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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
For Love and Treasure
Monty Joynes
Seaside Books
c/o Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780692399316, $19.95, www.squareonepublishers.com
For Love and Treasure: The Life and Times of the World's Most Successful Treasure Hunting
Family documents the world and achievements of Mel Fisher, known as "The World's Greatest
Treasure Hunter' who established the Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum and the Mel Fisher
Maritime Museum in Florida to promote research and archaeology. While Mel passed away in
1998, his son Kim Fisher carries on the family tradition, and this blend of autobiography and
scientific exploration offers a lively survey into the family's achievements. Treasure hunting by
definition involves risk and adventure: For Love and Treasure documents this process and
provides a lively, engrossing read by a family committed to exploration.
Nourish
Amber Rose, Sadie Frost & Holly Davidson
Kyle Books
1st Floor, 192-198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1DX
9781909487321, $27.95, www.kylebooks.com
Nourish Mind, Body & Soul is a review of the elements needed for good living and presents the
synthesis of experiences and perspectives of three authors who blend personal experiences and
autobiography with recipes, exercises, and beauty tips. These different approaches are designed
to boost the immune system with good food, meditation, yoga, and more, with the approach
focused on sharing information that will lead to nourishment on many levels: spiritual, physical,
and emotional. The result is a powerful blend of new age and health guide that is outstanding in
its diverse approaches.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Written in Stone
Christopher Stevens
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781650989075, $27.95, www.amazon.com
Written in Stone: A Journey Through the Stone Age and the Origins of Modern Language goes
beyond most linguistics history titles to survey how English is actually based on original Stone
Age words, and where the Indo-European languages originated. Its approach blends linguistics
insights and analysis with ancient history, mythology, archaeology and more to examine how
words evolved from their prehistoric roots, and chapters offer surprising humor in the course of
examining a lively history of ancient language. Surprisingly vivid, accessible, and of interest to a
wide general audience including non-scholars with little prior familiarity in language history and
science, Written in Stone is a top recommendation.
The Art Shelf
Arts & Science, second edition
Eliane Strosberg
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013
9780789212191, $34.95, www.abbeville.com
The second updated edition of Arts & Science offers a fine history of the connections between
these two disciplines and remains the only book to survey, in depth, the history of these
associations from primitive to modern times. Chapters consider such subjects as how scientific
developments and understanding have shaped architectural design, how math has created new
artistic avenues in the decorative arts, and how advancements in psychological understanding
have expanded concepts of what is art and how to tailor graphic design and illustration to make
the most of these insights. It belongs on the shelves of both art and science holdings and provides
an intersection of two disciplines which too commonly appear at odds with one another, making
it a top recommendation for college students in either discipline.
Indian Country: The Art of David Bradley
Valerie K. Verzuh
Museum of New Mexico Press
PO Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087
9780890136010, $34.95, www.mnmpress.org
Indian Country: The Art of David Bradley comes from a Native American artist who has long
used his art to represent Native concerns and visions. This coffee table-sized overview is a 'must'
for any Native collection, offering vivid paintings that incorporate social and political
commentary with Native concerns and perspectives. With its vivid colors and thought-provoking
twists, Indian Country is a 'must' for both arts and Native American holdings alike.
The Business Shelf
ManipuRated
Daniel Lemin
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610352628, $14.95, www.amazon.com
It's about time that someone published a book for business owners whose endeavors have been
unfairly rated online, and it's also about time that someone point out the corruption and
inconsistencies involved in rating systems and reviews which can be fraudulent. As small
businesses stake their lives and reputations via Yelp, Angie's, and other notable websites, it's
been apparent that online reviews can too easily make or break a business. What's an owner to
do? ManipuRated offers both a review of how online reviews work and, more importantly, a set
of strategies on how to take bad reviews and erroneous postings and make them work to a
business advantage. Online reputation strategist author Lemin's book should be on every business
owner's reading list.
The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf
Quality Management
Mary Pellettieri
Brewers Association
P.O. Box 1679, Boulder, CO 80306
9781938459152, $95.00, www.brewersassociation.org
Quality Management: Essential Planning for Breweries provides professional brewers and
brewing businesses with a specific key to designing and managing a quality control system - one
of a brewery's most critical elements - and teaches brewers how to incorporate such a program
into a brewery's daily operations. From good manufacturing practices and general operating
procedures to audit reports, dealing with government requirements and paperwork,
problem-solving and lab testing, and how to grow company policy as an organization grows, this
is packed with keys to planning systems that both work, last, and grow with the brewery
environment, making it a specialty recommendation for aspiring professional brewers and the
companies they work for.
The Computer Shelf
Microsoft Office 2013-365 and Beyond
Theodor Richardson and Charles Thies
Mercury Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781938549847, $79.95, www.merclearning.com
Microsoft Office 2013-365 and Beyond: Computer Concepts and Applications is divided into
five sections with sixteen chapters that build a foundation of basic computer concepts for
newcomers to Microsoft Office 2013 and Office for Mac 2011, and offers all the skills needed to
navigate the programs and use Office for basic tasks. From using Adobe Reader for reading PDF
files and OneNote for Windows for managing them to advanced uses such as creating text boxes
in a slide, chapter summaries, practice exercises and 'challenge' exercises offer students the
opportunity for not just self-study, but testing and reinforcing concepts. The result is a primer
packed with the basics, which no computer user should be without.
Common Information Models for an Open, Analytical, and Agile World
Mandy Chessell, et.al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133366150, $39.99, www.ibmpressbooks.com
Common Information Models for an Open, Analytical, and Agile World comes from five senior
IBM IT professionals who teach the basics of how to use information-centric views to
incorporate data into overall project design and delivery. It teaches how to use Common
Information Models to standardize how information is represented and it uses a complete case
study to consider the process of identifying, building, and maintaining CIM models. From best
practices and agile applications to choosing between structures and using tools to manage CIM,
this is a powerful reference that is a top pick for any concerned with information architecture and
better, more agile models.
The American History Shelf
Gardens of Eden
Robert B. MacKay, Editor
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393733211, $65.00, www.wwnorton.com
Gardens of Eden: Long Island's Early Twentieth-Century Planned Communities deserves
ongoing mention as a top local reference gathering the work of architectural historians and local
historians, and blends archival research with period landscape illustrations throughout as it
considers the planning and evolution of early Long Island. Chapters consider its unique
geography and development and focus on the garden communities fostered in the area, offering
specific and close analysis of how these planned communities evolved. From museum
developments and how properties were marked and divided to the early evolution of Long
Island's real estate community, Gardens of Eden packs in historical and social analysis in a
presentation filled with social, political, economic, and architectural insights on choices made
and their rationale. The result is a solid survey that's highly recommended for any collection
strong in New York state history.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Nutritional Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome
Isaias Dichi and Andrea Name Colado Simao
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466556829, $139.00, www.crcpress.com
Nutritional Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome is a college-level text outlining nutritional
interventions ranging from diet therapy and dietary patterns in different diets to understanding the
physiopathology mechanisms in metabolic disorders and nutritional intervention strategies. The
book consists of medical analysis, reports, studies around food groups and diet therapy
applications, and risk factors, and focus on dietary components of physiopathology and
relationships between diet and cardiovascular changes. Intended for nutritionists and medical
students alike, this specific focus and approach gathers a host of relevant articles and insights and
pairs them with extensive bibliographic citations perfect for further study, making Nutritional
Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome a complex and authoritative synthesis of the latest research
in the field. A 'must' for any serious college-level health collection with nutritionist professional
readers.
The Travel Shelf
Ultimate Travel
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781760342777, $24.99, www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet's Ultimate Travel: Our List of the 500 Best Places to See... Ranked gathers the
travel experiences of experts who have gone around the world and ranked the best sights both
well-known and less known. The result is truly a collection of ultimate destinations and
attractions, packaged in a slightly oversized coffee table book filled with color photos and
discussions of why each attraction is 'ultimate'. Lists of 'must see' attractions are common; but
what is less usual is seeing the hugely famous sites - such as the Taj Mahal - listed next to
lesser-known or nearly obscure places. The history, discussion, and lovely color photos create an
enticing package designed to attract armchair readers and destination travelers alike.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Anunnaki Chronicles: A Zecharia Sitchin Reader
Janet Sitchin, Editor
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591432296, $24.00, www.BearandCompanyBooks.com
The Anunnaki Chronicles: A Zecharia Sitchin Reader includes never-before published works as
it gathers under one cover the interpretive skills of ancient biblical writings scholar Zecharia
Sitchin. His niece edits his writings and compiles decades of research, organizing his theories
under one cover and including chapters from his Earth Chronicles series alongside articles and
lectures which haven't been published before. Each piece is introduced by his niece and assistant
and offers personal insights into the man's research and works, making for a definitive collection
no new age holding should be without.
The Biography Shelf
Henry Clay
Harlow Giles Unger
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306823916, $25.99, www.dacapopress.com
Henry Clay: America's Greatest Statesman provides a fine political history in discussing how
young Kentucky lawyer Henry Clay prevented the dissolution of the new American republic
during its early years. Clay was the only freshman congressman ever elected Speaker of the
House, and his efforts succeeded in uniting feuding members of the House of Representatives
during some fifty years of service. His efforts to save the Union and his negotiating skills were
unparalleled and this county would not be what it is today were it not for his vision and efforts.
It's about time a biography would return him to a central place in American history: no American
history or political studies collection would be complete without adding this key title.
The Crafts Shelf
Origami Jewelry
Lafosse and Alexander
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9784805311516, $16.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com
Origami Jewelry: Easy-to-Make Paper Pendants, Bracelets, Necklaces and Earrings pairs
step-by-step instructions with an accompanying free DVD video collection explaining how to
fold and make paper jewelry, and comes from origami artists who take the paper-folding concept
a step further to create medallions, bracelets, and even earrings. Instructions move from basic
paper-folding techniques to combining paper with beads and other embellishments. The result is
something new to origami: a combination of mediums centered on the paper-folding approach
and filled with step-by-step illustrations that make for easy understanding and polished
results.
The Sports Shelf
Yogafit, third edition
Beth Shaw
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781492507406, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com
The third updated edition of Yogafit offers a program based on yoga poses for improved
flexibility and physique, and has been expanded and updated to include new strength- and
flexibility-building workouts based on yoga. It comes from an expert on fitness and yoga who has
incorporated both into a program that can be used daily, customized easily, and adjusted for
personal goals, and it pairs color sequences with step-by-step written directions to make for an
easy program even beginners new to yoga can access. Any who would use yoga to improve body
and mind will find this a solid collection of specific routines.
The Cookbook Shelf
Plant Based Cookbook
Trish Sebben-Krupka
DK Publishing, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781465435361, $25.00, www.dk.com
Plant Based Cookbook: Good for Your Heart, Your Health, and Your Life packs in 200
whole-food recipes promoting a plant-based diet as a healthier pursuit, and pairs tips on how to
transition fro ma meat-based diet to one based on whole foods. From cooking whole food dishes
to producing such fare as a cauliflower, olive and caper Neopolitan Christmas Salad, crisp potato
pancake Latkes, and Green Curry Vegetable Stew, Plant Based Cookbook is packed with flavor,
profiles many dishes that can be assembled in under 30 minutes, and is filled with international
influences and flavors to delight even the most avid meat-based eater.
Sweetie Pie's Cookbook
Miss Robbie
Amistad
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780062322807, $28.99, www.harpercollins.com
Sweetie Pie's Cookbook: Soulful Southern Recipes, from My Family to Yours comes from a
cook who prepared meals with her mother for eight children, learning the recipes that were
passed down between generations, and it presents classic soul food and variations on classic
themes alike. From beef short ribs with onions and carrots to rutabaga mashed with ham and
Oniony Roasted Corn, these dishes are packed with flavor and soul, with color photos
accompanying appealing recipes that need no culinary expertise to produce successfully. Any
who want to explore Southern cooking will relish the bright images and easy directions in
Sweetie Pie's Cookbook.
Vegan Bowls
Zsu Dever
Vegan Heritage Press
P.O. Box 628, Woodstock, VA 22664-0628
9781941252154, $21.95, www.veganheritagepress.com
Vegan Bowls: Perfect Flavor Harmony in Cozy One-Bowl Meals offers a unique survey that
advocates making plant-based one-bowl meals which can be constructed in 30 minutes or less,
including soups, salads, international fare, and main dishes, and is a top pick for any vegan
cook's collection. It holds a wide range of flavors and fare, such as a 'Green and White Chili
Bowl' which layers beans, white hominy and oregano with peppers, onion, garlic, and cilantro
and spinach, and it will prove an ideal choice for busy books who want something quick and
flavorful. Color photos of finished dishes add further, eye-catching appeal.
The Nordic Cookbook
Magnus Nilsson
Phaidon Press
65 Bleecker Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10012
9780714868721, $49.95, www.phaidon.com
There are a relative few Nordic cookbooks on the market; but none hold the depth and
presentation of The Nordic Cookbook by Magnus Nilsson - so if it's only one Nordic 'bible'
reference that is desired, it should be this one. The contents were inspired by the author's travels
throughout Nordic nations from Demark and Finland to Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands,
and explores similarities and differences in their cuisine. It's arranged into twenty-two weighty
recipe chapters and includes both familiar ingredients and less familiar fare unique to Nordic
food, and it pairs its recipes with discussions, color photos, and discussions which explore
Nordic culture and concerns as wide-ranging as whale populations and commercial fishing. It
should be noted that in an expansive volume packing in over 700 recipes, not all will be
accessible to everyone. Some involve specialized ingredients or dishes for special tastes, and the
dishes have been tested in Sweden. As the author notes, this means that different recipes under
different conditions will produce different results.
Baklava to Tarte Tatin
Bernard Laurance
Flammarion
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9782080202154, $34.95, www.flammarion.com
Baklava to Tarte Tatin: a World Tour in 110 Dessert Recipes comes from a food blogger and
traveler who here combines his two passions in a recipe for success during a quest for the best
desserts of each country he visits. He tastes their classic pastry fare, then reconstructs ingredients,
methods, and flavors to present a tested recipe here that works on many levels. The result gathers
classic cuisines and simplifies their process for any who want an international culinary tour of the
best desserts the planet's nations can offer.
Cooking Like a Master Chef
Graham Elliot
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781476796512, $30.00, www.simonsays.com
Cooking Like a Master Chef: 100 Recipes to Make the Everyday Extraordinary comes from the
host of a popular Fox network culinary show whose first cookbook is designed to reach home
cooks who want to create impressive food for celebrations. The book is arranged by season
which makes it a snap to use fresh ingredients, it includes full-color photos throughout, and it
provides variations on traditional favorite dishes with such are as Lobster Corn Dogs and an
unusual take-off on the all-American banana split. Add a dash of humor and a lively approach
and you have a wonderful collection home cooks can use to bring their existing skills and recipes
to the next level.
The Education Shelf
Talk About Teaching! Leading Professional Conversations, second edition
Charlotte Danielson
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781483373799, $34.00, www.corwin.com
Talk About Teaching! Leading Professional Conversations provides a fine survey of how to
encourage professional conversations and discussions about education, and comes from a team of
teachers who discuss the basics of connecting with students on a meaningful level. The second
edition of this book offers a new chapter on guiding conversations, sample topics and
conversation activities, and discussions of how to engage students through conversational
approaches and professional practices. From promoting analytic thinking to taking into account
what motivates students and affects their actions, Talk About Teaching is for educators who want
to open and foster dialogues that support the learning process.
Restorative Practice and Special Needs
Nick Burnett and Margaret Thorsborne
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849055437, $39.95, www.jkp.com
Restorative Practice and Special Needs: A Practical Guide to Working Restoratively with Young
People provides an overview of RP, an approach to discipline that changes behaviors by building
and restoring relationships, and offers a practical guide on how to implement these approaches
with special needs young people in educational and residential settings like. Case studies are
blended with discussions on how basic RP concepts can be adapted for those with such needs,
with chapters offering specific examples and guidelines for professionals, educators, and parents
alike. Any working with special needs young people will find this a fine program to
consider.
The Music CD Shelf
Amataga
Te Vaka
Warm Earth Records
c/o Spirit of Play Productions
www.tevaka.com
B0161BEJSK, $8.99 MP3, $29.52 Audio CD, www.amazon.com
Te Vaka has now passed the 8th album mark, and though this colorful Polynesian group tours
outside of the South Pacific, fans not on the tour route will have to settle for recordings - and
fortunately, all have been excellent. Lead by Opetaia Foai, the group combines traditional
Polynesian instruments such as long drums with acoustic guitars and subtle electric keyboards -
and, of course, excellent choral changing. Te Vaka is mostly a family band with Opetaia's grown
children singing and playing: three of the current eight touring members are family; with a few
more featured on the recordings. The females have particularly compelling, high voices and
though many lyrics have a tropical slant, very few are in English. Cut #5, Amataga, is a particular
favorite as it features Olivia Foai (Opetaia's daughter) on lead vocal with a rhythm somewhat
reminiscent of Buddy Holly: totally delightful. This reviewer is wearing out the CD; it's that
good.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2016-2017
Judith Miller
Miller Guides
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784720896, $45.00, www.millersguides.com
Antiques Handbook & Price Guide 2016-2017 provides a new edition of a general antiques price
guide which has been long identified as one of the essential, basics guides in the industry, and
packs in over 8,000 items and color photos to supplement a tool for identifying antiques, buying
and selling them, and understanding changing market trends. Sections arranged by the type of
antique cover everything from furniture and ceramics to jewelry and Orientals, while this updated
edition includes more details on the decorative arts. Good-quality color photos throughout make
it a snap to identify and price antiques and contribute to the overall value of a general antiques
'bible' no collector should be without.
The Social Issues Shelf
Village of Immigrants
Diana R. Gordon
Rutgers University Press
106 Somerset St., 3rd Floor, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
9780813575902, $27.95, www.rutgerspress.rutgers.edu
Village of Immigrants: Latinos in an Emerging America documents a U.S. trend of immigrants
spreading beyond coastal cities into the rest of the country, and narrows the example to
Greenport, New York, a village on Long Island which has seen many changes from an influx of
Latinos. The author lives in this small town and so is in the perfect position to observe its
evolution: chapters discuss taxes, schools, jobs, and local business evolution, showing how the
influx has revitalized the town's entire structure and led to growth and positive results. Highly
recommended for any collection strong in general social issues and Latino history in
particular!
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Son of the Black Sword
Larry Correia
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476780863, $25.00, www.baen.com
Son of the Black Sword: Saga of the Forgotten Warrior tells of what happens after the war with
the gods, when demons were cast out and fell to the world to nearly destroy these unstoppable
beasts until the gods sent a hero to save them. Centuries have passed since this event and the
people have regulated these events to legend. One Ashok has been chosen to be a protector with a
powerful weapon in hand, uncovering those who still practice old ways and are potential dangers
to the order - but when he discovers all his efforts have been based on a lie, everything's about to
change. A powerful epic fantasy evolves into a solid, compelling read.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Unleashed
Eileen Brady
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
9781464203947, $26.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com
Unleashed provides a Kate Turner, DVM mystery and will delight mystery fans who look for
investigators who are not professional sleuths. Dr. Turner leads a quiet life in upstate New York
working as a relief vet, until a client is found dead and is billed as a suicide. The problem is: Kate
knows this is very unlikely, and can't imagine Claire abandoned her beloved pet in favor of death.
Kate's investigation leads to animal encounters, questionable perps, and an intricate web of
involvements with too many possibilities. Vet medicine and murder mix in a satisfyingly
complex, realistic way in this vivid page-turner.
The Fiction Shelf
Up Against the Night
Justin Cartwright
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781632860187, $27.00, www.bloomsbury.com
Up Against the Night tells of Frank, a wealthy English man who has adopted England as his
home for some thirty years, but who increasingly feels alienated and compelled to return to his
South African origins, where he still keeps a house in Cape Town. He'll be showing this country
to his new lover for the first time and they'll be joined by their family - but there's something
wrong with the family myths and stories that they all are about to become caught up in, and Up
Against the Night documents the slow unraveling of myth and reality in a compelling saga of
families, origins, and connections which is difficult to put down.
The California Shelf
California Missions
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
www.Bennett-Watt.com
9781604901818 $24.95 DVD
9781604902044 $24.95 Blu-ray
Part of the "Discoveries... America National Parks" of strikingly beautiful, high-definition videos about the extraordinary treasures that the National Park Service exists to protect, California Missions is a virtual tour of twenty-one missions established in Alta California over a route of nearly 600 miles. They were originally created to spread European religion and serve the Spanish Crown; these missions also fostered new agricultural practices and eventually forms of government. Many of them are still active parish churches, which welcome visitors to view and appreciate their cultural treasures. California Missions is the next best thing to visiting these historic sites in person, and highly recommended especially for public library DVD collections. 76 min, available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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