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The Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Seal Press
1700 - 4th Street
Berkeley, California 94710
www.sealpress.com
REPLACEMENT CHILD: A MEMOIR by Judy L. Mandel (9781580054768, $16.00) provides a
riveting story of tragedy, recovery, and a family's decision to bring a new child into the world to
replace another killed in a horrifying accident, and is a top recommendation for any interested in
family interactions, death, and recovery. Author Judy Mandel was the "replacement child" born
into a grieving family who kept secret the tragedy that changed all their lives. It was only as an
adult that she discovered the logic behind her existence - and recognized the patterns of struggle
that were weaved into her life as she became caretaker for her older sister, whose severe burns
from the accident impacted her life. The patterns of tragedy, hope, recovery become evident in
this powerful survey, highly recommended for any biography collection. Quite different and also
recommended - especially for humor collections - is standup comedian Ophira Eisenberg's
SCREW EVERYONE: SLEEPING MY WAY TO MONOGAMY, which gathers the author's
many dating experiences and offers a fun reflection of what happens when one 'says yes' to
everything and everyone. Promiscuity is examined in a hilarious examination of boundaries and
sexual evolution, offering up a rollicking account that is good for both reflection and
side-splitting laughter.
The Audiobook Shelf
Rich Dad: Run Your Own Corporation
Garrett Sutton, Esq.
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781619697379, $24.98, www.highbridgeaudio.com
Rich Dad: Run Your Own Corporation is the companion audiobook to the best-selling book
START YOUR OWN CORPORATION and follows three teams of entrepreneurs through their
first five years in business. These stories are used as examples for listeners who receive details on
how to begin a successful corporation, from setting up a corporate identity separate from a sole
proprietorship's liabilities to handling audits, accounting, and employees. The author is an
attorney, author of many other 'Rich Dad' series titles, and conducts seminars and classes on
business management and financial planning. This audio will enhance any business listener and
is recommended for any library catering to businessmen who enjoy self-help audios!
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
Larry Julian's God is MY CEO: FOLLOWING GOD'S PRINCIPLES IN A BOTTOM-LINE
WORLD (9781469257426, $19.99) is performed by Tim Parks, who lends a studied and clear
voice to this top-selling business book that offers a business plan based on Biblical principles. Its
principles will appeal to all kinds of business ventures, from managers and executives to those
self-employed, and it provides an excellent survey of how to meld business with spiritual
pursuits. All this comes to life in an appealing audio package perfect for any business audio
listener. Rachel Reiland's GET ME OUT OF HERE (9781469280479, $19.99) is performed by
Mazhan Marno, who lends a powerful voice to this account of struggles with and recovery from
borderline personality disorder. The 29-year-old accountant, wife and mother learned of her
diagnosis upon discharge fro ma hospital psychiatric ward. It was the explanation for many
puzzling behaviors and self-destructive actions - and it reveals the inner world of the mentally ill
and their relationships with the world. Therapy helped her overcome much of her condition,
making GET ME OUT OF HERE an inspirational read for any coping with similar mental
afflictions.
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hachetteaudio.com
James Patterson and Howard Roughan's SECOND HONEYMOON (9781611130508, $34.98)
receives a lively dual narration by Jay Snyder and Ellen Archer and provides a gripping novel of
intrigue that comes to life in audio. What would you do if you faced your wife's killer - forgive,
or get even? Second Honeymoon is all about this choice when newlyweds face a murderer on
their honeymoon and FBI special agent John O'Hara becomes involved - even with a history of
his own wife's brutal murder only a few years earlier. His murder investigation will raise specters
of his own gruesome experience in this gripping murder mystery thriller. Michael Connelly's
ANGELS FLIGHT (9781619699823, $24.98) receives a fine reading by Los Angeles-based actor
Peter Giles, whose smooth and dramatic voice enhances the audio drama of an activist attorney
killed in a little L.A. trolley called Angels Flight. Normally investigator Harry Bosch wouldn't be
involved outside of his Hollywood base; but this case is special. It involves numerous enemies, a
complicated scenario, and a plot that threatens the entire city - just as Harry's year-old Vegas
marriage is unraveling. High drama and tense action make this a thriller. Elin Hilderbrand's
BEAUTIFUL DAY (9781607885252, $34.98) receives a spirited reading by TV and theater
actress Therese Plummer, who provides the perfect accompaniment to the story of a summer
wedding and the problems it brings to two families. Jenna has planned her wedding according to
specific wishes from her late mother and the Nantucket wedding theoretically should untied two
families - but unresolved problems in the families could bring problems to the two newlyweds.
From scandals to broken hearts, BEAUTIFUL DAY threatens storms that make for spirited,
involving listening recommended for any general fiction reader. Marcia Clark's KILLER
AMBITION (9781619696341, $29.98) receives a lively reading by January LaVoy, a New
York-based voice, stage and television actress who has performed extensively. Her lively voice
lends drama and excitement to the story of a teen's murder and Special Trials DA Rachel
Knight's investigation of the case. When she probes deeper, she finds various circumstances link
to her own life experiences - and expose many underlying influences of deceit, deception, and
theft. Her journey to find the killer will take all of her strength and cleverness in this engrossing
saga.
The Psychology Shelf
Managing Your Depression
Susan J. Noonan, MD, MPH
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409474, $14.95, www.press.jhu.edu
Managing Your Depression: What You Can Do to Feel Better comes from a physician who
personally suffers from depression, and uses expertise and personal background to provide a
guide for any who suffer from it. From discussions of diet, nutrition and exercise to avoiding
isolation, this is designed to be an easy read for depressed people having difficulty focusing, and
includes cognitive exercises, daily worksheets, and more. From defining a baseline of depression
to charting moods and preventing relapses, this workbook is a top pick for any depression
sufferer!
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Sugar Detox
Brooke Alpert, MS, RD, CDN and Patricia Farris, MD, FAAD
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216416, $24.99, www.dacapopress.com
THE SUGAR DETOX: LOSE WEIGHT, FEEL GREAT, AND LOOK YEARS YOUNGER
provides readers with a one-month plan designed to wean off sugar cravings, beginning with a
three-day Sugar Fix of no sugar at all accompanied by three days of skin treatments. Then a
four-week schedule of menu plans, recipes, and information on foods to eat and avoid follows
with keys to not just eliminating sugar from a diet, but incorporating the changes that will
encourage long-time release from sugar reliance. Any collection strong on diets and health needs
this program!
Energy Medicine Technologies
Finley Eversole, PhD, Editor
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620551028, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com
Energy Medicine Technologies: Ozone Healing, Microcrystals, Frequency Therapy, and the
Future of Health is a recommended pick for alternative health and new age collections alike, and
provides a powerful survey of inexpensive alternatives to conventional medicine that have been
suppressed by the pharmaceutical companies intent on expensive profits. Some of the most
revolutionary (and still widely unknown) discoveries in health and energy medicine are compiled
here under one cover, edited by Dr. Eversole, and explore different therapies that combat
electromagnetic fields and environmental toxins - including emotional challenges. The result is a
fine survey highly recommended for any holding strong in alternative therapies.
The Technology Shelf
Artech House
685 Canton Street
Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
Bill Meehan's GIS FOR ENHANCED ELECTRIC UTILITY PERFORMANCE
(9781608075591, $143.00) describes how geospatial technology in GIS systems can help
improve various facets of the electric utility business, and offers keys to understanding what GIS
is today and what it holds for the future. From cloud computing to smart mobile devices, this
identifies the technical details of a GIS 'smart' electronic system and provides information on
how it works under real-world settings. The result is a top pick for any electronics reference
collection. Also recommended is Volume II of Lotfollah Shafai, et.al.'s HANDBOOK OF
REFLECTOR ANTENNAS AND FEED SYSTEMS: FEED SYSTEMS (9781608075171),
which provides a fine addition to the in-depth collection covering modern reflector antennas and
feed sources. Chapters come from experts in each aspect of feed systems and are filled with basic
math techniques, insights on electricity and antennas, and include many examples to outline basic
aspects of feed design. The result is a basic recommendation that joins other volumes in the
series for any working with reflector antennas and feeds.
Sewer Processes, second edition
Thorkild Hvitved-Jacobsen, et.al.
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439881774, $129.95 www.crcpress.com
The second updated edition of SEWER PROCESSES: MICROBIAL AND CHEMICAL
PROCESS ENGINEERING OF SEWER NETWORKS provides a fine technical guide suitable
for any environmental engineering collection and provides a comprehensive, updated approach to
wastewater engineering that incorporates the latest developments. Solved illustrative case studies
accompany discussions ranging from assessments of compounds and chemical reactions in sewer
settings to anaerobic sewer processes and methods for sewer processing models. Charts,
diagrams, and calculations throughout make this a top pick for any student of environmental
engineering and many working in the field.
Managing Electronic Records
Robert F. Smallwood
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118218297, $175.00, www.wiley.com
Professionals and students alike will find Managing Electronic Records: Methods, Best Practices,
and Technologies to be a key acquisition packed with details for managing business records of all
kinds, and provides tools to mitigate the risks and enjoy the benefits of electronic records. Best
practices and new technologies are covered in a title that handles everything from archiving and
organizing company records to developing policies to streamline workflow while implementing
an ERM system with such capabilities. Diagrams, charts, analysis, and gray sidebars of
information throughout make for a highly recommended survey for any collection strong in either
business document management in general or electronic records challenges in particular.
The Autism Shelf
Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide
Barbara Bissonnette
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059435, $22.95, www.jkp.com
Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide provides a powerful guide to thriving in the
workplace for any who have AS. It provides realistic strategies for working with employers and
colleagues both individually and as part of a team, teaches how to manage projects and resolve
common problems, and considers how AS interacts with typical workforce demands. Any who
struggle to maintain employment will find this a powerful pick that takes AS routines and
challenges and deftly shows how to turn a potential liability into a workplace asset in a pick for
business and health holdings alike.
The Genealogy Shelf
Family Names and Their Story
Sebaine Baring-Gould
Clearfield Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806300238, $37.50, www.genealogical.com
Family Names and Their Story is a pick for any genealogical researcher looking at the history and
evolution of family names, and deserves ongoing recommendation as a mainstay for such a
collection. Chapters discuss everything from totemism and names to changes of Anglo-Saxon
names, names influenced by place, and even early French names. Of course, this isn't a definitive
reference to all family names - that would encompass far more time and pages than an ordinary
book could handle. What it does do is provide a historical coverage of the evolution of basic
Anglo-Saxon and French name origins, considering such issues as nobility, battles, and more.
Originally printed in 1968, this paperback reprint offers much to general history holdings.
Evidence Explained, second edition
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806318066, $59.95, www.genealogical.com
Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace appears in its second
updated edition to update the 2007 original appearance and add new details on how to locate and
cite from history sources. From new models for electronic sources from blogs to websites to
traditional citations for genealogical referencing, this handbook is directed to genealogists but
offers much wider-reaching instruction and assessments on citing history resources. Students,
genealogists, and any involved in historical research will find this a specific, important guide that
serves as a style manual for all kinds of historical referencing and publishing purposes.
The American History Shelf
Blackbeard's Last Fight
Angus Konstam
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780961958, $18.95, www.ospreypublishing.com
Blackbeard's Last Fight: Pirate Hunting in North Carolina 1718 provides a detailed analysis of
the greatest raids in pirate history and charts the problems of piracy in the Caribbean and how the
notorious image of Blackbeard nearly halted North America's maritime trade. It was rumors of
his intent to set up a base off North Carolina which prompted the governor of Virginia to go after
both him and pirates as a whole, and this documents the largest anti-piracy raid of its times.
Artwork, maps, first-hand accounts from source material, and lively dialogue make this a winner
for history, military and general-interest holdings alike!
The World History Shelf
Ancient Treasures
Brian Haughton
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632494, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com
ANCIENT TREASURES; THE DISCOVERY OF LOST HOARDS, SUNKEN SHIPS,
BURIED VAULTS, AND OTHER LONG-FORGOTTEN ARTIFACTS provides a lovely
collection of archaeological investigations and history perfect for general-interest reading. It
comes from a renowned European investigator and archaeologist and documents some of the
most famous treasure finds of our times, from Roman and Viking wealth buried for safekeeping
and discovered by metal detectors to Spanish treasure wrecks in the sea. Any interested in the
history and uncovering of archaeological treasure will find this a lively, involving history.
The Photography Shelf
Nikon Speedlight Handbook
Stephanie Zettl
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608954513, $34.95, www.amherstmedia.com
Nikon Speedlight Handbook: Flash Techniques for Digital Photographers teaches the basics of
understanding light and exposure, shutter speed, and all the settings and functions of the Nikon
Speedlight, and is a fine pick for any who would make the most from Nikon Speedlights. From
modifying a Speedlight for refined results to flash shooting modes, this covers all the basics of
light management and is a 'must' for any owner of the Nikon Speedlight.
The Conquest of Everest
George Lowe and Huw Lewis-Jones
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500544235, $39.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
The Conquest of Everest: Original Photographs from the Legendary First Ascent features over a
hundred sixty illustrations in color and in black and white, is published to mark the 60th
anniversary of the conquest of Mt. Everest in 1953, and uses original photos and rare materials to
capture the ascent. Author George Lowe is a New Zealand mountaineer and photographer: his
work reveals the dramas and personal struggles of all involved in the process, while
accompanying dialogue documents earlier climbing attempts and the experiences of other
mountaineers. Having a photographer who is also a mountaineer lends to a collection that goes
beyond the usual reporter focus to capture the experience itself, with landscapes and portraits
blending with action shots for a powerful documentation. Photography and mountaineering
history holdings will find this an amazing documentation of an amazing era.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Charles Stross' NEPTUNE'S BROOD (9780425256770, $25.95) is set in the year 7000 A.D.
when the human species is extinct - for the fourth time. The First Church of the Fragile is trying
to insure humanity's survival by spreading their remains to the stars - and metahuman Krina is
part of this journey when pirates capture her ship to interrupt her search for her sister. Add an
assassin and underlying forces ready to change the universe and assure humanity is never revived
and you have a powerful plot packed with engrossing twists and turns. Anthony Ryan's BLOOD
SONG (9780425267691, $27.95) provides a fine Raven's Shadow story, telling of a child raised
to be a warrior and deprived of his birthright to be a battle Lord for the Empire. But as he grows
up with different training he comes to understand that his future will be quite different from his
father's - and involves a mission that could alter the world. Political encounters, battles, and swift
action makes this a winning story.
The Business Shelf
Present Yourself
Kit Seeborg & Andrea Meyer's
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449342364, $24.99, www.oreilly.com
PRESENT YOURSELF: USING SLIDESHARE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS is all about
sharing content and growing a business using SlideShare. While this is also a top pick for any
computer or software reference library, PRESENT YOURSELF is reviewed here for its much
wider-ranging applications to overall business objectives from using the latest technologies for
visual strength in a business application to promoting a company or brand, collaborating with
colleagues online, and using SlideShare to plan and provide more effective event presentations.
A 'must' for any who would use this versatile program to maximum advantage!
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.hbsp.harvard.edu
Daniel Isenberg's Worthless, Impossible, and Stupid: How Contrarian Entrepreneurs Create and
Capture Extraordinary Value (9781422186985, $27.00) comes from a global business expert who
provides a new way of approaching business building using the lessons learned from a worldwide
group of fellow entrepreneurs. It offers case histories of how individuals from around the world
perceived hidden values and used that perception to develop and promote products and services
people didn't initially want, and provides an assessment of the creative mindset involved in the
process. By including non-Western perspectives, this book goes beyond the usual focus to
provide practical insight and progressive ideas any can use in their own business, making this a
top pick for any entrepreneur interested in global thinking processes. True Story by Ty Montague
(9781422170687, $27.00) provides insights into modern methods of marketing a business:
methods that go beyond the traditional approach of telling a brand's story and provide keys to
incorporating the brand in actions instead. Storytellers are on the way out: doers, on the other
hand, are on the way in, creating products and services which use action over advertising.
Chapters here come from the founder of a growth consultancy collective and offer a framework
for making this change. Chapters discuss critical elements to 'storydoing' and provide invaluable
and real-world tested solutions to common obstacles to success. Any who would create a better
brand will find this a key to success.
How Cool Brands Stay Hot, second edition
Joeri Van den Bergh and Mattias Behrer
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749468040, $29.95, www.koganpage.com
How Cool Brands Stay Hot: Branding to Generation Y, provides a fine revised, updated second
edition revealing what drives members of generation Y and how businesses can market to them.
It's based on five years of in-depth new research that provides invaluable keys to Generation Y
psychology and behavior patterns, and teaches entrepreneurs how to connect to this new
generation to make branding and marketing strategies specific to their needs. New case studies,
interviews with global marketing executives, and more make for a powerful collection of 'best
practices' and new ideas.
The Empress Has No Clothes
Joyce Roche and Alexander Kopelman
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609946364, $18.95, www.bkconnection.com
The Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success comes from the first
Afro-American Vice President of Avon Products who began with modest circumstances and
evolved to earn an Ivy league MBA and high-level executive positions. Despite her obvious
achievements Roche felt like a fraud and was filled with self-doubt. Her review of "the imposter
syndrome" and her lifelong struggles to conquer self-doubt provides a fine collection of coping
strategies suitable to self-help and business collections alike. Any who would learn about the
syndrome and how to overcome it will welcome this refreshing, candid real-world guide by one
who has more than "been there and done that."
The Fashion Shelf
Hippie Chic
Lauren D. Whitley
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467952, $25.00, www.mfa.org/publications
Hippie Chic celebrates hippie street fashion and explores the late 1960s fashion trends that came
with the hippies of the era, and is a pick for both fashion arts holdings and those concerned with
the culture and image of the times. Hippie chic trends are covered in five chapters that document
its evolution and provide lovely photos and discussions of designs and how they affected fashion
trends and popular culture alike. Gorgeous full-page color photos accompany discussions of
designers who built up on the fad to create flowing, colorful clothing. The result is an artistic and
cultural expose perfect for any collection strong in either street fashion trends or cultural
change.
The Art Shelf
Grayson Perry, second edition
Jacky Klein
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500290804, $39.99, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
GRAYSON PERRY appears in its second edition to pack in over three hundred seventy
illustrations (most in full color) and a discussion of an artist's themes and approaches to the art.
This monograph has been revised and updated to expand discussions of his themes and
approaches, offering a new chapter that considers Perry's interests and famous works, and an
analysis of his major tapestry cycle. Perry's fame lies in a range of arts, from prints, sculpture and
drawings to ceramics: GRAYSON PERRY documents all his abilities and provides lovely color
coverage throughout. Any arts library will welcome this detailed survey.
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
J.L. Locher introduces THE MAGIC OF M.C. ESCHER (9780500290736, $31.95), which packs
in nearly four hundred color illustrates - over three hundred in color - and includes 12 gatefold
pages as it provides a fine collection of Escher's visual art, from his woodcuts and drawings to
his lithographs. Quotes from the artist himself compliment his works and create a cinematic
result which captures the evolution of his artistic process. This succeeds in capturing the
strengths of his vision and his attention to detail, providing a truly magical collection highly
recommended for any Escher fan and any general art holding looking for more Escher
representation. Erin B. Coe, Bruce Robertson and Gwendolyn Owens' MODERN NATURE:
GEORGIA O'KEEFFE AND LAKE GEORGE (9780500093740, $40.00) is packed with a
hundred illustrations - some seventy-five in full color - and is published to accompany a traveling
exhibition portraying the works she created during her sojourns summering at Lake George in
upstate New York. While the pieces she produced during these times are less known than her
New Mexico desert scenery, they represent a range of botanical and panoramic landscapes and
abstractions produced during a period of change and achievement, and are accompanied by
essays by three O'Keeffe experts who consider the impact of these summers on her work as a
whole. Any collection or viewer strong in O'Keeffe works and inspiration will find this a 'must
have' addition to any definitive arts holding.
Visual Contrast
Timothy Rundle and Polly Wreford
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781849753609, $40.00, www.rylandpeters.com
VISUAL CONTRAST is a recommendation for arts and home and garden collections alike, and
documents the finer art of display and arrangement as they are displayed in and contribute to a
home. Chapters consider the basics of space, display, and design as they consider different uses
of space and alternative display methods that lend to interior representations. They also
emphasize the visual contrast between space and display which is key to achieving a balanced
look in the home. The result is a powerful presentation highly recommended for any arts or
interior design and home idea collection.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Baker Books
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 E Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakeracademic.com
Walter A. Elwell and Robert Y. Yarbrough's ENCOUNTERING THE NEW TESTAMENT: A
HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL SURVEY (9780801039645, $49.99) appears in its third
updated edition to provide a readable survey from two experienced classroom teachers. From
maps and charts in full color to boxes featuring key issues and chapter outlines for discussion,
this provides students and professors with plenty of opportunities for discussion, all updated in a
third edition. Students receive resources that include flash cards, self quizzes and chapter
summaries while professors receive guidance on classroom activities and instruction. The result
is an outstanding account highly recommended for any teaching or studying the New Testament.
Leighann McCoy's A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO HEARING GOD'S VOICE (9780764210945,
$13.99) comes from a popular speaker who maintains that God is always speaking, albeit
sometimes very softly. The challenge lies in learning this voice and what it means. Personal
stories, biblical narratives, and insights show how God is active in every woman's life - and they
provide examples of this activity and how to hear his voice. Inspiration blends with revealing
spiritual insights women will find enlightening and easy to understand.
Christianity and the Political Order
Kenneth R. Himes
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980280, $40.00, www.orbisbooks.com
Christianity and the Political Order: Conflict, Cooptation and Cooperation joins others in the
'Theology in Global Perspective' series, and provides a fine scholarly assessment of the political
realm and Christianity. Himes considers that political decisions should be ultimately guided by
the teachings of Jesus, and considers the evolving relationship between Christianity and politics
from the teachings of the Old and New Testaments through the ages to modern times. From
issues of church involvement in political processes to issues of human rights around the world,
this offers insights for any considering the evolving relationship between Christianity and social
justice.
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
www.crossway.org
John MacArthur's THE GLORY OF HEAVEN: THE TRUTH ABOUT HEAVEN, ANGELS,
AND ETERNAL LIFE (9781433538681, $22.99) is for any who want an in-depth, narrowed
focus on what the Bible says about heaven, and discusses the biblical truth God has given about
heaven versus other sources and ideas. Many people are making up alternative visions of what
heaven is: this returns attention to the Biblical passages that support ideas of heaven, its purpose,
and its various incarnations and facets. The result is a Bible-oriented analysis that lends well to
any Christian reference collection. Alastair Begg and Sinclair B. Ferguson's NAME ABOVE
ALL NAMES (9781433537752, $19.99) refers to Jesus Christ, who has been given the 'name
above all names' and the right to reign - and yet, most aren't able to properly grasp just what this
means to their lives. Two pastor authors use decades of combined experience and thought to
consider seven key aspects of Jesus' ministry. From his role as conqueror and prophet to his
incarnation as the son of man and God alike, this links scripture to an analysis of the character
and focus of Christ in a fine survey any Christian reader will find accessible and
thought-provoking.
A Sense of the Sacred
James Monti
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781586172831, $34.95, www.ignatius.com
A Sense of the Sacred: Roman Catholic Worship in the Middle Ages provides an in-depth
exploration and explanation of medieval liturgical celebrations, prays and hymns used in the
Middle Ages, and is a fine pick for any Christian collection interested in the early history of
worship. Chapters come from a historian who has done exhaustive research on medieval
liturgical manuscripts and writings: chapters analyze prayers, hymns and rubrics used in the
Middle Ages and provide fine discussions of sacred celebrations from across Europe; especially
the liturgical texts of medieval Spain. The result is a top pick for any Christian scholarly
collection.
Christian Ethics
Victor Lee Austin
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9780567032201, $19.95, www.bloomsbury.com
CHRISTIAN ETHICS: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED provides a fine approach to Christian
ethics and reviews the Christian moral life, using many Biblical references to chart the evolution
and meaning of Christian thoughts on justice, how to succeed as a human being, and more.
Philosophy and theology blend in a fine story packed with insights and perfect for collections
strong in scholarly assessments of Christian belief based on a blend of analysis and Biblical
passages.
Evangelical Catholicism
George Weigel
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465027682, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com
Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church provides readers with a
powerful assessment of the evangelical label in Christian thinking, and provides a fine account of
the re-evangelicalization of the West and the differences between traditional church approaches
of the past and the core of Evangelical Catholicism. It discusses reformed-based evangelization,
considers the options and impacts of these Catholic reforms, and integrates the overall process
into the whole of Christian thinking and belief. The result is a powerful guide, highly
recommended for any Catholic or Christian collection.
The Military Shelf
A-10 Thunderbolt II Units of Operation: Enduring Freedom
Gary Wetzel
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780963044, $22.95, www.ospreypublishing.com
A-10 Thunderbolt II Units of Operation: Enduring Freedom 2002-07 provides a fine survey of
the A-10 Thunderbolt II's action during Enduring Freedom, detailing five years of its service
from 2002-2007 and featuring first-hand combat accounts and photography from all involved.
Artwork and photos in striking color accompany a technical discussion of the units, from their
makeup and evolution to the missions and pilots who flew them, making this a fine selection for
aviation and military history holdings alike!
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com
Angus Konstam's SALERNO 1943: THE ALLIES INVADE SOUTHERN ITALY
(9781780962498, $21.95) covers the invasion force that landed in Salerno only a dozen miles
from Naples. The ten-day battle there was eventually decided in favor of the Allies, and this uses
documentary records plus eyewitness accounts from all sides to recreate the battle hour by hour.
Vintage black and white photos accompany color illustrations by Steve Noon and memoirs to
make for a thorough documentation of a battle that has long been neglected by both sides,
making this a fine pick for any World War II military history collection. Raffaele D'Amato &
Andrea Salimbeti's EARLY AEGEAN WARRIOR 5000-1450 BC (9781780968582, $18.95)
provides a fine coverage of the daily lives of early Aegean warriors in ancient Greece, and is a
pick for both military history collections and those specializing in ancient Greek history and
culture. This title focuses on military developments of the mainland and islands of Greece from
the beginning of the Bronze Age. Color illustrations by Giuseppe Rava accompany to make for a
detailed, in-depth coverage perfect for those looking for specifics on early military campaigns.
Peter Simkins, Geoffrey Jukes and Michael Hickey's THE FIRST WORLD WAR: THE WAR
TO END ALL WARS (9781782002802, $30.00) provides a detailed, in-depth history covering
the basics of the First World War, with a focus on how its techniques and radical strategies
changed the face of warfare. From mass slaughters previously thought impossible to global
involvements and conflicts, this covers battles across lands and details all the differences that set
this first world war apart from any previous human conflict. The result is a powerful assessment
that's a 'must' for any military history collection.
The Needlecraft Shelf
C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Drive
Concord, CA 94520-5206
www.ctpub.com
Sherri McConnell's A QUILTING LIFE: CREATING A HANDMADE HOME 19 PROJECTS
(9781607056591, $24.95) teaches the basics of using modern fabrics to make pillows, table
runners and larger quilts, and offers ideas for designs that make for gifts and keepsake heirlooms
alike. Color photos of finished needlework projects accompany step-by-step diagrams and
assembly patterns, while at-a-glance sidebars covering materials and cutting allow needleworkers
to gauge the complexity of each project. With its diverse selection of fabrics and designs, A
Quilting Life is a fine pick for any quilter looking to produce family-oriented keepsake results.
Susan Maw and Sally Bell's SEW A BACKYARD ADVENTURE (9781607056676, $29.95)
tells how to create a range of projects from finger puppets to teepees, hats, backpacks and more -
all of which lend to camping out in a backyard setting. These are whimsical, fun creations that
pair step-by-step instructions with template patterns and plenty of ideas for bright, whimsical
backyard stories and adventures. Any sewing for children will find this a fun collection of
whimsical ideas.
Skirt-A-Day Sewing
Nicole Smith
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429740, $19.95, www.storey.com
Skirt-A-Day Sewing: Create 28 Skirts for a Unique Look Every Day takes four classic skirt styles
- warp, straight, flared and high-waisted - and shows how to make custom patterns to create
seven variations for each skirt. The sum is some 28 unique creations, teaching the basics of
sewing, finishing, and even creating one's own patterns. The result goes beyond simple
skirt-making and delves into the basics of creating unusual patterns and working with skirts to
get the maximum results from a few simple ideas.
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE
Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
Mary H. Bonnette and Jo Lynne Murchland's PAINTBOX KNITS: MORE THAN 30 DESIGNS
FOR KIDS (9781564773364, $19.99) provides a fine set of small patterns that blend colors and
motifs kills will find attractive and fun to wear. Over 30 projects range from cardigans and tunics
to pants, jackets and more. Many are suitable for girls or boys, and each design incorporates
generous proportions to accommodate rapidly-growing children. From tips for child sizing to
blocking, finishing, knitting and more, this creates fun and innovative twists on standards and
provides knitters with many fun options. Eileen Wright's MORE TWIST-AND-TURN
BARGELLO QUILTS (9781604682595, $24.99) teaches bargello projects that range in size
from a bed runner to full-size quilts and pillowcases, teaching Wright's quilt-by-number
technique in the process, and providing projects that appeal to beginners and advanced quilters
alike. Full-page patterns accompany color photos and step-by-step instructions on cutting slices,
making fabric strips, and more. The result is a powerful collection of quilt patterns that are
geometrically and visually unique, and perfect for quilters looking for something different.
The Woodworking Shelf
Woodcarving Magic
Bjarne Jespersen
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565235236, $19.95, www.foxchapelpublishing.com
WOODCARVING MAGIC: HOW TO TRANSFORM A SINGLE BLOCK OF WOOD INTO
IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES provides nearly thirty projects for carving various geometric designs and
is a 'must' for any woodcarver who wants more than the usual carving project involving furniture
or animals. From choosing wood and selecting tools to creating amazing objects with
interconnected parts, this is packed with color photos and step-by-step insights on the entire
process, and is a 'must' for wood carvers who are looking for something different and 'out of the
box' in the way of carving and shaping wood.
The Railroading Shelf
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbach.com
Two beading titles are top picks for beaders looking for something different, and offer specific
projects perfect for building skills. Irina Miech's IRINA'S METAL CLAY COLLECTION FOR
BEADERS: A MASTER INSTRUCTOR'S FAVORITE PROJECTS (9780871167842, $19.95)
features lay-flat pages for easy use and three exciting new projects in a collection designed to
teach basic skills that mimic metalworking results. Beginner through advanced levels are
covered, projects present easy step-by-step photos and accompanying directions, and all are
supported by clear close-up images that leave nothing to guess at. Bead&Button Magazine's
CREATIVE BEADING V. 8 (9780871167682, $29.95) provides lovely projects form many
jewelry artists and demonstrates a wide range of beading techniques and stitches. All projects
have been tested by the editors and include step-by-step instructions and both full-page and small
color photos and illustrations. These two fine titles should be considered mainstays adding to and
enhancing any crafter's collection!
The Cookbook Shelf
Chocolat
Eric Lanlard
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845337889, $24.99, www.octopuspublishing.com
CHOCOLAT: SEDUCTIVE RECIPES FOR BAKED GOODS, DESSERTS, TRUFFLES, AND
OTHER TREATS comes from an award-winning author who hares over 100 of his favorite
recipes for chocolate. He was a young patisserie chef who trained as an apprentice chocolatier,
and has been fascinated with chocolate's history as well as its use in foods. This provides an
overview, discusses basic handling methods, and features a range of chocolate treats. The heart
of the book, however, lies in Eric Lanlard's unique recipes what pair more familiar dishes such as
brownies with unusual variations such as an Apricot and Chocolate Charlotte, Chocolate and
Chestnut Truffle Cakes, and Lapsang Souchong Pralines. The result is an outstanding
presentation, highly recommended for any who want a blend of traditional and unusual chocolate
dessert fare.
Conran Octopus
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue
New York NY 10017
www.octopuspublishing.com
The little 'Leon' cookbooks presented by Conran Octopus stem from the healthy UK restaurant
chain LEON and provide four small editions packed with appealing recipes. They stand out both
individually and as a set, collecting easy recipes for good food that is healthy and adding humor
and a fun presentation to 64 pages complimented by color photos and illustrations. LEON
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH (9781840916348, $9.99) outlines fast and healthy recipes from
wheat-free pancakes to a Breakfast Banana Split, SMOOTHIES, JUICES & COCKTAILS
(9781840916317, $9.99) outlines healthy breakfast and all-day smoothies made from fruits and
vegetables, BROWNIES, BARS & MUFFINS (9781840916331, $9.99) details wheat-, dairy-
and sugar-free options for traditional muffins and brownies, and SOUPS SALADS & SNACKS
(9781840916324, $9.99) offers recipes for energy-producing sandwiches and soups and salads.
All are top picks individually or together, and make lovely gift ideas for any cook interested in
healthy fare.
Where Chefs Eat
Joe Warwick
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780714865416, $19.95, www.phaidon.com
WHERE CHEFS EAT is the ultimate restaurant guide for fans of good food, and presents a
collection of over 400 of the world's best chefs and the places they go to for good food.
Addresses, telephone numbers, maps and reviews accompany quotes from the chefs themselves,
including information on credit card acceptance, price range, reservation policy and more. The
book itself is weighty - over six hundred pages - but the result is a powerful collection highly
recommended for any who love to travel and eat. Oh, and all budget levels are included: we're
not talking only high-class, expensive establishments here!
The True History of Chocolate, third edition
Sophie D. and Michael D. Coe
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500290682, $22.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
The True History of Chocolate appears in its third updated edition to provide a fine survey of
chocolate and its history, which began some 4,000 years ago in the jungles of Mexico and
Central America with the chocolate tree and the evolution of a process to change its bitter seeds
into chocolate. New photos and revisions throughout provide keys to chocolate's evolution and
introduction around the world, including a new chapter on a Guatemalan chocolate producer, and
makes for a fine coverage highly recommended for any interested in a definitive story of
chocolate's evolution.
The FastDiet Cookbook
Mimi Spencer with Dr. Sarah Schenker
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781476749860, $19.99, www.simonandschuster.com
The FastDiet Cookbook provides a fine companion volume to the best-selling The FastDiet, a
plan featured on Good Morning America, Rachael Ray, and more, and provides over a hundred
low-calorie recipes to support making The FastDiet a lifestyle change. The FastDiet, for those
new to the idea, advocates that it's possible to lose weight while eating normally five days a
week: just cut back calories for two non-consecutive days: 500 calories for women, 600 for men.
Recipes provided here are designed to fill you up and keep hunger from happening - and none are
more than 500 calories. From stocking the pantry to cooking tips, The FastDiet Cookbook
provides an outstanding plan for any dieter enthusiastic about the concept.
The Botany Shelf
Australian Rainforest Fruits
Wendy Cooper
Csiro Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9780643197847, $59.95, www.styluspub.com
Australian Rainforest Fruits: A Field Guide offers a lovely guide to fruiting plants found in
Australia's eastern rainforests, and is a recommendation for any world botany collection strong in
plants in general and Australian flora and fauna in particular. Lovely artwork by natural history
artist William T. Cooper accompanies botanical descriptions of some 500 of the most common
fruiting plants found in Australia's eastern rainforests. While this is a very specific coverage, it
will also prove essential to any comprehensive collection, accompanying each species description
with a leaf drawing, distribution map, and identification keys. A 'must' for any involved in
Australian flora.
The Science Shelf
Dreamland
David K. Randall
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393345865, $15.95, www.wwnorton.com
DREAMLAND: ADVENTURES IN THE STRANGE SCIENCE OF SLEEP documents
journalist David K. Randall's own experiences with sleep disorders, his encounters with sleep
therapists who tried to help him, and his investigations into the biology of sleep and cutting edge
research on the topic. The result is DREAMLAND, considering the science of sleep, experiments
with sleep, and new research into its importance and science. Psychology, research, and cultural
observation blend in a fine account recommended for science and health holdings alike!
The Computer Shelf
Mac Hacks
Chris Seibold
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449325589, $24.99, www.oreilly.com
MAC HACKS: TIPS & TOOLS FOR UNLOCKING THE POWER OF OS X is a pick for any
collection strong in Apple technology and teaches how to take control of a Mac system. Hacks in
this book go beyond surface customization processes, showing how to tweak system preferences,
mount drives, and how to work with files and underlying root systems. The result is a powerful
collection of tips, tools and techniques for any OS X user who would go beyond simple Mac
customization processes to change how the system itself operates.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw
W. Richard Stevens and Stephen A. Rago's third updated edition of ADVANCED
PROGRAMMING IN THE UNIX ENVIRONMENT (9780321637734, $69.99) is a highly
recommended 'must have' reference for any collection strong in Linux programming and UNIX
systems, and packs in over seventy new interfaces, removing most obsolete interfaces and
updating examples tested in four modern platforms: Solaris 10, Mac OS X v. 10.6.8, FreeBSD
8.0 and Ubuntu v. 12.04. Examples throughout demonstrate all the concepts and include over ten
thousand lines of downloadable source code, while functions are demonstrated using complete
programs that illustrate all factors. Exercises, format options, and plenty of code examples makes
this a fine reference promising lasting, repeat consultation. Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister's
PEOPLEWARE: PRODUCTIVE PROJECTS AND TEAMS (9780321934116, $39.99) appears
in its third edition to provide a fine enhancement of a best-selling title on software management.
Six new chapters have been added to this new edition, with the rest seeing extensive updates to
help it match the objectives and perspectives of modern development challenges. From
discussions of leadership changes and pathologies to discussions of teams made up of different
generations and insights into how tools can hinder as well as help, chapters discuss everything
from turnover to challenging the corporate norm, and provide the basics of what makes a good
software management team more effective. Marc Wandschneider's LEARNING NODE.JS: A
HANDS-ON GUIDE TO BUILDING WEB APPLICATIONS IN JAVASCRIPT
(9780321910578, $39.99) provides web programmers with a fine guide to getting up and running
fast with Node.js apps, and covers the basics of blending JavaScript code with the Node.js
platform. This primer begins with the basics of installing and running Node.js, discusses its
versions, and shows how to write an app. Later chapters cover advanced technical information
from performing common web server tasks to deploying Node.js apps on Unix, OS X or
Windows servers. The result is a wide-ranging survey highly recommended for any Node.js user;
especially newcomers who want an easy lesson book for building knowledge based on real-world
applications. William Van Hecke's LEARNING IOS DESIGN: A HANDS-ON GUIDE FOR
PROGRAMMERS AND DESIGNERS (9780321887498, $44.99) is for any Mac programmer
involved in iOS applications development and explains what design means and why effective app
design matters. Based on this initial assessment, he builds a set of design basics that serve as
building blocks and steps for exploring the basics of better app design. From making better user
interfaces to handling issues of versatility and flexibility, this is a powerful user's guide highly
recommended for any who would develop between Mac app designs.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Flinch Factor
Michael A. Kahn
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464201400, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com
THE FLINCH FACTOR provides a new Rachel Gold mystery revolving around attorney Rachel,
here fighting a powerful developer intent on bulldozing a blue-collar neighborhood to replace its
homes with a gated community. To complicate matters, Rachel's case will appear before a wacky
judge who is totally unpredictable, and her other client is the sister of a murdered heartthrob who
is convinced her brother's death is foul play. In a series of surprising moves the two cases take
some unexpected turns, contributing to a mystery which is filled with fine moments and unusual
twists of plot.
Not the Killing Type
Lorna Barrett
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425252222, $25.95, www.penguin.com
NOT THE KILLING TYPE provides a fine 'Booktown' mystery as it revolves around a charged
New Hampshire election process, the murder of a small business owner active in a small town's
political arena, and Tricia's unwitting involvement helping her sister clear her name in the
process. From small business pursuits to small town politics, the action becomes vivid and
unforgettable with many satisfying twists and turns mystery readers will relish.
A Killing at Cotton Hill
Terry Shames
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616147990, $15.95, www.prometheusbooks.com
Chief of police Dora lives in a small Texas down and is also the town drunk - so when she's
murdered, it's up to former police chief Samuel Craddock to investigate - and what he finds is
way too many suspects who have had confrontations with Dora in the past. As he searches for a
cunning killer, he uncovers much of the underlying currents of small town personalities and
secrets - and finds he may also be in danger if he probes too deeply into what may evolve to be
an interconnected set of dangers. Mystery writing at its best - and recommended for any mystery
collection!
The Fiction Shelf
Light of the World
James Lee Burke
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781476710761, $27.99, www.simonandschuster.com
Light of the World provides a new Dave Robicheaux novel and is set in summertime in Montana,
which provides a potential vacation for Louisiana Sheriff's Detective Dave Robicheaux. A
potentially-peaceful retreat turns into something sinister when an arrow attack on a train and a
rodeo clown with a dark past draw Dave and his best friend, ex-cop Clete, into a search for a
dangerous convicted serial killer. Great tension and high drama lends to a gripping novel packed
with twists and turns and exquisite characterization recommended for any novel or mystery
collection.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Good Life Lab
Wendy Jehanara Tremayne
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121017, $18.95, www.storey.com
THE GOOD LIFE LAB: RADICAL EXPERIMENTS IN HANDS-ON LIVING could have
appeared in a variety of columns, from 'Home and Garden' to 'Inspirational', but is reviewed here
for its wide-ranging and inspirational story of how one couple left high-pressure careers in New
York City to move to rural New Mexico where they embarked on a homemade, self-sufficient
lifestyle. They looked for a life less involved with material wealth and simpler in structure - a life
where they consumed less and created more. THE GOOD LIFE LAB charts their journey and is a
lovely inspirational back-to-the-land read for any who would follow in their footsteps.
The Five Seasons
Dr. Joseph Cardillo
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632586, $14.99, www.newpagebooks.com
The Five Seasons: Tap Into Nature's Secrets for Health, Happiness, and Harmony provides a fine
mind-body guide form a popular therapist and teacher in the field, and is based on the five
universal seasons from traditional Chinese medicine and Western psychology. It teaches how to
change the way one processes nature's energies to change life, and shows how to differentiate
beneficial from harmful conflict, fight off depression, and increase physical strength. The result
is a pick for health and new age collections alike.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Nazi Occult
Kenneth Hite
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780965987, $17.95, www.ospreyadventuresbooks.com
The Nazi Occult provides a complete history of Nazi occult programs and occult experts who
delved into ancient lore seeking lost secrets of power. From experiments with zero-point energy
to quests for the Ark of the Covenant, this documents both occult pursuits and the shadow war
fought in the last days of the Reich as Hitler's followers deployed flying saucers to try to save the
Nazis' final Antarctic base. For years Allied governments tried to keep this information secret:
this survey uses photography and artwork reconstructions to consider the secret beliefs of the
war, and provides a fine survey recommended for new age and military holdings alike.
The Political Science Shelf
America's Way Back
Donald J. Devine
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
1610170636, $29.95, www.isibooks.org
AMERICA'S WAY BACK: RECLAIMING FREEDOM, TRADITION, AND CONSTITUTION
is all about evolving social and political values in modern America, and posits the idea that
progressivism has corrupted modern political thinking in both parties. Many attempts at
correction have failed, and yet government systems insist on following the same paths using the
same techniques calling for more spending and bigger government. This analyzes the basics of
freedom and tradition inherent in modern conservatism, explaining the flexibility of the
American political structure and how this flexibility may be used to achieve greater results. Any
political studies collection needs this.
The Education Shelf
Evaluating America's Teachers
W. James Popham
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452260853, $27.95, www.corwin.com
Evaluating America's Teachers: Mission Possible? provides a fine collection examining
evaluation policies and strategies, and is a pick for any concerned with policymaking and school
leadership. Many teacher evaluation systems fall short of their goals and actually harm the
learning environment rather than helping students and teachers succeed. This provides a
step-by-step assessment of strategies and their pros and cons, pointing out the fallacies of the
inferences tests provide and documenting betters paths of assessment. Judgments, evaluations
and resulting decisions are all analyzed in a title highly recommended for any education
collection!
Learning from the Bumps in the Road
Holly Elissa Bruno, MA JD, et.al.
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605542065, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org
Learning from the Bumps in the Road: Insights from Early Education Leaders describes various
'bumps' that those working in early care and education encounter every day, and provides
cautionary tales and plenty of food for thought for any involved in early education. It packs in
personal stories, reflections, ideas, and encouragement for all kinds of leadership and education
issues revolving around young children and their families, with contributions from educators
ranging from how laws help or harm multicultural efforts to love/hate relationships with
technology, assessing child development, and developing personal and professional connections.
A 'must' for any early childhood collection!
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
Roy Thomas and Bill Schelly's THE BEST OF ALTER EGO: VOLUME 2 (9781605490489,
$19.95) provides a fine sequel to Alter Ego: The Best of the Legendary Comics Fanzine and
gathers more illustrations from original issues plus undiscovered works from all 11 original
issues published between 1961 and 1978. Here are new industry revelations about the fanzine,
vintage articles about a range of characters from Blackhawk to the Justice League of America,
and rarely-seen comics stories by Joe Kubert and others, some collected here for the first time.
Add a rare interview with Jean Giraud and many special illustrated sections and you have a top
pick for any definitive comics history collection. Richard Arndt's STAR REACH COMPANION
(9781605490519, $27.95) provides a complete history and bibliography of the 1970s
independent comic Star reach, and is a pick for any who know of this comic and its wide-ranging
influence across the genres of graphic novels and comic art. A range of creators and artists are
featured with works in black and white with some partial color, including detailed historical
coverage and interviews conducted by author Richard Arndt. Full stories from Star Reach and its
sister magazine Imagine provides a lovely survey while a Cody Starbuck story by Howard
Chaykin is presented for the first time in its original, intended version. All of this makes for a
definitive guide and a 'must' for any collection strong in independent comics history.
The Gardening Shelf
Heavenly Hydrangeas
Joan Harrison
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764344190, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com
Heavenly Hydrangeas: A Practical Guide for the Home Gardener is for any home gardener who
wants an in-depth focus on the hydrangea, and comes packed with color photo examples
throughout as it discusses basic selection, planting, care and cultivation, and propagation. Over
250 color photos display flowers and varieties while discussions on gardening challenges
particular to the hydrangea will delight gardeners who want specifics, not generalities. With its
many insights on the plant, Heavenly Hydrangeas will greatly enhance any botany or home
gardening library.
Container Gardening
Royal Horticultural Society
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781845337186, $19.99, www.octopusbooks.com
Container Gardening deserves ongoing mention as a fine guide offering keys to creating
attractive pots and plants for all types of gardens from patios to porches, and covers over five
hundred species and varieties of container plants best for edible, ornamental and long-term
planning. From avoiding common pitfalls in container gardening to step by step instructions, this
covers all the basics of container design and money-saving ideas, and is a top recommendation
for any gardener's collection.
The Humor Shelf
That's Not Funny, That's Sick
Ellin Stein
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
978039307409, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com
That's Not Funny, That's Sick: The National Lampoon and the Comedy Insurgents Who Captured
the Mainstream comes from a journalist who uses firsthand interviews with key people involved
in comedy to document the National Lampoon's rise from a university humor magazine to a
national publication with wide-reaching influence on the nature and presentation of comedy as a
whole. From the personalities involved in the Lampoon's original creation to its evolution into a
revolutionary cultural icon of criticism and observation, this provides a powerful account highly
recommended for any interested in comedy.
The Antiques/Collectors Shelf
American Silver Eagles, second edition
John M. Mercanti
Whitman Publishing
4001 Helton Drive, Florence, Alabama 35630
9780794840303, $29.95, www.whitmanbooks.com
The second updated edition of AMERICAN SILVER EAGLES: A GUIDE TO THE U.S.
BULLION COIN PROGRAM provides a fine survey of a popular coin collected by many from
investors to numismatist, and offers a fine survey by the designer or the coin's reverse who has
nearly forty years of experience working in the U.S. mint. Joined by Michael Standish a
professional coin grader, he provides a wealth of technical information covering the artistic,
historical and current facets of the silver eagle coin in a fine gathering covering the U.S. mint's
coins and sets of 2012 and 2013. Updated pricing information and details on other issues add to a
new appendix to make this a winning and exceptional survey for any coin collector.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Shakespeare for Screenwriters
J.M. Evenson
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931415, $19.95, www.mwp.com
Shakespeare for Screenwriters uses wisdom and writings from The Bard to provide a powerful
template of success considering how Shakespeare created compelling character that have
intrigued audiences for centuries. It's the first book to use Shakespeare's works to consider the
basics of screenwriting success, examining stories, characters and scenes and providing
commentary on everything from untried heroes struggling to succeed against all odds to creating
exceptional settings. Any film or drama writing looking to learn from a 'master' could do no
better than this guide.
The Sports Shelf
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.humankinetics.com
Ian Jeffreys, DEVELOPING SPEED (9780736083288, $19.95) joins others in the 'Sport
Performance' series and comes from eight of the top National Strength and Conditioning
Association experts who turn their attention to developing superior speed in any sport. It helps
readers assess their current abilities and needs, offering techniques and tips key to increasing
athletic speed and providing a resource any can use to reach a speed-oriented goal. From sport-
specific drills to sequencing, preparation and coaching points, this offers a fine array of
techniques and applications any sports participant will find compelling! Kimberly Mueller and
Josh Hingst's THE ATHLETE'S GUIDE TO SPORTS SUPPLEMENTS (9780736093699,
$18.95) provides quick answers to common questions about sports supplements and comes from
sports nutrition and supplement experts who consider over a hundred of the most popular
supplements on the market today. Each entry covers performance benefits, research studies,
dosage recommendations, and adverse reactions. The research section provides in-depth
information on dosages, human data and double-blind studies, and more. The result is a powerful
survey highly recommended for any athletic or health collection.
The Automotive Shelf
Ford Differentials
Joseph Palazzolo
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781613250389, $24.95, www.cartechbooks.com
Ford Differentials: How to Rebuild the 8.8 and 9-inch deserves ongoing mention and
recommendation as a practical addition to any collection focusing on rebuilding cars in general
and the Ford in particular. One might initially think these differentials to be highly specialized: in
fact, they were some of the most popular differentials on the market, and were widely used in
vehicles ranging from rods and muscle cars to race cars. This Workbench book provides
step-by-step directions for rebuilding, with illustrations and photos throughout accompanying
details on the best gear and choices during the rebuild process. No automotive collection should
be without this invaluable reference.
Camaro & Firebird Performance Projects
Jeff Tann
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781613250143, $29.95, www.cartechbooks.com
Camaro & Firebird Performance Projects 1970-1981 offers a compilation of projects that range
from performing engine swaps and installing upgraded systems to handling chassis, suspension
and electrical components, and teaches how to take a basic stock, second-generation Camaro or
Firebird and transform it into a fast muscle car. Chapters are packed with step-by-step color
photos throughout and explain all the basics of installations and upgrades. From assessments of
OEM options to discussions of performance enhancements, this is a top pick for any gearhead
owner of the Camaro or Firebird.
The Calendar Shelf
American Quilter's Society 2014 Wall Calendar
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604601022, $12.95, www.americanquilter.com
American Quilter's Society 2014 Wall Calendar provides a lively wall calendar perfect for any
who love quilting and want to see full-color inspirations on their walls. Thirteen lovely quilts
were selected from the winners of the 2013 AQS quilt week in Kentucky and are here provided
in a large-format, 12 x 24" wall calendar perfect for displaying them. A lovely gift for any quilter,
this includes good-sized boxes for easy notes.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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