes for an engrossing, complex audio listen recommended for any general library. Michael Connelly's DRAGONS (9781600247439, $39.98) receives Len Cariou's fine stage and film presence and tells of a LAPD detective, Harry, who is on a new tough case. His involvement with an Asian gang investigation uncovers some deadly links to far-reaching crimes across the country in this thriller, which is a moving audio listen. Malcolm Galdwell's WHAT THE DOG SAW (9781600249150, $39.98) receives his own narrative style and provides a winning survey of the birth of American products, their marketing, and related issues from ethnic profiling to intelligence test results. A fine survey of pioneers, inventors and influences evolves in a strong audio listen.


The Travel Shelf

Avalon Travel Publishing
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
www.avalontravelbooks.com

Rick Steves' PARIS 2010 (9781598802870, $18.95) tells how to get the most out of travel dollars and provides a set of self-guided tours designed to get the most out of a visit to Paris. Rick Steves' extensive travels throughout Europe and his personal familiarity with Paris lend to humorous, candid assessments of hotels, restaurants and delightful neighborhoods alike. Also candid and from experience is his EUROPE THROUGH THE BACK DOOR 2010 (9781598802818, $21.95), a handbook covering everything from how to pack and travel smoothly by public transport to avoiding crowds, tourist scams, and understanding cultural and local differences. A 'must' for any Europe-bound traveler.

Costa Rica: National Parks and Preserves, third edition
Joseph Franke
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134
9781594850356, $21.95 www.mountaineersbooks.org

Any planning a trip to Costa Rica will want the third updated edition of Costa Rica: National Parks and Preserves. It offers park descriptions, trail listings, maps, details on flora and fauna, and more and tells how to get off the beaten path with a guide to all 46 of the nation's natural areas and preserves - including many most foreign visitors miss.


The Business Shelf

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting & Running a Retail Store
James E. Dion
Alpha
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592577262, $19.95, www.idiotsguides.com

It sounds easy - sell what people want, and they'll buy it. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting & Running a Retail Store" is a guide for those who want to run their own retail business. Covering everything from picking your niche, determining its viability, real estate issues, and so much more, it's a fine introduction for the aspiring entrepreneur. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Retail Store" is a top pick that is well worth considering for the inexperienced.

Start Your Own Business, fourth edition
Rieva Lesonsky
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way, Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614
9781599180816, $24.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com

Many businesses fail soon after they start, but how does one avoid these mistakes? "Start Your Own Business: The Only Startup Book You'll Ever Need" is the fourth edition of Entrepreneur Magazine's volume on breaking into the world of being your own boss. With plenty of informative info on everything from getting the creative juices flowing, pushing one's product, and beyond simply starting, "Start Your Own Business" is a volume that should be in every starting entrepreneur's collection.

Keeping Up in a Down Economy
Bob Nelson
Pragmatic Publications
PO Box 500872, San Diego, CA 92150-0872
Nelson Motivation, Inc.
12225 World Trade Drive, Suite O, San Diego, CA 92128-3768
9780615306612, $13.95, www.keepingupbook.com

Good companies don't buckle under a bad economy - they're good companies for a reason. "Keeping Up in a Down Economy: What the Best Companies Do to Get Results in Tough Times" discusses how companies can stay profitable and growing even during a time where it seems impossible. With plenty of honest advice and tips, the knowledge contained within is simple and wise for companies, ranging from setting a company's direction, to keeping knowledge flowing through the company, and maintaining morale, "Keeping Up in a Down Economy" is a solid and very recommended resource that business leaders should not miss.

Selling to the C-Suite
Nicolas A. C. Read & Stephen J. Bistritz
McGraw Hill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
Smith Publicity (publicity)
1930 E. Marlton Pike, Suite 1-46, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
9780071628914, $24.95, www.mhprofessional.com

Selling is a goal of business, but the best business is selling to other businesses. "Selling to the C-Suite: What Every Executive Wants You to Know About Successfully Selling to the Top" is a guide to advancing one's business and career through wiser selling at higher levels of business. With advice on how to get past gatekeepers, sell to the highest executives, and more, "Selling to the C-Suite" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to sell their way to the top.

Life, Money, and Illusion
Mike Nickerson
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0
9780865716599, $22.95, www.newsociety.com

Good business makes sure it can keep doing business for years to come. "Life, Money, and Illusion: Living on Earth as if We Want to Stay" is a guide to sustainable business that is both environmentally and socially sustainable. One doesn't need to plunder the planet of its resources in order to succeed, as author Mike Nickerson explains. "Life, Money, and Illusion" is a wise and recommended read for any aspiring businessperson.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Web-Based Business
Steve Slaunwhite
Alpha Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781592578894, $19.95 www.idiotsguides.com

Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Web-Based Business joins others in the excellent 'Complete Idiot' series (which is not really 'for idiots', but rather a user-friendly series for anyone and everyone!) and offers an easy survey of the basics of how to create and operate a successful cyberspace venture. From how various online businesses conduct their business to selecting among best web hosting options and creating user-friendly sites that attract surfing clients, this is a pick any general library will find popular.

The Unemployed Millionaire
Matt Morris
John Wiley & Sons
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470479810, $22.95 www.wiley.com

The Unemployed Millionaire: Escape the Rat Race, Fire Your Boss, and Live Life on Your Terms tells the story of the founder of Success University, who began his first business at age 18, dropped out of college at age 30 to pursue business full-time, became poverty-stricken and lived on the streets, then made a full turn to re-invent his life and career, four years later earning a six-figure income as an entrepreneur. His inspirational story is a model for our times and will find its place in any business or general lending library.

Retail Hell
Freeman Hall
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
1605501026, $22.95 www.fwmedia.com www.adamsmedia.com 1-800-872-5627

Any who have worked in retail or handled a sales associate dedicated to their commission will find plenty to recognize in RETAIL HELL: HOW I SOLD MY SOUL TO THE STORE. It provides a funny yet pointed assessment of sales based on Hall's real life experiences and goes behind the scenes to reveal what really happens in the retail world with a series of funny, true stories perfect for both business and general lending libraries.

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Nicholas D. Satan and Prof. Marcus J. Weeks
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599215686, $16.95 www.lyonspress.com

How to Win Friends and Influence People: 666 Wicked Ways to Guarantee Success in the Workplace is a fun allegorical read telling of Nicholas Satan, who was just another angel until he quit the firm and began running his own business - before the Fall. This practical advice guide based on the seven deadly sins is a fun yet pointed 'advice guide' on how to achieve diabolical dominance at home and work and will make a fun gift for any business personality.

97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know
Barbee Davis, Editor
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastopol CA 95472
9780596804169, $29.99 www.oreilly.com

Software engineers and business project managers alike must have 97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know, a powerful guide to everything from maintaining top coding quality to defining the conclusion of a project, spotting a good IT developer, and providing a valued, deliverable project. 97 short and practical tips apply to both software and non-IT projects and make this a solid pick for both computer and business lending libraries.

The Heretics of Finance
Andrew W. Lo and Jasmina Hasanhodzic
Bloomberg Press
731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022
9781576603161, $29.95

THE HERETICS OF FINANCE consists of interviews with thirteen successful, award-winning market professionals who credit their achievements to technical analysis. From how they learned their craft to what market conditions lead to errors and what an average workday is like, this packs in issues of validation, independent vs. team work, the influences of technology on the analysis process, and more. A fine pick for any business collection.

The Secret, second edition
Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller
Berrett Koehler
235 Montgomery St. #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605092683, $19.95 www.bkconnection.com

What is the secret of great leadership? THE SECRET; WHAT GREAT LEADERS KNOW - AND DO tells you, using a business fable format to impart the basics of what makes a leader able to inspire and motivate people. Debbie, newly promoted and struggling, is about to lose her job due to poor performance, and enrolls in a new mentoring program offered by her company - and run by its president. Her lessons are real-world scenarios any business reader can easily absorb in this most accessible format.


The Economics Shelf

No Rising Tide
Joerg Rieger
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800664596, $20.00, www.fortresspress.com

How does religion twist into modern economics? "No Rising Tide: Theology, Economics, and the Future" discusses modern faith and how it impacts economics and vice versa. Author Joerg Rieger shows readers that there is a much stronger relationship between the two than one would think. Packed with intriguing and fascinating ideas, "No Rising Tide" is worth the consideration for anyone intrigued about today's economics and its influences.

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008
Paul Krugman
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10110-0017
9780393337808, $16.95 www.wwnorton.com

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 is a top pick from a New York Time columnist who has argued for an overhaul of America's financial system that would include massive regulation and a large stimulus package. His ongoing comments on the changing political and financial world includes commentary on the work the Obama administration has done thus far and recommendations for continuing to improve the economy, and makes for an invaluable guide no business or general lending library should be without.


The Social Issues Shelf

Virtual Freedom
Dawn C. Nunziato
Stanford Law Books
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804763851, $22.95, www.sup.org

Corporations control one's window to the rest of the world. "Virtual Freedom: Net Neutrality and Free Speech in the Internet Age" discusses net neutrality and the threats to it, and why readers should care. Criticizing the recent changes that have threatened the upholding of net neutrality and how a possible repeal of it could do untold damage to America's economic and social ideals, "Virtual Freedom" is an intriguing and highly recommended read that is well worth considering for anyone concerned with the freedom of the internet.

The Nature of Cities
Jennifer S. Light
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801891366, $60.00 www.press.jhu.edu

THE NATURE OF CITIES: ECOLOGICAL VISIONS AND THE AMERICAN URBAN PROFESSIONS, 1920-1960 offers an excellent survey of how city planning and ongoing programs of natural resource management converged, blending the rise and fall of an early conservation movement with a history of urban renewal in the U.S. The result is an outstanding history of how ecological concerns have shaped urban development around the country.

Plan B 4.0
Lester R. Brown
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393337198, $16.95 www.wwnorton.com

PLAN B 4.0: MOBILIZING TO SAVE CIVILIZATION has been substantially revised and offers an analysis of food shortages and how they can bring down civilization. From trends of falling water tables, eroding soils and rising temperatures to how world food prices are rising and millions are going hungry, this provides an analysis of a dangerous new food era marked by shortages and rising prices, and makes for an analysis recommended for any social issues collection.

Life, Money and Illusion, updated edition
Mike Nickerson
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716599, $22.95 www.newsociety.com

LIFE, MONEY AND ILLUSION: LIVING ON EARTH AS IF WE WANT TO STAY is a pick for business, economics, and social issues libraries alike, providing an updated edition inspired by the realities of living on a finite planet with an economic structure wired for growth. It considers the impact and detriments of this objective, analyzing how the economy can be restructured to remain within planetary limits, and provides a powerful series of arguments against our current economic structure and objectives.

Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto
Stewart Brand
Viking
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780670021215, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto comes from an author who believes it's time we reset our thinking about climate change and how to save our planet. Even as the Green Movement has gone more mainstream, Brand - originator of the Whole Earth Catalog - shows how its objectives can be linked to following science to innovate new ways of supporting a healthy environment. A fine admonition to shift the basics philosophy and ideas towards stewardship of the planet.

Hedonizing Technologies
Rachel P. Maines
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801891465, $55.00 www.press.jhu.edu

HEDONIZING TECHNOLOGIES: PATHS TO PLEASURE IN HOBBIES AND LEISURE examines activities once considered essential for survival and comfort, from gardening and cooking to needlework, considering how work has evolved to be considered fun hobbies. Consumer demand for new technologies which have changed the nature of hobbies and their definition are analyzed in a survey including basic issues in labor and business history, making this a pick for a range of college-level collections, from business to cultural analysis.

The Ground Truth
John Farmer
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3638
9781594488948, $26.95 www.riverheadbooks.com

THE GROUND TRUTH: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICA UNDER ATTACK ON 9/11 comes from a senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission who lead the team charged with reconstructing the day's tragedies. Many records remained classified in their report: GROUND TRUTH draws upon recently de-classified documents to provide a fuller account of 9/11 and is a pick for any library seeking an authoritative discussion of events, reactions and long-range implications.


The Art Shelf

Digital Painting Techniques
3Dtotal.com Ltd
Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521749, $49.95 www.focalpress.com

Digital Painting Techniques: Masters Collection V. 1 features digital artists who offer the latest techniques to creating a digital canvas. Perfect for both photography and arts and crafts libraries, this packs in step-by-step techniques and lovely color examples throughout for beginning and intermediate digital artists. Tutorials explain the artists' approaches and concepts and provide keys to developing a personal digital painting style. Photography and art libraries alike need this.

University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com

Carol Clark's CHARLES DEAS AND 1840S AMERICA (9780806140308, $39.95) is a fine pick for any college-level arts library: it packs in over 150 illustrations - some 70 in color - and is the first book exclusively devoted to Charles Deas. From his Indian scenes to his hunting expedition themes drawn from facts and his own imagination, Deas' work captured and represented racial tensions as much as a powerful artistic display of 1840s American history. A rich visual treat for art and American history holdings alike! William E. Farr's JULIUS SEYLER AND THE BLACKFEET: AN IMPRESSIONIST AT GLACIER NATIONAL (9780806140148, $45.00) PARK tells of a German artist who made a name for himself in Europe before traveling to America to Montana's newly created park. His is not only an artistic representation of the early Blackfeet Indians: it's a survey of how a national park was created and promoted in its infancy. This is the first biographical portrait of Seyler and focuses on his two summers at Glacier in 1913 and 1914, and is a pick for any American history or art collection.


The Education Shelf

The Principal as Assessment Leader
Thomas R. Guskey, editor
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781934009482, $29.95, www.solution-tree.com

The principal is not just a manager, but the final authority. "The Principal As Assessment Leader" is a collection of essays discussing education and the principal in the role of deciding curriculum and assessment of students. These collaborators give many ideas to help principals advice on doing everything from creating fair and balanced assessments to combating drop out rates. "The Principal as Assessment Leader" is a top pick for any principal looking for new ideas for their school.

Early Sprouts
Kattie Kalich, Dottie Bauer, Dierdre McPartlin
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117
9781933653723, $24.95 www.redleafpress.org

EARLY SPROUTS: CULTIVATING HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES IN YOUNG CHILDREN provides a 24-week course in sensory exploration and cooking based on six target vegetables: tomatoes, green beans, bell peppers, Swiss chard, carrots and butternut squash. From promoting healthy eating at home and school to increasing a child's affection for these vegetables, this offers activities that can be achieved even without a garden. Any collection catering to parents or educators needs this.

Extending the Dance in Infant & Toddler Caregiving
Helen H. Raikes & Caorlyn Pope Edwards
Brookes Publishing
P.O. Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557668590, $29.95 www.brookespublishing.com

This blueprint for promoting attachment and relationships in early childhood settings provides professional caregivers and educators a fine key to developing nurturing relationships with kids. From promoting relationship-based programs that keep teachers and kids together to encouraging connections, this is a fine early learning tool.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Mary Kim Schreck's TRANSFORMERS: CREATIVE TEACHERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (9781412971126, $33.95) is a fine discussion of creativity beliefs and teaching, providing teachers with a step-by-step plan for accessing creative resources and blending them into practices. From lesson building and delivery to encouraging creative thinking in the classroom, TRANSFORMERS is a pick for any education library. Also recommended is Ron Nash's THE ACTIVE TEACHER (9781412973878, $28.95), which uses over 30 years' experience in teaching and staff development to outline a different approach to teaching and planning. 'Three Rs' - routines, rules and relationships - help teachers lead students based on trust and personal guidance. Carl A. Grant's TEACH! CHANGE! EMPOWER! SOLUTIONS FOR CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS (9781412976497, $26.95) provides an excellent survey of strategies for teachers on how to reflect on their beliefs about diversity and turn these thoughts into actions. From caring with a sociopolitical consciousness within the education structure to cooperative professional development for staff and teachers alike, this packs in fine keys to understanding.


The Photography Shelf

Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide
Bryan Peterson
Amphoto Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10019
9780817432256, $24.99, www.amphotobooks.com

Good photos aren't the product of good equipment, but instead good skill. "Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera" is a guide for aspiring photographers who want to get the best shot that they can no matter what they are using. From finding the good shots to using advanced techniques for effects without after editing, "Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide" is a fine read for any photographer who wants to sharpen their skills.

Perfect Exposure
Michael Freeman
Focal Press
30 Corporate Dr. #300, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240811710, $29.95 www.focalpress.com

PERFECT EXPOSURE is about the basic concept of photography: without it, there's no such thing as a polished result. Recent developments in digital technology have changed how exposures can be manipulated and this has forced photographers to new viewpoints on aperture and time. A Web-linked internet address allows readers to view the subtle details discussed in the book while chapters pack in images and professional discussions of how to polish a digital photo. A 'must have' for any serious photography library.

Amphoto/Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.amphotobooks.com

Norman McGrath's ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY (9780817424558, $29.95) is a powerful guide to commercial and artistic success in modern architectural photography and comes from an industry leader expanding on the basics covered in his PHOTOGRAPHING BUILDINGS INSIDE AND OUT. The latest equipment and technologies are provided in a fine coverage of digital photography's architectural applications and potentials. Also highly recommended for any serious photography collection is Bryan Peterson's UNDERSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHY FIELD GUIDE (9780817432256, $24.99). It packs in all photo-taking details into a handy take-along field guide and covers everything form composition and exposure to using light and taking photos of landscape, people and close-ups. Besides all these basics, creative techniques like capturing 'ghosts' and advice on software and equipment round out the offerings. Jon Canfield's CAMERA RAW 101: BETTER PHOTOS WITH PHOTOSHOP, ELEMENTS, AND LIGHTROOM (9780817432294, $24.99) comes from a digital photographer and software expert who explains how to take advantage of the latest versions of Photoshop, Elements and Lightroom to get fine results. Adobe Camera Raw has grown and changed from its original Photoshop CS2 version: this provides a survey of how RAW files are superior, and the techniques involved in organizing and developing RAW images in both ACR and Lightroom. Highly recommended for any advanced photo library.

Exploring the Self Through Photography
Claire Craig
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843106661 $29.95 www.jkp.com

Exploring the Self Through Photography examines how professionals working with groups can use photography to promote positive change. From how to set up and run a photography group to chapters covering relationship-building, self-esteem and more, this provides activities and themes perfect for photography and psychology collections alike.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Michael Milton's HEAD FIRST DATA ANALYSIS: A BRAIN-FRIENDLY GUIDE (9780596153939, $49.99) offers a fine learner's guide to statistics and data analysis tying such analysis and discovery of customer bases to models for optimizing business and increasing sales. Learn how to organize data using Excel or Open Office and how to understand histograms, scatterplots and more with this outstanding survey using the latest cognitive research to present a new kind of learning experience key for computer and business collections alike. Toby Boudreaux's PROGRAMMING THE IPHONE USER EXPERIENCE (9780596155469, $34.99) comes from the CTO of the Barbarian Group, which specializes in Mac and iPhone development. This book will help teach the basics of the Cocoa Touch framework for building iPhone and iPod applications, offering theory blended with best practices and patterns for handling user experiences outside of the interface. A 'must' for any iPhone developer's collection. Also key is Silvano Gai and Claudio DeSanti's I/O CONSOLIDATION IN THE DATA CENTER (158705888X, $40.00), the first book to explain the recently approved Fibre Channel over Ethernet standard and its technologies. I/O consolidation combines multiple traffic types and each usually has special handling requirements: this book offers insights into consolidating these into a single Data Center Ethernet network and is key for any advanced programming library.

Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw

Learn how to find and fix software bugs that evade conventional testing with a title from a software testing expert who discusses the causes of today's best-hidden bugs in James A. Whittaker's EXPLORATORY SOFTWARE TESTING (0321636414, $39.99) - and introduces new 'exploratory' techniques for fixing them. These bugs may prove invisible to automated testing and demand manual testing techniques: EXPLORATORY SOFTWARE TESTING tells how to implement test cases and choose the important areas to test. An excellent pick for any software developer's library. Also key is the second updated edition of Bert Scalzo and Dan Hotka's TOAD HANDBOOK (0321649109, $44.99), a survey of the latest version of TOAD, a third-party Oracle utility. Step-by-step recipes, screen snapshots, and basic exercises provide everything developers need to use TOAD in both administrative and development tasks. The second updated edition of John K. Outserhout and Ken Jones' TCL AND THE TK TOOLKIT (032133633X, $49.99) has been fully updated for Tcl/Tk8.5 and is a must for any graphics programming library. It uses simple scripts to introduce Tcl/Tk basics and provides a fine coverage of its commands, functions and more. All of its latest, newest improvements are revealed along with real-world run-time environments and applications. Very highly recommended for serious developer's libraries.

HTML, XHTML, and CSS for the Absolute Beginner
Jerry Lee Ford, Jr.
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1435454235, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

HTML, XHTML, and CSS for the Absolute Beginner is a 'must' for any serious computer library: it provides tips on all the foundation languages key to web page development on the Internet and shows how to control and manage the presentation of content using Cascading Style Sheets. Source code for all projects and graphics and additional resources round out a tutorial on how to use basic HTML and XHTML to organize web pages and work with links and images. The result is a 'must' for any computer library, promising lasting interest.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran
Robert Spencer
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
9781596981041, $19.95 www.regnery.com

The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran is an introductory reference to the Koran and comes from the director of Jihad Watch, a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center. As such, it probes both the spiritual and political messages underlying Koran passages, considering the Koran's origins, passages, and its decrees toward Jews, Christians, and other Infidels. Differences between Muslim and modern times contributes to a pointed survey.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The New Path
Swami Kriyananda
Crystal Clarity Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781565892422, $14.95, www.crystalclarity.com

Some journeys are contagious in that they bring others to join you. "The New Path: My Life With Paramhansa Yogananda" is the reflections of Swami Kriyananda as he reflects on his life and his time with Paramhansa Yogananda, and the spiritual lessons he learned during his travels with this unique individual. Enlightening and intriguing, "The New Path" is a delightful and uplifting read that spiritual readers will learn much from.

Roll Around Heaven
Jessica Maxwell
Beyond Words
c/o Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781582702360, $25.00 www.beyondword.com

ROLL AROUND HEAVEN: AN ALL-TRUE ACCIDENTAL SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE tells of a spiritual awakening that involved author Jessica Maxwell in a journey to personal peace and discovery. From learning how to heal animals and interact with all religions to seeking spiritual authenticity, ROLL AROUND HEAVEN offers a vivid blend of new age and spiritual observation recommended for new age and general spiritual libraries alike.

Hispanic American Religious Cultures
Miguel A. De La Torre, Editor
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841398, $195.00/2 vols www.abc-clio.com

Hispanic American Religious Cultures documents all the religious of Hispanic cultures covering not just Catholicism's importance, but faiths ranging from Judaism and Buddhism to Pentecostalism. Entries cover spiritual affiliations, world faiths, Hispanic practices, history, and key participants, offering an encyclopedia of in-depth articles recommended for Hispanic and spirituality libraries alike.


The Philosophy Shelf

The New Atheism
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027515, $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason argues that the 'new atheist' scientists' contentions and findings are changing the face of spirituality concepts and atheism alike. It expands on the basics presented in the author's prior GOD: THE FAILED HYPOTHESIS, explaining the basics of new Atheism, and arguing that the absence of evidence for God is evidence of absence only when the evidence should be there and is not. History and science blend in a fine survey recommended for both science and spirituality libraries at the college level.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Encyclopedia of Applique
Barbara Brackman
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571206510, $29.95 www.ctpub.com

Barbara Brackman's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF APPLIQUE provides a powerful reference for quilt collectors and applique fans, providing 5 applique quilt projects and an updated history of applique and offering blocks by subject, design and time period for quick and easy reference. The result is a survey of some 2,000 traditional and modern designs and an updated history that includes five new quilt projects, perfect for any quilter's collection.

Silky Little Knits
Alison Crowther-Smith
Trafalgar Square Books
Box 237, North Pomfret, VT 05033
9781570764417, $24.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com

SILKY LITTLE KNITS: LUXURIOUS DESIGNS AND ACCESSORIES IN MOHAIR-SILK YARNS is a top pick for any needlework collection. It provides patterns and options for using the thin mohair to its best advantage, offering stylings and 20 unique projects to take advantage of knitted lace, colorwash effects, texture blends and more. Any knitter will find this packed with delicious options not available elsewhere.

Norwegian Handknits
Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760334287, $30.00 www.voyageurpress.com

NORWEGIAN HANDKNITS: HEIRLOOM DESIGNS FROM VESTERHEIM MUSEUM collects some 30 patterns for colorful mittens, socks, scarves and more inspired by traditional Norwegian handknits housed in the Versterheim Museum in Iowa. It packs in a history and examination of Norwegian handknits, offering inspiration on patterns and sources and coming from two knitters who have been designing knitwear for over 20 years. Over 125 photos and illustrations lend to a winning guide.

Swing, Swagger, Drape
Jane Slicer-Smith
XRX Books
PO Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
9781933064178, $24.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

SWING, SWAGGER, DRAPE: KNIT THE COLORS OF AUSTRALIA is a gorgeous presentation that uses native Aboriginal art influences from Australia to translate unique patterns to a knitting effort. Alexis Xeenakis' photos accompany the knitwear designer's latest foray into creative knitting embellishments. The pieces represent swing coats, swagger jackets and drapes, and make for a unique, lovely collection of knitting instructions any needlework library needs.

Rowan's Greatest Knits
Kate Buller, Editor
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
1600852505, $24.95 www.taunton.com

ROWAN'S GREATEST KNITS: 30 YEARS OF KNITTED PATTERNS FROM ROWAN YARNS celebrates three decades of knitwear designs, packing in some 30 patterns from 1980 to the 2000s and including designer profiles to round out the presentation. 80 color photos from the pages of Rowan Magazine, yarn replacement suggestions, and basic knitting instruction make this a pick for any avid knitter's library.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Horse Lover's Guide to Kentucky
Patti Nickell
Eclipse Press
3101 Beaumont Centre Circle,
PO Box 919003, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581502169, $19.95, www.eclipsepress.com

The fields of Kentucky have endless things to offer the lover of horses. "Horse Lover's Guide to Kentucky" is a complete and comprehensive guide for the horse fan in the blue grass state. Kentucky has been called the capital for horses in the world, with the famous Kentucky Derby to its name, but there is more to the state than that. Everything from food and lodging is discussed, making "Horse Lover's Guide to Kentucky" a must for any equine aficionado planning a trip to the state.

Everything I Know About Life I Learned from My Horse
Gwen Petersen
Voyageur Press
400 - 1st Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760336908, $19.99 www.voyageurpress.com

Everything I Know About Life I Learned from My Horse blends horse insights and appreciation with life lessons for horse lovers, offering an instruction book for any interested in equines and life. Lessons from living with horses provides a blend of horse lore and life observations in a witty collection of vignettes perfect for general lending collections.

Butterfly Landscapes of New Mexico
Steven J. Cary
New Mexico Magazine
495 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501
9781934480038, $27.95, www.nmmagazine.com

The butterfly has inspired wonder and curiosity ever since humanity has laid eyes on it. "Butterfly Landscapes of New Mexico" takes a look at this awe-inspiring creatures of New Mexico, from New Mexico's self-proclaimed (and elsewhere proclaimed) Butterfly Guy. Looking at the habitat of these creatures, author Steven J. Cary brings readers a wealth of intriguing information. "Butterfly Landscapes of New Mexico" is a fine addition to any nature or science library collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film
Christopher Balzano
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St, Boston, MA 02210
1435454839, $24.99 www.courseptr.com

Picture Yourself Capturing Ghosts on Film is a recommendation for any general-interest lending library where patrons are interested in ghosts. It provides unusual step-by-step instruction for documenting the paranormal with photos and videos, showing how to evaluate images and share them and including a DVD to show how trained ghost hunters gather evidence. A fun, interesting and unusual approach.


The Crafts Shelf

Hobbies Annual
Editors of Hobbies Weekly
Ammonite Publications
166 High St., Lewes, E. Sussex, BN7 1XU, UK
9781906672201, $29.95 www.ammonitepress.com

HOBBIES ANNUAL: USEFUL OCCUPATIONS FOR PRACTICAL CHAPS provides a vintage selection of images and ideas based on anecdotes, extracts, and articles of bygone years. From a Dalek 'treasure rack' for any Doctor Who TV fan to building a toy crossbow, this collection of vintage articles is a 'must' for any crafter's library.

Beaded Opulence
Marcia DeCoster
Lark Books/Sterling
67 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801
9781600592928, $24.95 www.larkbooks.com

BEADED OPULENCE is the latest entry in Lark Books' Beadweaving Master Class series and provides over 20 fine modern jewelry projects to make using the right angle weave. From a fine necklace and bracelet to earrings, this teaches how to create beaded fabric, ropes, and layers and packs in color photo examples along with introductory projects. Any jewelry-making library needs this.

Cube Bead Stitching
Virginia Jensen
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162816, $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

Cube Bead Stitching comes from a designer who uses cool cube beads to create elegant, contemporary jewelry. These cubes can be paired with stitches and weaves to produce a variety of pieces: here over 20 projects blend with step-by-step photos and clear directions for any who want earrings, pendants, or more, and for libraries catering to jewelry makers.


The Biography Shelf

Found Art
Leeana Tankersley
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310291336, $16.99, www.zondervan.com

Art knows no form. "Found Art: Discovering Beauty in Foreign Places" is the artistic memoir of the wife of a Navy SEAL as she reflects on her journeys through the world alongside her husband. Offering many poignant ideas, drawing on the elegance that she often sees in the plainest of things, her words offer much to the discussion. "Found Art: Discovering Beauty in Foreign Places" is a top pick for memoir collections that focus on world travel.

Woodhouse Family Welcome Home!
Kimbery Woodhouse
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
Campbell Public Relations (publicity)
1255 Lake Plaza Dr., Suite 244, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
9781589975736, $13.99, www.focusonthefamily.com

Not having to sweat and feeling no pain sounds good on paper, but the reality is much more troublesome. "Woodhouse Family Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy" is a mother reflecting on the long journey she has experienced with her daughter Kayla, who has a rare disorder which makes her life quite difficult and has had quite the assortment of medical problems through her life. "Woodhouse Family, Welcome Home!" is an inspiring story of a family supporting one of their own.

Descents of Memory
Morine Krissdottir
Duckworth
c/o Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781585679171, $40.00, www.overlookpress.com

What produces truly magnificent writers? "Descents of Memory: The Life of John Cowper Powys" is an analytical biography covering the life story of John Cowper Powys, one of the most influential and important novelists in recent history. From his career as a lecturer and his constant changes in settings, anyone trying to understand the man and his work will find some answers. "Descents of Memory: The Life of John Cowper Powys" is a top pick for literary collections.

Robertson Davies
Val Ross
McClelland & Stewart
75 Sherborne St., 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M5A 2P9
9780771077760, $24.99, www.mcclelland.com

Some authors sell books, other make an impact that lasts for years after. "Robertson Davies: A Portrait in Mosaic" is a biography from over one hundred contributors who paint a unique collective picture of the man and his work. and what he left behind. From his family to those who met with in his everyday life to those influenced by his work and his contemporaries, "Robertson Davies" is well worth the consideration for any literary biography collections.

Shiprocked
Steve Conway
Liberties
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781905483624, $22.95, www.libertiespress.com

Dedicated to music can drive people far. "Shiprocked: Life on the Waves with Radio Caroline" tells the story of Radio Caroline, a pirate radio stations that remained an icon of radio on the British isles for over four decades from a lone ship in the ocean. An original memoir of a truly unique approach to life and dedication to one's passion, "Shiprocked" is a must for any fascinated by pirate radio and the people who run it.

Official Book Club Selection
Kathy Griffin
Ballantine Books
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780345518514, $25.00 www.ballantinebooks.com

Official Book Club Selection provides a memoir from a double Emmy Award-winner and comedian and offers a survey of her life in comedy. Her celebration of friends and mentors who guided her rise to fame makes for an outstanding, candid and funny survey highly recommended for any general lending library.

House of Cards
David Ellis Dickerson
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781594488818, $24.95 www.riverheadbooks.com

HOUSE OF CARDS: LOVE, FAITH AND OTHER SOCIAL EXPRESSIONS tells of the author's dream of writing fun greeting cards - and the realities of the changing greeting card world he discovered when in 1994 he landed a job at Hallmark Cards. His time as a greeting card writer introduced him to a larger world, and his survey offers some hilarious and pointed comments on a changing world in this fine blend of memoir and writer's autobiography.

Stitches: A Memoir
David Small
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110-0017
9780393068573, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

STITCHES: A MEMOIR offers a fine graphic memoir combining the graphic novel format and a memoir. He covers the bizarre story of his childhood in a family where abuse was physical and emotional and free expression was forbidden, capturing his experience in a series of images powerful and gripping. Any general library - particularly those with graphic novels - will find this an unusual, important read.

American on Purpose
Craig Ferguson
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061719547, $25.99 www.harpercollins.com

AMERICAN ON PURPOSE: THE IMPROBABLE ADVENTURES OF AN UNLIKELY PATRIOT comes from an author who calls himself Scottish at heart and American in soul, and provides a funny account of his journey from Glasgow to Hollywood. From his Scottish upbringing and heavy drinking problems to his career struggles, this gritty self-assessment will find a home in any general lending library.

Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife
Francine Prose
Harper
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061430794, $24.99 www.harpercollins.com

Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife comes from a critic who has taught The Diary of a Young Girl to many students over the years, and who provides a fine analysis of a diary which is as much a work of art as a historical record. Her analysis also covers Frank's revision and editing of her work to craft a piece of literature she'd hoped would be read by the public after the war. Anyone seeking a real understanding of Anne Frank's art and literary importance needs this analysis.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Allison Hoover Bartlett
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594488917, $24.95 www.penguin.com

Most avid reads know the passion that comes with a love for books - but John Charles Gilkey went further than most in the course of his passion, stealing books for the love of them. Journalist Sallison Bartlett follows the thief and the self-appointed biblio detective who decided to catch him: the result blends suspense, humor and insights into the book collector's world, and is a powerful pick for any lending library.

Why This World
Benjamin Moser
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780195385564, $29.95 www.oup.com

WHY THIS WORLD: A BIOGRAPHY OF CLARICE LISPECTOR will appeal to college-level collections who have works of the Brazilian writer on hand. It tells of her life, her traumatic family experiences, her studies of law and work in the 1940s as one of Brazil's few women journalists, and her works of radical fiction. Libraries offering Latin authors and analysis will find this biography key to understanding Lispector's works and influences.


The Music Shelf

Michael Jackson: A Life in Music
Geoff Brown
Omnibus Press
445 Bellvale Rd Box 572, Chester, NY 10918
9781849382632, $9.95 www.musicsales.com

MICHAEL JACKSON: A LIFE IN MUSIC provides a powerful, definitive review of the singer's entire career, offering album by album, track by tack analysis of every song released by The Jackson 5, and his solo output from 1979 to 2001's INVINCIBLE album. As such it packs its chronology and analysis with color photos throughout, making this a 'must' for any avid Jackson fan.

Moon River and Me
Andy Williams
Viking
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780670021178, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Moon River and Me is a fine memoir where Andy tells the story of his career and how he made his mark in nearly every branch of show business. Raised by a father determined to see his sons become famous performers, Andy spent his youth on the move and wound up in Hollywood, where he rose to a fame that quickly receded. His recovery and lasting influence on the music world makes for a powerful intimate portrait.

Gimmie Something Better
Jack Boulware & Silke Tudor
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780143113805, $18.00 www.penguin.com

GIMMIE SOMETHING BETTER: THE PROFOUND, PROGRESSIVE, AND OCCASIONALLY POINTLESS HISTORY OF BAY AREA PUNK FROM DEAD KENNEDYS TO GREEN DAY is a 'must' for any general-interest music library catering to the general public as well as San Francisco music fans. It offers a history of the music, politics and creations of Bay Area punk through the voices of band members from Flipper to NOFX, charting the rise of the pop-punk sound that extended beyond the Bay Area. This lively, fun survey is a pick for any popular music library.

Working on a Dream: Bruce Springsteen
Alfred Publishing
Box 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410-0003
0739059343, $19.95 www.alfred.com

Any music library strong in modern music guitar tabs will find WORKING ON A DREAM offers excellent music scores for Bruce Springsteen's album. Two bonus songs are included in this fine handbook packed with Springsteen classics, making for an outstanding presentation highly recommended for any music library.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Sword of the Lady
S.M. Stirling
ROC Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451462909, $25.95 www.penguin.com

The Sword of the Lady chronicles a new generation of 'The Change'; it's a post-apocalyptic novel with its second installment revolving around one Rudi, son of the mystic Juniper, who finally completes his cross-country trek in search of the source of 'The Change'. A sword that awaits him in Nantucket will change his life in this thriller, recommended especially for libraries offering patrons prior books in 'The Change' series.

At Empire's Edge
William Dietz
Ace Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780441017591, $24.95 www.penguin.com

AT EMPIRE'S EDGE is set in the far future and tells of the Uman Empire, which has spread to the stars conquering and colonizing worlds. All seems at peace despite their stranglehold - until a cop returning a fugitive finds his captive escapes and requires him to act in an extraordinary manner. Military tension rises in this winner.


The Sports Shelf

Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.humankinetics.com

Malin Svgensson's NORDIC WALKING (0736077391, $19.95) offers a fine outdoor adventure in walking and comes from a Finland tradition. It uses specially designed poles and specific techniques to enhance the effects of walking and presents a low-impact exercise perfect for any interested in outdoors exercises. Tips on walking correctly with and without poles accompany specifics on ascending and descending with them. Highly recommended for any outdoors or exercise collection. Also a pick for such holdings is the third updated edition of Susan Kleiner, Ph.D, RD's POWER EATING (0736066985, $16.95), written by a consultant to NFL and NBA players and bodybuilders and blending the latest scientific research with advice on how to eat like athletes do. From the latest ratings of vitamins and minerals to performance-related herbs and muscle-building products, this even includes recipes and meal plans to reinforce the message. Learn how to calculate dietary needs with this fine title. Nancy Clark, MS, RD's SPORTS NUTRITION GUIDEBOOK (0736074155, $19.95) tells how to make the right food choices in grocery stores, restaurants, and more. Her sports nutrition insights are picks for any sports enthusiast and come from a leading nutritionist who provides an updated fourth edition including the latest food and nutrition research, making this a pick for sports and general libraries alike. Developing Effective Physical Activity Programs by Lynda B. Ransdell, et.al. (0736066934, $35.00) is a top pick for any coach or school developing specific programs for adults and diverse populations. It covers specialty issues and programs and includes summaries of current research studies and the latest analysis of technology and intervention planning processes, making for an outstanding survey on how to create specialty physical activity programs.


The Architecture Shelf

Stone House
Tomm Stanley
Stonefield Publishing
c/o Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9780473148218, $34.95 www.chelseagreen.com

STONE HOUSE; A GUIDE TO SELF-BUILDING WITH SLIPFORMS is a powerful revised guide offering new chapters and new photos for any collection strong in homeowner's builder's guides. From sourcing materials and passive solar ideas to stone laying techniques, stripping and using recycled timber, this is a powerful, practical guide for any would-be home builder.


The Cookbook Shelf

Why Italians Love to Talk About Food
Elena Kostioukovitch
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
18 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780374289942, $35.00 www.fsgbooks.com

WHY ITALIANS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT FOOD is published in English for the first time and provides a fine food and culinary survey of Italy's major regions. From how popular dishes emerged to specialty tastes, eating habits, and even the Church's influence on Roman foods, this is an outstanding survey of Italian regional food developments, and is a top pick for libraries who have Italian recipe collections but want to achieve cultural depth and insight.

The Complete Chile Pepper Book
Dave DeWitt & Paul w. Bosland
Timber Press
133 S.W. 2nd Ave Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
9780881929201, $29.95 www.timberpress.com

The Complete Chile Pepper Book: A Gardener's Guide to Choosing, Growing, Preserving and Cooking provides detailed profiles of the 100 most popular chile varieties, from growing them and handling diseases and pests to harvesting and producing recipes. Thus this mix of gardening and culinary lore is a fine pick for libraries strong in either genre, offering chili fans 85 recipes that make use of each pepper's unique qualities. An outstanding survey.

My New Orleans: The Cookbook
John Besh
Andrews McMeel Publishing
118 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
0740784137, $45.00 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

MY NEW ORLEANS: THE COOKBOOK is the chef author's celebration of his boyhood home and coming of age in the bayous, and offers insights into the making of his recipes and food. It's also a photographic survey of the city's foods and evolution, and a portion of the proceeds from its sale will be donated to a New Orleans-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing at-risk youth an opportunity to enter into the restaurant industry. With so much going for it, it's a pick any library will want.

Love Soup
Anna Thomas
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393332575, $22.95 www.wwnorton.com

LOVE SOUP: 160 ALL-NEW VEGETARIAN RECIPES packs in new dishes by the author of The Vegetarian Epicure, offering many innovative, delicious dishes for main dishes and comfort food. Anyone can cook a pot of soup: this covers the basics of soup cooking to take advantage of farmer's markets year round, explaining the basics of choosing and using local ingredients throughout the process. General libraries will find it appealing.

America's Test Kitchen
17 Station St, Brookline, MA 02445
www.americastestkitchen.com

The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook (1933615559, $39.95) collects ten years from the hit TV show and offers favorite recipes from the show under one cover. From the best blueberry scones and brownies to pasta, bean stews, steak tacos and more, this packs in color photos with recipes tested over and over, and is a pick any general library will find popular. Also recommended is THE BEST OF AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN 2010 (9781933615547, $35.00), a survey of 150 recipes culled down from the 1,000 developed for the company's popular magazines, books, and TV shows. Step-by-step photos accompany both equipment and ingredient recommendations for foolproof results.

Raw Food for Real People
Rod Rotondi
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316732, $24.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

Any library strong in vegan food coverage will find a fine survey in Raw Food for Real People, covering living vegan food and offering dozens of recipes tested in the author's own restaurants and adapted for home use. Also included are in-depth preparation instructions, from how to open a coconut to stocking a pantry, supplementing the fine began dishes and offering readers a vivid cookbook.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Arctic Blue Death
R. J. Harlick
Rendezvous Crime
c/o Napoleon & Company
235-1173 Dundas Street, East, Toronto, ON M4M 3P1
9781894917872, $16.95, www.napoleoncompany.com

Where there are people, there is crime. "Arctic Blue Death" is a story of murder in the arctic, as Meg Harris's father vanishes off the face of the planet. Suspecting the worst, she travels first in search of the truth, but finds that the truth may be more foul than she would have ever suspected. A story of mystery in the Arctic Circle and the people who call it home, "Arctic Blue Death" is a fine and intriguing mystery that is highly recommended. Also recommended from Napoleon & Company is "Betrayed: The Legend of Oak Island", (9781894917919, $10.95), an entertaining fantasy from Christopher Dinsdale.

Blackwork
Monica Ferris
Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780425229903, $24.95 www.penguin.com

BLACKWORK: A NEEDLECRAFT MYSTERY is a powerful survey continuing Monica Ferris' best-selling Needlecraft Mystery series. Here it's Halloween and Betsy Devonshire, owner of a needlework shop and a part-time sleuth, finds murder mixes too easily with black magic. When a Wiccan practitioner ends up dead without a mark on his body, Betsy is on the case in a pick perfect for year-round enjoyment.

Murder, She Wrote: A Fatal Feast
Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain
Obsidian
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451227966, $22.95 www.penguin.com

Murder, She Wrote: A Fatal Feast provides the newest novel in the series and comes from a mystery author who is facing more than holiday blues. Jessica's struggle with writer's block and a new novel's deadline leads to conflict with a major culinary effort for Thanksgiving: the result is a powerful and revealing murder mystery perfect for mystery lending libraries.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Peter May's CHINESE WHISPERS (9781590586082, $24.95) represents the sixth of the China thrillers and centers around the Beijing Ripper and one Li Yan, head of the city's serious crime squad who is determined to stop the Ripper. With the aid of American pathologist Margaret Campbell, Li becomes involved to the extent of receiving personal letters from the killer. Any mystery library will appreciate the focus. Libraries will also relish J.M. Hayes' SERVER DOWN; A MAD DOG AND ENGLISHMAN MYSTERY (9781590586273, $24.95) tells of wanna-be shaman Mad Dog who is accused of being a witch and finds himself under suspicion when a policeman is murdered at the Yaqui tribe's Easter ceremonies. He and his wolf Hailey are targets of a city-wide manhunt - and it's up to his niece to try to clear her uncle by finding the killer even as Mad Dog's world is invaded by violence.


The Military Shelf

Lone Soldiers
Herb Keinon
Devora Publishing
40 East 78th Street, Suite 16D, New York, NY 10021
9781934440605, $27.95, www.devorapublishing.com

What drives people to drop it all and join a foreign military? "Lone Soldiers: Israel's Defenders From Around the World" delves into the men and women who leave their home countries to travel around the world and join the Israeli army, leaving their lives behind. Hoping to shed some light on their stories which are powered by everything from faith to wanderlust, "Lone Soldiers" is a solid addition to any military collection.

Japanese Intelligence in World War II
Ken Kotani
Osprey
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781846034251, $24.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

Japanese Intelligence in World War II comes from a Japanese scholar who provides a reassessment telling how the Japanese used information from the Soviets, the Chinese and others in planning Japanese strategy and tactics. They had major intelligence-gathering successes but after their defeats at Midway and Guadalcanal, it was hard for them to focus on four enemies - and after 1943 Japanese intelligence ability went downhill. This study describes Japanese signals, counter-intelligence tactics, and their use of intelligence from pre-war through their successes and ultimate failure. Japanese, military and general history holdings at the college-level will find this focus fascinating.

Osprey
400 Hahn Road, Westminster, MD 21157
www.ospreypublishing.com

Osprey's fine guides to battles, wars and military history are top picks for any serious military library. American history holdings as well will welcome Ron Field's THE SEMINOLE WARS: 1818-58 (9781846034619, $17.95), a survey of the equipment, history and organization of the world's military forces. It packs in campaigns and details on the fighting men of both sides. Mark Lardas' CONSTITUTION VS. GUERRIERE: FRIGATES DURING THE WAR OF 1812 (9781846034343, $17.95) follows a duel between two 19th century sailing frigates, one of the most brutal clashes of arms in history where four famous frigate duels were fought. A vivid analysis of combatants, ships and their battles. Robert R. Hodges Jr.'s AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RAILROAD TACTICS (9781846034527, $18.95) packs in details on how the steam 6train was used as a military tool. Little-known uses of railroads - including as hot-air balloon carriers - are examined in a 'must' for any detailed library strong in Civil War history. Paolo Varriale's ITALIAN ACES OF WORLD WAR I (9781846034268, $22.95) provides a comprehensive history of Italian aces, especially vivid because the author's been in contact with the descendants of most of the aces featured in this volume and has received letters and diaries for the book from these primary sources. Many photos were unpublished, also, lending to the in-depth focus. Eugene Liptak's OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES 1942-45: THE WORLD WAR II ORIGINS OF THE CIA (9781846034633, $18.95) provides a review of the U.S. wartime espionage and covert operations agency during the war, following their tactics and the conflicts behind their operations. Rare photos and original artwork lends to the effort. Paul F. Crickmore's LOCKHEED SR-71 OPERATIONS IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST (9781846034183, $22.95) provides a fine addition to the Osprey Combat Aircraft series, covering tensions around the deployment of the aircraft and its mission to monitor Warsaw pact troop movements and photograph ports. All are top picks for specialty military collections.


The Women's Studies Shelf

The Superior Wife Syndrome
Carin Rubenstein
Touchstone Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781416566786, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

The Superior Wife Syndrome: Why Women Do Everything So Well and Why - for the Sake of Our Marriages - We've Got to Stop provides case histories of wives and husbands to support the idea that modern wives tend to do all - while their husbands coast along, with little control. Psychologist Carin Rubenstein explores how this syndrome damages relationships and how couples can work to regain equality. An outstanding survey any general library will find compelling.


The American History Shelf

The Nature of Cities
Jennifer S. Light
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801891361, $60.00 www.press.jhu.edu

THE NATURE OF CITIES: ECOLOGICAL VISIONS AND THE AMERICAN URBAN PROFESSIONS 1920-1960 charts the rise and fall of the conservation movement linked to urban and rural transitions where America changed from an agricultural nation to one whose population resided mostly in cities. From city planning and real estate issues to urban reform program and natural resource management issues within and outside the urban environment, THE NATURE OF CITIES provides a fine analysis recommended for any college-level library.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Tundra
Chad Carpenter
Andrews McMeel Publishing
118 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
0740785435, $16.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Chad Carpenter's TUNDRA comes from an award-winning cartoonist who shares his quirky look at nature ala Gary Larson. From talking snowmen to bears who love to startle the food before they eat it, this is a lovely collection especially commended for its large-print strips all in fine full color, appealing to newcomers as well as Tundra fans and recommended for any comic or cartoon collection in any general lending library.

Andrews McMeel Publishing
118 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman's LUST AND OTHER USES FOR SPARE HORMONES (0740785443, $12.99) offers a fine collection of comic strips from the Zits library, pairing black and white with color surveys of a teen's evolving relationships with parents and peers alike. Any parent who has a teen will recognize many of the ironies in Zits, a powerfully funny collection. Business cubicle workers will readily recognize themselves in Scott Adams' Dilbert series and the latest new collection, 14 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE IN A FABRIC-COVERED BOX (0740773658, $12.99) provides a wonderful collection of Dilbert ironies. Having the cartoons completely in color is a fine plus, too! A collection of Rose is Rose comics created by Pat Brady and Don Wimmer is PEEKABOO PLANET (0740785451, $12.99), offering fun cartoons about Rose's relationships and life. Again: color makes these winning collections - and highly recommended for any general lending library.


The Fiction Shelf

The Wolf at Twilight
Kent Nerburn
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577315780, $14.50, www.newworldlibrary.com

What is the plight of the modern Native American? "The Wolf at Twilight: An Indian Elder's Journey Through a Land of Ghosts and Shadows" is a combination novel and memoir from Kent Nerbern reflecting on the on the challenges of the Lakota people. The fictionalization of a true story, "The Wolf at Twilight" is an intriguing and thought provoking read that should not be missed.

The Rise
Issac Ben Jacob & Sarah Fishberg
Frontier Publishing
c/o Adventures Unlimited
303 Main St., PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
9781931882873, $17.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

What do the faithful do when their own church strays from the faith? "The Rise: Sauniere's Magical Workings and the Penitential Movement in Europe" is a religious thriller following a team of researchers as they try to find the truth of the newest people rising to the head of the Catholic church. Heresy may be the conspiracy, and Issac Ben Jacob & Sarah Fishberg give readers a fun and fascinating read. A choice pick.

Stuff to Spy For
Don Bruns
Oceanview
61 Paradise Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
9781933515229, $25.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

The spy game is not for everyone. "Stuff to Spy For" tells the story of James and Skip as they are pulled into the spy game, formerly being wage slaves with nothing to look forward to. Originally welcoming the change of pace, James and Skip soon find that the spy business is a tougher call than they would hope for. "Stuff to Spy For" is a entertaining and fun read of espionage, sure to please fans of spy thrillers.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Cato Supreme Court Review
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308157, $15.00, www.cato.org

The supreme court is perhaps the most powerful group of people in the country. "Cato Supreme Court Review: 2008-2009" is a scholarly criticism of the last year of supreme court cases, discussing the decisions of the courts against these very important and landmark cases for the year and their impacts on the future of the law. "Cato Supreme Court Review: 2008-2009" is a must read for anyone studying the development of modern law.


The Literary Shelf

Approaches to Teaching Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and Other Works
John Lowe, editor
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
9781603290449, $19.75, www.mla.org

Zora Neale Hurston is one of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, modern educators are sometimes confused on how to teach her work. "Approaches to Teaching Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and Other Works" is a advisory guide for these teachers n approaching the works of Zora Neale Hurston, an iconic writer of black American literature and an icon for women writers as well. Covering her most famous work among her other writings, "Approaches to Teaching Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and Other Works" is a worthwhile pick for literary collections.


The Poetry Shelf

Slant Room
Michael Eden Reynolds
The Porcupines Quill
68 Main St, Erin Ontario N0B 1T0
9780889843226, $16.95, www.johnsteins.com

Something profoundly Canadian, "Slant Room" is a collection of poetry from Michael Eden Reynolds, a man born and raised and in love with his home country of Canada. His poetry reflects on the many aspects of his country from the urban life that isn't all that different from America's, to a rural great north that is like nowhere else in the world. "Slant Room" is a top pick for any world poetry collection. "Tuesday Myth": A lesser god slips through a baffle in the air/and doesn't go back, lives out a mortal life/moment to moment, opens up a franchise shop,/wakes, works and sleeps, makes a ceremony out of every needless meal.


The International Studies Shelf

Fixing Failed States
Ashraf Ghani & Clare Lockhart
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195398618, $16.95, www.oup.com

Democracy means nothing if the government collapses after it's formed. "Fixing Failed States: A Framework for Rebuilding A Fractured World" discusses countries in danger of collapsing or have collapsed already. Analyzing these states and what political scientists can learn from them and find what they did wrong for current and future countries. "Fixing Failed States" is scholarly and informative, sure to intrigue many readers about the fate of many modern states.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Maimonides
David Hartman
The Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780827609112, $22.00, www.jewishpub.org

One of the great post-Biblical Jewish philosophers, "Maimonides: Torah and Philosophic Quest" discusses his writings and how they had a certain duality of piety through tradition and law, and piety through one's own way of uniting with God. His philosophies in both aspects ask much of readers to think about themselves, the world around them, and God. "Maimonides" is a treasure of a read for the thinking and spiritual Jew.


The Journalism Shelf

Junk News
Tom Fenton
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555916695, $14.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

Too many news networks seem to have abandoned news in favor of entertainment. "Junk News: The Failure of the Media in the 21st Century" is one journalist's criticism, emphasizing his disgust with how modern news ignores the real issues in favor of pop culture and special interest stories. "Junk News" is an informative and intriguing venting of frustration, highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Gospel of Matthew
Lawrence R. Farley
Conciliar Press
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076
9780982277072, $22.95, www.conciliarpress.com

There is no religion more closely related to Christianity than Judaism. "The Gospel of Matthew: Torah for the Church" discusses the Gospel of Matthew, which the author describes as the most profoundly Jewish book of the New Testament. Calling it a Christian Torah, Lawrence R. Farley brings readers much in the way of thoughts and ideas to make up those missing links between the Old and New Testaments. "The Gospel of Matthew" is a choice pick for religious readers and collections.

Accompany Them With Singing
Thomas G. Long
Westminister John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
9780664233198, $24.95, www.wjkbooks.com

It is the final remembrance of one's time on Earth. "Accompany Them With Singing: The Christian Funeral" discusses the modern Christian funeral and what it means. Evaluating how longstanding traditions has been pushed away in modern years, author Thomas G. Long discusses what a Christian funeral should be, and his disappointment in what it has become. "Accompany Them With Singing" is a fine and very recommended read for those who want to better understand the Christian funeral.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Personal Finance for Dummies, sixth edition
Eric Tyson
John Wiley & Sons
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470506936, $21.99, www.dummies.com

Wise money management is easier than one would think. "Personal Finance for Dummies" is the sixth edition of this volume of Dummies book, seeking to help readers better manage their money for prosperity now and for the future. Covering goal setting, saving money, protecting oneself against fraud and smartly dealing with one's taxes, and more, "Personal Finance for Dummies" is a very strong pick for those who need help planning for their financial future.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Horror Screenwriting
Devin Watson
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., -- Suite 1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907605, $24.95, www.mwp.com

Fear is an art in itself. "Horror Screenwriting: The Nature of Fear" discusses horror films and critically analyzes this genre that is either loved or hated by so many viewers. Covering everything from classical Nosferatu to the more modern Saw films, author Devin Watson provides quite the study of horror for students of films, or for horror fans and want to gain a greater understanding of their favored genre. "Horror Screenwriting" is a top pick for film enthusiasts.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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