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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)
Bruce McCall & David Letterman
Blue Rider Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399163685, $25.95, www.penguin.com
This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me): Billionaires in the Wild covers the
megabillionaires who provide one percent of their time and money into doing good. The other
ninety-nine percent of their activities is what this book is about, with chapters documenting
lavish and amazing construction projects, living quarters, and even a replica of the Empire State
Building. The book consists of large-format paintings by Bruce McCall, with text explaining the
billionaires behind each dream home. The result is a powerful blend of art, satire, and social
commentary and is a lovely collection of homes, lodges, ranches and monuments to money's ego.
Any general-interest collection will find it compelling.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
Bryan MacKay's A YEAR ACROSS MARYLAND (9781421409399, $24.95) is a nature
narrative specific to Maryland's seasons, and is written as an almanac that may be used by
natives, visitors, and any with a special interest in regional nature. From watching bald eagles
nesting in January to azaleas, the 'crowning glory' of springtime Maryland, this tells the best time
and place to view wildflowers, birds, animals and more. Color photos of over seventy species
add to an account packed with ideas of where to experience nature and how to understand local
seasonal fluctuations, making this a pick for any Maryland collection. Mark Denny's LIGHTS
ON! THE SCIENCE OF POWER GENERATION (9781421409962, $29.95) provides readers
with a fine science exploration of power generation from its production through transmission and
usage, and covers all types of power in different chapters that explore the pros and cons of each.
From environmental concerns and the science and engineering involved to estimations for
generation, this provides non-technical readers with a solid foundation for understanding energy
discussions, and is recommended for general-interest and science holdings alike.
The Crafts Shelf
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.fwmedia.com/catalog, www.createmixedmedia.com
Mary Beth Shaw's STENCIL GIRL: MIXED-MEDIA TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING AND
USING STENCILS (9781440330179, $24.99) provides crafters with an excellent survey of using
stencils in an art studio setting, for both background and foreground details. This is much more
than the typical stencil book for home decor: it provides 18 projects designed to help artists view
stenciling in a different light. Step-by-step instructions include projects for home, gifts, and art
and are accompanied by gallery examples from some 20 contributing artists. The full-color,
full-page stencils are simply fabulous. Seth Apter's THE MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST: ART TIPS,
TRICKS, SECRETS AND DREAMS FROM OVER 40 AMAZING ARTISTS
(9781440329333, $24.99) offers the insights of over forty artists who share their perspectives and
mixed media creations, and is a recommendation for any arts and crafts collection. It includes
tutorials, personal insights on the process and purposes of mixed media, and adds online
downloads and links to accompany lovely full-page color pairings of the mixed media production
with the artist. 'Things I'm Inspired By' and 'Things on my Studio Table' provide clear
explanations of the process of working in mixed media, making for a solid reference for any
crafter who wants to enter this world.
Handmade Leather Bags & Accessories
Elean "Birdy Teacher" Ho
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781574217162, $19.99, www.foxchapelpublishing.com
Handmade Leather Bags & Accessories teaches how to make bags using some 28 strategies, and
is a pick for any leatherworker who wants new ideas for sophisticated creations. Lovely color
photos accompany step-by-step diagrams and instructions designed to help crate purses, totes and
bags for any occasion. Accessories include iPad holders, coasters and more. The result is an
outstanding survey packed with ideas for a wide range of styles and applications.
Soutache & Bead Embroidery
Amee K. Sweet-McNamara
Kalmbach
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871167507, $21.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com
Soutache & Bead Embroidery teaches new techniques for creating jewelry with soutache and
bead embroidery, and gathers earrings, bracelets and more in a collection of fine techniques
beginners will appreciate. 18 projects for all levels of stitchers demonstrate new techniques and
designs, while a Basics section covers all techniques involved in working with soutache. Crafters
with a prior interest in embroidery and jewelry-making will be the best fit for this guide and its
projects, which is a top recommendation for crafters looking for something different.
The Computer Shelf
Programming Erlang, second edition
Joe Armstrong
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381
Frisco, TX 75033-7438
9781937785536, $42.00, www.pragprog.com
Programming Erlang appears in its second updated edition to provide a fine tool to using Erlang,
and comes from the creator of Erlang. From tips on working with sequential and parallel
programming to working with the Erlang platform under different applications, this pairs
real-world tutorials with tips and tricks and exercises beginners and advanced Erland learners can
use to test their knowledge. This second edition has been extensively rewritten and covers the
latest release's features, adding seven new chapters. Any programming reference collection needs
this fine survey!
HTML5 Unleashed
Simon Sarris
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780672336270, $44.99, www.informit.com
HTML5 Unleashed comes in full color and offers a detailed guide to the key web components
driving the web. Its focus is on using HTML5 to create web apps and its arrangement takes the
form of tutorials and references that cover the latest features and requirements of the web. Author
Simon Sarris is a web developer using HTML5 Canvas: his resource explains all the new features
and shows how to create professional user experiences throughout in a fine pick for any
advanced computer user's collection.
HTML5 Canvas and CSS3 Graphics Primer
Oswald Campesato
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781936420346, $39.95, www.merclearning.com
HTML5 Canvas and CSS3 Graphics Primer covers the two topics in depth and is designed for
computer users who have some knowledge of CSS/HTML/JavaScript. It's packed with code
samples and illustrations, discussions of different files, animation effects, how to create special
charts and more. A companion DVD offers all source code and color graphics from the book.
Discussions focus on how to render shapes with gradients, how to apply Canvas transforms to 2D
Shapes 8, and more. The very specific discussions and wealth of code throughout makes this a
winner for any interested in in-depth coverage of these topics.
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
Jeff Sheltren, et.al.'s HIGH PERFORMANCE DRUPAL: FAST AND SCALABLE DESIGNS
(9781449392611, $39.99) provides a fine focus on how to work with Drupal 7 and 8, and
provides programmers with a guide to best practices, examples from real-world scenarios, and
explanations for solving common Drupal issues. From applying coding to Drupal applications to
handling web servers, this includes charts, graphs, and information presented in easy bits that any
readers can quickly absorb, making for a fine guide to tweaking Drupal. Stephen Nelson-Smith's
TEST-DRIVEN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH CHEF: BRING BEHAVIOR-DRIVEN
DEVELOPMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE AS CODE (9781449372200, $34.99) first appeared
in 2011 when infrastructure testing was just beginning. This revised, expanded edition provides
the many and latest changes to the discipline, considering its tools, applications, philosophy and
approaches to a test-driven infrastructure. Exercises and models accompany charts, keys to
building a sample infrastructure using these examples, and plenty of code throughout. Developers
working with infrastructure apps will find plenty to learn from, here! David Pogue's IPHONE:
THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449362232, $24.99) is a 'must' for any new iPhone owner, and
covers al the basics of the latest iPhone 5s. From choosing among the 1,000,000 apps that are
available to customize one's phone to doing the basics - listening to radio, making phone calls,
creating a shared photo stream, and more - this includes numerous full-color screen shot
examples to leave nothing to wonder. With its top-page color-coded sections for quick reference,
this is a 'must' for any iPhone user! Bonnie Biafore's QUICKBOOKS 2014: THE MISSING
MANUAL (9781449341756, $34.99) provides a powerful reference to business and computer
users alike, offering the basics of getting started with the latest version of QuickBooks. From
setting up accounts and learning its new features to tracking expenses, billable time, and creating
invoices, this provides a fine survey of how to use QuickBooks for all kinds of business
applications. Black and white screen shots and charts cover everything a user could want! Rachel
Schutt and Cathy O'Neill's DOING DATA SCIENCE: STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE
FRONTLINE (9781449368655, $39.99) gathers insights from data scientists from major
companies and eBay alike, who share new methods and models through case studies and code
they've applied to common problems. It's a key pick for any data science student, and covers
everything from statistical inference and algorithms to span filters, financial modeling, data
visualization processes, and more. The result is a fine introduction to data science that should be
in the collections of any appealing to new students of the topic.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw
Mario Cardinal's EXECUTABLE SPECIFICATIONS WITH SCRUM (9780321784131, $34.99)
is recommended for any Agile software engineer's library and teaches how to specify and build
software in keeping with Scrum and other agile methods. This guide focuses on the agile
environments where prerequisites are unclear and requirements uncertain, comes from an agile
coach and enterprise architect, and shows how to create and test executable specifications.
Managers and developers will find this a basic core course on blending best practices and
techniques and creating more effective Scrum interactions. References and simple explanations
make this a fine coverage. Fred Long, et.al.'s JAVA CODING GUIDELINES: 75
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELIABLE AND SECURE PROGRAMS (9780321933157,
$39.99) is for any Java programmer and is written by a team who provides expert security advice
and guidelines. For each guideline, conference requirements are specified and noncompliant and
code is paired with compliant solutions to help programmers understand the difference. Updated
techniques for preventing attacks and best practices for improving code make this a 'must' for any
Java reference collection. Ilan Goldstein's SCRUM SHORTCUTS WITHOUT CUTTING
CORNERS: AGILE TACTICS, TOOLS & TIPS (9780321822369, $34.99) is a recommendation
for software engineers who want to learn more tips on applying agile techniques and adapting
Scrum to projects. Step-by-step techniques are covered to take theory and apply them to actual
projects, and come from an expert who helps tackle common Scrum challenges. A range of
projects and applications are covered in the course of discussing thirty proven shortcuts for
optimization, making this a 'must' for Scrum programmers who want more in-depth information.
Paul C. Brown's ARCHITECTING COMPLEX-EVENT PROCESSING SOLUTIONS WITH
TIBCO (9780321801982, $39.99) is a pick for any information technology collection and
contributes to a set of titles designed for software architects and developers showing how to
blend TIBCO components with applications. Programmers receive basic instruction on how to
identify opportunities for competitive differentiation, how to select design patterns for
constructing complex-event processing, and how to use snapshot queries. Charts, diagrams, and
black and white illustration throughout offer a fine set of details and real-world examples for any
TIBCO developer.
The Needlecraft Shelf
The Art of Boutis
Kumiko Makayama-Geraerts
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780817712880, $22.95, www.stackpolebooks.com
The Art of Boutis: 20 French Quilting Projects is for any who want to learn a special, classic
style of embroidery practiced in southern France since the 18th century, and offers 20 projects
featuring boutis designs for everything from home decor to clothing. Step-by-step instructions
and a back compartment of full-size patterns for each project accompany keys to creating new
designs, with illustrations and color photos throughout completing the process. From transferring
boutis patterns to stitching, this leaves nothing to wonder and is a unique acquisition for any
needlework library.
Knitting Yarns
Ann Hood, Editor
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393239492, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com
KNITTING YARNS: WRITERS ON KNITTING is the perfect gift for the avid knitter, and
provides stories of tragedy and love. In each story knitting provides the way of righting wrongs,
correcting mistakes, and developing physical closeness. Knitting women who gather for
companionship, women who knit for health reasons, and a man who takes up knitting make for
encouraging stories that consider both the craft of knitting and its psychological and physical
impact on the knitter. It's a lovely celebration knitters will relish as something unique and
revealing about the craft!
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
Martingale's SEW GIFTS!: 25 HANDMADE GIFT IDEAS FROM TOP DESIGNERS
(9781604683011, $24.95) provides a fine collection of ideas for sewn and quilted items suitable
for gift giving: while it arrived too late for holiday mention, it will serve as the perfect year-round
guide for any who would make a handmade gift. Projects come from a range of designers from
Heather Jones to April Moffatt, include full-page color photos of projects ranging from
sketchbooks to a bake shop set for a little girl, and include all the patterns and instructions
needed for easy reproduction. A fine pick for any seamstress who wants handmade gift ideas!
Gerri Robinson's A CUT ABOVE: TURN CHARM SQUARES, STRIPS, AND MORE INTO
BEAUTIFUL PATCHWORK (9781604663578, $24.99) provides a fine set of patterns and
projects - some 18 - that use 5" and 10" squares, 2 1/2 inch strips, and fat quarters to create new
designs. This guide offers a range of projects using precuts and focuses on home decor, moving
beyond the typical quilt focus to incorporate patchwork into all kinds of home designs. The result
is a powerful pick for any needleworker's collection. Pat Wys' KNOCKOUT NEUTRALS; 12
SHOWSTOPPING NEUTRAL QUILTS (9781604682496, $24.99) offers 12 quilts for all skill
levels and designs that often incorporate applique into the mix, and is a recommendation for
quilters looking for new ideas for using neutrals. Here neutrals move beyond background into the
center, becoming the whole point of the quilt. Striking patterns are a key to showing off their
strengths, and this book is filled with ideas for making geometric patterns 'pop'. Any quilter will
find this a different, involving approach! Kathy Brown's STRIP-SMART QUILTS II: MAKE 16
TRIANGLE QUILTS WITH ONE EASY TECHNIQUE (9781604682335, $24.99) is for any
quilter but particularly those who enjoyed Brown's previous STRIP-SMART QUILTS title, and
provides some 16 quilts based on the same cut from a single ruler. It teaches how to make
designs with this ruler that look intricate but can be put together relatively quickly using fat
quarters and precut strips, and it packs patterns, color photos, and step-by-step instructions
throughout. Quilters will find this loaded with ideas! Elizabeth Dackson's BECOMING A
CONFIDENT QUILTER (9781604662311, $26.99) provides a fine step-by-step approach to
skill-building and directs her projects and instructions to beginners in particular. Here are the basics of
choosing fabrics and tools, cutting, and making different quilts, from strip piecing to using
templates and prints. It covers all the basics but doesn't stop at construction: concluding chapters
also cover finishing and caring for a quilt. The result is an excellent pick for any would-be quilter
who wants a basic primer to getting started.
The Education Shelf
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com
Harvey "Smokey" Daniels & Elaine Daniels's THE BEST-KEPT TEACHING SECRET
(9781452268637, $29.95) focuses on the finer art of written conversations for K-12 students and
teachers, and shows how this one teaching approach holds the power to change students from
passive watchers to active learners. It discusses the basics of critical thinking processes, focusing
on the elements that make written conversations so powerful and why their engagement provides
students and teachers with such revolutionary tools. From different structures and their variations
to how writing can be used to encourage better, different communication skills, this is a powerful
pick for any educator's reference and consideration. William N. Bender's DIFFERENTIATING
MATH INSTRUCTION K-8 (9781452255453, $27.00) appears in its third updated edition to
address common core math in the modern classroom, and provides a range of strategies to blend
new technology with guidelines for meeting Common Core requirements. Innovations in math
instruction are covered in chapters that show teachers how to teach through projects, how to use
games in the educational process, and how to use flipped math classes for results. The result is a
K-8 manual any math teacher will find essential. Joyce Kaser, et.al.'s LEADING EVERY DAY:
ACTIONS FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP (9781452260938, $36.00) provides a short
inspirational ideas for first-hand insights on proven leadership best practices and appears in its
third updated edition to cover everything from leading by example and group dynamics to
becoming a change leader, conducting self-assessment, and considering professional
development. The result is an excellent handbook for all kinds of leaders working in education,
business and coaching environments.
The Business Shelf
Leading from the Emerging Future
Otto Scharmer and Katrin Kaufer
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605099262, $24.95, www.bkconnection.com
Leading from the Emerging Future: From Ego-System to Eco-System Economies provides an
inspirational business guide suitable for any who desire better results from their business, and
addresses the challenge of moving from one economic logic system to a new one focused on
awareness of greater good. Real-world examples accompany a guide for building this new
economic structure that is more flexible and intentional, and discusses everything from shared
ownership to a different way of practicing leadership through 'presencing'. The result is a new
way of looking at business through social change: a pick for social issues and business holdings
alike.
The Project Management Communications Toolkit, second edition
Carl Pritchard
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075453, $99.00, www.artechhouse.com
The Project Management Communications Toolkit appears in its second updated edition to
provide project managers with a range of tools for communicating with all levels of senior
executives and management, and will appreciate the book and accompanying CD-ROM package
that explains how to achieve success by better communication with staff members and
management alike. The CD holds documents from reports and forms to templates, while new
changes involve new material on social media and discussions of the latest technology. Any
business collection strong in project management will find this filled with important keys to
success.
The Innovator's Path
Madge M. Meyer
John Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118537329, $49.95, www.wiley.com
The Innovator's Path: How Individuals, Teams, and Organizations Can Make Innovation
Business-as-Usual provides a fine handbook surveying common barriers to innovation and how
to restore it, and is a pick for any company who wants to understand the process of innovation
within an organizational structure. It comes from a Chief Innovation Officer who examines ways
in which individuals raise their own barriers to innovation and how to surmount them, and it
offers specifics to that process that any level of business can employ. From specifics for
managing innovation in teams and projects to understanding how ongoing success works, this is
a top pick for any interested in the process of business innovation.
The International Studies Shelf
Conceptions of Chinese Democracy
David J. Lorenzo
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409177, $29.95, www.press.jhu.edu
Conceptions of Chinese Democracy: Reading Sun Yat-Sen, Chiang Kai-Shek, and Chiang
Ching-Kuo is recommended for political science and international studies students at the college
level who seek an introduction to the thoughts of three influential men who created modern
Taiwan. It provides a comparative study format that allows readers to understand democratic
ideas and key issues central to Chinese culture, it analyzes their writings on politics, democracy
as well as their activism on the mainland, and it provides a survey that includes historical and
cultural perspectives to discuss how ideas are influenced and transmitted. The result is a political
study unparalleled in scope and presentation, and highly recommended for any college-level
student of Chinese history and culture as well as for political science readers.
The Cookbook Shelf
The New Cider Maker's Handbook
Claude Jolicoeur
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584739, $44.95, www.chelseagreenc.om
The New Cider Maker's Handbook covers the basics and comes from an internationally known,
award-winning cider maker who here reviews techniques and provides the latest scientific
principles on making cider. From recommendations for buying or growing cider apples to juice
extraction equipment, directions on their use, and how to change the quality of cider, this is for
any serious about the art and provides newcomers and professionals alike with detailed
information on all aspects of the process. The result is a revealing and fine handbook that any
would-be cider maker needs.
Handmade Bread
Dan Lepard
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845338237, $19.99, www.octopuspublishing.com
HANDMADE BREAD is written and photographed by Dan Lepard and pairs the usual bread
recipes with personal photos and stories of a baker's journeys around Europe searching out the
best breads and home bakers. It first appeared in 2004: this new rendition covers the author's
travels throughout Europe and pairs his stories with some 80 recipes profiling European baker's
products. From breads to buns, muffins and cakes, this ranges from very simple to more complex
and is a lovely guide for any home baker.
Zuppe
Mona Talbott
The Little Bookroom
435 Hudson St, Suite 300, New York NY 10014
9781892145970, $18.95, www.littlebookroom.com
ZUPPE gathers a collection of soups from the kitchen of the American Academy in Rome and is
a fine guide for any either collecting these little, colorful books or for those looking for Italian
soups. Arranged by season to make the most of regional ingredients, ZUPPE features such
recipes as Spicy Carrot Soup, a Spring Asparagus and Small Pasta Soup, and a Potato and Wild
Chard Soup. All are wonderful dishes recommended for any soup maker who wants more
inspiration.
Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook, revised edition
Sharon Kramis & Julie Kramis Hearne
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
9781570619052, $19.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com
Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan In Your Kitchen has been revised and
expanded in this new edition, and provides cooks with a lovely collection of single-pan recipes
for everything from main courses to desserts. Rack of Lamb in a skillet? Sticky Buns? Crispy
Lamb Skewers? All these and more receive step-by-step instructions, easy recipes that don't
require any special ingredients, and a peppering of color photos throughout. Any who have
wanted to use the cast iron skillet for more than just occasional stir-fries will find this packed
with different techniques and an approach designed to make the most of cast iron cookery.
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelican-pub.com
Joey Allaham and David Kolotkin's THE PRIME GRILL COOKBOOK: REDEFINING THE
KOSHER EXPERIENCE (9781455617302, $35.00) provides a fine collection from a chef and
an owner who opened the first high-end kosher steakhouse in New York in Manhattan. Their
creation delivered some of the most innovative kosher dishes to New York customers, and their
cookbook considers the new kosher cooking movement around the world and provides some of
the establishment's signature dishes for home cooks. With colorful photos and unique recipes,
this is a fine pick for any kosher cook! Tom Bailey's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
NORTHERN GULF SEAFOOD (9781455618484, $29.95) provides recipes for all species of
fish and shellfish found from Florida to Mexico, and is a pick for any cook who resides in this
area or has access to its fresh seafood. A wide range of northern gulf seafood and preparation tips
accompany recipes that range from Broiled Dolphin with Tangy Glaze to Crusty Lobster
Turnovers and Baked Stuff Snapper Fillets. As many of the seafood can be found outside this
region (California has red snapper fish for example), this cookbook will appeal to any with an
interest in easy, innovative fish recipes.
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com, www.harpercollins.com
Jamie Geller's JOY OF KOSHER: FAST, FRESH FAMILY RECIPES (9780062207821,
$30.00) comes from a cook who hasn't always been kosher, and who was raised on take-out food.
In her mid-twenties she returned to celebrate the Jewish traditions her family had dropped, and
though she was clueless about cooking, she went beyond an effort to learn to cook and founded
the Kosher Media Network, among other achievements. JOY OF KOSHER simplifies the effort
of keeping a kosher kitchen. No rabbit and no prior culinary experience are needed for success as
Geller takes tested family recipes and provides 'dress up' or 'dress down' options for each. It's a
cookbook any kosher family and many a general cookbook library will want. Patricia Wells' THE
FRENCH KITCHEN COOKBOOK (9780062088918, $35.00) comes from an author who runs a
popular cooking school and who has won awards for many of her other cookbooks. Her latest
offers a narrowed focus on these cooking schools, focusing on their recipes, lessons, and how the
classes evolved. Wells offers a story of how her school began and her experiences cooking
French foods from across the country. Her fare is easy for any home cook to reproduce: even
those unfamiliar with French cuisine, and should be in any cookbook collection. Ree
Drummond's PIONEER WOMAN COOKS A YEAR OF HOLIDAYS: 140 STEP-BY-STEP
RECIPES FOR SIMPLE, SCRUMPTIOUS CELEBRATIONS (9780062225221, $29.99) arrived
too late for holiday mention but promises to provide home cooks with year-round entertainment
ideas as it reveals holiday recipes and classic dishes. Step-by-step color photos accompany
recipes the author's presented to family and friends in an excellent collection perfect for
entertaining. These are dishes crafted for even busy cooks, designed to look elegant and provide
sensational.
The Music Shelf
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
www.halleonardbooks.com
Bruce Swedien with Bill Gibson's THE BRUCE SWEDIEN RECORDING METHOD
(9781458411198, $39.99) comes from a recording engineer who recorded and mixed some of the
most successful albums of modern times, and is a 'must' for any interested in the process of
mixing music recordings. Swedien mixed hits from Michael Jackson to jazz. His method of
capturing instruments and blending sounds features a host of innovative techniques and features a
technical workflow that leads to consistent success. The accompanying DVD-ROM offers new
footage of him working through a mix, explaining the logic behind his processes and choices.
Any music maker will consider this an exceptional set of insights into the entire process. Hal
Leonard's POWER TOOLS FOR STUDIO ONE 2, VOLUME 2 (9781476874685, $39.99)
provides the second volume on Studio One 2, adding to the first and creating value in a set which
will prove the only in-depth references to Studio One. Much of the material isn't documented
anywhere - even in the user manual - while this volume considers advanced applications from
working with loops and video to mixing and sharing work. This volume is an indispensible
addition to the first and a 'must' as it discusses important features released since the first volume
and synthesizes all information in an in-depth reference. Gerald McCauley and Benjamin Bove's
DOWN THE RHODES; THE FENDER RHODES STORY (9781480342422, $44.99) provides a
fine survey and is the only book to show how Rhodes changed music. Harold Rhodes envisioned
his instrument as a rehabilitation tool for soldiers in World War II, creating a piano that
represented the new electronic future. Interviews with musicians reveal how this electronic
model helped create new music from the 1960s to modern times, and is based on information
from artists ranging from George Benson and Stanley Clarke to George Duke, Herbie Hancock,
Joe Sample and more. A Blu-ray of the documentary film about the Fender Rhodes Electric
Piano is even included with each book, making this a 'must' for any fan of piano history. THE
POWER IN CAKEWALK SONAR (9781476806013, $16.99) provides the latest approach to
working in SONAR, and shows users how to focus on the music and develop techniques that led
to better music. From using SONAR's enhanced Skylight interface to editing MIDI tracks using
the Smart Tool and Piano Roll view, this is a solid pick for any interested in better use of
Cakewalk Sonar.
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
www.backbeatbooks.com
Marc Roberty's ERIC CLAPTON, DAY BY DAY: THE LATER YEARS: 1983-2013
(9781617130533, $39.99) follows the first volume and comes from a Clapton expert and music
journalist who picks up from where his first book left off, covering Clapton's comeback after
years of substance abuse. From the shows he placed and the cream reformation shows of 2005 to
reunions with other musicians, this provides a fine survey blending tour dates and recording
sessions with quotes from engineers, producers and musicians. Add rare photos and unreleased
songs and you have the completion of a 2-volume Clapton tribute that should be in any rock
music history holding. Mike Eder's ELVIS MUSIC FAQ (9781617130496, $24.99) details
Presley's music career and its evolution, considering his original Sun record label, his concert
tours, and reviewing all the music he's released. From Elvis' first albums to the extent of his
many different music genres, this covers his works form country and pop ballads to rock, and
considers the lasting impact of his sound. Any with an interest in Elvis' various music endeavors
will appreciate this analysis, which holds rare images and many insights. Buck Owens writes
with Randy Poe to provide an autobiography of his musical heritage in BUCK 'EM!
(9781480330641, $29.99), and is a powerful 'must' for any music history collection. Buck Owens
was a country musician who played a pivotal role in the genre. Born in Texas and raised in
Arizona, he made Bakersfield, California his home and managed to become a smashing success
outside of Nashville. His efforts gave rise to a new era in country music, a new sound, and
affected Bakersfield's cultural heritage forever. Here Buck recalls his life from his early days to
his rise to fame in a winning, vivid saga that should be in any country music collection.
The Military Shelf
Honor and Betrayal
Patrick Robinson
Da Capo Press
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02210
9780306823081, $26.99, www.dacapopress.com
Honor and Betrayal: The Untold Story of the Navy SEALs Who Captured the "Butcher of
Fallujah" - and the Shameful Ordeal They Later Endured is for any military reader who wants
more details about the Navy SEAL operation in Iraq and what really happened when they
captured the terrorist, and explores how three soldiers who risked their lives could be charged
with dereliction of duty and prisoner abuse, based on the contentions of a terrorist. It comes from
a noted authority on Navy SEAL and special forces operations and provides an insider account
told in cooperation with McCabe and Keefe, the two SEALs who are no longer in service and
who can therefore speak freely about events. An eye-opening survey for any interested in the
military and this SEAL operation in particular.
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com
David Greentree's BRITISH PARATROOPER VERSES FALLSCHIRMJAGER
(9781780969244, $18.95) pairs first-hand accounts and modern photos with maps and new
artwork to considering the different experiences of opposing troops who fought in the
Mediterranean from 1942-43. From training and equipment to tactics and morale, this considers
weaponry and men alike and provides backgrounds to battles to make for full explorations of the
encounters experienced on all sides. Details only lightly touched upon in other World War II
books come to life in depth in this one, making it a pick for any definitive military history
collection. Nick Lipscombe's WELLINGTON'S GUNS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF
WELLINGTON AND HIS ARTILLERY IN THE PENINSULA AND AT WATERLOO
(9781780961149, $29.95) provides a fine historical survey of the artillery that supported British
armies and is a pick for any who wants greater focus on the internal operations of the British
military. Chapters offer charts, small black and white maps, and in-depth discussions of
operations, strategies and confrontations - yet manage to retain a lively tone - in a fine historical
military survey recommended for any military history collection. Si Sheppard's THE JEWISH
REVOLT AD 66-74 (9781780961835, $21.95) adds to other early history military titles from
Osprey and considers a pan-Jewish revolt against the Romans in AD 66-74. The Romans
systematically crushed that revolt and took Jerusalem, and only ended because of mass suicides
of the last holdouts. This history considers the political and military strategies that led to this
battle, and provides a powerful focus recommended for Jewish and military history collections
alike. Black and white and color illustrations by Peter Dennis bring the conflicts and landscape to
life. Chris McNab edits HITLER'S ELITE: THE SS 1939-45 (9781782009884, $40.00) provides
a fine focus on the SS, from its origins in the 1920s as Hitler's personal bodyguard to how it
rapidly grew to an organization employing hundreds of thousands in nearly 40 divisions. This
complete history covers the SS at individual, unit and organizational levels and provides a fine
survey of its origins and the reasons behind its great growth. Color art and over two hundred
photos embellish text that has fine details not available elsewhere.
The Science Shelf
Secret History: The Story of Cryptology
Craig P. Bauer
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466561861, $69.95, www.crcpress.com
There have been plenty of 'light reading' books covering the history and mechanics of cryptology
- this isn't one of them. Most focus on light math concepts and/or history - this isn't one of them.
Instead, it covers both but provides much more depth and detail, surveying the political side of
cryptology's developments, the use of codes in crime, music and literature, and considering how
classical cryptology grew from Greek to modern times. It provides close examination of the
groundbreaking works of cryptologists and considers specific algorithms and their functions, and
it provides charts, graphs and calculations to show exactly how cryptology works. Any with more
than a casual interest in the topic will find this a solid reference.
The Psychology Shelf
Children of Hoarders
Fugen Neziroglu, PhD, ABBP and Katharine Donnelly, PhD
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781608824380, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com
Children of Hoarders: How to Minimize Conflict, Reduce the Clutter & Improve Your
Relationship provides a fine guide on how to grow up in the home of a 'hoarder', and empowers
children to help improve their own lives and those of their parents. It comes from a psychologist
expert on hoarding behavior and covers interventions and strategies for communicating with a
hoarding parent. From acceptance versus change to managing emotions, this is packed with
information on a subject that only too rarely receives its own discussion.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
Robyn Steward's THE INDEPENDENT WOMAN'S HANDBOOK FOR SUPER SAFE LIVING
ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM (9781849053990, $19.95) is for any woman who would live a
full life on and off the autistic spectrum, and explores common safety issues and risks to personal
safety. From strategies for overcoming these threats to handling friendships, sex, alcohol and
money issues, this is packed with 'autism alert cards' and references that will prove key to the
safety of any woman struggling with autism and independence. Ashley Stanford's
TROUBLESHOOTING RELATIONSHIPS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM: A USER'S
GUIDE TO RESOLVING RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS (9781849059510, $19.95) focuses on
common problems, solutions, and strategies and scripts that can help those on the autism
spectrum handle all kinds of relationship problems, and provides specific tested keys to success
recommended for any living with or understanding the mechanics of AS experiences. From
identifying co-dependency to troubleshooting complaints, this is an excellent reference for any
who would handle the dual challenges of a relationship and autism. Kate E. Reynolds'
SEXUALITY AND SEVERE AUTISM: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS,
CAREGIVERS AND HEALTH EDUCATORS (9781849053273, $24.95) provides a practical
handbook to sex and sexuality, showing parents and educators how to impart the basics to even
the most severely autistic child. There are specific routines and concerns within the autism
spectrum: chapters address these specifics, discussing method for reaching males and females
and covering public and private sexual behaviors, school, cross-gender and more. The author
worked for eighteen years as a clinical nurse and counselor in the UK: her advice is both specific
and tested under real-world conditions. Brenda Boyd's PARENTING A TEEN OR YOUNG
ADULT WIRTH ASPERGER SYNDROME: 325 IDEAS, INSIGHTS, TIPS AND
STRATEGIES (9781849052925, $19.95) provides a fine survey packed with insights for parents
of teens and young adults who have Asperger Syndrome, and packs in over three hundred
strategies for handling common parenting issues. From social exchanges and friendships to
self-esteem and handling change, this sourcebook offers busy parents a format and
solution-based discussion that uses templates and short discussions to narrow in on common
issues and how to resolve them. Parents will find this a 'must', packed with ideas and tested
solutions. Lisa R. Furman's ETHICS IN ART THERAPY: CHALLENGING TOPICS FOR A
COMPLEX MODALITY (9781849059381, $26.95) is for art therapists facing ethical
considerations unique to their approach, and goes beyond the usual therapy professional
guidelines to address 'gray areas' involved in art therapy practices. Case examples pair with the
latest ethical theory to provide illustration of instances of ethical dilemma - such as accepting
client art as a gift, or the electronic transmission of confidential artwork. From sexuality in this
environment to cognitive impairments, this covers all kinds of common challenges and is
recommended for any practicing art therapist and reference collections catering to them.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Living with Itch
Gil Yosipovitch, MD and Shawn G. Kwatra, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421412447, $16.95, www.press.jhu.edu
Living with Itch: A Patient's Guide provides a powerful coverage and comes from itch
researchers and clinicians who consider the physiological events that cause itch. From different
kinds of skin diseases to different treatment options, this blends patient narratives with keys on
how people cope with itch and what remedies are available. It's refreshing to see an entire book
on the topic: too often 'itch' is not given proper attention, and having one book covering different
kinds of itches will help any who need specific help.
Better Health Through Natural Healing, third edition
Ross Trattler, ND, DO and Shea Trattler
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583946671, $24.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com
Better Health Through Natural Healing: How to Get Well Without Drugs or Surgery appears in
its third updated edition to expand and update a detailed reference on healing common problems
with natural resources. This book first appeared in 1985 as a guide to both traditional and
alternative therapies: this third edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect recent
research and applications in the holistic healing world, and explains all the basics of natural
medicine philosophy as well as the treatment of over a hundred common diseases. Any natural
health collection will find this a winner!
The Technology Shelf
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
Suzanne Costello and Marc P. Y. Desmulliez's HERMETICITY TESTING OF MEMS AND
MICROELECTRONIC PACKAGES (9781608075270, $139.00) considers the step change in
package requirements that came with the new MEMS system, and provides engineers with a
solid reference on test methods for hermetic packaging for the MEMS and microelectronics as a
whole. Both traditional and new testing methods are considered in a text focused on modern
package types, with history and critical analysis of limitations included in chapters loaded with
black and white photos, charts and diagrams. Any collection strong in electronic engineering
needs this up-to-date reference. Phillip Weicker's A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO
LITHIUM-ION BATTERY MANAGEMENT (9781608076598, $139.00) provides a fine guide
to battery management system technology for large format battery packs, and discusses
everything from their management, storage and energy systems to the latest BMS technology,
software, hardware and safety. From architectures including power supplies to model
implementation, hazard management, and more, this provides engineers with a wide-ranging
analysis of battery management systems in a variety of real-world scenarios.
The Mathematics Shelf
In Pursuit of the Unknown
Ian Stewart
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465085989, $16.99, www.basicbooks.com
In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World is a pick for any general
interest or mathematics collection and comes from a mathematician who here reveals the
foundations of mathematical statements and why equations are a big part of our lives. Seventeen
key equations that reflect concurrent discoveries in the world are revealed in a lively survey that
links math directly to human experience - and makes this a top survey for mathematicians and
general readers alike!
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Handbook of Indexing Techniques, fifth edition
Linda K. Fetters
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874618, $28.00, www.infotoday.com
Handbook of Indexing Techniques: A Guide for Beginning Indexers appears in its fifth updated
edition to provide clear explanations of indexing techniques and examples of how to index
different documents. From the new electronic documents and their requirements to imbedded
indexing, ebook indexing, web indexing and more, this reference includes information on
indexing seminars as well, and will especially interest occasional indexers who need more
specifics on the process.
Rewrite
Paul Chitlik
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931576, $22.95, www.mwp.com
REWRITE: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO STRENGTHEN STRUCTURE, CHARACTERS,
AND DRAMA IN YOUR SCREENPLAY is a recommendation for performing arts and film
screenwriters who want keys to producing great scripts, and narrows the focus to the rewrite
process. This new edition provides more tools for effective rewriting, offering keys to page
reduction, sample rewrites, strategies for handling difficult challenges during the process, and
insights on how a more effective screenplay can work. Any script writer will find this a 'must'
guide to better writing!
Writing to Wake the Soul
Karen Hering
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500
Hillsboro, OR 97124
9781582704128, $24.00, www.beyondword.com
Writing to Wake the Soul: Opening the Sacred Conversation Within is a book about words and
spiritual links, and offers insights that address memory and imagination, literary writings, world
mythology and more. It includes prompts and meditations, stories, and encouragements for
readers to connect language with spiritual reflection, and it considers such diverse topics as using
prayer to listen, writing about love and hope, and considering the issues in redemption. While
spirituality shelves will be the most likely patrons of this book, any collection strong in writer's
guides shouldn't leave it out: it's an inspirational winner.
The Native American Studies Shelf
The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo
Kent Nerburn
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608680153, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo: A Child, an Elder & the Light from an Ancient Sky is a
haunting narrative about Native American worlds where dreams have meaning and animals are
powerful. This world is translated through the eyes of a little girl, and provides a satisfying blend
of history, mystery, and most of all - spiritual journey. It's a story of a mentor and a four-year-old
girl who bears a powerful resemblance to a missing sister, and it considers the boundaries
between mental illness and spirituality when her special abilities are called into question. Any
seeking a literary, revealing story of Native American worlds will find this a winner!
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen
Emily Brightwell
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425268087, $25.95, www.penguin.com
While Mrs. Jeffries and the Merry Gentlemen arrived just a little too late for holiday mention,
this adds to the author's fine Victorian Mystery collection and will delight fans year-round.
Stockbroker Orlando has made a fortune and invites three influential investors to join his latest
financial winner. When he's found murdered, it's up to Witherspoon and Mrs. Jeffries to
investigate - even though the holidays are upon them and it's the worst season to add mystery into
the mix. A fine holiday theme returns old protagonists to the fold and creates a powerful saga
perfect for any mystery collection!
Dust
Patricia Cornwell
Putnam Adult
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399157578, $28.95, www.penguin.com
DUST provides a new Scarpetta novel by Patricia Cornwell, represents the twenty-first
installment to the Kay Scarpetta investigator series, and opens with an exhausted Kay who has
just finished working on one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history in Connecticut.
Recovering from the flu, he's taped to investigate a dead grad student - and uncovers immediate
connections to recent odd homicides in Washington, D.C. Her further investigations involve her
family in a series of complex encounters that are packed with unexpected twists and challenges
to Scarpetta's family and life in this engrossing mystery.
Hard Case Crime
www.hardcasecrime.com
Hard Case Crime features a fine set of paperback suspense novels produced by a very young
Michael Crichton (writing as John Lange) before he became famous with his Jurassic Park series,
and is a recommendation for any crime or mystery collection. Crichton invented the secret pen
name John Lange and wrote eight books between 1955 and 1972. They went out of print and
were unavailable for decades - until now. Michael Crichton chose Hard Case Crime to bring this
set back, even re-editing two of the Lange books and writing new chapters for one of them. His
death in 2008 from cancer halted the project but this set lives on. BINARY (9781783291250,
$9.95) tells of a political radical who is plotting terrorism long before it became today's news -
and federal agent John Graves is trying to stop him. A powerful confrontation between hackers
and government forces evolves. SCRATCH ONE (9781783291199, $9.95) tells of a terrorist
group which has been targeting politicians for assassination - and when the U.S. sends in an
agent who is delayed in transit, it's up to a lawyer mistaken for him to enter the fray. DRUG OF
CHOICE (9781783291236, $9.95) tells of bioengineers who have created the ultimate vacation
resort - until a doctor's investigation reveals a dangerous secret and the involvement of a
company that could change the world. GRAVE DESCEND (9781783291243, $9.95) goes
underwater into the world of diver James McGregor, who investigates a mysterious wreck and its
even more mysterious cargo, while ZERO COOL (9781783291212, $9.95) tells of an American
radiologist whose vacation is ruined when a beautiful woman places him in the middle of gang
rivalries and a treasure. THE VENOM BUSINESS (9781783291229, $9.95) tells of a snake
handler and smuggler who finds a side job as a bodyguard - and who discovers an inherent
danger in the position that will change his life, while EASY GO (9781783291205, $9.95) tells of
buried treasure in Egypt and a professor's plan to plunder a burial site. Add smugglers and
thieves and you have a powerful plot. All read like noir mysteries but include technological
advancements and, quite often, an air of Indiana Jones adventure that will keep crime and
mystery readers on edge with the classic Crichton brand of suspense.
The Travel Shelf
Lonely Planet Publishing
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
Carolyn McCarthy's PANAMA (9781742200125, $24.99) is the perfect guidebook of choice for
any independent traveler who would locate off-the-beaten-track destinations within the country.
The entire book has been researched and updated, with color sidebars of at-a-glance information,
small maps, and tips for what to see and how to get around making this the perfect pocket tote for
destination-bound visitors. Panama is usually included in larger-ranging books on Central
America, so it's pleasing to see an approach that offers far more detail without adding countries
visitors may have no intention of seeing. Sarina Singh, et.al.'s INDIA (9781742204123, $34.99)
achieves the same for India but its weighty stance (over 1,000 pages) makes it more of an
at-home travel planner than a pocket tote. That said, the information here is indispensible: from
advice for women travelers on safety in the country to an illustrated temple feature and candid
assessments of the pros and cons of each area, INDIA is one of the best books on the market for
researching the entire country's offerings. Carolyn McCarthy, et.al.'s CENTRAL AMERICA ON
A SHOESTRING (9781742200101, $29.99) provides new itineraries, illustrated maps, and a
thorough review of all activities possible in different Central American nations. All of this is
covered with the independent traveler on a budget in mind: chapters feature sidebars of
information and everything has been researched and updated. These should be required reading
for any independent, destination-bound traveler. Chris Rowthorn, et.al.'s Japan (9781742204147,
$29.99) is a weighty travel guide packed with advice for independent travelers to Japan, and
includes a pull-out map of Tokyo and information that's been researched and updated to reflect
the latest changes in the country. From national parks to nightlife and entertainment, this covers
everything from connections to the airport to popular and offbeat sights and sounds. A 'must' for
any heading to Japan! Brendan Sainsbury's CUBA (978174220422, $24.99) provides a fine guide
to Cuba complete with a pull-out map and new updates to local and tourist destinations, and is a
fine pick for any interested in visiting the country. Sidebars of at-a-glance information
accompanies all the historical, cultural and social references visitor could want, along with
specifics of where to go and what to see. The result is an excellent take-along tote for any traveler
bound for Cuba!
The Art Shelf
The Art Deco Poster
William W. Crouse
Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (dist.)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780865653085, $65.00, www.vendomepress.com
The Art Deco Poster provides an oversized and very fine collection of posters profiling some
three hundred different examples of the poster art create between World Wars I and II, and is a
'must' for fans and any collection strong in poster art and history. This collection is arranged
thematically into subject categories and gathers international poster designs from well-known to
rare examples by a range of artists. Each poster is digitally photographed for this collection and
accompanied by an explanation of its economic, political and social meaning. It's a powerful
achievement in and of itself, representing the best in graphic design portraits and art deco history
alike.
Warhol's Queens
Henriete Dedichen, Editor
Hatje Cantz
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
9783775735452, $60.00, www.artbook.com
Warhol's Queens isn't your usual Warhol catalog: it narrows the focus to Andy Warhol's portraits
of both royal queens and drag queens, offering a fine collection of images that will challenge
readers to re-define women's images, realities, and fashion. Essays by Hubertus Butin and others
compliment many eye-opening, startling works and provide historical and artistic precedent for
Warhol's approach and perspective. While the blend of royalty with drag queens may prove
startling to some, the result is a powerful volume highly recommended as a basic addition to any
Warhol collection and any an arts holding looking for different approaches to his art.
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Martin Gayford's MAN WITH A BLUE SCARF: ON SITTING FOR A PORTRAIT BY
LUCIAN FREUD (9780500289716, $21.95) comes from an art critic who spent seven months
sitting for a portrait done by Lucian Freud, one of the finest figure painters of modern times. His
unique position resulted in a series of encounters and insights into Freud's work that incorporates
artistic and psychological perspectives, from a deeper understanding of what goes into an artist's
portrait to the underlying purposes and motivations of Freud. It's not a biography, but a series of
vignettes about the artist at work, and is a solid pick for any arts holding seeing popularity in
Lucian Freud's paintings. Stanislav Grof's BOOKS OF THE DEAD (9780500810583, $14.95)
comes from a psychiatrist who is founder of the field of transpersonal psychology, and provides a
fine survey of artistic representations of the dead and their relationship to psychology. Visions of
dying and research on human consciousness blend in a thought-provoking classic which is now
back in print in a new format, and available to new audiences and collections. ANGELS by Peter
Lamborn Wilson (9780500810583, $14.95) also adds to the 'Art & Imagination' series, this
documenting the figure of angels in art, folklore and literature and providing a satisfying
synthesis of religious and artistic representations of angels from various traditions, from Jewish
and Christian to Buddhist, Hindu and more. Over 120 illustrations (over 30 in color) add to a
survey filled with eye-catching insights, making this a top pick for any artistic collection.
The Fashion Shelf
Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1980s
Design Museum, Paula Reed
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781840916263, $20.00, www.octopuspublishing.com
Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1980s adds to the Design Museum's series and profiles
outfits from influential fashion designers and icons of the times, from Anna Wintour to Annie
Lennox and Princess Diana. Chapters provide colorful examples of outfits and trends while Paula
Reed's accompanying text provides history and artistic insights into the fashion design world.
Any interested in fashion history must have this addition to the series.
The Interior Design Shelf
Home
Orla Kiely
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781840916188, $34.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com
Home comes from an internationally famous designer who uses original graphics and motifs in a
home decor style that has won her fans around the world. Her first book Pattern displayed her
approach; Home features her own house and furthers the discussion of her ideas on using patterns
and color to turn a house into a home as well as a stylish work of art. Lovely discussions of
architecture, interiors, and themes in furniture and arrangements make for chapters that use Orla's
own home choices as the example for innovative thinking. Any home and garden or interior
design collection needs this approach.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors
Voddie Baucham Jr.
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433523731, $15.99, www.crossway.org
Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors isn't just about the story of Joseph, who was sold into
slavery by his own brothers before he came into his powers, but surveys the real story which
centers around the lasting impact Joseph made in his world. Even Christians who have read and
studied this story will find this an exceptional analysis injecting accounts of the Savior and God's
purpose into the overall story of Joseph's life. From how faith is tested to Biblical passages that
offer parallels between Joseph and other figures of history, this is a powerful scholarly
examination that will appeal to many spiritual Christian students.
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
www.orbisbooks.com
Amy Hereford, CSJ'S RELIGIOUS LIFE AT THE CROSSROADS: A SCHOOL FOR
MYSTICS AND PROPHETS (9781626980488, $20.00) is for any Catholic or Christian
collection and considers the major movements in religious life today. It provides both a history of
religious life and ideas about the reinvention of religious life today, and reviews the idea that
community life leads to religious evolution. Chapters provide fine keys to understanding the
growth and change of successful religious structures and communities and make for an
exceptional survey for any spirituality collection. Mary Doak and Anita Houck edit
TRANSLATING RELIGION (9781626980181, $35.00), a Christian survey of Catholicism and
theology gathered in a peer-reviewed collection of original essays covering how faith and
traditions are affected by translations of language, cultural context and social issues. Chapters
cover specific methods of this translation process, considering how spirituality is represented and
changed. From liturgy and its applications to justice and different theologies, this is a scholarly
consideration suitable for any studious Christian collection.
The Sports Shelf
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.humankinetics.com
Steve Cotter's KETTLEBELL TRAINING (9781450430111, $19.95) provides athletes with a
basic guide to setting goals and selecting exercises using the inexpensive kettlebell, and pairs
step-by-step directions with photo sequences and training ideas for nearly a hundred exercises
that can be done with kettlebells in the gym or at home. It comes from an expert who has trained
elite athletes as well as military members, and provides a series of programs and routines that
will appeal across the board to a range of athletes. All that's required for success is access to
kettlebells and this guide! Nancy Clark's SPORTS NUTRITION GUIDEBOOK
(9781450459938, $19.95) teaches how to make the right choices, whether at home or on the
road, and is a recommendation for athletes who are eating for an active lifestyle. From what to
eat before and during exercise to optimal recovery eating and how to incorporate these
requirements into family-friendly menus and dishes, this takes the latest research and blends in
practical applications. With its wider-ranging focus on a nutrition plan that fits not only sports
but one's overall lifestyle, this stands out from other titles on the topic. The third updated edition
of Suzanne Girard Eberle, MS, RDN, CSSD's ENDURANCE SPORTS NUTRITION
(9781450432153, $23.95) provides readers with a powerful guide to selecting foods and
supplements to train more quickly and achieve optimum performance, and comes fro ma sports
dietitian and former elite runner who incorporates all this information into a winning sports
program. This updated edition covers recommendations for vegetarian athletes and those with
food intolerances and includes profiles and advice from other endurance athletes, making this a
solid reference for any sports holding.
The Photography Shelf
Humans of New York
Brandon Stanton
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250038814, $29.99, www.stmartins.com
Humans of New York tells of the author's project to create a photographic census of New York
City, and follows the journey of a bonds trader who became a photographer and began crossing
the city on foot to document ordinary New Yorkers at challenging moments of their lives. He's
only been photographing for three and a half years, but his interactions with these city residents
were unique and inspirational and are here represented along with four hundred color photos and
new stories. Any interested in New York City culture, scenes, and people will find this a
compelling examination of the personalities and challenges that make up the Big Apple.
General-interest as well as photography and arts holdings - and, of course, those interested in
New York - will find this an exceptional presentation.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Animal Earth
Ross Piper
Thames and Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500516966, $45.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
ANIMAL EARTH: THE AMAZING DIVERSITY OF LIVING CREATURES examines the
largely undiscovered world of the living creatures who share the earth, and discusses the many
different evolutionary relationships between species and how they fit into the world. Animal
diversity, ecosystems, and interactions between all are covered in a title packed with over five
hundred color illustrations and details about the planet. The result is a powerful consideration
that will interest a range of collections; from those appealing to science and nature readers to
general-interest holdings where the book's colorful illustrations will attract attention.
Flying Blind
Don Mitchell
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603585200, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com
FLYING BLIND: ONE MAN'S ADVENTURES BATTLING BUCKTHORN, MAKING
PEACE WITH AUTHORITY, AND CREATING A HOME FOR ENDANGERED BATS
comes from a college professor and novelist who was approached by a biologist to track
endangered Indiana bats on his 150-acre Vermont farm. At the time his relationship with both
bats and government entities was dubious, but as he came to learn more about the species and
threats to their lives, he became more immersed in the 'flying rats', their dilemma, and how he
could change his land to invite them in. There are relatively few bat books on the market and
none with this perspective, charting the changes experienced by one man who changed from
disliking them to protecting them. Any with an interest in bats will thus find this a rare,
exceptional read!
The Biography Shelf
Machiavelli: A Renaissance Life
Joseph Markulin
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148058, $21.95, www.prometheusbooks.com
Machiavelli: A Renaissance Life provides a fine survey of Machiavelli's life, bringing to life the
adventure story and all its nuances and telling about a man who associated with some of the
Renaissance era's greatest political figures, and who was imprisoned and eventually abandoned -
but, in turn, did not abandon his campaign against tyranny and corruption. Florentine
Renaissance era politics comes alive in this gripping saga that recreates not just Machiavelli's
life, but his entire world. A 'must' for history as well as biography holdings.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com, www.applausebooks.com
John Kenneth Muir's HORROR FILMS FAQ: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT
SLASHERS, VAMPIRES, ZOMBIES, ALIENS, AND MORE (9781557839503, $22.99)
provides a fine guide to different categories and eras of horror film making and is a fine
combination of history and reviews of these films. From women's liberation horrors of the 1970s
to serial killers and human terrors, this covers various subgenres of horror film and probes what
these formats mean. Chapters discuss films that are part of these subgenres and focus on many
films that have not received much previous attention by movie critics. Any interested in the
horror genre will find this a fine analysis. J.V. Mercanti's IN PERFORMANCE
(9781480331570, $18.99) is a pick for any collection strong in acting and auditioning, and comes
from a working teacher and director who provides young people new to auditioning with a
review of the process. It provides a set of monologs designed to improve acting skills as well as
serve as material for auditions. From matching the best monolog to the best acting style to
understanding the dynamics of performance, this is a fine choice for any aspiring young actor
looking for monologs to practice.
The Audiobook Shelf
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.highbridgeaudio.com
Philip Caputo's THE LONGEST ROAD: OVERLAND IN SEARCH OF AMERICA, FROM
KEY WEST TO THE ARCTICE OCEAN (9781622311958, $36.95) offers a journey across
America with an Airstream in tow, asking ordinary Americans what forces unite or divide the
nation. The result moves from the Alaskan coast to Key West, surveys cultures ranging from
Eskimo to Cuban, and considers the melting pot of the nation. His journey, narrated by Pete
Larkin, comes to life in a fine audio highly recommended for any who love either travel
narratives or stories about America. Garrison Keillor's LAKE WOBEGON FAMILY REUNION:
SELECTED STORIES (9781622312931, $29.95) provides a fine selection of 19 monologues
picked from over 15 previously released collections and 40 years of the radio drama show, and is
a fine pick recommended especially for newcomers to Prairie Home Companion. From patriotic
observations to comments on family relationships, country living, and cultural ironies, this is
packed with whimsical and revealing observations, perfect for any who want a solid introduction
to the variety and comedy of Prairie Home Companion's radio monologues.
I Am Malala
Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478979784, $30.00, www.hachetteaudio.com
I AM MALALA: THE GIRL WHO STOOD UP FOR EDUCATION AND WAS SHOT BY
THE TALIBAN is a powerful account narrated by Emmy award-winning reader Archie Panjabi,
who brings to life this story of a young girl's experience, a family changed by global terrorism
and the battle for girls' education, and how Malala came to become the figurehead for evolving
battles. With its inspirational and vivid account of her activism, shooting and recovery process,
this is an inspirational listen that comes to life in a vivid audio saga highly recommended for any
general audio collection.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Value of Violence
Benjamin Ginsberg
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148317, $24.95, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Value of Violence comes from a political scientist who discusses ways in which violence is
indispensable and valuable, and shows how violence manifested in society in many ways actually
serves to preserve social order. It can be used for social change, and even those who promote
nonviolent tactics rely on the violent reactions of opponents to achieve their points. The result is
a social and cultural study which pinpoints the inherent value in violence and how it can be used
for effective, positive change.
The Automotive Shelf
Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit, revised edition
Chester Dawson
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470828045, $19.95, www.wiley.com
Lexus: The Relentless Pursuit appears in a revised, updated edition and offers inside examination
of the creation of the Lexus brand and its risks and achievements. From its early incarnation and
marketing to how it evolved to becoming the top luxury car in the U.S., this highlights the car
and the people who brought it to center stage in this country, showing how the vehicle was
designed, manufactured, and - most importantly - branded to become a best-seller. No other book
provides the focus and insights of this, which belongs not only in transportation collections, but
many a business holding.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Fred Harvey Jewelry 1900-1955
Dennis June
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764344480, $39.99, www.schifferbooks.com
Fred Harvey Jewelry 1900-1955 provides a fine focus on vintage souvenir bracelets from private
collections that were studied and photographed, and tells of a particular company that ran retail
shops for tourists along Santa Fe Railway routes to help build Southwest jewelry styles and
popularity. It's a powerful survey of Southwest jewelry-making traditions in general and Harvey
Company in particular, outlining their marketing, the jewelry styles that evolved from the times,
and the birth, growth and demise of the Harvey era. The result is a powerful account highly
recommended for any fan of Southwest history and culture or American jewelry-making
traditions.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Trade Secret
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451639292, $25.00, www.baen.com
TRADE SECRET provides a new Liaden Universe story and is especially recommended for prior
readers of the series, who will find this new story centers around novice trader Jethri, adopted by
a Liaden clan and settled into his new life. His experiences with the Liaden Festival forces him to
realize his adoption has caused even more problems than a Terran blood feud. Jethri will have to
confront these problems and re-defend his honor in order to have nay hopes of a good life with
his new clan. Liaden Universe readers will find this yet another fast-paced action story about
trade, honor, and fitting in.
The Architecture Shelf
Compact Houses
Gerald Rowan
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121024, $19.95, www.storey.com
COMPACT HOUSES: GOOD DESIGN TRUMPS SQUARE FOOTAGE is written by an
architectural history professor who shows homeowners who to achieve more with less square
footage, and provides some fifty floor plans for home designs ranging from 800 to 1,400 square
feet. It features one- and two-store design options, discusses how to make creative use of outdoor
space, and considers the techniques that benefit small-home living and style. The result is a fine
pick for any collection strong in home and architectural guides.
The DVD Shelf
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Jennifer Galardi provides a fine hip hop workout in DANCE OFF THE INCHES: CARDIO HIP
HOP PARTY (013132607542, $14.98), which uses a dance fitness routine developed by Galardi
to blend old school tunes with modern movements. Even those without dance experience or
ability will find it easy to absorb and follow these dance workouts, which break moves down and
add steps in a progressive learning routine before approaching combinations. The ability to use
these at home makes for an especially powerful routine perfect for any fan of hip hop. Leslie
Sansone's WALK TO THE HITS: PARTY SONGS (013132607917, $14.98) comes from a
fitness instructor and walking expert who provides a walk-oriented fitness routine pairing great
classic music with movements for 30-second intervals. Pace alternates from quick to steady, 'mile
markers' lets viewers choose two- and three-mile options and track when each has been
completed, and warm-up and cool-down preparations make for easy fitness routines any can
follow at home. Both are top picks for home exercisers seeking specific routines and flexible
lessons.
The Self-Help Shelf
Lonely Planet Calm
Johanna Ashby, et al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781743218457, $14.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
LONELY PLANET CALM: SECRETS TO SERENITY FROM THE CULTURES OF THE
WORLD provides a fine survey on how to cultivate calmness in the face of daily stress, and
offers fifty cultural secrets and methods for applying calming techniques at home. From focusing
on a single target to letting music heal and using exercise to work out frustrations, this is packed
with simple keys anyone can use to introduce a calmer atmosphere into their lives, and is a pick
for any new age, health, self-help or general-interest collection.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Heavenly Bodies
Paul Koudounaris
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500251959, $29.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
HEAVENLY BODIES: CULT TREASURES & SPECTACULAR SAINTS FROM THE
CATACOMBS is recommended for religious, arts, and archaeological collections alike and
provides the history of a labyrinth of underground burials discovered in Rome in 1578 that held
the remains of thousands of individuals deemed early Christian martyrs. These bones were sent
to Catholic churches to replace holy relics that had been destroyed, and were reassembled by
artisans and dressed in colorful costumes. For nearly three centuries these ornate bodies were
deemed miracle-workers in their communities before they became an embarrassment to the
Church and were largely destroyed. HEAVENLY BODIES discusses these saints and their
images: the author was given rare access to photograph them in some of their secret hideaways,
and this book thus represents a 'first' in their in-depth coverage. Packed with photos, it's a top
pick for any arts, religious, or history holding.
The Calendar Shelf
Stop Making Everything I Say Sound Stupid!
Scott Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449430399, $14.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Stop Making Everything I Say Sound Stupid provides single panels of Dilbert comics in full
color and accompanies these selections with the original black and white strips across the top of
the month and date boxes. This allows for colorful, eye-catching months paired with the original
full text of the comic. Dilbert will find its place not just in homes, but in offices where cubicle
humor is appreciated. It's filled with workplace ironies and inconsistencies and is the working
man's answer to management.
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Andrews McMeel Publishing produces some outstanding wall calendars for the season and it's
hard to pick just a few from the lot; but if only a handful were chosen, these two should be
among the top contenders for one's wall for 2014. Scott Hilburn's THE ARGYLE SWEATER
(9781449430610, $14.99) provides monthly one-panel humor cartoons reminiscent of Gary
Larson. The joy of this comic is that the humor is complete in one panel, which lends particularly
well to a wall calendar replete with full-color comics accompanied by a practical calendar format
with good-sized date boxes for write-ins. Stephan Pastis' PEARLS BEFORE SWINE: IT'S MY
WORLD AND I'LL DOMINATE IF I WANT TO (9781449431068, $15.99) selects single
panels from its comic strip, then includes the rest of the strip in a smaller line or two above the
date boxes. This approach allows readers to see the original context as well as the single panel,
and makes for a fine segue between comic strip and wall calendar. Both are good-sized
presentations that represent the perfect marriage between calendar format and comic.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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