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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
North Brother Island
Christopher Payne, Randall Mason, Robert Sullivan
Empire State Editions
c/o Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823257713, $39.95, www.empirestateeditions.com
North Brother Island: The Last Unknown Place in New York City is difficult to categorize: put it
in 'photography' and New York City fans might miss it; place it in 'arts' and those looking for
visual travel books might pass it buy. Suffice it to say this is simply a lovely recommendation for
any interested in landscape photography in general, New York City in particular, and one of the
City's last remaining wilderness areas. It's a gorgeous discussion of the North Brother Island that
promises to educate and amaze even City natives, providing a colorful survey suitable for
general-interest and avid City history followers alike.
Deaf Students and the Qualitative Similarity Hypothesis
Peter V. Paul, Ye Wang, and Cheri Williams
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563685842, $85.00, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu
Deaf Students and the Qualitative Similarity Hypothesis: Understanding Language and Literacy
Development is a college-level recommendation for any working with deaf and hard of hearing
students, and uses the latest research to link deaf student language and learning skills with
hearing student strategies. It presents the Qualitative Similarity Hypothesis to describe this
process, documents its theory and research findings, and provides important educational insights
for any working with deaf students. It's a technical study recommended for both educators and
any who would understand the basics of how deaf students learn and acquire literacy skills in the
world of the hearing.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
Vicki Delany's UNDER COLD STONE (9781464202339, $24.95) provides a fine new Constable
Molly Smith novel and tells of a Rocky Mountain vacation gone awry. Instead of exploring their
relationship the unlikely couple finds themselves facing down bullies in a chance encounter, then
becoming immersed in an estranged son's disappearance and possible involvement in a murder.
As the plot becomes gripping and tense, the protagonists find romance and professionalism tested
to the core in this fine murder mystery. Sandra Parshall's POISONED GROUND
(9781464202247, $24.95) provides an involving Rachel Goddard mystery in which a powerful
development company divides a small town. Veterinarian Rachel is one of those who opposes the
development, and sides with locals reluctant to sell their land. When a beloved couple who refuse
to sell out is murdered, Rachel finds herself more than involved in the dangerous outcome of a
political bid for power that's gone over the line. Both are exceptional reads, perfect for mystery
collections.
The Audiobook Shelf
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com
Robin Roberts with Veronica Chambers's EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING
(9781478979630, $30.00) provides a powerful memoir of the host of Good Morning America,
and tells of Robin's journey in her life and what lessons she's learned from overcoming breast
cancer, a rare blood disorder, and family tragedy. Her account teaches viewers that everyone has
something to give - and shows, through her life, how to arrive at this point. Hers is a passionate,
involving story highly recommended for any who want inspirational living to come to life in
audio. Biz Stone's THINGS A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME: CONFESSIONS OF THE CREATIVE
MIND (9781478927754, $35.00) comes from the co-founder of Twitter and discusses how to
hone and use creativity, based on his own experiences in life and on his career, and makes for a
fine survey of social media in general and one high-powered businessman's founding of a
world-class company. His personal stories from his early life, his career at Google and Twitter,
and his knowledge about opportunity, creativity and change are unparalleled and give business
readers an excellent feel for principles that can be applied to the modern business environment.
The result is a highly recommended pick for any business collection! James Patterson and
Maxine Paetro's UNLUCKY 13 (9781611130553, $35.00) receives a vivid reading by January
LaVoy and tells of the Women's Murder Club, which is being stalked, ironically, by a killer. San
Francisco detective Lindsay Boxer loves her life as a new mother, but a photo of a killer from her
past changes her world and poses many new problems in this gripping thriller, recommended for
murder mystery fans. T.D. Jakes' INSTINCT: THE POWER TO UNLEASH YOUR INBORN
DRIVE (9781478927174, $30.00) is narrated by Ezra Knight, a talented film and stage actor, and
covers the process of following your heart and instincts and understanding inner wisdom and its
power. Discussions center around unlocking the strengths of instinct and recognizing its drive,
and come from an influential black leader who here provides inspirational motivation for positive
change. Anthony DeStefano's A TRAVEL GUIDE TO LIFE: TRANSFORMING YOURSELF
FROM HEAD TO SOUL (9781619696594, $25.00) is read by the author, who lends a smooth
voice to a fun story of happiness and fulfillment and spiritual living. From connecting mind and
body to making life-changing decisions, this shows how heaven and achievement can be attained
here on Earth, and offers an encouraging spiritual survey that comes to life in audio! Jeffrey
Deaver's THE SKIN COLLECTOR (9781478927145, $40.00) provides a fine Lincoln Rhyme
novel narrated by Eddardo Ballerini, whose vivid voice brings to life a thriller sequel to THE
BONE COLLECTOR, a serial killer who terrorized New York over a decade ago. Once again
Lincoln and Amelia Sachs are involved in a puzzling case and a race against time and death
itself. Action is well-detailed, drama and characterization come to life in audio, and this story is a
highly recommended pick for both prior fans of BONE COLLECTOR and newcomers to Lincoln
Rhyme.
The Music Shelf
Here Comes the Night
Joel Selvin
Counterpoint Press
1919 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1916
9781619023024, $25.00, www.counterpointpress.com
HERE COMES THE NIGHT: THE DARK SOUL OF BERT BERNS AND THE DIRTY
BUSINESS OF RHYTHM AND BLUES is a 'must' for any music collection strong in music
history and insider politics, and charts both the rise of rhythm and blues as a music genre in the
early 1960s and the tragic story of a songwriter and record producer, Bert Berns. Berns thrived
under Atlantic Records, he worked with some of the greatest musicians of his times form Burt
Bacharach to Carole King, and in seven years he became a top producer of R&B music. Today
his name is barely recognized. HERE COMES THE NIGHT remedies this lack, charting the
politics and confrontations he faced during his brief career. Berns died at age thirty-eight just
when he was seeing success: his story shouldn't be forgotten - and with the publication of HERE
COMES THE NIGHT, it isn't!
Sing Us A Song, Piano Woman
Adrienne Trier-Bieniek
Scarecrow Press Inc.
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780810885509, $35.00, www.rowman.com
Any music history or women's studies library will be interested in acquiring SING US A SONG,
PIANO WOMAN: FEMALE FANS AND THE MUSIC OF TORI AMOS. It explores now only
Tori's music, but how female fans bond with feminist musicians; and it examines and analyzes
her lyrics and music with an eye to blending in issues of gender and activism. Social studies
classes will appreciate the focus on cultural stereotypes and how Amos represented a type of fan
that went beyond the image of the screaming teen to analyze more intellectual lyrics. The focus
on women's emotions and a more mature musical style makes for a powerful survey
recommended for any college-level collection looking for more than light biography.
The Cookbook Shelf
Bourbon: A History of the American Spirit
Dane Huckelbridge
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062241399, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com
Bourbon: A History of the American Spirit provides a fine biography of bourbon and traces its
roots to Christopher Columbus and the use of its primary ingredient, corn. It was Jamestown
settlers, tired of waiting for supplies of Scotch and whiskey from England, who experimented
with distilling corn-based whiskey, and the influence of Scots-Irish immigrants who changed and
perfected bourbon's recipe and brought it out West to new audiences. The result is a powerful
story that brings out the full flavor and influences of bourbon, recommended for any food and
wine library.
Cooking with Fire
Paula Marcoux
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121581, $19.95, www.storey.com
COOKING WITH FIRE offers a fine review of techniques and flavors of fire cooking, and packs
in over 100 recipes for preparing meats to beverages over the flames. Live-fire cooking crosses
cultures, culinary traditions, and societies; this book teaches students the basics of handling life
fire and food over it, covering spits and skewers, grills, pots and pans, and how to make the most
of recipes tailored for them. The result is a fine survey of wood-fired cooking more well-rounded
than your average grilling cookbook, and highly recommended for cooks seeking something
more.
Cast Iron Cooking for Vegetarians
Joanna Pruess
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781629143248, $14.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com
Cast Iron Cooking for Vegetarians features color photos by Battman as it reviews a selection of
classic dishes and new recipes with vegetarians in mind, and makes for a fine introduction to
using cast iron to create meals. From Mom's Mac and Cheese to Zucchini Pancakes, dishes range
from sweet to savory and cover all meals and courses, from breakfast to main dishes and dessert.
Cast iron cookware holds many benefits and this presents a wealth of new ideas for vegetarians
who have long watched meat preparation in cast iron cookware.
It's All Greek to Me
Debbie Matenopoulos with Peter Capozzi
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Suite 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781939529930, $29.95, www.benbellabooks.com
It's All Greek to Me: Transform Your Health the Mediterranean Way with My Family's
Century-Old Recipes comes from an author who grew up in a traditional Greek household. When
she began eating a standard American diet she found herself gaining weight and losing energy;
back on her native Greek diet, she regained her stamina. So this shares some 120 of her family's
traditional Greek dishes, adds healthy adaptations, and will appeal to any who either love Greek
food or want dishes that promote healthy living. Lovely color photos round out the offerings: it's
the focus on better, low-fat Greek eating options for traditional dishes that makes this a special
recommendation!
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Acupuncture: An Anatomical Approach, second edition
Houchi Dung
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466581920, $129.95, www.crcpress.com
Acupuncture: An Anatomical Approach appears in its second updated edition to provide a key
reference for any medicine collection or practitioner concerned with the therapy and applications
of acupuncture. It presents a scientific, anatomically-based approach to acupuncture and
discusses acupuncture points, pain measurement and management, and clinical applications from
easy cases to challenging. Health professionals will find here all the basics needed to understand
how acupuncture works and its possibilities, especially for relieving chronic and acute pain.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
www.crossway.org
Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre's TRUE BEAUTY (9781433540349, $15.99) comes from
a mother and daughter who consider the truths in God's Word as they pertain to beauty, and
encourages women to focus on the beauty of godliness over pop culture fads and perceptions.
Chapters consider how beauty reflects the sentiments of godliness, provide quotes from the Bible
to encourage faith, and provide supportive insights into the nature of 'true beauty' over cultural
perception. The result is a fine survey for women who would re-consider the nature of beauty in
modern society. C. William Pollard's THE TIDES OF LIFE: LEARNING TO LEAD AND
SERVE AS YOU NAVIGATE THE CURRENTS OF LIFE (9781433541728, $24.99) is all
about life choices, faith, and callings from God, and processes that change as we age. From the
responsibilities of leadership and work to responding to callings from God, this is a reflective
blend of autobiography and spiritual insight and is a fine recommendation for any concerned
about incorporating faith into daily living.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Blue Book of Airguns, eleventh edition
Dr. Robert D. Beeman and John B. Allen
Blue Book Publications
195 Technology, Irvine, CA 92618
9781936120529, $29.95, www.bluebook.com
The eleventh updated edition of Blue Book of Airguns is edited by S.P. Fjestad and provides the
most current information on airguns, and the latest values. It's the only publication to include
modern airguns along with hundreds of vintage airguns that date back to the late 18th century,
and provides coverage of the most popular and vintage makes to include good-size black and
white images and the latest values. The result is a reference that includes a color Photo
Percentage Grading System to help gun owners assess airgun condition factors. A 'must' for any
gun owner or collector who specializes in airguns.
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.shopnumismaster.com
George S. Cuhaj, Editor's 20th updated edition of STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD
PAPER MONEY: MODERN ISSUES (9781440240379, $70.00) provides a weighty, definitive
catalog of world paper money from 1961 to modern times, and packs in over 13,000 small black
and white illustrations as it covers the latest prices and collector notes on the topic. Some 21,000
variety listings of world bank notes include values in two conditions and comes from a network
of some 80 international paper money collectors, dealers and researchers who have worked with
the author to insure accuracy. As such, it's a 'must' for any who want an authoritative reference on
world issues and their collectability. Also highly recommended is Antique Trader's seventh
edition of POTTERY & PORCELAIN CERAMICS PRICE GUIDE (9781440239700, $27.99),
packed with good-quality, good-sized color photos on every page as it showcases ceramics from
all eras and around the world. Values accompany history in a guide tailored to serve collectors,
dealers, and any who enjoy ceramics, and features over 1,500 color images and descriptions
along with maker marks and other technical details. A 'must' for any interested in pottery and
porcelain collecting!
The Computer Shelf
Improving the Test Process
Graham Bath and Erik van Veenendaal
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781933952826, $49.95, www.rockynook.com
Improving the Test Process: Implementing Improvement and Change - a Study Guide for the
ISTQB Expert Level Module covers the syllabus for the "Improving the Test Process" module of
the International Software Testing Qualifications Board, and provides a detailed survey of how
the test improvement process works and what's involved in the improvement assessment effort.
Chapters can be used in preparation for taking the ISTQB expert level exam and as a guide for
test professionals looking to improve their skills, and provide review questions to accompany
chapter explanations, real-world examples, key definitions, and more.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431350, $26.00, www.bearandcompanybooks.com
Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm is for nature, new science and new age readers alike,
and is based on the premise that all life-forms on Earth possess intelligence, language, and a
sense of identity as well as the capacity to dream - including plants. His book considers how to
understand the meanings and communications of such a world, examining the ecology of
invasive plants, bacterial resistance, and more; and he places human beings in perspective in such
a world, re-connecting humans to nature and offering a new way of perceiving the natural world.
While science collections should also have this, it likely will be the new age reader who will get
the most from this approach.
UFOs: God's Chariots?
Ted Peters
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12 Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601633187, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com
UFOs: God's Chariots? Spirituality, Ancient Aliens, and Religious Yearnings in the Age of
Extra-terrestrials provides fine research into how UFOs can reveal underlying cultural meanings,
and considers their spiritual dimensions as it considers the origins, purposes, and spiritual source
of UFOs. It also presents for the first time the results of The Peters ETI Religious Crisis Survey,
which tested the idea that if contact occurs with intelligent alien life, our historic religious
perceptions will collapse. This powerful blend of theology and new age examination makes for a
thought-provoking survey any spirituality collection should have!
The Technology Shelf
Understanding Quartz Crystals and Oscillators
Ramon M. Cerda
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608071180, $179.00, www.artechhouse.com
Understanding Quartz Crystals and Oscillators is a specific, technical guide for engineering
collections strong in oscillation design, and provides assessments of various varieties of crystal
oscillators along with MathCad and Genesys simulations. Microwave engineers will find it filled
with charts, diagrams, math, and discussions of everything from performance claims to phase
noise and jitter, resonation, and frequency multiplication techniques. The result is a solid
reference for any advanced microwave engineering reference library.
Printed MIMO Antenna Engineering
Mohammad S. Sharawi
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608076819, $149.00, www.artechhouse.com
Printed MIMO Antenna Engineering is for any interested in wireless communications
technology, and offers a resource specific to printed MIMO antenna system design. Printed
antennas are used in mobile and handheld terminals and are easy to fabricate: engineers will
appreciate this reference's in-depth design examples and detailed illustrations, along with its
review of applications that depend on printed MIMO antennas and designs. From antenna
fundamentals to equations, discussions of single- and multi-band antenna systems, and electronic
theory, this is a top reference highly recommended for any engineering collection.
The Parenting Shelf
101 Tips for Parents of Children with Autism
Arnold Miller and Theresa Smith
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
97811849059602, $19.95, www.jkp.com
101 Tips for Parents of Children with Autism: Effective Solutions for Everyday Challenges is
based on the principles of the Miller Method and is packed with tips for addressing an autistic
child's behavioral challenges over the years. Parents will find this a specific approach that is
based on the latest research surrounding autistic children's sensory and cognitive differences, and
provides routines and actions that center around common causes of distress and their
management. Any parent who has struggled with an autistic child's seemingly endless conduct
issues will find this a real winner!
The Military Shelf
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com
Lindsay Powell's ROMAN SOLDIER VERSUS GERMANIC WARRIOR (9781472803498,
$18.95) is a recommendation for any interested in early military warfare and history, and covers
the fighting methods and combat performance of the Roman soldiers and their Germanic
opponents in the 1st century AD. Military history holdings strong in early works will find this
packs in battle analysis, first-hand accounts, strategic maps and more. Andy Nunez's
WILDERNESS AND SPOTSYLVANIA 1864: GRANT VERSUS LEE IN THE EAST
(9781472801470, $21.95) provides a fine, in-depth account of one of the defining campaigns of
the Civil War in the East which took place in May 1864, and provides step-by-step information
on the engagement. Vivid drawings and discussions of strategies and campaign tactics
accompany vintage black and white photos and illustrations by Peter Dennis in a solid reference
for any military history holding. Donald Nijboer's SPITFIRE V VS. C.202 FOLGORE: MALTA
1942 (9781782003564, $18.95) provides a fine account of the Malta battles of World War II,
providing a fine survey of legendary aircraft fighters and battles and pairing specific accounts of
battles with vintage black and white photos and color illustrations throughout. Collections strong
in either military history or aircraft will find this an outstanding read. Kari Stenman and
Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt's MORANE-SAULNIER MS.406 ACES (9781782003410,
$22.95) is also a recommendation for aircraft history military holdings, and provides an account
of the pilots who flew the Morane-Saulnier MS.406, a French fighter phased out in early 1940.
First-hand accounts of battles, equipment specs, and photos and color drawings provides a fine
survey of how the Morane was used to war's end, and provides a comprehensive history
recommended for any military history holding.
The Veterinary Studies Shelf
Focused Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner
Gregory R. Lisciandro, Editor
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9781118369593, $99.99, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
Focused Ultrasound Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner is a guide to blending
ultrasound exams into the diagnosis process in a typical vet's office, and is highly recommended
for any practice looking to begin performing these techniques. Chapters provide all the basics to
begin using these focused point-of-care exams for diagnostics and monitoring, and cover the
basics of FAST exams and how to develop the ultrasound skills needed. Experts in the field write
articles, access is provided to a companion website of video clips, and black and white
radiographic images pack a solid coverage highly recommended for any vet's practice and many a
student technician.
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Radiography and Radiology: A Foundation Manual
Andrew Holloway and Fraser McConnell, Editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9781905319442, $129.99, www.wiley-blackwell.com
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Radiography and Radiology: A Foundation Manual should
be in every veterinary reference collection and provides a replacement for the classic BSAVA
MANUAL OF SMALL ANIMAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING as an introduction for veterinary
students and nurses. High-quality radiographic reproductions accompany keys to their
interpretation, while illustrations cover positioning the canine or feline for optimum results.
From equipment and basic principles of radiography to different imaging approaches, this is a
'must' for any practicing vet or assistant.
Veterinary Technician's Handbook of Laboratory Procedures
Brianne Bellwood and Melissa Andrasik-Catton
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9781118341933, $49.99, www.wiley-blackwell.com
Veterinary Technician's Handbook of Laboratory Procedures provides an excellent, quick
reference to conducting common lab tests, is organized for quick clinical reference, and covers
everything from equipment and quality control to procedures. Step-by-step discussions include
common errors and tips for foolproof results, while over 200 color photos of everything from
parasites to techniques in obtaining samples makes it a snap to follow directions and reproduce
techniques. A 'must' for any practicing technician's reference library.
The Sports Shelf
Black Noon
Art Garner
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250017772, $27.99, www.thomasdunnebooks.com
Black Noon: The Year They Stopped the Indy 500 charts a horrific car race accident in which
seven cars crashed in a fiery wreck, killing two drivers. How the sport recovered from one of its
greatest disasters and the events that changed and ended lives makes for a fast-paced,
hard-driving story that brings the history and past world of the Indy 500 to life. Highly
recommended for any auto racing and sports history fan!
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
A Life Lived Outdoors
George Smith
Islandport Press
P.O. Box 10, Yarmouth, Maine 04096
9781934031599, $16.95, www.islandportpress.com
A Life Lived Outdoors: Reflections of a Maine Sportsman provides a collection of hand-picked
essays by George Smith, a popular Maine outdoors writer, and offers a wealth of humor and
outdoors reflections especially recommended for the Maine sportsman. From hunting and fishing
to watching nature, this pairs philosophical with sports and outdoors insights; all packaged in a
lively read accessible to any outdoors sports enthusiast and especially to Maine readers.
The Education Shelf
The Daily 5, second edition
Gail Boushey & Joan Moser
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571109743, $24.00, www.stenhouse.com
THE DAILY 5: FOSTERING LITERACY INDEPENDENCE IN THE ELEMENTARY
GRADES appears in its second updated edition to consider the core literacy components that any
teacher can use to increase student learning independence, and is a pick any education collection
will savor. The Daily 5 is all about showing teachers how to spend less time managing
classrooms and more time actually teaching by helping students develop independence and
accountability: chapters offer lesson plans, case histories, and specific steps for each component
of The Daily 5. A fine 'must' for any educator's collection!
The Crafts Shelf
Basic Metal Jewelry Techniques
Carles Codina
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764343674, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com
Basic Metal Jewelry Techniques is a 'must' for any who would begin learning metal
jewelry-making, and pairs an explanation of metallurgy and basic formulas with tips on
soldering, sanding, and more. Step-by-step photos and drawings accompany these explanations
and provide all the latest practices relating to creating jewelry, offering applications for nearly
any project. The result is a fine 'classroom in a book' for any who would learn metal jewelry
techniques!
The American History Shelf
American Carnage
Jerome A. Greene
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806144481, $34.95, www.oupress.com
AMERICAN CARNAGE: WOUNDED KNEE, 1890 follows the evolution of tensions between
troops and Native Americans that boiled over at Wounded Knee Creek, and is recommended for
Native American and American history holdings alike. It comes from a specialist on the Indian
wars who explores why the disaster happened and how it evolved into a massacre, and uses a
wealth of resources from previously unknown testimonies to documented events to examine
whether Wounded Knee was premeditated, whether revenge entered into the massacre, and the
efforts of Lakota survivors and their descendants to gain recognition for their losses. The result is
a powerful history highly recommended for any collection strong in military or Native American
affairs.
Home Fires
Sean Patrick Adams
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421413570, $22.95, www.press.jhu.edu
HOME FIRES: HOW AMERICANS KEPT WARM IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
provides a narrow focus on home heating over the nineteenth century and how changes in
systems and technology ultimately resulted in social transformation. It covers the business of
selling home heating products and choices, it reviews the challenge of dwindling firewood
supplies and the changes this brought to the industry and American homes, and it provides a
scholarly yet lively coverage that considers the ideas and variations of the hearth in American
homes. Any collection strong in American business development and social history will find this
specific and involving!
The World History Shelf
Cold War: An International History
Carole Fink
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Grop
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780813347590, $30.00, www.westviewpress.com
Cold War: An International History is recommended for any college-level collection looking to
include global perspectives on the Cold War between the US and USSR, and provides insights
on key events and the major political, economic and social impact of the Cold War. New insights
provide new viewpoints based on the latest scholarship, while examinations of perspectives from
Africa, Asia and Latin America provide well-rounded assessments you simply won't find
elsewhere. The result is an excellent collection of observations and analysis highly recommended
for any college-level collection.
The Criminology Shelf
The Mob and the City: The Hidden History of How the Mafia Captured New York
C. Alexander Hortis
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616149239, $24.95, www.prometheusbooks.com
The Mob and the City: The Hidden History of How the Mafia Captured New York offers the first
full-length book devoted to uncovering the hidden history of how the Mafia came to dominate
organized crime in New York City from the 1930s to the 1950s, and is based on the
author/attorney's in-depth research of archives and secret files obtained through the Freedom of
Information Act. Chapters move far beyond usual dramatic accounts of mob encounters to prove
how economics affected Mafia families and their interactions, why Sicilian gangs topped
criminal efforts, and more. The introduction of new facts based on newly-released primary
sources makes this a treasure trove of detail on the Mafia's rise to power in New York City,
highly recommended for any definitive City history collection.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
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
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