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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 22, Number 2 February 2012 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Audiobook Shelf Travel Shelf
Computer Shelf Sports Shelf Gaming Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Psychology Shelf Education Shelf Military Shelf
Aviation Shelf Music Shelf Crafts/Hobbies Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Photography Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Fashion Shelf Architecture Shelf
Art Shelf Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Business Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Biography Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Political Science Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Agriculture Shelf Poetry Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Parenting Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Human Sexuality Shelf Gardening Shelf
Automotive Shelf Aging Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Crafts Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Relationship Shelf Memoir Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Library Science Shelf International Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Law/Justice Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Large Print Shelf Native American Studies Shelf
Wisconsin Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Best American Magazine Writing 2011
The American Society of Magazine Editors
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231159401, $16.95, http://cup.columbia.edu

The magazine can still provide some of the best writing on our modern world. "The Best American Magazine Writing 2011" is a compilation of the best articles from a wide array of magazines throughout the American dialogue, from the Rolling Stone to the New Yorker and many others. Offering thoughtful insight into politics, science, and popular culture, "The Best American Magazine Writing 2011" is a must for any general interest library collection.

Brain Power
Michael J. Gelb & Kelly Howell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way
Novato, CA 94949
9781608680733, $14.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

The mind ages, but using it to the fullest helps. "Brain Power: Improve Your Mind As You Age" is a guide for those who want to better improve their mental skills and make it sharp as a tack, no matter their age. With plenty of exercises to help improve one's brain fitness and keep one on their mental toes to find better success, "Brain Power" is a read that shouldn't be overlooked by self-help and health collections.

The Illustrated Doom Survival Guide
Matt Victor
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74
Kempton, IL 60946
9781935487777, $20.00, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

When it all hits the fan, there are few things that will matter. "The Illustrated Doom Survival Guide: Don't Panic" is a read about practical survival in today's modern world where society won't be able to provide. From building temporary shelter from little, the basics of hunting and fishing, and setting up sustained agriculture and ranching, "The Illustrated Doom Survival Guide" is recommended for those who want to expand their horizons, and be prepared if the worst happens.

God Bless the Spectrum
Philadelphia Daily News
Camino Books, Inc.
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822389, $19.95, www.caminobooks.com

The best of the best was always on display. "God Bless the Spectrum" is a tribute to Philadelphia's Spectrum, the setting of many events throughout its existence, from Muppets to legendary concerts to vital boxing matches, to becoming an icon of pop culture. With full color photos all throughout and countless statistics about the most famous acts of the Spectrum and much more, "God Bless the Spectrum" covers the arena's history up until its closing in 2009, making it a treasure for those who remember the arena fondly.

iPhone 4S for Dummies, fifth edition
Edward C. Baig and Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118036716, $24.99, www.wiley.com

The fifth updated edition of iPhone 4S for Dummies provides a fine, full-color detailed guide to getting the most from an iPhone 4S and teaches all the basics of its use, from managing media and multitasking to creating music playlists and libraries, locating and downloading the best apps, managing email and much more. This book covers all the basic interfaces of the iPhone 4S, packing in screenshots and step-by-step instructions accompanied by sidebars of information. Any iPhone 4S user will consider this an easy 'must' reference.

Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com

Elsa Bertino and Kenji Takahashi's IDENTITY MANAGEMENT: CONCEPTS, TECHNOLOGIES AND SYSTEMS (1608070395, $99.00) provides a fine survey of digital identity and its protection, offering designers, managers and any involved in business security a fine technical survey of current trends and directions in identity management. From best practices to the latest research findings, this addresses many challenges involved in the protection process, teaching systems and basic concepts key to employing more effective information security. College-level collections strong in technology security and set-up need this. College-level collections strong in engineering and transport systems also need Umit Ozguner, Tankut Acarman and Keith Redmill's AUTONOMOUS GROUND VEHICLES (1608079128, $129.00). It provides professionals involved in the transportation industry with a fine review of technologies in transportation, from sensors and estimation to technologies needed to perceive vehicle motions and objects. The components that make autonomous vehicle behavior possible are surveyed in chapters covering everything from vehicle-to-vehicle communications to sensor fusion, antilock braking systems, and more. Charts, diagrams, and technical explanations make this a winning guide for any professional or college-level transportation section.

The Nerdist Way
Chris Hardwick
Berkeley Publishing
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780425243541, $24.95, www.penguin.com

THE NERDIST WAY; HOW TO REACH THE NEXT LEVEL (IN REAL LIFE) comes from a blogger whose podcast is one of the top 10 most downloaded on iTunes, whose blog gains 1.3 million page views per month, and who has founded Nerdist.com. Here he provides a productivity book for nerds on how to live up to their Nerd potential and how to benefit from anxieties and mistakes by embracing their gifts. Humor and autobiography permeate a survey that's a productivity guide for fellow nerds on how to live up to their potential. Empowerment and humor combine in a fine, revealing guide!

Someone Else's Twin
Nancy L. Segal
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616144371, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

SOMEONE ELSE'S TWIN; THE TRUE STORY OF BABIES SWITCHED AT BIRTH tells of identical twins born in Spain's Canary Islands. When one is unintentionally switched at birth with another infant in the baby nursery, the two grow up separated - and Dr. Nancy L. Segal, herself a twin, describes the consequences of this accidental separation. The twins grew up never knowing the truth about their birth and their parents had no idea the switch had happened. Only when one twin was confused for the other during a chance encounter did the two finally meet at nearly thirty years of age. The psychology of twins joins with this case history to provide a riveting account

Thames and Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Michael Petry's THE ART OF NOT MAKING: THE NEW ARTIST/ARTISAN RELATIONSHIP (9780500238820, $50.00) uses examples from a range of media to provide the art of over a hundred modern artists who employ others to produce art on their behalf. These artists provide the initial vision but use others to produce the technical results. But what happens to ownership, copyright and artistic claims when such collaboration happens? This book considers everything from originality to ownership and skills as it considers the relationship between artists and fabricators, making for a unique examination perfect for any modern arts library. Tim Richardson's FUTURESCAPES; DESIGNERS FOR TOMORROW'S OUTDOOR SPACES (9780500515778, $60.00) offers a collection curated by one of the world's leading critics of modern landscape design and features over fifty international design studios whose practices reflect innovation and the latest garden design perspectives. A range of readers, from gardeners to urban planners and landscape designers, will find this filled with inspiration for a wide variety of outdoor spaces that answer concurrent issues of usage and global climate change. Corporate and individual spaces are surveyed in a catalog recommended for any landscape design library.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Obamas
Jodi Kantor, author
Robin Miles, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
9781611139730 $34.98 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Featuring a bonus interview with author and New York Times correspondent Jodi Kantor, The Obamas is an examination of how Barack Obama and Michelle Obama struggled to adapt to life in the White House, after Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election. Living in the White House was isolating, disorienting, and completely changed how people interacted with them - even seemingly minor matters such as who does the President's laundry became a potential minefield. Partisan bickering especially seeped into their daily lives. An extraordinary perspective on the challenges, difficulties, and compromises Obamas have faced as well as the adaptations they have made to incomparable pressures from all sides, The Obamas strives to present an objective picture of the First Couple's interpersonal triumphs and failings alike. Highly recommended. 10 CDs, 12 hours.

Elizabeth the Queen
Sally Bedell Smith, author
Rosalyn Landor, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780307934178 $45.00 www.randomhouse.com

Elizabeth the Queen is the unabridged audiobook rendition of an in-depth biography of Queen Elizabeth II. From a wealth of interviews and documents, some never previously available to the public, biographer and contributing editor of "Vanity Fair" Sally Bedell Smith paints a complex picture of the Queen who has led the Commonwealth through wars, economic upheavals, and more with incomparable poise. An unforgettably detailed look into the public and private life of a truly extraordinary woman, Elizabeth the Queen is a "must-have" for public library audiobook and biography collections. 17 CDs, 21 1/2 hours.

The House I Loved
Tatiana de Rosnay, author
Kate Reading, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427214850 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The House I Loved is the audiobook rendition of a historical novel by the bestselling author of "Sarah's Key" (which received a critically acclaimed film adaptation). Set in Paris during the 1860s, when Emperor Napoleon III has ordered a mass-scale renovation in Paris that is razing and replacing a large number of historic buildings, The House I Loved follows a courageous woman named Rose Bazelet who stands steadfast against the destruction of her own home. Waiting defiantly in her basement, she writes letters to her dearly beloved, late husband. In the process of remembering the past, she comes to terms with the deepest secrets she has hidden within her own heart. An emotional, poignant story of adoration, loss, and bravery, The House I Loved is an unforgettable listening experience, and highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

A Shropshire Lad
A.E. Housman, author
Samuel West, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843794905 $14.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Read aloud by veteran actor Samuel West, A Shropshire Lad is the audiobook rendition of classic poems by A.E. Housman. Originally written in 1895, A Shropshire Lad speaks of bygone love, squandered youth, rifts among friends, unfaithful girls, the bonds between men and the hardships and glories of being a soldier. A Shropshire Lad spoke so vividly to servicemen throughout the generations, particularly those who fought in World War I, that it has never been out of print, and is worthy of the highest recommendation for both private and public library audiobook collections. 1 CD, 64 min. 3 sec.

My Little Town: Stories from Lake Wobegon
Garrison Keillor
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611745504 $29.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com

My Little Town: Stories from Lake Wobegon is the audiobook collection of 18 tales from the widely beloved radio show "A Prairie Home Companion", chronicling the daily lives and trials of salt-of-the-earth folk, including Pastor and Mrs. Ingqvist's departure from Lake Wobegon and the coming of Pastor Liz. Garrison Keillor's wonderful brand of folksy charm distinguishes this nostalgic series that cherishes hard work and country culture. A treat for anyone who has every enjoyed "A Prairie Home Companion", My Little Town is sure to prove a popular pick especially for public library audiobook collections. 3 CDs, 3 1/2 hours.

How Great Is Your God
Bill Dewees, narrator
Worthy Publishing
c/o Oasis Audio
289 Main Place
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781598599978 $12.99 www.oasisaudio.com

How Great Is Your God: Classic Writings from History's Greatest Christian Thinkers in Contemporary English is the unabridged rendition of 365 daily devotional readings from every century and an immense variety of different traditions within the Christian faith. Quotes from great and pious people including C.S. Lewis, John Calvin, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Wesley, and many more fill this inspirational and motivational anthology. Writings from the earliest Christians are presented in modern English, making the wisdom of How Great Is Your God fully accessible to listeners of all backgrounds. An excellent choice for private spiritual reflection. 2 MP3 discs.

Oath of Office
Michael Palmer, author
Robert Petkoff, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427209955 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Oath of Office is a chilling novel of suspense, intrigue, and murder by bestselling author Michael Palmer. When troubled physician Dr. John Meacham embarks on a shooting rampage, slaughtering his associate, staff, and two patients before killing himself, Dr. Lou Welcome is blamed for the tragedy. Welcome had counseled Meacham for years when Meacham's medical license was suspended, and worked exhaustively to get Meacham's license returned. Disturbed by the tragedy, Welcome tries to understand what could have driven Meacham to such deadly lengths, and gradually uncovers a ruthless conspiracy pointing to the White House itself. A tense, driven story from beginning to end, Oath of Office is an excellent choice for mystery lovers and is sure to be a popular pick in public library audiobook collections. 8 CDs, 10.5 hours.

Kill Switch
Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene, authors
Bernadette Dunne, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969
Ashland, OR 97520
9781455126217 $76.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Kill Switch is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a suspenseful crime thriller. Claire Waters is a forensic psychologist with a knack for working with some of the most remorseless killers in the psychiatric wing of New York City's Rikers Island. She begins to lose her professional composure in dealing with Quimby, and makes mistakes that leave her vulnerable. A homicidal maniac is stalking the streets of New York and has her in his sights, in this gripping, edge-of-one's seat novel that will keep listeners hooked until the very end. Public library collections will find Kill Switch a popular pick! 8 CDs, 9 hours.

Trifles
Starring Jeanie Hackett and Amy Madigan
Susan Glaspell
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
9781580818346 $12.95 www.latw.org

Trifles is the full-cast audio performance of a feminist one-act play originally written by Susan Glaspell in 1916, based on a real-life murder case that she reported for the Des Moines News. The drama unfolds as a woman is accused of strangling her husband; as the investigation unfolds, it reveals the inherent problems of an era when women were considered to be little more than the husband's property - mere trifles, as it were. The expert acting of the cast brings a vivid, realistic dimension to this modern classic, highly recommended especially for college and public library audiobook collections. 1 CD, 29 min.

Galaxy in Flames
Ben Counter, author
Martyn Ellis, narrator
The Black Library
c/o BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1
Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
9781849700955 $29.95 www.blacklibrary.com

Galaxy in Flames: The Heresy Revealed is the abridged audiobook rendition of an epic tale of brutal, galaxy-spanning conflict set in the enduringly popular Warhammer 40,000 science fiction wargaming and role-playing universe. Once a legend among the Imperial forces, Warmaster Horus has changed allegiance to inhumanly dark powers, razing a rebel planet with virus bomb and betraying the Space Marines - this is only the beginning of The Horus Heresy. A handful of Space Marine warriors, including Garviel Loken and Saul Tarvitz, must struggle desperately to not only survive, but also inform Terra of the Warmaster's treachery. Violent, shocking, and vividly exciting, Galaxy in Flames is an excellent introduction to Warhammer's dark universe especially ideal for connoisseurs of military fantasy and science fiction. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

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

John Grisham's THE LITIGATORS (9780307943194, $45.00) is narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris, who has won awards for his vocal style and who here spices the thriller revolving around two partners in a tiny law firm always searching for their big break in the legal world. Their chance arrives in the form of a young, burned-out attorney who walks away from his career and winds up on the doorstep of Finley and Figg, bringing with him a case that could change all their lives. A fine legal drama evolves, perfect for any lending library strong in audio thrillers. Bill Clinton's BACK TO WORK (9780307990693, $30.00) is narrated by Clinton himself and provides a powerful set of views on the challenges facing the U.S. today. From how we got into our current economic crisis to specific ideas on how to get people back to work and restore manufacturing, this is filled with candid observations and hope that adopts a nonpartisan stance in its survey. Tom Brokaw's THE TIME OF OUR LIVES: A CONVERSATION ABOUT AMERICA (9780739341049, $35.00) is narrated by the author and comes from a New York Times best- selling writer who here considers how to recapture the American dream. The values and lessons of generations past come into play as Brokaw tells of Americans who are making a difference, and provides stories form his own family history to engage in discussions about this country and its future. Any general audio collection will find this a winner! Lee Lipsenthal, MD narrates his own ENJOY EVERY SANDWICH; LIVING EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST (9780307969903, $27.50), and comes from a medical director who has helped thousands of patients overcome fears of pain and death. His own encounter with cancer only reinforced his perspectives and approaches, presented here to provide inspiration and peace to audio listeners looking for inspirational or self-improvement paths. Judy Collins' SWEET JUDY BLUE EYES (9780307941329, $35.00) includes five original bonus songs written and performed by the author, who narrates her own autobiography of her life as a folk legend. From her love affair with Stephen Stills to her alcoholism and her music industry fame, SWEET JUDY BLUE EYES provides a rich survey of not just her personal evolution, but the rise of folk music in the industry. A 'must' for any folk music fan. Ronald Kessler's THE SECRETS OF THE FBI (9780307914255, $35.00) receives a fine narration by actor and musician Michael Bybee, who enlivens a survey based on access to hundreds of current and former FBI agents. Collections strong in modern journalism will find this investigates the FBI's involvements in citizen affairs, providing a fine history of their most public cases and behind-the-scenes events. Robin Sachs adds a seasoned voice to spark life and thrilling tension to Jo Nesbo's THE LEOPARD (9780307917607, $45.00) Two young women found murdered in Oslo involve Inspector Harry Hole, who has just returned to Norway after years in hiding from his profession, to attend to his dying father. When he learns of the ongoing murders and the lack of clues he decides to re-enter the investigative world, there to find clues to his own past, recovery, and dangerous future. A fine gripping novel of tension springs to life in audio! P.D. James' DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY (9780449011157, $40.00) pairs narrator Rosalyn Landor, who holds many TV narrative performance credits, with a powerful mystery writer to bring to life characters of Jane Austen's novel PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. It's 1803, years after Elizabeth and Darcy left for a life together at Pemberley, when a ball is shattered by a murder. Pemberley is immersed in trouble in this vivid story of murder and too many possible suspects.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hachetteaudio.com

Anthony Horowitz's THE HOUSE OF SILK: A SHERLOCK HOLMES NOVEL (9781611136890, $29.98) is narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi, one of the UK's most distinguished modern actors who made his name performing on stage and screen. His narration brings to life a vivid account set in 1800s London as a fine arts dealer visits Sherlock and Dr. Watson to seek their help: help that will draw the two into international espionage and danger. This vivid mystery is recommended for any mystery audio collection. Shaquille O'Neal' works with Jackie MacMullan in SHAQ UNCUT: MY STORY (978161135756, $34.98), providing a powerful autobiography powered by HBO narrator Dion Graham, an Audie award winning actor and narrator. It provides a lively account of Shaq's life on and off the court, pairing candid comments about teammates, coaches and games with a survey of how he became a basketball great. Any enthusiast of Shaq's playing will find this a winner! Eric Weiner's MAN SEEKS GOD: MY FLIRTATIONS WITH THE DIVINE (9781611139815, $29.98) is narrated by the author, who adds a fine tone of insight and reflection to his story of a health scare that leads him to re- examine his relationship with God. The author was a longtime 'spiritual voyeur' but never applied spiritual concepts to his own life: faced with his own mortality, he embarks on a worldwide exploration of religions. His story is vivid, personal and spiritual and will enhance any spirituality or general audio collection. James Patterson and Jill Dembowski's WITCH & WIZARD: THE FIRE (9781611139853, $22.98) benefits from a dual narration by Elijah Wood and Spencer Locke, who have TV and film credits to their name, and provides a fantasy of a different nature. The blend of fantasy and thriller worked well in the prior Witch & Wizard tales and continues here, where a battle against evil led by two siblings' magic is coming to a head. An ultimate showdown is coming: one which will transform the world no matter what the outcome. Prior fans of WITCH & WIZARD will find this a satisfyingly thrilling addition that comes to life in audio.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney's LOCKED ON (9781455865796, $39.99) presents a vivid performance by award-winning actor and director Lou Diamond Phillips and offers a fine politically-charged novel revolving around Jack Ryan Jr, who has trained to become a field operative in anti-terrorist intelligence circles as his father campaigns for re-election as President of the U.S. When an enemy launches his own campaign to discredit him by connecting him to a killing in the past, it's up to Jack Ryan Jr. and friends to battle terrorism on many different levels. An outstanding novel of espionage evolves! Joel C. Rosenberg's THE TEHRAN INITIATIVE (1423379373, $36.99) receives a fine narration by Christopher Lane, who has narrated over 100 audiobooks and whose voice lends high drama to this fictional story with so much basis in fact that it seems like the modern news. Here Iran has just conducted its first atomic weapons test and Muslims around the world are convinced their messiah has arrived on earth. A nuclear attack is eminent, along with the annihilation of Israel - and the White House worries Israel will strike first. It's up to CIA operative David Shirazi and his team to sabotage Iran's nuclear warheads first in this gripping thriller. Dean Koontz's DARKNESS UNDER THE SUN (9781455808069, $14.99) receives a fine, vivid performance by Steven Weber and reveals a turning point in the life of one Mr. Blackwood. A killer has perfected the art of hunting down prey - but has not yet perfected his technique. This story of how he learns his darkness makes for a gripping saga perfect for any suspense audio
collection!


The Travel Shelf

Discover Europe
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781742201313, $27.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

Europe has so much to see that it can all prove quite overwhelming. "Discover Europe: Experience the Best of Europe" is a travel guide that seeks to give potential travelers a historic visit to Europe that will help them embrace the strong history that lies behind it. Chapters breakdown the British Isles, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Europe, and the best of Eastern Europe. "Discover Europe" is a comprehensive and thoughtful guide for those who want to plain an excellent stay in Europe, be it in one country or all throughout.

Costa Rica
Christopher P. Baker
Avalon Travel
1700 Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
9781598807837, $21.99, www.moon.com

Why should one embrace Costa Rica over the other sunny nations of Latin America? "Costa Rica" is a travel guide from Christopher P. Baker as he presents why, exploring how one can make a vacation to Costa Rica a relaxing experience that one would never forget. Restaurants, lodgings, sights to be seen, things to do, and so much more, "Costa Rica" is an ideal guide for those who are trying to choose a vacation that will stay with them for years to come.

The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011
Lavinia Spalding, Editor
Travelers' Tales
853 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781609520120, $18.95, www.travelerstales.com

The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011 provides true stories of women's travel experiences around the world and is a top pick for any travel library. From Elvis presence in Cuba to a woman's experience of the World Testicle Cooking Championship, these are diverse and powerful travel tributes that celebrate experience, cultural encounters, and unusual locales and choices. The contributors have been to some remarkable places and seen remarkable things: now the armchair reader looking for a literary collection of these experience can relish the 'you are there' feel of this gathering, which will appeal to any travel or women's collection.

Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

CENTRAL EUROPE (9781741796827, $29.99) by Lisa Dunford, et.al. combines the experiences of eight authors into a consideration of the different countries of Central Europe and how to best tour within and between them. Chapters provide insights on festivals, include over a hundred small maps, and reveals the social, political and tourist attractions of each country, in detail. Destination-bound European visitors will find it a perfect travel planners. Also key to take-along toting is WESTERN EUROPE (9781741796797, $29.99) by Ryan Ver Berkmoes, et.al, and Tom Masters, et.al.'s EASTERN EUROPE (9781741796759, $29.99), pairing the contributions of numerous expert authors with a country-by-country survey of Western and Eastern European attractions. From where to eat and where to stay on a budget to cultural 'must see' attractions, these cover the byways and highways throughout the entire region and are top picks for any independent traveler's collection. CARIBBEAN ISLANDS by Ryan Ver Berkmoes (9781741794540, $24.99) covers 65 islands in the Caribbean, comes from 13 contributing expert authors, and packs in research and tips for enjoying many beaches and locales throughout the islands. Both greater- and lesser-known regions are covered in a guide packed with small maps and insights on how to get the most from a Caribbean vacation. Lonely Planet's BEST IN TRAVEL 2012 (9781742203058, $14.99) provides a fine survey of the best places to go and things to do in the world, ranking the top 10 countries and regions to visit in 2012 and discussing the 'best travel experiences' available. Over 35 events are mapped by month and outline major events, prices, and byways that the traveler might not ordinary think of. A 'must' for any would- be world traveler.

Einstein on the Road
Josef Eisinger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616144616, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

EINSTEIN ON THE ROAD offers a rare consideration of Einstein not as a scientist, but as a world traveler, and gathers writings about his wide-reaching travels. At the height of his fame Einstein traveled around the world, between 1922 ands 1933, and kept travel diaries recording his experiences. EINSTEIN ON THE ROAD draws heavily from these diaries and because they've never been published in their entirety, they serve as a powerful document of not just his observations, but his involvement with the politics and social and cultural experiences of other countries. Many may choose this for the Einstein name, anticipating a scientific discussion; but any interested in travel will find it inviting.


The Computer Shelf

Web Development Recipes
Susannah Davidson Pfalzer
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356838, $35.00, www.pragprog.com

Internet development much catch eyes and stand the abuse of thousands. "Web Development Recipes" is a guide for those who are charged with developing modern websites which must go beyond a webpage with simply text and images. From making something work across many browser styles, use Web 2.0 elements, testing your website, understanding the many languages that blend together, "Web Development Recipes" is a must for anyone who wants a comprehensive lesson in understanding the modern art of website design.

Experimental Design
Douglas W. Cunningham & Christian Wallraven
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781568814681, $59.95, www.crcpress.com

Computer graphics are a fundamentally important aspect of on-line communication. The collaborative work of Douglas W. Cunningham and Christian Wallraven "Experimental Design: From User Studies to Psychophysics" is a 408-page compendium that examines in detail every aspect of how users both perceive and interpret computer graphic imagery. The data that is presented and interpreted represents a seminal contribution to the field of Computer Science. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Experimental Design" is an ideal textbook and a critically important addition to academic library Computer Science instructional reference collections.

Epic Win for Anonymous
Cole Stryker
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
9781590207109, $25.95, www.overlookpress.com

Anonymous can prove difficult to understand given their well...anonymous nature. "Epic Win for Anonymous: How 4Chan's Army Conquered the Web" discusses the rise of the hacktivism group, and how it spiraled out from the unique community of 4chan, tracing its ancestry throughout internet communities as a whole. They have gained recent mainstream notoriety surrounding WikiLeaks and major security breaches, as Web culture critic Cole Stryker does well in giving a unique introspective on 4chan and much more. "Epic Win for Anonymous" is a much recommended pick for anyone who wants to gain a greater understanding on the growing presence of online culture.

Mahout in Action
Sean Owen, et.al.
Manning
Box 261, Shelter Island, NY 11964
1935182684, $44.99, www.manning.com

Mahout in Action covers all the basics of Mahout, Apache's open source machine learning project, and teaches the basics of how to use the program to apply machine learning techniques to other projects. Real-world applications serve as examples for customizing and tailoring Mahout, discussing logical clusters, group data, filters and more. Developers familiar with Java will be the audience for this in-depth coverage.

Photoshop Elements 10 All-in-One for Dummies
Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118107393, $39.99, www.wiley.com

Photoshop Elements 10 All-in-One for Dummies tells how to bring out the best in photos using the latest features of Photoshop Elements 10. From using the basic features of the program to understanding color modes, resolution and makeovers at all levels, this offers color visual screen shots and examples throughout, provides step-by-step instructions, and offers easy methods for fixing photos and repairing mistakes. It's a recommendation for photography as well as computer collections, and the full color examples make for a captivating, interesting format.

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

The second updated edition of Nick Rozanski and Eoin Woods's SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE: WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS USING VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES (032171833X, $59.99) is for any serious software engineering collection and teachers how to design an architecture that balances different needs. From scenarios to validate this architecture to documenting architecture, this updated second edition includes new standards and developments, updating much of the content. Diagrams and charts illustrate viewpoints, models, points of consistency across the models, and more. Adriaan de Jonge's ESSENTIAL APP ENGINE: BUILDING HIGH-PERFORMANCE JAVA APPS WITH GOOGLE APP ENGINE (032174263X, $39.99) joins others in the 'Developer's Library' series and shows Java developers how to build complex cloud applications using Google App Engine. It uses a start-to- finish case study filled with Java example code to show how to create applications that respond swiftly, discussing technical setup, design, and improving browser performance. A fine technical survey recommended for any developer working with cloud solutions and implementation.

Parallel Programming with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
Donis Marshall
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9780735640603, $34.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

Parallel Programming with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 includes access to an online book and practice files as it surveys the basics of parallel programming methods. From applying parallel programming techniques to increase application speed to performing data queries and using concurrent collections in Framework 4, this uses a step-by-step tutorial approach including plenty of screen shots and diagrams, and is a pick for any involved in learning parallel programming.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com

Preston Gralla's DROID X2: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449396862, $19.99) offers the basics of getting organized and navigating the Web using the Droid X2. From syncing DroidX2 with Outlook, using it for Facebook and Twitter, and shooting photos to handling video and connecting to Google maps to get directions, this offers step-by-step surveys of the X2's basic features and is a 'must' for any X2 owner - especially since any in-depth owner's manuals for the new phones are fairly non-existent. Dustin Boswell and Trevor Foucher's THE ART OF READABLE CODE: SIMPLE AND PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR WRITING BETTER CODE (9780596802295, $34.99) is for any software developer's library and provides a fine survey of basic principles and applications used by any who write code. From code examples from different languages to how to simplify code, this offers a different and easier approach to refining programs and is a pick for any software programmer. J.D. Biersdorfer's IPAD2: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449316167, $24.99) is a 'must' for any owner of the iPad2 who want to do more than fumble through its many enhanced applications. From building a media library and handling email to using the built-in Twitter and storing information on the Cloud, this comes from an iPad expert who provides clear and step-by-step coverage of all of the iPad's new capabilities. A 'must' for any who would use the iPad2's applications! Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein's THE TWITTER BOOK (9781449314200, $19.99) appears in its second updated edition to teach all the basics of Twitter and its applications. It's co-written by two acknowledged Twitter experts and packs in examples on how to use Twitter to connect with customers and friends, addressing the special limitations and challenges of Twitter and how to remain powerful and effective in its environment. Standard features and new options alike are covered in a fine guide. Eleica White's MAKING EMBEDDED SYSTEMS (9781449302146, $39.99) provides a fine survey of embedded systems and teaches the basics of good development practices in constructing them. From updating embedded code directly in the processor to building a small scheduler, combining peripherals and communications, and handling outputs, inputs and timers, this includes charts and illustrations throughout. Developers will consider this a fine step-by-step approach!

Programming Concurrency on the JVM
Venkat Subramaniam
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356760, $35.00, www.pragprog.com

Programming Concurrency on the JVM teaches the basics of programming concurrency and discusses and contrasts a range of concurrency styles to allow readers to thoroughly understand their pros, cons and applications. Hands-on exercises teach the basics of concurrency programming and apply these basics to real-world scenarios, while discussions survey concurrent models and the special challenges inherent in JVM languages. Java programmers both experienced and new will find this a key reference.

Build Your Own ASP.Net 4 Website Using C# & VB, fourth edition
Cristian Darie, et.al.
Sitepoint
1829 Market Street, Suite 202
San Francisco CA 94103
9780987090867, $44.95, www.sitepoint.com

Build Your Own ASP.Net 4 Website Using C# & VB is packed with examples and code samples in C# and VB and appears in a fourth updated edition to help users get an ASP.NET website up and running. From setting up free software needed for ASP.NET to learning the types of code that can apply to future projects, this walks users through best practice techniques and provides working code for a website. A fine pick for any website programmer and collections catering to them.


The Sports Shelf

Cyclopedia
William Fotheringham
Chicago Review Press
814 N. Franklin, Chicago, IL 60610
9781569768174, $25.00, www.chicagoreviewpress.com

A childhood hobby can turn into something much bigger. "Cyclopedia: It's All About the Bike" is a comprehensive discussion of all things cycling from William Fotheringham, as he guides readers through all there is to learn surrounding the history of cycling and the technology and culture that has risen up all around it. "Cyclopedia" is an excellent pick for anyone with a love of cycling and wants to learn much more on top of it all, or for general community library sports collections.

Manly Art
George Kimball
McBooks Press, Inc.
520 North Meadow Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
9781590135716 $24.95 www.mcbooks.com

Manly Art is a collection of boxing-related commentaries, criticism, reporting, and analysis written by award-winning sports journalist George Kimball over the past ten years. Specific writings analyze the victories and losses of great boxers of the past as well as competitive boxers of the present, including Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Diego Corrales, and many more. An especial treat for boxing fans, Manly Art also offers sports scholars a multifaceted perspective of modern-day boxing's evolution. Highly recommended.

Complete Conditioning for Football
Pat Ivey & Josh Stoner
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9780736093194, $24.95, www.HumanKinetics.com

Football players need to be able to give and take hits on the field, while roaring down the field with the ball. "Complete Conditioning for Football" discusses the peak level of fitness one needs to successfully play football at a professional level. Football requires a certain level of resilience that is unlike any other sport, and authors Pat Ivey & Josh Stoner walk readers through the detail of the fitness program that must be dealt with. With a bonus DVD that demonstrates the training protocol gridiron players face, "Complete Conditional for Football" is a must for anyone who thinks they may have what it takes or simply wants to understand the peak physical condition needed.

The Grads are Playing Tonight!
M. Ann Hall
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888656026, $29.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

When a team wins 95% of its games, it earns a certain place in sports history. "The Grads are Playing Tonight! The Story of the Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club" discusses the domination by the Edmonton Grads for a quarter century under the guidance of J. Percy Page. Not only winning championships, the traveled the world to continue their domination. "The Grads are Playing Tonight!" is a strongly recommended pick for those who want to learn of a lesser spoken of part of sports and basketball history.

Gliding for Gold
Mark Denny
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
1421402157, $30.00, www.press.jhu.edu

GLIDING FOR GOLD: THE PHYSICS OF WINTER SPORTS is listed as a science book but is recommended equally for science and sports collections alike. It discusses the physical properties of ice, snow, and their effect on friction, drag, and sports endeavors. From snowboarding to curling and skating, this places physics explanations in the world of sports and offers fans and competitors alike a solid understanding of the physics of sports.

Human Kinetics Press
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.humankinetics.com

Ming Li, et.al, Editors' INTERNATIONAL SPORT MANAGEMENT (0736082735, $84.00) offers the first comprehensive textbook devoted to the organization, governance and cross- cultural context of modern sport at the international level, and is a pick for serious college-level coaches and sports libraries. It assembles contributors from around the world to discuss international sport management, offering managers understanding of intercultural influences on the field. Global issues and common challenges sport managers face make for a fine approach to sporting management. Frederic Delavier and Michael Gundill's DELAVIER'S CORE TRAINING ANATOMY (1450413994, $21.95) packs in over 100 exercises and 60 programs for abs and core training, using over 450 color photos and illustrations to illustrate its exercises and routines. The illustrations focus on how the muscles interact with skeletal structures and joints and interact well with the Delavier training methods, with opposing pages contrasting step-by- step photos of exercise routines with anatomical translations in facing pages. A top pick for any sports trainer's library! Frederic Delavier's DELAVIER'S STRETCHING ANATOMY (9781405413985, $21.95) packs in over 250 four-color photos and 300 illustrations and provides programs to increase flexibility, muscle tone, and more. Each exercise includes step-by-step instruction for the stretch and variations on the theme, including anatomical illustration of movement. Stretches for each body region make this an invaluable reference. Any involved in sports events will find the in-depth reference SECURITY MANAGEMENT FOR SPORTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS: AN INTERAGENCY APPROACH TO CREATING SAFE FACILITIES by Stacey A. Hall, et.al. (0736071326, $49.00) to be a winner. It provides a systematic approach to stadium and venue security issues and addresses a range of threats, from terrorism and natural disasters to crowd control. Any sport manager will find this explains event security and outlines all the processes and procedures to assuring an arena is safe. Best practices, tips for coordinating staff, law enforcement and more contribute to a fine survey! Lorin A. Cartwright and William A. Pitney's FUNDAMENTALS OF ATHLETIC TRAINING (0736083731, $69.00) appears in its third updated edition to explain basic concepts in athletic training, reviewing injuries commonly encountered by certified trainers and offering assessment and training tips geared to high school student athletics. This covers the latest research and applications in athletic training and adds new and updated topics from handling more than one injury simultaneously to facility design and equipment maintenance. It expands instructor materials and adds online access to the guide, with chapter wrap-ups covering key terms, review questions, and more. The second updated edition of YOGA ANATOMY by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews (9781450400244, $19.95) provides an expanded, updated edition of a best-selling guide and comes from two yoga teachers who combine anatomy and evolutionary theory with yoga practices. Color illustrations throughout provide visual embellishment of all the poses and survey their corresponding anatomical structure. Any collection strong in yoga anatomy needs this vivid text. END BACK AND NECK PAIN (9780736095280, $19.95) by Vincent Fortanasce, et.al. joins the latest research with applications that have been proven to alleviate neck and back pain. Chapters review lifestyle- related influences on developing chronic neck and back pain, offering self-tests, insights on actions that contribute to pain, and how to pair selected exercises to specific areas of the spine. It focuses on different kinds of pain and how to relate this pain to different areas of the spine and different causes, considering options for treatment and home-therapy applications. A 'must' for any who would embark on a self-care plan supporting physician treatments.


The Gaming Shelf

Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook
Irvin Jackson
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court
Westland, MI 48185
9781574571783 $16.95 www.palladiumbooks.com

Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook is a science fiction resource for creating pen-and-paper role-playing game adventures set during events of the alien Invid Occupation during the Third Robotech War, as portrayed in the popular Japanese anime Robotech. The Invid have transformed Earth into a gigantic factory for creating and harvesting Protoculture; most humans who are not being used as slaves or experiments are desperately struggling to survive. Only a few dare to fight back, along with a handful of micronized Zentraedi and Tirolian clones (all three races are available as player characters). Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook has the same user-friendly gaming system shared by the Palladium Megaverse, including the Rifts trans-universe world where literally anything is possible! It should be noted that Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook is not a stand-alone resource; it's meant to supplement "Robotech The Shadow Chronicles RPG", which has the core gameplay and gamemaster rules. Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook features mecha from all Robotech eras; ways to combine different mecha into "Frankenmecha"; seven new Occupational Character Classes; weapons, combat vehicles, and gear; game statistics for Invid Hives, Protoculture Farms, and Genesis pits; Invid mutations; and much more. Robotech The New Generation Sourcebook is an excellent resource for any gaming group seeking to create their own science-fiction adventures during Robotech's Invid War, and also for fans of the anime who will enjoy the story analysis of a classic television series. Of particular interest is the extended description of the mysterious Invid Regess' history, motives, and purpose - she is a complex figure, far removed from a two-dimensional villain! Highly recommended.

Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com 1-800-577-9467

John Gollehon is a successful professional gambler who draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to author four truly exceptional instructional guides for casino gamers. "Casino Games" (9781580422932, $12.95) is a 240-page compendium introducing the standard casino games of Blackjack, Craps, Slots, Video Poker, Baccarat, Roulette, Keno, and Sports Betting. Of special note are the thoroughly 'user friendly' strategies outlined for winning in each of these categories of games found in most casinos throughout the country. "What Casinos don't Want You To Know" (9781580423038, $12.95) presents 160-pages of solid insider information including three primary traits of professional players, four of the most vulnerable games for knowledgeable players, the five most commonly committed mistakes by players, and six player 'secrets' of winning. "Conquering Casino Craps" (9781580422970, $12.95) is a 160-page instructional book covering ever aspect of the casino's most popular dice game. Of special note is the chapter devoted to identifying 'casino countermeasures' against cheaters that protect both the honest player and the house. "Commando Craps & Blackjack" (9781580422994, $12.95) is a 144-page handbook comprised of concepts and strategies to be employed when playing (and winning at) the games Craps or Blackjack at a casino. Of special note is John Gollehon's strategies for blitzing the tables, his newly revised and updated 'Imperial II' strategy for Blackjack, and his 'Bomb' strategy for winning at Craps. Each of these very strongly recommended instructional guides will prove invaluable for the amateur player and have much of practical value for even the more experienced casino gambler. Also highly recommended is a visit to the Cardoza Publishing web site at www.cardozapub.com for a complete listing of all their many and diverse gaming instruction manuals, handbooks, and instructional guides.

Game Physics Pearls
Gino van den Bergen and Dirk Gregorius, Editors
A K Peters, Ltd.
5 Commonwealth Road, Suite 2C
Natick, MA 01760-1526
9781568814742, $59.95, www.akpeters.com

Game Physics Pearls covers the hands-on connection between computer games and physics and provides college-level audiences in science and gaming with correlations between collision detection, soft-body simulations and more. Topics introduce physics software for games on PCs and consoles with articles describing topics and discussing problems and solutions relating to physics and game applications. A fine, technical guide for any computer programmer or gamer interested in knowing more about the physics behind sports and games.


The Social Issues Shelf

Bombast: Spinning Atoms In The Desert
Michon Mackedon
Black Rock Institute Press
c/o Black Rock Institute
PO Box 14430, Reno, NV 89507
9780984101436, $30.00, www.amazon.com

From the first atom bomb tests in the salt flats of Nevada down to the present day, nuclear issues have been an integral part of Nevada's politics, environmental issues, economics, and social concerns. In "Bombast: Spinning Atoms In The Desert" by Nevadan native and academician Michon Mackedon is a 236-page compendium laying out the history of how the military/industrial complex has influenced, deceived, and affected the Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Energy, the weaponized and non-military advancement of nuclear science, the storage of nuclear byproducts, as well as the government and people of Nevada. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Atomic Culture in the Silver State'. Enhanced with the inclusion of 31 color plates, 15 b/w photographs, 6 illustrations, and extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Bombast: Spinning Atoms In The Desert" is informed, informative, and a highly recommended addition to academic library collections and contemporary nuclear issues supplemental reading lists.

Thirteen Loops
B.J. Hollars
University of Alabama Press
Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
0817317538, $24.95, www.uapress.ua.edu

THIRTEEN LOOPS: RACE, VIOLENCE, AND THE LAST LYNCHING IN AMERICA provides a powerful survey in the story of three innocent victims who suffered violent deaths in Alabama - as recently as 1981 in Mobile. The 1981 crime was deemed the last lynching in America - and began a race debate that became a courtroom drama when the United Klans of America was indicted. The author's research into Alabama's racial and legal systems makes this a key acquisition for any collection strong in civil rights issues and southern history alike.

Seal Press
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
www.sealpress.com

Michael Kaufman and Michael Kimmel's THE GUY'S GUIDE TO FEMINISM (9781580053624, $16.00) offers an A-Z reference of nearly a hundred entries written in various tones and in many forms to consider feminism's changes and how it is improving the lives of not only women and girls, but men and boys who relate to them. It's a quick, fun reference to feminism that intends on highlighting the positive aspects of feminist thinking, revealing in nearly a hundred entries the wide-ranging effects of feminism. A fine guide for any male who would better understand feminist thought! Jaclyn Friedman's WHAT YOU REALLY REALLY WANT: THE SMART GIRL'S SHAME-FREE GUIDE TO SEX AND SAFETY (9781580053440, $17.00) comes from the founder and executive director of Women, Action & the Media and provides young women with an educational guide to sexuality. From sexual communication skills and considering different boundaries to uncovering damaging social norms and refuting negative messages, this is packed with details key to developing social consciousness. Barbara Kelley and Shannon Kelley's UNDECIDED: HOW TO DITCH THE ENDLESS QUEST FOR PERFECT AND FIND THE CAREER - AND LIFE - THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU (9781580053419, $16.95) provides a guide to careers and choices and is directed to young women who face a host of employment issues. From blending a career with full-time motherhood to making the best personal decisions, this provides interviews from academics, experts and other 'undecided' women to explore the job market and social views of what makes success.

Universal Rights Down to Earth
Richard Thompson Ford
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393079005, $23.95, www.wwnorton.com

Universal Rights Down to Earth comes from a legal expert who considers the question of whether universal human rights are working. Most would immediately presume such rights are working well: but this considers such rights in theory and in application to consider the assumptions and implications involved in the concept of a 'universal right' - and why these rights may not be evident. From politics and cost influences to philosophical difficulties in the very concept and spread of 'universal rights', this provides a fine and detailed argument suitable for any college-level social issues or civil rights collection.

American Immigrant
Rosalie Pedalino Porter
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412818353, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

American Immigrant: My Life in Three Languages offers discussions of immigration policy, legal and illegal status, and more and blends a memoir of the author's experiences with an account of her professional activities as a national authority on immigrant education. Her discussions of bilingualism in public education and her discussions of opportunities for women and immigrants make for a fine survey that observes changed traditions, evolving new social paths brought by immigrant experiences, and much more. A fine pick for any collection strong in bilingualism, immigrant influence, and the social issues other cultures bring to the table.

The Consuming Instinct
Gad Saad
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616144296, $25.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature discusses the underlying scientific basis for consumer behavior patterns and comes from the founder of a new field called 'evolutionary consumption' that draws links between biology and consumer actions. Most acts of consumption can be mapped onto four key Darwinian drives: this book considers the biological basis for buying and shows how marketing and advertising plays right into this basic primal psychology. Business and science collections as well as social issues libraries will find this fascinating.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality
Aaron Spevack
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237
Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594732843, $18.99, www.skylightpaths.com

Islamic spirituality can be a trying thing in the modern day. "Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality" is a translated and annotated study of the work of this eleventh century Islamic scholar who discussed much fo the faith's early philosophy and theology, and whose work remains quite relevant even to the modern day. Sufism is a major element of orthodox Islam practices, and presents a great deal to consider. "Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality" is a core addition to any community and library Islamic and general religious studies collection.

A History of Islamic Law
N.J. Coulson
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412818551, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

A History of Islamic Law deserves ongoing recommendation as a fine survey of the historic differences between Western and Islamic legal processes, and is a recommended pick for any collection strong in world legal history and procedures. Chapters produce a basic introduction to Islamic law and its origins, blending legal and social history for those who want a basic survey of legal trends and their evolution. While it tends to skim facts (after all, there's a LOT of history involved), it does serve as a fine starting point for any who would gain insights into the Muslim legal system and its comparison to Western legal processes and will be a pick for college-level collections strong in either law or Middle East history and culture.

Islam Without Extremes
Mustafa Akyol
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393070866, $25.95, www.wwnorton.com

Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty provides a fine survey discussing two extremes happening in Muslim circles: secularist and Islamist authoritarianism. One group wants an Islamic state for the world; the other wants a de-Islamized world without any religious values. Turkish author and blogger Mustafa Akyol argues for yet another path: one which blends Islam, democracy and capitalism. His survey blends a history of Islam with his idea of how Turkey moved away from the Arab world and notions of classical Islam to create its own boundaries. A fine survey, Islam Without Extremes is a pick for general and Middle East collections alike.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Johns Hopkins ABX Guide 2012, third edition
John G. Bartlett, MD, Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, and Paul A. Pham, PharmD, editors
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781449625580 $24.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Now in an updated third edition for 2012, Johns Hopkins ABX Guide: Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases is a comprehensive, fact-filled reference and resource of antimicrobial agents, infectious diseases, and pathogens. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide is divided into five sections, each of which has entries: Diagnosis, concerning infectious diseases and complications with diagnostic and treatment suggestions; Pathogens, focusing on microbiology and therapy; Management, discussing common syndromes and their treatments; Anti-infective drugs, covering the dosing, side effects, drug interactions, and more for an immense variety of medicines; and Vaccines, including immunization recommendations. Although a highly technical reference intended for advanced students and professionals in the field, Johns Hopkins ABX Guide 2012 is surprisingly user-friendly and accessible. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide: Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases is an excellent, up-to-date diagnostic tool worthy of the highest recommendation for college and professional medical libraries.

Integrated Clinical Orthodontics
Vinod Krishnan and Ze'ev Davidovitch, editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
9781444335972 $149.99 www.wiley.com

Integrated Clinical Orthodontics is an advanced instructional and reference text concerning the interplay between orthodontics and other branches of clinical dentistry and medicine. Emphasizing patient-centered care, Integrated Clinical Orthodontics intersperses descriptive and technical medical text with full-color photography, particularly clinical-quality photographs of individual dental cases. A diversity of medical and orthodontic experts worldwide contribute to multidisciplinary health care guide, worthy of the highest recommendation especially for college and graduate level studies shelves and cutting-edge professional reference collections.

The Biology Of Alzheimer Disease
Dennis J. Selkoe, et al.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard
Woodbury NY 11797-2924
9781936113446, $135.00, www.cshlpress.com

The human body is a perfect example of 'planned obsolescence'. It is biologically designed on a cellular level to eventually cease to function. Old generations giving way to make room for new ones. That still does not deter medical science from trying to understand this process. One of the currently very active fields of inquiry is that of Alzheimer Disease and its effects on the human brain. Part of the outstanding 'Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine' series, "The Biology Of Alzheimer Disease" is a 375-page compendium knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Dennis J. Selkoe, Eckhard Mandelkow, and David M. Holtzman and presents twenty-five major papers by experts in this specialized field and provides up-to-date information on every aspect of Alzheimer disease. Of special note are the erudite discussions on therapeutic strategies based upon the most recent findings. A core and essential addition to academic and medical libraries, "The Biology Of Alzheimer Disease" is especially recommended reading for neurobiologists, cell biologists, pathologists, and anyone else in the medical community with a particular interest in Alzheimer disease research.

ADHD/ADD Medications
Peter Levine, M.D., & Helen Neville, B.S., R.N.
Parenting Press
P.O. Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98175
9781936903016, $9.95, www.ParentingPress.com

"ADHD/ADD Medications" is a parents' fact book about the use of stimulant and nonstimulant medications to treat attention deficit disorder (with and without hyperactivity) in children to assist their learning and social interaction patterns. It is specifically designed to give parents nonjudgmental information about common treatment options while referring them to their child's physician for final decision making guidance. "ADHD/ADD Medications" is divided into four chapters covering first the basic question, Should My Child Use ADHD/ADD Medication?, then stimulant Medications, Questions and Concerns, More Treatment Options (information about Strattera), and finally appendices with dose details for stimulants and conversion from one stimulant to another. Additional resources are listed, including books for both adults and children, as well as related parent groups' web sites. Covering a common and controversial topic in a clear, concise format, "ADHD/ADD Medications" is a very helpful resource to parents and child educators and workers.

Understanding Anesthesia
Steven L. Orebaugh
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421403175, $18.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Anesthesia can be dangerous, but it's often necessary to save lives. "Understanding Anesthesia: What You need to Know About Sedation & Pain Control" discusses this important topic from the perspective of anesthesiologist Steven L. Orebaugh, as he brings readers into a review of the many types of anesthesia, their applications, and what needs to be understood when using such an endeavor for surgery. For those faced with surgery in their near futures, "Understanding Anesthesia" is a strongly recommended reference that belongs in every community library health collection.

Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9780309218238, $45.00, www.nap.edu

Good health needs a hand from marketing to take hold. "Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols" discusses the role of front of package notes and how they can drive the public to wiser food choices. Discussing the legal issues of claims of health that many products claim, it covers the issues of lack of information for many consumers, creating a standard regulation system and the stance of the FDA in presiding over this at times confusing but very important issue. "Front-of-Package Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols" is a strong addition to any health law reference collection for community and college libraries.

The Do's & Don'ts of Hypoglycemia
Roberta Ruggiero
Frederick Fell Publishers
2131 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 305
Hollywood, FL 33020
9780883912591, $16.00, www.fellpub.com

Balancing one's blood sugar can often seem all too overwhelming. "The Do's and Don'ts of Hypoglycemia: An Everyday Guide to Low Blood Sugar" is a health reference from Roberta Ruggiero, president of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation, Inc. Discussing the importance of diet, exercise, the affects of drugs and alcohol, and how to stop the downward slide to Diabetes, "The Do's and Don'ts of Hypoglycemia" is a strongly recommended pick for those who want to manage their disorder more effectively.

But I Deserve This Chocolate!
Susan Albers
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
9781608820566, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com

It's hard to lose an argument with yourself. "But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Diet-Derailing Excuses and how to Outwit Them" is a guide for winning over one's psyche when it can be so easy to give up on one's diet. Diets are easy to be led astray from, and Susan Albers advises readers on how to put together their perspectives more completely. "But I Deserve This Chocolate!" is a strongly recommended pick for those who find sticking to their diet so very hard.

Life's Little Emergencies
Rod Brouhard
Demos Health
11 W. 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303151, $16.95, www.demoshealth.com

When an emergency happens, a few seconds can mean the world. "Life's Little Emergencies: A Handbook for Active Independent Seniors and Caregivers" is a health reference manual for seniors who are out on their own and want to stay that way, on how to respond to important and vital decisions that may occur at any time. Written by an experienced paramedic of two decades, "Life's Little Emergencies" is a wise and much recommended pick for community library collections.

In Excellent Health
Scott W. Atlas
Hoover Institution Press
9780817814448, $29.95, www.hooverpress.org

Could the fear over America's health care be overblown? "In Excellent Health: Setting the Record Straight on America's Health Care" presents a challenge to the failing health care system in America, offering a dispute that while in strong need of reform, author Scott Atlas, radiologist, believes that the Affordable Care Act is going too far. Offering his own solutions and diagnosis of America's health concerns, "In Excellent Health" is worth considering for another perspective on this vital debate in today's America.

Methods in Bioengineering: Organ Preservation and Reengineering
Korkut Oygun and Charles Lee, Editors
Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062
9781608070138, $139.00, www.artechhouse.com

Research scientists and students receive step-by-step procedures and examples in "Methods in Bioengineering: Organ Preservation and Reengineering", a volume covering organ preservation and re-engineering. Techniques for damaged livers and hearts, imaging techniques, and more are covered in a fine survey for any medical professional involved in tissue engineering. From kidney harvest to engineering lung tissue, this is a 'must' for any medical collection.

Synthetic Biology
Lewis D. Solomon
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412818568, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND POLICY tells how scientists have long been limited in their abilities to develop genetic tools by the need for natural genes to transfer from one organism to another - and makes a case for the uses of synthetic genes, instead. Synthetic biology permits more sophisticated biotechnological research, and actually rewrites genetic code. Its limitations are less and its potentials are as yet unrealized: this book recommends a policy based on self-regulation by scientific and business communities in the process of synthetic biological research, and is a powerful pick for any college-level biology or business collection.


The Psychology Shelf

Handbook of Counseling Military Couples
Bret A. Moore
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
9780415887304, $44.95, www.routledge.com

War and military action can put incredible pressure on families. "Handbook of Counseling Military Couples" discusses the unique stress that many military couples face that's different from typical civilian couples. Offering a comprehensive view of service, marriage, and relationship, Bret Moore hopes to advise therapists the ability to offer specialized support and understanding for their specific challenges. "Handbook of Counseling Military Couples" is a strong addition to any therapist who specializes in family or relationships reference collections.

Gambling, Space, and Time
Paulina Raento & David G. Schwartz
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166
Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874178531, $39.95, www.unpress.nevada.edu

Why do we gamble against all reason? "Gambling, Space, and Time: Shifting Boundaries and Cultures" is a social and psychological look at the practice of gambling throughout history. A collection of scholarly essays, the laws behind gambling through history are discussed, what compels us, and with much discussion of how law should enter this compulsion with reason and thought for the betterment of society. A riveting read that proves highly educational on this often misunderstood aspect of education, much recommended reading.

Pathological Gambling
Nancy M. Petry
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433811777, $29.95, www.apa.org/books

What leads gambling to change from recreation to addiction? "Pathological Gambling: Etiology, Comorbidity, and Treatment" is a psychological discussion of gambling and its impulses from the perspective of the psychiatrist. Nancy Petry elaborates on the causes of gambling addiction, the effect of genetics, the many types of therapy to fight it, and much more. For any psychologist who wants to better understand this impulse control disorder, "Pathological Gambling" is a fine pick for psychological reference collections.

Hijacked by Eros
Daryl Sharp
Inner City Books
Box 1271, Station Q
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2P4
9781894574358, $25.00, www.innercitybooks.net

Through story and legend, we can explore the aspects of knowledge and psychology. "Hijacked by Eros: A Jungian Analyst's Picaresque Adventures in the Pleroma" is the third book of the Eros Trilogy from Daryl Sharp, who explores the principles and thoughts behind Jungian psychology and the Eros through poetry, prose, and scholarly analysis. "Hijacked by Eros" is an excellent and choice addition to any psychology collection focusing on the works of Jung.

Learning How to Say No When You Usually Say Yes
Maritza Manresa
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601383846, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Learning How to Say No When You Usually Say Yes: Everything You need to Know Explained Simply uses interviews with parents, educators and psychologists to consider the psychological ramifications and results of making bad communication choices. It covers the basics of saying 'yes or no' clearly, surveys related issues of respect and acknowledgment, and is a pick for any general or psychology holding.

Mindfulness and Hypnosis
Michael D. Yapko
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393706970, $25.95, www.norton.com

MINDFULNESS AND HYPNOSIS; THE POWER OF SUGGESTION TO TRANSFORM EXPERIENCE discusses guided mindfulness meditations, when a therapist makes suggestions to a client, and is a pick for college-level collections strong in psychology and therapeutic applications. Chapters consider guided mindfulness meditations for an audience of clinicians, discussing the clinical setting and how mindfulness can be applied effectively. Any college-level psychology holding will find it thought-provoking.


The Education Shelf

What Do You Say When...?
Hal Holloman & Peggy H. Yates
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West
Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596671478, $29.95, www.eyeoneducation.com

Clarity is a teacher's best weapon to talk to students. "What Do You Say When...?: Best Practice Language for Improving Student Behavior" is an advisory from Hal Holloman & Peggy H Yates as she advises teachers to practice language to avoid confusion and prove to be better disciplinarians in their classrooms. A teacher who uses their words carefully can achieve better response for students and lead to better behaved and acting students in their classroom. "What Do You Say When...?" is a must for teachers who want to better understand the importance of words. Also from Eye on Education is Larry Ferlazzo's "Helping Students Motivate Themselves" (9781596671812, $29.95), a guide to the importance of self-motivation in education.

Differentiating Instruction with Centers
Julia Link Roberts
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813
Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593638399, $19.95, www.prufrock.com

Gifted students need a gifted education. "Differentiating Instruction with Centers in the Gifted Classroom" is a guide for teachers who want to rise their students talented abilities and create that high level educational experience. Advocating centers to put forth a focused study of a certain topic and give students what they need to excel in their interests, "Differentiating Instruction with Centers in the Gifted Classroom" is the combination of experience and dedication and leads to a very much recommended pick for teachers and educational administrators.

Teach Like a Champion Field Guide
Doug Lemov
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
9781118116821, $32.95, www.wiley.com

There are many techniques that can make a good teacher great. "Teach Like a Champion Field Guide: A Practical Resource to Make the 49 Techniques Your Own" is a guide for teachers from Doug Lemov as he explores the ins and outs of teaching, elaborating on 49 techniques that are commonly used, and encourages teachers to apply a personal touch to them, to try to meet their classes educational needs in any way they can, trying to find potential in students when it seems all hope has been lost. A vital pick for any teacher who wants to refine their skills, "Teach Like a Champion Field Guide" is an excellent and very much recommended read, not to be overlooked.

The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach
Anthony Muhammad & Sharroky Hollie
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street
Bloomington, IN 47404
97819355542544, $19.95, www.solution-tree.com

Teaching isn't something done without spirit. "The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach: Transforming Schools at Every Level" is an inspirational guide for those seeking an uplifting philosophy for them to pursue in their teaching career. Analyzing modern education and where it can be improved, encouraging teachers to fight a toxic school culture and take on activism for their students, "The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach" is an inspirational and much recommended read for any teacher or school administrator.

A Teaching Subject
Joseph Harris
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill
Logan, Utah 84322
9780874218664, $26.95, www.USUPress.org

The art of writing requires a study all its own. "A Teaching Subject: Composition Since 1966" traces the evolution of the college writing course since the Dartmouth Seminar of 1966. Since then, writing courses have been viewed as a separate study from traditional English and language arts courses. Stating that writing remains as vital as ever, Joseph Harris provides an excellent and recommended pick for community library education and writing collections with "A Teaching Subject".

Mometrix Media LLC
3827 Phelan #179, Beaumont, TX 77707
www.mometrix.com 1-888-248-1219

Mometrix Media is a specialty publisher focusing on producing study guides for college entrance exams, medical/nursing exams, military exams, teacher certification exams, insurance exams, dental exams, graduate and professional school exams. Three of their newest titles are in complete compliance with Mometrix Media's standards of excellence. "CNOR Exam Secrets" (9781609710002, 156 pages, $105.99); "Evolve Reach Admission Assessment (HESI A2) (9781609710149, 180 pages, 62.99); and "Secrets Of The TEAS V Exam" (9781609710132, 180 pages, $62.99) are each deftly written by exam experts and specifically crafted to enable test takers to increase their exam scores. Thoroughly 'user friendly', and covering every applicable topic and concept required by test takers, each of this impressive study guides are strongly recommended and well worth the investment of the test takers time and money. As a general recommendation, anyone seeking to take a professional certification test would be well advised to visit the Mometrix Media web site at www.mometrix.com for a complete listing of their numerous and diverse study manuals and test taking guides.

Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com

Dennis D. Munk and Thomas L. Dempsey's LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLWIDE INCLUSION (1598570897, $34.95) offers a fine course on special education inclusion strategies for any school leader, showing how school teams can create a new framework for monitoring inclusion to ensure best practices standards are being met. Inclusion here is broken down into manageable goals and applies the STAR model for research-based strategies. Principals and teachers alike will find this a solid program. David H. Allsopp, Maggie M. Kyger and LouAnn H. Lovin's TEACHING MATHEMATICS MEANINGFULLY: SOLUTIONS FOR REACHING STRUGGLING LEARNERS (1557668663, $31.95) tells classroom teachers how to address math for struggling students. It provides a research-based set of strategies that work with students who have learning disabilities, reviewing the major math concepts endorsed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and surveying educator strengths and applications. Educator collections need this specific guide!

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwin.com

David A. Sousa, Editor's THE BEST OF CORWIN: EDUCATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE (9781452217345, $27.95) contains key chapters from critically acclaimed Corwin publications and is divided into three parts: The Developing Brain, The Brain in School, and Instructional Strategies for Every Brain. Chapters discuss what causes the brain to remember, differences between male and female brains, how students with learning disabilities think, and more. The specific application of brain neuroscience to the entire educational process makes this a winning survey! Susan Gingras Fitzell's RTI STRATEGIES FOR SECONDARY TEACHERS (9781412992220, $29.95) provides teachers with sample lesson plans to reach struggling learners and more capable learners simultaneously, and provides a template of projects that make Response to Intervention clear and applied to the secondary level. This is a solutions-oriented book; not theory. Grades 6-12 receive tested strategies that clearly show how RTI fits into secondary education programs. Kathryn Bell McKenzie and Linda Skrla's USING EQUITY AUDITS IN THE CLASSROOM TO REACH AND TEACH ALL STUDENTS (9781412986779, $26.95) outlines a variety of methods to help teachers assess their teaching results, evaluate student achievement, and develop better teaching skills. Each chapter pairs assessment tools with discussions on how teachers can achieve better quality in their classrooms and approaches, making this a fine teacher's pick! Carolyn Chapman and Rita King's DIFFERENTIATED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES: ONE TOOL DOESN'T FIT ALL (978141286148, $33.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide teachers with research- based assessment tools that streamline the process of identifying student strengths and needs. From a new chapter on engaging learners in self-assessment to more assessment tools covering the entire process, this packs in surveys, checklists, work samples, rubrics and more, and makes for a key toolkit for any educator's collection. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES BY DESIGN: PUTTING THE LEARNING BACK INTO PLCS by Lois E. Brown Easton (9781412987110, $44.95) comes from an educator who pairs a case study with a chronological formula for creating professional learning communities. It demonstrates how a school can begin and implement a PLC design that engages most of the faculty, comes from a learning design consultant and coach, and follows models other than the common DuFour model alone. Alan M. Blankstein's THE ANSWER IS IN THE ROOM: HOW EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS SCALE UP STUDENT SUCCESS (9781412998765, $28.95) presents lessons the author's learned from working with schools and developing his 'Failure Is Not An Option' program, and is a pick for educators who are interested in learning about applied practical examples of change around the world. From accountability to motivation, this surveys Blankstein's techniques for assuring the best from students and educator efforts.


The Military Shelf

1812: The Navy's War
George C. Daughan
Basic Books
Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465020461, $32.50, www.basicbooks.com

1812: The Navy's War provides a comprehensive history of our Second War of Independence and blends political and military history representing some fifteen years of research using primary sources from over twenty libraries and special collections on two continents. It considers the causes and outcomes of America's second war of independence, offering an in-depth assessment of the influences upon conflicts and their outcomes. The War of 1812 was a turning point in the Navy's own history, bringing with it support for the Navy's fleet and newfound appreciation for its role in national defense strategies. Military holdings will find this a key history.

Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942-45
Robert Forsyth
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849084383, $22.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942-45 joins others in Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series and is recommended for military and aviation history collections alike. It provides a fine survey of the Luftwaffe Viermot, considers its pivotal role in military engagements, and documents the campaigns that made the most of its strengths. With vintage black and white illustrations throughout, this is a fine in-depth guide for any collection strong in military aircraft.


The Aviation Shelf

Building the P-51 Mustang
Michael O'Leary
Specialty Press
39966 Grand Avenue
North Branch, MN 55056
9781570071901, $34.95, www.specialtypress.com

World War II made controlling the skies invaluable, and the Mustang made sure America wouldn't be outgunned. "Building the P-51 Mustang: The Story of Manufacturing North American's Legendary World War II Fighter in Original Photos" discusses this legendary plane and how it was assembled on the home front to do war overseas. Packed cover to cover with articles and black and white photographs all throughout, Michael O'Leary puts together a must see for any fan of propeller fighter planes. "Building the P-51 Mustang" is an excellent addition to any historical aviation collection.

Douglas DC-3 Dakota Owner's Workshop Manual
Paul Blackah
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760342916, $28.00, www.zenithpress.com

Douglas DC-3 Dakota Owner's Workshop Manual describes an air transport craft of the 1930s and 40s that not only played a key role during World War II, but became one of the most influential transport aircraft ever. Noted for its reliability and ease of operations, the DC-3 has been noted for its pivotal role in winning the war, and here is considered in detail. Design, history, and insights into its construction and operations come form owners, pilots and engineers alike and make for a fine survey recommended for any military or aviation collection.


The Music Shelf

The Blues Guitar Handbook
Adam St. James
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781617130113, $29.99, www.backbeatbooks.com

The Blues Guitar Handbook is a powerful selection for any blues guitar player or collection catering to them: it includes a CD in its hardcover lay-flat binding format, and lends to creating a complete course in techniques and styles. From playing all blues styles from basics to advanced to the history of blues guitar and its players and how acoustic differs from electric blues techniques, this packs in keys to playing and is a fine course for any practicing blues player.

The Real Tab Book V. 1
Hal Leonard Corporation
Box 13819, Milwaukee WI 53213
9781423496694, $32.50, www.halleonard.com

The Real Tab Book V. 1 is packed with over five hundred pages of guitar tablature for popular songs ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana classics to The Beatles, ZZ Top, Jane's Addiction, Howlin Wolf and many more. Lay-flat plastic binding makes this a recommendation not so much for lending libraries as for musicians who want to add to their home reference libraries. The inclusion of lyrics and guitar tabs makes this an outstanding, wide-ranging collection of songs for any contemporary musician.

Best Music Writing 2011
Alex Ross, Editor
Da Capo
c/o Perseus Book Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780306819639, $16.00, www.dacapopress.com

Best Music Writing 2011 offers a fine compilation of writings about different musical tastes, topics, and trends around the world. This edition celebrates a wide range of musical genres, with essays, interviews, news reports and blogs coming from the top writers in the industry. Alex Ross, guest editor, is a music critic of The New Yorker; series editor Daphne Carr is a music scholar. The two provide an outstanding collection very highly recommended for any general or music library.


The Crafts/Hobbies Shelf

The Art of Resin Clay
Sherri Haab, Rachel Haab and Michelle Haab
Potter Craft
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
9780823027231, $21.99, www.pottercraft.com

The Art of Resin Clay: Techniques and Projects for Creating Jewelry and Decorative Objects provides a fine account offering tips for choosing the right kind of resin clay and working with it. From 20 projects illustrating a range of techniques to guidelines on safety and embellishments, this is accompanied by examples by influential artists and crafts designers working in resin clay, and is a recommended pick for any jewelry-making or crafting collection.

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Nealay Patel's JEWELRY FOR THE NEW ROMANTIC: UNEXPECTED TECHNIQUES WITH CRYSTALS AND BEADING WIRE (9780871164278, $19.95) provides Edwardian-style jewelry projects that use some 10 jewelry set projects to illustrate basic beading and shaping ideas in a pick for any crafter's library. Clear color illustrations and designs provide sidebars of materials lists and clear directions even newcomers to beading can appreciate. Designs are original creations intended to make it easy for newcomers to create a project. Peter H. Riddle's SCENERY TECHNIQUES FOR TOY TRAINS (9780890247655, $17.95) tells how to use scenery to add to a toy train layout, and shows how to use insulation foam to add mountains, ponds, and other attractions. Techniques for constructing different kinds of railroad scenery use step-by-step photos to cover the construction basics, making this a clear and winning guide for any toy train buff. Tony Koester's MODEL RAILROADER'S GUIDE TO MOUNTAIN RAILROADING (9780890248157, $21.95) comes from an author who has made model railroading his life hobby, editing special issues of Model Railroader Magazine since 1995 and actively participating in the model rail community. This guide discusses layout, track planning, and how to achieve realistic mountain operation and layouts, and is a 'must' for any model railroader. Maggie Roschyk's ARTISTIC SEED BEAD JEWELRY: IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES FOR ORIGINAL DESIGNS (9780871164292, $21.95) offers some thirteen seed/bead projects and teaches how to develop an artistic eye in the process. From choosing bead styles to selecting stitches, this discusses sources for inspiration, the author's experiences with years of techniques, and how she developed versatility in her style choices. Any jewelry crafting collection will find this packed with color and inspirational ideas.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Petscaping
Scott Cohen & Carolyn Doherty
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764338540, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Pets often become parts of the family, and taking them into consideration when considering one's gardens and lawns is often worth considering. "Petscaping: Training and Landscaping With Your Pet in Mind" is a guide to making sure one's landscaping plans keeps the pet in mind in creating a worthwhile set up for the pets to roam free and avoid hazards. With full color illustrations all throughout, "Petscaping" is a useful and much recommended pick for both pet and gardening community library collections.

Defending the Defenseless
Allie Phillips
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781442202146, $34.95, www.rlpgbooks.com

A dog cannot lodge a complaint when it has been wronged. "Defending the Defenseless: A Guide to Protecting and Advocating for Pets" is a guide for those who want to speak up for these struggling creatures who may be facing abuse by their owners or others. Allie Phillips encourages helping animal shelters, inspiring good practices to children, and opposing businesses which use animal testing. "Defending the Defenseless" is a good guide to getting involved for those who wan tot make a difference.

Canine Reproduction, third edition
Phyllis A. Holst
Alpine Publications, Inc.
38262 Linman Road
Crawford, CO 81415
9781577791140, $24.95, www.alpinepub.com

For the dog breeder, understanding that dog reproduction is as complicated as human reproduction can be quite daunting. "Canine Reproduction: The Breeder's Guide" is a comprehensive reference from Phyllis A. Holst as she provides a useful guide to understanding the mating behaviors of dogs, issues surrounding their reproductive systems, their nurturing instincts, how dogs have personality in their own pursuits of reproduction, and creating a system that works for breeders. With additional information on infant puppy care, diet, health problems for the mother, and much more, "Canine Reproduction" is a fine pick to have on hand for any professional dog breeder.

The Canine Kingdom of Scent
Anne Lill Kvam
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801
97819292422726, $12.95, www.dogwise.com

The dog's nose is something very well known, but that sense can be trained. "The Canine Kingdom of Scent: Fun Activities Using Your Dog's Natural Instincts" is a guide from Anne Lill Kvam as she advises readers on how to train your dog's sense of smell and help then gain mastery over this powerful tool - and have fun for dog and owner as well. A strong pick for those who want to inspire greatness in their dog while killing an afternoon, "The Canine Kingdom of Scent" is a strongly recommended pick that shouldn't be missed.

Dairy Production Medicine
Carlos A. Risco and Pedro Melendez Retamal, Editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780813815398, $124.99, www.wiley.com

Dairy Production Medicine provides a multidisciplinary approach to the production of livestock and milk, blending in veterinary insights from various disciplines and surveys everything from nutrition to genetics and clinical medicine. Chapters on economics and human resource management accompany technical details on dairy herd management and special concerns, making this a pick for any serious collection on agricultural management or large animal veterinary needs.

Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com

P.J. Quinn, et.al.'s VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY AND MICROBIAL DISEASE, 2ND EDITION (9781405158237, $99.99) is for any veterinary college or reference collection, as microbiology is a basic subject in any vet's curriculum. The prior edition became a basic text for students and this fully revised, expanded new edition updates the topic for pre-clinical and clinical vet students. Twelve new chapters with many new illustrations have been added, each chapter has been updated and the entire book features a new arrangement and color format. Tables, boxes and diagrams provide fine accompaniment to the discussions of diagnostics and infectious conditions. A 'must have' reference, this also will be a college-level vet student's assigned text for many classrooms. Todd L. Towell edits PRACTICAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN DOGS AND CATS ($59.99, 9780813809564) provides a detailed clinical reference for any veterinary business and provides tools to manage pet obesity, offering a blend of nutrition insights, internal medicine and rehabilitation practices, prevention techniques, and programs for educating owners. Chapters provide specific information on everything from taking a nutritional history to understanding feeding options, and provide an overall wellness program key to any pet's health.

Deadly Powers
Paul A. Trout
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145019, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

DEADLY POWERS: ANIMAL PREDATORS AND THE MYTHIC IMAGINATION discusses predatory animals and the innate fears humans harbor about them, exploring the origins of stories and myths surrounding predators and humans. It considers how our ancestors mythologized animal predators as monsters, gods, and benefactors alike, and how fear entered into the predator/human relationship. Any college-level collection interested in the mythos surrounding human/nature relationships will find this an inviting survey.


The Photography Shelf

The Grand Mesa
Leslie Larkin
Sweet Grass Books
c/o Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
9781591520764, $29.95, www.sweetgrassbooks.com

Nature's majesty is something truly wonderful to behold. "The Grand Mesa: A Journey Worth Taking" is a book of nature photography from Leslie Larkin as she takes readers on a photographic tour Colorado and the beautiful landscapes that lie around within, showing fields, mountains, lakes, and other awe-inspiring sights all throughout. Presented in full color, "The Grand Mesa" is a fine assortment of photography, very much recommended for nature lovers looking for a fine choice of coffee table book.

You and I
Ryan McGinley
Twin Palms Publishers
54 1/2 East San Francisco Street
Santa Fe, NM 87501
9781931885515, $75.00, www.twinpalms.com

A photo can be all too telling. "You and I" is a collection of photography from Ryan McGinley, as he and his associates, representative of the youth culture seek to capture the frank nature of life and the moments we live in. His photos use tasteful application of nudity all throughout, touching on a sort of metaphor for freedom and the clash of private and public lives that we all often face. "You and I" is an eye-catching collection that has plenty to provoke thought about the world, making it a fine pick for coffee tables and general photography collections.

Buying the Right Photo Equipment
Elin Rantakrans
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission Street, Suite 3
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
9781933952840, $19.95, www.rockynook.com

Buying the Right Photo Equipment: 70 Tips from the Top teaches the basics of photographic tools and what each tool can accomplish. Color photos outline different equipment and provide examples of what filters, flash and other enhancements do to photographic results. The result is a top pick for any beginner, and for collections catering to them.

Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com

John Siskin's PHOTOGRAPHING ARCHITECTURE: LIGHTING, COMPOSITION, POSTPRODUCTION, AND MARKETING TECHNIQUES (9781608952595, $34.95) offers a survey of the technical and artistic skills required to produce outstanding interior and exterior images. From planning for the shoot and positioning the camera to balancing mixed light sources, this is a basic acquisition for any professional collection where architectural photography is a highlight. Barry Staver's MASTER'S GUIDE TO OFF-CAMERA FLASH: PROFESSIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781608952489, $34.95) teaches how adding off-camera flash can help produce outstanding images, and discusses the basics of light, flash, and scenarios where adding flash can supplement existing light as well as being a sole light source. From obtaining the right flash unit and gear to using units more effectively, chapters provide color photo examples of flash-enhanced results and make for a fine survey for any aspiring photographer and for libraries catering to them.


The Cookbook Shelf

Slow-Cooker Favorites: Country Comfort
Monica Musetti-Carlin
Mary Elizabeth Roarke
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578263745, $12.50, www.hatherleighpress.com

"Slow-Cooker Favorites: Country Comfort" is a home style recipe collections of over 100 recipes, all easily prepared in your favorite slow cooker or home crock pot. Recipes are featured for breakfast and brunch, soups and sandwiches for lunch, appetizers and beverages, entrees and sides, and desserts. This is a practical yet imaginative collection, containing such examples as Caribbean Sweet Potato Curry Soup (p.31), Moroccan Vegetable Stew (p.78), and BBQ Tempeh "Ribs" (p.123) in addition to the more usual stuffed peppers, egg brunch casserole, or blueberry French toast. Some quite nice innovative recipes using the slow cooker are showcased in this delightful collection. In addition there are tips for a well-stocked pantry, chef's tips, baker's tips, and a helpful menu planner included in the end section. A request for future submissions ensures that more creative slow cooker menus and recipes will be presented in future Country Comfort titles, and the exotic elements contributed by a vast variety of locales generating recipes guarantees heightened interest. "Slow-Cooker Favorites: Country Comfort" is a modest classic cookbook that deserves a beloved space on any time-energy-challenged home cook's shelf.

The Smoothies Bible, second edition
Pat Crocker
Martine Quibell
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778802419, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

There are many ways to get that vital assortment of things we need for great life. "The Smoothies Bible" is the second edition of Pat Crocker's guide to the many ways of bringing out the taste of fruits and vegetables in their pursuit of greater health. A straight-forward recipe book that touches on countless ingredients to suit any taste, it also includes a gallery with full color photographs of many of the drinks presented. "The Smoothies Bible" is an inspirational and much recommended pick for cookbook collections of anyone who loves fruit. Also for Fruit Lovers from Pat Crocker and Robert Rose is the second edition of "The Juicing Bible" (9780778801818, $24.95) exploring a more juice based approach to enjoying fruit.

My Family Table
John Besh
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449407872, $35.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

The home cooked meal is becoming a lost art in many households. "My Family Table: A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking" is an inspiring read from John Besh, as he advocates home cooking and its value to the family. With full color photographs and easy to follow recipes, Besh walks readers through a vast array of dishes for any palette, with the focus of old fashioned cooking with his own special and delicious twist. "My Family Table" is a moving and much recommended pick for anyone's personal collection who wants to make those home cooked meals something truly special.

The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book: Bridal Edition
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470560761, $29.99, www.amazon.com

All too often today's young women do not have much by the way of a culinary education from their own mothers or from highschool homemaker classes. That's why "The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book: Bridal Edition" makes such a useful and timely gift for a newly wed. This 720-page compendium begins with an introduction to how a kitchen would be ideally set up and operated. This is followed by a chapter devoted to the basics of daily cooking from 'a table for two' to 'couples cooking'. Then detailed attention is given to culinary celebration from hosting a party, to easy appetizers, to holiday dinners, to romantic dining, and more. The rest of "The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book: Bridal Edition" is a compilation of 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. If there is only one cookbook to start off a marriage with, make it "The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book: Bridal Edition"!

Celebrating with the Kosher Butcher's Wife
Sharon Lurie
Struik
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781770078666, $29.95, www.randomstruk.co.za

A worthy meat dish adds to any celebration. "Celebrating with the Kosher Butcher's Wife" is packed cover to cover with recipes from Sharon Lurie, focusing on celebrating and recipes from herself, her family, with the aim of celebrating many Jewish festivals, although the recipes within can be embraced by anyone from any walk of life. With full color photos throughout and comprehensive recipes, "Celebrating with the Kosher Butcher's Wife" is a fine pick for any cook book collection.

Grilling Surf and Turf
Char-Broil
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way
Saddle River, NJ 07450-2311
9781580115445, $14.95, www.creativehomeowner.com

The grill is the starting point for many an excellent dish. "Grilling Surf and Turf" is an assortment of one hundred and forty recipes that enter on the grill for preparation. Recipes for everything from grilled fish, burgers, ribs, and steaks, to side dishes such as grilled vegetables and potatoes, to even grilled desserts, "Grilling Surf and Turf" is a full color cook book for anyone who loves grilled food and wants to take their grilling skills to the next level.

Ultimate Cookies
Julia M. Usher
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667
Layton UT 84041
9781423619345, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

Cookies can both be a treasure of flavor and a treasure of art. "Ultimate Cookies" is a guide to a creative spin on cookies and many art projects that can be crafted with them from Julia M. Usher, as she spins a unique craft of cookie and thought all throughout. For every occasion of the year with plenty of original ideas all throughout, photographer provides full color photography all throughout. "Ultimate Cookies" is a strongly recommended pick for novelty cookbook collections, highly recommended.

The Newlywed Cookbook
Sarah Copeland
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811876834, $35.00, www.chroniclebooks.com

The bonding of marriage can be enhanced by working together on many fronts. "The Newlywed Cookbook: Fresh Ideas & Modern Recipes for Cooking With & For Each Other" is a collection of recipes focused on working and cooking together to make something really quite memorable for the both of them. With dishes for any occasion and for any palette, Sarah Copeland brings romance and food together all quite well. With full color photos all throughout, "The Newlywed Cookbook" is an excellent and much recommended read, not to be missed.

The Tipsy Vegan
John Schilmm
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridg MA 02142
9780738215075, $17.00, www.dacapopress.com

THE TIPSY VEGAN: 75 BOOZY RECIPES TO TURN EVERY BITE INTO HAPPY HOUR features over seventy dishes that showcase plant-based recipes. From Wild Rice Under the Influence to Hot Toddy Tofu with Shiitakes and Banana French Toast, these dishes all incorporate various forms of booze yet remain true to vegan form, and will delight vegan cooks wishing to add more spice to their dishes.

Vegan Pie in the Sky
Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridg MA 02142
9780738212746, $17.00, www.dacapopress.com

Vegan Pie in the Sky: 75 Out-of-This-World Recipes for Pies, Tarts, Cobblers, and More offers recipes for fruit pies, cheesecakes, buckles and other traditional dishes redone for vegan dairy- and egg-free pursuits, and is a fine recommendation for any vegan cooking collection. Learn to produce buttery pie crusts without butter, creamy pies that don't rely on dairy products, and innovative pies from S'mores Pie to Sweet Potato Brazil Nut Crunch Pie. Vegan lovers can have desserts traditionally packed with diary with the appealing adaptations here, recommended for any vegan cookbook collection.

Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Better Homes and Gardens publishes appealing cookbooks with the tested name brand offering foolproof results, and two new arrivals are top recommendations. THE ULTIMATE LOW- CALORIE BOOK (9781118038147, $19.99) provides a fine collection of low-calorie dishes that run from main courses and sides to desserts, and provides dishes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. Over 300 color photos accompany such meals as Grilled Chicken with Watermelon Salsa, Thai Tuna Toss, and Curried Apple Soup to provide an outstanding selection of variations on themes perfect for cooks seeking something different. 365 30-MINUTE MEALS (9781118000038, $19.99) provides a fine gathering of family dinners for readers looking for main-course options alone. From soups and stews to sandwiches and all kinds of meats, this offers keys to substituting ingredients and offers nutrition details for each dish. From Salmon and Mozzarella Fettuccine to Apple-Sausage Rigatoni, this is packed with delightful options. Both are top recommendations for general-interest collections. Professional chefs and collections catering to them shouldn't miss The Culinary Institute of America's THE PROFESSIONAL CHEF (9780470421352, $75.00), which appears in its 9th updated edition to probe chefs with a 'bible' packed with professional keys to success. Here are chapters on cooking everything from basics and beyond, with introductions including basic formulas, expert tips for customizing or embellishment, and sections of recipes serving 8-10 people. Cross-references to basics such as homemade stocks provide all the information needed to produce polished, professional results.

A Tea Reader
Katrina Avila Munichiello
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804841764, $16.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

A TEA READER; LIVING LIFE ONE CUP AT A TIME contains stories that share ways in which tea has changed lives, and offers personal accounts from all kinds of tea fans; from those brought up with a background of tea tradition and serving to those new to the art. The stories use the tea ceremony and preparation to discuss everything from friendships and careers to survival tactics, providing a fine and gentle survey of the influence of tea on everyday lives.

Ultimate Cookies
Julia M. Usher
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423619345, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

Julia M. Usher's ULTIMATE COOKIES comes from a pastry chef and food writer who provides an outstanding survey of cookie recipes for readers who would make exceptional cookies. Steve Adams provides the color photos throughout, contributing to a title that covers everything from superior versions of familiar fare to unusual cookies such as cookie bacon and eggs. The focus on decorated cookies makes for a focus that sounds time-consuming but actually is not: stencils, stamps, flocking, even 3-D designs can be done in stages so even busy cooks can produce polished-looking results. Any seeking a different cookie cookbook will love this!

The French Slow Cooker
Michele Scicolone
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547508047, $22.00, www.hmhbooks.com

French food is traditionally considered labor-intensive: not so with THE FRENCH SLOW COOKER, which comes from a food and wine expert who has traveled to nearly every region of France to master the country's traditional dishes. These in turn are revised for the slow cooker - and offer home cooks a fabulous assortment of simplified French fare, from soups and stews to festive and regional dishes. Color photos by Alan Richardson accompany these dishes, which range from the classic Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic to Normandy Pork with Apples and Basque Tuna and Potato Stew.

Kitchen On Fire!
Olivier Said and Chef Mikec
Da Capo
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738214535, $35.00, www.dacapopress.com

Kitchen On Fire! Mastering the Art of Cooking in 12 Weeks (or Less) comes from the founders of a Berkeley cooking school of the same name and surveys the basic cooking principles underlying all dishes. The emphasis is on learning these basics then applying them to overall efforts. The 12-week basics are presented in chapter cooking lessons, which include a recipe at the end of every section to demonstrate the techniques. Step-by-step color photos throughout, measurement conversion charts, tools, and more make this an 'all-in-one' home course for any aspiring to better cooking!

Southern Living 2011 Annual Recipes
Southern Living
Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095
Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
9780848734879, $34.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

Southern Living 2011 Annual Recipes pairs menu plans and test kitchen secrets with every single recipe from 2011 - over 750 of them - to make for a lovely guide that includes black and white and color photos and nutrition details. Sidebars of at-a-glance information on nearly every page discuss how to assure foolproof results, making results more predictable and cooking fun. From quick-fix suppers from farmer's market fare to quick and easy summer ice cream treats, this is a winning collection perfect for any general lending library.

101 Recipes for Preparing Food in Bulk
Richard Helweg
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala FL 34471
9781601393600, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

101 Recipes for Preparing Food in Bulk: Everything You Need to Know About Preparing, Storing, and Consuming covers all topics about bulk food preparations, from where to purchase foods in bulk to kitchen supplies needed to cook with them. Discussions range from handling frozen foods to cooking in large quantities, with recipes included for all meals from breakfast to snacks. The keys to successful storing, freezing and reheating of foods come from interviews with dozens of experts from the food service industry, making this a fine and basic guide.


The Interior Design Shelf

Toward a New Interior
Lois Weinthal, Editor
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890360, $24.95, www.papress.com

Toward a New Interior: An Anthology of Interior Design Theory provides college-level collections with a fine gathering of works by Kobo Abe, Charlotte Mullins, Ellen Lupton and others notable in interior design theory. Artistic, philosophical, and architectural reflections on modern interior design theory make for chapters packed with black and white photos and insights on interior design models and engineering concepts. From homes to public performance spaces and American architectural heritage as a whole, this is packed with scholarly, reflective insights perfect for interior designers!

Katie Ridder Rooms
Heather Smith MacIsaac
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (dist.)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780865652729, $50.00, www.vendomepress.com

Eric Piasecki's fine good-sized color photos enhance an oversized coffee-table style volume based on interior decorator Katie Ridder's eye for blending antique and modern pieces for a unique result. Ridder has produced a wide range of room styles for clients around the world, and some of her most diverse creations are profiled here. Interior designers can use her designs for their own approaches and will find this a virtual treasure trove of ideas, highly recommended for any serious interior design collection!

Exotic Taste
Emmanuelle Gaillard and Marc Walter
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
9780865652736, $75.00, www.vendomepress.com

EXOTIC TASTE: ORIENTIALIST INTERIORS features gorgeous oversized photos by Marc Walter and provides a fine historical survey of the evolution of Asian-inspired Orientalist interiors. Chapters consider Asian source of Orientalist design and offer surveys of 18th and 19th century interiors, from photos to illustrations of fabrics, wallpapers, costumes and more. Presented in an oversized coffee table edition, EXOTIC TASTE is an outstanding survey for any interested in interior design and creates a fine blend of art history and world influences on trends and designs.


The Fashion Shelf

Fashion Philosophy for Everyone
Jessica Wolfendale and Jeanette Kennett, editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148
9781405199902 $19.95 www.wiley.com

Fashion Philosophy for Everyone: Thinking with Style is an anthology of essays by a diversity of learned philosophers concerning the role of fashion in modern culture, and how choices in clothing shape people's lives and social expectations. Individual essays include "What Makes Something Fashionable?", "The Aesthetics of Design", "Fashion and Sexual Identity, of Why Recognition Matters", and "Sweatshops and Cynicism". Each essay has its own notes and sources; collectively they scrutinize the broader meaning of an entire industry grounded in trends and appearances. Fashion Philosophy for Everyone is a scholarly yet accessible work, and will appeal to college library collections as well as to anyone curious about the sociological underpinnings of fashion.

Famous Frocks
Sara Alm and Hannach McDevitt
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811877916, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

Famous Frocks: Patterns and Instructions for Recreating Fabulous Iconic Dresses offers 10 patterns for twenty dresses, provides two-color drawings by Kerrie Hess, and covers all kinds of classic dresses, from frocks worn by Marilyn to Farrah's wrap dress. Vintage photos of the original appear beside color illustrations of the finished frock, while full-size sewing patterns for some ten dresses inspired by these classics make for a fine sewing guide for updated patterns.

Advanced Textiles for Health and Well-Being
Marie O'Mahony
Thames and Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780500515877, $50.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Advanced Textiles for Health and Well-Being comes from creative designers and engineers developing new, high-performance fabrics and provides a fine survey of the latest technological advances in manmade fibers and fabrics. Chapters consider the materials, coatings and new developments in biotechnology and nanotechnology and provide over 200 color illustrations in an authoritative resource for design professionals and fashion students alike.


The Architecture Shelf

Roberto Burle Marx: The Modernity of Landscape
Lauro Cavalcanti, Fares El-Dahdah, and Francis Rambert, editors
Actar
151 Grand Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
9788492861675 $49.95 www.actar.com

Roberto Burle Marx: The Modernity of Landscape showcases the Palais de Chaillot 2011 exhibition and lecture series showcasing the lifetime achievements of internationally celebrated landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx. Stunning, full-color photography of Marx's roads, layouts, buildings, complexes, and more, as well as copies of inspired artworks and diagrams, fill this extraordinary compendium that is the next best thing to witnessing the exhibition in person. Essays by a variety of expert contributors, and even some previously untranslated texts by Marx himself, complement this beautiful and inspirational tribute with emphasis on Marx's ideas for the garden as an expression of art and incorporating landscape architecture into city structure. Highly recommended for especially for college library architectural studies shelves.

Nano House
Phyllis Richardson
Thames and Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500342732, $29.96, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

NANO HOUSE: INNOVATIONS FOR SMALL DWELLINGS is a pick for homeowner and architecture collections alike, profiling the latest solutions for houses where space is limited and nature must be preserved and considering new eco-materials and new prefabrication technologies that have led to revolutionary new approaches to small-scale habitats. Phyllis Richardson has written numerous books on interiors and design: her discussion of small dwelling innovations provides a fine survey for architects, designers and homeowners alike.

Mediterranean Architecture
Jock M. Seawall, AIA
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764338915, $100.00, www.schifferbooks.com

MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE: A SOURCEBOOK OF ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS packs in well over 1,000 images and discussions of specific elements of Mediterranean architectural style and is a 'must' for any collection strong in the region's special attributes. It's an in-depth study organized by type of elements from fountains to wrought iron, roof elements, exterior stairs and other specifics. Full-page color photos offer close-up specifics on these elements, offering a photographic survey intended to help architects identify styles in existing buildings to incorporate them successfully into modern efforts. No
serious architectural library should be without this!

Aesthetic Theory
Mark Foster Gage
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393733495, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

AESTHETIC THEORY: ESSENTIAL TEXTS FOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN reconsiders historic and modern texts on architecture and objects to blend philosophy, aesthetics, literature and art history in a blend of ideas about structure and beauty, and is a recommended pick for college-level architecture and design collections. It proposes a different framework for understanding aesthetics that embraces these wide-ranging elements, and provides designers and architects with a set of new standards defining design practices across disciplines. A fine recommendation for any college-level architecture and arts holding!

Project Japan: Metabolism Talks
Rem Koolhaas, et.al.
TASCHEN America
107 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012
9783836525084, $59.99, www.taschen.com

Project Japan interviews the remaining members of Metabolism, a group of apprentice architects, artists and designers who created a new form of architecture in Japan that proposed a radical makeover of the entire land. This history and artistic survey of their designs is a 'must' for any collection strong in global architectural trends: it provides a rare survey that incorporates the ideals and creations of the group with interviews with their collaborators, rivals, mentors, critics and families, and it documents the last avant-garde movement to realize that architecture was a public philosophy rather than a private endeavor. Simply outstanding!

FEAC Certified Architect CEA Study Guide
Prakash C. Rao, MS, CEA
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
0071756132, $80.00, www.mhprofessional.com

FEAC Certified Architect CEA Study Guide is a 'must' for any who would take the exam, offering a combination of test review and practices. Coverage of all official CEA exam objectives are included in a certification guide that offers simulated exam questions that match the format, tone and difficulty of the real exam. Tables of examples, charts showing operational resource flow and matrix models, and more provide clear, specific details, discussions and exam prototypes. A 'must' reference for any FEAC test-taker!


The Art Shelf

Nihilism, Art, and Technology
Sven-Olov Wallenstein
Department of Philosophy, Stockholm University
c/o Lightning Source
1246 Heil Quaker Boulevard
Las Vergne, TN 37086
www.lightningsource.com
9789174470734, $25.00, www.amazon.com

"Nihilism, Art, and Technology" by Sven-Olov is a slender 92-page treatise on the role played by technology (with an particular emphasis on the thought of the German philosopher Martin Heidegger) in the development of an artistic avant-garde. Illustrating the complex relationship between art and technology Wallenstein draws the impact of photography, architecture and more. Erudite, insightful, informed, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Nihilism, Art, and Technology" is a rewarding, seminal read, as well as an especially recommended addition to
academic library Philosophy Studies reference collections and collegiate level supplemental reading lists.

The History of the Church
Jacques Duquesne & Francois Lebrette
Duquesne University Press
600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
9780820704371, $29.95, www.dupress.duq.edu

Art has developed closely along with the church for many years. "The History of the Church" delves through the Christian church's history with relevant art pieces that have gained fame, hundreds of years after their creation. These works have attained their immortality much through the church, and Jacques Duquesne & Francois Lebrette bring readers a fascinating discussion of their connection and the art itself. "The History of the Church" is a fine addition to any Christian or Artistic studies collection.

Ian Baxter& Works 1958-2011
David Moos, editor
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864926463, $45.00, www.gooselane.com

Art is created whether it's a snap of a button or a paint brush. "Iain Baxter & Works 1958-2011" looks into the unique art of Ian Baxter, who used photography to present an unusual angle on the world. Legally attaching an ampersand to the end of his name, making it legally Iain Baxter&, the ampersand recognized that art works with its beholder to be truly something worth viewing. "Iain Baxter & Works 1958-2011" is a full color, coffee table book that shouldn't be missed by lovers of intriguing art, highly recommended.

How to Draw Chiller Monsters, Werewolves, Vampires, and Zombies
J. David Spurlock
Watson Guptill Publications
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780823095322, $19.99, www.wgpub.com

It's easy to draw an abomination - in a bad way. It takes a bit more skill to draw an abomination in a good way. "How to Draw Chiller Monsters, Werewolves, Vampires, and Zombies" is a guide to drawing the creepy monsters of the night with both tradition and creativity in capturing the themes of horror and terror. With plenty of art throughout in full color and many walkthroughs on making memorable art, "How to Draw Chiller Monsters, Werewolves, Vampires, and Zombies" is a fine pick for any aspiring horror artist.

Transport
William Steiger
Hudson Hills Press
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953584, $60.00, www.hudsonhills.com

TRANSPORT is the first monograph of New York artist William Steiger and offers a survey of his landscape paintings and images, making this a fine acquisition for New York or arts collections. Ten section openers provide writings by leading critics and architects to accompany the painting reproductions, which focus on New York themes and places. The ongoing contrast between manmade and natural is highlighted in an fine survey recommended for any arts collection strong in modern artistic representations.

Lessons in Classical Drawing
Juliette Aristides
Watson Guptill Publications
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780823006595, $29.99, www.watsonguptill.com

Lessons in Classical Drawing: Essential Techniques from Inside the Atelier includes a companion DVD tutorial and provides a complete analysis of drawing and it elements. The entire drawing process is broken down into small, manageable lessons that teach basic techniques and approaches, while the companion DVD, filmed in Italy, provides drawing lessons with live instruction. Black and white and color illustrations throughout provide good-sized illustration of the entire drawing process, making this a top pick for any aspiring illustrator and collections catering to them.


The Science Shelf

Handbook of Sustainable Energy
Ibon Galarraga, Mikel Gonzalez-Eguino, and Anil Markandya, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781849801157 $280.00 www.e-elgar.com

Handbook of Sustainable Energy is a scholarly assemblage of essays from a diversity of international experts discussing cutting-edge research concerning energy economics, renewable energy, efficiency, and climate policy. Individual essays include "Sustainability criteria for energy resources and technologies", "Energy supply and the sustainability of endogenous growth", "Nuclear power in the twenty-first century", "Energy and poverty: the perspective of poor countries", and much more. Charts, graphs, mathematical equations, and more aids enhance these rational essays backed by scientific data. In today's modern world where energy resources are increasingly scarce, climate change is a hot-button issue, and population growth continues to push the need to promote sustainable living, Handbook of Sustainable Energy is highly recommended as an absolutely invaluable contribution to graduate school libraries and the pool of literature available to professionals in the field.

Cosmic Numbers
James D. Stein
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465021987, $25.99, www.basicbooks.com

COSMIC NUMBERS: THE NUMBERS THAT DEFINE OUR UNIVERSE comes from a math professor who reveals the power of numbers and considers the idea of 'cosmic numbers' that define our world. His explorations of ideas such as Boltzmann's constant follows the notions of ancient to modern scientists and mathematicians, considering the meaning behind mathematics and its influence on physics, chemistry and astronomy. Any interested in numbers theories will find this a winning survey.

The Infinity Puzzle
Frank Close
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465021444, $28.99, www.basicbooks.com

THE INFINITY PUZZLE: Quantum Field Theory and the Hunt for an Orderly Universe is a recommendation not just for college-level science holdings, but for general-interest libraries and considers the theory and meaning of the Higgs boson. The basic premise, puzzle, and race between physicists to figure out the answer is charted in a series of lively chapters that provide general readers with an accessible basis in physics theory and quantum field research. In the course of explaining the research history, Oxford physicist Frank Close documents the major personalities involved in the Higgs theory and its pursuit. A fine addition to any general science collection!

The Elements: A Visual Exploration
Theodore Gray
Black Dog & Leventhal
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781579128142, $29.95, www.blackdogandleventhal.com

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe pairs photos by Theodore Gray and Nick Mann with a fine visual survey of the 118 elements in the periodic table. It comes from five years of research and offers close-up color shots of each element in its pure form, along with facts, figures and scientific data on their properties. General-interest public libraries and school science holdings from high school to college will find this equally attractive to lay and science readers, offering a fine study packed with visual representation rare in the science world. Highly recommended for a wide range of collections!

A Strange Wilderness
Amir D. Aczel
Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8610
9781402785849, $24.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

A STRANGE WILDERNESS: THE LIVES OF THE GREAT MATHEMATICIANS reads like fiction but provides a fine story of mathematicians and how they arrived at their groundbreaking theorems. A host of famous mathematicians are revealed, with stories probing their lives, personalities, and eccentric ways. From Rene Descartes, a swordsman extraordinaire who made math one of his many pastimes, to Georg Cantor, who struggled with mental illness even as he produced revolutionary theorems, this provides a fine, lively survey suitable for any math and general-interest science holding.

Shells
Joyce Tenneson
Down East
Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892729760, $40.00, www.downeast.com

SHELLS: NATURE'S EXQUISITE CREATIONS provides a lovely photographic celebration of the art and science of seashells, and provides a fine survey packing in pages of color photos of shells. It comes from a passionate shell collector who packs pages of color photos with natural history details on shells, creating a presentation suitable for arts and science holdings alike. SHELLS is a gorgeous presentation, not to be missed!

The Manga Guide to Biochemistry
Masharu Takemura, Kikuyaro and Office Sawa
No Starch Press
38 Ringold St., San Francisco CA 94103
9781593272760, $24.95, www.nostarch.com/manga

The Manga Guide to Biochemistry joins others in No Starch Press's line of educational comics and uses the black and white manga comic format to offer an introduction to biochemistry. Educational manga has helped students around the world learn complicated math and science: this covers everything from lipids and how DNA is transcribed into RNA to healthy eating and more, offering college and high school students an easily-accessed reference perfect for slow science learners.

Changes in the Technological Landscape
Svante Lindqvist
Science History Publishing
Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
9780881354003, $55.00, www.shpusa.com

Changes in the Technological Landscape: Essays in the History of Science and Technology provides college-level collections with a gathering of articles and essays synthesizing the author's thinking over several decades on the history and philosophy of science and technology. With subjects such as the history and science of capital punishment to labs in the woods around the world, this offers a fine survey blending philosophy, science, and historical inquiry suitable for any scholarly holding.

The Species Seekers
Richard Conniff
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393341324, $17.95, www.wwnorton.com

THE SPECIES SEEKERS: HEROES, FOOLS, AND THE MAD PURSUIT OF LIFE ON EARTH tells of explorers who made it their mission to help catalog life on earth. There are only a little over 4,000 species listed by Linnaeus in 1758 - and some 2 million today. This recounts the early naturalists who discovered unknown creatures around the world, enduring all kinds of tribulations and trials in the process of discovering new species. THE SPECIES SEEKERS covers an era when humanity hungered for these new discoveries, and provides a history not just of species discovery efforts, but how these discoveries changed belief systems and contributed to scientific and religious changes around the world. A fine guide for any science and nature collection and many a general holding.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Water: Asia's New Battleground
Brahma Chellaney
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect St. NW, Washington DC 20007
9781589017719, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Water: Asia's New Battleground is a top recommendation for any college-level collection strong in Asian or natural resources issues, and tells how the issues of tomorrow's Asia may revolve around water rights. Pollution, global warming and over development are straining the entire region's water resources: this documents the increasing evidence that water stress is to be Asia's defining crisis of the 21st century, discussing water resources over national boundaries and potentials for conflict throughout the region. Any collection strong in links between natural resources management and politics will find this a key acquisition.


The American History Shelf

We've Got a Job
Cynthia Levinson
Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
9781561456277, $19.95, www.peachtree-online.com

The future should be something very important to young people. "We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March" discusses the Civil Rights movement in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. Daring to stand against police brutality and the segregation system of the era, they followed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King and helped push America into a more clear vision of Thomas Jefferson's decree of all men are created equal. "We've Got a Job" is a strongly recommended retrospective on the civil rights movement and one event that gained much ground in making it all matter.

Our Mark on This Land
Ren and Helen Davis
The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company
431-B East College Street
Granville, OH 43023
1935778188, $29.95, www.mwpubco.com

America's natural beauty is one of its unsung greatest treasures. "Our Mark on This Land: A Guide to the Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in America's Parks" discusses the history behind this group, which for nine years leading up to World War II did much to establish much of America's nature and beauty beneath it all. Founded by Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, the effects of the program still show strongly, as the authors provide a guide to the handiwork of the group in the modern day. "Our Mark on This Land" is a fine addition to any environmentalism and history collection.

Cultivating Regionalism
Kenneth H. Wheeler
Northern Illinois University Press
c/o Chicago Distribution Center
11030 S. Langley Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
9780875804446, $38.00, www.niupress.niu.edu

As America expanded west, education played a bigger part than many believed. "Cultivating Regionalism: Higher Education and the Making of the American Midwest" discusses the role of the Midwestern college in establishing the Midwestern culture. Breaking away from the traditional educational programs of the East and South, the Midwest developed their own brand, giving the region a unique brand of culture and sense. "Cultivating Regionalism" is a fascinating study of educational history and how it helped the evolution of major part of Americana.

America, Empire of Liberty
David Reynolds
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465022144, $19.99, www.basicbooks.com

America, Empire of Liberty: A New History of the United States comes from a historian who uses Jefferson's phrase as the foundation for a dialogue about American history from early times to modern. It provides a single-volume history of the U.S. and considers the evolution of this country to superpower status in modern times, considering the pros and cons during the course of its evolution. The concepts of 'empire', 'faith' and 'liberty' are at the heart of discussions that offer a chronological assessment of America's evolutionary process, perfect for general or American history collections alike!


The World History Shelf

The San Juan Islands
JoAnn Roe
Caxton Press
312 Main Street
Caldwell, ID 83605
9780870045042, $16.95, www.caxtonpress.com

With a history of conflict and natural beauty, the San Juan islands have become a tourist attraction in recent years. "The San Juan Islands: Into the 21st Century" discusses the island's modern place, with a unique place and serenity in contrast to the urbanizing Washington state. With a booming farming, fishing, and other communities, "The San Juan Islands" is a much recommended pick for anyone seeking to learn about this beautiful archipelago.

Dancing with Colonels
Marjorie Havreberg
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive
Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780984504138, $18.95, www.sdshspress.com

At war, discussion of the future proves vital. "Dancing with Colonels: A Young Woman's Adventures in Wartime Turkey" is a collection of letters written by Marjorie Havreberg in her travels to Turkey as a wartime secretary throughout World War II, through America's neutrality and participation in the war. Her letters compile a unique view of the military powers in the many challenges of their jobs. A human look at the conflict from another perspective, "Dancing with Colonels" is an excellent addition to any history collection with a focus on the second world war.

Community and Frontier
John C. Lehr
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557255, $27.95, www.umanitoba.ca/uofmpress

In a new land, some people strive to make the most out of their plight. "Community and Frontier: A Ukrainian Settlement in the Canadian Parkland" discusses the foundation of one of the first Ukrainian settlements in western Canada. John C. Lehr discusses the Stuartburn colony, and the challenges it faced in its early history, and the discrimination that many Eastern European immigrants faced in the era. "Community and Frontier" is an excellent cultural history, highly recommended.

1494
Stephen R. Bown
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
9780312616120 $27.99 www.stmartins.com

A new world shoved a wedge in the old. "1494: How a Family Feud in Medieval Spain Divided the World in Half" discusses the split between Spain and Portugal as the two Iberian nations clawed at one another for control of the world's oceans. As Christopher Columbus returned from his legendary voyage, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world's oceans, making both countries super powers, and fired the first shot in debating the territorial status of the world's oceans. "1494" is a strong and much recommended addition to any history collection, especially those with a focus on the Renaissance and the discovery of the Americas.

The Anatomy of a South African Genocide
Mohamed Adhikari
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821419878, $16.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Genocide is still a very real threat in the modern world. "The Anatomy of a South African Genocide: The Extermination of the Cape San Peoples" traces modern African history, who recall the genocide faced by the Cap Sans people at the hands of European Colonialism. Bands of hunter gatherer societies were faced with the rising challenge of European colonialism and often faced militia over two centuries, leaving a people defeated in the modern day. "The Anatomy of a South African Genocide" chronicles this tragic tale, a very much recommended addition to any world history collection.

Texada Tapestry
Heather Harbord
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219
Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550175370, $32.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

Through fools gold and a beautiful coastline, the history of the isle of Texada is not one often known, but proves quite intriguing. "Texada Tapestry" is a history of this island in the gulf of Georgia in the Canadian province of British Columbia. A history filled with political scandal, riots, struggles for equality, and a good dose of personal history throughout, Heather Harbord presents a lovingly crafted history of a small community with a strong history and a lot of character. "Texada Tapestry" is a fine pick for any community library collection focusing on Canadian history.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Glory in the Cross
Paul Turner
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814662427, $24.95, www.litpress.org

As Catholics move forward, it becomes easier to misunderstand the scripture. "Glory in the Cross: Holy Week in the Third Edition of The Roman Missal" discusses Holy Week and the recent revisions made to it in the past sixty years. Paul Turner, a scholar priest, seeks to explain the changes and promote discussion from ministers and other followers of religious text understand this important aspect of post Vatican II reform. "Glory in the Cross" is a strongly recommended pick for Christian studies collections.

God, Grace, & Girlfriends
Mary R. Snyder
New Hope Publishers
PO Box 830711
Birmingham, AL 35283-0711
9781596693265, $16.99, www.newhopepublishers.com

Loving thy neighbor is a major aspect of Christianity, and there are few neighbors you love more than your friends. "God, Grace, & Girlfriends: Adventures in Faith and Friendship" is an exploration of Christian friendship between women as Mary Snyder writes with humor and charm as she speaks on faith and bonding with those closest to you and advancing through life as Christians. "God, Grace, & Girlfriends" is a spiritual and much recommended read for Christian collections.

All Roads Lead to the Text
Dean B. Deppe
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802865957, $25.00, www.eerdmans.com

The key to understanding the Christian faith ultimately lies in scripture. "All Roads Lead to the Text: Eight Methods of Inquiry Into the Bible" is a guide to scripture study from Dean B. Deppe, who advises readers on how better interpret the word, understanding scripture as history, literature, and a spiritual text. A solid introduction to being a biblical scholar, "All Roads Lead to the Text" is an excellent and much recommended pick for community and college Christian studies collections.

What to Do When Jesus is Hungry?
Andrew Apostoli
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339
Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781586174491, $14.95, www.ignatius.com

Charity was perhaps one of the virtues closest to Jesus. "What to Do When Jesus is Hungry?: A Practical Guide to Works of Mercy" discusses the importance of charity as Father Andrew Apostoli as he discusses seven acts of mercy, six of which were held dear to the heart of Jesus. Answering the needs of food, drink, clothing, warmth, compassion, and sharing that kindness, Father Apostoli adds that there are other elements we must remember, such as forgiveness, not giving into anger, and honoring the dead. "What to Do When Jesus is Hungry?" is a powerful read with a strong message, not to be overlooked.

A Book of Prayers for Couples
Stormie Omartian
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736946698, $12.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Prayer is a powerful tool of faith, and is something that should be shared between couples. "A Book of Prayers for Couples" discussing faith within a couple, and bringing it together to enhance a bond that can last a lifetime. Storme Omartian advises readers how they can bring faith into their relationships more completely, making for a very much recommended read. "A Book of Prayers for Couples" is an excellent pick and much recommended read for Christian studies collections focusing on relationships.

Table Life
Joanne Thmpson
Beaver's Pond Press
7108 Ohms Lane
Edina, MN 55439
9781592984534, $18.00, www.BeaversPondPress.com

Jesus's virtue of hospitality must never be forgotten. "Table Life: Savoring The Hospitality of Jesus in Your Home" discusses the table as the center of life of a Christian, of kindness and charity to others. Drawing on how Jesus led by the dinner table and through discussion and celebration, one can do the same, "Table Life" is a practical guide for spreading the love of Christ through thoughtful goodwill on a daily basis.

Hearts on Fire
Penny Lernoux
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759345, $25.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Goodwill and charity are major tenants of Christianity. "Hearts on Fire" is a chronicle of the Maryknoll Sisters of Saint Dominic, who through their lives of dedication, made a difference in many countries in need all around the world. The late Penny Lernoux provided a study of the Catholic Church and those who work for the faith, and this centenary edition provides much additional information added to this vital following of women who dared to make a difference. "Hearts on Fire" is a must for Christian history shelves.

Secrets of Heaven
Emanuel Swedenborg
Swedenborg Foundation
320 North Church Street
West Chester, PA 19380
9780877854111, $14.95, www.swedenborg.com

True understanding of the Bible comes from deep thought through its study. "Secrets of Heaven" is the second volume of the famed scientist-philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, who gained reverence for his thoughtful discussion of Biblical philosophy and spirituality on many levels, this volume focusing on Genesis chapters 9 to 15. Expertly translated by Lisa Hyatt Cooper, those seeking a deep, comprehensive discussion of Genesis and its meaning to the faith.

Nurturing Spiritual Depth in Christian Worship
Janice Jean Springer
Resource Publications, Inc.
160 E. Virginia St. #290
San Jose, CA 95112
9780893906795, $21.95, www.amazon.com

The depth of one's faith is not simply having Christ in your heart. "Nurturing Spiritual Depth in Christian Worship" discusses Christian worship and faith, with a tinge of deeper spirituality and new age ideals. Encouraging a more meaningful faith made of emotions and energies rather than archaic and hard to understand words, "Nurturing Spiritual Depth in Christian Worship" is a must for those who want to more inspire a more meaningful faith in themselves and those around them.

The Other Side of Chaos
Margaret Silf
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
9780829433081, $13.95, www.LoyolaBooks.org

Life is rarely orderly. "The Other Side of Chaos" is an inspirational and Christian-drive guide form Margaret Silf who discusses how to deal with the chaos of our lives that can come with suddenly losing our lives, the tumultuous waves of divorce, and so much more on top of it all. "The Other Side of Chaos" is a strongly recommended pick for any Christian who finds the rapid changes in their life to be one of the tests they don't think they can pass.

Widening the Circle
Joanna Shenk, editor
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue
Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836195583, $14.99, www.heraldpress.com

Inclusion is the name of the faith in coming years. "Widening the Circle: Experiments in Christian Discipleship" discusses the rise of the Anabaptist and Mennonite brands of Christian faith in recent years and how they have often clashed the more traditional religious institutions. Many theologians and thinkers come together and present an intriguing picture of Christianity on the whole. "Widening the Circle" is an intriguing discussion of Christianity and its future throughout North America, highly recommended.

Analogia Entis
Steven A. Long
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall
Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268034122, $28.00, www.undpress.nd.edu

Deeper understanding of faith is a deeper understanding of who we are. "Analogia Entis: On the Analogy of Being, Metaphysics, and the Act of Faith" is a deeper discussion of faith and its place from Steven A. Long. Discussing the works and words of St. Thomas of Aquinas, their place in spirituality, and discussing the nature of philosophy and metaphysics and its connections to God, "Analogia Entis" is a strongly recommended pick, not to be overlooked for Christian and general philosophical community and college library collections.

Lazarus, Come Forth!
John Dear
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759369, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Lazarus, Come Forth!: How Jesus Confronts the Culture of Death and Invites Us into the New Life of Peace combines scholarship and a personal spiritual journey to show how the Gospel story invites individuals and communities alike to discover the journey from death to new life. The resurrection of Lazarus is recounted from John's Gospel and provides both analysis of passages from John and discussion of the author's personal interpretation. A fine survey evolves!

Catholicism for Dummies, second edition
Rev. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD
Rev. Keneth Brighenti, PhD
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118077788, $22.99, www.wiley.com

The second updated edition of Catholicism for Dummies provides a basic and easy reference to Catholicism, from prayers and the Church to Catholic interpretations of saints, religion and faith. Catholics receive a fine guide to taking their faith to new levels, including a guide to praying the Rosary, while newcomers to Catholicism receive an excellent overview that is packed with the latest insights on faith, reflection and Catholicism. Any collection seeking a basic introduction for everyone will find Catholicism for Dummies the item of choice.

Raised by the Church
Edward Rohs and Judith Estrine
Fordham University Press
University Box L, Bronx NY 10458
9780823240227, $22.95, www.fordham.edu

RAISED BY THE CHURCH: GROWING UP IN NEW YORK CITY'S CATHOLIC ORPHANAGES follows the author's growth in a series of Catholic orphanages - five in all - in New York City in postwar New York. From 1946 on he was raised in the Catholic orphanage system, and this book charts the history of Catholic orphanages, beliefs about the poor and about religions, and how the Catholic orphanage system in New York exploded with growth in the 19th and 20th centuries. This wide-ranging title will appeal to many types of collections, from spiritual holdings to those strong in social issues or New York history.

Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndalehouse.com

It seems fairly certain the 'Left Behind' authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins couldn't have envisioned what a powerful and lasting impact their religious novel LEFT BEHIND would bring. Based on the Book of Revelation, LEFT BEHIND uses Biblical writings paired with fictional characters and events surrounding the End of Days, creating a vivid plot packed with the power of one unbeliever's conversion just as the world experiences massive disappearances - and just as a political figure seems to rise from conflict and confusion to offer purpose and meaning to a panicked world. In short order four other books joined the LEFT BEHIND: The Tale of the Earth's Last Days (TRIBULATION FORCE: The Continuing Drama of Those Left Behind, NICOLAE: The Rise of the Anti-Christ, and SOUL HARVEST: The World Takes Sides), extended the story line, and are now available in a slipcased paperback set (0842357459, $55.96). The reading level is purposely set low; not so that a substandard reading level is required, but so as to assure the plot remains an accessible, quick read for the vast majority of general-interest spirituality readers. In the course of four adventures the strongest protagonists left behind face the spectre of Nicolae, the apparent anti-Christ who will lead the world to final battle, and find their own beliefs and hearts changed in the process of their personal and political confrontation with a monster. Volumes 5-8 in the series continue the saga with another 4- paperback slipcased set available (0842357467, $55.96). Continuing the confrontation between good and evil in this set is APOLIYON: The Destroyer is Unleashed, ASSASSINS, THE INDWELLING and THE MARK. In APOLYION Buck and his wife question whether they should have a child in the face of the possible destruction of the world while Nicolae continues his rise to power, Assassins: Assignment: Jerusalem, Target: Antichrist continues to tell how the scattered Tribulation Force is struggling to regroup as Nicolae is rebuilding the world and his power, The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession follows the assassination of the Antichrist in which Force members are indicted while the world mourns its leader - until a miracle happens at Nicolae's funeral. The Mark: The Beast Rules the World reveals Nicolae for what he is, to the rest of the world: an Antichrist who begins his reign of terror. His wielding of technology allows his personal mark to be placed on all, as the Force struggles against him. The last novels of the series are not yet boxed and slipcased but are no less powerful for their individual presentation. DESECRATION: ANTICHRIST TAKES THE THRONE (9781414334981, $14.99) presents Nicolae in full power roaming the Earth as sores appear upon the flesh of his followers and the Force retreats only to watch bombs begin to fall on a doomed planet. THE REMNANT: ON THE BRINK OF ARMAGEDDON (9781414334998, $14.99) continues to hold the tension as Buck and his friends flee the destructive path the wicked Nicolae is carving through the world. ARMAGEDDON; THE COSMIC BATTLE OF THE AGES (9781414335001, $14.99) moves into the last battleground of the Middle East as the Force awaits the Second Coming. GLORIOUS APPEARING: THE END OF DAYS (9781414335018, $14.99) offers the final conclusion - The Second Coming - and chronicles the final battle between the Force and evil, concluding 7 years of tribulation as prophesied in Revelations. There are repetitions of plot and theme in every book and while some might argue the entire story could've been told in fewer volumes, few will argue that the saga in its entirety offers a depth and drama based on religious and moral inspection that could not have been captured in fewer books. It's this attention to personal struggle by those who have already been passed over for The Rapture that make this entire series so fascinating. Underlying the obvious good vs. evil structure and the direct Biblical quotes and structure is the changing and very real human dilemmas that continue in a world changed by the now-obvious presence of an evil force. LEFT BEHIND's ability to mirror Biblical prophecy while creating protagonists who convert only to find their newfound faiths tested makes for a gripping saga for Christians and secular readers alike. The simpler writing style won't detract from the action even for more educated readers expecting something complex, while allowing wide accessibility for audiences whose reading levels aren't at the advanced college level.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Holy Misogyny
April D. DeConick
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com
9780826405616, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The earliest decades of the Christian movement saw the beginnings of gender role conflicts exemplified by Paul's exhortation against women preaching in church gatherings. The suppression of women's roles in favor of male ecclesiastical privilege continued to strengthen in the succeeding early centuries and still have immense ramifications in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant congregations and churches today. "Holy Misogyny: Why the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter" is a superbly researched 200-page compendium by April D. DeConick (Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies, Rice University) presenting the origins of such Christian doctrinal issues as to why God is male, the association of women with sin, the denial of priesthood to females, and more. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Holy Misogyny: Why the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter" is a strongly recommended read for anyone concerned with the origin of gender equality issues within the contemporary Christian community.

A Constructive Theology of Intellectual Disability
Molly C. Haslam
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823239412, $24.00, www.fordhampress.com

The nature of humanity is never absolute, and that fact is what makes it so often confusing. "A Constructive Theology of Intellectual Disability: Human Being as Mutuality and Response" is a study of philosophy and theology from Molly C. Haslam as she discusses the works of Gordon Kaufman & George Lindbeck, as well as the works of others, discussing the many aspects of humanity's role in the world, and trying to understand a very confusing topic. "A Constructive Theology of Intellectual Disability" is a strong pick for philosophy and anthropology collections, very much recommended.

The King James Bible and the World it Made
David Lyle Jeffrey, editor
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363
Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602584167, $24.95, www.baylorpress.com

English in one form of another is over a thousand years old, but the establishment of the King James Bible set standards for the language for centuries to come. "The King James Bible and the World It Made" discusses the continuing prominence of the King James Bible, and its important role in acting as sort of a foundation for English literature and English writing. Many theologians and professors of English literature come together to present an intriguing retrospective on the King James Bible and what is has wrought. "The King James Bible and the World It Made" is a choice pick for religion and literary collections.

The Intimate Life
Judith Blackstone, PhD
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781604075625, $16.95, www.soundstrue.com

THE INTIMATE LIFE: AWAKENING TO THE SPIRITUAL ESSENCE IN YOURSELF AND OTHERS comes form a teacher and psychotherapist who shares seventeen practices relating psychology to spiritual awakening. These practices teach foundation skills, from overcoming boundary problems to cultivating awareness and physical contact. It's all about making contact with the world on many different levels: THE INTIMATE LIFE discusses these levels and how to get the most from them.


The Business Shelf

The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide
Kris Murray
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117
9781605540832, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org

Even the best of intents need to market themselves. "The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success" is an advisory for those who have entered the child care business and want to reach out to potential clients, to inspire the trust needed to be an effective child care business. In a business of compassion and care, Kris Murray does well in explaining how to establish the professionalism and trustworthiness to excel in this field. "The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide" is a much recommended pick for business and child care collections.

The Optimization Edge
Steve Sashihara
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
978071746571, $35.00, www.books.mcgraw-hill.com

Making the best of what you have can mean the world. "The Optimization Edge: Reinventing Decision Making to Maximize All Your Company's Assets" is a guide for business managers to the things one can do to make the most out of one's business. Keeping a business's fundamentals running cleanly, making everything run more smoothly, and keeping the company prepared for any problems that may arise, "The Optimization Edge" is an excellent and choice pick for any business manager who believes his company can do better than it's doing.

Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service
Performance Research Associates, Inc.
American Management Association
1601 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
9780814417553, $18.95, www.amacombooks.org

Nothing will get a customer coming back faster than excellent service. "Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service" is a business guide from Performance Research Associates as they advise business leaders to provide that excellent service. Discussing the exact value of good service, dealing with customer complaints, the power of simply listening, and when being the hero is impossible. "Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service" is a strongly recommended pick for any manager who thinks that extra mile will make all the difference.

Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Karl Denninger's LEVERAGE: HOW CHEAP MONEY WILL DESTROY THE WORLD (9781118122846, $34.95) comes from a market commentator who follows the path of money through history to reveal the addictive power of its political punch, and what happens when that power falls into the hands of only a few. Invaluable connections between business pursuits and politics are drawn in a guide that not only provides historical background but draws connections to current world affairs and relationships between big business and world politics. A powerful title, this is a pick for business and political shelves alike! Ali Velshi and Christine Romans' HOW TO SPEAK MONEY: THE LANGUAGE AND KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED NOW (9781118114957, $24.95) offers a practical coverage that teaches the basics of who controls money. It comes from CNN financial experts who talk about the global language of money and its meaning to individuals, and offers discussions of international economies, wealth-building strategies, and connections between money and social issues. A fine guide for any general business collection and many a basic lending library! Also recommended is Charles H. Green & Andrea P. Howe's THE TRUSTED ADVISOR FIELDBOOK: A COMPREHENSIVE TOOLKIT FOR LEADING WITH TRUST (9781118085646, $27.95). It provides a guide to being a trusted advisor for leaders across a range of industries, offering a companion to the popular THE TRUSTED ADVISOR and providing exercises and resources to handle a range of common situations at work. Color-coded sidebars of detail accompany instructions on everything from delivering a pitch to rating partnering strengths and weaknesses. Any business leader will find these instructions specific, tested, and enlightening.

Exile on Wall Street
Mike Mayo
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118115466, $29.95, www.wileyfinance.com

EXILE ON WALL STREET: ONE ANALYST'S FIGHT TO SAVE THE BIG BANKS FROM THEMSELVES comes form a banking analyst who maintains the financial crisis hasn't changed anything. The author worked for the Federal Reserve and for many of the biggest banks in the world: his accounts of banking encounters, mishaps, and dirty practices makes for a condemnation of the world banking industry's underlying structure, and considers the behind-the- scenes works of the world's largest institutions. Any collection strong in financial and banking history will find this provocative.

Pricing the Future
George Szpiro
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465022489, $28.00, www.basicbooks.com

PRICING THE FUTURE: FINANCE, PHYSICS, AND THE 300-YEAR JOURNEY TO THE BLACK-SCHOLES EQUATION: A STORY OF GENIUS AND DISCOVERY comes from a financial economist who tells the history of the options pricing formula, one of the modern world's most significant intellectual achievements. The discovery of the equation led to very different investment decision routines, and provided the groundwork for accountants and others working around the world. It blends science, math and business pursuits in a lively, detailed coverage drawing important connections between science and business worlds.

Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
www.amacombooks.org

Michelle Tillis Lederman's THE 11 LAWS OF LIKABILITY: RELATIONSHIP NETWORKING... BECAUSE PEOPLE DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE THEY LIKE (9780814416372, $16.95) provides a fine survey of how to do conduct more effective networking to support business purposes, showing how networking can be easy as well as beneficial to career goals. Networkers need to place priority on something everyone can relate to: the basics of being liked and likeable. Chapters show how to use 'likability' to establish better business relationships, and provide anecdotes and real-world applications perfect for relative newcomers to business networking concepts. Susan Wilson Solovic's IT'S YOUR BIZ: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BECOMING YOUR OWN BOSS (9780814416716, $22.95) comes from the author's decades of experience as a serial entrepreneur and provides the details all small business owners need to make better business decisions, from the initial idea of a start-up to its growth and the owner's successful selling of the business. Solovic encourages readers to examine their motivation for starting a business and considers the elements, reasoning and influences on success in a fine pick for any small business shelf. R. William Holland's CRACKING THE NEW JOB MARKET; THE 7 RULES FOR GETTING HIRED IN ANY ECONOMY (9780814417348, $17.95) helps job seekers understand what employers are really seeking, offering tools that show their value to HR departments and organizations. Job seekers can use these tools to successful stand out from the crowd in a book that challenges the common approaches to job searches and careers. New research and case histories of successful approaches are presented along with cautions for job searchers, making this an outstanding pick for any library catering to job seekers.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sweet Shawlettes
Jean Moss
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street
Newtown, CT 06470
9781600854002, $21.95, www.taunton.com

There's a certain quality in homemade that can't be matched in design. "Sweet Shawlettes: 25 Irresistible Patterns for Knitting Cowls, Capelets, and More" is a guide to creating these patterns for these fabrics that bring a unique style and warmth. With full color photographs all throughout, each design touches on what's needed to create them and step by step instructions. For those with a love of needlework, "Sweet Shawlettes" is an excellent source of ideas, very much recommended.

Finishing School
Deborah Newton
SixthandSpring Books
161 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
9781936096190, $29.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters provides techniques and advice to create lovely knits, pairing instructions for 15 projects with illustrated workshops exploring the techniques involved in creating them. Tutorials are featured in sidebars that discuss finishing techniques and survey embellishments, blocking, and more. The focus on not just creating knitted products but adding professional finishing touches to the results makes for a powerful survey recommended for any knitter.

The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook
Nora Abousteit with Alison Kelly
Potter Craft
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307586742, $29.99, www.pottercraft.com

The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook tells how to create fashionable clothing and comes from fashion designers who focus on better-fitting clothing. Tutorials offer five adaptable sewing patterns for a skirt, blouse, dress, coat and bag, and pair them with step-by-step basics that teach how to move from basic sewing to customization. Bare-bones beginners who have never sewed before even receive keys to setting up a sewing space and using a sewing machine. The focus on 'perfect fit' makes this a winning guide, packed with illustrations and examples.

Socktopus
Alice Yu
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600854101, $19.95, www.taunton.com

Socktopus: 17 Pairs of Socks to Knit and Show Off provides 17 patterns to accompany color photos and a range of tips and techniques for creating vivid, better-fitting socks, making this a fine pick for any knitter's library. It comes from British sock designer Alice Yu and features textured socks that combine a variety of knitting approaches to produce a unique look and patterns not to be found elsewhere. Patterns include close-up photos of any difficult stitches and while basics are also covered, this is a sock guide especially recommended for knitters who already have most of the basics down, and who wish to move to the next level.

Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders
Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins
Storey
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603425865, $29.95, www.storey.com

Fabric-by-Fabric One-Yard Wonders offers a range of affordable, easy projects for occasional and dedicated needleworkers alike. And each design requires just one yard of fabric. From gym bags and scarves to dresses and stuffed toys, this provides a fine array of projects which each receive a color photo, step-by-step directions, and a complete cutting layout. All pattern pieces are in an envelope inside the book, making this a fine gift pick for any needleworker.

Sew Up a Home Makeover
Lexie Barnes
Storey
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427975, $19.95, www.storey.com

Sew Up a Home Makeover offers a fine resource for any interested in using modern fabrics to make changes with just a few simple sewing projects. From a custom slipcover and coordinated pillows to sewing a headboard cover for a bedroom and producing matching window treatments, this offers some 50 pattern-free sewing projects that can be easily adapted to a range of interior spaces. Easy directions include some non-sewing pointers, making for a title perfect for needlework or interior design collections alike!

Ultimate Mittens
Robin Hansen
Down East
Box 679, Camden ME 04843
9780892729753, $35.00, www.downeast.com

Ultimate Mittens: 28 Classic Patterns to Keep You Warm packs in classic patterns from different cultures to create a book filled with all kinds of mitten choices. From Scandinavian and Canadian maritime patterns to Afghan gloves and beyond, this comes not from any original author contribution but from patterns recreated from photos, old directions, and different cultures around the world. All have been updated and adapted for the modern knitter, with projects offering something for all skills levels. A fine addition to any knitting collection!

Voyageur Press
400 - 1st Avenue North #300, Minneapolis MN 55401
www.voyageurpress.com

Editor Kari Cornell's, KNITTING SCARVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD (9780760340646, $24.99) provides over twenty patterns in a variety of styles and techniques from knitters around the world and provides a satisfying collection of unique scarves. Patterns for elaborate lace shawls, colorwork scarves, and cabled scarves offer variety and lovely unique patterns. Any knitting collection will find this a unique and fine addition. Lela Nargi edits KNITTING AROUND THE WORLD (9780760337945, $35.00), a history of world knitting traditions that pairs lovely color photo examples with a history of knitting techniques and regional styles. Profiles of historically significant knitters up to modern times accompany discussions of techniques and unique styles in a fine pick for any knitter's collection.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Rachel Manring's PLAYFUL LITTLE KNITS: COSTUMES AND CLOTHES FOR A SIMPLE SEWN DOLL (9781604680386, $19.99) is for any knit crafter looking for projects to make for kids, and teaches how to knit doll clothes and how to sew a simple doll to wear them. A 9" doll pattern is included in the book and the wardrobe offers tops and bottoms for different doll costumes. Color photos and close-ups provide excellent accompaniment to the easy step-by-step sewing and knitting directions. Pat Wys' SPOTLIGHT ON NEUTRALS: QUILTS AND MORE FOR ANY DECOR (9781604680508, $24.99) provides a fine survey of pieced and appliqued designs that emphasize use of 'neutral' colors - browns, grays and whites - in home decor. 12 projects include pillows, table toppers and more and are designed to be made with stash holdings. The geometric patterns and neutral blends are appealing and recommended for any needleworker looking for home projects and different color combinations. SLASH YOUR STASH: SCRAP QUILTS FROM MCCALL'S QUILTING (9781604680706, $24.99) provides a fine survey of piecing scrap quilts and uses some sixteen pieced and appliqued designs from McCall's Quilting as examples. A range of designers and scrap design approaches make this a fine recommendation for any quilter's library! Cheryl Almgren Taylor's INSPIRATIONAL APPLIQUE: REFLECTIONS OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE (9781604680485, $26.99) is a recommendation for quilting and crafts collections alike, offering lovely applique designs inspired by Bible passages. Motifs from nature and Biblical images combine in some eleven designs that range from wall hangings and pillows to table toppers. The full-sized applique templates are accompanied by step-by-step directions, color photos of completed projects, and small color illustrations of the techniques involved.


The Biography Shelf

Saving Big Ben
John R. Satterfield
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591148081 $34.95 www.navalinstitute.org

Saving Big Ben: The USS Franklin and Father Joseph T. O'Callahan is the compelling battle of a most unusual war hero: Father Joseph T. O'Callahan, the first ever military chaplain to earn the Medal of Honor. In early1945, during the Okinawa campaign of World War II, the Essex-class aircraft carrier on which O'Callahan served (the USS Franklin, colloquially known as "Big Ben") suffered a devastating Japanese bomb attack. Hundreds of sailors were killed and Big Ben was left dead in the water. Amid the destruction, O'Callahan heroically organized firefighting crews, tended to the injured and dying, and rallied morale among the survivors. His bravery took a high toll; though he survived Big Ben's voyage back to New York Harbor, he suffered a stroke soon thereafter that caused him pain for the rest of his life. Saving Big Ben is an inspirational true story of leadership, strength of character, and heroism on the high seas, highly recommended especially for public and college library biography collections.

The Greatest Champion That Never Was
Jaclyn Weldon White
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881462524 $30.00 www.mupress.org

The Greatest Champion That Never Was: The Life of W.L. "Young" Stribling is the life story of a dedicated and talented boxer with integrity. William Lawrence Stribling, Jr., popularly known as "Young" Stribling, was born in a small Georgia town in 1904 to ordinary, working-class parents, and became a professional prizefighter at sixteen. His incredible rise through the ranks in his chosen sport led him to travel the world, attracting the attention of celebrities, royalty, and even gangsters - at one point Al Capone wanted to buy his contract and manage his career! During his twelve years in the ring, Stribling fought 287 matches, won 224 of them, and lost only 12 (the rest were draws or "no decision" fights). Even though he never earned a championship, Stribling remains to this day a shining example of not only skill and tenacity, but also sportsmanship, honor, and self-respect. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate his inspirational true-life story, highly recommended especially for sports biography collections.

Lily, Duchess of Marlborough
Sally E. Svenson
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H
Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781457507762, $18.95, www.dogearpublishing.net

Catching the attention of one nobleman is one thing, but three is a truly unique tale. "Lily, Duchess of Marlborough: A Portrait with Husbands" is the story of this New York woman who claimed marriage from three husbands from the British nobility and gained her own bit fame among the royals of the late nineteenth century. A unique biography, "Lily, Duchess of Marlborough" is a fine read for any biography collection.

A Life of Leadership
Rochel & George Berman
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602801905, $25.00, www.ktav.com

The call to leadership can come young when it's needed to be. "A Life of Leadership: Eli Zborowski: From the Underground to Industry to Holocaust Remembrance" traces the history of this lifelong leader who through determination helped push an underground in Poland during those vicious years in World War II. From there, he pushed forward and became a leader of industry and business in America, and doing his part to make sure the Jewish memory of his childhood would not fade and be forgotten. "A Life of Leadership" is a fine and recommended pick for any biography or Judaic studies collection.

Jimmy Cliff
David Katz
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street
Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566568692, $17.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

Every country has its contributions to international culture, and Jimmy Cliff has gone beyond the call of duty. "Jimmy Cliff: An Unauthorized Biography" follows the Jamaican Rock Icon who has produced nearly thirty albums and has gained national honors in his own country, and is well known to hardcore rock and roll followers everywhere. Telling his personal story as well as the story of his music, "Jimmy Cliff" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to learn about this important musician.

Prelude to Courage
David H. Bergquist
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave. #104
Westminster, MD 21157
9780788453564, $22.00, www.heritagebooks.com

To go to war is to face a very good chance that will lead to your demise. "Prelude to Courage: An Air Warrior's Journey of Faith" is a chronicle from David H. Bergquist about one of these men who joined the Air Force during World War II and lead strongly throughout the Pacific Theater of the war. Austin Rodney Keith is a story of one of a half million Americans who met their end in the war, as Bergquist presents a story of war's tragedy. "Prelude to Courage" is an excellent and much recommended pick for military biography collections.

Life is Not a Stage
Florence Henderson with Joel Brokaw
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017-0010
9781599955885, $25.99, www.centerstreet.com

LIFE IS NOT A STAGE: FROM BROADWAY BABY TO A LOVELY LADY AND BEYOND provides a fine autobiography of actress Florence Henderson, one of ten children who grew up in rural Indiana. Florence's father was nearly seventy when Florence was born, twenty years after her parents married. Her childhood was filled with struggles with poverty and alcoholism. Her childhood struggles, the path that led her to a successful Hollywood career, and her personal struggles with depression, divorce, and physical problems make for a powerful account of faith and perseverance perfect for film and biography holdings.

Shockaholic
Carrie Fisher
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York NY 10020
9780743264822, $22.00, www.simonandschuster.com

SHOCKAHOLIC provides a funny survey of her life and comes from an actress, screenwriter and novelist who offers details about her life - including her bi-polar disorder, a condition for which she recently underwent electroconvulsive therapy with much success. This therapy led to memory loss: she decided she needed to write her memories down before they vanished - and her new book provides a fine collection of colorful experiences and personal revelations perfect for any general lending library.

Howard Cosell
Mark Ribowsky
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393080179, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

HOWARD COSELL: THE MAN, THE MYTH, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICAN SPORTS provides a fine biography of the sports legend and discusses sports reporter Howard Cosell's lasting influence on the sports world. In a time when announcers were nearly employees of the teams they covered, Cosell adopted a more critical stance in interviewing his subjects and providing his listeners with a more studied review of the sports world. Ribowsky argues that Cosell indeed changed the method and delivery of sports news reporting, leaving his mark on the world. Any sports or biography collection will find this packed with insights!


The Literary Studies Shelf

Spider Speculations
Jo Carson
Theatre Communications Group, Inc.
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
9781559362832, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Stories tell of people, and to create riveting stories, one must understand people. "Spider Speculations" discusses the mind and storytelling form the perspective of Jo Carlson who creates a sociological and biological viewpoint on the art of storytelling, delving on the writings of many celebrated authors throughout the history of literature. An intriguing study of literature and what it means to us as physical human beings, "Spider Speculations" is an excellent addition to literary studies collections, very much recommended.

The Man Who Is and Is Not There
Andrew Stambuk
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498983, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

What makes a legendary poet? "The Man Who Is and Is Not There: The Poetry and Prose of Robert Francis" discusses the work behind this poet of the twentieth century who worked out his hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts, a devoted disciple of Thoreau. His writings spanned throughout, and discussed faith, sexuality, and his hardline opposition of the Vietnam war. A fine study of the man and his work, "The Man Who Is and Is Not There" is an excellent pick for literary studies collections.

A Poet's Reich
Melissa S. Lane & Martin A. Ruehl, editors
Camden House
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781571134622, $75.00, www.boydellandbrewer.com

The dialogue in Germany following the first World War I was fierce. "A Poet's Reich: Politics and Culture in the George Circle" analyzes the works of Stefan George, who entering this tumultuous period of German history, added to the debate throughout. Many thinkers of today's literary world come together and discuss George's work, its relationship with the rising Nazi party, and its impact on German literature and national dialogue for years after his death in 1933. "A Poet's Reich" is a strongly recommended addition to any literary studies collection focusing on world history.

Kafka's Leopards
Moacyr Scaliar
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726963, $26.95, www.ttupress.org

Kafka's Leopards is translated and introduced by Thomas O. Beebee and provides a novel based on the Kafka tradition. Set in 1916 just before the Russian revolution, Benjamin "Mousy" has been asked by a sick friend to deliver a message to an agent in Prague. His belief that his mission is directed by Trotsky leads him to leave his home for a rendezvous. When he loses the envelope containing the agent's name he mistakenly meets Franz Kafka and fives him the parable of Kafka's leopards, to be published. A fine novel of intrigue and deception evolves.

Building Their Own Waldos
Robert D. Habich
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, Iowa City, IA 52242
9781587299629, $29.95, www.uiowa.edu

Building Their Own Waldos: Emerson's First Biographers and the Politics of Life-Writing in the Gilded Age charts the course of Ralph Waldo Emerson's early biographers, considering their problems in recounting his life and using previously-unpublished writings, business records and private documents to provide stories of his first six biographers, their lives, and their challenges in representing his life. Each biographer held a different perspective of Emerson and his life - and represented Emerson in a different light. Literary research and representation are examined in a fine college-level choice for any collection strong in Emerson's life and works.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Writer's Workout
Christina' Katz
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781599631790, $19.99, www.writersdigest.com

No one is going to get better at writing without practice, just like anything else. "The Writer's Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach" is a writing exercise guide from Christina Katz as she advises readers on how to improve their writing, appealing to your intended audience, and much advice on the most difficult wall for many to climb - publishing. With plenty of practical advice for life alongside the wisdom for literary pursuits, "The Writer's Workout" is a strongly recommended and top pick for writing and publishing collections.

Now Write! Mysteries
Sherry Ellis & Laurie Lamson, editors
Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
9781585429035, $14.95, www.penguin.com

There's more to a mystery than a crime and a culprit. "Now Write! Mysteries" is an advisory guide for those who love mysteries and want to try their own pen to create their own stories, be it for novels, screenplays, or other formats. With many tips and tricks and what to think about no matter what type or degree of mystery one is pondering of creating, "Now Write! Mysteries" is a choice and much recommended read for aspiring writers with a love of keeping people guessing.

Story Solution
Eric Edson
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd, #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781615930845, $26.95, www.mwp.com

The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take comes from a professional screenwriter who pinpoints all the reasons why typical stories don't sell. Examples from hit movies outline the elements of successful plots and approaches, with chapters going beyond the usual writing approaches to plot development to consider the pros and cons of building a story for the screen. Stories are broken down into distinct parts for analysis, with plenty of insights into the entire process of creating memorable characters and plots. A 'must' for any screenwriter and collections catering to them.

Writing for the Web
Lynda Felder
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321794435, $24.99, www.newriders.com

WRITING FOR THE WEB teaches the basics of effective Web writing and shows how to blend words with audiovisual effects for maximum impact. It comes from an instructor who offers guidelines along with photos, lists and tables to document how interactive web-based stories make the most of the web's medium, and provides a lively approach to Web writing. Exercises, guidelines, and sidebars of pointers make this an easy and highly recommended survey for computer and literary collections alike.

The College Student's Guide to Writing a Great Research Paper
Erika Eby
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala FL 34471
9781601386052, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

The College Student's Guide to Writing a Great Research Paper: 101 Easy Tips & Tricks to Make Your Work Stand Out offers a complete guide for college students who want to learn tips for formatting a research paper and tackling college course assignments. It covers the entire process of writing a paper from start to finish, from choosing a topic and researching to writing and editing drafts. Further insights on how to check work for plagiarism so as to use research to support rather than define a paper makes this an invaluable survey of all the basics, with exercises and checklists included to help keep a paper professional and polished. College students will find this specific and easy.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Vamplayers
Rusty Fischer
Medallion Press, Inc.
1020 Cedar Lane, No. 2N
St. Charles, IL 60174
9781605424491, $9.95, www.medallionpress.com

In undeath, some things never change. "Vamplayers" is a unique spin vampires and romance, following Lily Fielding, a vampire-hunter in training. Charged with protecting girls from the Vamplayers, vampire-players with cruel intent for their victims, Lily finds her assignment tougher than she ever thought it would be. "Vamplayers" is an exciting and recommended pick for dark fantasy collections.

Supervolcano: Eruption
Harry Turtledove
ROC Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451464200, $25.95, www.penguin.com

SUPERVOLCANO: ERUPTION is set in Yellowstone Park and covers an eruption that will change the geography and face of the U.S. - but this story focuses not so much on the event and its science as on the lives of various individuals who orbit the eruption in lives that have been disrupted. Readers expecting a focus on the event and its processes may be disappointed, but those interested more in protagonists' lives and their challenges after such an event will find this a satisfying read, recommended for any science fiction holding and especially for those with fans of Harry Turtledove's extensive writings.


The Political Science Shelf

The Rise of the Tea Party
Anthony DiMaggio
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W
New York, NY 10001
9781583672471, $18.95, www.monthlyreview.org

The origins of the Tea Party are somewhat blurry. "The Rise of the Tea Party: Political Discontent and Corporate Media in the Age of Obama" discusses the roots of the Tea Party, as media studies expert Anthony DiMaggio attempts to bring a level handed delve into the Tea Party, as he tries to discern whether it is a legitimate movement of the people, or a creation of far right money. Providing a comprehensive study that looks at modern journalism as a whole, "The Rise of the Tea Party" is an excellent and recommended pick for community and library politics and journalism collections.

Turn This Car Around
Bob Ehrlich
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781936661558, $24.95, www.benbellabooks.com

The political climate seems to be more confusing than ever. "Turn This Car Around: The Road Map to Restoring America" is a discussion of modern politics from former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich, who writes of his experiences of becoming the first Republican governor in Maryland in over forty years. Offering criticisms of both sides of the isle and how they have lost his way, he focuses on economic issues, offering a libertarian view that tries to avoid catering to big business. "Turn This Car Around" presents many intriguing ideas to both sides of the isle, a strong addition to any modern political library collection.

Dupes
Paul Kengor
ISI Books
P.O. Box 4431, Wilmington DE 19807-0431
1935191756, $29.95, www.isibooks.org

DUPES: HOW AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES HAVE MANIPULATED PROGRESSIVES FOR A CENTURY comes form a historian who considers the role of the "dupe" in American history. It's based on never-before-published FBI files, Soviet archives and primary source research to expose the liberals who have unwittingly given advantages to America's adversaries. Such dupes contributed to the rise and spread of Communism but their actions went beyond ideological conflicts. This contains reports on how Ted Kennedy secretly approached the Soviet leadership to undermine two American presidents, and documents modern political dupes whose overseas excursions are financed by foreign intelligence. An intriguing survey recommended for any college-level political science collection.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Back in the Habit
Alice Loweecey
Midnight Ink
c/o Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738726687, $14.95, www.midnightinkbooks.com

Sometimes a suicide is too convenient. "Back in the Habit" is a mystery thriller from Alice Loweecey. Giulia Falcone turned away from this degree of faith already, but she finds she must go back into the covenant to find out why a young nun apparently committed suicide, and confirm that it was even truly a suicide. But becoming an undercover nun can put a stop to your life in so many ways... "Back in the Habit" is a fast paced and often humorous novel, not to be overlooked, highly recommended.

A Fatal Flaw
Dana Stabenow
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590588741, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

A Fatal Flaw: The Second Kate Shugak Mystery provides an Aleut P.I. in Alaska who is caught up in danger when a mass murder involves a possible second suspect. Nine neighbors are dead - but one has been killed by a different weapon. Kate and her husky-wolf dog investigate and find many possibilities in this fine thriller, recommended both for prior fans of Kate Shugak and for newcomers to the rugged Alaskan setting.

Foul Play at Four
Ann Purser
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425243596, $24.95, www.penguin.com

Foul Play at Four provides a fine Lois Meade mystery and provides the next in a series revolving around a working-class wife and part-time sleuth in a small English village. As such, it's especially recommended for collections who have and have seen popularity with the prior Lois Meade sagas. A robbery involving Lois' daughter changes from a hunt for two petty thieves to much more, in which Lois' family becomes heavily involved in events and their outcome. An outstanding saga evolves in an excellent mystery.


The Fiction Shelf

A Bend in the River of Life
Budh-Aditya Roy
Strategic Book Publishing
10625 Southwest 112th Avenue, Apt 3-206
Miami, FL 33176
http://sbpra.com/BudhAdityaRoy
9781612045078, $20.95, www.amazon.com

"A Bend in the River of Life" by Budh-Aditya Roy is 376-page saga that recounts the experiences of a family for two generation and across five continents. The protagonist is Rana, born of a family of privilege in British India while World War Two raged abroad. When his parents separate just before Rana turns two, the child is given over to his grandmother and aunt to be raised. After the war concludes, conflicts on the Indian subcontinent arise that will ultimate result in the establishment (and enduring hostilities) break out which will compel Rana and his family to migrate from the newly formed Pakistan to the safety of India. Eventually Rana's mother returns adding further complications to family life. When he is a young man Rana graduates from university and works for an American bank, meets Keka who will become his wife and mother of two children. Keka dies in childbirth with the second child. In overwhelming grief Rana dives into his work and travels around the world. Ultimately there is a kind of redemption as 'The River of Life' carries Rana on to his ultimate destination. A compelling work of deftly written complexity from beginning to end, "A Bend in the River of Life" is an outstanding read and highly recommended for community library collections.

Shadow of the Mountains
Lynn Morris
Hendrickson Publishers
PO Box 3473
Peabody, MA 01961-3473
9781598567397, $12.95, www.amazon.com

With good intentions, the wall of prejudice may be too insurmountable to beat. "Shadow of the Mountains" follows Cheney Duvall, an educated woman who has applied her trade as a doctor in many places. Answering the call of need to an Ozark mountain town results in superstition and hate from the very people she seeks to help. "Shadow of the Mountains" is a strongly recommended pick for community and library collections with a focus on historical fiction.

The Shameful Suicide of Winston Churchill
Peter Millar
Arcadia Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781906413859, $24.95, www.arcadiabooks.com

The advance of the Soviets had further goals than Berlin. "The Shameful Suicide of Winston Churchill" is an alternate history from Peter Millar, speaking of a world where the war in Europe did not end with the fall of Hitler, but with the Soviet Union becoming the new allied opposition. As Stalin's war is brought to London. Winston Churchill is hailed as the villain of this ongoing world, and London finds itself split between America and the Soviet Union in 1989. Spinning a tale of murder and corruption in a universe where the Cold War lives, "The Shameful Suicide of Winston Churchill" is a fascinating novel that tells quite the story with a very different world.

The Accidental Bride
Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000
Nashville, TN 37214
9781595548023, $15.99, www.thomasnelson.com

The stupidest of things may lead to the best of chances. "The Accidental Bride" is a unique Christian romance, following Shay, a woman struggling on her own who agrees to play the bride in a wedding re-enactment. Finding an old flame is playing her groom, she thinks nothing of it, but a blunder makes their pretend marriage real, and Shay may find one preacher's mistake can lead her to extended heartache, or another chance at love. "The Accidental Bride" is a riveting read for those seeking a fun romance, highly recommended.

The Odditorium
Melissa Pritchard
Bellevue Literary Press
550 First Avenue, OBV 612
New York, NY 10016
9781934137376, $14.95, www.blpress.org

History is full of unique spins on all we know. "The Odditorium" is a collection of short fiction as Melissa Pritchard explores the eccentric nature of our history, delving into mystery, fantasy, horror, history, and much more for a unique blend of tales. Humor of life, solemness of its loss, and the heroes who make it happen, "The Odditorium" is a fine assortment of short fiction, very much recommended.

No Tame Cat
Robert J. Harvey
Granville Island Publishing
212-1656 Duranleau Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6H 364
9781926991030, $24.95, www.granvilleislandpublishing.com

The fur trade was never an easy way to make a living. "No Tame Cat" is a historical novel from Robert J. Harvey telling the story of the nineteenth century fur trade and the adventure that was the voyages from London to all around and through North America. Following Captain James Gaudin on his voyages, "No Tame Cat" is an exciting spin of historical fiction, drawn from much true life inspiration in the Hudson Bay Company's log books.

The Warmest December
Bernice L. McFadden
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781617750359, $15.95, www.akashicbooks.com

Destruction can be slow and painful, and that often proves the worst sort. "The Warmest December" is a novel of dysfunctional Brooklyn family, as young Kenzie Lowe faces a home where she doesn't want to be, as all who live there are poisoned by their father's alcoholism. As life rolls on, Kenzie faces adulthood, and is soon forced to look back on the hell she endured as a child. "The Warmest December" is a thoughtful read of the struggles of youth, highly recommended.

Restoration
Joe Castanzo
Charles River Press
PO Box 1122
Mansfield, MA 02048
9781936185313, $15.95, www.charlesriverpesss.com

To return to what we once held dear is on the mind of many immigrants. "Restoration" is a novel from Joe Costanzo, as he tells the story of an Italian American who returns to his small town in Italy and seeks to rebuild a failing church. But in his good will, he encounters the conflicts that still consume his town, which may destroy everything he's worked for. "Restoration" is a riveting novel of faith and small town life, very much recommended.

Out of Time
Geoff Schmidt
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574413199, $14.95, www.unt.edu/untpress

We don't have forever, and it's best to use the most of the short time we got. "Out of Time" is a collection of short fiction from Geoff Schmidt as he compiles stories of time and mortality and our own mortal race against these, and accepting that we can't do anything. "Out of Time" is a fine assortment of fiction, very much recommended reading for short fiction collections.

Forsaking All Others
Allison Pittman
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414335971, $13.99, www.tyndale.com

Leaving your family faith behind is difficult, but taking your family from your faith is even harder. "Forsaking All Others" is a Christian novel from Allison Pittman, who crafts a tale of Camilla Fox, who from the brink of death left Salt Lake City and found a new life. But as she realizes what she left behind, she returns to her daughters, and realizes it will take more than she thinks to bring her family together once more. "Forsaking All Others" is a story that will resound with many parents who struggle to have their children returned to them, very much recommended.

The Holiday Party
Richard Wanderer
Two Harbors
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781937293321, $15.95, www.twoharborspress.com

The lust for power cares not who it bowls over. "The Holiday Party: A Tale of a Corporate Takeover" is a novel of corporate intrigue from Richard Wanderer. Spinning a tale of three individuals all with their own lust for power and success, from a driven man who dabbles in witchcraft, to the destined heir, to the assertive woman who uses anything in her repertoire to fight to the top. "The Holiday Party" is a riveting novel of corporate cutthroats, highly recommended.

The Law of Miracles
Gregory Blake Smith
University of Massachusetts Press
P.O. Box 429, Amherst, MA 01003
9781558499005, $19.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

The Law of Miracles: And Other Stories provide stories diverse in style and scope, whose characters revolve around everyday and extraordinary worlds and events. Connecting all the writings is a sense of the miraculous as the protagonists struggle towards seeing and realizing the miracles in their actions and reactions to the world. Stories offer reflections on conflict, morality, and more and provide a satisfying blend of philosophical and psychological reflection recommended for any short story literary
collection.


The Library CD Shelf

Time Rider
Uwe Gronau
Time Rider Music
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$11.68 www.thecreativeservicecompany.com

Time Rider is the creation of German pianist, synthesist, organist, singer and composer Uwe Gronau, featuring twelve instrumental tracks and eight tracks with vocals. The mellow, contemplative mood of the music fuses elements of jazz, techno, trance, and more into a mesmerizingly smooth listening experience. The music provides the perfect backdrop for contemplating the mysteries of time, both from a scientific and from a metaphysical viewpoint. Time Rider encourages listeners to open their minds and their imaginations, and is highly recommended. The tracks are "Talking Keys and Congas" (3:35), "Sweet Memory" (3:22), "Novel Scene" (4:22), "Night Tune" (4:55), "Searching for the Truth" (3:10), "Jardin Exotique" (4:08), "Far in the East" (3:24), "Oriental Journey" (3:25), "A Fairy's Advice" (2:52), "Inner Face" (4:08), "Flotsam & Jetsam" (4:12), "Caged" (3:58), "In Silence" (3:22), "Time is a Sound" (3:27), "Time Rider" (3:54), "Calena" (4:00), "Far in the East" (2:45), "Remarks You Made" (4:53), "Interlude" (3:40) and "I'm at Home" (3:20).

Romantech
New York Gypsy All Stars
Drom Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.54 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Romantech is an album by the New York Gypsy All Stars, an eclectic quintet that unites musical traditions of Greece, Turkey, and America into a freewheeling whole. Their creations have a strong, positive quality that promotes good feelings in the listener. From "Balkan Bollywood", a song mixing Turkish melody with Balkan flair, to "Romantek", a piece that layers techno beats and the use of the Turkish longa, Romantech displays hybrid vigor at its finest, and is highly recommended especially for private and public library international music collections. The tracks include "Romantek", "Balkan Bollywood", "Cross Winds", and "EZ Pass".

Peaceful Journey
Tron Syversen
TK Music Production
c/o Global Jounrey Music
492 S. Hwy 67
Sedalia, CO 80135
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$14.95 www.tronmusic.com www.thecreativeservicecompany.com

Peaceful Journey: Music for Relaxation and Wellbeing lives up to its title with gently flowing piano and synthesizer tunes. Norway-based musician Tron Syversen drew upon nature, poetry, great artwork, and sacred places for inspiration, in crafting these harmonious songs ideal for meditation or deep relaxation. Peaceful Journey is also an excellent choice to help oneself unwind after a long day. The tracks are "Silent Dream" (5:30), "Rivers" (6:09), "The Beginning" (7:35), "Amorous" (5:38), "Nearness" (9:14), "Lullaby to Love" (6:06), "Your Dream" (6:29), "My Love" (5:01), and "Longing" (8:34). 61 min., 32 sec.

No Stranger Here
Shubha Mudgal, Ursula Rucker, & Business Class Refugees
Earthsync
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$9.99 www.flipswitchPR.com

No Stranger Here is a cross-cultural blend of East Indian classic musical tradition, Western orchestra, electronica, and inspiration drawn from centuries-old poetry. The result is an extraordinary achievement that balances smooth vocals with heart-catching rhythms. An emotional and transcendent album, No Stranger Here is a welcome addition to international music collections. The tracks are "Seraphim Tones", "Drunk in Love", "Steadfast", "When I Was", "A Stranger Here", "Searching For You", "Something is Still Missing", "Above All Else", and "Outsider".

Sabani
Leni Stern
Privately Published
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$9.99 www.flipswitchPR.com

Inspired by jam sessions that performer Leni Stern held with two Malian musician friends, Sabani is an instrumental album that draws upon the qualities of the ngoni, a stringed instrument distantly ancestral to the banjo. Discovering the ngoni's qualities as "the ultimate blues instrument", Stern calls forth her love of jazz, blues, and learning from her West African friends. Sabani is a wonderful cross-cultural expression, highly recommended. The tracks are "Still Bleeding" (3:42), "Sorcerer (dan sogo)" (5:16), "The Cat That Stole The Moon (djakouma e kalo mine)" (2:16), "Like a Thief" (4:44), "I Was Born (Ibe Keneya)", (3:33), "An Saba" (5:37), "Papillon" (4:35), and "Djanfa" (4:20).

E Volo Love
Francois & the Atlas Mountains
Domino Recording Co.
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$24.23 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

E Volo Love is a vividly emotional music album blending indie rock and electronica, revealing the heights of intensity to which an electric guitar can reach. Elements of Afrobeat weave their way through this lively album overflowing with veteran performers' raw passion. E Volo Love is a choice pick highly recommended for international music collections. The tracks are "Les Plus Beaux", "Muddy Heart", "Edge of Town", "City Kiss", "Azrou Tune", "Buried Treasures", Cherchant Des Ponts", "Slow Love", "Bail Eternel", "Piscine", and "Do You Want to Dance".

Shi Keyah: Songs for the People
Radmilla Cody with Herman Cody
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
$14.98 www.canyonrecords.com

Shi Keyah: Songs for the People is an emotional music CD of songs performed in the traditional style of the Dine Native American tribe (also colloquially known as Navajo). The music honors the grace and bounty of Mother Earth, pays tribute to military veterans who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting America, and even offer a humorous glimpse of ordinary life in Dinetah. Composed by Herman Cody and beautifully performed by vocalist Radmilla Cody, Shi Keyah: Songs for the People is enthusiastically recommended for Native American music collections. The tracks are "Morning Greeting" (3:37), "Honoring the Homeland" (2:44), "Beautiful Mother Earth" (5:20), "Navajo Warrior" (2:55), "Code Talker" (3:35), "Where You Are?" (3:24), "Commodity Blues" (2:28), "Roper's Song" (3:43), "Native Food Song" (2:42), "They Care For Me/Moccasin Song" (2:46), "Five Agencies Song" (3:44), "The Bluebird" (2:47), "Shi Naasha" (2:51), and "A Gift to Us" (3:08).

Drum Boy: Mistikwaskihk Napesis
Northern Cree
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
$14.98 www.canyonrecords.com

The esteemed Native American music publication company of Canyon Records presents Drum Boy: Mistikwaskihk Napesis, an album of pow-wow songs recorded live at Saddle Lake, by Grammy-nominated Native American performers Northern Cree. A tribute to the cultural traditions cherished by all Native American tribes, Drum Boy is inclusive in its welcome to showing honor at the pow-wow circle, and an a top pick for any listener wanting to revel in reverence for the blessed gift of life itself. The tracks are "Wanbli" (2:05), "Humble" (5:10), "Fass and Grancy" (2:04), "Kainai Krusher" (4:55), "Hops-A-Lot" (3:47), "Slickzter" (9:52), "Pride" (3:49), "Siouxdance" (3:50), "Styles" (3:19), "Tea Pot" (4:31), "The Explosion" (3:18), and "Redman" (4:00). 1 CD, 51 min. 20 sec.

Opening to Bliss
Wah!
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
$12.99 www.soundstrue.com

Opening to Bliss is an album of restful, contemplative music composed especially to synergize with the practices of yoga, meditation, and healing arts. An excellent way to help prepare one's mind for discipline, and prepare one's soul for the cultivation of compassion, Opening to Bliss is highly recommended to seekers of grace and harmony. The tracks are "Bhuvaneshwari" (5:17), "Saraswati" (6:46), "Om Namah Shivaya" (5:25), "Hare Krishna" (9:26), "Anusara Prayer" (7:34), "Dream" (4:26), "Akasha Ma" (7:46), "Heart Sutra" (7:29), "Om Mani Padme Hum" (5:42), "Govinda Jaya Jaya" (7:43), and "Closing" (3:41). 1 CD, 1 hr 11 min.

Love Lies
Kami Thompson
Warner Music Group
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$21.54 www.flipswitchPR.com

Singer and songwriter Kami Thompson presents Love Lies, a passionate album that reverberates with the experiences of heartbreak, hope, mourning, defiance, and the regret of love gone sadly wrong. Thompson's dual skill with her voice and the guitar shine through this emotionally moving collection, sure to stir the hearts of listeners from all walks of life. The tracks are "Little Boy Blue" (4:11), "4,000 Miles" (2:17), "Nice Cars" (2:18), "Gotta Hold On" (4:09), "Stormy" (4:04), "Never Again" (4:19), "Tick Tock" (2:46), "Want You Back" (4:56), "Blood Wedding" (4:12), and "Don't Bother Me" (2:59).

Basta Mafia!
Zdob Si Zdub
Asphalt Tango Records
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$20.97 www.flipswitchPR.com

Zdob Si Zdub, a Moldavian folk band drawing inspiration from the modern genres of ska and punk, presents Basta Mafia!, a tingling rock album of electronica jazz and multicultural flavor. The essence of Basta Mafia! is about calling for a break from old ways, without abandoning their most beloved elements, and exploring the wonders of new musical transformations. An exuberantly lively album that lends itself especially well to workouts, car trips, or any occasion where the listener needs an energetic boost, Basta Mafia! is highly recommended. The tracks are "Basta Mafia" (3:30), "Running" (4:17), "Eternal Kiss" (4:04), "Gipsy Life" (5:07), "We Are Free" (3:43), "Maria" (4:03), "Haiduk" (3:10), "Trece Vremea Omului" (3:17), "Nistru" (5:13), "Good Bye" (4:44), "F-S-S-O" (5:02), "The Holy Fuel" (3:11), and "So Lucky" (3:51).

Born Again
Brian Flynn
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400
Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
$17.00 www.wlpmusic.com

Born Again is an inspirational album of beautiful, liturgical songs brought to life by Brian Flynn's guitar and vocal talent. Overflowing with reverence for God, and gratitude for the blessings of Jesus Christ, Born Again is especially appropriate for moments of religious worship, whether at a formal church setting or in the privacy of one's own home. Born Again is highly recommended for Christian listeners of all walks of life. The tracks are "Born Again" (4:40), "The Altar of the Lord" (5:01), "The Prodigal Father" (5:58), "The Name of Jesus" (3:53), "Our Hope Is in God" (4:36), "Here in This Place" (4:35), "Communio" (4:01), "We Bring our Gifts to Your Altar" (3:43), "Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament" (4:05), "The Greatest Gift" (5:13), "Act of Contrition" (3:43), and "The Upper Room" (4:43).


The Library DVD Shelf

Tar Creek
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772020 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, Tar Creek is a documentary on DVD about one of the worst ongoing environmental disasters in the United States today: the Tar Creek Superfund site. Tar Creek was once the site of one of the largest lead and zinc mines worldwide; now it is 40 square miles of virtually uninhabitable land. Acid mine water has polluted the creeks; lead poisoning has caused permanent developmental and learning disabilities in the local children; and underground sinkholes consume backyards and ball fields. Nearly 30 years after being assigned cleanup for the Superfund program, the residents of Tar Creek - including Native American residents descended from survivors of the Trail of Tears - are fighting for justice. Even the buyout of homes and relocation of residents is plagued with unequal appraisals and worse. Tar Creek is a stark warning against corporate greed and expensive, destructive, and community-destroying environmental catastrophes, highly recommended especially for public and school library collections. 54 min., SDH captions.

In the Mayor's Footsteps
Featuring Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$195.00 each www.bullfrogfilms.com

Intended for viewers in grades 7 through college, two volumes of the "Life" DVD series concerning the effects of globalization, "In the Mayor's Footsteps: Peru" and "In the Mayor's Foosteps: Brazil" follow Mayor Amilcar Huancahuari as he tries to reach out and help children at risk from the most crushing poverty, or worse, desperate violence. In "Peru", he visits the jungle city of Iquitos, the Andes mountains, and more. In areas so dangerous as to require a police bodyguard, Huancahuari searches for a way to protect children from the physical and mental damage that is the fallout of unrestrained violence. In "Brazil" he observes the Mina congregation of Sao Luis select a child Emperor and Empress, and discusses his trip with the Minister for Human Rights at the Modernist capital, Brasilia. Promoting Mayor Huancahuari's plans for a future where children have the opportunity to fulfill their highest potential, both DVDs are uplifting and very highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD collections. 26 min. each, SDH subtitles.

Shades
Starring Dervia Kirwan and Stephen Tompkinson
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285901 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

Originally broadcast on public television, Shades is a British romantic comedy with an unusual premise: the protagonists are both recently deceased. Maeve lost her life to a hit-and-run driver, while Mark died during a routine surgery. As spirits, they cannot communicate with the people they were in love with while alive, but they can speak openly with strangers. Can their efforts to right the wrongs of their life allow them to transcend their regrets? A thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting series, Shades is highly recommended. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 296 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

The Brontes of Haworth
Starring Michael Kitchen & Alfred Burke
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287387 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

The Brontes of Haworth: The Dramatic Lives of the Literary Legends is a period drama of the artistic endeavors and personal hardships of one of England's most well-known and accomplished literary families. The Reverend Patrick Bronte taught his children Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne to think for themselves and harness their imaginations; yet their transition to adulthood is a rocky one. Pressure to live up to their family's sky-high expectations is immense, and the young women in particular struggle to adapt the world outside their home. While the sisters are able to pursue a stable writing career, Branwell becomes increasingly self-destructive, inflicting ever-greater misfortunes on himself and the family. A gripping saga, enhanced with bonus material about the Brontes' home in Haworth, The Brontes of Haworth is a choice pick especially for public library DVD collections. 5 episodes on 2 discs, 260 min., SDH subtitles, 4:3 fullscreen.

A Cook's Tour
featuring Anthony Bourdain
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646966 $59.99 www.questarentertainment.com

A Cook's Tour in Search of the Perfect Meal: The Complete Series collects all 35 episodes of the popular gourmet television show, as originally seen on the Food Network, within a thinpack boxed set of 6 DVDs. Host Anthony Bourdain brings the viewer on a global tour from the United States to Mexico, the Americas, Europe, Morocco, Russia, Australia, Japan, and Asia, all in search of the most flavorful and memorable of meals. A showcase of cuisine ranging from authentic traditional to purely wild, A Cook's Tour is an extraordinarily enjoyable set, sure to prove popular in public library collections, and makes an excellent gift for foodie friends. 6 DVDs, 13 hours.

German Lineage in Modern Dance
Dr. Betsy Fisher
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602

Conceived and performed by expert choreographer and dance researcher Dr. Betsy Fisher, German Lineage in Modern Dance is a tribute to the tradition of Modern Dance from its origins in Germany before World War I to its breathtaking new developments in late twentieth century America. Featuring solo performances by dedicated individuals in the style of German Expression Dance, or Ausdruckstanz, German Lineage in Modern Dance blends these captivating dance segments with fascinating narration and original photographs. The result is an eye-opening tour of a vibrant dance tradition that has strong German roots but reaches out to its witnesses worldwide. A treasure to experience, German Lineage in Modern Dance is the next best thing to seeing modern dance performed in person, and is highly recommended to dance enthusiasts, scholars, and college library DVD collections alike. The featured choreography segments are "Mary Wigman: Witch Dance and Swinging Landscapes", "Dore Hoyer: two excerpts from Affectos Humanos", "Hanya Holm: Excerpt from Homage to Mahler", "Alwin Nikolais: Excerpt from the Tribe, plus photos by Tom Caravaglia", and "Murray Louis: Excerpt from Figura". 58 min.

Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet
Prof. Claudia Jeschke and Robert Atwood
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602

Conceived by Prof. Claudia Jeschke (char of the dept. of dance studies, University of Salzburg) and dance history lecturer Robert Atwood, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is an extraordinary, in-depth DVD documentary and reconstruction presenting restaged dances that were performed in the 19th century. Based entirely on the documentation of 19th century dance literature and iconography, Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet strives to recreate the performances that were part of this era's culture, and that marked a distinct change in that media of the times began to portray stories and characters that were ordinary, everyday people. The influences of "national dance" are also considered, in this beautiful documentary and performance enhanced with a collection of stunning illustrations from the Derra de Moroda Dance Archives of Salzburg, Austria. Sensuality & Nationalism in Romantic Ballet is beautiful to behold, and enthusiastically recommended for amateur ballet connoisseurs and serious ballet reference shelves alike, especially including college library DVD collections. The recreated registered dances are "Fandango [1761]", "Vestris Gavotte [1832]", "Cachucha [1871", "Pas de L'Abeille [1843]", "Pas de la Esmeralda [1859]", and "Tyrolienne [1859]". 57 min.

Mile High + Willpower & Grace
Stacey Lel Krauss
Power Music, Inc.
PO Box 3030, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
www.willpowermethod.com/willpower-gracer-mile-high.html
No ISBN DVD, $24.99, www.willpowerlift.com

Mile High provides a high-energy cardio workout on DVD for any student who would undertake a routine that promotes conditioning and flexibility training. It takes the industry's major fitness approach and blends them into a single all-purpose program of workouts that are equipment-free, barefoot, and blend a positive philosophy into the workout experience. The barefoot training approach promotes stable routines that minimize the risk of injury, making this a fine at-home TV program.

Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start
Jackie Warner
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
No ISBN DVD, $14.98, www.anchorbayent.com

Personal Training with Jackie: 30 Day Fast Start presents the workout method she uses for her celebrity clients and provides two quick workouts, about 20 minutes each, in the DVD. The idea is that viewers who commit to these workouts for 30 days will see a distinct difference in their fitness, getting them on the road to a better lifestyle. Two exercises for each muscle group build a 'power pyramid' training style that provides a logical progression of exercises and challenges. A fine pick for any home fitness program.

Yoga+Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
No ISBN, $14.95, www.go2yas.com

Yoga+Weights combines basic yoga with 3-pound handheld weights and offers a series of weight-bearing poses that match the two, making for a fine approach to using yoga to develop lean muscles. Weight training is a fine method to prevent bone loss and recommended for older women in particular: this approach blends two disciplines for maximum impact and will intrigue any who want to develop a home yoga training program.

Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques
Sharyn Pak
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd.
Elkins Park, PA 19027
$16.95 www.onairvideo.com

Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques is a DVD how-to guide to using silk screen printing to create exciting designs for posters, t-shirts, greeting cards, and fine art prints. (Viewer access to screen frames, stencil materials, printing inks, printing surfaces, etc. is necessary to gain the full experience of practicing screen printing, of course). Host Sharyn Pak walks viewers through four of the most popular screen printing methods step-by-step: paper stencil, positive or negative blockout, film stencil, and photo emulsion. Screen Printing: The 4 Basic Techniques is especially ideal for beginners; it opens with review of the materials and tools used in screen printing, including instructions for preparing and maintaining the necessary equipment. An accessible, informative, and user-friendly resource, highly recommended to anyone interested in screen printing, whether as a hobby or for a home business. 73 min.

Yoga for Cancer Recovery
Claire Petretti
Ocean Soul Yoga
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.oceansoulyoga.com www.411videoinfo.com

Yoga master and cancer survivor Claire Petretti hosts Yoga for Cancer Recovery, a health and fitness DVD designed especially to help individuals enduring cancer treatment and recovery. A 60-minute yoga practice segment features postures designed to promote energy, flexibility, strength, improved movement, and overall body flow, while a 30-minute relaxation practice, with focus on breathing and rejuvenating one's energy, is the perfect antidote to stress and tension. Although intended especially for those recovering from cancer or combating other types of intractable illness, Yoga for Cancer Recovery is quite beneficial to users of all backgrounds. Highly recommended. 95 min.

Yoga + Weights
Kimberly Fowler
YAS Productions
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.go2yas.com www.411videoinfo.com

Featuring YAS Fitness Center founder and owner Kimberly Fowler, Yoga + Weights is a yoga-hybrid fitness DVD that encourages viewers to use free weights as their own personal difficulty adjuster for a yoga pose workout designed to strengthen and tone every major muscle group in the body. Yoga + Weights is part of Fowler's "Let's Get Ripped!" series of strength training videos ideal for building lean muscle mass for long-term health, weight control, and metabolism benefits. An energetic, user-friendly workout accessible to viewers of all ages and fitness levels, Yoga + Weights is especially recommended as a strength training supplement to viewers who can ill afford expensive equipment or gym memberships. 30 min.

ChogaFlow
Valerie Rogers
www.chogaflow.com
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Suitable for practitioners of all skill and experience levels, ChogaFlow is a fitness DVD featuring Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Valerie Rogers' unique practice of seated and standing chair yoga. A sturdy chair that supports the practitioner's weight and a non-slip yoga mat are the only materials needed to undertake the exercises, which are particularly ideal for elderly viewers or those whose physical limitations make getting down to or up from the floor difficult. ChogaFlow allows one to enjoy the full flexibility, relaxation benefits, and pure joy of yoga without putting one's knees to the floor. Highly recommended. 55 min.

Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000 Hardcore
Jari Love
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.jarilove.com www.411videoinfo.com

Shot in high definition, Jari Love's Get Extremely Ripped! 1000 Hardcore is the latest fitness DVD in the award-winning "Get Ripped!" workout series by certified personal trainer Jari Love. Promoting an intense, endurance-boosting and muscle-building workout, 1000 Hardcore alternates between five-minute cardio segments and three-minute heavy-duty weight training exercises, for a total of 6 different cardio segments and 8 different strength training segments, all sorted into two 30 minute workout blocks that can be performed separately or sequentially. The viewer also has the option of playing all cardio segments together, or all weight training segments together. The only necessary equipment is a pair of inexpensive 3-8 pound hand dumbbells; use of s step is optional. 1000 Hardcore is an exhilarating, intense, and satisfying workout, enthusiastically recommended for high-energy exercise video collections. 80 min.

Ellen Barrett Live
c/o Fit PR (publicity)
195 Linden Ave., Red Hook, NY 12571
$14.95 each www.ellenbarrett.com

Two DVDs by professional fitness expert Ellen Barrett bring the energy and health benefits of her classes into the privacy of one's home. "Power Fusion" (46 min.) blends yoga and dance for a high-energy, waistline-slimming workout that includes muscle toning without bulk, and mat exercises that target the core. "Grace + Gusto" (46 min.) is a barefoot workout combining elements of Pilates and basic ballet into an accessible cardio regimen designed to improve balance, flexibility, and personal fluidity, with a final five minutes devoted to trimming belly fat and improving one's upper arms. Both DVDs are lively, invigorating, and all-around excellent additions to any DVD exercise library!

Pentrex
2652 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91107
$29.95 www.pentrex.com

Pentrex continues its long tradition of top-quality DVDs for railroad enthusiasts with four excellent picks with live color footage and hi-fi sound and narration, presented in standard definition 4x3 format. "Union Pacific's Clinchfield Challenge: 50th Anniversary of the Santa Claus Special" (156342293X, 2 hours) showcases a Challenger engine, operating in the tradition of railroads that once hauled Appalachian coal across the country; "Missouri Kansas Texas" (1563422999, 1 hour) brings the viewer on an eye-opening tour of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (popularly known as KATY) and its many types of locomotive cars; "Chesapeake & Ohio: New River Masquerade" (1563422913, 1 hour 30 min.) brings steam locomotives of the West Virginia mountains into the viewer's living room, even revealing the inside of a cab alongside Engineer Rich Melvin; and "Amtrak's Auto Train" (1563422964, 1 hour 15 min.) is the portrait of an extraordinary train that transports both passengers and their vehicles, as a luxurious alternative to stressful road trips! All four DVDs are superb gifts for railroading buffs, and quite literally the next best thing to riding classic railway trains in person. Highly recommended.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Women, Gender, and Terrorism
Laura Sjoberg & Caron E. Gentry, editors
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820340388, $24.95, www.ugapress.org

Gender equality has become a more common occurrence... even in terrorism. "Women, Gender, and Terrorism" discusses the role of women and gender in the twenty first century, offering a unique view of the endeavor and what it speaks of in societies which may still strongly oppress women. The discussion touches on traditional Islam, the cultures of many countries where terrorism is a daily event, and additional thought on what it may mean in the bigger picture. "Women, Gender, and Terrorism" is a strong addition to any collection focusing on women's studies or social issues in general.

A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids
Margot Datz
Atria Books/Beyond Words
c/o Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500
Hillsboro, OR 97124
9781582701608, $16.99, www.beyondwords.com

A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids pairs lovely painted color portraits of mermaids with discussions of modern women caught in their own emotions and dilemmas. From handling aging to expressing self through dress, choosing a compatible mate, or letting one's love shine, this pairs simple advice with mermaid-oriented anecdotes in one-page easy and entertaining inspirations that go far beyond the usual one-line inspirational guides on the market. Perfect light but pointed reading for women interested in making the most of their lives, and for general- interest libraries.


The Agriculture Shelf

Small Farmers, Big Change
David Wilson, Kirsty Wilson, & Claire Harvey
Practical Action Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781853397127, $14.95, www.styluspub.com

Our future lies not in mega farms, but the works of the small farms. "Small Farmers, Big Change, Scaling Up Impact in Smallholder Agriculture" discusses small farms throughout the world, and the role of NGOs - Non-government organizations, have in promoting these small farms and meeting the world's demand for food. An issue that is a strong one the world over, the authors come from backgrounds of climate issues, humanitarianism, both important aspects of world agriculture. "Small Farmers, Big Change, Scaling Up Impact in Smallholder Agriculture" is a strongly recommended addition to agricultural studies and international issues collections.

John Deere Tractor Legacy
Don Macmillan, editor
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760340141, $24.99, www.voyageurpress.com

John Deere has become an American icon, even as the country has moved away from the fields. "John Deere Tractor Legacy" discusses this brand's impact on American society for well over one hundred and fifty years. With many articles discussing the technical aspects of the machinery through the ages, many relics of ads over the years with plenty of black and white and full color photography all throughout, "John Deere Tractor Legacy" is a must for any with an infatuation for these tractors, and seeking a coffee table oriented pick for them.


The Poetry Shelf

Breaking Silence
Jacob Sam-La Rose
Bloodaxe Books
Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781852249151, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Poetry catches more than words in a lesson. "Breaking Silence" is a collection of poetry from Jacob Sam-La Rose, who has gained much renown for his performance and poetry that discusses our personal struggles, the modern meaning of manhood, and so much more. Thoughtful and riveting reading, "Breaking Silence" is an excellent pick for world poetry collections. "Communion": Street corner spotlights, cupped hands,/spit-crossed palms: solid air pressed/through teeth and lips into high-hats,/kicks, snares and even bass; the moment/passed round like a chalice or smoke/and riding it all, always, someone/with a need to be heard.

Nitro Nights
W. S. Di Piero
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556593802, $15.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

We live on the edge more than we really should. "Nitro Nights" is a collection of poetry from W. S. Di Piero as he presents a thoughtful exploration of these people struggling to get by, with their own stories, and their own qualities that create the charm of our world "Nitro Nights" is a remarkable and much recommended pick for general poetry collections. "Sales": Miguel might, if he speaks English, call the colors/of ukuleles stretching their necks from yards/of canvas duffel yoked across his shoulders,/auroral azul, cherry pop, or mojito green,/under this Pac heights sky where the awful rich/snap their heels past shop windows, past goatskin bags,/fibristic sheets of celadon paper from Zhejiang,/FIAT cremini, and Cinco de Mayo gelato./Smiling past them, he passes with his happy load,/a display model whole and nude in his hand, on sale to no one, uplifted like a Stratocaster/sacramental from mahogany forests in Paraguay.

A Difficult Beauty
David Groulx
Wolsak and Wynn Publishers
69 Hughson Street, North Suite 102
Hamilton, ON Canada L8R 1G5
9781894987578, $17.00, www.wolsakandwynn.ca

The truth is often all too brutal to be embraced. "A Difficult Beauty" is a collection of poetry from David Groulx, who presents poetry that is honest about the charm and beauty of life as well as the failure and loss. "A Difficult Beauty" is a fine assortment of verse, a choice addition to literary poetry collections. "Vanishing Indians": These Indians are dead/they died of cancer/went blind/and could only follow the wind//White people love this about Indians//this flesh turning to dust/this mob at my hands//the voices worn like ribbons/on the wind.

In the Ice House
Genevieve Kaplan
Red Hen Press
PO Box 3537
Granada Hills, CA 91394
9781597094627, $16.95, www.redhen.org

Order is a lie, but our world has plenty to see outside it. "In the Ice House" is a collection of original and creatively disjointed poetry from Genevieve Kaplan, discussing a unique world with her own flavor on it all. With a touch of humor and plenty to keep readers reading, "In the Ice House" is a core addition to any modern poetry collection. "The Forest and the Trees": The World is laid out and we follow it.//So we squabble. So we set/our foot down. As we release.

Dancing, with Mirrors
George Amabile
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., PO Box 160
Erin, Ontario, Canada, N0B 1T0
9780889843431, $19.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca

As time rolls on, some memories grow more vivid, and some become more distant. "Dancing, with Mirrors" is a collection of poetry from George Amabile, who presents a unique picture through verse of decades gone by and the imagery we retain from it all. Well crafted cantos gives his form a unique blend of almost epic poetry, "Dancing, with Mirrors" is a fine assortment and much recommended for poetry collections, particularly those with a focus on Canada.

Dear Editor
Amy Newman
Persea Books
853 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10003
9780892553877, $15.00, www.perseabooks.com

Our pleas to be heard often go unheard. "Dear Editor" is an original assortment of 'prose poems' as Amy Newman uses the method of an author pleading to a publisher to be heard out for their chance to be heard, to speak on the things important to them. A unique story telling method that presents some things to think about, "Dear Editor" is a fine addition to any community library poetry collection, highly recommended.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

A Dictionary of Western Alchemy
Jordan Stratford
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270
Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
9780835608978, $17.95, www.questbooks.net

Alchemy in the west is far more than trying to turn lead into gold. "A Dictionary of Western Alchemy" serves as a dictionary of the terms and ideas behind the practice of alchemy, explaining the history and processes behind the methods used by those driven by the pursuits of the philosopher's stone and the principles of this unique science. "A Dictionary of Western Alchemy" is well worth considering for those who want a greater understanding of what lies behind it.

Visionary Shamanism
Linda Star Wolf & Anne Dillon
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street
Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431312, $16.00, www.innertraditions.com

Understanding spirits is to understand ourselves. "Visionary Shamanism: Activating the Imaginal Cells of the Human Energy Field" as she channels the ideals of shamanism and our own spirituality to understand our rapidly changing world, and best embrace it. With an included CD that hopes to help readers embark on a spiritual and musical journey of their own, "Visionary Shamanism" is a strongly recommended pick for followers of new age philosophy, very much recommended.

Lost Civilizations & Secrets of the Past
Michael Pye & Kirsten Dalley
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631961, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Our world's history is long and spanning, and there has been much lost to the sands of time. "Lost Civilizations & Secrets of the Past" is a discussion of what was lost to history as many writers who focus on lost history and ancient mysteries come to discuss the legends of Atlantis, Lemuria, as well as what such places may have held deep in our history, technological discoveries lost to the ages, and so much more. For those with an interest in history's hidden treasures, "Lost Civilizations & Secrets of the Past" is an excellent and much recommended pick for metaphysical studies collections.


The Parenting Shelf

Everyday Parenting
Thomas J. Dishion, Elizabeth A. Stormshak, & Kathryn A. Kavanagh
Research Press Publishers
2612 North Mattis Avenue
Champaign, IL 61822
9780878226580, $18.95, www.researchpress.com

In many ways, a household is like a business that must be managed. "Everyday Parenting: A Professional Guide to Building Family Management Skills" discusses the struggles that many parents face as they try to manage their children through their lives and often find themselves struggling and over their heads. With plenty of exercises to help one manage the stress of their own lives and their children, as well as a PC CD with additional resources, "Everyday Parenting" is a top pick for the overwhelmed parent, very much recommended.

8 Strategies for Successful Step-Parenting
Nadir Baksh & Laurie Murphy
Hohm Press
PO Box 2501
Prescott, AZ 86302
9781935387084, $14.95, www.hohmpress.com

Step-parenting can often prove a daunting endeavor. "8 Strategies for Successful Step-Parenting" discusses what step-parents can do to be important to their child's lives, a task that often leaves many step parents overwhelmed. From creating a bond with the child and creating a bond with both biological parents, and remembering that a step parent can mean the world, "8 Strategies for Successful Step-Parenting" is a strongly recommended pick for any new step parent who may be feeling overwhelmed.

100 Things I Wish I Knew in my Baby's First Year
Randy &Dean & Lorri Gorno
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55113
9781557788979, $14.95, www.paragonhouse.com

No one is the perfect parent, especially when shocked with the first year of a child's life. "100 Things I Wish I Knew in my Baby's First Year" is a collection of thoughts and ideas for new parents who are trying to cope with the often overwhelming time that comes to new parents. From dieting advice, understanding baby behavior, advice for better health for baby and parent, and much more. "100 Things I Wish I Knew in my Baby's First Year" is an excellent pick for new parents who are overwhelmed by the new life in their lives.

Hope for Parents of Troubled Teens
Connie Rae
Bethany House
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 E Fulton
Ada, MI 49301
9780764209468, $12.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

When a child seems lost to the world, a parent's only question is what they can do. "Hope for Parents of Troubled Teens: A Practical Guide to Getting Them Back on Track" is a guide of parents who are concerned about their children and want to do what they can to help them get back on track for their lives. A parent can't force a teenager to get their lives together, but they can facilitate them in many ways, and Connie Rae explains how. "Hope for Parents" is an excellent advisory, very much recommended reading.

From Santa to Sexting
Brenda Hutner & Kristen Blair
Leafwood Publishers
c/o Abilene Christian University Press
1626 Campus Court, Abilene, TX 79601
9780891121305, $14.99, www.leafwoodpublishers.com

Children growing up is the most terrifying thing in the world to a parent. "From Santa to Sexting: Helping Your Child Safely Navigate Middle School and Shape the Choices that Last a Lifetime" is a guide for parents who want to cope with the modern era and how to act as a guide to your children in a time where there's little barrier between the kid's world and the adult world. "From Santa to Sexting" is very much recommended to Christian parents who want to help keep their children on the right path through life.

Different Dream Parenting
Jolene Philo
Discovery House
c/o Barbour
PO Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9781572934672, $10.99, www.dhp.org

Some children need an extra helping hand, and any parent will rise to that challenge. "Different Dream Parenting: A Practical Guide to Raising a Child with Special Needs" is a parenting guide with Christian foundations for parents who are being charged with raising a special needs child. Drawing on her own experience of twenty five years, Jolene Philo writes with faith and practicality on how to find the strength to answer those needs and give your child what they need to reach their full potential. "Different Dream Parenting" is an excellent pick for any Christian parent who may be feeling overwhelmed during this stressful time.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Life
Hsing Yun
Buddha's Light Publishing
3456 S. Glenmark Dirve
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
9781932293463, $15.95, www.blpusa.com

A bit of Buddhist philosophy can help one understand decidedly non-Buddhist issues. "Life" is a collection of musings on Buddhist philosophy and ideals from Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who presents a collection of thought and philosophy, discussing human rights, education, politics, among other issues and how he believes the Buddha would have understood them. "Life" is an excellent pick for anyone who enjoys discussing Buddhist philosophy, very much recommended reading.

A Little Book of Love
Moh Hardin
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781590309001, $15.95, www.shambhala.com

Happiness starts from within. "A Little Book of Love: Heart Advice on Bringing Happiness to Ourselves and Our World" is a sage read from Moh Hardin as he brings a touch of Buddhist philosophy to finding one's way through life and through the challenges we often face on that journey. Encouraging self-reliance and wisdom, "A Little Book of Love" has plenty to ponder and consider, and is very much recommended.


The Self-Help Shelf

Do You Quantum Think?
Dianne Collins
Select Books
1 Union Square West
Suite 909
New York City, NY 10003
9781590790748, $24.95, www.selectbooks.com

New light can change one's perspective on the whole world. "Do You Quantum Think?: New Thinking That Will ROCK Your World" is a spiritual and philosophical read from Dianne Collins. Stating that the world changes so fast that it can often be difficult to keep up with, Collins advises a unique brand of thinking that moves with the world. Bringing a find assortment of thought to the table, "Do You Quantum Think?" is a fine assortment of knowledge and thought, very much recommended.

The Beauty Blueprint
Michelle Phillips
Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401931735, $14.95, www.hayhouse.com

Beauty is a goal that is easier said than done. "The Beauty Blueprint: 8 Steps to Building the Life and Look of Your Dreams" is an inspirational guide from Michelle Phillips, life coach and make up artist as she seeks to inspire and motivate readers to find their own drive and success through their lives. Through your twenties and thirties, you have your chances to make the best time of your life, and Phillips advises readers how to get outer and inner beauty. "The Beauty Blueprint" is a fine and recommended choice for self-help and health collections

The 7 Minute Solution
Allyson Lewis
The Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451628227, $25.00, www.simonsays.com

A little time to evaluate what's important can mean everything. "The 7 Minute Solution: Creating a Life with Meaning 7 Minutes at a Time" is an advisory from Allyson Lewis on how to focus one's life with seven minutes of thought daily. During that time, she challenges readers to assess their situation, to find their motivation, understand if they are learning, finding their own faith, and using what they've learned to forge their own path. "The 7 Minute Solution" is a powerful and much recommended pick for self-help and inspirational community library collections.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Sexuality & Long-Term Care
Gayle Appel Doll
Health Professions Press, Inc.
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529746, $38.95, www.healthpropress.com

Once that puberty switch turns on, it never turns off, even at advanced aged. "Sexuality & Long-Term Care: Understanding and Supporting the Needs of Older Adults" discuses a topic not often discussed when speaking of senior care. Discussing senior love and the place of care staff and nurses in long term care situations, author Gayle Appel Doll provides a comprehensive guide to understanding senior sexuality for the care provider. "Sexuality & Long-Term Care" is an excellent and recommended addition to any health reference collection.


The Gardening Shelf

The Fruit Gardener's Bible
Lewis Hill & Leonard Perry
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603425674, $24.95, www.storey.com

You can get good, sweet fruit from one's own resources. "The Fruit Gardener's Bible: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruits and Nuts in the Home Garden" is a guide for aspiring gardeners who want to produce edible fruits and nuts in their personal gardens. From picking what best grows in your region, working towards a better harvest, creating eye candy, staying organic and making it all worth your while. "The Fruit Gardener's Bible" is a fine pick for anyone with a love of gardening, a very much recommended read.

Keeping Your Houseplants Alive & Thriving
Sandy Baker
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave
Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383495, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

It takes more than a little water. "Keeping Your Houseplants Alive & Thriving: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" is a straight forward guide to the everyday gardener from Sandy Baker, who advises readers on how to better care for their houseplant and make it grow into something to be proud of, from providing the right amount of food, water, and sunlight that many common and not so common breeds of plant need. "Keeping Your Houseplants Alive & Thriving" is an excellent choice and recommended pick for home gardening library collections.

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm
Peg Schafer
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428
White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781603583305, $34.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Much of modern medicine is derived from a great variety of plants, where traditional Chinese medicine found its treatments. "The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator's Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production" discusses how one can create their own personally grown medicinal herb garden, and what needs to be understood to make it a useful supply for the grower. With full color photos assisting in an understanding of each herb, its purpose, and its growing conditions, "The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm" is very much worth considering for those who want to try different with their gardens.


The Automotive Shelf

The Cars of American Motors
Marc Cranswick
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786446728, $38.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

Defiant against the behemoth auto companies of the 1950, "The Cars of American Motors" chronicles the times of American Motors, who throughout their existence came to be known for a unique quality that earns them renown in automotive history. Their designs improved the automobile and led to the creation of many classic cars, and proved to be a favorite by many car enthusiasts until their absorption by Chrysler in 1987. "The Cars of American Motors" is a must for any automobile enthusiast who wants to learn more about the place of American motors in twentieth century American history.


The Aging Shelf

Wrinkles Don't Hurt
Ruth Fishel
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757315909, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com

Good aging is aging that is embraced. "Wrinkles Don't Hurt: Daily Meditations of Aging Mindfully" is an inspirational read from Ruth Fishel, who provides a powerful set of affirmations for those facing growing age and all the pressures that go along with it. With humor and practicality, Fishel advocates mindfulness, to make sure one is always aware of the direction they go. "Wrinkles Don't Hurt" is a solid and recommended read for community library self-help and aging collections.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Hunting, Fishing, and Camping
Leon Leonwood Bean
Down East Books
PO Box 679
Camden, ME 04843
9781608930128, $19.95, www.downeastbooks.com

LL Bean is known for vast amounts of mail order goods, but it started from a love of hunting and fishing. "Hunting, Fishing, and Camping" is a reprinting of the famed story of the American dream, following Leon Leonwood Bean, patriarch of the famed LL Bean catalogs who from a new shoe for hiking and camping, carved his place in American culture. In 1942, after he got his business going, he wrote a book about the things he loved, with practical wisdom. Over half a century later, Down East Books presents a reprinting enhanced by full color photos, with wisdom that remains practical still. "Hunting, Fishing, and Camping" is a fine pick for community library hunting and fishing reference collections.


The Crafts Shelf

Show Your Colors
Jamie Hogsett & Sara Hardin Oehler
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871167118, $19.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Jewelry has more color than silver and gold. "Show Your Colors: 30 Flexible Beading Wire Jewelry Projects" is a collection of craft projects one can embark on using colored wire to create unique works that truly accessorize one's appearance. With full color photos that explain and help enhance the projects, "Show Your Colors" is a do-it-yourself guide for creative jewelcrafters who are seeking the first step to their own inspirations in work.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

America's Film Legacy
Daniel Eagan
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441158697, $17.95, www.continuumbooks.com

The art of film can often seem lost with some of the bottom of the barrel films released, but there are important cornerstones of our culture in film. "America's Film Legacy: 2009-2010: A Viewer's Guide to The 50 Landmark Movies Added to the National Film Registry in 2009-10" chronicles the fifty films added to the National film registry in these years and discusses their historic value. These films capture events of history, are award winning, or had long lasting impacts on popular culture. "America's Film Legacy" is a strongly recommended pick for anyone who wants to understand why certain films have gained such renown.

The Complete Guide to Writing, Producing, and Directing a Low-Budget Short Film
Gini Graham Scott
Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St., Suite 302
Montclair, NJ 07042
9780879103927, $19.99, www.halleonard.com

Budget is a big deal, but it's an obstacle that can be overcome. "The Complete Guide to Writing, Producing, and Directing a Low-Budget Short Film" is a guide for those who want to break into film-making through their own determination and endeavor. These films can be made for little money, and can be a great endeavor for those who simply love movies or want to start a career. "The Complete Guide to Writing, Producing, and Directing a Low-Budget Short Film" is an excellent pick worth considering for those who don't know where to start.

Picturing Tolkien
Janice M. Bogstad and Philip E. Kaveny, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786446360 $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Picturing Tolkien: Essays on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy gathers a diversity of scholarly writings by learned authors scrutinizing the award-winning and extraordinarily popular live-action adaptations of Tolkien's classic fantasy novels. Storytelling techniques of cinema, structure, character, and culture are especially examined and critiqued at length. Individual essays include "'It's Alive!': Tolkien's Monster on the Screen", "Frodo Lives but Gollum Redeems the Blood of Kings", "Concerning Horses: Establishing Cultural Settings from Tolkien to Jackson", "Jackson's Aragorn and the American Superhero Monomyth", and much more. Essay notes and an index round out this extraordinary cross-examination of one of the most widely beloved modern fantasy movies, sure to prove fascinating to "Lord of the Rings" movie fans and cinema scholars alike.

Acting The Active Process
Tom McNally
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
4050 Westmark Drive
Dubuque, IA 52004-1840
9780757597213, $60.00, www.kendallhunt.com

Acting is an art all its own, and has led to some not fully understanding it. "Acting: The Active Process" is an motivational read for those who want to embrace acting as a way to express themselves more fully in life. McNally discusses the many methods and concepts behind acting, from founding a character, understanding the problem, embracing the soul, from reading lines to improv, and much more, "Acting" is a fine pick for those who want to better understand the power of expressing oneself on stage.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Modern Masters Volume 27: Ron Garney
Jorge Khoury & Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490403 $15.95 www.twomorrows.com

Modern Masters Volume 27: Ron Garney continues publisher TwoMorrows' impressive series spotlighting the work and legacy of popular modern comic book artists. A wealth of Garney's black-and-white illustrations on almost every page and a sampling of color pages enhance this book-length interview with a talented and dedicated man about his work, including his well-known runs on such widely loved titles as "Captain America", "Hulk", "Wolverine", and "Weapon X". Garney's talent for portraying both action and emotion stands out in this engaging tribute enthusiastically recommended for any superhero comic fan who has ever loved his work.

The Wonder Years
Mark Alexander
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490380, $19.95, www.twomorrows.com

The impact of Jack Kirby's artwork is not to be understated in the world of comics. "Lee & Kirby: The Wonder Years" tells the story of the famed duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, creators of the Fantastic Four and other famed Silver Sage 1960s comics for Marvel. A trip through nostalgia written by a true fan in Mark Alexander who finished the tribute shortly before his death. "Lee & Kirby" is a fine pick for those who want a retrospective on the silver age of comics.

The Boy Who Loved Batman
Michael E. Uslan
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811875509, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir provides the true story of a comics-obsessed kid who came of age in the 1950s and transformed his passion to the Hollywood screen. Michael Uslan's passion for comics and superheroes didn't end with adulthood: instead he transformed it to create the modern Batman franchise. Chapters document this process in a pick highly recommended for collections strong in comics, Hollywood film, and autobiography alike.

The Stan Lee Universe SC
Danny Fingeroth, et.al.
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490298, $26.95, www.twomorrows.com

THE STAN LEE UNIVERSE is packed with interviews and reflections by the leader of Marvel Comics and is a 'must' for any collection serious about presenting comic book history. From the horse's mouth comes insights into the evolution of the comics industry as a whole, with chapters offering rare, previously unpublished interviews with Stan Lee on the topic of how the industry evolved. Supporting interviews with other major personalities who helped shape the field provide a powerful collection of insights accompanied by rare photos, sample scripts, and more. A 'must' for any comics and graphic novel collection.


The Relationship Shelf

The Spiritual Girl's Guide to Dating
Amy Leigh Mercree
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor
Avon, MA 02322
9781440529801, $15.95, www.adamsmedia.com

For those with faith and soul, one would require the one in their lives to share that. "The Spiritual Girl's Guide to Dating: Your Enlightened Path to Love, Sex, & Soul Mates" is a sage read from Amy Leigh Mercee who advises readers on how to find that soul mate out there with a bit of soul behind him. Honest and frank reading, Mercee touches on how to find worthy guys and how to avoid the ones that will bring only heartbreak. "The Spiritual Girl's Guide to Dating" is a much for those who hold spirit dear and have no one to share it with.


The Memoir Shelf

Silver Like Dust
Kimi Cunningham Grant
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
9781605982724, $26.96, www.pegasusbooks.com

To be detained by your own country is horrifying, but for over a hundred thousand Americans, it was reality. "Silver Like Dust" is a family history from Kimi Cunningham Grant, as she sought her grandmother's story about being held in America's Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, in a racist backlash following the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Set amid a black mark on American history, "Silver Like Dust" is a tale from a dying generation in the hope that it isn't lost to the passage of time. "Silver Like Dust" is a strongly recommended addition to any memoir collection, especially those with a focus on World War II.

Up from Down
Ted Adamson
Westbow
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300
Bloomington, IN 47403
9781449725013, $11.95, www.westbowpress.com

Addiction can tear apart our lives. "Up from Down: A True Story of Recovery From Addiction" is a memoir from Ted Adamson as he discusses his battles with heroin addiction, as he shares his story with a no holds barred look at addiction and the damage it can do to our lives. Frank and honest, he hopes his story will ring true with other addicts and help them find their way through. "Up from Down" is an excellent and thoughtful memoir, not to be overlooked.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Private Voice Studio Handbook
Joan Frey Boytim
Hal Leonard
7777 West Bluemound Road
P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9780634047381, $16.99, www.halleonard.com

"The Private Voice Studio Handbook" is a definitive, practical, all-embracing guide for self-employed vocal music instructors. Specializing in an organized, disciplined approach to classic vocal music for teenage or adult voices, Mrs. Boytim presents twelve chapters of extremely useful information for the beginning private vocal teacher. Subjects covered include getting started, defining one's teaching style, necessities for the vocal studio, organizational assists such as policy statements, make-up lessons, payments, etc., organization, auditioning new students, practice recommendations, musical and vocal fitness, repertoire for all ages, sacred solos and octavos, anthologies for adolescent and novice singers. and much more. Additionally, there are suggestions about vocal techniques, more about teaching style, more about the business aspect of private vocal teaching, plus the author's thoughts about working with students who are older (than the instructor) and younger (than 12). An interesting comment comparing lesson content for younger voices with teenage and adult voices: "...he (Robert Edwin, a voice teacher of children involved in professional performances) tends to divide the 30-minute lesson in the same way many of us do - 15 minutes on technique and 15 minutes on repertoire (p. 100)." Specific anthologies and collections are suggested for different age voices and different performance areas. Helpful appendices contain solfeggio syllable sheets for intro to music reading, warm-up exercises, and forms of inquiry for out of print copyrighted material, plus an NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) code of ethics for vocal instructors. Even taxes, insurance, and retirement are topics included in "The Private Voice Studio Handbook," along with a practical guide to U.S. copyright law. In total, "The Private Voice Studio Handbook" is an invaluable text tool for any beginning professional vocal music instructor, providing a basic framework of practical organizational information that will assist the starting of your career in vocal music instruction.

All The Doors To Hollywood And How To Open Them
Anne M. Strick
CreateSpace
c/o Michael & Mitchell Hamilburg Agency
149 South Barrington, #732, L.A. CA 90049
9781460996072, $7.99, www.amazon.com

In "All The Doors To Hollywood And How To Open Them", author Anne M. Strick draws upon her more that twenty years working in the film industry as a Unit Publicist, Project Coordinator, and National Publicity Director to provide aspiring actors, screenwriters, and anyone else with Hollywood ambitions and dreams with a 186-page compendium of real world information, tips, tricks, strategies, tactics and job descriptions. From accountants, gaffers, and special effects, to graphic designers, set decorators, and make-up personnel, anyone seeking to establish a career in the movie industry would be very well advised by reading "All The Doors To Hollywood And How To Open Them" as their beginning step. Also very highly recommended is Anne M. Strick's insider presentation of how movies are really made, "The Rebel Princess" (9781452864976, $15.99).


The Library Science Shelf

Small Public Library Management
Jane Pearlmutter & Paul Nelson
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910856, $45.00, www.alastore.ala.org

With space and money at a premium, knowing how to hit the fundamentals on a tiny budget is key for success. "Small Public Library Management" discusses what the small public librarian needs to know to deal with their daunting task in a small space. From understanding the details of a budget, answering tot he controlling library board, delegation, managing one's collection well, and managing to serve one's community when it may seem difficult, "Small Public Library Management" is a vitally useful handbook for any librarian who is feeling overwhelmed by the many constraints that surround them.

Know it All, Find it Fast
Heather Dawson
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004
New York, NY 10038-4512
9781856047593, $99.95, www.neal-schuman.com

With the mass of information available in today's world, managing it all can be overwhelming. "Know it All, Find It Fast for Academic Libraries" is a guide for librarians who want to be able to find the answers to the questions they may be asked, and find these answers quickly and effectively. Complete and comprehensive, author Heater Dawson, a library leader at the London School of Economics, provides the techniques needed to take a question and answer it for a patron quickly and effectively. Practical advice for librarians in managing their collections through technology and general know how, "Know it All, Find it Fast For Academic Librarians" is a strongly recommended addition for any librarians library science reference collection.

Teens Go Green!
Valerie Colston
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591589297, $40.00, www.abc-clio.com

Gardening and green advocacy can be positive activities for youths. "Teens Go Green!: Tips, Techniques, Tools, and Themes for YA Programming" discussing how to embrace the green growing ideas and adapting them for after school programs to be used by librarians and other educators who want to advocate this green activity. With plenty of practical advice on how to get started and get the program going, common problems, and much more, "Teens Go Green!" is a top pick for those looking to expand the horizons of their school's youths.


The International Studies Shelf

Unwrapping Swiss Culture
Spring Journal and Books
627 Ursulines Street #7
New Orleans, LO 70116
9781935528203, $25.95, www.springjournalandbooks.com

Neutrality, Chocolate, and Cough drops are the first things that come to mind when Switzerland is mentioned. "Unwrapping Swiss Culture: Spring - A Journal of Archetype & Culture" discusses Swiss culture through a lens of psychology, as many writers provide an intellectual look at Swiss culture and the works of master psychologists such as Jung. A scholarly and enlightening compilation, "Unwrapping Swiss Culture" is an excellent and much recommended pick for community library collections.

Why the U. S. Needs Saudi Arabia
Winberg Chai, editor
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
9781880938782, $19.95, www.uindy.edu

Saudi Arabia is more than a source of oil for the United States. "Why the U.S. Needs Saudi Arabia" discusses American and Saudi Arabian relations, stating that America needs Saudi Arabia's assistance in its international affairs and trade. Winberg Chai is a scholar with a focus on Saudi Arabia, and offers a unique perspective on this partnership that has been both celebrated and denounced. "Why the U. S. Needs Saudi Arabia" is a fine pick for those studying international affairs, highly recommended.

The Soverignty Solution
Anna Simons, Joe McGraw, & Duane Lauchengco
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612510507, $32.95, www.navalinstitute.org

For greater peace around the world, sovereignty among many nations must be respected. "The Sovereignty Solution: A Commonsense Approach to Global Security" discusses American security and the bad habit of trying to police the world. The authors come together and use their combined expertise to claiming international security without threatening the independence of other nations, advocating common sense and cooperation instead of arrogance. To truly wage war on terror, one must rout the disease as well as the symptoms. "The Sovereignty Solution" is an excellent pick for community and library reference collections discussing important international issues.

What the U.S. Can Learn from China
Ann Lee
Berrett Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609941246, $27.95, www.bkconnection.com

There is much to be learned from competition, including on the world stage. "What the U.S. Can Learn from China: An Open-Minded Guide to Treating Our Greatest Competitor As Our Greatest Teacher" discusses the rising rivalry between China and the United States, with China's growing economic power and America's waning influence. Too fast have many thinkers been to write China off as another Soviet Union, a them to be vilified, when we can take lessons to China and use them to improve America. With a strong overview of China's strengths and weaknesses, and how America can improve itself by taking the good and leaving the bad, "What the U.S. Can Learn from China" is a read well worth considering for anyone who wants to understand world economics.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Jester and the Sages
Forrest G. Robinson, Gabriel Noah Brahm Jr., Catherine Carlstroem
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219527, $35.00, www.umsystem.edu/upress

Philosophy comes in many forms. "The Jester and the Sages: Mark Twain in Conversation with Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx" discusses a potential conversation between Mark Twain and these four men, who despite sharing a similar role throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, never truly met. In their time they saw much change in the avenues of faith and morality, which stepped away from complete reverence of Christianity. An intriguing read that presents much to ponder, "The Jester and the Sages" is an excellent addition to philosophy and literary studies collections.


The Language Studies Shelf

Ovid: Ars Amatoria/Remedia Amoris
Graves Haydon Thompson
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
0865163952, $33.00, www.bolchazy.com

Ovid was arguably the most influential Roman poet of his day. Beginning with an informed and informative description and introduction by Professor Graves Haydon Thompson, "Ovid: Ars Amatoria/Remedia Amoris" is a superbly presented text of Ovid's Ars Amatoria presented in a three section: Liber Primus; Liber Secundus; and Liber Tertius. Professor Thompson then presents 'Remedia Amoris'. Each page of Latin text is profusely underlined with numbered English meanings of Latin words and word elements. Of special note is a comprehensive Basic Vocabulary to be found on the inside of the back cover in a special fold out page. "Ovid: Ars Amatoria/Remedia Amoris" is strongly recommended as a core addition to personal and academic library Latin Language Studies reference collections and a curriculum supplement text.

Innovations in NLP
L. Michael Hall & Shelle Rose Charvet
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5
Bethel, CT 06801
9781845907341, $35.00, www.CHPUS.com

The best trainer is the self. "Innovations in NLP: For Challenging Times" is a collection of essays from a wide variety of authors as they discuss developments in Neuro-linguistic programming, an alternative method of learning, and how to use it to improve one's skills and methods in their own life. Analyzing it completely and comprehensively with much to think about even to novices of NLP, "Innovations in NLP: For Challenging Times" is a strongly recommended pick for community and college library self-improvement collections.


The Law/Justice Shelf

Institutes of Divine Jurisprudence
Christian Thomasius
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865975194, $14.50, www.libertyfund.org

There are laws that are laws just beyond the state saying so. "Institutes of Divine Jurisprudence with Selections from Foundations of the Law of Nature and Nations" is a republication of famed jurist and philosopher Christian Thomasius who throughout the seventeenth century contributed greatly tot he discussion of law and its meaning and purpose. A major force in the enlightenment, Thomasius's thoughts on natural law remain important reading, and Liberty Fund presents it for the first time in English, expertly done by Thomas Anhert. "Institutes of Divine Jurisprudence" is a strongly recommended addition to any law or philosophy collection.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Directory of Financial Aids for Women
Gail Ann Schlachter & R. David Weber
Reference Service Press
El Dorago Hills Business Park
5000 Windplay Drive, Suite 4
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762-9319
9781588412164, $45.00, www.rspfunding.com

Education's cost is high, but in today's world, it is too valuable to ignore. "Directory of Financial Aids for Women 2012-2014" is a guide for aspiring collegiate women to put together their college dreams. Complete and comprehensive, Gail Ann Schlacter & R. David Weber put together an invaluable compilation of what opportunities are available to women of any age who want to go to school, be it from high school or later in life. Comprehensive in its information and knowledge with plenty of contact info and complete eligibility, "Directory of Financial Aids for Women 2012-2014" is a must for any woman who needs help for education and doesn't know where to find it.

Marketing for Scientists
Marc J. Kuchner
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597269940, $19.95, www.islandpress.org

Science often finds itself on the cutting block when funds grow short. "Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times" discusses the marketing behind science, and states that in today's modern era, good marketing is needed to gain success and the funds they need to advance their curiosity and need for discovery. It all comes down to marketing to try to win grants, getting the job one seeks, and much more. "Marketing for Scientists" is a strong pick for anyone in a science career who often feels the money need to succeed just isn't there.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Handbook of International Trade and Finance, second edition
Anders Grath
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749463977, $80.00, www.koganpageusa.com

World trade can prove so very difficult. "The Handbook of International Trade and Finance" discusses the rules and knowledge behind international trade and how to gain a more complete understanding of high-end trading across the world. Anders Grath provides this complete and comprehensive guide to trading safely, dealing with international currency, insurance, and understanding the many types of trading plans. "The Handbook of International Trade and Finance" is an invaluable, complete and comprehensive resource text for community and college library financial studies collections focusing on international trade.

Theory as History
Jairus Banaji
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165
Chicago, IL 60618
9781608461431, $28.00, www.haymarketbooks.org

There are many ways for a country to produce, and their systems each carry their advantages and disadvantages. "Theory as History: Essays on Modes of Production and Exploitation" discusses economic theories and modes of production. Jairus Banaji, a professional researcher at Oxford, discusses materialism, the works of Marx, and countless other writers in the role of world economics and production. From the impact of slavery, the rise of the poor taking control, and the role of other philosophies and faiths impacting the discussion, "Theory as History" is a unique way to discuss history, economics, and the people behind it, a core addition to any community library history collection.


The Large Print Shelf

Iron Dust
Max Brand
Ulverscroft Large Print
PO Box 1230
West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780753187548, $29.99, www.ulverscroftusa.com

A quiet blacksmith's life isn't for some people. "Iron Dust" follows Andrew Lanning, a man who was content with his life within the confines of the law. But a bad brawl one day puts him at odds with the world, and one dead sheriff in self-defense permanently puts him on the run. Struggling to get by, "Iron Dust" is another excellent addition to Sagebrush's Large print collection, a top pick for fans of westerns in general.


The Native American Studies Shelf

American Indians of the Northeast and Southeast
edited by Kathleen Kuiper
Britannica Educational Publishing
Rosen Educational Services
29 East 21st St., New York, NY 10010
9781615306596, $35.25, www.amazon.com

"American Indians of the Northeast and Southwest" is a small encyclopedia guide to over fifty six Native American peoples located in the Northeast and Southeast of North America in the 16th century and later. Here are presented the Algonquian groups, the Iroquois, the Mi'kmaq, the Mohicans, the Penobscot, and many more tribes of the Northeast plus the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminoles of the Southeast, and finally the Sauk, Fox, Ojibwa, and Illinois of the Great Lake areas, Wisconsin, and parts of the Great Lake states. In addition to condensed post colonization histories, information is presented on cultural traditions, traditional social strata, clans and kinship, belief systems, language, and practices of agriculture, hunting, and sustenance. European settlement, expansion, colonization, and encroachment is also presented, along with various disastrous results, including the Great Removal, the Trail of Tears, and many individual wars and uprisings of different native groups protesting their removal from their lands and other oppression. Although both parts of the Atlantic seacoast regions are referred to as the "Eastern Woodlands" Native American cultural area, there are distinct differences between the northern peoples and the southern tribes. A fierce pride in customs, practice, beliefs, and language of each nation continues to the present day, despite prolonged attempts at enforced relocation and assimilation. "American Indians of the Northeast and Southeast" makes some attempt to preserve some of this cultural heritage and legacy, in well researched scholarly chapters based on traditional historic sources (European). A Glossary and Bibliography add further enlightenment to the sources and language used. The text is clearly written using sophisticated language and concepts, and thus is recommended for adult or mature teen readership. Other recommended titles from this series include "American Indians of the Plateau and Plains (9781615306893, $35.25)," "Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, Subarctic, and Northwest Coast (9781615306589, $35.25)," and "American Indians of California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest (9781615306824, $35.25)," all edited by Kathleen Kuiper.

The Eagle Returns
Matthew L.M. Fletcher
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9781611860221 $29.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

The Eagle Returns: The Legal History of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is the true story of a Native American group connected by ties of kindred, shared geography, and language, in their quest to legally re-establish their right of self-governance. Chapters span the course of history from the 1836 Treaty of Washington and the 1855 Treaty of Detroit to the dispossession of the Grand Traverse Ban, federal recognition of the Grand Traverse Band, the development of modern tribal law and justice systems, even the history of the Grand Traverse Band's gaming businesses. Author Matthew L.M. Fletcher, a professor in Michigan State University's College of Law and an appellate justice for several Michigan tribal courts, brings his expertise to bear in this informative and meticulous chronicle. An excellent addition to public and college library Native American studies shelves with a legal focus, The Eagle Returns is highly recommended.


The Wisconsin Shelf

Timber!
Lew Freedman
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299284541, $24.95, www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress

It's more than brawn to hack down trees really quick. "Timber!: The Story of the Lumberjack World Championships" discusses this annual event where people who take pride in their careers as lumberjacks travel to Hayward, Wisconsin to compete with their skills and strength. A unique picture of the event and the people who embrace it, Lew Freedman provides a brilliant picture of a very different athletic competition. "Timber!" is a fine addition to any general interest or cultural studies collection.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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


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