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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Tattoo Dictionary
Trent Aitken-Smith
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781784721770, $20.00, www.octopusbooksusa.com
The Tattoo Dictionary: An A-Z Guide to the Secret Language of Tattoos is illustrated by Ashley
Tyson, whose full-page black and white tattoo illustrations support the in-depth research that
explores the meanings behind some 200 popular tattoos. These include tribal images, Mexican
skills, barbed wire, snakes, and other popular tattoo art, with each entry describing the initial
origins of the image and its modern meaning. The result will interest any with a prior affection
for tattoo art, who want more historical background on commonly-used images.
The Terrorism Studies Shelf
Anatomy of Terror
Ali Soufan
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393241174, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com
Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of Bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State isn't just about
ISIS, as so many terrorist discussions focus on, but upon the rise of other jihadi armies loyal to
Al Qaeda, and appears on the sixth anniversary of bin Laden's death to present a former FBI
special agent's review of the rise of the organization's structure and attacks since that time.
Chapters survey both bin Laden's vision of an Islamic force in the world and the new realities of
various nations seeing a rise in such forces on their own shores. From biographical sketches of
individuals who would become leaders in this new arena to Syrian wars, camp inmates, and other
influences on jihadi popularity and evolution, this is a wide-ranging, in-depth survey that
combines research with the author's own inside experiences, and should be on the reading lists of
any interested in the rise of terrorist forces around the world.
The Agriculture Shelf
Growing a Revolution
David R. Montgomery
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
97803935608328, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com
Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life belongs in agriculture, science, and social
issues collection alike as it discusses regenerative agriculture that builds soil health while
offering financial benefits to farmers. Soil degradation has already ruined much of the world's
croplands and threatened both environmental and political circles. This book surveys the use of
chemical fertilizers around the world, food shortages which have sparked revolutions and riots,
and common myths about modern agricultural practices.
The Technology Shelf
A Practical Guide to EMC Engineering
Levent Sevgi
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781630813833, $159.00, www.artechhouse.com
A Practical Guide to EMC Engineering explores the basics of EMC engineering and
electromagnetics, considering both design and marketing aspects and various EMC tests,
measurements, and basic electrical engineering applications. Different circuit models, antennas,
noise analysis, and EMC testing devices are contrasted in chapters filled with graphs, charts,
equations, and technical support. Electrical engineering collections will consider this a 'must
have' reference for any in-depth review of EMC Engineering basics.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Hero-A-Go-Go!
Michael Eury
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490731, $36.95, www.amazon.com
Hero-A-Go-Go! Campy Comic Books, Crimefighters & Culture of the Swinging Sixties
discusses the 'camp age' of comics, when puns, sexuality, and the political and social atmosphere
of the 1960s came to life to be reflected in comics. Former DC Comics editor Michael Eury
examines particular characters from a range of comics, includes interviews with artists, actors,
and personalities involved in the superhero subculture both in print and on screen, and packs his
presentation with a wealth of color and black and white images of comics and insights from those
who lived the era. From focuses on Bill Mumy from Lost in Space to Irwin Allen's impact on
sci-fi, this will neatly reach beyond the comics crowd to appeal to the interests of anyone
interested in how the culture of the 1960s translated to crimefighting and hero figures of the
times.
The Audiobook Shelf
Aesop's Fables with Colin Hay
Tom Graves
www.authortomgraves.com
Devault-Graves Digital Editions
www.devault-gravesagency.com
9781942531241, $6.66 audiobook
9781942531234, $9.95 ebook
Almost anyone who has read a book well knows of the classic Aesop's Fables, one of the
cornerstones of parables and moral fables - but the audio production of these tales is unexpected
and delightful enough to make it a recommendation beyond its intended 6 to 11-year-old age
group. The power of Aesop's fables might seem to speak for themselves in print version; but the
audio needed this extra boost to attract listeners of all ages, and one of the special delights here is
Hay's ability to dramatize his reading while lending an accent that flavors the story without being
unintelligibly thick. Many an adult will want to listen, because lessons such as a parent/child
encounter with greed in 'The Boy and the Jar of Peanuts' may have been forgotten by many an
adult over the years. Their lovely resurrection here, in a powerful audio, makes for a winning
production recommended for all ages. (It should also be noted that the ebook format contains
lovely illustrations throughout, many in full color, that perfectly capture both the antique feel of
Aesop's works and the sentiments of each story.)
A Generation of Sociopaths
Bruce Cannon Gibney
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
9781478945291, $35.00, www.hachetteaudio.com
A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America enjoys an unabridged
reading by Wayne Pyle as it provides a controversial discussion of antisocial leaders in America
and shows how Boomers' self-indulgence eroded American values. This discussion comes not
from a radical left activist, but from a former partner in a leading venture capital firm who
considers the policies and perceptions that have lead Boomers to capitalize on future generations.
Anyone interested in the consequences of Boomer activities must listen to this
thought-provoking, absorbing indictment of not individuals, but an entire generation.
The Education Shelf
From Staff Room to Classroom, second edition
Robin J. Fogarty and Brian M. Pete
Corwin Literacy
c/o Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781506358277, $27.00, www.corwin.com
The second updated edition of From Staff Room to Classroom: A Guide for Planning and
Coaching Professional Development covers the basics of staff development and strategies for
translating new information to classroom use, and covers some six methods of supporting
teachers as they take content learned during professional development and apply it to student
needs. From how professional learning processes may be updated using new technologies to how
such opportunities can be designed and fostered, this focus on professional development should
be in the hands of any educator looking to better encourage teacher growth and its incorporation
into better classroom and learning experiences.
The Autism Shelf
How to Start, Carry On and End Conversations
Paul Jordan
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781785922459, $14.95, www.jkp.com
Readers in social situations who are on the autism spectrum will find this simple collection of
scripts a fine guide to conversational etiquette and approaches which belays the notion that
conversation is an inherent skill that can't be taught. Chapters explain how to interpret everyday
social situations at school or in other group settings and provide a simple connection between a
little over sixty simple words and scripts that help readers understand how conversations evolve
and how they are structured. The result should be in any collection strong in autism skills
approaches.
Autism in My Family
Sandra Tucker
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781785927072, $19.95, www.jkp.com
Although Autism in My Family: A Journal for Siblings of Children with ASD is intended for
ages 8-12, it's recommended here because many an adult will wish to review this journal and its
strategies. An interactive workbook introduces autism using simple language directed to
non-autistic siblings and encouraging them to better understand the feelings and perceptions of
those on the autism spectrum. Thoughts, games, writing, and photography and other visual
exercises encourage a high degree of emotional connection and better understanding and is
especially recommended as a tool the entire family can utilize to open dialogue.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
A Purely Private Matter
Darcie Wilde
Berkley Prime Crime
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425262380, $15.00, www.penguin.com
Fans of history and mystery will welcome this Rosalind Thorne mystery which blends the two in
fine tale set in Regency London's wealthy circles, which are rocked by scandal and deception.
This is the second book in the series set in 19th-century London, but it is both a nice stand-alone
and a solid supportive effort for the first book and any who like the atmosphere of Jane Austin.
Poison, pregnancy, and threats permeate the highest of circles in this excellent story.
The Aviation Shelf
Aviation Records in the Jet Age
William A. Flanagan, Lt. Col, USAF (Ret.)
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
www.specialtypress.com
9781580072304, $39.95, www.cartechbooks.com
Aviators have focused on breaking flight records for as long as new planes have been invented,
and Aviation Records in the Jet Age: The Planes and Technologies Behind the Breakthroughs is
a fine documentary of jet-age efforts, documenting national and international competitions and
famous record-breaking flights from World War II onward. Chapters packed with vintage black
and white and contemporary color photos throughout accompany maps, portraits of aviators,
close-ups of planes on the ground and in the air, and discussions that survey speed and altitude
records set in a range of environmental and political conditions. The result is a beautifully done
aviation history chronicle that could almost be a coffee table addition, but holds far more detail
and history than a visual production alone.
The Fiction Shelf
A Twisted Vengeance
Candace Robb
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781681774527, $25.95, www.pegasusbooks.com
A Twisted Vengeance is set in 1399, an era when York is facing civil war, Eleanor's return after
the death of her husband is met with suspicion, and her daughter Kate finds her intention of
staying away from her mother's issues only brings them in closer proximity to her life. When
she's forced to investigate matters, she encounters a brutal murder and a threat that seems tied to
the turbulent politics of her world, threatening to immerse Kate and her charges in everything
they've worked hard to avoid. A fine blend of murder mystery and history makes for a compelling
story that's hard to put down.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
Two fine books should be in any avid quilter's collection, packing in a wide range of quilting
projects and offering keys to producing standout quilts. That Patchwork Place's The Big Book of
Strip Quilts: Start with Strips to Make 60 Stunning Quilts (9781604688542, $27.99) tells how to
cut strips from a stash or use precuts to make fine strip quilt patterns, and explores projects that
range from wall hangings and baby quilts to bed-sized quilts. Various designers contribute their
ideas to this collection, which means that styles are satisfyingly diverse and beginners and
experienced quilts alike receive a good diversity of choices and results. Full-page color photos of
the quilts accompany materials lists, step-by-step instructions, and visually illustrated keys to
making blocks from strips. Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson's Blue & White: Living with
Textiles You Love (9781604688689, $34.99) isn't a needlework guide per say, but a key to
incorporating textiles into interior decorating strategies. Because needleworkers face additional
challenges in this department, beyond constructing their works, it's especially recommended for
this audience who may have needlework design strategies well in hand, but now need advice on
how to incorporate textiles and fibers into the home. Color and style in American folk art are
discussed as part of the focus on American hooked rugs, quilts, and other blue and white themes
that can easily translate to a warm incorporation into a home's style. The focus on blue and white
colors narrows the field and allows for specific references and recommendations that impart the
basics of home interior design into the needleworker's world. Both are wonderful additions
highly recommended for any needlework collection.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Insane Consequences
D.J. Jaffe
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633882911, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill provides a critical
consideration of America's failing mental health system and comes from a critic who identifies
why, despite large budgets, the mentally ill in this country continue to fall through the cracks.
Jaffe maintains that the mental health industry and government is to blame for creating situations
that focus on and document improvements on those only lightly disturbed while leaving in limbo
those who suffer from severe disorders. Industry and government documents, science studies, and
insights from the author's thirty-plus years in mental health contribute to a damning survey from
the MentalIllnessPolicy.org executive director.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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