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California Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 7 July 2012 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Criminology Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Art Shelf Sports Shelf
Travel Shelf Music Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Automotive Shelf Computer Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Audioboook Shelf
Education Shelf Business Shelf Photography Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Science Shelf Technology Shelf
Architecture Shelf Crafts Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Military Shelf Political Science Shelf
International Studies Shelf Biography Shelf American History Shelf
Nautical Shelf Interior Design Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
LGBT Shelf Gardening Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Library DVD Shelf California Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Total Memory Makeover
Marilu Henner
Gallery Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451651218, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

TOTAL MEMORY MAKEOVER: UNCOVER YOUR PAST, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FUTURE comes from an actress and health advocate who teaches the basics of how to remember more of your past and how to use these memories as a blueprint for setting up a positive future. Marilu Henner is one of only twelve people documented in the world with Highly Superior Auto-biographical Memory, an ability that allows her to vividly recall every detail of her life since childhood. Her unique insights tell how to handle memories, how to turn painful memories into different positive lessons, and how to recall memories faster and keep them from fading. Any general-interest collection will find this an appealing pick.

Force Decisions
Rory Miller
YMAA
Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594392436, $18.95, www.ymaa.com

FORCE DECISIONS: A CITIZENS GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING HOW POLICE DETERMINE APPROPRIATE USE OF FORCE offers a powerful survey of lawful, justified use of force and how the ordinary citizen can understand the decision-making process. It provides a class on Force Law and Force Policy and considers the many aspects involved in using force. It doesn't matter what side you're on in the debate: this offers a solid assessment of ideals and realities and is key to an understanding of how police policy determines appropriate use of force. A top pick for any interested in the social and civil rights issues involved in force decisions.

Creating Time
Marney K. Makridakis
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681112, $22.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

CREATING TIME is a recommendation for any collection strong in personal growth and creativity, and considers new concepts and approaches to time management and new tools for experiencing time in new ways. 14 concepts for creating time through creative methods offers chapters that show how time can be created outside of a linear view, with each chapter concluding with a short project designed to expand self-awareness. A blend of introspection and journal questions along with a hands-on art project makes this a fine pick for any arts or general lending library.

Toys for Boys Giftbox With Wristwatch
Patrice Farameh
Innovative Logistics
c/o Tectum Publishing
575 Prospect St. Suite 301
Lakewood NJ 08701
9789079761999, $49.95, www.tectum.be

Toys for Boys Giftbox With Wristwatch pairs the reissue of a popular book in paperback and accompanies the release with a wristwatch in a giftbox package perfect for giving. Over four hundred pages pack in considerations of the top men's gifts, offering a survey of luxury products intended for fashion-minded consumers and documenting the world of luxury items for men for whom money is no object. Fine photos and short descriptions in three languages - English, French and Dutch - provide an excellent survey that even includes website information for those who would shell out the big money to purchase the items. A fun, inviting survey of high-level men's products.

Conversation Transformation
Ben Benjamin, et.al.
McGraw-Hill Professional
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071769969, $18.00, www.mcgraw-hill.com

CONVERSATION TRANSFORMATION: RECOGNIZE AND OVERCOME THE 6 MOST DESTRUCTIVE COMMUNICATION PATTERNS explains why and how conversations fail and what it takes to change the trend, and comes from authors who show readers how to recognize and change the behaviors behind communication breakdowns. From responding to six specific kinds of destructive conversation behaviors to using techniques to change the nature and direction of your conversations, this provides a winning, proven strategy suitable for business and personal improvement alike, and is a pick for a wide range of collections.

101 Things to Do With a Retired Man
Gabrielle Mander
Spruce
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781846014017, $9.95, www.octopusbooks.co.uk

101 Things to Do With a Retired Man to get him out from under your feet is a fine pick for any who have to cope with a newly-retired husband or partner, and considers the challenges of sharing retirement 24/7. It's written for women who are frustrated by this sudden increased level of contact and offers witty sections such as Get a Grip and Get Together to provide encouragement to get the housebound man out of the house and into new directions and passions. Humor abounds - but there's a serious side to the issue that offers practical advice, as well, making this a pick for any general lending library.

It's All That Glitters
Brian C. Janes
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764339981, $34.99, www.schifferbooks.com

IT'S ALL THAT GLITTERS: PORTRAITS OF BURLESQUE PERFORMERS IN THEIR HOMES comes from an author who traveled over 14,000 miles across the U.S. visiting modern burlesque performers, photographing them in their homes, and asking them what burlesque means to them. The result is a powerhouse of insights from performers that pairs personal insights with outstanding color photos of their performances. Burlesque books usually focus on history and past: this one's focus on modern burlesque makes for a different take and a fine artistic and social commentary recommended for a range of collections.

The Memory of Place
Dylan Trigg
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Athens, OH 45701
9780821419755, $69.95, www.ohioswallow.com

THE MEMORY OF PLACE: A PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE UNCANNY belongs in any college-level philosophy library and provides a lively addition to modern debates involving 'place studies', a field that blends philosophy, geography, architecture, urban design and more. Through a series of probes THE MEMORY OF PLACE analyzes monuments in the representation of public memory and offers original analysis blending philosophy, structures and literary traditions. It reconsiders elements of memory and place and argues that the uncanny is at the core of the remembering body, and it provides many powerful social and literary reflections in the process. Highly recommended for any college-level collection strong in philosophical, social and artistic reflections.


The Criminology Shelf

Full Circle
Gloria Killian & Sandra Kobrin
New Horizon Press
Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931-0669
9780882823768, $24.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

FULL CIRCLE: THE TRUE STORY OF MURDER, LIES AND VINDICATION tells of a robbery-turned-murder when a coin collector and his wife were murdered, and follows the police investigation, the trial and conviction of the killers, and their sentencing - which involved the implication and conviction of a third-year law student, who was accused of masterminding the crime. The murders, trial, and subsequent acquittal of a woman who later became a jailhouse lawyer advocating for those unjustly convicted and for the humane treatment of women prisoners makes for a powerful account of corruption, violence and the legal system and is a pick for any true crime collection or law library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Aaron/Q'uo Dialogues
Barbara Brodsky & Carla L. Rueckert
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781556439957, $24.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

The Aaron/Q'uo Dialogues: An Extraordinary Conversation Between two Spiritual Guides is for any new age collection strong in channeled works or Buddhism, and is inspired by the channeled series THE LAW OF ONE. It represents a channeled collaboration between Barbara Brodsky and Carla L. Rueckert, who each channel spirit teachers, Q'uo and Aaron, and comes from transcripts of nine weekends of joint channeling. From reflections identifying the 'spiritual path' and how to live it to wise insights on contemporary problems that keep people from awareness and an enlightened lifestyle, this provides powerful advice and spiritual insights and is a pick for any new age collection, especially those seeing interest in THE LAW OF ONE.

Sacred Therapies
David Shannahoff-Khalsa
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780393707021, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

SACRED THERAPIES; THE KUNDALINI YOGA MEDITATION HANDBOOK FOR MENTAL HEALTH blends psychology with reflections on the author's twenty plus years of experience using Kundalini yoga meditation to treat psychiatric disorders, making this a top pick for mental health and new age collections alike. It offers a model for understanding Kundalini practices and how they apply to psychiatric conditions, describing a range of disorder-specific tools based on real-world studies. While mental health collections will be the obvious users, it's reviewed here so that new age collections don't miss this powerful account!

The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas
Glenn H. Mullin
Divine Arts
c/o Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781611250060, $29.95, www.divineartsmedia.com

Any collection strong in Tibetan Buddhism will find The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas provides a lovely book surveying the sacred sites of central Tibet and their relationship to Buddhist pilgrimage practice. History blends with passages from Buddhist texts, writings of the Dalai Lamas, and the author's own personal journeys to provide a fine survey spiced with brilliant color photos throughout. Any new age or Buddhist collection will find this an inviting pick that covers all the sacred sites of Tibet and explains their meaning.

The Book of Transformation
Lisa Barretta
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632173, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

THE BOOK OF TRANSFORMATION: OPEN YOURSELF TO PSYCHIC EVOLUTION, THE REBIRTH OF THE WORLD, AND THE EMPOWERING SHIFT PIONEERED BY THE INDIGOS provides a powerful, revolutionary new book that tells how to synthesize nonverbal universal languages and patterns. It teaches how the chakra centers are key to building an extrasensory psychic system, shows how to understand the signs of past-life traumas, and links all kinds of new age thinking into one paradigm for life and its potential for psychic transformation. Any new age collection needs this!

Star Sister
Stella Osorojos
Evolver Editions
c/o Random House Publishing Group, dist.
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781583943748, $17.95, www.randomhouse.com

Laura Chamorro never ignored her intuition - even when it told her to completely change her name to Stella Osorojos. And the process lead to her spiritual awakening and a deeper involvement in premonitions, dreams, extraterrestrial visitations, and much more - all documented in her autobiography "Star Sister: How I Changed My Name, Grew Wings, and Learned to Trust Intuition". The blend of spirituality, autobiography and insights into self-growth make "Star Sister" a vivid, memorable read for any new age or spirituality holding.

Science and Psychic Phenomena
Chris Carter
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774515, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com

Science and Psychic Phenomena: The Fall of the House of Skeptics offers a fine parapsychology guide that explores the charged history of parapsychology and offers concrete evidence of psi phenomena. It charts the controversies over parapsychology and considers why they continue, and reveals how the idea of materialism has become the foundation for scientific assessment over other evidence. His review of the debate and its outcome makes for a fine, passionate survey recommended for science and new age holdings alike!

The Magic of Awareness
Anam Thubten
Snow Lion Publications
Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781559393928, $16.95, www.snowlionpub.com

The Magic of Awareness covers the Mahamudra practice and provides a fine survey pairing explanations by Khenchen Thrangu Tinpoche with stories to help explain the philosophy and spirituality of Mahamudra. It draws important connections for modern Western practitioners and those who want further understanding of the instructions, and emphasizes how close ordinary life is to enlightenment in a fine survey highly recommended for any Eastern religion collection.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Fitness for Geeks
Bruce W. Perry
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N.
Sebastopol CA 95472-2811
9781449399894, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

Fitness for Geeks: Real Science, Great Nutrition, and Good Health is designed to appeal to a different audience than the usual fitness guide: one of geeks, techies, computer users, and virtually anyone who doesn't usually get exercise. Interviews with a range of science and health experts provide insights into the latest research behind the science of fitness, while chapters apply software engineering concepts and paradigms to the fitness world. It's packed with facts and common sense in a lively, readable format geeks will find readily accessible - and far superior to the many health guides that assume an active life and prior familiarity with fitness concepts.

The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors
Edward Bauman & Helayne Waldman
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572249585, $18.95, www.newharbinger.com

The Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nutritional Approach to Preventing Recurrence is for breast cancer survivors committed to adopting a cancer-fighting diet, and is based on Edward Bauman's EATING FOR HEALTH model. It teaches how to blend cancer-fighting foods into a diet, how to understand nutrients and their role in fighting cancer, and how to manage weight and nourish an immune system through dietary choices, and includes meal plans and recipes in a fine discussion of winning foods for breast cancer survivors.

Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD
Richard P. Brown, MD & Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780393706222, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD: New Options for Kids, Adults & Clinicians provides a fine survey of ADHD options and reviews the latest breakthroughs in integrative treatments, using over 30 years' clinical experience to offer a range of complimentary alternative treatments for any working with or parents of an ADHD child. Stories from their own clinical practice accompany insights into diagnostic issues, causes of ADHD, how different measurement systems work, and how to strategically combine and assess treatment options. An outstanding guide for any working with ADHD kids!

The Physical Basis of Mental Illness
Ronald Chase
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412842648, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Physical Basis of Mental Illness provides a fine survey for college-level readers who wish to understand the nature and social responses to mental illness, and blends a fine history with philosophical and social reflections to consider whether mental states cause things to happen and how behaviorism and functionalism add to the increasing picture of mental illness. Scientific, detailed language accessible to lay readers consider the physical aspects of mental illness and shows how mental illness needs to be viewed in a biological perspective.

Chair Yoga
Edeltraud Rohnfeld
Singing Dragon
c/o Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781848190788, $19.95, www.singingdragon.com

CHAIR YOGA: SEATED EXERCISES FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING provides a fine survey of the concept of chair yoga which takes classical yoga and expands it for people with a range of physical abilities, offering a step-by-step program that can be practiced by anyone anywhere. It's meant for people in chairs and offers nearly a hundred easy exercises adapted for those with limited mobility, providing clear directions, movements for every part of the body, and line drawings that illustrate each movement. Too many exercise titles depend on full mobility for success, so it's refreshing to at last see a title directed to those with limited movement. This deserves a spot in any yoga or health holding.

Waging War on the Autistic Child
Andrew J. Wakefield
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
1616086149, $26.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Waging War on the Autistic Child: The Arizona 5 and the Legacy of Baron von Munchausen provides a powerful survey of the recent trial case of the "Arizona 5" which destroyed an Arizona family. Two parents, with five children on the spectrum, were accused of a rare form of child abuse and were ganged up on by physicians, Child Protective Services, and the courts who insisted the parents fabricated medical symptoms in all five children. This book provides evidence that was disregarded during the process, that would have proved the parents' innocence. It's a powerful survey highly recommended for any collection strong in autism and child rights.

Walking on Eggshells
Amy Sales, MSW, LCSW-C
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823805, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Walking on Eggshells: Caring for a Critically Ill Loved One provides keys to caregivers and covers everything from receiving and giving bad news to navigating the medical system and handling financial problems. Everything about patient advocacy and critical care is covered in a fine survey that tells caregivers without experience how to overcome the pitfalls of the health system. Highly recommended as a basic, introductory primer!

Drug Information Handbook: 21st edition
American Pharmacists Association
Lexi-Comp, Inc.
1100 Terex Road
Hudson, Ohio, USA 44236
9781591953074, $67.95, www.lexicomp.com

Drug Information Handbook offers a key updated reference recommended for any clinician and healthcare professional, and is a top reference for any medical library. This edition packs in over forty new drug monographs, new indexes, major updates to appendix on immune globulin products and diabetes management in adults, and much more. It maintains the same useful dictionary-like format with drug products alphabetically organized and cross-referenced by both U.S. and Canadian brand names. A top pick for any medical collection!

Weight Loss Boss
David Kirchhoff
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781609619015, $25.99, www.rodalebooks.com

WEIGHT LOSS BOSS: HOW TO FINALLY WIN AND LOSING - AND TAKE CHARGE IN AN OUT-OF-CONTROL FOOD WORLD comes from the President and CEO of Weight Watchers and is an outstanding focus on why so many who successfully lose weight often gain it all back. It identifies our food-oriented world and the lure of instant food gratification as the culprits in the losing battle, offering a solution from the President of Weight Watchers who is one of its biggest success stories. His personal story documents his descent into obesity and his changed relationship with food, and is a powerful inspiration to any who would follow in his footsteps, highly recommended for general lending libraries.

The New Wounded
Catherine Malabou
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823239689, $32.00, www.amazon.com

THE NEW WOUNDED: FROM NEUROSIS TO BRAIN DAMAGE is translated by Steven Miller and provides a solid survey using philosophy to bridge the gap between psychoanalysis and modern neurobiology, considering the kinds of psychic wounds that traditional psychotherapy can't address and covering social and political events that cause traumas hard to heal. This college-level discussion uses the latest neurological research and psychoanalytic approaches to provide an original interpretation of Freud's texts and classic approach, making this a pick for any college-level psychotherapy collection.

Ani's 15-Day Fat Blast
Ani Phyo
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780738215228, $24.00, www.dacapopress.com

Ani's 15-Day Fat Blast: The Kick-Ass Plan to Get Lighter, Tighter, and Sexier... Super Fast comes from an award-winning whole foods chef whose recipes use natural ingredients with immune-boosting abilities in a program designed to detox the body, replace unhealthy food with healthy foods, and boost the immune system. Easy recipes require no cooking expertise and promote raw ingredients that require little if any preparation: perfect for busy cooks. It also promotes moderation, not a complete lifestyle makeover - which makes it easy to embark on the fresh food weight-loss program. Any weight loss collection will find this an appealing choice!

The Spiritual Gift of Madness
Seth Farber, Ph.D.
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774485, $21.95, www.innertraditions.com

The Spiritual Gift of Madness: The Failure of Psychiatry and the Rise of the Mad Pride Movement blends spirituality, new age thinking and psychiatry in a thought-provoking guide that explores the rise of the mad pride movement and its links to social control and therapeutic treatment issues. Chapters consider the importance of Mad Pride, consider that those deemed 'insane' are actually experiencing different forms of spiritual awakening that reflects a deeper social understanding, and provide interviews with former psychotics who now lead successful lives. A fine pick for any mental health collection seeking different perspectives on the idea of insanity and its treatment.

The 7 Minute Back Pain Solution
Gerard J. Girasole, MD & Cara Hartman, CPT
Harlequin
233 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York NY 10279
9780373892587, $16.95, www.eharlequin.com

The 7 Minute Back Pain Solution: 7 Simple Exercises to Heal Your Back Without Drugs or Surgery in Just Minutes a Day comes from an orthopedic spine surgeon and a certified personal trainer who offer a fine approach to healing a chronically-aching back. Step-by-step instructions tell how to use back muscle development to improve overall back health, and use seven simple stretches that take only minutes a day to relieve pain. A fine pick for any health collection.

50 Plus One Medical Breakthroughs that May Help You Live Better
Michael Carney & Heather Hutchins
Global Professional Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781933766270, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

50 Plus One Medical Breakthroughs that May Help You Live Better presents the methods of medical researchers Drs. Elena Fitchev, and Douglas Krejsa who explore the latest discoveries in medicine and how they will lead to a better life. Many of these breakthroughs involve applying known drugs to different conditions while others are entirely new drugs or protocols developed from clinical trials. From cosmetic surgery to the latest cancer treatments and changes in physical therapy and joint replacement techniques, this is a fine reference for any general lending library or medical collection.

Born with a Junk Food Deficiency
Martha Rosenberg
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145934, $24.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

This expose comes from a national investigator who probes the business of big food and pharmaceuticals and who includes interviews with victims of bad pharmacology and bad foods. It maintains that the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries are poisoning the public through marketing disguised as medical education and research and aggressive lobbying, and it surveys conflicts of interest and food and drug safety issues. BORN WITH A JUNK FOOD DEFICIENCY; HOW FLAKS, QUACKS, AND HACKS PIMP THE PUBLIC HEALTH is a powerful survey highly recommended for any health or social issues holding, and offers some powerful evidence against the companies that push drugs and foods.

Sleep Difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Kenneth J. Aitken
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St., Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849052597, $39.95, www.jkp.com

Sleep Difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorders provides a fine scholarly and in-depth overview of the management of sleep problems and sleep disorders and examines why some sleep problems are more common among those with an ASD than others. Professionals, families, and nay working with the sleep deprived or those diagnosed with ASD will find this a specific focus by a practicing clinical psychologist who has published numerous academic papers on the subject. College-level collections, in particular, will find this a fine, enlightening reference!


The Art Shelf

Painted Poetry: The Art of Mary Page Evans
Bill Scott & Heather Campbell Coyle
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953744, $45.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Painted Poetry: the Art of Mary Page Evans profiles the nature art of Mary Page Evans and is a pick for any arts library strong in nature representations. It provides a range of works and styles by this nature artist, offering powerful works that have among their influences the art of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and abstract artists as well. Highly recommended for any modern arts collection seeking examples of nature painters!

Joan Miro: The Ladder of Escape
Edited by Marko Daniel and Matthew Gale
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500093672, $60.00, www.thamesandhudson.com

Joan Miro: The Ladder of Escape focuses on Miro's political art and offers new studies from an international team of art scholars who probe Miro's products, intentions, and wide-ranging influences and effects. 200 color illustrations pack a blend of biography, art history, and authoritative exploration of all of Miro's art forms, pairing his art strategies with the influences of his era. His politics and controversial decisions opposing the Fascist government in Spain makes for added insights into his life and times, making Joan Miro: The Ladder of Escape a definitive survey and a 'must' for any modern art holding.

Color Management
John Drew and Sarah Meyer
Allworth Press
307 West 36th St., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
9781581159165, $19.95, www.allworth.com

Color Management: A Comprehensive Guide for Graphic Designers offers designers all the technical information needed to learn about color theory, systems, mixing, and usage, and is a top pick for any collection appealing to graphic designers. It provides a unique resource for designers and graphic artists working in any field of visual communication in offering keys to color usage in all kinds of graphic design endeavors, teaching the basics of how color is perceived and providing an affordable alternative to more expensive color guides. Highly recommended for any artist's collection!

Looking at Textiles
Elena Phipps
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive #500
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
9781606060803, $18.95, www.getty.edu

LOOKING AT TEXTILES; A GUIDE TO TECHNICAL TERMS offers a basic guide to materials and techniques used to create textiles, offering technical terms that explain what they are, what they are made of, and terms relating to fibers, dyes, looms and weaving. It comes packed with illustrations including photos of historic museum textiles and it provides a history and documentation gathered by a textile conservator who worked at the Metro Museum of Art for thirty years. A 'must' for any serious arts collection strong in textile history and creation.

Watercolor Sketching: An Introduction
Paul Laseau
Norton Architecture & Design Books
c/o W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393733488, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com

Any beginner to watercolor or those returning to the medium after a long absence will find Watercolor Sketching: An Introduction packed with basics designed to teach or re-teach basic skills. It covers everything from sketching on site or in the studio to understanding color values and more, and offers exercises in a range of subjects from landscaping to architectural design. Its broad approach and lack of assumption about a skills level makes this a powerful collection for any who would employ watercolor sketching in the pursuit of art.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, fourth edition
Betty Edwards
Tarcher
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781585429196, $32.95, www.penguin.com

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain appears in a fourth updated edition to offer a completely revised, updated edition of what has become a classic. This new edition includes updates based on the latest brain research, exercises to help develop right-brain perception, a new focus on balancing the left brain emphasis of life in America, and more. With its new preface, introduction, and new reproductions of master drawings throughout, it's a classic perfect for modern artists who want a book incorporating the latest brain research.


The Sports Shelf

Waterlogged
Tim Noakes, MD, DSc
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450424974, $24.95, www.humankinetics.com

WATERLOGGED: THE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF OVERHYDRATION IN ENDURANCE SPORTS provides a detailed coverage on what athletes really need to drink to train and perform their best - and offers insights into the 'drink as much as you can' myth that results in overhydrated athletes. Chapters cover the basics of dehydration, overhydration, and provide hydration guidelines for endurance sport and training. From a history of the emergence of the sport drink industry to changing sport drinking guidelines and the emerging science of hydration, WATERLOGGED offers much food for thought in a powerful survey that should be required reading for many athletes, coaches, and a top pick for any sports health collection.

La Roja
Jimmy Burns
Nation Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781568587172, $16.99, www.nationbooks.com

LA ROJA: HOW SOCCER CONQUERED SPAIN AND HOW SPANISH SOCCER CONQUERED THE WORLD tells of how one of Europe's most impoverished nations overcame political conflict to become the center of soccer expertise and achievement. The focus on Spanish involvements in soccer begins in the late 19th century when English expatriates brought soccer to Spain's mining lands. The Spaniards quickly developed their own unique style in a sport that evolved quickly and developed universal appeal across class lines. From the sport's evolution and connections to Spanish politics and social developments to legendary rivalries between Spanish clubs, LA ROJA provides a lively survey suitable for any sports collection with an interest in soccer history, as well as for collections strong in Spanish history and culture.

Seven Weeks to Getting Ripped
Brett Stewart
Ulysses Press
Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703-3440
9781612430263, $15.95, www.ulyssespress.com

Seven Weeks to Getting Ripped offers a day-by-day fitness plan and is a top recommendation for any who want a better fitness plan that requires only two hours a week and no expensive gym equipment. (Only a pull-up bar and a medicine ball are required.) It pairs charts with photos and bodyweight exercises that are easy to follow and supported by nutritional tips. The exercises are largely based on using body weight and provide fine workouts for any who would adopt a simple program.

Original Yoga
Richard Rosen
Shambhala Publications Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA 02115
9781590308134, $24.95, www.shambhala.com

ORIGINAL YOGA: REDISCOVERING TRADITIONAL PRACTICES OF HATHA YOGA uses ancient yoga manuals and blends philosophy with postures and meditations to show how traditional practice can blend in with modern living. It provides a new survey of the philosophy, history and instructions behind traditional Hatha Yoga and pairs its guidelines with guided sessions, breathing techniques, and keys for understanding yoga sequences. Any collection strong in yoga will find this a fine survey.


The Travel Shelf

Greece, 10th edition
Korina Miller, et.al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741799576, $24.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

The 10th updated edition of GREECE offers a fine survey pairing over a hundred maps with tips on exploring ruins, places to stay and eat around the country, small towns and major urban areas, and more, and is a 'must' take-along tote for any planning to travel throughout Greece. This is designed for the independent traveler and also offers the latest updates to all the listings, making for a solid reference for any in-depth travel plans.

Moon Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands
Ben Westwood
Moon
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
9781598803549, $19.99, www.moon.com

Moon Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands offers visitors a fine opportunity to plan a wildlife expedition to Ecuador and comes from a teacher and journalist who offers keys to locating the nation's top wildlife wonders, from the Botanical Gardens in the city of Quito to bird-watching in the Andes and taking a tour of the Amazon jungle. The focus is on specifics for destination-oriented travelers, and offers all the information needed to plan a nature-oriented trip to Ecuador. Highly recommended as a basic travel planner.

Get Your Pics on Route 66
Joe Sonderman
Anniversary Books
c/o National Book Network
P.O. Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9788896408117, $35.00, www.nbnbooks.com

Get Your Pics on Route 66: Postcards from America's Mother Road uses vintage postcards to capture the history and images of Route 66, 'America's Mother Road'. It represents a collaboration between American author and collector Joe Sonderman and Italian publisher and editor Paolo Battaglia who worked together to bring Joe Sonderman's extensive postcard collection to print. These vintage cards capture the byways and routes of a bygone world, offering a fine celebration of Route 66. Travel and nostalgia holdings alike will find this a winner!


The Music Shelf

Bob Dylan
Nick Crispin, Compiler
Wise Publications
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302
Montclair, NJ 07042
9781849380713, $19.99, www.halleonard.com

BOB DYLAN: 100 CLASSIC SONGS is a top recommendation for guitarists, keyboard players and more who want a survey of some 100 Dylan hits in melody line arrangements that include complete lyrics, chord symbols and guitar chord boxes. All the classics from throughout his career, from early times through his country-western album and his move to electric guitar, are included in a fine paperback which is versatile and easily carried to any gig. A top recommendation for any Dylan collection and any library strong in rock music tabulature and guidebooks!

Sibelius 7 Music Notation Essentials
James Humberstone
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place
Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
1133788823, $49.99, www.courseptr.com

Sibelius 7 Music Notation Essentials offers a fine introduction to the basic operations of Sibelius 7 and uses hands-on, real-world projects as the foundation for teaching the basics of this music notation program. From importing MIDI and handling lyrics to creating a worksheet and scoring video, this offers a step-by-step visual tutorial of all the basics of Sibelius 7 and includes a tutorial video packed with supporting structure and information. A companion website offers more tutorial videos that reinforces all the key skills in each lesson, making this a fine reference!

My Cross to Bear
Gregg Allman
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062112033, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

MY CROSS TO BEAR is recommended for any general-interest or music collection seeing strong attraction to music books about rock and roll musicians, and comes from one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band. His new memoir discusses, for the first time, the story of his life and music, his relationship to his brothers, and his own struggles with drugs and addiction, offering a blend of personal insights and band information that follows his music and his early and later influences. Any fan of the Allman Brothers will find this packed with personal reflection and a 'must' for understanding the band in particular and its influence on rock n roll music in general.

152 of the World's Most Beautiful Songs: Piano/Vocal/Guitar
Alfred Publishing
PO Box 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410
9780739086247, $26.99, www.alfred.com

Having a little over a hundred fifty lovely songs packed into one book including lyrics and tablature for piano, vocal or guitar makes it a snap to play the classics of a number of eras, from All I Have to Do is Dream to Cry Me a River, Danny Boy, Desperado and more. Here are haunting songs that all musicians and many a listener will readily recognize: a compendium of the 'best of the best' arranged beautifully and perfect for any performer's reference collection.

Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice
Pat Pattison
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781599632971, $17.99, www.writersdigestbooks.com

Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises for Finding Your Voice is a powerful collection of writing exercises that encourages tapping into underlying creativity and uncovering metaphor to add rhythm and sensory impressions to one's songwriting efforts. Chapters are packed with samples for exercises and offers many creative ideas for jumpstarting creativity through visual and verbal impressions and ideas. Any lyric writer - and any collection catering to musicians - will find this filled with inspiration for those dry moments.

The Handbook of Texas Music, second edition
Laurie E. Jasinski, Editor
Texas State Historical Association
1155 Union Circle #311580, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.TSHAonline.org
9780876112533, $34.95, www.tshaonline.org/publications

The second updated edition of The Handbook of Texas Music packs in completely updated entries, new and expanded coverage of Texas musicians, groups, organizations and genres, and covers everything from dance halls and festivals to businesses and individuals that have contributed to the state's musical legacy. Over 870 articles include over 410 new entries, nearly three hundred images including over 180 new photos, and vast insights into the achievements of great and lesser-known Texas musicians. Its simply a 'must' not just for Texas holdings, but for any serious collection seeking to document regional American music history and trends.


The Cookbook Shelf

Adventures with Chocolate
Paul A. Young
Kyle Books
23 Howland Street London W1T 4AY
9781906868055, $24.95, www.kylebooks.com

Adventures with Chocolate: 80 Sensational Recipes shares the author's chocolate-making secrets and teaches the basics of tasting and making chocolate. Discussions of chocolate around the world accompany recipes divided by type, such as Fruit & Nuts, Sugar and Spice, and Unadulterated, and provide dessert and hot chocolate dishes along with savory chocolate recipes. Artistic color photos of finished dishes contributes to a winning recipe collection highly recommended for any dessert cookery collection!

Chronicle Books
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

Jake Godvy, Sean Vahey, and Paolo Luccesi's HUMPHREY SLOCOMBE ICE CREAM BOOK (978145210483, $19.95) offers some 40 formulas from the eclectic San Francisco ice creamery Humphrey Slocombe, and is a highly recommended pick for any ice cream maker seeking something different. From Red Hot Banana spiced with the Red Hot candies to two kinds of peppercorn and vanilla ice cream, these recipes are outside the box and 'pop' in flavor. Many don't require an ice cream machine, either. A special pick for any who like innovative flavor blends. Joseph Shuldiner's PURE VEGAN (9780811878630, $29.95) offers some 70 vegan recipes and pairs them with color photos by Emily Brooke Sandor and the author. These innovative dishes include Lavender Lemonade, vegan adaptations of the Vietnamese Summer Roll with two dipping sauces, Ginger Pound Cake and more: flavorful delights spiced with vivid photos and descriptions that invite vegan and non-vegan eaters alike in a lovely pick for any cookbook collection looking for something exciting and different. CREPES: 50 SAVORY AND SWEET RECIPES by Martha Holmberg (9781452105345, $19.95) provides a fine survey of different kinds of crepe recipes, and is a pick for any who would use crepes to maximum advantage. From different crepe recipes for the wrappers, such as Buckwheat Crepes, to different savory dishes such as Chicken Pot Pie Crepes, this is packed with color photos and appealing fare and offers up a well-rounded, refreshing alternative to the usual dessert-oriented crepe cookbook.

The Big Little Cookbook for Moms
Alice Wong & Natasha Tabori Fried, editors
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY, 10011
9781599621098, $24.95, www.welcomebooks.com

The Big Little Cookbook for Moms was created by two busy moms searching for a family cookbook strong in attractive, healthy food - and who combined their efforts in a fun guide featuring vintage illustration-trimmed pages to accompany over two hundred fifty recipes for kids and adults alike. From lists of what to always keep handy in pantry, freezer and refrigerator to essential herbs and spices and food safety, recipes gather a range of slow-cooker, one-pot and make-ahead meals and pack in menus for four weeks of different dinners - even down to complete shopping lists. Busy moms will love this all-in-one collection of family-friendly dishes!

Simple Weeknight Cooking
Editors at America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline MA 02445
9781936493067, $26.95, www.AmericasTestKitchen.com

Simple Weeknight Cooking offers some 200 foolproof recipes designed to make the most of flavor with a minimum of time and effort, and comes from a team of test cooks whose goal is to provide a full meal with the lightest of efforts. Ingredients pull double duty, approaches involve choosing convenience products that provide shortcuts without compromising taste, and chapters offer a range of plans and dishes for streamlining the dinner experience. A 'must' for any busy cook!

Healthy South Indian Cooking
Alamelu Vairavan and Patricia Marquardt
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
0781811899, $35.00, www.hippocrenebooks.com

Healthy South Indian Cooking packs in 40 new recipes and over 100 vegetarian treats, and pairs color photos with step-by-step recipes explaining how to produce healthy South Indian fare. From shopping lists for spices and ingredients to a list of easy recipes geared toward beginners and at-a-glance sidebar descriptions that tell readers whether or not the dish could be of interest, this cultivates a format and style that lends to easy newcomer introduction to traditional Indian cookery. A top recommendation for all interested in Indian cooking in general and South Indian fare in particular!

The Farm
Ian Knauer
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547516912, $30.00, www.hmbooks.com

THE FARM: RUSTIC RECIPES FOR A YEAR OF INCREDIBLE FOOD provides a fine guide pairing over 150 recipes with modern takes on American classic dishes using fresh ingredients anyone can easily obtain. Color photos pepper a coverage of unusual recipes not to be found elsewhere, from Potato Nachos and Sour Cherry Cordial to Strawberry-Cream Cheese Pie and Spring Risotto and Summer Chicken 'n Biscuit Pie. These are appealing dishes spiced with attractive names, unusual ingredient combinations, and surprisingly easy instructions that make putting together a signature dish a snap. Any cookbook collection will find this a unique and attractive acquisition.

Salad of the Day
Georgeanne Brennan
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
1616282126, $34.95, www.weldonowen.com

SALAD OF THE DAY packs in 365 recipes for each day of the year from January to December, and ranges from light salads and summer greens to those featuring hearty grains and protein-packed main dish salads for winter fare. Full-page color photos accompany tips on how to integrate vegetables and lettuces with main dish meats and other add-ins, while dishes are varied enough to prove of interest to salad eaters year-round. SALAD OF THE DAY is a top recommendation for any collection strong in vegetable and salad cookery, gathering a satisfyingly diverse range of dishes.

Livwise
Olivia Newton-John
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762780099, $27.50, www.lyonspress.com

LIVWISE: EASY RECIPES FOR A HEALTHY, HAPPY LIFE comes from a singer and breast cancer survivor who offers keys to a healthy lifestyle through exercising and eating a simple diet based mostly on salads, vegetables, fish, chicken and some whole grains. Her conviction that what we eat is key to staying healthy and young is reflected in the recipes in LIVWISE, assembled using her own experiences in the kitchen, with the help of chefs and nutritionists. These meals are simple and packed with flavor and include such dishes as Spicy Dhal, Mexican Chili Beef Tacos, and Potato and Lentil Pie. Any cookbook holding will find this an inviting collection!

The Art of Fermentation
Sandor Ellix Katz
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603582865, $39.95, www.chelseagreen.com

THE ART OF FERMENTATION: AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES FROM AROUND THE WORLD is a 'must' for any collection strong in all kinds of fermentation, from making beer to sauerkraut. It provides the history, concepts and processes behind fermentation in easy ways and divides the process by chapters covering different kinds of fermentation, from yogurt to making alcohol and fermenting fish and meats. It's also packed with two-color illustrations and a little over thirty pages of color photos. Any serious culinary collection will find this a 'must'.

Grill This, Not That!
David Zinczenko & Matt Goulding
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781609618223, $19.99, www.rodalebooks.com

There are plenty of grilling recipes on the market, but this guide pairs grilling with dishes that lend to diet efforts and offer maximum taste with minimum calories. From Grilled Steak Fajitas that contain half the calories of the usual Tex-Mex restaurant fare to Spicy Asian Pork Burgers that take the fat out of the traditional hamburger yet pack a punch of flavor, this further benefits from a compact, easy appearance that pairs large color photos with every dish, plus plenty of nutritional insights. Very highly recommended!

Fresh Food Fast 24/7
Cooking Light
Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095, Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
0848736451, $24.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

Fresh Food Fast 24/7 teaches the basics of how to enjoy fresh food at every meal and uses meal planners, tips on budget planning, and ideas for creating quick foods to accompany 5 ingredient, 15 minutes recipes. From a Chicken Panini to Grilled Peach and Quinoa Salad and Shrimp and Summer Vegetable Saute, this is packed with flavor and a wealth of fresh, light cooking ideas any busy cook will appreciate. Color photos of each dish assures its success!

Fresh & Easy
Jane Hornby
Phaidon Press Inc.
180 Varick St., 14th Floor
New York NY 10014
9780714863603, $45.00, www.phaidon.com

FRESH & EASY: WHAT TO COOK & HOW TO COOK IT first appeared in 2010 and appealed to novices and experienced cooks alike with a basic, inviting manual to quickly preparing fresh ingredients. This follow-up continues the tradition of numerous color illustrations and a primer that helps newcomers and busy home cooks make the most of their time and fresh seasonal fare. Over seventy foolproof, easy dishes are free of jargon and provide step-by-step dishes that blend quick fare with innovative cuisines and adaptations. From an Italian-Style Lime & Blackberry Polenta Cake or recipes for easy breakfast fare to sections on selecting kitchen ingredients and storing foods, this is a 'must' for any cookbook collection catering to novice or busy cooks.

A Mess of Greens
Elizabeth S.D. Engelhardt
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens GA 30602-4901
9780820340371, $24.95, www.ugapress.uga.edu

A Mess of Greens: Southern Gender and Southern Food blends American studies and feminist thinking to provide a survey of new revelations on Southern foods, going beyond most histories of Southern culture to provide a deeper understanding of the many influences upon Southern cuisine. Issues examined blend food with race, gender, class and power struggles with subjects ranging from the lives of moonshiners to tomato club participants. Highly recommended for any culinary collection strong in regional American culinary history; especially at the college level.

350 Best Vegan Recipes
Deb Roussou
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East #800
Toronto ON Canada M4P 1E2
9780778802945, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

350 Best Vegan Recipes provide a range of meal ideas from appetizers to salads and soups - all with a focus on vegan principles and dishes. Most notable is a 'vegan from scratch' chapter which provides details on making vegan basic ingredients - such as tofu and bouillon - from scratch. Lest ''vegan" be associated with "flavorless", dishes such as Chocolate Cherry Brownies and Cilantro Black Bean Burgers defy 'bland' while international dishes such as Nori Rolls and Vegetable Paella provide diverse fare and approaches to blending vegan principles with traditional cuisines.

The Gardener & The Grill
Karen Adler & Judith Fertig
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia PA 19103
9780762441112, $20.00, www.runningpress.com

The Gardener & The Grill: The Bounty of the Garden Meets the Sizzle of the Grill is for vegetarian and meat-lovers alike and comes packed with easy recipes for meat and vegetable dishes that make the most of the grill. It shows how to grill vegetables, fruits, and even cheeses and pizzas in addition to the usual meat choices, and adds much information on maximizing seasonal flavors in the process of picking foods that work on the grill. Add a host of color photos and plenty of gardening tips to accompany the recipes for grilling one's garden harvest and you have a different and appealing garden grill guide!

Hero Food
Seamus Mullen
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City MO 64106-2109
9781449407582, $35.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Seamus Mullen's Hero Food: How Cooking with Delicious Things Can Make Us Feel Better is a fine exploration from a cook diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who has discovered that basking his cooking on 18 key ingredients is improving his quality of life. His diet modifications are reflected in a cookbook that pairs traditional Spanish cuisine with farm-fresh ingredients. A seasonal arrangement lends to easy use of these fresh ingredients, while concepts of sustainability and natural gardening are incorporated into the idea of producing and using better foods. HERO FOOD is a fine pick for any interested in better living through better eating, and perfect for any general-interest lending collection.

Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It
Amy Atlas
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401324407, $27.99, www.hyperion.com

Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It comes from a dessert designer who shares her ideas on how to create a powerful dessert presentation, and is a pick for any who would produce memorable desserts. Fashion and design are brought to the dessert course with over 100 recipes and affordable crafts that can change ordinary desserts to showcase presentations. Chapters show how to bake and craft desserts in chapters that focus on home preparations and polished results. The colorful results accompanying creative designs assures this is a winning cookbook collection addition for novices and advanced dessert bakers alike.

Cook, Eat, Thrive
Joy Tienzo
PM Press
P.O. Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604865097, $17.95, www.pmpress.org

Cook, Eat, Thrive packs in a recipe collection of appealing vegan dishes and blends traditional dishes with innovative modern embellishments. It includes internationally influenced dishes, adds at-a-glance symbols for raw, soy-free or wheat-free recipes, and even includes a fine section on making seitan and nondairy milks for basic vegan substitutions, making for an appealing, practical cookbook especially recommended for newcomers to vegan food preparations.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Bird Sense
Tim Birkhead
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10001
9780802779663, $25.00, www.walkerbooks.com

BIRD SENSE: WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BIRD pairs black and white illustrations by Katrina van Grouw with a survey by a professor of behavioral ecology to consider what it's like to be a bird - or different birds, from those who migrate thousands of miles to those who dive into cold waters. It's arranged by the five main senses and seeks to recreate the bird's experience in nature along with scientific studies on these senses. The result is a powerful survey packing in the basics of bird ecology.

Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America
David Beadle & Seabrooke Leckie
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547238487, $29.00, www.hmhpub.com

Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America is a 'must have' field reference which has been long awaited, and offers the first field guide to moths of any North American geographic area since the publication of Covell's 1984 survey on the topic. This new volume packs in nearly 1,500 species and offers a tote able format that includes a full color illustration and facing page of descriptions and maps. Color photos, range maps, and flight period charts provide quick at-a-glance information suitable for any identifying moths in the field in this 'must have' reference for general and science holdings alike.

Kirkbridge's Diagnosis of Abortion and Neonatal Loss in Animals, fourth edition
Bradley l. Njaa, Editor
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780470958520, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

The fourth updated edition of Kirkbridge's Diagnosis of Abortion and Neonatal Loss in Animals is a winning reference for determining the causes of abortion and neonatal loss in cattle, small and exotic mammals, and is a 'must' for any practicing vet and many a collection catering to veterinary students. From a general description of abortion and its treatment to species-specific chapters outlining diagnostic techniques and anatomy and causes specific to species, this provides a comprehensive and detailed overview, is published in association with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, and packs in color photos and website digital images. Highly recommended as a 'staple' for any practicing vet's collection!

Kitty Cornered
Bob Tarte
Algonquin Books
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
9781565129993, $13.95, www.algonquin.com

Kitty Cornered: How Frannie and Five Other Incorrigible Cats Seized Control of Our House and Made It Their Home provides a cat-oriented follow-up to ENSLAVED BY DUCKS and tells how his household came to be run by six independent, demanding felines. His is a love/hate relationship and didn't begin with an early affection for cats, but shows how his household grew from one feline to six - and how they changed his world. His reflections on the lessons learned from his menagerie makes for a moving survey highly recommended for any cat enthusiast.

Lipstick and the Leash
Camilla Gray-Nelson
Double Dove Press
Box 751378, Petaluma, CA 94975
9780615465586, $17.95, www.doubledovepress.com

Lipstick and the Leash: Dog Training a Woman's Way is a 'must' for both women's issues collections and those catering to pet owners, and provides a fine instruction guide for women who need help controlling their dogs. Three out of four households leave dog training and care to women - which makes LIPSTICK AND THE LEASH so essential. It pairs stories from the author's childhood with her animal mentors with keys to understanding types of behaviors that can undermine a woman's power, exploring body language and animal/human communications to show women how to achieve stronger, better results with their dogs. A top recommendation for any female dog owner or trainer, and for general-interest holdings strong in animal care.

External Parasites of Small Ruminants
Peter Bates
CABI
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781845936648, $125.00, www.cabi.org

External Parasites of Small Ruminants: A Practical Guide to their Prevention and Control offers a guide to preventing and controlling ectoparasites that contribute to diseases in sheep and goats, and is a pick for goat and sheep herders, farmers, and veterinary collections alike. It provides chapters focusing on the main problems and how to control them, including economic and animal welfare issues as well as an assessment of environmental impacts. Large animal vets will find this packed with detailed information, black and white illustrations, and much more. External Parasites of Small Ruminants offers a wide-ranging set of insights recommended for farming and veterinary holdings alike.


The Automotive Shelf

CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com

Jerry Uttrachi's ADVANCED AUTOMOTIVE WELDING (9781934709962, $29.95) comes from a welding expert who covers all the major welding processes needed to repair and fabricate using advanced materials and different welding techniques. It uses a project-based approach, from constructing a roll cage to repairing an aluminum frame, and it is packed with projects designed to move the auto repair reader from one level of expertise to the more advanced levels. Color step-by-step photos throughout walk the novice welder through each process, explaining materials, difficulty levels, and more. Highly recommended as a basic reference for any auto repair collection. Jim Dunne's CAR SPY: SECRET CARS EXPOSED BY THE INDUSTRY'S MOST NOTORIOUS PHOTOGRAPHER (9781934709818, $19.95) is for any who are interested in new car design, and provides fun stories, road testing secrets, and behind-the-scenes discussions of new car manufacturing, testing, and marketing. Over 200 vintage black and white and modern color images of domestic and foreign cars in all stages of development are included in a fun survey highly recommended for any auto buff. Joseph Alig and Stephen 'Spike' Kelmer's EAST VS. WEST SHOWDOWN: RODS, CUSTOMS AND RAILS (9781934709858, $29.95) provides a fine comparative review of the early days of hot rodding when two distinctive schools - one from West Coast, one from East Coast - emerged to reflect very different perspectives on the subject. This history of an era discusses similarities and differences between the hot rods produced at the time, using the works of key hot rodders as a fine starting point to blend biography and car mechanics. Color photos accompany articles which offer important cross-connections within and outside of the sport, making this a top survey for any auto buff's collection.


The Computer Shelf

How to Do Everything iPhone 4S
Guy Hart-Davis
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9780071783071, $25.00, www.mhprofessional.com

How to Do Everything iPhone 4S is packed with tips and tricks that tell how to customize an iPhone, do video chat, listen to music and more. From connecting to wireless networks everywhere to creating an audio and video library and using the iPhone for storage and file backup, this is a fine detailed recommendation covering the basics of syncing an iPhone with multiple computers and conducting advanced file-sharing. Very highly recommended for any who own in iPhone 4S; especially novices who want a quick jumpstart on more advanced possibilities.

Java Application Architecture
Kirk Knoernschild
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321247132, $39.99, www.informit.com/ph

Java Application Architecture: Modularity Patterns with Examples Using OSGi is a top pick for any software programming collection strong in Java, and provides an exploration of a new way of Java application architecture. It helps designers move to creating modular software and integrating it into modularity programs, teaching how to break down the usual Java format and how to understand the different architectural focus. From module testing to deployment, this offers insights into structure and alternative programming methods.

The CSS3 Anthology, fourth edition
Rachel Andrew
Sitepoint
1829 Market Street, Suite 202
San Francisco CA 94103
9780987153029, $39.95, www.sitepoint.com

The fourth updated edition of THE CSS3 ANTHOLOGY provides a fine set of answers and examples for any programmer with CSS code questions, and comes with downloadable code examples covering the latest technologies of CSS3 and HTML5. From layout options and easy navigation without JavaScript to cross-browser techniques, tabular data and positioning, this anthology should be considered the definite purchase for any using CSS3, and packs in real-world examples and situations any programmer will need.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/aw

Jason McC. Smith's ELEMENTAL DESIGN PATTERNS (0321711920, $44.99) is for any college-level software engineering holding and addresses the issue of applying patterns in ways that deliver value to organizations. It teaches software developers how to map patterns to real software implementations and provides a fine blend of tutorial and cookbook rich in links between patterns and software development. From mastering patterns logically to explaining how the author's choice of elemental patterns can be applied in new ways, this is a fine technical exploration for any collection catering to developers. Chuck Hudson and Tom Leadbetter's HTML5 DEVLEOPER'S COOKBOOK (0321769384, $39.99) packs in keys to using standards-based browser applications and covers all operations from native audio and video to drawing and using location awareness - all without third-party plug-ins. It teaches how to integrate HTML5's new and enhanced elements with CSS3 and JavaScript APIs and offers in-depth browser support and discussions of each feature. It's a cookbook packed with formulas for success and the code needed for all operations, and is a 'must' reference for any HTML5 developer.

Protect, Clean Up and Speed Up Your Computer for Seniors
Studio Visual Steps
Visual Steps
9789059052571, $19.95, www.visualsteps.com

Protect, Clean Up and Speed Up Your Computer for Seniors: Use the Protection, Clean up and Optimization Tools Available in Windows requires no special software, no special computer knowledge, and no special eyesight in order to prove a top pick for seniors using computers. It provides the basics of protecting a system from viruses and spyware, from setting up Windows Firewall and security options to restoring a system after problems. The self-paced arrangement and large-size print is accompanied by big, clear screen shots that leave nothing to the imagination. The result is a top recommendation that addresses one subject in depth but uses an easy structure any senior will find much more accessible than the usual computer owner's tome.

Security and Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 Users
Mitch Tulloch
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
9780735668836, $9.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

Security and Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 Users offers a fine survey of the built-in security and privacy features in Microsoft Office, and is a fine guide to everyday scenarios and how to fine-tune Office 2010, whether collaborating online or when publishing a presentation. Common risks and best practices accompany screen shots and plenty of details perfect for MS Office users operating under all kinds of conditions, from home to office to online environments.

FreeBSD Device Drivers
Joseph Kong
No Starch Press
38 Ringold St., San Francisco CA 94103
9781593272043, $49.95, www.nostarch.com

FreeBSD Device Drivers is a powerful pick for any fan of open source and discusses the free operating system and the drivers it needs. Any developer or computer pro working with FreeBSD will find this teaches the basics of building and running loadable kernel modules. The tutorial offers extensive code examples, keys to real-world operations, and more and teaches all the inner workings of systems and operations involved in FreeBSD. Writers finally have all the details in one place on how to produce workable devices, and will find this a solid survey with all the technical specifics necessary for success.

Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies, third edition
Barry Burd, PhD
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470371749, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies is a basic primer for any who would begin writing computer programs and offers an easy approach to learning Java - even for those who are not programmers and have never written code in any other language. Novices receive a basic introduction to writing programs and using the computer to test programs, and learn the basic elements of Java programming and production. A step-by-step format with highlighted sidebars of information covers the basics of writing a Java application and includes all the latest features of Java 7. There are plenty of books on the market for those with programming backgrounds, but this third updated edition of Beginning Programming with Java for Dummies is the logical starting point for any novice.

An Introduction to IMS, second edition
Barbara Klein, et.al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132886871, $59.99, www.ibmpressbooks.com

An Introduction to IMS provides a 'must have' reference for any computer collection strong in information technology, and packs in a guide that offers the latest examples, problems, solution, and IBM terminology and best practices. The second updated edition covers both the basics of how it works and its history to keys to effectively setting up, running and maintaining IMS and its applications development opportunities. This is a wide-ranging book that provides a fine step-by-step guide for every IMS user, developer or systems programmer.

Head First C
David Griffiths & Dawn Griffiths
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449399917, $49.99, www.oreilly.com

Head First C is a 'must' for any collection strong in programming languages in general and 'C' in particular. It helps newcomers learn C by using a brain-friendly approach to learning based on the latest learning models, and offers labs of projects designed to reinforce and test new skills. An intensely visual approach includes flowcharts, cartoons, and illustrations that lends to interest and easy learning, making for a top pick for any collection interested in basic programming appealing to novices.

Rapid Review: MCTS Exam 70-680
Orin Thomas
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
9780735657298, $29.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

Rapid Review: MCTS Exam 70-680: Configuring Windows 7 provides a quick at-a-glance review of the MCTS Exam 70-680 and offers a guide to all the basics of installing, upgrading, and configuring hardware and software for Windows 7. From mobile computing options to maintaining Windows 7 systems, this joins others in the series but provides key review particular to the MCTS Exam 70-680. From exam objectives to 'need to know' reviews, this is packed with fine keys to success!

Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.quepublishing.com

Katherine Murray's MY EVERNOTE (0789749262, $24.99) provides extensive documentation and step-by-step instructions with callouts to color photos throughout explaining the basics of using Evernote and handling any problems that arise in the process. These step-by-step task notes are packed with keys to all the basics, from installing Evernote on a PC, mobile device or Mac to sharing notebooks, saving images in all formats, building easy lists, and syncing notes and information across multiple devices. Any new Evernote user will find this the only basic guide you need to getting started with a versatile program that promotes and simplifies cross-platform sharing. Gary Rosenzweig's MY IPAD (9780789749666, $24.99) appears in its fourth updated edition to offer step-by-step instructions with callouts to iPad photos that illustrate every step. It's packed with tips, tricks, customization notes and routines, and much more, and covers everything form using iCloud to sync data between devices to watching movies, downloading useful iPad apps, and much more. iPad new owners will find this a thorough survey to the entire customization process.

Professional Android 4 Application Development
Reto Meier
Wrox
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118102275, $44.99, www.wiley.com

Any professional computer programming library must have a copy of Professional Android 4 Application Development on hand. It teaches how to build unique smartphone and tablet applications using Android 4, is written by an Android authority, and provides detailed coverage that shows experienced Android developers how to go to the next level in using Android's newest features. From exploring Android UI metaphors and Cloud management services to using widgets, Live Wallpaper and more, this adds a new chapter on publishing apps and is a key acquisition for any serious Android developer.

Landing Page Optimization, new edition
Rich Page, Tim Ash, Maura Ginty
Sybex
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9780470610121, $29.99, www.sybex.com

Learn how to optimize your landing pages and make money with a better landing page design with this key guide, appearing in a new edition to show how to test and fine-tune landing pages and improve the bottom line. Over 150 pages of new material represent the ongoing changes in the industry, while coverage of best practices for e-commerce and lead generation and avoiding the usual pitfalls of landing page design make this a top recommendation for any putting together or re-evaluating a website. The second edition is a 'must' to keep on top of many changes since the first in this recommended pick for any library strong in website development.

Beginning Kinect Programming with the Microsoft Kinect SDK
Jarrett Webb and James Ashley
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013
9781430241041, www.apress.com

Beginning Kinect Programming with the Microsoft Kinect SDK promises a fine step-by-step primer key to creating one's first working Kinect program in thirty minutes, and is a pick for any programmer new to Kinect. It begins with downloading and installing SDKs and tools and moves into more advanced processes from skeleton tracking to using audio through the Kinect, and packs in keys to building usable applications that range from simple games for the PC to interactive applications. Professionals who want a solid programmer's guide will find this a winner!


The Fiction Shelf

Flame of Resistance
Tracy Groot
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414359472, $13.99, www.tyndale.com

FLAME OF RESISTANCE offers a fine World War II history novel and is set in Normandy on the edge of D-Day. Biblical experience and references follow the story of spies, Nazis, calls to duty and challenges to morality and ethics brought about by D-Day's actions. Tracy Groot adds fine research on the event and World War II environment, both of which make FLAME OF RESISTANCE a powerful saga that essentially retells the story of Rahab from Joshua 2 in the Bible. A fine pick for any collection strong in religious or military accounts.

Shelter
Frances Greenslade
Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451661101, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

SHELTER provides a powerful novel that tells of a doting mother's disappearance into the Canadian wilderness and two sisters who become involved in her life. The sisters face a lie without parents in a rural Canadian community and grow into very different teens with different perspectives on life and the loss of their parents. Maggie's mission to locate their missing mother challenges the concepts of family bonds and changes her relationship with her optimistic older sister Jenny in this powerful survey, recommended for any general lending library.

Dirt
David Vann
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780062121035, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

DIRT tells of a twenty-two-year-old living with his controlling mother who is domineering, needy, and who keeps Galen in an infantile state. Family tensions are on the rise, particularly when a teen cousin teases Galen and evokes his sexual fantasies, and when his mother observes Jennifer's advances and threatens her son until he explodes. Family interactions and darkness make for a powerful survey packed with insights on what makes tensions explode, in this recommendation for general collections strong in emotionally gritty novels.

Skinnydipping
Bethenny Frankel
Touchstone
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451667370, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

SKINNYDIPPING offers the fun and notable story of Faith Brightstone, an aspiring actress just out of college who moves to L.A. in search of fame and romance. Her dreams of being an actress becomes jaded when she realizes she'd rather be herself than play a role, and when she becomes tired of her job, her goals, and even her boyfriend. Five years later she's a successful businesswoman who is tapped for a new reality TV show and who finds herself challenged by either romance or fame in an impossible choice. A fine story of love and ambition evolves.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Nine for the Devil
Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590589946, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

Nine for the Devil provides a fine John the Lord Chamberlain mystery and is set in 548, when Empress Theodora is dead of disease - or so most believe. In fact she may have been murdered, and it's up to John the Lord Chamberlain to find her murderer even though there's no evidence of foul play. Pair that struggle with John's complex family issues and you have a powerful historical mystery hard to put down, especially recommended for prior fans of John the Lord Chamberlain.

A Fatal Fleece
Sally Goldenbaum
Obsidian Mystery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451236753, $24.95, www.penguin.com

A FATAL FLEECE is set in a seaside town in Massachusetts and centers around the Seaside Knitters - who are busy looking for a killer. Add family entanglements and community rivalry into the mix and you have a fine mystery which centers around a small village's many interactions and the particular involvements of a close-knit knitting group and their questionable encounters in the course of pursuing a dangerous killer. General collections strong in mysteries will appreciate the drama.

Murder in Fifth Avenue
Victoria Thompson
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425247419, $24.95, www.penguin.com

MURDER ON FIFTH AVENUE provides a satisfying addition to the author's Gaslight Mystery series and tells of Sarah's involvement with an Irish Catholic police detective below her social level, and the murder of a Knickerbocker club member which turns her skeptical father into an ally of her beloved sergeant. The two find themselves probing the deceased's life - and discover that he's left behind his own official hate club with many who would've liked to have killed him. A fine, tense thriller evolves suitable for any mystery holding and especially for prior Gaslight mystery fans!


The Audioboook Shelf

Breakdown
Sara Paretsky
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781455823697, $36.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

BREAKDOWN provides another V.I. Warshawski novel, is performed by veteran narrator Susan Ericksen, and tells of Camilla, Queen of the Night, a shape-shifting fictional raven involving tweens in a dangerous game in Chicago that involves an actual corpse and a vampire-style slaying. For V.I. Warshawski, there are too many questions and too much potential for more murders unless she can understand the killing's roots. Fast-paced action leads to a powerful story that springs to life in audio format.

Random House Audio
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Garry Marshall's MY HAPPY DAYS IN HOLLYWOOD: A MEMOIR (9780307970480, $40.00) receives a fine reading by stage producer and writer Lori Marshall, whose clear voice spices a biography of a man once called a legend in his own time: one of the most successful directors and writers in America for over five decades. His memoir tells of his coming of age, his encounters with young rising stars, and his observations of and influences on Hollywood's progression. Anna Quindlen's LOTS OF CANDLES, PLENTY OF CAKE: A MEMOIR (9780307989864, $40.00) receives a vivid reading by the author and is a 'must' for any prior fans of Quindlen's novels and writings. Here she looks back at friendships, marriage, and changes ranging from health to parenting, and packs in insights of modern life in America in the process. A top pick for any fan of her works! Warren Littlefield works with T.R. Pearson in TOP OF THE ROCK: INSIDE THE RISE AND FALL OF MUST SEE TV (9780449009413, $40.00), which receives a fine narration by actor and producer Bob Balaban as it discusses the rise and drama of Must See TV from 1993 through 1998, when Warren Littlefield oversaw the Peacock Network's rise. It's packed with insider perceptions and behind-the-scenes anecdotes perfect for any fan of television and entertainment history, and comes to life in the audio format. Ryan O'Neal's BOTH OF US: MY LIFE WITH FARRAH (9780307988515, $35.00) is read by actor Ryan O'Neal and provides a powerful survey of a love affair that has captivated media and fans for some thirty years. Ryan and Farrah met through her husband Lee Majors, fell in love, and struggled with the dissolution of Farrah's marriage, Ryan's stormy relationship with his daughter and son, and other conflicts. Both struggled to create independent lives while maintaining love for each other: a love cut short by Farrah's untimely demise. Any fan of Farrah and Ryan will find this a powerful memoir! Steve Berry's novel THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR (9780449008942, $50.00) pairs a fine reading by audio veteran Scott Brick with an unabridged format and the powerful story of a winning investigative journalist whose professional reputation crashes when his controversial report from a war-torn area is exposed as a fraud. He lives in exile, unable to prove his professional downfall was actually an act of sabotage by an unknown enemy - and only a stranger's odd request saves his life and involves him in a deadly game in this gripping dramatic story.

Shockaholic
Carrie Fisher
Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781449822583, $19.99, www.recordedbooks.com

Author Carrie Fisher narrates her own story of how shock therapy she's been regularly undergoing is threatening to wipe out what's left of her memory. There's actually a lot of shocks to her confessional: top among them is she loves the high-voltage treatments - and might even find them a new addiction. Her focus on getting her memories onto paper before they are gone forever makes for a witty and revealing account not to be missed: especially on audio, where it truly comes to life!

Sacre Bleu
Christopher Moore
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062097408, $39.99, www.harperaudio.com

SACRE BLEU: A COMEDY D'ART is performed by Euan Morton and appears unabridged in a fine survey focusing on Vincent van Gogh's friends who vow to discover the truth of his untimely demise. Their quest leads them to the art world of 19th century Paris - and to intrigue, romance, and cultural oddities with a healthy dose of art and French influence for good measure. The result is a funny, pointed comedy that comes to life in audio and is highly recommended for its quirky twists and turns.

Rather Outspoken
Dan Rather
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781611134247, $34.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

RATHER OUTSPOKEN: MY LIFE IN THE NEWS is narrated by the author and considers his entire life, from his boyhood in Houston through his coverage of every U.S. president since Eisenhower and his successful return to investigative reporting. It's a fine survey of the entire industry and the investigative journalist genre in particular, spiced by his own dramatic and personal voice and perfect for any autobiography or journalism audio holding.


The Education Shelf

Best Practice, fourth edition
Steven Zemelman, Harvey Daniels, Arthur Hyde
Heinemann
PO Box 6926, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926
9780325054548, $36.88, www.heinemann.com

The 4th updated edition of BEST PRACTICE: BRINGING STANDARDS TO LIFE IN AMERICA'S CLASSROOMS is a top pick for any teaching collection and offers a framework of seven Best Practice structures and implementation strategies proven across grades. BP4 assesses practices from a blend of the latest scientific research, professional input, and teacher classrooms and offers plans for exceeding state and Common Core State Standards. Any educator's collection needs this definitive gathering of best practice teaching.

I See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8, revised edition
Steve Moline
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571108401, $25.00, www.stenhouse.com

I See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8 offers educators a fine survey defining visual literary and how it can be taught to the K-8 age group, and is a pick for any education collection. Now, some educators may view visual materials as supplemental tools; but Steve Moline here views them as key strategies for engaging students at the most basic level of learning and skills acquisition. His newly revised edition packs in dozens of new examples of these visual skills and their applications, from timemaps to the latest smartphone apps, and reorganizes the entire book's structure to make it more suitable to teaching curriculum. Different research strategies and diagrams that can help students bridge the gap from picture to essay make this a top recommendation.

Going Google
Jared Covili
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412998789, $41.95, www.corwin.com

GOING GOOGLE: POWERFUL TOOLS FOR 21ST CENTURY LEARNING explains the various tools Google offers that are available to teachers and students for free, covering their applications to K-12 educators who want to use Google tools in their classrooms to encourage digital advancement. It's arranged by the skills sets each tool promotes - communication, innovation, critical thinking and more - and explains the specific benefits of each tool along with tutorials and screen shots that show how to use them in classroom settings. From specific activities to reinforce the tools and the learning process to explanations for beginning and experienced Google users alike, this is a top pick for any education collection!

PHR/SPHR Study Guide, fourth edition
Sandra M. Reed, SPHR and Anne M. Bogardus
Sybex
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
9781118289174, $59.99, www.sybex.com

The 4th updated edition of PHR/SPHR Study Guide: Professional in Human Resources Certification comes packed with updated real-world scenarios, discussions, and access to exam prep software including a custom test engine and over 200 questions, and has been completely revised for the 2012 exams. Any who plan on going for their certification will find this a required key to success, covering all the basics of the exam's key understandings, analyzing the assessment process, and considering new employment legislation - among many other topics. A 'must' for business and education holdings alike!

Teaching Everyone
Whitney H. Rapp & Katrina L. Arndt
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572124, $69.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Teaching Everyone: An Introduction to Inclusive Education is the first text to move beyond special education labels to offer teachers specifics on how to adopt a truly inclusive program for all classroom needs. From exploring the standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial Content Standards with discussions on how it applies to different students to research-based strategies for teaching the major disciplines, TEACHING EVERYONE is a hands-on guide packed with practical applications and should be in any education collection.

Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms
Eric M. Nelson, MA
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540252, $49.95, www.redleafpress.org

Cultivating Outdoor Classrooms provides early childhood education collections with a fine guide loaded with creative ideas and inspirations for involving children in outdoor classrooms. It shows how to collaborate with other teachers and families to make the outdoor classroom a reality, and is packed with guidance to help plan and create an outdoor learning program that offers an extension of indoor classroom objectives, and comes loaded with color photos, summaries, keys to setting priorities and defining the outdoor classroom, and much more. A 'must' for any early childhood education collection!


The Business Shelf

Six Tires, No Plan
Michael Rosenbaum
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608322572, $21.95, www.gbgpress.com

SIX TIRES, NO PLAN: THE IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY OF THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL LEADER THAT (ALMOST) NOBODY KNOWS provides a powerful story of Bruce Halle, who grew up a poor child in New Hampshire who looked like every other kid who would wind up in a low-paying routine job - but who created one of America's most respected companies. This biography charts his rise from poverty and focuses on the key values that drive his business success, including his willingness to include his thousands of employees in his good fortune. He's long avoided the spotlight, so this business biography is a powerful pick for any collection looking for works about leaders.

Indie Brands
Anneloes Van Gaalen
BIS
9789063692193, $49.00, www.bispublishers.nl

INDIE BRANDS: 30 INDEPENDENT BRANDS THAT INSPIRE AND TELL A STORY is a powerful collection that should be in any business library: it gathers the stories of 30 entrepreneurs who developed powerful independent brands and provides insights on their products, approaches, and achievements. From personal motivations to create memorable brands to differences between intention and outcome and the development of creative agencies, this is packed with accounts of successful European brands and is a powerful set of inspirational insights into how brand names are conceived and fostered.

Work Positive in a Negative World
Dr. Joey Faucette
Business Plus
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9781599184203, $19.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com

Work Positive in a Negative World provides a fine survey of how to handle power and principle in a changing employment world. It focuses on how to create happiness and positive prosperity for all in a workplace environment, teaching how to apply strategies in the book for achieving not only business success, but life success as well. From channeling positive energy to cooperating easily with others, Work Positive in a Negative World outlines common barriers to success, reviews influences on success and failure, and provides keys to better operations that benefit all involved. It's a 'must' for any entrepreneur's business library - and for many a general self-help holding!

Emotional Branding, revised edition
Marc Gobe
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510
New York, NY 10010
9781581156720, $19.95, www.allworth.com

The revised, updated edition of EMOTIONAL BRANDING; THE NEW PARADIGM FOR CONNECTING BRANDS TO PEOPLE now includes winning Internet strategies and social media connections and is a key pick for any business that wants to target different generations for optimum branding. From how people are moving from TV to laptops and cell phones to how social media is affecting business structure itself, this offers a powerful survey and a different approach to brand-building, and is a 'must' for the small businessman!

The Mobile Marketing Handbook, second edition
Kim Dushinski
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike
Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9780910965903, $29.95, www.infotoday.com

THE MOBILE MARKETING HANDBOOK: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO CREATING DYNAMIC MOBILE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS appears in its second updated edition to provide practical methods for creating compelling campaigns, and is a solid pick for businesses who want to newly enter the mobile marketing world with all its opportunities and unique challenges. This covers the basics of creating a successful mobile marketing campaign, from interacting with mobile users to gaining competitive advantage. Very highly recommended!

No One Ever Told Us That
John D. Spooner
Business Plus
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455511556, $25.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

No One Ever Told Us That: Money and Life Letters to My Grandchildren comes from a successful financial advisor who offers a handbook of life's financial lessons for all young people just out of college or high school. It takes the very readable form of a series of letters to his grandchildren and offers personal stories to offset the financial advice, plus insights on handling adversity in life. The loving, chatty tone makes for a much more readable set of practical financial lessons: perfect for general-interest as well as business collections.

The Art of Digital Branding, revised edition
Ian Cocoran
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510
New York, NY 10010
9781581158762, $19.95, www.allworth.com

The revised, updated edition of THE ART OF DIGITAL BRANDING offers a top resource from a digital brand expert who explains traditional theories of branding and how they can be applied to websites no matter what field. It offers strategies for translating a brand name into a web presence, offering keys to understanding brand loyalty, encouraging traffic flow through vouchers, forums and online give-aways, and using technology such as audio and streaming video to improve website attraction. A powerful survey recommended for any business moving into the art of online branding.

Why Startups Fail
David Feinleib
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430241409, $19.99, www.apress.com

WHY STARTUPS FAIL AND HOW YOURS CAN SUCCEED tells how to avoid the common pitfalls of a new business, packing short chapters with clear keys to success and reviews of how failure happens. One might anticipate a collection packed with routines that guarantee success but the focus on how entrepreneurs make the same avoidable mistakes over and over offers even more lessons for beating those odds in a pick for any business collection.

Reverse Innovation
Vijay Govindarajan & Chris Trimble
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422157640, $30.00, www.hbr.org/books

REVERSE INNOVATION: CREATE FAR FROM HOME, WIN EVERYWHERE offers a focus on the global dynamics of innovation which are changing how businesses grow and change. It comes from authors from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth who explain the concept of reverse innovation - how it's flowing from developing to developed nations - and how it offers profound business climate changes for nations, companies and workers alike. They focus on the successful multinational corporation and show how these are seeking big growth in emerging economies - with special and different challenges. Highly recommended for any serious business holding.

Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers
Brian Cole Miller
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814417928, $18.95, www.amacombooks.org

Quick Brainstorming Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises to Spark Your Team's Creativity and Get Results Fast provides brainstorming exercises and is a pick for any business collection. Here are simple steps that advocate making brainstorming accessible to managers and team leaders and their groups, offering a focus that shows how to conduct a brainstorming session that yields exceptional results. From using focus questions to begin sessions to categorizing brainstormed ideas, this streamlines the process and walks managers through the eventual business applications of a brainstorming session. A fine choice for any business library catering to managers and team leaders.

The New Sustainability Advantage, 10th anniversary edition
Bob Willard
New Society Publishers
Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717121, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

The New Sustainability Advantage: Seven Business Case Benefits of a Triple Bottom Line is a pick for any business and economics collection interested in smart sustainability strategies and the risks of ignoring them. It's been revised and updated for a 10th anniversary edition and focuses on seven sustainability strategies to help businesses increase revenue, productivity, and more. From creating engaged employees to understanding critical issues such as water management, this is a powerful survey packed with keys to improving the bottom line, and is especially recommended for business managers seeking sustainability improvement.

Small Town Rules
Barry J. Molitz & Becky McCray
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789749203, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com

SMALL TOWN RULES; HOW BIG BRANDS AND SMALL BUSINESSES CAN PROSPER IN A CONNECTED ECONOMY provides a powerful survey of technology and economics and how they are changing not just the nature of doing business, but how customers communicate and how branding and advertising works. It tells how to adapt proven 'local' approaches for the global marketplace which is operating on very different rules, and supplies details on successful strategies LL Bean, Viking Range and others are already successfully utilizing. Any interested in the changing influences of global economics and business will find this a powerful survey indeed!

Expanding the Pie
Susan Rae Ross
Kumarian Press
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling VA 20166
9781565494664, $24.95, www.kpbooks.com

EXPANDING THE PIE: FOSTERING EFFECTIVE NON-PROFIT AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS explores the possibilities and challenges that arise in NGO-Corporate Partnerships. It provides rationale for the social sector/NGO-Corporate Partnerships and reviews strategies, frameworks, and tools that can support managers in designing, implementing and evaluating their business associations with nonprofits, and it offers solutions to common problems that both might experience during the cooperative process. Three types of partnerships are outlined, with nearly fifty reviewed to identify factors that led to their mutual success.

How Winning Works
Robyn Benicasa
Harlequin
233 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York NY 10279
9780373892556, $26.95, www.harlequin.com

How Winning Works: 8 Essential Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Teams on Earth is a 'must' for any who would build a winning team, and comes from a champion adventurer racer and founder of an adventure-based team-building company that uses adventure racing's lessons to teach the corporate and personal world. It teaches adversity management, mutual respect, "we" thinking and more and offers a basic winning survey highly recommended for any collection strong in building business leadership.


The Photography Shelf

The Nikon Creative Lighting System, second edition
Mike Hagen
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781933952994, $39.9, www.rockynook.com

The Nikon Creative Lighting System appears in its second updated edition to provide a powerful survey to the latest system of Nikon flashes, and provides an easy step-by-step method for setting up and using the latest Nikon iTTL flash units. Color photos throughout capture camera settings and pair them with photo results, discussing modes, menus, custom settings, and both basic and advanced lighting results. All the buttons and controls for different flash unit models are include, along with surveys of common areas of confusion and common errors made along the way, making this a 'must' for any planning on purchasing and using one of the new iTTL models.

Plate to Pixel
Helene Dujardin
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470932131, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Food and photography collections alike will welcome the appearance of PLATE TO PIXEL: DIGITAL FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY & STYLING. It tells how to develop food photography skills and provides a range of techniques for using natural light in combination with camera settings to produce amazing food photos, and focuses on the styling techniques that elevates the food display from mundane to amazing. Trade secrets for photographing ice cream and foods that don't tend to look appetizing accompany surveys of workflows and keys to using light and display to best advantage, making this a winner for any culinary or photography collection.

Food Styling & Photography for Dummies
Alison Parks-Whitfield
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118097199, $29.99, www.wiley.com

The 'For Dummies' books offers plenty of color examples and sidebars of information throughout, making them perfect picks for novices, and Food Styling & Photography for Dummies holds special appeal for this group. From learning the basics of making food look appetizing for the camera to composition, camera angles, and editing food photos, this provides all the basics and offers a fun guide packed with tricks to style food photography. Beginners welcome - along with any collection catering to them!

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Classroom in a Book
Adobe Systems
Adobe Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321819578, $54.99, www.adobepress.com

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Classroom in a Book offers a tutorial that can serve as a classroom adjunct or a choice for self-study, and offers a comprehensive, fast method of learning Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. It provides hands-on tutorials based on real-world applications - 11 lessons covering the basics of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom - and includes tips and techniques for streamlining processes and getting up to speed quickly. It's designed to supplement both documentation with the program and classroom efforts and includes a CD-ROM with lesson files, online updates, and more. Color screenshots throughout make this a real winner!

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers
Scott Kelby
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321819586, $49.99, www.newriders.com

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book for Digital Photographers provides a fine classroom in a book and uses a winning step-by-step style and layout to make it a snap to learn Lightroom and all its features. It shares the author's own personal settings and techniques and is designed as a workflow order with step-by-step instructions to creating professional results. Packed with color screen shots and photography examples, it's the item of choice for any Lightroom 4 learner.

Dear Photograph
Taylor Jones
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780062131690, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

DEAR PHOTOGRAPH offers a simple idea: take a photo from the past, hold it in front of the place it was originally shot, take a photo of the picture, and add a dedication about what the photograph means to you. The results are personal, detailed and often amazing - which is why millions have flocked to DearPhotograph.com, thousands have submitted their own photos, and the website took off. It's also why any photography or general-interest collection will see avid interest in this survey of the site and the phenomenon.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Age of Distraction
Transaction Publishers
Robert Hassan
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412843065, $34.95, www.transaction.com

THE AGE OF DISTRACTION: READING, WRITING, AND POLITICS IN A HIGH-SPEED NETWORKED ECONOMY provides a fine survey on the politics of time and democracy in an electronic world, and is a fine pick for college-level collections strong in how electronic instantaneity distracts us from writing and serious contemplation. Hassan argues for a public Internet as one of the alternatives to the shallow course of speedy capitalism without thought, and provides a fine survey on how to slow a distracting, hasty world. Fine food for thought and college-level classroom discussion alike!

No Happy Cows
John Robbins
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573245753, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

NO HAPPY COWS: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTLINES OF THE FOOD REVOLUTION comes from a pioneering food activist who offers essays considering the state of food politics today. These are updated from his Huffington Post blog posts mixed with new writing on food, and offers plenty of insights on everything from processed plant foods and meat production to the rise in obesity and connections between chocolate and 21st-century slavery. It's a powerful set of reflections essential for any serious food issues or social issues collection, and offers the latest insights, research, and stories from the food world.

Dear Marcus
Jerry McGill
Spiegel & Grau
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780812993073, $22.00, www.spiegelandgrau.com

DEAR MARCUS: A LETTER TO THE MAN WHO SHOT ME offers a personal memoir considering the repercussions of shootings and comes from an author who was shot in the back by a random assailant when he was thirteen. Jerry McGill was excelling as an athlete and a dancer before his shooting: afterwards he learned he'd be wheelchair-bound for life. DEAR MARCUS is written as a letter to the man who shot him and reflects on how the event changed his life and dreams and dictated that he'd live forever with a disability. The unexpected opportunities for growth and forgiveness that evolved make this a powerful survey for any general lending library.

The Great Divergence
Timothy Noah
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781608196333, $25.00, www.bloomsbury.com

THE GREAT DIVERGENCE: AMERICA'S GROWING INEQUALITY CRISIS AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT explains the growing gap between rich and poor Americans and focuses on the economic and political changes that have rearranged wealth over the past thirty years. One might believe such a rearrangement would be influenced by race, gender or single parenthood: in fact THE GREAT DIVERGENCE offers alternative insights into the factors that differentiate rich from poor, explaining how we got to this place and offering policy solutions to help foster income equality. Any social issues collection, whether at the general-interest or college level, will find this a winning survey!

Uncontrolled
Jim Manzi
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465023240, $28.99, www.basicbooks.com

UNCONTROLLED: THE SURPRISING PAYOFF OF TRIAL-AND-ERROR FOR BUSINESS, POLITICS, AND SOCIETY makes an argument for an overhaul in how decisions and investments are made in business and politics alike, showing how specific experimentation is the only way to gain an edge. Small-scale experimentation of ideas is advocated to test out new ideas and discover direction - also called 'trial and error' - in a title that argues for the connection between small gains and overall growth. It offers a history of experimentation, applies concepts of testing to social science, and creates important connections for business and political circles alike. Any collection strong in business, politics, or social issues will find this an intriguing concept that promotes a larger goal of constantly experimentation to reveal patterns and changes leading toward success.

The War on Poverty
Annelise Orleck & Lisa Gayle Hazirjian
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820339498, $26.95, www.ugapress.uga.edu

The War on Poverty: A New Grassroots History, 1964-1980 offers a powerful collection key to any social issues collection and covers poverty and civil rights battles at the grassroots level. Essays provide keys to understanding the various battles and shares the methods and efforts of grassroots activism, showing how Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty changed American politics and involved poor people across the nation. Essays cover all ethnic groups and classes and document struggles around the U.S., from farmworker rights to Chinese immigrants in New York, and provides a powerful survey of the movement Johnson began. Very highly recommended!

Sex Race and Class
Selma James
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864540, $20.00, www.pmpress.org

SEX RACE AND CLASS: THE PERSPECTIVE OF WINNING offers writings from 1952-2011 and packs in social, political and literary observations by a woman who in 1972 set out a new political perspective for women not seen as 'workers' and therefore who were considered outside the class struggle. Six decade of works considers the development of her perspective and interactional activist efforts since, offering writings that are jargon-free and filled with ideas from the fronts of feminist worker organization around the world. A 'must' for feminist and social issues collections alike, this college-level collection provides powerful assessments of evolving women's rights.

Web of Deceit
Anne P. Minetz, Editor
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medfor,d NJ 08055
9780910965910, $29.95, www.infotoday.com

WEB OF DECEIT; MISINFORMATION AND MANIPULATION IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA is an ongoing recommendation for any interested in internet manipulation, and shows how manipulative people and organizations use social media to identify and pursue targets that are susceptible to hoaxes and con games. This follows up on the author's 2002 book on the topic and offers a team of expert researchers and journalists who explain how misinformation is intentionally spread, and how what to do about it. College-level collections ranging from law enforcement and intelligence personnel to market researchers and business professionals will find this a powerful assessment.

Digital Wars
Charles Arthur
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749464134, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

DIGITAL WARS: APPLE, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT & THE BATTLE FOR THE INTERNET provides a fine survey documenting battles over search technology, mobile music, smartphones and more, and considers how these companies embarked on campaigns that not only changed their business structures, but the nature of information sharing as a whole. It assesses who are the winners and who fell behind in each battle over a piece of the technology pie, and offers an overall assessment of the digital landscape and its key players. This could have been featured in our Computer Shelf section, but is reviewed here for its wider interest to any social issues collection.


The Science Shelf

Jewels of the Early Earth
Bruce L. Stinghcomb
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764338809, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com

JEWELS OF THE EARLY EARTH: MINERALS AND FOSSILS OF THE PRECAMBRIAN packs in over 650 color photos to document geo-collectible fossils and minerals associated with the Earth's early history. Pegmatite minerals, the geology of shield areas and their rocks, and more are provided in a survey of unusual minerals associated with different kinds of rocks. It's a 'must' for both geologists and mineral and rock collectors.

101 American Geo-Sites You've Gotta See
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press Publishing
Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425877, $24.00, www.mountain-press.com

101 American Geo-Sites You've Gotta See chooses one outstanding geologic site for all fifty states and uses that site to explain how it originated and the overall geologic forces affecting the rest of the state. This could have been featured in our 'travel' section but its audience will more likely be amateur geologists and scientists who want a fine overview of America's varied geologic wonders and where to find them. Color photos and illustrations offer excellent embellishment to the nature history packed into this survey!

Tribal Science
Mike McRae
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145835, $17.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

TRIBAL SCIENCE: BRAINS, BELIEFS, AND BAD IDEAS comes form a science writer who considers how our tribally oriented brains perceive and distort reality. Our social impulses have led to the development of perception tricks that lend to social involvements - such as using entertainment to explain science, and favoring group bias. It also explains the difference between tribal perception and science, considering the scientific method and how science has become our most successful social enterprise. The result is a recommendation for science and social science collections alike.

The Story of Earth
Robert M. Hazen
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670023554, $27.95, www.penguin.com

THE STORY OF EARTH: THE FIRST 4.5 BILLION YEARS, FROM STARDUST TO LIVING PLANET provides a fine overview suitable for general interest lending libraries on the evolution of the planet and also the evolution of earth sciences as a whole. It offers a new approach to Earth's history and reveals how the coevolution of the geosphere and biosphere - rocks and living matter - has shaped the planet into a unique world that may stand alone in its evolutionary process. History, astrobiology and naturalism blend during discussions of how changes on an atomic level lead to shifts in Earth's makeup over its entire life span, and provides a remarkable set of new insights in the process of explaining Hazen's theory of coevolution and its interactions. A fine choice for science and lay collections alike!

The Moral Molecule
Paul J. Zak
Dutton
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10014-3657
9780525952817, $26.95, www.penguin.com

THE MORAL MOLECULE; THE SOURCE OF LOVE AND PROSPERITY comes from an altar boy who became a neuroscientist searching for the biological origins of moral behavior. His discovery of oxytocin and his studies into its influence on human behavior succeeded in identifying the properties of this 'moral molecule' - and led Zak to found a new field called 'neuroeconomics' which incorporates methods of brain science in studying social behaviors. The story of his research and discoveries makes for a moving, thought-provoking read recommended for science, spirituality and economics collections alike.

Swell: A Year of Waves
Evan Slater
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452105932, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

Swell: A Year of Waves will appeal to a variety of collections, from those interested in the science and appearance of ocean waves to those who will appreciate the color photos edited by Peter Taras throughout, and surfers entranced by the sport. It's a survey and celebration of the wave that comes from a surf journalist team who pairs wave photography with discussions of different style of swells and their journeys around the world. A powerful account for any collection strong in ocean science.

The Practical Einstein
Jozsef Illy
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
9781421404578, $60.00, www.press.jhu.edu

THE PRACTICAL EINSTEIN: EXPERIMENTS, PATENTS, INVENTIONS provides a fine compendium of technological innovations from Einstein, who tinkered in many different ways, contributions to the invention of the microphone, various aviation instruments, and more. He provided ways to test his theories and produced papers that documented his experiments and ideas, synthesized here in THE PRACTICAL EINSTEIN. From his expert opinions and communications with other scientists to his influence on the proposals of others, this is a fine compendium of scientific inventions and ideas perfect for any general science collection; particularly those strong on Einstein.


The Technology Shelf

Antenna Systems and Electronic Warfare Applications
Richard Poisel
Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood MA 02062
9781608074846, $169.00, www.artechhouse.com

Antenna Systems and Electronic Warfare Applications comes from a leading expert who considers the role antennas systems play in modern electronic warfare communication, and who imparts its engineering basics to a technical audience who want a basic foundation in design principles and applications. It packs in over 700 illustrations and nearly 1,700 equations in its explanations of all aspects of antenna system technology, and provides engineers with a detailed survey that discusses key characteristics of each type of antenna and their limitations in EW applications. A 'must' for any engineer's reference library.


The Architecture Shelf

Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design, third edition
Richard L. Miller, FAIA, et.al.
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393733099, $115.00, www.wwnorton.com

The third updated edition of Hospital and Healthcare Facility Design is a 'must' for any architect, planner or hospital administrator involved in facility planning, and updates information to state-of-the-art best practices in the field. It rests on some fifty years of experience at one of the country's leading healthcare architectural firms and provides new case studies, updated text with new ideas and guidelines, and keys to the successful implementation of facility design in the changing world of healthcare. The latest advancements in the field are assessed in this powerful presentation.

Architectural and Cultural Guide Pyongyang
Philipp Meuser
DOM Publishers
c/o 60 Cycle Media
134 W 26th Street, New York, NY 10001-6803
9783869221878, $49.95, www.60cyclemedia.com

Architectural and Cultural Guide Pyongyang is a powerful, two-volume set packed with architectural and cultural insights on a region of the world architects rarely get a chance to glimpse: North Korea. This is an in-depth and multi-faceted reference that serves as a travel guide, cultural survey and architectural review and blends photos of buildings under construction with those of North Koreans and other subjects. Of particular interest are essays that offer social, political and cultural observations and insights as well as architectural specifics. While this set most likely will appeal to and be purchased by arts collections strong in architecture, it's reviewed here for its specific and notable interest to any collection strong in North Korean issues and culture. Simply an unparalleled pick.

Good Guys, Wise Guys, and Putting Up Buildings
Samuel C. Florman
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue
New York NY 10010-7848
9312641672, $25.99, www.stmartins.com

Good Guys, Wise Guys, and Putting Up Buildings: A Life in Construction will find a home in many different collections, from those strong in construction and architecture to general holdings where biography is of interest, and those strong in New York City history and culture. Sam Florman was a general contractor in New York City during a time of growth and development and participated in an unprecedented era of building. His inside account of a building boom that was to change the face of the city makes for a powerful survey of the construction industry's corruption, rise, and fall and the firms involved in housing and building choices. The result is a powerful account packed with insights and observations.


The Crafts Shelf

Decorate Your Shoes
Annemart Berendse
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600315, $19.95, www.americanquilter.com

DECORATE YOUR SHOES: CREATE ONE-OF-A-KIND FOOTWEAR offers 11 fun designs and keys to using paints, pens, markers and more to decorate canvas, vinyl, leather and more. This offers an activity that adults and kids alike will appreciate, and methods that can apply to sneakers, thongs, and all kinds of footwear. Tired of boring white? DECORATE YOUR SHOES offers perfect artistic alternatives satisfying to crafters and any interested in colorful design alternatives.

Favorite Beading Projects
Diane Fitzgerald
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016-8810
9781600599224, $27.95, www.larkbooks.com

Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects: Designs from Stringing to Beadweaving presents 24 new beading projects that have never been published elsewhere, and pairs colorful photos with amazing designs perfect for any beader's collection. The author's classes have been sold-out successes, and this success translates well to a compendium of foolproof beading projects that pairs unique designs with colorful photos throughout. Any jewelry-making or crafts collection will find this a winner!


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Jewish Gospels
Daniel Boyarin
The New Press
38 Greene Street, 4th Floor
New York NY 10013
9781595584687, $21.95, www.thenewpress.com

THE JEWISH GOSPELS: THE STORY OF THE JEWISH CHRIST provides a fine new work covering the changing boundaries between Judaism and Christianity, and considers some basic assumptions about religion and the connections between Judaism and Christianity. It comes from a scholar who reveals the time when all who followed Jesus - including Jews - even believed he was God. His new survey of a Jewish Christ who kept kosher and defended the laws of the Torah makes for a fine alternative portrait of the close connections between Judaism and Christianity in earlier times.

The Unfoldment
Neil Kramer
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632142, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

The Unfoldment: The Organic Path to Clarity, Power, and Transformation uses a lifetime of spiritual study and comes from a philosopher and teacher who blends metaphysics, mysticism and knowledge in a book that stems from his popular workshops and seminars. It blends his philosophy with spiritual step-by-step focus on spiritual enlightenment, providing a hands-on program that teaches how to re-pattern old writing, master pain, and understand the hidden spiritual teachings of our ancestors. The result is a solid journey recommended for any interested in spiritual connections.

God Is Not Dead
Amit Goswami, Ph.D.
Hampton Roads Publishing
65 Parker St. Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746733, $19.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

GOD IS NOT DEAD; WHAT QUANTUM PHYSICS TELLS US ABOUT OUR ORIGINS AND HOW WE SHOULD LIVE comes from a physics professor who shows that God's existence can be found in clues revealed in the science of quantum physics, and offers readers a key to breaking free from traditional physics to appreciate different perceptions of God and consciousness offered by quantum physics. It calls for a 'quantum activism' that incorporates spiritual and material worlds alike, and offers readers keys to understanding the science and nature of the universe. Science and spirituality collections alike will find its arguments intriguing.

The Handy Religion Answer Books, second edition
John Renard, Ph.D.
Visible Ink
43311 Joy Road #414
Canton MI 48187-2075
9781578593798, $21.95, www.visibleink.com

The Handy Religion Answer Books appears in its second updated edition to offer readers a basic introduction to contemporary religion, which includes descriptions of major beliefs and rituals around the world. Detailed descriptions cover the history, beliefs, rituals, customs and leaders of the world's eight major religions, and this revised edition packs in more than 700 questions ranging from the significance of the Star of David to what is an Ayatollah. A perfect primer for any general-interest collection wishing a simple question-and-answer format paired with wide-ranging discussions.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Our God is Undocumented
Ched Myers & Matthew Colwell
Orbis Books
Price Bldg., Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545
9781570759567, $24.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Our God is Undocumented: Biblical Faith and Immigrant Justice provides Christian readers with a powerful theology that considers religion in the face of the immigrant experience and current debates on immigration. It offers Myer's exegesis and Colwell's dramatic stories of immigrant experiences and the Christian call to help strangers and aid in justice, and it's packed with Biblical references analyzing the concept of sanctuary and modern issues involving culture clashes. A fine pick for Christian collections!

NIV Bible Study Commentary
John H. Sailhamer
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310331193, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

NIV Bible Study Commentary appears in a fine new international version recommended for any who would use a compact Bible study guide that is easy to understand. Lay readers receive a survey designed for Bible college students, pastors, and any who want to know more about the books of the Bible. It's arranged by the books of the Bible and packs in history, discussions, and commentary on the stories of Scripture, and is a 'must' for any spirituality collection!

Icons and the Name of God
Sergius Bulgakov & Boris Jakim
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866646, $29.00, www.eerdmans.com

Icons and the Name of God comes from an Orthodox theologian who here explains the theology behind the Orthodox veneration of icons and the glorification of the name of God. He offers two essays (available in English for the first time) on the topic and covers key theological concepts for a college-level and scholarly audience interested in modern Orthodox perspectives on Christian theology, and it's packed with spiritual insights and associations perfect for any scholar interested particularly in the veneration of icons and of the name of God in Orthodox tradition.

Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough
Kay Warren
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 E Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780800721725, $21.99, www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough offers a powerful survey from a Christian leader who advocates finding and living joy in life though deeper spiritual insights and reflection, and is a pick for any Christian library. It draws direct connections between joy and a belief in God, and offers a survey packed with keys to achieving deeper joy through deeper faith. With its chapters specifying how to find this joyful meaning, CHOOSE JOY is a pick for any inspirational collection.

Proving History
Rchard C. Carrier
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145590, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

PROVING HISTORY: BAYES'S THEOREM AND THE QUEST FOR THE HISTORICAL JESUS provides a fine discussion of New Testament scholarship and historical challenge, and comes from a historian who proposes Bayes's theorm as a solution to establishing reliable historical criteria over theological controversy. He applies basic historical methods and Christian studies in particular to bayes's theorem, arguing that any method that doesn't apply to the theorem is invalid. Using this theorem, historical and Christian concepts and history methods are analyzed in a key scholarly acquisition for any serious Christian holding and many a general-interest history collection.


The Military Shelf

Service
Marcus Luttrell & James D. Hornfischer
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780316185363, $27.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

SERVICE: A NAVY SEAL AT WAR provides a fine account by a Navy SEAL who tells his own war stories and those of others who have served in the Navy SEALs, and is a fine pick especially recommended for military shelves as well as general-interest holdings. The author returned home from Afghanistan, recovered from his mission, then went back to war as part of SEAL Team 5, spending six months in Iraq in one of its most dangerous areas and participating in a battle against Al Qaeda that ran from 2005 to 2007. His title examines the SEAL experience, the hazards of military life and homecoming like, and considers the women who marry SEALs and their lives. A top pick for any interested in the military experiences of SEALs.

Twelve Desperate Miles
Tim Brady
Crown
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307590374, $26.00, www.randomhouse.com

TWELVE DESPERATE MILES: THE EPIC WWII VOYAGE OF THE SS CONTESSA outlines one of the major events of World War II and provides military buffs with a fine story of the importance of the Contessa, a small ship that proved to be the only ship capable of sailing up a shallow Moroccan river. It comes from a history writer who shows how the rusty little New Orleans banana boat achieved the impossible and made a difference in the outcome of the war. A day-by-day chart of its journey and crew accompanies a powerful survey highly recommended for any military collection.

The Red Circle
Brandon Webb
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312604226, $26.99, www.stmartins.com

THE RED CIRCLE: MY LIFE IN THE NAVY SEAL SNIPER CORPS AND HOW I TRAINED AMERICA'S DEADLIEST MARKSMEN provides a vivid survey of a SEAL sniper and his work, and is a pick for any who would read about the SEAL corps in general and Brandon Webb's experiences. The author was a California surfer who became Course Manager of the Navy SEAL Sniper program where he trained some of the deadliest snipers of our times. THE RED CIRCLE offers many insights into covert operations and charts a shift in U.S. military strategy which began with the 2009 attack on the USS Cole. A powerful, vivid memoir evolves.

Front Burner
Commander Kirk S. Lippold, USN (Ret.)
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St., Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
9781610391245, $27.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

FRONT BURNER: AL QAEDA'S ATTACK ON THE USS COLE offers a powerful first-person narrative that documents his experience leading a crew of sailors through the deadliest terrorist attack on an American warship in history. Chapters analyze the issues that led up to the attack, considering the events that led to tragedy and how it could have been avoided - and how it heralded a new kind of terrorist threat that proceeded 9/11. The Cole experience continues to offer lessons on terrorism to any who would listen, making this a top pick for any military collection.

Black April
George J. Veith
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594035722, $29.95, www.encounterbooks.com

BLACK APRIL: THE FALL OF SOUTH VIETNAM, 1973-75 charts one of the largest Vietnamese translation projects ever accomplished and provides a powerful insight into the entire North Vietnamese decision-making process. It uses powerful research in primary sources, dozens of interviews, and newly unclassified cables between the Politburo and its military commanders in the source to chart the final days of South Vietnam and is replete with military and political insights simply unavailable elsewhere. The defeat of South Vietnam was a policy disaster for America - but until now, true insights into all the influences involved have not been available. BLACK APRIL resolves this gap in knowledge and is a powerful survey highly recommended for any military history holding.

The Complete Encyclopedia of Terrorist Organizations
Paul Ashley
Casemate
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
9781612001180, $16.95, www.casematepublishing.com

The Complete Encyclopedia of Terrorist Organizations provides a comprehensive guide to terrorist groups through the decades, identifying each group's background, history and evolution. Many of these groups are based in this country. From the Taliban in Afghanistan to white supremacy groups in the U.S. and terrorist organizations of the Middle East, this provides all kinds of background information and statistics that includes their motivations for violent social change. Associated organizations and keys to group structure round out the information and make for a powerful survey indeed.

The Browning Automatic Rifle
Robert Hodges
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849087612, $17.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

The Browning Automatic Rifle joins others in Osprey's 'Weapon' series to provide a fine history of the Browning's use around the world - particularly during World Wars 1 and II. It tells how firearms manufacturer John M. Browning developed a rifle that could be fired from the shoulder or hip while on the move - and how during World War II U.S. armed forces adapted it as a light machine gun, despite its flaws. First-hand accounts, color artwork and close-up photos enhance the documentation of a weapon that saw extensive military action.

U.S. Navy Seals
Hans Halberstadt
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760343012, $24.99, www.zenithpress.com

U.S. Navy Seals provides an updated, expanded edition of a classic and packs in over a hundred color photos of today's SEALs. New here is updated coverage of the Osama bin Laden mission, SEAL operations against piracy, and battles around the world in the ongoing war against terror. From the delivery of recon teams to lessons gained from naval warfare, this review covers major missions, strategies, patrol experiences and insights, and much more, and is a 'must' for any military or general collection strong in Navy SEAL operations.


The Political Science Shelf

It's Even Worse Than It Looks
Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465031337, $26.00, www.basicbooks.com

IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN IT LOOKS: HOW THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM COLLIDED WITH THE NEW POLITICS OF EXTREMISM provides a fine analysis of the current gridlock in Washington DC today and considers how it's damaged the process of politics, governance, and debate in modern America. Chapters set out to analyze the source of this dysfunction, identifying the major issues in Congress and policy-making and explaining how adversarial political parties are wrecking havoc throughout the American political system. History, politics, and ideas for change are provided in a debate that is especially recommended for high school to college-level political science collections.

The United Nations in the 21st Century, fourth edition
Karen A. Mingst and Margaret P. Karns
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder CO 80301
9780813345383, $35.00, www.westviewpress.com

The United Nations in the 21st Century appears in an updated fourth edition to provide college-level readers with an in-depth introduction to the history and processes of the U.N., using case studies to consider its peacekeeping efforts around the world. New to this edition is an overall update to include major events since 2006, a new chapter discussing the future of the United Nations, and new case studies around the world. The result is an in-depth review of the purposes and effectiveness of the United Nations, recommended for any political studies or world history student.

White House Burning
Simon Johnson and James Kwak
Pantheon Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.pantheonbooks.com
9780307906960, $26.95, www.amazon.com

WHITE HOUSE BURNING: THE FOUNDING FATHERS, OUR NATIONAL DEBT, AND WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU explains the programs of the federal government, how they are funded by taxes, and how these programs affect daily lives. They consider the rise of a dysfunctional political system that stymies efforts to choose a fiscally responsible course of action and they consider the history of deficits and debt in America. The result is a major analysis of U.S. budget issues, political influences, and the choices facing the nation. No serious political studies collection should be without this pointed analysis.

Pity the Billionaire
Thomas Frank
Metropolitan Books
c/o Henry Holt
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780805093698, $25.00, www.henryholt.com

Pity the Billionaire: The Hard-Times Swindle and the Unlikely Comeback of the Right offers a powerful survey telling of how the American right, which appeared to be in decline after the 2008 elections, actually roared back in the advent of hard times. Conservatism faced its greatest challenges in 2008, as its key policies were responsible for the financial crisis - instead it roared back by claiming it represented the common man with such groups as the Tea party, and is funded by the same people who brought about the economic collapse. PITY THE BILLIONAIRE provides a powerful assessment of new conservatives and the shy Democratic response to them. It provides a damning account of both parties and comes from the author's knowledge of the American right. A fine history of the political conflicts that govern both parties!


The International Studies Shelf

Castro's Secrets
Brian Latell
Palgrave Macmillan
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
9780230621237, $27.00, www.palgrave-usa.com

Castro's Secrets: The CIA and Cuba's Intelligence Machine provides a fine study of Fidel Castro's intelligence operations and is based on interviews with Cuban spies who defected along with declassified documents form the CIA, FBI, Pentagon and other national security sources. From political murders and how Castro's spies penetrated the U.S. government to Lee Harvey Oswald's connections with Cuba, this provides a powerful account from an intelligence expert who uses over forty years experience as the CIA's Castro expert to provide a powerful portrait of the man and his methods.

Afghan Endgames
Hy Rothstein and John Arquilla, Editors
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect St. NW, Washington DC 20007
9781589019089, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

AFGHAN ENDGAMES: STRATEGY AND POLICY CHOICES FOR AMERICA'S LONGEST WAR seeks to provide a realistic assessment of the alternatives for restoring peace to Afghanistan. It offers a wide-ranging survey covering military strategy, foreign policy, history, culture, ethics and more to provide a range of options for achieving settlement in Afghanistan, and gathers contributors' opinions and competing viewpoints. Editor suggestions synthesized from these writings include avoiding specific withdrawal dates and using Special Forces for a customized military strategy. A 'must' for any reader on Afghanistan issues, and for any world issues collection.


The Biography Shelf

Mud, Sweat, and Tears
Bear Grylls
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062124197, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

Bear Grylls' autobiography is an adventure-oriented chronicle perfect for any lending library seeing interest in true adventure chronicles in general and Bear Grylls' famous encounters in particular. The author grew up on a remote island off Britain's shore and was taught by his father to sail and climb at an early age. Soon he was out exploring the world, experiencing martial arts and mountaineering adventures. A free-fall parachuting accident in Africa led to a broken back and broken dreams: his recovery is detailed in blazing action in this top pick.

A Portrait of Pacifists
Richard P. Unsworth
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815609704, $29.95, www.syrcuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

A Portrait of Pacifists: Le Chambon, the Holocaust, and the Lives of Andre and Magda Trocme provides a fine biography of two leaders of a World War II rescue mission in France that saved 5,000 refugees, and is a pick for military, social issues and biography holdings alike. It's based on their unpublished memoirs, interviews and the author's research and considers their influence on pacifism and peace-building efforts around the world. Political and world issues holdings will also find this a powerful college-level assessment of the Trocmes and their lasting influence on world peace efforts.

Joss Whedon
PopMatters
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857689863, $18.95, www.titanbooks.com

JOSS WHEDON: THE COMPLETE COMPANION offers a powerful blend of biography and survey of his TV series, movies and productions and uses essays and interviews - including those with his key collaborators - to reveal the essence of Joss Whedon's works. Over 40 contributors to this volume have been gathered by PopMatters, a magazine of cultural criticism, to provide their insights on Whedon's entire pop culture career, from his Internet productions to his comic books, making for a 'must have' survey for any collection strong in film or popular culture.

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake
Anna Quindlen
Random House
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9781400069347, $26.00, www.randomhouse.com

LOTS OF CANDLES, PLENTY OF CAKE comes from a columnist who developed a whole new form of writing: about the challenges of women's lives. Her memoir reflects on her life and its deeper connections to women's universal experiences, from marriage and friendships to changing bodies and parenting skills. It covers thoughts from childhood memories to motherhood to middle age and uses the events of her life to draw important connections to the overall female experience. Literary and pointed, it's a pick for any general lending library.

I'm Awesome
Jason Ellis & Mike Tully
It Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780062098214, $25.99, www.youritlist.com

I'm Awesome: One Man's Triumphant Quest to Become the Sweetest Dude Ever documents the author's early childhood and determination to become a good person. Born in Australia to a teen alcoholic mother and a violent father, his early years were surrounded by drugs, partying and drinking. Ellis dropped out of school at age sixteen, but his passion for skateboarding would lead to his overall passion for action sports even as his own drinking and partying dominated his life. Only when tragedy struck did he realize he'd had enough - and spent his daredevil energy on making a better life for himself. Inspirational and moving, I'M AWESOME is a recommendation for any general lending library.

Kate Moss: The Making of an Icon
Christian Salmon
HarperDesign
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780062026859, $22.99, www.harperdesignbooks.com

Kate Moss: The Making of an Icon provides a fine biography telling the story of model Kate Moss and her constant reinvention both as a model and as a high-profile celebrity whose life is replete with tabloid scandals, drug use, and more. Lovely images of Kate Moss accompany text exploring her rise and the evolution of myths about her life and persona. Kate Moss is easily the most famous fashion model in the world, and this biography charts her coming of age, rise in the fashion industry, and her associations with some of the biggest names in fashion history. A 'must' for any fashion collection and many a general biography holding.


The American History Shelf

The American Experience
Erick Brunn & Jay Crosby
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781579129071, $22.95, www.blackdogandleventhal.com

THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH SPEECHES, LETTERS, ESSAYS, ARTICLES, POEMS, SONGS, AND STORIES deserves ongoing mention as a top pick for any American history collection. It celebrates American history and popular culture from 1763 to modern times, gathering the firsthand words of the American experience through a range of writings from public records to legal documents. From assessments of the G.I. Bill and the journals of Lewis and Clark to legal documents on The Louisiana Purchase, this is packed with historical references that create a powerful collection indeed.


The Nautical Shelf

Safer Offshore
Ed Mapes
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780939837908, $19.95, www.paracay.com

SAFER OFFSHORE: CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY REPAIRS AT SEA teaches the basics about emergency communications, how to handle flooding or fire, medical emergencies, abandon ship techniques and more, and is all about survival and safety on the ocean. It comes from a mariner who has some thirty years of high-seas voyaging to his name, and who has seen many catastrophes and potential nightmares. SAFER OFFSHORE is accompanied by photos, diagrams and illustrations to address all possible situations, their outcomes, and how a bit of advance planning and emergency preparedness can keep disaster from becoming fatal. Every nautical collections needs this as a basic reference and preparation read!


The Interior Design Shelf

Vintage Remix
Elizabeth Roehrig
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, NY, NY 10011
9780810997677, $35.00, www.abramsbooks.com

VINTAGE REMIX: THE INTERIORS OF KISHANI PERERA teaches the basics of utilizing classic designs in interior decorating and profiles the designs of Kishani Perera, who combines different styles from modern to vintage to produce layered yet cohesive home designs. Each chapter in her book focuses on a specific aspect of the overall process, from planning to choosing colors, working with light, and redoing rooms with unexpected additions. Color photos supplement a survey covering everything from shopping to applications and alternatives. No home design or interior decorating book should be without this fine guide!


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy
Dan Chiras
New Society Publishers
Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865716865, $28.95, www.newsociety.com

The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy focuses on the latest technological advances in everything from solar hot water to space heat, wood heat and electricity from alternative energy, and is a 'must' for the average homeowner interested in energy savings. It's for those who wish to enter the renewable energy field and covers everything from making sense of generators and different kinds of systems to assessing their applicability to the existing home. This updated edition includes all the latest alternatives in a top recommendation for any interested in alternative energy for the home.


The LGBT Shelf

Transgender 101
Nicholas M. Teich
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231157131, $20.00, www.cup.edu

TRANSGENDER 101: A SIMPLE GUIDE TO A COMPLEX ISSUE is written by a social worker, educator and member of the transgender community and offers a social and psychological assessment combining the history of transgender life with issues of discrimination and its social impact. Each chapter includes discussions of how transgender individuals handle their identity and others in society, and how transitioning works. The result is a fine survey that offers insights for students and peers alike, but is especially recommended for college-level social issues collections and gender identity discussions.


The Gardening Shelf

Food Grown Right, in Your Backyard
Colin McCrate & Brad Halm
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201
Seattle, WA 98134-1161
9781594856839, $24.95, www.mountaineersbooks.org

Food Grown Right, in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Growing Crops at Home features over 200 color photos by Hilary Dahl to accompany keys to growing food, and is directed to beginning growers from all walks of life who want to learn the basic techniques of organic food production. From very small-scale garden sizes and crop profiles and planting techniques to preparing soil and saving time, this is a primer that includes profiles of other beginner gardeners and step-by-step instructions for small backyard crop production, and is a top pick for any who have a small space, whether it be an urban backyard, an unused pickup truck bed, or a rooftop.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Black Dawn
Rachel Caine
New American Library
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451236715, $17.99, www.penguin.com

Black Dawn: The Morganville Vampires tells of the mysterious creatures that prey on vampires, took over Morganville, and changed the lives of Claire and her friends, who have chosen to stay and fight them as the rest of the residents fled. Even the town founder has been infected by the creatures - and if Clair and her friends can't figure out how to defeat them, all of Morganville will fall. Any enthralled by vampire fiction, especially those with prior familiarity with the Morganville setting, will relish this saga.

The Night Sessions
Ken MacLeod
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146139, $17.95, www.pyrsf.com

The Night Sessions blends a mystery with a horror story and provides a powerful account in which a dead bishop and an inspector looking into a terrorist plot evolve into a far deeper, more universal danger than a murderer or a terrorist group. It's set in a world where terrorism is history, after the Flood has taken out most of the world - and created a world where religion is separate from politics. In this world millions who still believe are marginal and mistrusted - and in this world a deeper evil is on the rise. Any science fiction reader will find this a moving, involving story!

The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Invincible
Jack Campbell
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781937007454, $26.95, www.acebooks.com

The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier: Invincible is the second book in a new saga and will best be enjoyed by fans of the prior book DREADNAUGHT, which set the character of Admiral John "Black Jack" Geary. Here he's in command of the First Fleet and tasked with exploring a frontier he believes will place his fleet in the path of danger. Attacked without warning, he orders the fleet to jump star systems only to encounter a different alien armada, also hostile. It's up to him to bring his fleet home safely in this gripping military science fiction saga.


The Library DVD Shelf

Sherlock Season 2
BBC Home Entertainment
0780682629, $29.98, www.bbcamerica.com

Fans of the Sherlock Holmes season one will find Season 2 a 'must', while newcomers will find easily accessible this collection of three new 90-minute stories offering fun and mysteries. This set is packed with memorable and vivid detective work and witty commentary, with bonus features including audio commentary for several episodes and a selection covering behind-the-scenes insights, Sherlock Uncovered. It's only a short two-disc set, but it's a top pick for any Sherlock Holmes fan.

BBC Home Entertainment
www.bbcamerica.com

Three fine new Dr. Who episodes come to life in fine sets that each hold a single disc classic episode from a different era. DOCTOR WHO: NIGHTMARE OF EDEN (0780691903, $24.98) is from the years when Tom Baker was Dr. Who - the mid-70s through the early 80s - and offers the key episode telling of two spacecraft fusing in hyperspace and a rescue mission led by the Doctor which uncovers a dangerous animal and a planet called Eden. Extras here include audio commentary with actor and insights on the Dr. Who stories, along with a photo gallery and additional materials. DOCTOR WHO: THE HAPPINESS PATROL (078069192X, $24.98) is from the Sylvester McCoy years from 1987-89 and tells of the too-happy population of a planet which has no sadness. The Doctor and Ace arrive to topple the regime and faces their own demise at the hands of a not-so-benevolent dictator. Also from these years is DRAGONFIRE (0780691911, $24.98), which tells of the Doctor and Mel's encounter with a dangerous old friend, and the introduction of teen waitress Ace who loves explosives and high adventure. More audio commentary and details from special effects supervisor Danny Hargreaves spices swift science fiction. All are top picks for newcomers and old Doctor Who fans like.


The California Shelf

Alcatraz
Donald MacDonald & Ira Nadel
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452101538, $16.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

ALCATRAZ: HISTORY AND DESIGN OF A LANDMARK is a 'must' for any California history holding, offering a fine survey of the architecture, development, ideas and history of one of the San Francisco Bay Area's most notorious places. ALCATRAZ offers color line drawings throughout to follow the construction and evolution of a fortress-turned-prison, offering a design-oriented approach to its building and evolution. It's a powerful presentation highly recommended for any California history or architecture holding.

California, sixth edition
Sara Benson, et.al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741796957, $23.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

The sixth updated edition of CALIFORNIA is a top pick not just for visitors to the state, but for residents traveling to other points in California. For one thing, it provides a tote-sized take-along planner and offers advice across all budget ranges. It's packed with small maps, sidebars of information, a selection of color photos, and plenty of practical destination-oriented material from recommended restaurants to the latest places to stay and regional cultural attractions. If only one travel guide to California were to be chosen, this practical planner would be at the top of the list!

Ricardo Breceda: Accidental Artist
Diana Lindsay
Sunbelt Publications
1256 Fayette St., El Cajon, CA 92020-1511
9780932653994, $24.95, www.sunbeltbooks.com

Ricardo Breceda: Accidental Artist holds attraction for several audiences, from art collections strong in modern sculptors to books featuring California or Southern California artists, and others focusing on travel attractions. It chronicles the life of an injured construction worker who earned a living selling exotic leather boots, then moved into realm of creating metallic sculptures in Southern California's Borrego Valley on a private property open to the public. Add an accompanying history of the region as a whole and a survey of the evolution of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and you have an engrossing focus on Ricardo Breceda, his works, and his evolution.

San Diego International Airport
Katrina Pescador, et.al.
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
9780738589084, $21.99, www.arcadiapublishing.com

San Diego International Airport: Lindbergh Field is a pick not just for California libraries, but for any collection strong in aviation history. It covers the history and development of Lindbergh Field, which has been a center of aeronautic activity since 1928. Vintage black and white images of planes from all eras accompany extensive notes on the airport's history, changing development, key employees, and much more. This book joins others in the 'Images of Aviation' series to provide a fine survey highly recommended for any Southern California or aviation history collection.

Contest for California
Stephen G. Hyslop
Arthur H. Clark Co.
c/o University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman OK 73069
9780870624117, $39.95, www.ahclark.com

CONTEST FOR CALIFORNIA FROM SPANISH COLONIZATION TO THE AMERICAN CONQUEST provides a vivid recap of early California history, from its founding in 1769 by Spanish colonists to its annexation in 1848 by the U.S. Stephen Hyslop describes the activities of colonizers and colonized and uses eyewitness accounts and source materials to capture the experiences of all participants in early California history, from Spanish and Mexican to Native American viewpoints. The result is a powerful blend of social, cultural, military and economic history considering the impact of California's development on all inhabitants of the region.

Divinely Guided
Valerie Sherer Mathes
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037
Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727458, $39.95, www.ttupress.org

Women have taken more prominence in society in the modern day, but their contributions in the past should not be forgotten. "Divinely Guided: The California Work of the Women's National Indian Association" is a study of the contributions of the Women's National Indian Association and how in the later half of the nineteenth century tried to reached out to Native American communities backed by their faith. Although realizing the idea of forced assimilation was a failure, it touches on the advances of welfare made in those communities. "Divinely Guided" is a fine addition to American history and women's studies collections.

West of Eden
Iain Boal, Janferie Stone, Michael Watts, and Cal Winslow, editors
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864274, $24.95, www.pmpress.org

A new way of doing things attracted many in the cultural revolutions of the 1960s. "West of Eden: Communes and Utopia in Northern California" is an exploration of the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1960s, it looks at the many attempts at new societies in the region, from communes throughout the region, Native Americans claiming Alcatraz, and much more. The editors within compile an insightful and storied look at these attempts at a more perfect society and their results. "West of Eden" is a fine addition to social studies and history collections, highly recommended.

Moon Handbooks
1700 - 4th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.moon.com

Three outstanding guides to California camping and hiking opportunities are top picks for any who would take advantage of these destinations and their many outdoors opportunities. Tom Stienstra's TAHOE CAMPING & HIKING (9781598802757, $9.95) comes from an outdoors expert who offers a take-along tote perfect for planning a hiking trip to Tahoe. It's packed with trail and campground descriptions, maps, and all kinds of information on scenery, amenities, and more. His CALIFORNIA CAMPING: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MORE THAN 1,400 TENT AND RV CAMPGROUNDS (9781598807523, $24.99) offers the basics of a range of camping options, from best campgrounds for scenery to best island and tent camping locales. It covers the entire state, includes driving directions, and offers plenty of maps. Tom Stienstra works with Ann Marie Brown in YOSEMITE & MAMMOTH LAKES CAMPING & HIKING (9781598802771, $8.95), a fine guide to the opportunities of the area. Camping profiles provide scenic ratings, list amenities, and offer all the details needed to locate the kind of campsite and hiking locale suitable for any needs. All three are key acquisitions for any general collection strong in outdoors California.


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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