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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 16, Number 7 July 2006 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice World History Shelf Computer Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf International Studies Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Biography Shelf Economics Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Sports Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Business Shelf Music Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Travel Shelf
American History Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Sociology Shelf
Fiction Shelf Language Studies Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Library Science Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Gaming Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Education Shelf Architecture Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Native American Shelf Political Science Shelf
Jobs/Career Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Literary Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Photography Shelf Art Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Science Shelf Poetry Shelf
Criminology Shelf Railroading Shelf Dance Shelf
Psychology Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Nautical Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Military Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Parenting Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf Archaeology Shelf
Genealogy Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Equal Or Greater Force
Kit Cessna
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
1420809687 $15.00 paladin-press.com

Equal Or Greater Force: A Delta Force Veteran Teaches You How To Survive Crime, Terrorism, Natural Disasters, And Other Calamities by Kit Cessna is a complete and "user friendly" guide to surviving such commonly encountered threats as crime, terrorism, natural disasters, and man-made catastrophes. Deftly guiding readers through a series of diverse personal survival scenarios, Equal Or Greater Force offers expert commentary and advice as to which weapon to use for a particular confrontation, dealing with the emotional and legal aftermath of an attack or a natural disaster, how to prepare oneself for a mental toughness in any adverse situation, controlling fear, and so much more. A Delta Force veteran, Kit Cessna's Equal Or Greater Force is a "must-read" for anyone concerned with self-defence and survival in a hostile situation be it natural or human in origin.

New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com

Readers interested in psychic communication with animals must look at Amelia Kinkade's The Language Of Miracles: A Celebrated Psychic Teaches You To Talk To Animals (1577315103, $15.95). Quantum physics, new age beliefs and animal consciousness merge in a treatment which is neither wholly hard science nor wholly new age, discussing both the psychic abilities of author Amelia Kinkade and the latest research on interspecies communication. Included are the tools needed to improve your own animal communication abilities. Alan Clements' Instinct For Freedom: A Maverick's Guide To Spiritual Revolution (1577315391, $14.95) comes from the first American to become a Buddhist monk in Burma. His transition from a troubled young man seeking meaning to a fifty-year-old with a commitment to freedom provides insights into spiritual activism, detailing the foundations of courage and belief which move beyond your typical account of spiritual journeys. Anne Firth Murray's Paradigm Found: Leading And Managing For Positive Change (1577315332, $14.95) tells of the birth of the Global Fund for Women, an organization which places funding directly in the hands of the recipients, who decide how best to use it. Her guidelines for women's efforts to change and better their lives and how best to effect a movement make for a blend of business book, women's issues survey, and spiritual guide to living a better life.

Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking
Rebecca Lundens & Jennifer Schmidt
John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0764599453 $24.99 www.wiley.com

A scrapbook is an album of diverse photos, family documents, special papers or clippings, and other kinds of mementos with special meaning for the scrapbook maker. Knowledgeably co-authored by scrapbooking experts Rebecca Ludens and Jennifer Schmidt, Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking is an innovative, informative, and thoroughly "user friendly", how-to guide to the decorative art and pastime of making a customized scrapbook. Presenting a thoroughly entertaining and instructive compendium of usable information, Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking informs the aspiring scrapbooker how to go about a desired scrapbooking project with each technique or skill authoritatively detailed through step-by-step instructions, along with in-depth tips throughout, and profusely illustrated with insightful pictures, diagrams, colored photos, and so much more. An ideal introduction to scrapbooking for the novice and with much of value for even the more experienced scrapbook enthusiast, Teach Yourself Visually Scrapbooking is very strongly recommended an invaluable aide and informational resource.

Idiot's Guides/Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
www.idiotsguides.com

Like K.I.S.S. ('keep it simple, stupid'), Idiot's Guides are meant to be inviting introductions to a wide range of topics for those who are often dismayed by too much information packed into weighty volumes. There are plenty of books out on home ownership, for example; but Shelley O'Hara and Nancy D. Lewis' Buying & Selling A Home, 5th Edition (159257-4580, $19.95) is an exceptionally clear guide to buying not just any home, but the home of your dreams. From condos, co-ops or older houses to researching neighborhood qualities and looking at repairs, buyers and sellers alike receive clear direction here. Steven Greenberg's Digital Photography Like A Pro, 4th Edition (15-92574343, $19.95) provides all the basics on how to switch to a digital camera and get great shots; from tips on easy techniques to directions on digital camera 'extras' and how to manage them. The second edition of Barbara Breiter and Gail Diven's Knitting And Crocheting (1592570-895, $16.95) provides a simple course replete with goof-proof instructions and tips on correcting common knitting and crocheting problems. Patterns included make it easy to follow along with projects as a gauge. The second edition of Frederick Noad's Playing The Guitar (0028642449, $21.95) comes complete with a audio cd with 83 tracks and over a hundred practice pieces, pairing verbal direction and listening examples with page references for each piece. This multimedia approach is a vast improvement over book-alone guides, reinforcing directions on how to read notes and chords and how to learn a range of guitar techniques. Brad Hill's second edition of Playing Piano (0028641558, $18.95), doesn't hold the cd: what it does feature is a basic introduction to both music notation and using a piano, updated with new music exercises and tips for good, effective practice sessions. Hill is a piano performer and teacher: his tips also include the basics of locating an appropriate teacher and caring for a piano. The second edition of Howard Cannon's Starting A Restaurant (159257465, $19.95) offers all the introductory basics, from creating a business plan tailored for the restaurant environment to understanding current laws, industry requirements, and set-up routines. Excellent guides, all: highly recommended picks!

Landscaping Earth Ponds
Tim Matson
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
1933392029 $30.00 chelseagreen.com

Tim Watson draws upon more than 25 years of experience and expertise building ponds and developing wetlands in Landscaping Earth Ponds: The Complete Guide. Here is a informative, step-by-step, profusely illustrated reference for creating a more lively and beautifying diverse landscapes and home-area garden areas with ponds. Providing "user friendly" information on how ponds work to enhance a landscape, create recreational opportunities, help the environment, and increase property values, Landscaping Earth Ponds offers a complete and readily accessible account of a variety of methods and techniques to employ in the creation of a pond. An important addition to any personal, professional, or community library reference collection, Landscaping Earth Ponds is very strongly recommended for anyone searching for an all-inclusive instructional guide to pond building and encouraging natural beauty through the development of a customized pond appropriate to the rest of the landscaping environment.

Stoeger Publishing
17603 Indian Head Highway, #200, Accokeek, MD 20607-2501
www.stoeger.com

Douglas E. Arnold's High Power Rifle Accuracy Before You Shoot (0883173-212, $24.95) comes from a firearms authority, who provides depth and details on techniques shooters need to know to get the most from a high-power rifle. From loading cartridges and ballistic tables to RPI values and locating the right cartridge for the job, High Power Rifle Accuracy is the manual that should be sold with all such rifles. It's not – so be sure it's in your library. Bryce M. Towsley's Gunsmithing Made Easy (0883172941, $24.95) provides home projects for gun owners who wish to learn basic firearms repair and modification skills. This information assumes a series of step-by-step gunsmithing projects which pair clear color photos with descriptions on how to fine-tune, modify and repair popular brands of firearms. From tools needed to fittings, methods and installation details, any beginner will find gunsmithing easy with this guide in hand. The 97th Edition of Shooter's Bible (088-3173204, $24.95) is also an essential reference, especially for any with more than a casual interest in the topic who actively buys, sells and trades in firearms. It covers new products, specifications, and the latest prices in thousands of firearms and equipment, from scopes and small gauge to varmint guns. All are excellent, basic references gun owners will wish to consider.

Today In History: Disney
Eve Zibart
Emmis Books
1700 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45206
1578602769 $14.95 emmisbooks.com

Today In History: Disney by Eve Zibart is an expansive, year-long compendium of informative "infobits" and trivia of the Walt Disney's elaborate and engaging business empire from its beginnings down to the present day -- all laid out in a kind of "fact for the day" format. For example: March 10th (1938) "The Old Mill" not only continued the studios' nearly unbroken streak of Best Animated Short Subject Oscars but also earned Walt Disney his first scientific and technical Oscar for the development of the multiplane camera. A Famously moody and dramatic film almost nine minutes long, "The Old Mill" depicts a Storm as it threatens a farmyard mill and the animals who make their home inside. Eventually, of course, the storm passes, the sun returns, and all is well. -- Name That 'Toon: Which animated film marked the first time mickey was digitally animated, using the technique developed for the Mickey's Philhar Magic attractions? (it gives the answer) and Disney Quiz: What is the former First Lady Nancy Reagan's surprising connection to the Disney movie "Aladdin?" -- the answer is provided). Compiling a wealth of fun knowledge and trivia quizzes on the history of the Disney theme parks, movies, television programs, technical accomplishments, memorable characters, the Mickey Mouse Club, and so much more, Today In History: Disney offers creative calendar of fun facts throughout the yearly on a "one-a-day" setup. The result is an all-inclusive and eclectic guide through Disney history. Today In History: Disney is enthusiastically recommended for all Disney fans.

Hunting The American Werewolf
Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books
923 Williamson St., Madison, WI 53703
1931599661 $18.95 www.trailsbooks.com

Hunting The American Werewolf by Linda S. Godfrey is a documented study of the legendary animal known popularly as the werewolf. Offering readers an in-depth investigation to verified sightings (particularly throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan), Hunting The American Werewolf deftly compiles the accounts and sightings of numerous individuals, and details specific findings concerning lycanthropes in American myth and folklore. Hunting The American Werewolf is very highly recommended reading.

Cave Exploring
Paul Burger
Falcon Press/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
0762725605 $15.95 1-800-582-2665

Cave Exploring: The Definitive Guide To Caving Technique, Safety, Gear, And Trip Leadership is an in-depth, how- to guide to the fantastic activity of caving - traveling underground to discover such natural wonders as gypsum flowers, cave crickets, stalactites made of ice, and much more. Veteran caver Paul Burger discusses in-depth the techniques to safely climb, crawl, and swim, as well as how to tread softly and leave no harmful evidence of one's presence, whether horizontal caving, vertical caving, wet caving, or cave camping. Cave Exploring also covers how to choose the proper gear for a caving expedition, how to avoid common hazards, how to navigate underground, how to connect with experienced cavers in an activity for which the buddy system is valuable, and much more. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this no-nonsense, how-to guide written in plain terms for novice and veteran cavers alike. A "must-read" for anyone involved in or considering the joys of caving.

The Picshuas Of H.G. Wells
Gene K. Rinkel & Margaret E. Rinkel
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820
www.press.uillinois.edu
0252030451 $60.00 1-800-545-4703

The Picshuas Of H.G. Wells: A Burlesque Diary is a collection of simple, black-and-white sketches and cartoons by literary legend H.G. Wells (1866-1946), best known for his classics such as "War of the Worlds" and "The Time Machine". The drawings, which Wells himself called "picshuas", evoke wit, whimsy, and the glimmering of ideas; they are accompanied by extensive contextual discussion, which forms the meat of The Picshuas Of H.G. Wells. A timeline and index round out this "must-have" addition to library shelves and the bookshelves of fans of Wells' enduring literature.

The Forager's Harvest
Samuel Thayer
Forager's Harvest Press
W5066 State Hwy 86, Ogema, WI 54459
0976626608 $22.95 .foragersharvest.com

Based upon first-hand experience - the author has personally eaten every plant covered at least fifty times - The Forager's Harvest: A Guide To Identifying, Harvesting, And Preparing Edible Wild Plants is a no-nonsense guide to making a meal of wild plants. More than 200 full-color photographs and a step-by-step tutorial aid in identifying edible plants and distinguishing them from their not-so-digestible contemporaries, while the text walks novice foragers through how to effectively and safely harvest wild plants. A foraging calendar displays the best times to gather wild foods, and the preparation instructions are completely straightforward, including such techniques as freezing, canning, drying and cold storage. Printed on quality paper stock, The Forager's Harvest is a trade paperback yet modest and sturdy enough to carry outdoors while looking for a locally growing dinner. Highly recommended for anyone interested in an edible adventure outside of the modern-day supermarket.


The World History Shelf

Sunspots And The Sun King
Ellen M. McClure
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820
www.press.uillinois.edu
0252030567 $50.00 1-800-545-4703

Ellen M. McClure (Associate Prof. of French, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago) presents Sunspots And The Sun King: Sovereignty And Mediation In Seventeenth-Century France, a scholarly examination of King Louis XIV's attempts to legitimize his reign in France during the sixteenth century. From a close reading of texts devoted to the definition of sovereignty, to a meticulous study of Louis XIV's memoirs, to an analysis of the diplomats, ambassadors, and mediators who communicated the king's authority, Sunspots And The Sun King leaves no stone unturned in its search to delineate the monarchial philosophies and justifications of the nation and era. Especial scrutiny is devoted to the inherent contradictions of the logical and mystical aspects of the concept of "divine right monarchy". Written for advanced students and scholars of history and philosophy, Sunspots And The Sun King is especially recommended for college and university library collections.

Religious Rivalries
Leif E. Vaage, editor
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
0889204497 $85.00 wlupress.wlu.ca

Religious Rivalries In The Early Roman Empire And The Rise Of Christianity is a unique analysis of the diverging destinies of Christianity, Judaism, and other ancient religious groups as an issue of social rivalry. Divided into three main sections, Religious Rivalries scrutinizes whether "rivalry" is an adequate category to contain, compare, and contrast various issues concerning the social "success" of different religious groups; an in-depth discussion of whether the modern category of "mission" sufficiently captures the process by which faiths spread and maintain their identity; and the so-called "rise of Christianity", particularly in direct response to a book of the same title by Rodney Stark. Did any of these groups envision their own success directly at the expense and elimination of other faiths? What habits or practices of Christianity made it well-disposed toward success in the Roman Empire? New Testament literature teacher Leif E. Vaage explores these and other questions at length, in this fascinating scholarly text.

Spree
Pamela Klaffke
Arsenal Pulp Press
1014 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 2W9
1551521431 $17.95 arsenalpulp.com

Journalist, culture columnist, and avid shopper Pamela Klaffke presents Spree: A Cultural History Of Shopping, which covers the ritual of purchasing and its evolution from "need" to "want" to "sport". Spree covers how inventions in modern history have transformed the shopping experience, from cash registers and shopping carts to the online shopping revolution; Spree also examines cultural differences in shopping around the world, from American malls to Parisian arcades. Black-and-white photographs, sidebar anecdotes, and a wealth of research presented in a cheerful narrative style make Spree more fun to read than an trip to the mall - also more educational and very likely less costly!

The Vikings
R. Chartrand, et. al.
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
1846030870 $24.95 ospreypublishing.com

The Vikings have long been portrayed as ruthless barbarians who pillaged and sacked – and little more about them is usually revealed. To gain this depth, consult The Vikings: Voyagers Of Discovery And Plunder. Here are detailed surveys of their seafaring exploits, their history, and all that's known about major figures in Viking lore. From Viking ships to how they raided around the world and established world empires, The Vikings: Voyagers Of Discovery And Plunder is a college-level recommendation not to be missed by any studying the topic.

Easter 1916
Charles Townshend
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622
156663704X $28.95 www.ivanrdee.com

Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion is essential for any who would understand the history of Ireland: it changed millions of lives forever and this new coverage traces these changes, re-creating the social and political scene of the times. From the roots of Irish insurgents who occupied Dublin as the British waged war on them to leaders who made a difference, Easter 1916 summarizes some forty years of scholarship on the topic, adding its own dramatic flair and insights – and even the Bureau of Military History records which contains testimony from survivors. A quite vivid re-enactment of events results.

Food In The Ancient World
Joan P. Alcock
Greenwood Publishing
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
0313330034 $49.95 www.greenwood.com

College-level collections with strong holdings in either ancient history or culinary history will want to take a close look at Food In The Ancient World, part of Greenwood's 'Food Through History' series: it follows culinary explorations through four great ancient civilizations – Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Celtic – and uses the writings of classical ancient authors along with archaeological findings to follow the lives of ancient civilizations through agricultural and culinary habits. Discussions of available ingredients, different foods by civilization, food preparation and serving habits, and more reveals social, religious and culinary trends alike.

Duckworth/IPM
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Two volumes in Duckworth's Egyptology series, both by expert scholars of Egyptian history and culture, hold to the publisher's high standards of academic research and intellectual writing. The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (0715634356, $31.00) by Wolfram Grajetzki explores the era of the Middle Kingdom (2000-1700 BC), including its art, history, literature, the political achievements of the powerful Twelfth Dynasty, and the evidence modern archaeology has revealed about the culture, history, and society of provincial Egypt. A detailed and scholarly textual analysis that paints a vivid picture of a noble nation-state's vibrant past. Robyn Gilliam's Performance and Drama In Ancient Egypt (0715634046, $31.00) closely studies archaeological and textual materials that survive as evidence for performance-based activity in Egypt, from the beginning of the historic period until the later Roman Empire. Examining texts, visual art, architecture, and material culture, Performance and Drama in Ancient Egypt scrutinizes common issues and disputes raised about ancient Egyptian dramatic arts, and seeks to open a dialogue concerning everything from public theater to religious rituals to funeral rites. A handful of black-and-white photographs and diagrams, a bibliography, and an index round out both of scholarly titles, highly recommended for college libraries as well as students and professors of Egyptology and archaeology.

A History Of The Crusades
Harry W. Hazard & Norman P. Zacour
Kenneth M. Setton, general editor
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
0299107442 $39.95 1-800-621-2736

A History of the Crusades, Volume Six: The Impact of the Crusades On Europe is the latest in a series of anthologies collecting essays by expert historians chronicling and analyzing aspects of the Crusades and their repercussions on world history. Volume Six includes such essays as "Crusade Propaganda" by Norman Daniel, "Financing the Crusades" by Fred A. Cazel, Jr., "The Ottoman Turks and the Crusades 1451-1522" by Halil Inalcik, and many more. Each essay is thoroughly researched, with extensive notes, and the select bibliography alone take up approximately 130 pages. An index allows for quick reference in this compilation intended for serious-minded scholars, and a handful of black-and-white photographs nicely illustrate the essay "Crusader Coinage with Greek or Latin Inscription" by John Porteous. A "must-have" for college and graduate school libraries, as are the first five volumes of this esteemed series.


The Computer Shelf

Text Mining Application Programming
Manu Konchady
Charles River Media
25 Thomson Place, Boston MA 02210
1584504609 $59.95 charlesriver.com

Software developers learn how to mine information on the Web and turn it into valuable data; but developers need to understand how data mining works. For a programmer's application-oriented review, Text Mining Application Programming is the item of choice: it reviews text data, how it's found, and how search engines locate and gather it. Next, it teaches how to build spiders to crawl the Web, how to use the information, and how to monitoring it. Perl developers will find its Perl-based code useful, but it's not necessary to know Perl to run the software herein. An excellent guide to mining the Net.

O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Jennifer Alspach, Shari Nakno and Steve Samson's Adobe Creative Suite 2 Workflow (0596102364, $49.95) is no light manual on CS2: it's for the active user who suspects there are more functions and features than meets the eye. From tips on how to use CS2 more effectively to determining which applications fit specific tasks and how to handle illustrator techniques, one big advantage here is a powerful visual approach which packs color screen shots, diagrams, and examples on each page. It's one of the best, more comprehensive CS2 workbooks on the market today and lends particularly well to seasoned users who wish to get more from the program. Matthias Kalle Dalheimer and Matt Welsh's Running Linux, 5th Edition (0596007604, $49.95) is no light user's guide: it's been completely revised and revamped to update advanced user's topics from setting up communications on the network to encrypting email and files and handling remote logins. Problems, solutions, and server and desktop environments alike are handled in chapters which lend to quick reference as well as browsing. Matt Neuburg's Applescript: The Definitive Guide (0596102119, $39.99) appears in its second updated edition for Mac users who seek more from their machines. This edition has been completely revised to include OX X 10.4 and Applescript 1.10, and provides both a basic introduction and a set of details on building applications and handling possible problems.

No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
1593270763 $29.95 www.nostarch.com

If you're frustrated with Windows XP, turn to John Ross' It's Never Done That Before! (1593271395, $29.95) before calling in the techs. Chapters offer plenty of troubleshooting techniques and tips for resolving common XP programs and many an obscure detail as well. From using XP's built-in troubleshooting tools to handling problems with device drivers and even registry issues and viruses, reach for this before the telephone when troubleshooting: it'll save you a bundle. Wallace Wang's Steal This Computer 4.0: What They Won't Tell You About The Internet (1593271050, $29.95) offers a completely revised fourth edition of a non- technical book showing what hackers do, why, and how users can protect themselves. Embedded in these tips are insights on how to avoid scams and problems, while a companion cd comes packed with hacking and security-related programs like keyloggers, spyware stoppers and spam filters. If you've used the computer, you need to know about common tricks and traps – and Steal This Computer's latest edition covers them all.

Cisco Press
800 East 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

The updated third edition of the Cisco Press edition of CCSP SNPA Official Exam Certification Guide (1587201526 $59.95) is a 'must' study guide for any interested in the exam. Network security consultant Michael Gibbs shares preparation tips and test-taking tips and points out common areas of weakness and places where refresher information comes in handy. The companion cd-rom offers a testing engine for either individual topic areas or the overall, timed exams and allows readers to self-test their knowledge, while chapters survey VPS remote configuration, Cisco access control servers, and more. A top pick students will appreciate. H. David Castaneda's The Business Case For Enterprise-Class Wireless LANS (1587201259, $45.00) tells how to evaluate the business rationale behind WLANs, how to develop a plan to operate one, and how to understand its technical and management issues. From overcoming security threats to reading case histories of other deployments and applying success secrets, The Business Case For Enterprise-Class Wirless LANS is an excellent survey for managers and developers alike.

Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.prenhallprofessiona.com/perens

Two outstanding Linux guides add to the references available on using Linux to best advantage. Jeff Dike's User Mode Linux (0131865056, $54.99) tells how to master User Mode Linux, using it to create virtual Linux machines within a Linux system. Use these to safely test and debug applications and networks: chapters cover all the key applications, booting options, implementation routines and more, and will reach both administrators and students alike with tricks and hints. Alfredo Mendoza, Chakarat Skawratanananond, and Artis Walker's Unix To Linux Porting; A Comprehensive Reference (0131871099, $64.99) provides a weighty but comprehensive guide to Linux systems and environments, revealing variables, platform differences and similarities, and porting projects alike. From surveys of typical porting tasks and assessing project work to understanding Linux offerings in both system and tool features, Unix To Linux Porting; A Comprehensive Reference packs in key, essential tools no designer should be without.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

1-2-3 Diabetes Diet
Robert J. Buynak
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402437 $14.95 www.diabetes.org

1-2-3 Diabetes Diet: A Step-By-Step Approach To Weight Loss Without Gimmicks Or Risks by Robert J. Buynak is a complete introduction and methodical approach to the role of proper nutrition in treatment and controlling diabetes. Ably guiding readers through simple, "user-friendly ideas for proper dietary assessment, 1-2-3 Diabetes Diet offers reliable, "user friendly" guidance in such issues as properly navigating the grocery store, "survival" when eating out, enduring social pressures to go off a diabetic oriented diet, and trusting yourself to make healthy eating choices when dealing with diabetes. A critically important addition to any diabetes reference collection and reading list, 1-2-3 Diabetes Diet is very highly recommended as a knowledgeable and concise presentation of effective dietary tactics and nutritional strategies related to the condition of diabetes.

Complete Guide To Colorectal Cancer
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
0944235557 $19.95 www.cancer.org

Whether you're at risk or facing a colorectal cancer diagnosis, Complete Guide To Colorectal Cancer cover it all, from symptoms and treatments to likely challenges and practical advice. Other books cover such cancer under general cancer chapters: the unique aspects of this type of cancer have long made it deserving of a book of its own, and the sheer size of this coverage – some 400 pages – attests to the wealth of information specific to the condition. The Complete Guide To Colorectal Cancer should be on the health and medicine reference shelves every public library in every community.

Facial Reflexology
Marie-France Muller, MD, ND, Ph.D.
Healing Arts Press/Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594770131 $18.95 InnerTraditons.com

The main objective of the Vietnamese facial acupressure system reflexology is to prevent health problems and relieve existing troubles before they are chronic: that said, Facial Reflexology introduces the concepts and methods of the healing method to English speakers for the first time, offering some thirteen summary diagrams locating numbered facial points and their reflex zones for the whole body. This isn't just an overview, though: chapters then offer detailed step-by-step applications for over two hundred common problems from insomnia to ulcers and back pain, pairing therapeutic direction with diagrams of zones. It's a fine beginning point for any who would learn facial reflexology and apply it to alternative healing paths.

Days Of Goodbyes
Ragnhild Munck
Pine Needles Publications
30 Amberwood Pkwy, Ashland, OH 44805
0977308138 $14.00 daysofgoodbyes.com

Days Of Goodbyes: A Mother's Tribute To A Daughter Tortured by Ragnhild Munck is the personal and candid story of one woman's life and struggle with the terrors of breast cancer. Intimately following Maria through the whole of her amazing life, Days Of Goodbyes captivates readers with an engaging collection of photographs and the tragic tale of a beautiful life ended in so short time by a brutal disease. Days Of Goodbyes is very strongly recommended as an invaluable story of a young woman's committed struggle for life and will prove welcome and beneficial reading for anyone in search of an example of the personal and familial tragedy involved in breast cancer and the continuing necessity for well funded cancer research and treatment.

Racing To A Cure
Neil Ruzic
University of Illinois Press
1325 S. Oak Street, Champaing, IL 61820
0252073576 $19.95 press.uillinois.edu

Racing To A Cure: A Cancer Victim Refuses Chemotherapy And Finds Tomorrow's Cures In Today's Scientific Laboratories by Neil and David Ruzic is an unusually informative and insightful documentation of the Ruzic's definitive personal study of the complex and lethal disease of cancer. Deftly compiling Neil Ruzic's seminal and ground-breaking studies, Racing To A Cure offers medical students, health care workers, cancer patients, and non-specialist general readers a complete understanding of alternative therapies used to extend his life as a cancer patient, ranging from state-of-the-art molecularly based technologies, to debunking widespread cancer myths. Racing To A Cure is very strongly recommended for all readers searching for an expert and "read friendly" contribution to understanding the nature of cancer and are seeking an effective alternative to treatment by chemotherapy.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Weiser Concise Guide To Alchemy
Brian Cotnoir & James Wasserman
Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress St, 4th fl, Boston MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
1578633796 $12.95 1-800-423-7087

Written by Brian Cotnoir (a dedicated alchemist and contributor to "Parachemy: Journal of Hermetic Arts and Sciences") and expertly edited by James Wasserman, The Weiser Concise Guide To Alchemy, a straightforward compression of thirty years' experience, research and study into a concise introduction to the craft. Chapters discuss the theory and practice of alchemy, including herbal work, mineral work, purification of slats, aspects of cosmology, time, and microcosm in alchemical theory, and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations and diagrams clarify salient points raised by the easy-to-follow text. Highly recommended for anyone curious about the metaphysical practice and art of alchemy, or needing a quick refresher course in its basics.

Astrology For Yourself
Douglas Bloch & Demetra George
Ibis Press
Red Wheel/Weiser, dist.
PO Box 1126, Berwick, MA 03901
0892541229 $19.95 redwheelweiser.com

Knowledgeably co-authored by astrology experts Douglas Bloch and Demetra George, Astrology For Yourself: How To Understand And Interpret Your Own Birth Chart is a basic introduction to understanding and interpreting a birth chart by applying the principles and metaphysical science of astrology. Authoritatively carrying readers through the interpretive perceptions involved in using astrology with birth charts, Astrology For Yourself provides a basic comprehension of talents, abilities, strengths, and how to express such attributes in life; offers an overall understanding of one's life meaning and purpose; reveals insights into life's challenges and how to transform them into opportunities; enables a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of a variety of important dimensions of particulars in life such as career and vocational needs, relationship needs, health, finances, and so much more. A welcome addition to personal Metaphysical Studies collections, Astrology For Yourself is very strongly recommended for all readers searching for a complete, comprehensive and thorough "do-it-yourself" guide their astrological studies with respect to interpreting their own birth chart.


The International Studies Shelf

The Peace Process
Michael R. Fischbach
United States Institute of Peace
1200 17th Street NW, Washington D.C., 20036-3011
1929223803 $14.95 www.usip.org

The Peace Process And The Palestinian Refugee Claims: Addressing Claims For Property Compensation And Restitution by Michael R. Fischbach (Professor of History at Randolph-Macon College) is an informative analytical documentation of the Palestinian compensation and restitution demands upon the Israeli government, as well as U.S. and U.N. perspectives in promoting a permanent regional peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Authoritative, superbly researched, and ably presented, The Peace Process And The Palestinian Refugee Claims offers readers a survey of Palestinian history from 1948 to the territorial negotiations of the last five decades, to contemporary Palestinian claims of today. A seminal contribution to understanding the complex factors involved in the issues, The Peace Process And The Palestinian Refugee Claims is very strongly recommended for the study of the economics, peace efforts, culture clashes, political history, and evolving sociology of the Palestinians and Israelis.

Structures Of Memory
Jennifer A. Jordan
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304
080475277X $24.95 www.sup.org

Structures Of Memory: Understanding Urban Change In Berlin And Beyond by Jennifer A. Jordan (Assistant Professor of Sociology and Urban Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) offers descriptive analysis of contemporary Berlin in terms of the changes to its urban landscape and efforts at its ceremonial and cultural preservation. Noting historical aspects of the great German city and detailing the history many of its landmark sights (including areas of public ceremonies museums, commemorative monuments, and focal points of historical interest during the era of the "Third Reich"), Structures Of Memory provides readers with a study of preserved structures directly linked with the Nazi party and the underground German resistance to the Nazis, as well as providing engaging insights into enduring Berlin-based memorial sites. As a seminal and scholarly contribution to the fields of German Urban Studies and Contemporary Sociology, Structures Of Memory is very highly recommended reading and a welcome contribution to academic library reference collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

To Hell With All That
Caitlin Flanagan
Highbridge Audio
33 S. 6th St. #CC-2205, Minneapolis, MN 55402
1598870424 $26.95 highbridgeaudio.com

Julia Fletcher's reading adds drama and interest to an already-charged account blending social criticism with humor in To Hell With All That: Loving And Loathing Our Inner Housewife, considering women's concerns from marriage and weddings to housekeeping. The influences which drive women's daily lives and experiences are treated to sometimes-scathing, usually funny reflections in an audio which will intrigue, interest and challenge the thinking of feminists and modern women alike.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio

Random House's latest arrivals are top picks for leisure listeners who want solid readers paired with good plots and details. Tami Hoag's Prior Bad Acts (0553712-56X, $29.95), for example, enjoys Erik Bergmann's excellent narrative style as it provides a rich thriller novel revolving around a terrible family murder. Two detectives find themselves hot on the trail of a dangerous suspect when a routine case turns complex and too many suspects evolve from the woodwork. The new Jonathan Kellerman Alex Delaware thriller Gone (0739309773, $26.95) enjoys a vivid reading by John Rubenstein whose Broadway background lends a dramatic aura to the latest story of acting students who vanish on the way home from a rehearsal and are rescued, only to have murder strike. A closed case leads Delaware and his cohort to nearly identical killings in a case which never ends. The nonfiction line is particularly inviting from Random, providing plenty of diverse listens. Cooks will appreciate Julia Child's My Life In France (0739325264, $27.95), collaboratively authored with Alex Prudhomme and read by Flo Galant Greenberg, comes to life to tell, in Julia's own words, of years ears in France and how she fell in love with French food. Her memoir offers insights not only on her life and its twining with the French, but French culture and character alike. Frances Mayes' A Year In The World (073932424, $29.95) is read by the author and provides a lovely survey of travel and the allure of Tuscany's neighbors. Using Tuscany as a bas, Mayes explores Europe, North Africa and the different worlds of offerings of different nations as she surveys each region's art, history, culture and contributions.

Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859 brillianceaudio.com

Brilliance's new arrivals pair strong readers with equally tested authors, promising a range of styles and plots certain to attract a wide audience of audio listeners. Special recommendations among recent arrivals: Eric Jerome Dickey's Chasing Destiny (1423306406, $26.95), with Kimberly JaJuan providing a fine rendition of the story of sexy Billie, a motorcyclist in Los Angeles who finds she's pregnant by a married man and finds her life in a tailspin. Other recommendations: Elizabeth Berg's We Are All Welcome Here (1593557779, $29.95), receiving the author's own passionate voice as it tells of three very different women in 1964 Mississippi who struggle with civil rights and health issues; Lisa Jackson's Shiver (1423315117, $26.95), read by veteran Joyce Bean and covering a twisted psychopath's rampage and a detective's search for justice; Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer's Don't Look Down (159-6008105, $26.95), enjoying a dual narration by Patrick Lawlor and Renee Raudman as it tells of a TV commercial director who finds her action-movie shoot in shambles, and a military consultant to a movie star who finds himself babysitting a comedian and struggling with his attraction to his director; Lisa Tucker's Once Upon A Day (142331056X, $26.95), with Joyce Bean again providing her seasoned voice which enhances the story of a man who raises his kids in complete isolation from the outside world; Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You (1423311795, $29.95), receiving an excellent, dramatic rendition by Renee Raudman as it tells of an academy for young women which is teaching girls to be dangerous spies; Bob Mitchell's Match Made In Heaven (1423311663, $29.95), with Mel Foster's voice driving the story of an unexpected encounter with God, who sends down eighteen opponents to play against Elliot and teach him a little on life; William Nicholson's Seeker (142331-8374, $24.95), narrated by Michael Page and telling of three different heroes joined by a shared dream on an island inhabited by fighter monks; Nancy Taylor Rosenberg's Sullivan's Evidence (1423307011, $26.95), narrated by Sandra Burr and telling of a serial rapist freed after evidence is discredited and of Carolyn, who is determined to see him behind bars when the killing stars anew; Jim Belushi's Real Men Don't Apologize (1423323653, $24.95), read by the author himself and adding in music by Belushi and the Sacred Hearts, along with more narration by Shannon Floyd, as it tells of the celebrity's take on the school of hard knocks, women, and more; and Alistair Cooke's The American Home Front 1941-42 (142332-1219, $26.95), enjoying John Byrne Cooke's smooth and clear rendition as it provides a first-hand portrait of America during the second world war, synthesizing BBC broadcasts.

Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com

Masaru Emoto's The Hidden Messages In Water (0743555252, $25.00) receives Victor Slezak's fine voice to enhance and bring to life the evocative story of the nature of water by a Japanese doctor of alternative medicine. Photos are included on the enhanced cd with this unabridged presentation: a lovely touch to a scientific and poetic survey of crystal formation, how they are influenced by thought streams, and how human psyche influences the physical world. Dr. Wayne Dyer's Secrets Of The Universe (0743551974, $19.95) is read introduces listeners to self potential by providing a allegorical program set on Uranus, where neuroses and anxieties serve a purpose they don't on Earth. An intriguing blend of fantasy and self-reflection evolves in a fine survey of life, philosophy and psyche. Both are wonderful self-help listens.

Clipper Audio/Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com

Clipper's audiobook line (distributed by Recorded Books) features solid British authors, narrators, and packaging which lends to durable lending: these new audio cd arrivals are some top picks. David Wolstencroft's Good News Bad News (1419-554019, $119.75) even includes an interview with the author as it receives Gordon Griffin's narrative skill and smooth voice. A government error sends two secret agents to the same cover jobs, each told to keep their identity secret during the investigation. Charlie and George discover the error and decide to run from their seasoned, ordered world. Ann Granger's Candle For A Corpse (1419344471, $119.75) receives Judith Boyd's smooth and dramatic rendition as it tells of a couple leaving on a canal barge trip just as the corpse of a long-missing teen turns up in the local graveyard, prompting cancellation and investigation. Ian M. Banks' The Algebraist (1419353772, $119.75) receives Geoffrey Amis' strong skills in adding flavor to the story of different dwellers in the universe. From a race which lives quickly to a grandiose race with military and religious powers in the universe to the lowly human researcher privileged to work with the Dwellers in his home system Ulubis, mysteries and discoveries abound. Dirk Wittenborgn's Fierce People (141932814X, $119.75) enjoys Scott Shina's warm and passionate recording of the story of one adolescent New Yorker Finn, whose life becomes involved with a wealthy New Jersey community. His life becomes a mystery filled with romance, investigation, and elements of heroism, all amid an urban backdrop. Adele Geras' Hester's Story (1419353896, $119.75) enjoys Maggie Mash's narrative skills and tells of a poor Yorkshire girl turned dancer who flits with a dangerous love affair and a dangerous secret which could destroy her career. Her return to her hometown will bring her life in balance – or ruin it – in this story of a dancer's evolution. Gerald Seymour's The Unknown Soldier (14193-44323, $119.75) comes with Crispin Redman's evocative reading style as it tells of a caravan of fugitives and camels which joins Al Qaeda in the desert for a new strike. Libraries will relish these durable modern classics.

Iliad
Homer
Parmenides Audio
University of Chicago Press, dist.
3753 Howard Hughs Parkway, Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89109
1930972083 $42.00 parmenides.com

Ably translated and expertly narrated by Stanley Lombardo, Iliad is a flawlessly recorded, complete and unabridged audio presentation of the timeless and classical Greek tale of the Trojan War ascribed to the blind poet Homer. Enhanced with an introduction read by Susan Sarandon, this audio book edition of the Iliad fully captures the epic nature of this story of an ancient tragedy. A "must" for school and community library audiobook collections, this Parmenides Audio 12 CD, 15 hour edition of the Iliad is enthusiastically recommended for all listeners searching for an engaging, entertaining, and memorable reading of the classic work. Also very highly recommended as translated by Stanley Lombardo and featuring equally insightful synopses from Susan Sarandon, is Homer's Odyssey (1930972067, $42.00, 10 CD, 12.5 hours, unabridged, Parmenides Audio).

Anne Manx On Amazonia
Claudia Christian et al
Radio Repertory
PO Box 8546, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
0977134202 $24.95 www.rrca.com

Featuring more than 20 actors, original sound effects, a full orchestral score, and a total running time of two hours on two CDs, Anne Manx On Amazonia from Radio Repertory Company Of America starring Claudia Christian, Barbara Harris, and Patricia Tallman is an superbly recorded science fiction story involving Anne Manx, a private investigator hired in aide of a clone of Amazonia's queen in an attempt to attain perfection after a previous faulty cloning attempt (cloning being the means by which the succession to the throne of Amazonia is accomplished). As the first and flawed clone was originally disposed of, the newest clone's need for survival brings her to Anne Manx to help in obtaining diamonds stolen from Earth in order to restore the clone to perfection. Anne Manx On Amazonia carries viewers through riveting plot in which the evil Richmond returns to haunt Manx's already impossible life. Anne Manx On Amazonia is very highly recommended and a "must" for science fiction action/adventure fans.

Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy
Michael J. Bradley
Harbor Press
5713 Wollochet Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
0936197587 $29.95 docmikebradley.com

Ably narrated by David Kropp, Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind by Michael J. Bradley is an expansive and informative guide through the process of raising teenagers and the endlessly difficult task all parents face in keeping sane while doing so. Authoritatively carrying listeners through the intricacies and evolution of the adolescent mindset and the modern mentality of teens, Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy offers such chapters as The Adolescent Brain; Peer Influence And Your Child; New-Millennium Parents; Parental Self-Examination; The Ten Commandments of Parenting Your Teen; Drugs (The Do's And Don'ts); Sex And Dating (What You Need To Know); and much more. An expertly recorded, six-disc, 7 hour and 25 minute audiobook, Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy is very strongly recommended for its nicely organized and concisely presented guidance through the teenage psyche and the commonly encountered hardships of teenage life.

And Never Stop Dancing
Gordon Livingston
Listen And Live Audio, Inc.
PO Box 817, Roseland, NJ 07068
159316081X $19.95 listenandlive.com

The 3 CD, 4 hour, complete and unabridged audiobook And Never Stop Dancing: Thirty More True Things You Need To Know Now is written by Gordon Livingston and narrated by Bruce Barker. A sequel to Gordon Livingston's Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart, this new and expansive collection of living wit and wisdom offers listeners a compilation of thirty innovative, experienced-based fundamental attributes of living a successive and productive life. And Never Stop Dancing supplies an informative and occasional inspiring guidance through such commonly encountered issues as the paradox governing life, forgiveness as a gift to self, marriage as the destroyer of many good relationships, seeing oneself through the eyes of others, fear, growth in aging, and so much more. And Never Stop Dancing is very highly recommended, especially for those who have enjoyed and profited by Livingston's Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart.

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Naxos Audiobooks
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9626343605 $62.98 1-877-629-6723

Mark Twain's classic southern novel, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, is superbly narrated by Garrick Hagon is the Naxos Audiobooks unabridged edition as part of their "Modern Classics" series. Deftly read and flawlessly recorded for a fully creative and original presentation, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn carries readers through one of America's best loved and most enduring comedies set in the antebellum, slave owning south. Featuring Mark Twain's delightful cast of characters, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is very strongly recommended for personal, school, and community library audiobook collections. (9 CDs, total time: 11:24:04)

Spirits And Their Popular Drinks
Kyle Branche
Cocktail Art Productions
22722 Clarendon Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
www.cocktailhotel.blogspot.com
CD $17.95 1-818-225-8009

Authored and narrated by professional bartender Kyle Brance, Spirits And Their Popular Drinks: Memory Education For Bartenders And The Home Entertainer is an instructional guide to the art of bartending and drink mixing. Featuring the top one-hundred drink recipes made with eight main spirits arranged easy memorization by the bartender and/or home party host, Spirits And Their Popular Drinks offers listeners expert advice on the many variables involved in creating drinks using such vodka, gin, rum, tequila, scotch, brandy, bourbon/whiskey, cognac, and so many more. An ideal, 65 minute CD audiobook guide for all novice and intermediate level drink bartenders, Spirits And Their Popular Drinks is very strongly recommended for anyone searching for an informative and "user friendly" introduction and "how to" guide through the basics of drink mixing and bartending.

Hidden Wisdom
Kenneth Hanson
Real Productions
c/o ExplorationFilms.com
PO Box 1069, Monument, CO 80132
0970742258 $19.95 explorationfilms.com

Hidden Wisdom: The Ancient Meaning Of The Dead Sea Scrolls from the author of the Bible Code, Kenneth Hanson (Professor of Jewish History, University of Central Florida and Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Rollins College, Orlando, Florida) is an informed and informative presentation the history, meaning, and contemporary relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Knowledgeably offering listeners a complete and instructive guide through the "hidden wisdom" contained within the scrolls, and how their ancient truths applies to the world of today (including some amazing prophecies), Hidden Wisdom is very highly recommended and worthwhile for students and the general public with an interest in these 2,000 year old texts and their contribution to our understanding of Judaism and Israel in the time of Jesus. A welcome addition to personal, seminary, school, and community library collections, this 4 CD set has a total running time of 3 hours, 58 minutes.

Wisdom Of Our Fathers
Tim Russert
Books On Tape
400 Hahn Road, Westminster, MD 21157
1415930600 $72.00 www.library.com

Wisdom Of Our Fathers: Lessons And Letters From Daughters And Sons is both authored and narrated by Tim Russert, with additional reading by Joseph Buttler, Marc Cashman, Susan Denaker, Kathe Mazur, Arthur Morey, and Staci Snell. This 8 CD, 72 minute, complete and unabridged edition is an entertaining and quite thoughtful compendium of sentimental memories and anecdotes showcasing invaluable parental guidance and advice arising from the forgiving and endless love of true fatherhood. Drawing from letters received after publishing his own father's tale, wisdom Of Our Fathers carries listeners through Russert and his contributor's stories of their own father's advice, discipline, honor, strength, and other inspiring memorable times. Also available in an audio cassette edition (1415930600, $54.00), Wisdom Of Our Fathers is very highly recommended as inspirational and heartfelt listening.

Tales From The Old West
Grover Gardner, narrator
Blackstone Audio, Inc.
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
0786175273 $36.00 blackstoneaudio.com

Dramatically narrated by Grover Gardner, Tales From The Old West features short stories from renowned and enduringly popular western writers Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, and Max Brand, all of which are flawless and expertly recorded in the studios of Blackstone Audio. Included is the tale of "Canon Walls" from Grey, "Black Sheep" by Brand, and "The Sixth Shotgun" by L'Amour. Tales From The Old West is especially noteworthy for the inclusion of each individual and unabridged story's background. Perfect for western action/adventure buffs as well as for introducing a new generation of listeners to the storytelling skills of three masters of the genre, Tales From The Old West is very highly recommended for personal, school, and community library audiobook collections. (4 CDs, 4 hours 30 minutes)

The Gospel Of Thomas
Elaine Pagels
Sounds True
Post Office Box 8010, Boulder, CO 80306
1591794129 $19.95 www.corbis.com

The audio-book edition of The Gospel Of Thomas: New Perspectives On Jesus' Message as written and read by Elaine Pagels (Professor of Religion, Princeton University, New Jersey) offers an informed and informative perspective with respect to the attributes and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented through the interpretive ideals of Apostle Thomas as revealed in his apocryphal gospel. Deftly covering a vast array of theological inquiries and historical scholarship relevant to the its original rejection from the approved canon of scriptures that were to become the New Testament, The Gospel Of Thomas offers readers an insightful grasp of Thomas' writings including his concept of "the light within us all", the influence of Eastern thought in the teachings of Jesus, who Mary Magdalene was in the Gospel attributed to the apostle Thomas, the gnostic scriptures interpretation, and perspectives into some of the most puzzling Christian koans from both the canonical and gnostic texts. This flawlessly recorded 2 CD audiobook edition of The Gospel Of Thomas includes an 18-page study guide, has a running time of 1 2/4 hours, and is very strongly recommended for anyone with an interest in gnostic literature in general, and the Gospel of Thomas in particular.


The Biography Shelf

The Haiku Apprentice
Abigail Friedman
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
www.stonebridge.com
193333004X $14.95 1-800-947-7271

The Haiku Apprentice: Memoirs Of Writing Poetry In Japan by Abigail Friedman is not a standard poetry collection, but rather the personal memoir of an American diplomat in Tokyo who discovered that anyone can enjoy the pleasure of writing haikus. Learning to express herself in haiku introduced her to a literary and cultural world in which poetry was more than a vehicle of expression; it was a means by which neighbors and friends could form a connective bond and see the world in a new way. The Haiku Apprentice is a warm and inviting autobiographical story, and also a kind of loose blueprint for forming haiku or other poetry-writing societies in one's own backyard in order to better foster communication, understanding, and a fresh perspective ready to absorb the wonders of life. A unique and thoughtful memoir, The Haiku Apprentice is enthusiastically recommended reading.

Betraying Spinoza
Rebecca Goldstein
Nextbook/Schocken
295 Lafayette St., #501, NY, NY 10012
www.schocken.com
0805242090 $19.95 1-800-726-0600

Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity is the true-life story of Baruch Spinoza, excommunicated from Amsterdam's Jewish community at the young age of twenty- three, who secularist philosophies would establish his legacy as the most famous heretic in Judaism. Even today, scientists from purveyors of string theory to neurobiologists draw upon the Spinoza's methodologies of rigorous thought. Betraying Spinoza explores not only Spinoza's intellectual legacy, but the mortal human being struggling to survive in an era colored by the Inquisition. Award-winning author Rebecca Goldstein argues that both the excommunicated Spinoza and the Jewish society that expelled him were directly reacting to the stirrings of brutal European anti-Semitism. Betraying Spinoza is especially recommended for academic library and philosophy shelves.

Twilight People
David Houze
University of California Press
2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
0520243986 $24.95 www.ucpress.edu

Enhanced with the inclusion of twenty b/w photographs and two maps, Twilight People: One Man's Journey To Find His Roots by David Houze is the remarkable and true story of one man's determination to discover his familial heritage and find the three sisters he and his mother had left behind them in South Africa in 1966 to come to live in America. Following Houze through an epic journey that began with the discovery of his sisters in a photograph and his mother's confession concerning their existence, Twilight People simply captivates its readers in a kind of real life detective story through the persistent efforts Houze had to exert in seeking out the members of his long lost family. As the intimate and inspiring tale of one man's incredible struggle to reconnect with three sisters he'd lost contact with so long ago, Twilight People is very highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to any community library collection.


The Economics Shelf

The Origin Of Wealth
Eric D. Beinhocker
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
157851777X $29.95 www.HBSPress.org

Students of economics as well as readers of business history will want to consider the message and background in The Origin Of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, And The Radical Remaking Of Economics. Basic questions analyze what is wealth, how it's made and distributed, and how it can benefit both individuals and businesses as well as society as a whole. The fiend of economics is experiencing a revolution of theory: essays survey the latest ideas of leading economics and scientists whose works are producing new ideas of evolutionary progress based on Darwinian-type evolutionary structures. From ideas of networks and keystone technologies to cheating in business and social and business ethics, The Origin Of Wealth tackles a range of issues.

Globalization And The Politics Of Pay
Susan R. Hansen
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
1589010884 $24.95 www.georgetown.edu

A seminal work of meticulously original scholarship, Globalization And The Politics Of Pay: Policy Choices In The American States by Susan B. Hansen (Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies at the University of Pittsburgh) is an in-depth study of the economic, political, and social causes, implications and consequences of declining wages in the United States. Challenging such issues as the conventional wisdom that globalization can be blamed for the decline in earnings, Globalization And The Politics Of Pay offers a logical, concise grasp of how American political decisions have effected economic growth and demographics. A core addition to university library reference collections on contemporary American economics, Globalization And The Politics Of Pay is very highly recommended for all students of economics, state labor costs, federal taxation, and the effect of international competitiveness on American wage structures.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Rose Daughter
Robin McKinley
Ace Books
1350 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10019
0441005837 $6.99 penguinputnam.com

Rose Red returns to the world Robin McKinley created in Beauty, retelling a folk story of Beauty and the Beast with new insights and perspectives. Enchantment, dreams, and new awakenings permeate this gentle story of Beauty, who can transform anything; even a Beast's demeanor.

Baen Books
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Baen's science fiction reads are fine recommendations; especially for fans of political sci fi and space opera, and these new arrivals provide solid plots and action. David D. Friedman's Harald (1416520562, $24.00) tells of a storyteller, farmer, and commander who faces a new challenge when his heir tries to seize control of the Order. He'll have to raise a new army to put the alliance back together, find and rescue a potential leader, and end a civil war in this thriller telling of a world's vast changes. David Weber's In Fury Born (1416520546, $27.00) tells of a female captain who has evolved to the position of rogue, outcast and pirate. She's long known what she's wanted and has defended her Empire time and again: now politics has changed her world and her warrior heritage can't end. A cat-and-mouse hunt ensues in a story of one woman's madness, otherwise known as vision. Wen Spencer's Wolf Who Rules (1416520554, $25.00) tells of a leader who finds himself attacked on all sides. Familiarity with the prior Tinker will lend easy access to this ongoing story of Wolf, who rules under siege in Pittsburgh, now stranded on Elfhome, and who struggles to keep the peace between the humans and the fantasy world they've entered even as Tinker is facing a mystery of a growing discontinuity in Turtle Creek with nightmares of the future. Two John Ringo titles new in paperback will delight readers. Against The Tide (1416520570, $7.99) tells of a world paradise ended by the Gall, when holders of the world's control codes became involved in civil war. Battles and dragons will challenge the world. Ringo works with Julie Cochrane in Cally's War (141652052X, $7.99), telling of a girl raised on the front lines of war with aliens who have almost erased humans from the earth. Her involvement with underground fights may bring back her world. Esther Friesner's Turn The Other Chick (1416520538, $7.99) provides a fine anthology of 'chick fighter' short stories. All new adventures of fearless women warriors by Eric Flint, Harry Turtledove, and more provide some wild fantasy fun which pairs humor and action. James P. Hogan's The Two Moons (1416509364, $7.99) offers two classic under one cover: Inherit The Stars tells of a space-suited corpse discovered on the moon: a corpse lying there 50,000 years while Gentle Giants Of Ganymede tells of a spaceship's discovery on Jupiter. A fine collection features the best of Hogan's writings.

The City, Not Long After
Pat Murphy
Firebird/Penguin Publishing Group
345 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0142404055 $7.99 firebirdbooks.com

It's half a century after a goodwill gesture has spread plague around the world, and San Francisco's surviving residents populate a haunted city again at risk. This time it's power-hungry men who are invading, and Jax and Danny-boy lead the battle – using magic and the city's own underlying powers – to solve mysteries and gain power for the future. Highly recommended on its initial publication, the paperback of The City, Not Long After is a pick for any who missed this winner.

Sleeping Policemen
Dale Bailey & Jack Slay
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
193084641X $24.95 goldengryphon.com

Expertly co-authored by Dale Bailey and Jack Slay, Jr., Sleeping Policemen is a true science-fiction thriller depicting the suspenseful adventure of Nick Laymon. Following Nick and his friends through the incidental killing of a man on a stretch of deserted mountain highway, bringing them to his thick wad of one-hundred dollar bills and a key leading to a mysterious video-tape, Sleeping Policemen captivates the reader's attention from beginning to end with a swiftly paced story filled with engaging twists and unexpected turns. A beautifully crafted novel that documents Bailey and Slay as a quite consummate and original storytelling team, Sleeping Policemen is very highly recommended for all science fiction buffs and mystery fans searching for a genuine page-turner of a read!


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writer's Digest Books
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.fwpub.com

Tim Lemire's I'm An English Major – Now What? (1582973628, $14.99) will hit a chord with any who love the liberal arts yet find themselves wondering how to get a job with such a degree. Surprisingly some big names too have English degrees: Alan Alda, Steven Spielberg, and Stephen King among them. I'm An English Major, Now What helps majors and grads understand how to apply their interests and skills to the job market. Chapters show how to market an English major, how to move beyond the usual writing/teaching directions to promote English skills in exciting career choices, and how to enhance and hone such skills through extracurricular activities. A 'must' for any who love English. William Baer's Writing Metrical Poetry: Contemporary Lessons For Mastering Traditional Forms (1582974152, $16.99) is a breath of fresh air because it teaches all the basics of poetry in all major forms, yet uses a modern set of examples and focused assignments, not droll re-reading of past classics. From a review of poetry's history to discussions on its applications in pop culture and to modern themes, Writing Metrical Poetry is an excellent study.


The Sports Shelf

Iron Horse
Ray Robinson
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393328821 $14.95 www.wwnorton.com

Iron Horse: Lou Gehrig In His Time charts the life and accomplishments of a truly legendary ball player, plus author Ray Robinson provides the reader with a wealth of background details on the era of baseball through the Depression years. Most of all, it's a recreation of the man who played over two thousand consecutive games before he was diagnosed with the fatal disease named after him. A lively writing style blends history and biography, setting the times and baseball events for newcomers to the sport and providing a vivid account of a legend. Highly recommended: even non-baseball readers will find it engrossing.

Sports Publishing
804 North Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com

Ron Blomberg tells his baseball story to Dan Schlossberg in Designated Hebrew: The Ron Blomberg Story (1582619875, $19.95. When young Ron Blomberg told his friends he wanted to be a Major League Baseball player, they were amazed: Jewish kids, even in the late 1950s, just didn't do such things. Blomberg's determination was fostered by understanding parents, however, and they gave him his blessing to pursue a dream which would make him a major hitter and trailblazer. Robert Goldman's Once They Were Angels: A History Of Team (1582611637, $24.95) features interviews with Rod Carew and other Angels stars as it provides a history of the team and its achievements. From the heyday of the team's early years to its later achievements, players who helped define its 44-year accomplishments provide insights and behind-the-scenes details on both sports management and team events. Rick Monday and Ken Gurnick's Tales From The Dodgers Dugout (1582619751, $19.95) tells of the Dodgers, who overcame pressures, influences, and problems to stag a comeback which would beat even the New York Yankees. Outfielder Rick Monday was in the middle of that season: his recollection of events and memories of teammates and winning moves makes Rick Monday's Tales From The Dodgers Dugout an up front and personal seasonal ticket to adventure for any fan of baseball in general or the Dodgers in particular.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Foundations Of Sephardic Spirituality
Rabbit Marc D. Angel, Ph.D.
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
1580232434 $24.99 jewishlights.com

Foundations Of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life Of Jews Of The Ottoman Empire provides an essential history to any who would understand the roots of Jewish spirituality. Rabbi Marc Angel's exploration is scholarly, providing a fine survey of the Judeo-Spanish people of the Ottoman Empire and the influences that led them to stay united under duress. Angel's background as a primary interpreter of Sephardic history provides a thorough survey of culture, history and religious foundations, drawing many essential connections between Kabbalah teachings and radical new ideas which were to change how the Jewish community interacted. From issues such as Muslim rights and changing political status to turning points leading to the decline of Ottoman Jewry, Foundations Of Sephardic Spirituality is an essential study for any who would understand the history of Sephardic belief and evolution.

KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306
www.ktav.com

Mordecai Paldiel's Churches And The Holocaust: Unholy Teaching, Good Samaritans And Reconciliation (0881259-08X, $39.50) surveys an anti-Semitic doctrine promoted by Christian teachings which held the Jews deserved to be punished because of their rejection of Jesus. This teaching led to the Holocaust, and Mordecai Paldiel tells the stories here of over three hundred Christian clerics across the board who have stood up for Jews to save them from death. The efforts to foster reconciliation between Judaism and the Jewish people makes for fascinating reading in this fine historic documentation of evolving relationships between Jews and Christians. David A. Harris' In The Trenches: Selected Speeches And Writings Of An American Jewish Activist Volume 4: 2004-05 (0881259276, $24.95) continues to gather material and options from a public speaker and long-time executive director of the American Jewish Committee. Letters, speeches and an Israeli activist guide pack a presentation strong in both history and cultural insights, making for a scholarly gathering of reflections on Jewish politics and purposes. Both of these outstanding titles are outstanding contributions to Judaic History collections.


The Business Shelf

Alpha Dogs
Donna Fenn
Collins Publishers
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
0060758678 $24.95 harpercollins.com

Small business owners beyond the start-up phase will want to take a look at Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become A Leader Of The Pack: Eight Strategies For Success. Here's a primer on how to stand out – spectacularly – from the crowd in a competitive world, using the allegory of the 'Alpha Dog' to analyze trends and directions. Author Donna Fenn is a contributing editor for Inc. Magazine with over twenty years' experience writing about such trends, so Alpha Dogs comes from the top of the pack. Here eight representative companies which have pursued different and specific strategies for success are profiled, with analysis from real world scenarios offering wisdom from different industries.

Classic Drucker
Peter F. Drucker
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.harvardbusinessonline.org
1422101681 $24.95 www.amazon.com

If the name of Peter Drucker sounds familiar, it should: he's inspired managers with his works for nearly half a century, with his articles in Harvard Business Review – gathered here for the first time under one cover and offering his best works to audiences of business learners. From how to remain productive throughout your work life and choose careers which are lasting to learning how and when to make changes, Classic Drucker is a compendium of business wisdom which should be in every business library collection.

Reluctant Capitalists
Laura J. Miller
University of Chicago Press
1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637-2954
0226525902 $35.00 press.uchicago.edu

Reluctant Capitalists: Bookselling And The Culture Of Consumption holds the ability to appeal beyond the usual business reader, moving into the realm of book enthusiasts and booksellers alike. Book buyers often reject chain stores and consider any association between books and mass marketing unacceptable: so why is it that other chains have gained wide popularity while the chain bookstore's image struggles? Reluctant Capitalists examines this phenomenon, providing a history of the contested practice of selling books and surveying the rise of chains, mega-chains, and standing conflicts between chains and the small bookseller. Ideals and politics as well as book-buying habits and choices are analyzed in chapters which interview both book reader and major industry players.


The Music Shelf

Structure And Meaning In Tonal Music
L. Poundie Burstein & David Gagne, eds.
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
1576471128 $60.00 1-518-325-6100

Structure And Meaning In Tonal Music: Festschrift In Honor Of Carl Schachter is a scholarly anthology of advanced musical theory essays, written in honor of expert keyboard player, teacher, and music theorist Carl Schachter. Essay topics include "The Two Curious Moments in Chopin's E-flat Major Prelude", "The Analysis of East Asian Music", "Tonal Conflicts in Haydn's Development Sections", and much more. An extremely technical discussion of music theory nuance, written especially for advanced music scholars, Structure and meaning supports its reasoning with not only extensive research, but also numerous excerpts of musical notation to clarify its points - readers are expected to be capable of reading intricate musical passages in order to fully grasp illustrative musical examples of the points raised. A seminal addition to music theory and philosophy reading shelves, as well as college library shelves.

Shostakovich Symphonies And Concertos David Hurwitz
Hal Leonard Corporation
19 West 21st Street, #201, NY, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
1574671316 $22.95 1-800-637-2852

David Hurwitz, founder and editor of respected daily classical music magazine Classicstoday.com, presents Shostakovich Symphonies And Concertos: An Owner's Manual, an in-depth discussion of Shostakovich's grand musical creations. Offering much more than a technical analysis, Shostakovich Symphonies And Concertos also discusses at length what the music sounds like and how it works expressively. Featuring scrutiny of fifteen symphonies and six concertos in chronological order, Shostakovich Symphonies And Concertos provides a marvelous guided tour of the unfolding melodies as well as an overview of how Shostakovich's works fit into Western classical musical tradition. An accompanying full-length music CD contains a performance of Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony, which accurately showcases his style. Especially recommended for music students and classical music lovers everywhere.

The Dawn Of Indian Music In The West: Bhairavi
Peter Lavezzoli
The Continuum Publishing Group
15 East 26th Street, #17, NY, NY 10010
www.continuumbooks.com
0826418155 $39.95 1-800-561-7704

Musician and author Peter Lavezzoli presents The Dawn Of Indian Music In The West: Bhairavi, a history of the recent yet amazing infusion of East Indian classical music into western culture. Though Indian music was largely unheard of until 1955, when Ali Akbar Khan issues an LP called "Music of India: Morning and Evening Ragas", its appeal steadily gained ground, to the extent that Indian and Western disciplines began to borrow concepts from one another to aid in composition and training. When "Music of India" was re-released as a compact disc in 1995, it won a Grammy. The Dawn of Indian Music in the West follows the influence and impact of Indian classical music in extensive detail, meticulously researched and presented especially for intermediate to advanced music scholars and theorists. Highly recommended especially for college library and music reference shelves.

Mastering The Art Of Performance
Stewart Gordon
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
0195177436 $24.95 www.oup.com

Any involved in the performing arts, especially those just starting out, must have Mastering The Art Of Performance: A Primer For Musicians. Advice on handling performance demands uses real-life exercises and pre-performance exercises to provide specific tips on all aspects of the performance, from understanding the ultimate goals to developing both style and philosophy. A fine set of insights addresses all stages of a performance with tips, drills, and insights on bad habits and how to change them. From dynamics to evaluation, this is the item for choice for any would-be practicing musician who would do more than give bedroom encores.

Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

There are many books on the market for the novice or casual musician showing how to get gigs and make a simple recording; but when more advanced, professional and in-depth guides are needed, you can't go wrong with Thomson's specific guides. Brent Edstrom's Musicianship In The Digital Age (1592009832, $39.99), for example, goes beyond simplicity to delve into what it takes to be a musician in the digital age – which involves computers, production savvy, and technical skills beyond playing an instrument. Computer-based music production is the focus here, with chapters addressing digital editing, sequencing, setting up a studio and using MIDI, and more. There is a section on musical concepts such as scales, chords and composition; but it's the focus on technological enhancements that makes for an invaluable guide. Rod Gervais' Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros (1598630342, $39.99) goes beyond the usual focus of recording gear to cover setting up a room sound which lends to high-quality production. And this doesn't come from a musician, but from a construction engineer whose background in recording and movie studio construction plus his musician experience lends well to an authoritative discussion. From basic room design and setup to codes, permits and more, Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros holds all the technical specs you need. David J. Moser's Moser On Music Copyright (1598631438, $24.99) comes from an authority on the topic: a professor who teaches courses in Intellectual Properties, Legal Issues in the Music Industry and Music Publishing, and so is in the perfect position to discuss the latest controversies and issues involving copyright and its enforcement. Mixing engineers have two fine choices: Bobby Owsinski's The Mixing Engineer's Handbook (1598632515, $34.99) appears in its second edition to cover not only the history and changes of mixing various styles, but the rules for arrangement and tips and ticks for all music genres, while Bill Gibson's The S.M.A.R.T. Guide To Mixing And Mastering Audio Recordings (1592-006981, $39.99) offers up tested tools to create mixes which compete well in the music marketplace, producing professional-quality results. From setup to actual mixing and options, understanding effects and imaging, and more, a companion DVD includes the audio examples of the concepts, while step-by-step instructions both visual and written back up the results.


The Cookbook Shelf

How It All Vegan!
Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer
Arsenal Pulp Press
103-1014 Homer Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6B 2W9
1551520672 $18.95 arsenalpulp.com

How It All Vegan!: Irresistible Recipes For An Animal-Free Diet by environmental and animal rights activists Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer is a creative collection of innovative, delicious, easy-to-prepare, nutritious recipes specifically designed for vegans. Compiling a culinary wealth of soups, entrees, sauces, deserts, breads, salads, beverages and so much more, How It All Vegan! offers the kitchen chef everything from Rhubarb Bread; Jana's Winter Sichy Soup; and Larry's Re-Fried Beans; to S&M Spicy Salad; Apple-Cinnamon Cornmeal Pancakes; and Blue Banana Muffins. Enhanced with recipes "vegan friendly" recipes for cosmetics, hair products, pet treats, and even household cleaners, How It All Vegan! is very highly recommended for vegetarians dedicated to an animal free dietary lifestyle.

The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook
Linda Larsen
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
1593375808 $14.95 www.everything.com

The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook: 300 Flavorful Recipes To Spice Up Your Mealtimes! by Linda Larsen (a former Pillsbury Bake-Off staff member) is an impressive collection of three hundred appetizing Tex-Mex recipes, each one of which is thoroughly explained and easily made. A remarkable compendium of dishes suitable for any dining occasion, The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook recipes range from Rib Mopping Sauce; Pork con Queso; and Tex-Mex Egg Rolls; to Pan Dulce Loaves; Refried Bean Burgers; and Tex-Mex Turkey Pot Pie. The Everything Tex-Mex Cookbook is a welcome addition to the cookbook shelves of culinary connoisseurs and busy family cooks for its remarkable collective coverage of every imaginable feast in the Tex-Mex style. Also very highly recommended are two other ethnic cookbooks from Adams Media: The Everything Thai Cookbook (158062-7331, $14.95) and The Everything Chinese Cookbook (1580629547, $14.95).

Cooking Famously
Darnell Griffin, compiler
Cooking Famously Publications
PO Box 3861, Estes Park, CO 80517
097701990X $16.95 1-970-5866-5068

Compiled and organized by Registered Nurse and experienced cook Darnell Griffin, Cooking Famously is a spiral bound cookbook which offers a cornucopia of recipes from men and women who are known from sports, cinema, and history. With mouth-watering recipes arranged into chapters dedicated to "Famous Appetizers", "Famous Soups, Salads & Sides", "Famous Main Dishes", "Famous Deserts", Cooking Famously is enhanced for kitchen cooks with "Cooking Terms and Tips", "Greater Gifts", and an Index. From Marty's Nutty Cheese Roll (Marty Ingels); Tortellini Salad (Michael Andretti); Chicken Salad a la Rogers (Kenny Rogers); Essence of Silver and Gold (Robin Leach); and Sweet and Sour Stewed Tongue (Monty Hall); to Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies (Ruth Buzzi); Lace Cookies (Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson); Peach Cobler (Dan Quayle); and Mother Owens' Banana Pudding (Buck Owens), Cooking Famously is a very welcome and thoroughly "user friendly" addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.

The 100 Greatest New Orleans Creole Recipes
Roy F. Guste Jr.
Pelican Publishing
100 Burmaster St, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
1565540468 $14.95 pelicanpub.com

The best of Louisiana cookery comes from a restauranteur and French-trained chief who uses his background to select the definitive and best dishes of New Orleans. Creole cooking has a reputation for complexity: not so in The 100 Greatest New Orleans Creole Recipes, which adapts dishes for home use and simplifies many of the steps involved in producing the classics. No color photos here – but the simplified dishes don't need them.

Best Of The Best From New Mexico Cookbook
Gwen McKee & Barbara Moseley, eds.
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.qauilridge.com
0937552933 $16.95 1-800-343-1583

Part of the simply outstanding "Best of the Best" state related cookbook series from Quail Ridge Press, Best Of The Best From New Mexico Cookbook is a compilation of recipes drawn from a variety different cookbooks showcasing New Mexico's culinary traditions and treasures of this southwestern state. From Gazpacho (Cooking at the Natural Cafe in Santa Fe); Zuni Succotash (Southwest Indian Cookbook); Burgundy Venison Steak Tips (Sassy Southwest Cooking); and Chicken Tacos with Avocado (Beyond Loaves and Fishes); to Ruidoso Winner (Savoring the Southwest); Bavarian Apple Torte (Recipes from the Cotton Patch); Applesauce Cake (Billy the Kid Cook Book); and Berry-Pecan Flan (The Santa Fe School of Cooking Cookbook), each easy-to-prepare recipes has a complete list of readily acquired ingredients and step-by-step preparatory instructions. A kind of "sampler" cookbook, one of the best features is the section devoted to listing each cookbook represented in this culinary collection, including their respective publisher's contact information for obtaining the originating cookbook for any particular recipe that has proven to be an especial family favorite. Indeed, all dedicated kitchen cooks and fans of regional cuisines should visit the Qual Ridge Press website for a complete state-by-state listing of their "Best of" cookbooks.

Wyrick/Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com

Two outstanding titles provide wonderful, different dishes for readers interested in Southern cuisine. Donald Barickman's Magnolias: Authentic Southern Cuisine (0941711870, $29.95) takes a modern approach to Southern dishes, gathered from his Magnolias restaurant in South Carolina which has been acclaimed throughout the country. If it sounds familiar, it's because Magnolias Southern Cuisine first was published in 1995 to share these recipes, and here provides a sequel to offer over fifty new dishes plus some originals. While color photos pepper the coverage, the easy dishes don't really need them and lend to home cooking success. Nathalie Dupree's Shrimp & Grits Cookbook (0941711838, $21.95) presents a dish born in South Carolina and elevated to new heights. Authors Nathalie Dupree and Marion Sullivan reviewed the most famous and the most cherished recipes for shrimp and grits to cull out the best for a cookbook which even covers what kind of pan to use. Another plus: recipes come from top lowcountry chefs, are paired with color photos, and include plenty of variety, from Goat Cheese, Basil and Shrimp Timbales to Shrimp and Grits with Country Ham and Red-Eye Gravy and Quick Tomato-Bacon Shrimp and Grits. Both are outstanding, top picks for any fan of Southern cooking.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Cinema Studies
Susan Hayward
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
0415367824 $23.95 1-800-634-7064

Now in its revised, updated, and expanded third edition Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts is an encyclopedia-style A to Z guide of critical cinematic concepts, from "action movies" and "art direction" to "Italian neo-realism", "lap- dissolve", "30-degree rule", "widescreen" and much more. Each accessibly-written entry summarizes the concept in an amount of text ranging from half a page to several pages, and a thorough bibliography, name index, and subject index encourage quick reference. Enthusiastically recommended for students of film, anyone seeking a career in the movie industry, and even seasoned professionals looking for an easy-to-use refresher reference.

Prime-Time Television
Barbara Moore, et al.
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275981428 $44.95 www.praeger.com

Prime-Time Television: A Concise History collectively co-authored by the team of academicians Barbara Moore (College of Communications, University of Tennessee), Marvin R. Bensman (University of Memphis), and Jim Van Dyke (Marian College, Milwaukee) provides a complete and accessible understanding of the media medium of television through the historical and modern study of sitcoms, dramas, and other prime-time television particulars. Delving deep into the intricacies of American popular culture and the influential role played by many television shows, Prime-Time Television features a scholarly analysis of the shows, producers, genres, trends, and ideals behind various influential televisions productions. A seminal contribution to university level Popular Culture reference collections, Prime-Time Television is very strongly recommended reading, especially for students of the sociological and cultural implications of ever-popular prime-time television, from its earliest roots and developments, and the psychological structuring behind so many television programs.

China On Screen
Chris Berry & Mary Farquhar
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
www.columbiaedu/cu/cup
0231137079 $24.50 1-800-944-8648

Chinese film studies experts Chris Berry and Mary Farquhar present China On Screen: Cinema And Nation, an exploration of more than one hundred years of Chinese cinema and nation. Revealing how movies from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora create different ideas of Chinese nation, whether empire, republic, or ethnically based, China On Screen touches on such issues as male and female star images, transnational production, the image of the "good foreigner" among others. A quite thought-provoking and extensively researched academic study.

And Now For Something Completely Digital
Alan Parker & Mick O'Shea
The Disinformations Company
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010
1932857311 $17.95 www.disinfo.com

Collectively authored by Alan Parker and Mick O'Shea, And Now For Something Completely Digital: The Complete Illustrated Guide To Monty Python CDs And DVDs is a trivia worthy collection of intriguing facts, background information and entertaining insights into the timeless and enduringly popular television, movie, book, and album series by the British comedy troupe known world wide as Monty Python. Deftly compiling a wealth of fun and useless information from the diverse Monty Python productions, And Now For Something Completely Digital immediately captivates readers total attention through the zany wit and improbable wisdom of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones. And Now For Something Completely Digital is a "must" for the legions of Monty Python fans and will serve as an excellent guide to collecting all of the Monty Python television and movie comedy routines and performances (including the Flying Circus and chart singles) now available on CD and DVD.

The Films Of Peter Greenaway
Douglas Keesey
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786425172 $45.00 1-800-253-2187

Written by professor of film and literature Douglas Keesey, The Films Of Peter Greenaway: Sex, Death And Provocation takes its title from a quote by controversial British filmmaker Peter Greenaway, who claimed that life offers only two subjects: sex and death. Greenaway's films use both subjects without any illusions of romanticism, sentiment, or other sanitizing trappings. Whether exploring the sociopathic objectification of others that promotes violence, or the potentially devastating and inhuman fallout of predatory capitalism, Greenaway's films are unsettling yet forceful in their depiction of the evils of human nature. They have also been severely attacked for their portrayals of women and the sometimes sensationalistic turn of their violence; The Films Of Peter Greenaway fully acknowledges the negative as well as the positive critiques of Greenaway's more controversial works. The Films Of Peter Greenaway especially focuses upon nine of Greenaway's feature films: The Draughtsman's Contract; A Zed and Two Noughts; The Belly of an Architect; Drowning by Numbers; The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover; Prospero's Books; The Baby of Macon; The Pillow Book; and 8 1/2 Women. An excellently documented and reasoned dissection of Greenaway's films.

Applause Books
19 West 21st St, Suite 201, NY NY 10010
www.applausepub.com

Film fans eagerly await the annual updates of John Willis & Barry Monush's Screen World (Volume 56, 2005 = 155783668X, $24.95), and it's no wonder: it documents all major American and foreign films released in the prior year of its publication, including film credits, biographical notes, photos, and critical analysis. Pages packed with detail survey full casts, detail producers, provide ratings, and more. Any college-level film library – and many a public holding – must have this as an essential industry reference. Lehman Engel's Words With Music: Creating The Broadway Musical Libretto (1557835543, $17.95) considers how the book, music and lyrics work to create hits, analyzing the history of musical theatre and its evolution. Engel's is a classic work which originally appeared in 1972: it's updated here with a new background commentary of Howard Kissel, chief theatre critics for the New York Daily News, and revises details to provide new audiences with essential background.

Tools And Techniques For Character Interpretation
Robert Blumenfeld
Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 97444
0879103264 $24.95 limelighteditions.com

Theatre and film artists will enjoy a fine guide to creating and analyzing fictional characters using psychology, from typing characters to understanding acting exercises based on these theories. Tools And Techniques For Character Interpretation: A Handbook Of Psychology For Actors, Writers And Directors covers all the basics; from interpreting the underlying psychology of scenes and approaches to analyzing character sets and scope. There's plenty of depth and detail here: it's no light reading – but it's an essential reference tool for any aspiring actor.


The Travel Shelf

How Old Is That Mountain?
Chris Yorath
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
1550173901 $24.95 1-604-883-2730

Now in a newly revised edition, How Old Is That Mountain?: A Visitor's Guide to the Geology of Banff and Yoho National Parks is about the Rocky Mountains and their adjacent areas in Banff and Yoho parks. Written for the lay reader and traveler, How Old Is That Mountain? keeps geological jargon to a minimum while describing how the mountains' glaciers, hot springs, and other geologic wonders came to be. How Old Is That Mountain? does not contain much in the way of highway maps or "how to get there/where to stay" information; rather, it focuses upon science and natural history for the lay reader, whether a vacationer seeking an enriched experience or an armchair traveler looking for the next best thing to being there. More than 60 black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this enjoyable guide to the scientific forces at work shaping this unforgettable region.

Complete Guide To The National Park Lodges
David & Kay W. Scott
Insider's Guide/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
076273891X $18.95 InsidersGuide.com

Most national park lodges are located within the park itself and offer the best local accommodations for seeing the park, so if you wish the best national park experience, pick up The Complete Guide To The National Park Lodges as a planner. It's organized by state, then by park, which makes it a snap to locate the park and its offerings. From resorts to cabins and campgrounds, details include maps, descriptions of accommodations, rates and food, seasons, and activities.

Safari
Bartle Bull
Carroll & Graf/Avalon Publishing
245 W. 17th St, 11th Fl, NY, NY 10011
0786716789 $29.95 avalonpub.com

Safari: A Chronicle Of Adventure details the history of the African safari from its first expedition of 1836 to modern times. Bull is an environmentalist, so his survey Safari isn't your typical gun-hunter's celebration of good old days, but a survey of conflicts between hunting and conservation, weapons and transport, game control and more. From economics and financers of the safari to mishaps, adventures, and famous personalities involved in safaris, vintage black and white photos pair with wide-ranging personal and political stories for maximum effect.


The American History Shelf

The South
John Townsend Trowbridge
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Av, Macon Georgia 31207
0865549699 $30.00 590 pages 1-478-301-2880 www.mupress.org

John Townsend Trowbridge (1827-1916) was an esteemed author, poet and literary figure in his day. Few of his works are easy to find today, but they were quite well known just a generation or so ago. He undertook a daunting task in accepting the commission to travel through the unreconstructed South and document his findings. Originally planned as a chapter subscription format document, The South was commissioned by publisher L. Stebbins of Hartford Connecticut, and was reluctantly accepted by Trowbridge to help finance his purchase of a new home. All the writings were derived from a four month travelogue through 10 Southern states. Trowbridge interviewed persons from all walks of life, displaying considerable skills both as listener and storyfinder. Consequently The South is viewed as an American Iliad, a treasure trove of data from the fresh historical windows of immediate Civil War recovery. Despite his Yankee Abolitionist background, Trowbridge is unusually impartial in his exposures of Union error, as well as Confederate loss. There are multiple human interest tales and Trowbridge writes with the soul of a poet. The horror experienced by Southerners is graphically described and illustrated in the countrymen interviews. But there is always a presence of moral vision, even with the stunning effects of war. Some may not agree with the conclusions of Trowbridge, but all will find something to respect in his thoroughness and dedication to detail. Students of Civil War history will find The South, unabridged and with new introduction by J. H. Segars, to be of very special interest.

Manners And Morals Of Yesterday
Sam Tuttle
Native Ground Books And Music
109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 2805-1521
0914166190 $14.95 nativegrounds.com

Enhanced with historic line drawn illustrations, Manners And Morals Of Yesterday by Sam Tuttle is an intriguing collection of what was considered "proper etiquette" according to the social constraints and expectations as required in "polite society" of a yesteryear America. Compiling an expansive and impressively knowledgeable collection, Manners And Morals Of Yesterday offers readers such seemingly peculiar historical details as the controversy over smoking as early as the 1700's; the proper dress code for men and women in church, the theater, an ordinary evening, during exercise; and the terrible exposure of a woman's "imperfections" when wearing a dress not snug and high upon her neck. Manners And Morals Of Yesterday is very highly recommended as an informative and fascinating collection of often humorous historical constraints and cultural and societal restrictions that will have as much appeal for non-specialist general readers searching for an entertaining and informative insight into America and the "civilized" world's most inane cordial laws, as it would students of American history and cultural anthropology.

Under A Flaming Sky
Daniel James Brown
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1592288634 $22.95 LyonsPress.com

Under A Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm Of 1894 tells of how two forest fires converged on a town, trapping over 2,000 people and prompting dramatic efforts at rescue. Over four hundred people died in the fire: it would have been more were it not for two trains and the very different efforts of those who tried to ride them to safety. Survivors' stories, historical background and interviews with forest fire experts blend in a history which tells how the events impacted a nation.

The Civil Rights Movement In American History
Renee Romano & Leigh Raiford, editors
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Dr, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820328146 $22.95 ugapress.org

Numerous books have been written on American Civil Rights history: The Civil Rights Movement In American History differs in its blend of overview of events and how the movement is currently being remembered in American politics and culture. This dual focus offers a wider-ranging survey than most, blending memories of the movement with surveys of how it's being remembered, through museums, exhibits, film, TV and more. From heroic icons to methods of display and memory, this holds important lessons on how we incorporate culture change as a whole.

How New York Became American
Angela M. Blake
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
0801882931 $49.95 www.press.jhu.educ

At the turn of the century many Americans viewed New York as a crime-ridden city of the poor: Angela lake explores how savvy marketing turned it into a destination point in How New York Became American, 1890-1924. Primary sources both print and visual survey the extent of New York perceptions, from its development of skyscrapers and business areas to the changing idea of New York as a power place. From architectural changes to branding efforts, How New York Became American follows more than the evolution of a city: it surveys how city images are created, changed, and promoted.

Power Failure
Diana Dillaway
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591024005 $24.00 1-800-421-0351

Power Failure: Politics, Patronage And The Economic Future Of Buffalo, NY analyzes the history of the urban planning process in her native Buffalo: a process which ultimately failed. Dillaway is a community development expert as well, with long-time family roots in the area: her survey of the city's political and economic process traces the evolution of Buffalo, themes in turf battles and ethnic conflicts, and more. Her insights and analysis holds value for any medium-sized American city and for any who would better understand the urban planning process as a whole.


The Needlecraft Shelf

21 Sensational Patchwork Bags
Susan Briscoe
David & Charles/F&W
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715324640 $24.99 www.fwpubs.com

Susan Briscoe's written about bags before: now here's a new angle to her creations: a focus on patchwork which covers everything from backpacks and evening bags to portfolios and carrying cases. Equipment and materials lists for each bag accompany step-by-step instructions complete with color photos. The finished, polished results of 21 Sensational Patchwork Bags are appealing.

One Stitch Quilting: The Basics
Donna Dewberry & Cindy Casciato
KP Books
700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
0896893189 $22.99 www.fwpub.com

Quilts completed in a day? Some might say it can't be done, but it's a distinct possibility with the aid of One Stitch Quilting: The Basics. Two quilters here team together to provide a new quilting technique which finishes quilts in half the time. Piecing is blended with applique, borders and buildings and 20 projects based on the 'one stitch' idea can indeed be completed in a day. From materials lists and tools to color photos and easy step-by- step instructions, Donna Dewberry and Cindy Casciato's One Stitch Quilting: The Basics is the perfect choice for busy quilters who need to dash out a finished project in a hurry.

Getting Started In Punch Needle
Gail Bird, Foreword
Landauer
3100 NW 101st St. Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
097701665X $21.95 langauercorp.com

If you've seen an 1800s quilt, you may have seen the results of punch needle work – but until now it's been a challenge to locate beginner's guides to punch needle work. Here are over twenty motifs to use in a miniature quilt or for embroidery accents: colorful, full-page close-up shots of motifs accompany step-by-step instruction and ideas for improving on the process. Getting Started In Punch Needle: 22 Motifs To Make A Miniature Quilt Or Decorative Embroidery Accents is the perfect starting point for a nearly-forgotten art.

American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.aqsquilt.com

The Quilter's Society specializes in lovely quilting guides for avid quilters, and these releases offer something special. Dresden Plate (1574329014, $21.95) deserves ongoing and repeated mention as an outstanding selection of innovative designs and techniques. The Society's Museum promotes an annual contest and exhibit called New Quilts from an Old Favorite, and Dresden Plate provides winners of the last contest, pairing color photos of the quilts with quiltmaker comments and tips. Full-size templates for the blocks are included too. Mickey Depre's Garden Whimsey Applique (1574329065, $21.95) packs in botanical representations which can be completed easily in a week's time. Learn fabric and color combinations as you piece backgrounds and new patterns for all kinds of quilts in a gathering of tips from a winning quilt maker. Roberta Bevin's More Antique Quilting Designs (157432909XD, $21.95) provides patterns to reproduce an antique quilt. Six historical quilts have inspired these patterns and are suitable for both fusible applique and embroidery and fabric painting. The large block motifs are lovely. Kay M. Capps Cross's Black & White Quilts By Design (1574329049, $22.95) focuses on black and white fabrics which are surprisingly vivid productions. Some are pieced, some use strips, all provide dynamic interplays of pattern and fabric to make for intriguing results. Top picks, all.

Let's Quilt!
Ann Kisro
Martingale Company
20205 – 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
1564776514 $18.95 martingale-pub

First-time quilters often have difficulty moving through the realm of complex designs, patterns, and instructions to find the super-simple. For those who want easy projects, you could do no better than Let's Quilt! Easy Projects For First-time Quilters. Author Kisro began designing quilts at the age of 18: now 21, she provides quilts for her age group or any just beginning. Projects suitable for quilting bees, retreats or mother/daughter projects are presented, from lap quilts and pillowcases to a table runner. An excellent newcomer's guide indeed.

Knitting Notes
Judy Brown
Creative Purrsuits Publishing
PO Box 8, Yale, B.C., Canada V0K 2S0
0973996706 $18.95 creative-journals.com

Knitting Notes: A Journal Of Knitting Memories by Canadian needlecraft expert Judy Brown is a workbook journal in which to record knitting projects undertaken that also offers aspiring knitters a wealth of creative and helpful tips in a thoroughly "user friendly" commentary on the skills of knitting which would be applicable and appropriate for any particular knitting project. Anecdotal advice and comments on knitting lore, Knitting Notes includes knitting dreams, superstitions and tales; as well as advise on the successful creation of a knitting project. A welcome addition to personal knitting instructional reference collections, Knitting Notes is very highly recommended for novice knitters searching for an entertaining book about the fun and active pastime of knitting.

Fascination With Fiber
Marie A. Gile & Marion T. Marzolf
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
www.press.umich.edu
0472031139 $24.95 1-734-764-4388

The collaborative effort of Marie A. Gile and Marion T. Marzolf, Fascination With Fiber: Michigan's Handweaving Heritage is not a how-to craftbook, but rather a cultural and historical survey of Michigan's tradition of handweaving. Authors, weavers, and historians Gile and Marzolf examine the people and the social dynamics that have sustained the art of handweaving in Michigan and in America for over two centuries. A scattering of black-and-white and color photographs illustrate this grand tour of eclectic personalities, interviews, oral histories, the origin of the Michigan League of Handweavers, the "Fascination with Fiber" museum exhibit, and much more. Especially recommended for handweaving enthusiasts interested in learning the centuries of tradition supporting this creative and inclusive craft.

Knitting Rules!
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Storey Publishing
210 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580178340 $12.95 www.storey.com

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot Unravels The Mysteries Of Swatching, Stashing, Ribbing And Rolling To Free Your Inner Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is a collection of creative, innovative, and eclectic information and commentary on knitting and yarn design. Expertly organized to provide readers easy access to essential survival skills, insider secrets, and undercover revelations for yarn enthusiasts of all levels and persuasion, Knitting Rules! offers invaluable preparedness techniques, discreet stash management practices, bushwhacking smarts for cutting pattern jungles, gauge hazards and yarn mysteries, first responder tactics to handle antagonistic non-practitioners, foolproof methods for eye-balling measurements, improvisational recipes for the resourceful knitter for socks, hats, scarves, and shawls, and much more. Knitting Rules! is very strongly recommended for all enthusiastic knitters from novice beginners to seasoned veterans for its informative commentary on the art and skill of knitting.


The Sociology Shelf

Structures Of Memory
Jennifer A. Jordan
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304
080475277X $24.95 www.sup.org

Structures Of Memory: Understanding Urban Change In Berlin And Beyond asks the question: how are some architectural structures that were the site of terrible crimes forgotten by all but the eyewitnesses, while others become the sites of public ceremonies, museums, and other commemorative monuments? Using contemporary Berlin as and example and focus, author Jennifer A. Jordan (Asst. Prof. of Sociology and Urban Studies, University of WI Milwaukee) examines how some structures were rendered off limits for use as apartments, shops, or offices, while others were not turned into sites preserved specifically for the sake of collective memory. Chapters particularly discuss the disparities and similarities between memorials selected before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and after. Extensive research and notation distinguishes this serious-minded study of sociological and urban consciousness and key factors affecting the human decision-making process.

Joining In
Karen J. Blair
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575240254 $27.50 1-321-724-9542

Co-edited by David E. Kyvig and Myron A. Marty, Joining In: Exploring The History Of Voluntary Organizations by Karen J. Blair is a remarkably informative introduction and an impressively in-depth study of many significant, reputable, and successful voluntary organizations from the past. Drawing from particular materials to address issues not generally or sufficiently covered in the heretofore available literature on organized volunteers, Joining In addresses a compendium of relevant topics important to community, social, and cooperative studies. Very strongly recommended and instructive as a cultural anthropology textbook for its multitude of sources and citation of particular documents pertaining to previous studies of voluntary organizations of all categories and themes, Joining In is enhanced with fifty book lists helpful to researchers and a core addition to academic library reference collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Boot Tracks
Matthew F. Jones
Europa Editions
116 East 16th St., New York, NY 10003
1933372117 $14.95 europaeditions.com

Boot Tracks by Matthew F. Jones is the riveting story of Charlie Rankin, a recent prison release, and of his debt to "The Buddha" who got him a job on the outside, killing a man he's never met. Carrying readers through Rankin' s skillfully crafted, articulate and original novel that reveals the psychopathology underlying a criminal life, Boot Tracks follows Rankin through his meeting of Florence and their rapid attraction to one another. A true "page turner" of a read, Boot Tracks is especially recommended as a original thriller and clearly documents Matthew F. Jones as an author to look forward to! Readers new to Matthew Jones will want to seek out his early novels: A Single Shot, Deepwater, and Blind Pursuit.

Dirty Cheap
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT 06226
1931896291 $15.95 www.curbstone.org

Dirty Cheap by Lyn Miller-Lachmann is a novel about Nicholas Baran, a community college teacher struggling to expose the environmental contamination from industrial pollution which is believed to be the cause of a fatal cancer found in himself and others. Deftly authored in a vivid and active style by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Dirty Cheap rapidly carries its readers through the intricate plot of twists and turns as Baran's flailing attempts victimize him even further as a public enemy because if his efforts to expose the industrial polluters becomes successful, the local economy will tank and local property value will significantly decrease. A creative and expertly crafted tale of one man's relentless and heroic struggle for more then just his own against an entrenched and powerful system of industrial abuse, Dirty Cheap is highly recommended for inclusion into community library collections.

Empty Bed Blues
George Garrett
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201
www.umsystem.edu/upress
0826216307 $19.95 1-800-828-1894

Empty Bed Blues is an anthology of fifteen stories by award-winning author George Garrett, each unique, yet many mixing fact with fiction, memoir with adventure, comedy and tragedy. Nearly all stories are prose, though "A Short History of the Civil War" is in the form of a series of poems by two participants, a Confederate and a Yankee. Other tales include "Pornographers", a gritty tale about a sleazy reporter searching for the ultimate crime story, and "A Story Goes with It", the tale of a much-beloved friend now gone, as remembered through retelling a favorite yarn. From dark and brutal to wistful and contemplative, the stories run the gamut of diversity, yet each demands to be read to the end and fully and absorbed. Highly recommended.


The Language Studies Shelf

Bradley's Arnold Latin Prose Composition
J. F. Mountford
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1000 Brown Street, Unit 101, Wauconda, IL 60084
0865165955 $29.00 www.bolchazy.com

Now in a newly revised edition, Bradley's Arnold Latin Prose Composition is a classic and comprehensive review of Latin grammar and Latin prose composition with exercises to demonstrate key grammatical principles. The updated version's features include improved terminology and grammatical explanations, graduated lessons from simple to complex, supplemental continuous prose passages for self-testing, English-to-Latin vocabulary, a Latin index and a subject index, and much more. Though not a consumable workbook, Bradley's Arnold Latin Prose Composition is an ideal, user-friendly text for intermediate to advanced Latin students, whether studying the language in a college course or learning it on their own. Highly recommended.

Using Picture Books To Teach
Language Arts Standards
Brenda S. Copeland & Patricia A. Messner
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road W, Westport, CT 06881
1591583195 $30.00 www.lu.com

Using Picture Books To Teach Language Arts Standards In Grades 3-5 deftly co-authored and illustrated by element school librarian and media specialist Brenda S. Copeland and Patricia A. Messner is an informed and informative introduction to the often difficult process of teaching small children the intricate details of the English language. Designed specially for school librarians, but also providing teachers and homeschooling parents with a comprehensive and "user-friendly" mapping of the particulars in language arts instruction, Using Picture Books To Teach Language Arts Standards is an exceptional value as a resource for the curriculum enrichment. Enhanced with an appendices, a bibliography, web resources, and an index, Using Picture Books To Teach Language Arts Standards is confidently recommended to the attention of teachers, librarians, and reading specialists of grades 3-5 for its exclusively expansive conceptual grasp of the teaching standards for the language arts.

The Gallaudet Dictionary Of American Sign Language
Clayton Valli, editor-in-chief
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu
1563682826 $49.95 1-800-621-2736

The Gallaudet Dictionary Of American Sign Language is a straightforward and practical reference. Consisting of 3,000 entries, The Gallaudet Dictionary Of American Sign Language includes a simple black-and-white diagram for signing each word, as well as an index and a full- color DVD featuring a diverse group of native ASL signers demonstrating the words. An introduction walking readers through the basics of ASL rounds out this superb and definitive reference.

Basic American Grammar And Usage
Marcel Dansei, Ph.D.
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge NY 11788
0764133586 14.99 barronseduc.com

If English is your second language and you can't figure out the inconsistencies of grammar, Basic American Grammar And Usage: An ESL/EFL Handbook is for you. Fifteen easy chapters avoid the usual theory and focus on applied written and spoken American-style English, offering a blend of quizzes for self-testing and insights into how English works. Guidelines include sentences, clauses, standard conventions, relative pronouns, and more: many an English speaker will also find this a solid refresher course on usage.

Words, Words, Words
Diarmaid O Muirithe
The Lilliput Press/Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
www.dufoureditions.com
1843510596 $18.95 1-800-869-5677

Words, Words, Words: Houghmagandie, Knockers, Trolleys & Others by linguist and academician Diarmaid O Muirithe (former Senior Lecturer in Irish, University College Dublin), expertly probes lexicography, dialect, sexual practices, sport and social history to create a humorous, informed and informative guide for non-specialist general readers to some of the more obscure and bizarre byways of the English language. Words, Words, Words is especially recommended to the attention of students of etymology and as well anyone else with an interest in the humor and diversity of the world's dominant language for business, international government, science, and global culture.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Diseases Of Amphibians And Reptiles
Gunther Kohler
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575242559 $37.50 1-800-724-0025

Diseases Of Amphibians And Reptiles is a solid guide to diagnosing and treating diseases in amphibians and reptiles. Author and experienced veterinarian Dr. Kohler covers parasitological, bacteriological, mycological, and virological diseases in all manner of creatures from frogs to snakes to crocodiles. Black-and-white and color photographs on almost every page aid in identifying disease symptoms, and the text offers clear descriptions and treatment advice, written in highly accessible terms with a bare minimum of technical jargon. A glossary, a list of references, and extended appendices round out this "must-have" guide for anyone responsible for reptilian and amphibian welfare, from ordinary pet owners to pet shops to professional animal handlers and more.

Butterflies Of The World
Gilles Martin & Myriam Baran
Abrams Books
115 West 18th Street, NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
0810959534 $35.00 1-800-759-0190

With an informative text by Myriam Baran which is dramatically enhanced with fully color photography by Gilles Martin, Butterflies Of The World showcases of the wondrous world of butterflies and their remarkable individual characteristics and intricacies. An visually impressive compendium of butterflies (including their caterpillar state), Butterflies Of The World offers readers a visually stimulating presentation of images that border on fine art, and an informative contribution to the our knowledge of this fascinating creature that is to be found in nature around the globe. A beautiful edition that would be worthy of being an academic or community library's Memorial Fund acquisition choice, Butterflies Of The World is to be given high praise and recommended for nature lovers who appreciate the delicate and enduring beauty of the butterfly.

Reef Aquarium Fishes
Scott W. Michael
TFH Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
1890087890 $29.95 www.tfh.com

Part of the outstanding "The Pocket Expert Guide" series from TFH Publications, Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael is a comprehensive and in-depth guide and reference for a vast number of fishes suitable for home or office aquariums. Enhanced with colored key codes for aquarium suitability and reef compatibility, Reef Aquarium Fishes knowledgeably presents a wealth of succinct information on over five-hundred species. Reef Aquarium Fishes is profusely illustrated with color photographs of the fish and offers aspiring aquarium owners with intricate and detailed descriptions with expert coverage of all the most popular and commonly available reef-appropriate species, along with up-to-date information on their selection care, and feedings. Simply put -- no aquarium owner should be without a reference copy of Reef Aquarium Fishes.

The Complete Horse
Cheryl Kimball
Voyageur Press
Galtier Plaza, Ste 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0760325731 $24.95 mbipublishing.com

The Complete Horse: An Entertaining History Of Horses by Cheryl Kimball (a member of American Quarter Horse Association, Arabian Horse Registry, and the New Hampshire Horse Council) is an informative and photographically illustrated equine history, that also includes its lore, myths, legends and iconic presence in pop-culture. Authoritatively guiding readers through a comprehensive survey of a multitude of breeds and variations of horses and their involvement in human history, The Complete Horse addresses the origin of the Clydesdale, bucking attributes of any horse, the Zebra, a horses brain, the polo pony, and even such tangential niceties as how to make a decent Mint Julep. A welcome and prized addition to any personal, school or community library "Pets & Wildlife" reference collection, The Complete Horse is recommended as an intriguing descriptive history and profusely illustrated tribute to the role and value of the horse.

People, Property Or Pets?
Marc Hauser, et.al.
Purdue University Press
509 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2025
1557533806 $24.95 thepress.purdue.edu

What's the difference between owning a painting and a pet? Legal and social issues involved in pet ownership are treated to a scholarly discourse debating philosophical ideas involved in pet ownership in People, Property Or Pets? Essays come from lawyers, scientists, psychologists and students alike, examining legal guardianship, property status, and animal rights.

Tears And Tales
Russell A. Vassallo
Krazy Duck Productions
PO Box 105, Danville, KY 40423
0977673901 $16.95 www.krazyduck.com

Tears And Tales: Stories Of Animal And Human Rescue by Russell A. Vassallo descriptively delves deeply into the often humorous lives of animals, the relationships with humans, and offers impressive examples of animals and humans saving of one-another in times of stress and danger. Tears And Tales involves a depressed cancer patient and his wife, a whisky drinking duck, a soulful horse, and the canine companion of a man struggling to find reason in life amidst his cancer recovery. Tears And Tales offers up a remarkable story of life, love, beauty, independence, and glorious relationships favorably acknowledging basic truths which simply make life worth living. Tears And Tales is especially recommended reading, particularly to cancer patients and animal lovers.

Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
www.hmco.com

These two birding volumes offer excellent references for all levels, from beginners to advanced birders. Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlson's The Shorebird Guide (0618432949, $24.95) offer a different approach to identifying shorebirds: one which pairs over eight hundred color photos with reviews of the species which progress to more detailed images throughout its life cycle. Since it's often quite a challenge identifying birds when they look so different at different stages, from immatures to adults, such a book has long been needed – especially since shorebirds have a reputation for being difficult to identify readily. The lovely photos make for an outstanding book: some are small while others are nearly full page – all well detailed. Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource For Identifying North American Birds (0618236481, $29.95) is weightier than most similar/competing field guides; and for a reason: it too offers a different approach to identification, doing so by bird structure and shape as well as observer's general impression of size and shape. When size, color, behavior, flight pattern and vocalizations come into play in the identification process, much mystery is cleared up: this provides hints and clues to streamline identification efforts and builds a fine guide for all levels of birders. No color photos here; just plenty of tips and description.

Field Guide To Chickens
Pam Percy
Voyageur Press
380 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
www.mbipublishing.com
0760324735 $17.95 1-800-458-0454

Many a homeowner who lives in a rural community keeps chickens; but how many have access to all the facts about them? The Field Guide To Chickens is one-stop shopping for any who would access a quick reference on breeds recognized by the American Poultry Association. Entries pair breed histories and characteristics with insights on chicken behavior, propagation and more. Color photos and illustrations throughout make for an exceptional presentation.

To The Nines
Jennifer Chong
Alpine Publications
P.O. Box 7027, Loveland, CO 80537
1577790642 $19.95 www.alpinepub.com

Horse owners and show participants won't want to be without To The Nines: A Practical Guide To Horse And Rider Turnout For Dressage, Eventing And Hunter-Jumper Shows. Author Jennifer Chong spent years refining her competitive process both in the U.S. and in Europe, developing ways to make her preparations quicker and more effective. To The Nines is thus packed from cover to cover with a wealth of invaluable tips and shortcuts derived from competitions, sharing secrets she gained through years of experience. To The Nines is a top pick any dedicated horse jumper needs to read.


The Interior Design Shelf

In The Pink
Carlton Varney
Pointed Leaf Press
1100 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028
0972766189 $95.00 pointedleafpress.com

In The Pink: Dorothy Draper, America's Most Fabulous Decorator by Carleton Varney is an incredible collection and celebration of timeless interior design concepts by the renowned interior designer and decorator Dorothy Draper, a woman far ahead of her age. Deftly compiling an profusely illustrated compendium of Draper's remarkable work, In The Pink holds the reader's total attention from first page to last with an informative text enhanced with photography showcasing memorable designs created by the sharp eye and even sharper imagination of Draper throughout her world acclaimed career. A "must" addition to professional and academic library Interior Design reference collections, In The Pink is to be given high praise and recommendation for non-specialist general readers with an interest in interior design.


The Library Science Shelf

Creating The One-Shot Library Workshop
Jerilyn Veldof
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
0838909132 $42.00 www.alastore.ala.org

Creating The One-Shot Library Workshop: A Step-By-Step Guide by Jerilyn Veldof (Director of Undergraduate Initiatives for the University of Minnesota Libraries) is a complete and thorough introduction to the development and promotion of library-based instructional classes and workshops. From the presentation of research papers, to internet usage, to employee training programs, Creating The One-Shot Library Workshop offers readers a knowledgeable approach to assessing learners and what they need, the training of multiple instructors, maintaining consistency in teaching and outcomes, the replication of content for regularly scheduled workshops, the development of standard presentations to maximize learning, and evaluating results to ensure learners are getting what they need. A welcome and appreciated contribution to personal, professional, and academic Library Science reference collections, Creating The One-Shot Library Workshop is very highly recommended for all library organization administrations for its exclusive introduction to the vast and complex field of library instructional study.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Escapades
Christine Atallah & The Bassalindos
Bolero Records
18653 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 314, Tarzana, CA 91356
BOL7134 $16.98 bolero-records.com

Escapades is a debut album showcasing the talents Chistine Atallah and The Bassalindos. Captivating listeners with multi-lingual lyrics, exotic world pop with a colorful confluence of Arabic and jazz styles with an intervention of Latin, Escapades deftly compiles the vivid and creatively unique track-set of Taa, Ya Habibee; Idman; Desert Caravan; Me Voy; Fondre; M'Envoler; Salam; Emporte-Moi; Alrededor; 1001 Nights; Deconcentree; Susurro; and Nights Of Secrets. Escapades is very highly recommended as an artful compendium of unique and stylistic music for all cultural and diverse listeners.

Collectables Records Corp.
PO Box 35, Narberth, PA 19072
$12.97 (each) www.oldies.com

While The City Sleeps… (COL-CD-7732) by George Benson is remarkable album featuring Benson's evocative ballads and intimate songs including: While The City Sleeps; Kisses In The Moonlight; Shiver; Love Is Here Tonight; Teaser; Secrets In The Night; Too Many Times; and Did You Hear Thunder. Jimmy Witherspoon's Spoon (COL-CD-7722) aptly showcases many of this timeless artist's greatest masterpieces and inspirational works including: Lover Come Back To Me; A Blues Serenade; Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me; Ain't Misbehavin'; We'll Be Together Again; I'll Always Be In Love With You; Just A Sittin' And A Rockin'; Just One More Chance; Music, Maestro, Please; It Only Happens Once; I'm Beginning To See The Light; and Don't Worry 'Bout Me. A simply stunning album, Millennium (COL-CD-7776) from Earth, Wind, And Fire features sixteen of their superbly performed titles: Even If You Wonder; Sunday Morning; Blood Brothers; Kalimba Interlude; Spend The Night; Divine; Two Hearts; Honor The Magic; Love Is In The Greatest Story; The "L" Word; Just Another Lonely Night; Super Hero; Wouldn't Change A Thing About You; Love Across The Wire; Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues; and Kalimba Blues. Chico Hamilton's Nomad (COL-CD-7774) presents the superbly entertaining sound of Hamilton's rich voice performing engaging and original music providing listeners with an impressive playlist consisting of Magic Fingers; Mysterious Maiden; Aleksam; Denise; Strut; and the wonderful title piece, Nomad.

All One World
Anne Trenning
Shadetree Records
c/o Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
26391 $15.99 www.annetrenning.com

All One World is an incredible album showcasing the talent, work and artistry of Anne Trenning. Featuring diverse standards in music, All One World reaches out to listeners with heart-warming lyrics to paint vivid portraits of a confluent and peaceful world. The tracklist includes Ben's Song (2:49); That the Night Come (4:39); Walking Through My Tears (3:19); Clarecastle (5:19); The Road to Dunlavin (2:38); Dusk Until Dawn (2:35); Maggie Rose (4:12); How Fair My Love (2:59); Give Me Your Hand (5:20); La Valse Des Jeune Filles (2:46); Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming (2:22); and the title piece All One World (4:26). Anne Trenning's All One World is very highly recommended for its deft manipulation of a folk and Irish styling combined with a superb mastery of truly classical works and an inspiring influence of blues musicians.

Dancers Of Mother Earth
Todi Neesh Zhee Singers
Canyon Records
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Peonix, AZ 85017
CE-7181 $15.49 canyonrecords.com

Dancers Of Mother Earth is an outstanding collection of twelve remarkable two-step and skip dance songs from the Todi Neesh Zhee Singers and which are rooted in the Squaw Dance tradition from the Navajo culture. Showcasing music drawn from the traditional Native American spirit and culture with lyrics of love and personal relations, Dancers Of Mother Earth captivates listeners with an excellent tracklist the includes Terminator (3:13); Young Apache Girls (3:20); She Moves (3:09); Dreaming of a Hopi Girl (3:37); Natives (2:41); Lula's Song (3:51); I Will Take You Home (3:12); Up to Lover's Lane (3:07); Peace Dudes (3:21); Dreams of Mexico (2:51); Echoes (2:59); and the title piece, Dancers of Mother Earth (3:26). With a total time of 39:35, Dancers Of Mother Earth is strongly recommended as a superb anthology of the Todi Neesh Zhee Singers creative and inspiring music that will appeal to their fans, as well as traditionalists of the Navajo social songs of love, courting, honor, and loyalty. Also very highly recommended from Canyon Records is another new release: Tha Tribe (CR-6407, $15.98, Total Time 52:29) by Emery, featuring pow-wow songs recorded live during the Indian Summer Festival.

Ay Caramba!
Ska Cubano
Cumbancha
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
CD $16.98 www.cumbancha.com

Ay Caramba! is the musical creation of a UK/Cuba collaboration called Ska Cubano, which blends the bouncy ska beat that once took Jamaica by storm in the 1960s with Cuban cultural music. The result is an album with "hand-clapping" songs, rousing rhythm, and a diverse mixture of lively styles. An exciting blend of Caribbean musical cultures, Ay Caramba! is not to be missed. Tracks include Soy Campesino (3:42); Tabu (3:32); Oye Company Juan (3:35); No Me Desesperes (3:35); Big Bamboo (2:59); Tungarara (3:50); Cachita (4:31); Istanbul Not Constantinople (2:34); Marianao (3:51); Chispa tren (3:22); Jezebel (3:20); Bobine (4:56); Cumbia en Do Menor (4:41); and the title piece, Ay Caramba! (3:02).

Drawn Windows
Keefe Marzell & Vintage
Vintage Records
PO Box 48508, Detroit, MI 48226
Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive , Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$13.98 1-719-548-9872

Drawn Windows is an evocative new album from Keefe Marzell is an outstanding collection of the incredible Vintage band's most impressive works. Contributing a great tracklist to any music buff's personal collection, this showcase album includes: More Is Pleasure; Now And Forever; Love Thinking Of You; Vintage; Never Learn To Swim; New Jazz Swing; Through The Night; Enter Slowly; Goodbye Terome; Vintage (My Prospective); and the title track Drawn Windows. Keefe Marzell and Vintage carries their listeners through a blissful compilation of jazz, funk, spirit and emotion, all with an invaluable grasp of instrumental precision. Drawn Windows is very highly recommended for its jazz and funk style.

The Songs of Sayyed Darweesh
The Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble
Xauen Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
CD $16.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

The Songs Of Sayyed Darweesh: Soul Of A People is an audio CD of music written by brilliant Egyptian composer Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh (1892-1923). Darweesh's untimely death sadly cut short his seven-year musical career, which expressed Egyptian identity while transcending boundaries of style, history, geography, and genre; Darweesh's love of Italian opera in particular is reflected in his creations. Now his works are revived with the performance of the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, which strives to re-create the atmosphere of Darweesh's era and the experience of sitting and listening in Cairo coffeehouses. Highly recommended. The Songs Of Sayyed Darweesh: Soul Of A People features the tracks This is What Happened; Safely, Safely; As Long as the Night Lasts; Angelic Soul; I Fell in Love; Woman of Today; Oh, Bliss of My Soul; Oh, Willow Branch; The Porters; and Oh, Admirers of the Prophet. Total play time: 41:42.

Bridge Of Art
David Boswell
My Quiet Moon Records
PO B 1662, Canyon Country, CA 91386
Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
qmjazz-6101 $13.99 davidboswell.com

Bridge Of Art is an evocative and engaging album of the suave and stylistic works showcasing the skill and artistry of David Boswell. Deftly compiling a very special tracklist that includes: Let's Go; Beautiful Day; Simple Life; Take Me Away; Looking Forward; Exclamation's A Smile; Salute To Kindness; A Chosen Path; Albatross; and the piece Bridge Of Art, this is a flawlessly recorded CD album offering the unique sound of jazz, the feel of rock, with the stylistic legacy of folk for a collectively intriguing sound. Bridge Of Art is very strongly recommended for all jazz enthusiasts for its entertaining, imaginative new style and iconoclastic performances.


The Library DVD Shelf

Ambient Orchids
Vat19 Productions
11783 Borman Drive, St Louis, MO 63146
VAT19 JBS $14.95 www.vat19.com

Ambient Orchids: Ultimate Photo Gallery, features 380 high resolution photographs in a pictorial collection of 240 beautiful orchids. An impressive visual two hour production, Ambient Orchids offers viewers such features as an interactive zooming for all orchids, loop mode and custom play lists, orchids overview, optimized photos for widescreen TV standards, and nature sound effects in 5.1 Dolby Surround, music by Chopin, a viewing of each name for any orchid at any time with the click of the remote, and featuring more than 375 "desktop wallpapers". A unique and prized addition to any gardening enthusiast's reference collection, Ambient Orchids is enthusiastically recommended for viewers as a quite relaxing, beautiful, and instructive compendium of remarkable and vivid photographs of an enduringly unique species of flower. Also very highly recommended from Vat19 Productions are three companion DVDs: Ambient Flowers; Ambient Calm; and Ambient Art.

Rhythm Tune Up
John McGann
Mel Bay Publications
4 Industrial Dr., Pacific, MO 63069-3611
0976070510 $24.95 www.melbay.com

Rhythm Tune Up: For All Musicians On All Instruments with John McGann is an active and expert DVD guide taking aspiring musicians through a step-by-step introduction and instructional to the complexities of tuning a musical instrument. Deftly carrying viewers through an easy-to-follow progression for easy and effective instrument tuning, Rhythm Tune Up offers basic information with respect to the use of the metronome, beats one and three, two and four, eighth notes, straight vs swing eighths, subdividing the beat, metronome practice tips, shuffle (12/8 time), and so much more. With a running time of 50 minutes and featuring John McGann's performances on guitar and mandolin, and enhanced with the inclusion of on-screen charts, Rhythm Tune Up is very highly recommended as a compendium of helpful and useful "do-it-yourself" instruction.

Imperial Grand Strategy
Noam Chomsky
AK Press Video
674A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612
190485947X $19.95 www.akpress.org

Imperial Grand Strategy: The Conquest Of Iraq And The Assault On Democracy from Noam Chomsky is a provocative collection of a complete and informative collection of two powerful lectures and a forty-five minute interview with Chomsky himself on the political perspectives and paradigm-altering concepts of history and the ideological constructs of the great mind, Imperial Grand Strategy offers Noam Chomsky's personal comprehension of the philosopher, as well as an endlessly fascinating grasp of the political and societal constructs which are fueling the war from America as well as the U.S.'s disgraceful history of manifest-destiny in democracy creation abroad. Imperial Grand Strategy is recommended as a simply outstanding collection of remarkable ideals and principles from Noam Chomsky's accomplished and respected works.

Intermediate Yoga In Fiji
Elise Browning Miller
Shanti Productions
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $29.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Intermediate Yoga In Fiji with Elise Browning Miller is an informative and easy-to-follow guidance video of the intricate art of yoga, beautifully filmed in the Fiji Island of Kadavu. Competently compiled for a complete and conceptual compendium of "user-friendly" introductions to a multitude of yoga skills and movements, Intermediate Yoga In Fiji carries viewers through a complete education of such movements as the full Vinyasa, Sun Salutations, and a focus on standing poses. Intermediate Yoga In Fiji is very highly recommended for all intermediate yogis and yoga practitioners, as well as instructors as an exclusive and captivating education on a thorough introduction to important groundwork structural moves.

The Glory Days Of Wrestling
Timeless Media Group
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
#65263 $9.98 www.timelessvideo.com

The Glory Days Of Wrestling consists of two outstanding sport history DVDs: "Legends of the Mat" and "Weird, Bizarre & Wild Matches". Showcases the Golden Age of professional wrestling, "Legends of the Mat" features classic match-ups between Gorgeous George vs. Jessie James (23:50); Killer Kowalski vs Ed Carpentier (15:30); Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connnor (31:30); and wrestling vignettes with Antonio Rocca vs Primo Canera (2:00); Antonio Rocca vs Don Jonathan (3:25); Antonio Rocca vs Johnny Valentine (3:20); Killer Kowalski vs Verne Gagne (2:20); Killer Kowalski vs Gene Stanley (3:30); and A Six Man Tag Team Match (3:30). "Weird, Bizarre & Wild Matches" features Jerry Lawler vs Randy Savage (14:05); Detroit Battle Royal (8:00); Princess Little Dove vs. Diamond Lil (5:35); Haystacks Calhoun vs Killer Brooks (10:15); A Six Man Tag Team Match (18:35); along with such extra features as 'Wrestling: It's a Laugh (8:05); Tony Goalto vs Natie Brown (1:35); The Great Togo vs Bobby Mannagoff (1:05); Gloria Baratini vs Nell Stewart (1:20); Masked Marvel vs. Gorgeous George (1:25); and 'Football Game: Wrestlers vs Pro Team (1:05). With a total running time of more than two and a half hours, no true and dedicated professional wrestling fan will want to be without their own personal copy of The Glory Days Of Wrestling!

Dr. Quinn Medicine Women: The Movies
A & E Television Networks
PO Box 2284, South Burlington VT 05407
0767089790 DVD www.A&E.com

The TV hit series Dr. Quinn had six seasons when it presented two feature-length television movies, and here the two promise a wonderful keepsake edition to newcomers and old fans alike. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie tells of a posse to save the kidnapped Katie joined by Dr. Quinn and Sully while Dr. Quinn: The Heart Within has the group traveling to Boston for a celebration marred by an aged mother's failing and an assassination attempt. You'd think familiarity with the TV series would be essential for these follow-up films, but the joy of these two is that no prior introduction is needed for newcomers – but many a newcomer will wish to see the series upon seeing these Western dramas, packed with the romance and adventure of the shows.

411 Video
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
411videoinfo.com www.amazon.com

Elise Browning Miller's Yoga In Figi: Intermediate Yoga: Iyengar Vinyasa Practice (Bayview Films, $24.95) is an excellent pick for any interested in progressive Vinyasa Yoga routines. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific, meditative poses and Polynesian music fill an intermediate program of almost an hour of clear moves and poses to fuel energy and well-being. With some routines only 18 minutes in duration, there's something here for all levels. Especially recommended and entertaining children's viewing, Team: Bravo Bears Mission One (Electric Bear Studies, $14.95, 35 minutes) blends science fiction with a fun story of space, time, and a team which travels the world searching for ways to protect the universe from extinction by the evil predators of the planet. It's up to a team of teddies to save the day in this fun family feature.

Prevention Fitness System
Chris Freytag
Privately Produced
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
0766226476 $14.95 www.gaiaminfo.com

Prevention Fitness System: Personal Training With Chris Freytag is a knowledgeable collection of informative guidance through the process of body management and fitness with expertly coordinated training techniques and tactics. Providing an expansive and "user-friendly" understanding of the intricate ideals and strategies presented, Prevention Fitness System offers viewers knowledge on such beneficial matters as toning, health improvement, losing weight, firming up, keeping motivated, energizing workouts, belly flattening, sliming hips and thighs, and much, much more. Prevention Fitness System is very strongly recommended for everyone searching for an innovative and productive guidance through attaining a greater, more fit, and more healthy body with expert exercise and fitness management. Also very highly recommended from Chris Freytag is Prevention Fitness System Express Workout: The Abs Advantage.

Chubby Hubby Workout
Bay View Entertainment
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.95 www.onairvideo.com

Chubby Hubby Workout: Building A Better Husband from health and fitness expert Sharon Pak (an experienced personal trainer, fitness writer, exercise workout instructor, and host of the cable television program "Bringing Fitness to You!") is an informative and easy-to-follow series of workouts made particularly for a fun and active approach to becoming fit and trim. Expertly guiding viewers through an expansive compendium of specialized exercise workouts. With a total running time of 43 minutes, and incorporating supplemental equipment that includes a basketball, soccerball, baseball, football, a baseball bat (or broom handle), and 1-3 sets of dumbbells, Chubby Hubby Workout offers an effective appeal for men wanting to shape up, loose weight, increase strength, enhance core flexibility, and tone all of their major muscle groups. Chubby Hubby Workout is especially recommended for women searching for a creative and motivating workout video for their sedentary husbands.

Shape: Long, Lean And Strong
Teri Hanson
Weider Publications
411 Video Information (publicity)
21100 Erwin Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
0739607103 $19.98 currentwellness.com

Shape: Long, Lean And Strong With Teri Hanson with personal trainer and certified AFAA and ACE fitness expert Terri Handson (who is also the Assistant Fitness Editor for "Shape", "Fit Pregnancy", and "Natural health" magazines), is an informative, instructive, "user friendly", 38 minute, full color, DVD exploration of the basics of yoga. Visually guiding viewers through the easy-to-follow, daily fitness program of yoga exercises, Shape: Long, Lean And Strong showcases productive yoga movements and exercises to increase stamina, develop strength, and promote a more powerful aerobic system for the body's cardiovascular and muscle systems. Enhanced with a 6 minute "Anytime Relaxation Stretch Routine", Shape: Long, Lean And Strong is very strongly recommended, especially for beginning yogis students searching for comprehensive step-by-step on-screen guidance with respect to practicing yoga and keeping fit.

Cancer And Diet
John Sherman
Blazam Media
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.95 www.blazam.com

Cancer And Diet: Using Food To Eliminate Cancer And Promote Recovery With Dr. John Sherman is a complete and thorough guide through the complexities and issues in combating cancer through diet and excelling recovery with proper situational assessments and dietary adjustments. Offering a wealth of documented information, Cancer And Diet deftly carries viewers through an evaluation of the essential ideals with respect to the relationship between cancer and diet. A 36 minute, full color DVD, Cancer And Diet also includes a reference booklet with food lists, information, and a sample weekly dietary plan, and is very highly recommended for its contributions to cancer patients in search of an alternative medicine approach to dealing with cancer -- all ably presented in a comprehensive and thoroughly "user-friendly" presentation.

On The Outs
Polychrome Pictures
www.polychromepictures.com
1568967756 $19.97 www.amazon.com

On The Outs from Polychrome Pictures is the outstanding tale of three young women, Suzette, a fifteen-year-old runaway, Oz, a seventeen-year-old drug dealer, and young Marisol, a seventeen-year-old single-mother struggling with both custody of her child and a serious drug addiction. Depicting a tale based on the lives of real girls, On The Outs captivates viewers through its incredible telling of each of the girl's individual stories through to their meeting in a juvenile jail and the evocative occurrences which brought them each there. On The Outs is very highly recommended as the engaging story of three young women captured in a vivid reality faced by so many teens today.

Bird Flu
Brad Pitt
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
1593755988 $19.95 www.wgbh.org

Bird Flu: How Safe Are We? (A Global Health Challenge: Conquering AIDS, Avian Flu, And Other Deadly Epidemics) is narrated by Brad Pitt and provides viewers with up-to-date investigative reporting of the complexities and realities of public health systems and globally diverse and effective diseases including the newest threat to the global health environment -- "bird flu". This 56 minute DVD production offers an informative survey of modern discoveries with respect to health issues related to bird flue, and offers downloadable materials of educators, closed captions, video descriptions of the visually impaired, direct information from dispatches from health experts in the field, and activities for further explorations of global health issues. A part of the "RX for Survival" DVD series, Bird Flu is very highly recommended for its educational grasp of the disturbing phenomena of wide-spread communicable disease and issues global public health protection.


The Gaming Shelf

Maran Illustrated Poker
Ken R. Auliffe, technical consultant
Thomson Learning
PO Box 95999, Chicago, IL 60694-5999
1592009468 $19.99 www.courseptr.com

Enhanced with the technical expertise of professional poker player Ken R. Auliffe (Editor of the "Canadian Poker Player" magazine), Maran Illustrated Poker from the Maran Family is an profusely illustrated introduction to the major varieties of poker card games including Seven Card Stud, Omaha, and the wildly popular "Texas Hold'em" in both limit and no-limit forms. Readers are taken through the psychology as well as mathematical aspects of poker whether in home games or tournament play. Providing a knowledgeable perspective and an illustrative pictorial representation of diverse hands and game play situations, Maran Illustrated Poker carries its readers through poker essentials, as well as offering tips for comfortable playing in a casino card room, an online poker room. The critically important subjects of tells, bluffing, table position, and so much more are covered in detail. Maran Illustrated Poker is very strongly recommended as a truly invaluable and "user friendly" reference for all poker players, be they novice or expert, amateur or professional.

Oops! I Won Too Much Money
Tom Schneider
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 170
Dallas, TX 75248
1933285370 $24.95 brownbooks.com

A Certified Public Accountant and former President and Chief Financial Officer for three Arizona-based companies, Tom Schneider found that his background and experience in business and management were readily adaptable to playing and winning at poker. Becoming successful in going up against some of the most accomplished players in some of the biggest poker games around, Tom became and professional poker player (and the host of Texas' first televised poker tournament) for the last four years and has finished "in the money" four times at the World Series of Poker. Now he brings together in the pages of Oops! I Won Too Much Money: Winning Wisdoms From The Boardroom To The Poker Table (also available in a paperback edition, 1933285389, $16.95) all the hard earned wisdom he's learned in business, in poker, and in life to provide aspiring poker players with wit, humor, and "life lessons learned" that will enable poker players to become better at playing the game and living their lives .


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

War Fix
David Axe & Steven Olexa
NBM
555 8th Ave, #1202, NY, NY 10018-4364
1561634638 $15.95 nbmpublishing.com

Before you get excited, realize that this is a graphic novel, not a military action nonfiction piece. As such, it's a striking representation in black and white pictures of journalist David Axe's journey to Baghdad and war, using artwork to describe an addiction to war's excitement. Axe's written on Iraq for other top publications; War Fix is far more than journalistic reporting and provides striking images to capture experience.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

John A. Baule's The Ultimate Fruit Label Book (076432442X, $69.95) is a gorgeous representation of fruit labels from the late 1800s to the early 1960s: the heyday of millions of bright, colorful paper labels used by fruit growers to catch the eye and advertise their produce. This isn't just a value guide, though: over 1,700 color images are listed alphabetically and including stock and private labels from grows and associations alike, along with histories of major fruit companies and collecting hints. The result is a gorgeous presentation and a 'must' for any with more than a casual interest in fruit labels. Unjeria C. Jackson's Teapots By Design: A Collector's Catalogue (0764323253, $29.95) comes from a doctor and avid tea drinker whose passion for collecting teapots began in 1994. Her knowledge comes from research, seminars, and discussions with antique dealers: her book is packed with color photos and values and classifies stoneware, wooden, children's tea sets and more.

O'Brien's Collecting Toy Trains
David Doyle, Editor
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
0896893049 $29.99 www.fwpubs.com

For the first time in full color, the updated 6th edition of O'Brien's Collecting Toy Trains pairs photos of the leading brands with listings of collectible pieces and their values. Over a thousand such photos provide visual reference to updated prices of over 6,000 train listings, organized handily by maker name for quick reference. David Doyle is a renowned toy expert who has produced catalogs of Lionel trains before: O'Brien's Collecting Toy Trains expands to other makers, includes color sidebars of data and information, and is a 'must' for any avid train collector.

Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com

Specialty collectors of lamps will want to have the even more specialized reference TV Lamps To Light The World: Identification & Value Guide By John Shuman III (157432506X, $29.95) close at hand: it provides TV lamp distribution and manufacturing facts, organizes such lamps by themes, and provides not only clear small color photos and values, but tips on caring for and protecting a collection. Pete Georgiady's Antique Golf Collectibles Identification & Value Guide (1574324-969, $29.95) is also a specialty collector's reference which might reach well into the sports/golfing area as well: clubs, balls, books, ceramics and memorabilia are all listed and detailed in a guide which packs color photos by Richard Walker with values and surveys of themes. Even comic books which feature golf plots, such as Felix the Cat from the mid-1950s, are included, leaving no topic uncovered. Jewelry collectors will appreciate the specific focus of Marcia 'Sparkles' Brown's Rhinestone Jewelry: Figurals, Animals And Whimsicals (1574325035, $24.95), a gathering of classic rhinestone pieces and values. Organized by theme for easy look-up, Rhinestone Jewelry provides clear color photos of each piece, pairing values with written descriptions, buyer's tips, and special notes. Richard Clear's Old Magazines 2nd Edition (1574325019, $19.95) pairs color photos of selected covers with notes on issues, title variations, publisher years, and values. From grading systems to illustrators and magazines to paper doll collections, Old Magazines is a' must' reference for collectors. R.S. Prussia & More by Mary McCaslin (1574324772, $29.95) packs in the color photos covering Schlegelmilch porcelain. Photo galleries of ornate pieces featuring Cobalt simply pack a guide which includes values and descriptions – but it's the photos and their abundance which make for such an outstanding gathering of porcelain factory productions in general and R.S. Prussia works.


The Education Shelf

They Teach That In Community College!?
Andrew Morkes, Managing Editor
College & Career Press
3139 North Lincoln Avenue, Suite 208, Chicago, IL 60657
www.collegeandcareerpress.com
097452512X $19.95

Community and technical colleges offering two-year programs in various disciplines have become an essential part of America's educational infrastructure, preparing students for jobs and careers in a variety of employment fields. So popular and pervasive are community and technical colleges that they account for more than 46 percent of all undergraduate students or approximately 12 million young men and women earning certifications and degrees in a wealth of subjects ranging from agricultural education; biotechnology; entrepreneurship; and fashion design; to Native American studies; screenwriting; speech language pathology management; and web design/development. Each entry in They Teach That In Community College?!: A Resource Guide To 70 Interesting College Majors And Programs, such as Homeland Security/Emergency Management, begins with a succinct and descriptive summary, a list of Typical Course; a general listing of Potential Employers; a roster of community and technical colleges (including their contact information) offering degrees or certification in the speciality; and a informative Q&A style interview with a community and/or technical college representative about the discipline in question. They Teach That In Community College?! is enhanced with the addition of appendices dedicated to "Community Colleges in the United States by State"; "Top Community Colleges" (as reflected by the number of associate degrees awarded in 2005); "Community College Associations"; a "School Index"; a "Schools by State Index"; and an "Association/Organization Index". They Teach That In Community College!? is a core reference for highschool guidance counselors, parents and students seeking affordable alternatives to four-year colleges and universities, as well as adults needing to upgrade their professional skills, wanting to change their career path, and/or who are re-entering the work force after an absence.

Failure Is Not An Option
Alan M. Blankstein
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
1412909341 $32.95 corwinpress.com

Educators will wish to consider the major influences on student achievement in high-performing schools in Failure Is Not An Option: Six Principles That Guide Student Achievement In High-Performing Schools. These principles include developing systems of intervention, collaborative taming for teaching and learning, participation from family and community, and more: theories delve into practice with applications pairing with real-life accounts of achievement success.


The Architecture Shelf

Global City Blues
Daniel Solomon
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
www.islandpress.org
1597260851 $15.95 1-800-828-1302

Professional architect Daniel Solomon presents Global City Blues, a passionate and sharply worded warning against the harm that modernist architectural ideals can cause at the expense of city places constructed with the goal of creating community and fellowship. Chapters discuss the importance of style, "Why the City is Not a Work of Art", the massive impact of technology upon architecture, and much more. Written especially for current and aspiring city architects and architectural planners, Global City Blues combines theory with practicality in search of the highest goal - creating places that foster lasting bonds between people, rather than simply serving as flashy showcases.

Earth-Sheltered Houses
Rob Roy
New Society Publishers
37 Cherry Street, Easthampton, MA 01027
www.newsociety.com
0865715211 $26.95 1-800-283-3572

Former contractor Rob Roy presents Earth-Sheltered Houses: How To Build An Affordable Underground Home, a thoroughly practical guide to building homes with earthen roofs, for a dwelling in greater harmony with the environment that leaves less of a footprint on the planet. Other benefits of an earth-sheltered home include low maintenance, as well as protection against fire, earthquake, and storm. Modern technology has made strides in solving difficulties that plagued earth-sheltered homes of the past. Earth-Sheltered Houses covers basic design principles; critical concepts to keep in mind when excavating, laying foundation, installing the floor, building external walls, framing timber, and more for earth-sheltered houses; interior considerations; and much more. Black-and-white illustrations and diagrams round out this absolute "must-have" for anyone considering building or owning a sturdy earth-sheltered home.

Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, New York NY 10013
www.abbeville.com

Two outstanding titles provide homeowners, architects and home designers with plenty of ideas and strong visual presentations. Victoria Meyers' Designing With Light (0789208806, $45.00) surveys recent developments in light science and how these advancements translate into modern visual art, film, music and architectural objectives. Chapters follow different aspects of light in architecture, from its use in glass and its tailoring to produce desired shadows, forms and effects to its vivid colorful impact on interior design and structure functionality. Jonathan Bell's book, 21st Century House (0789208857, $29.95) offers up a focus on the home as a symbol of change and innovation, packing in hundreds of color photos of house interiors to prove his point. These photos don't limit themselves to the U.S. either, but cover homes around the world, with architectural writer Jonathan Bell choosing homes which reflect the latest design trends whether urban or rural. Affordable houses are the focus, too: a refreshing perspective in a sea of architecture books featuring mansions.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

The Mosque
Rusmir Mahmutcehajic
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458
www.fordhampress.com
0823225844 $24.95 1-800-247-6553

The Mosque: The Heart Of Submission could have been featured in our Spirituality section, but is reviewed here for its central importance in any consideration of Muslim thinking, religious or otherwise. Mahmutcehajic surveys ways in which the mosque differs from the Christian church, considering its unique place in Muslim tradition as a stand-alone image without an institutionalized hierarchy. It holds importance throughout Muslim society and thus religious concepts of upward bliss, mercy, and God move from the Mosque well beyond the usual boundaries into the heart of social structure. This survey of its symbolism and meaning is a 'must' for any who would understand modern Islamic sentiments.

Journey Of The Jihadist
Fawaz A. Gerges
Harcourt
15 East 26th St., New York NY 10010
015101213X $25.00 harcourtbooks.com

Journey Of The Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy comes from a Middle Eastern scholar and media commentator who examines who jihadists are and what they are saying to the world. Gerges went to Cairo and began discussions with one of the movement's founders, then moving to speak with hundreds of other jihadists throughout the Arab world. His blend of history of extremist thinking to philosophies which drive modern lives makes for a journey which is critically important to understanding jihadism and its current logic and direction.


The Native American Shelf

War Dance at Fort Marion
Brad D. Lookingbill
University of Oklahoma Press
4100 28th Ave., NW, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
0806137398 $29.95 1-800-627-7377

War Dance At Fort Marion: Plains Indian War Prisoners is the true story of Kiowa, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Arapaho chiefs and warriors who were held as prisoners of war by the U.S. Army from 1875 to 1878 at Fort Marion in Saint Augustine, Florida. The prisoners participated in an educational experiment, as introduced by Captain Richard Henry Pratt, as an alternative to standard imprisonment. While they were incarcerated, the Indian leaders followed Pratt's rules and met his educational demands, while keeping hold of their own identities. Author and history professor Brad. D. Lookingbill draws from primary sources, particularly Native American accounts, to piece together the story of the war prisoners, as well as portray Pratt's evolving vision to mold Indians into model citizens of American mainstream society - an undertaking that came at a cost of personal suffering and cultural loss for the Indian generations so molded. Of particular note are the coping strategies that Plains Indian leaders used to survive their internment with dignity and return to lead their people with pride. Highly recommended.

Not Just A Pretty Face
Molly Lee, editor
University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, 104 Eielson Building
Salcha Street, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
www.uaf.edu/uapress
1889963852 $24.95 1-888-252-6657

Now in an updated second edition, Not Just A Pretty Face: Dolls And Human Figurines In Alaska Native Cultures is a striking showcase of dolls and dollmaking, exploring their role in the lives of native Alaskans from ancient ivory carvings to the modern tourist market. Filled with color photographs, Not Just A Pretty Face is both an artistic and anthropological showcase. The text surveys the history of dolls and dollmaking, and includes interviews with dollmakers as well as speculations upon the future of native arts. A lay reader-friendly showcase for anthropology shelves, Native American studies shelves, and doll collector shelves alike.

Out Of The West
Suzan Campbell
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Western Edge Press (dist.)
126 Candelano Stret, Santa Fe, NM 87501
1889921211 $34.95 www.santa-fe.net

Out Of The West: The Gund Collection Of Western Art by Suzan Campbell (Gund Curator of Western Art, History, and Culture for the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art) is an extensive and informative western American art history showcasing works from the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Deftly compiled, organized and with expert commentary, Out Of The West offers readers a complete reference guide that includes the artists, their subjects, timely and timeless ideals represented in various works, modern collections of western art, as well as anecdotal stories and background portraits with each featured piece, painting, drawing, sculpture, and more. An important, core addition to professional, academic, and community library "History of American Art" collections, Out Of The West is very highly recommended for art students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history, enduring popularity, creative passion, and culturally iconic power of American western art.

Lewis And Clark Through Indian Eyes
Alvin M. Josephy, Jr.
Alfred A. Knopf
1745 Broadway, 17th fl., NY, NY 10019
1400042674 $24.00 www.aaknopf.com

Plenty of history books tell the Lewis and Clark expedition story from different angles; but here for the first time is the other side of the story from nine descendants of the Native Americans whose homelands were traversed by the two intrepid explorers. From a newspaper editor who writes of his childhood belief he was descended from Clark to essays which reveal family encounters, tribal law, or the expedition's long impact on tribes today, Lewis And Clark Through Indian Eyes provides an impressively wide-ranging set of essays charting more than just their journeys.

Husk Of Time
Victor Masayesva Jr.
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816524971 $24.95 uapress.arizona.edu

Victor Masayesva Jr's focus is on Native American life, blending photos and hand paintings to go beyond collections which limit their presentations to one medium or the other. With his background in film as well as photography, Masayesva is well aware of the underlying drama which lies in presentations, and uses them to advantage in a set of powerful images in Husk Of Time. Landscapes blend with portraits and the artist's own discussions of his inspirations to accent both black and white and color shots. A haunting collection indeed.


The Political Science Shelf

Playing President
Robert Scheer
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10019
1933354011 $14.95 akashicbooks.com

Playing President: My Close Encounters With Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Reagan, And Clinton – And How They Did Not Prepare Me For George W. Bush provides insights into the presidential mind, blending new observations and reprinted interviews and profiles of past presidents to offer insights about how leaders make decisions – and what makes our current president different. Robert Scheer covered presidential politics for the LA Times for thirty years: his interviews blend with new interview transcripts and updated insights to provide a winning blend of past and present commentary on the office. Playing President is "must read" for political science students.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Best Resumes & Letters For Ex-Offenders
Wendy S. Enelow & Ronald L. Krannich
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111
www.impactpublications.com
1570232512 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Millions of Americans have a conviction on their record and face additional challenges as they look for work with such on their record. Best Resumes And Letters For Ex-Offenders provides tips on how to work with such a checkered past, from understanding the basics of how resumes and letters work to tailoring an effective letter and seeking employment which takes an offense into account. Best Resumes And Letters For Ex-Offenders is the first job application reference book to specifically address the unique and formidable challenges ex-offenders face when applying for employment, and should be on the reading list of anyone who face job prospects after doing time.

To Be A U.S. Secret Service Agent
Henry M. Holden
Zenith Press/MBI
380 Jackson Street, #200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0760322937 $19.95 zenithpress.com

If you want to be a member of the U.S. Secret Service you must have Henry Holden's To Be A U.S. Secret Service Agent: it provides a blend of history and insights on the secretive law enforcement agency, from how it recruits and trains to the specialized equipment it uses to protect heads of state. To Be A U.S. Secret Service Agent is the only book to combine a history with coverage of career options and paths and as such as a top recommendation.

How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
Adrian Shaughnessy
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York NY 10003
1568985592 $19.95 www.papress.com

Graphic designers love to talk about sources of inspiration, but less willing to discuss the basics on locating work, pricing, and how to handle irate or non-paying clients – so it's essential that any graphic designer operating independently have this practical reference. It's one thing to be creative; it's another to manage its business needs. How To Be A Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul provides tested strategies for setting up, running and promoting a studio – and working with clients and their common problems.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Challenge Of Wealth
Erlend Peterson
Seven Locks Press
PO Box 25689, Santa Ana, CA 92799
www.sevenlockspublishing.com
1931163776 $19.95 1-714-545-2526

Erlend Peterson draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as an investment advisor and certified financial planner in The Challenge Of Wealth: Managing The Joys, Responsibilities, And Opportunities That Come With Wealth to create an informed and informative guide for the non-specialist general reader on properly managing their financial resources through the many struggles encountered in the process of amassing wealth. Presenting a knowledgeable understanding of assets, cash flow, income, the safety of assets, and control of taxes, sudden wealth, lifestyle and retirement, and trusts, gifts, charities, and foundations, The Challenge Of Wealth deftly presents a complete and concise introduction to economic prosperity and the expert manipulation of personal finances. The Challenge Of Wealth is very strongly recommended for all readers searching for a sound guide to dealing with the often difficult issues frequently faced when building a strong financial foundation while leading a fulfilling personal life.


The Literary Shelf

Medieval Boundaries
Sharon Kinoshita
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
0812239199 $59.95 1-800-537-5487

Medieval Boundaries: Rethinking Differences In Old French Literature presents the assertion of author Sharon Kinoshita (Professor of Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz) that French analyzing literary texts composed in the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries requires an understanding of the cross-cultural contact taking place during that era of history. Chapters discuss "The Politics of Courtly Love", "Uncivil Wars", "Colonial Possessions" such as perceptions of Wales and the Anglo-Normans, and much more. A heavily researched, scholarly presentation ideal for college library and French literary studies shelves.

A Companion to Walt Whitman
Donald D. Kummings, editor
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
www.blackwellpublishing.com
1405120932 $149.95 1-800-216-2522

A Companion To Walt Whitman is an anthology of 35 original essays written by leading scholars, discussing the cultural and literary context of Whitman's classic poetry and prose works. From the influence of nineteenth-century popular culture on Whitman and his literature, to the repercussions of the American Civil War, to the unique nuances of the very first edition of "Leaves of Grass", A Companion To Walt Whitman is an erudite exploration of not only the works themselves and their reflection of Whitman's era, but also the valuable insights they convey to present and future generations. Highly recommended.

The Avant-Garde And Geopolitics In Latin America
Fernando J. Rosenberg
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, 5th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.pitt.edu/~press
082295916X $27.95 1-800-666-2211

The Avant-Garde And Geopolitics In Latin America is a close study of cannonical Latin American avant-garde texts of the 1920s and 1930s, including novels, travel writing, journalism, and poetry, revealing them as seeds of modern Western culture and precursors of global culture. Author Fernando J. Rosenberg (asst. professor, Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, Yale University) scrutinizes the long-term global and political implications of Latin American literature, supporting his conclusions with extensive notes and references. Especially recommended for Latin American literature and history students, The Avant-Garde And Geopolitics In Latin America an advanced discourse of cultural reverberations that far transcend their decade, and even their century, of origin.

The Satirist
Leonard Feinberg
Transaction Books
390 Campus Dr, Somerset, NJ 08873
1412805627 $29.95 transactionpub.com

The Satirist by Leonard Feinberg (Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University) is a deftly compiled and insightfully critical analysis of the historical contributions of satirical writers to literature. Focusing upon the great humorists and satirists of western literature, The Satirist studies their theoretics and creative elemental constructivism for the purpose of a kind of psychoanalytic exploration of their works within the context of an historical placement, including diverse political and philosophical influences. A seminal study worth of any university library Literary Studies reference collection, The Satirist is very strongly recommended to the attention of scholars and students for its remarkable scholarship and informative content on satirical works and authorship in western literature.

Interview With A Ghost
Tom Sleigh
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
www.graywolfpress.org
1555974406 $15.00 1-651-641-0077

Interview With A Ghost is not a collection of poetry per se, but rather a collection of essays by poet and teacher Tom Sleigh about the nature of poetry itself, as explored with the belief that "while art and life are separable, they aren't separate." Sleigh's writings include "Proteus as Poet", "Against the Text 'Poetry Makes Nothing Happen'", "To the Star Demons" and much more. Exploring the aesthetic and psychological implications of the poetry of a variety of noted authors, including Anne Bradstreet, Sir Walter Raleigh, Robert Lowell, Thom Gunn, Seamus Heaney, and Frank Bidart. A contemplative tour of thought, Interview With A Ghost is strongly recommended reading for college students and intermediate to advanced poetry scholars.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Deadly Housewives
Christine Matthews
Avon
10 E. 53rd Street, New York NY 100022
0060853271 $13.95 harpercollins.com

Nevada Barr, Carole Nelson Douglas, Marcia Muller and other top names provide engrossing short stories of murder and mystery centering around the psyche of the housewife in a mystery gathering of new stories by big names. Anticipate stories which excel in strong characters and absorbing plots with plenty of mystery paired with women's issues and concerns as a side-dish.

The Nymphos Of Rocky Flats
Mario Acevedo
Rayo/HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0060833262 $13.95 harpercollins.com

A war vet from Iraq and a private eye investigator is commissioned to uncover a conspiracy behind an outbreak of nymphomania at the secrets government facility Rocky Flats, only to find his newfound vampire skills lends to some strange involvements. Blend in a world vampire community's issues and you have a multi-faceted thriller with so many twists and turns, it's hard to document them all.

Death And The Cornish Fiddler
Deryn Lake
Allison & Busby Limited
c/o International Publishers Market
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.allisonandbusby.com
0749082968 $25.95 1-800-758-3756

Death And The Cornish Fiddler by Deryn Lake is the story of the widower Apothecary John Rawlings and his investigation into the disappearance of a young child in some very peculiar circumstances. The Helstone Floral Dance and a peculiar blind musician add to the mystery as Rawlings uncovers a dark coven and a menacing peril directed toward his own daughter. A popular addition to any community library's "Mystery & Suspense" collection, Death And The Cornish Fiddler is very highly recommended for mystery buffs for its superbly crafted and gripping story that holds the reader's rapt attention from first page to last.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 East First Avenue, #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Betty Webb's Desert Run (1590582349, $24.95) provides a fine pairing of real Arizona history mixed with intrigue in a Lena Jones mystery. Private eye Lena faces many changes at work, she's doing security for a documentary director, and she's probing the central mysteries in her own life. From a family's murder to the haunting moments of World War II, Desert Run provides a thriller on many levels. Kathleen Hills' Witch Cradle (1590582543, $24.95) is set in the early 1950s and tells of a strange ice storm which brings down a tree laden with evidence of the past. A refugee couple, two bodies, and a red-hunting government agent's zest for the truth lend to a complex and satisfying mystery packed with intrigue all the way. Both are top picks for discriminating mystery readers.


The Photography Shelf

Garage Glamour
Rolando Gomez
Amherst Media
PO Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
1584281839 $34.95 AmherstMedia.com

If you're looking to create not just nude photos, but sexy and sultry results, Garage Glamour: Digital Nude And Beauty Photography Made Simple is for you. From settings and clothing to poses and controlling subject, background and foreground for maximum effect, a range of shooting and setting skills are reviewed for photographers who have the basics down and want to go further.

Licensing Photography
Richard Weisgram & Victor S. Perlman
Allworth Press
10 East 53rd St, Suite 510, NY, NY 10010
1581154364 $19.95 www.allworth.com

Photography pursuits blend well with business in Licensing Photography, a resource that helps photographers price and control their work. With all the photography books on the market, surprisingly few address the issues of licensing as a way of making or managing works. Here a veteran photographer and an intellectual property attorney team up to examine the issues, explain how licensing photography works, and survey related issues from copyright protection and identifying infringements to release forms, agreements and negotiating tactics for both print and online media.


The Art Shelf

Chinese Symbolism And Art Motifs
C.A.S. Williams
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
080483704X $21.95 tuttlepublishing.com

Now in its fourth edition, Chinese Symbolism And Art Motifs: A Comprehensive Handbook On Symbolism In Chinese Art Through The Ages is a straightforward survey of recurring symbols in Chinese artwork from ancient times to the modern day. Divided into entries devoted to each symbol ("dragon", "phoenix", "the eight immortals", "the five elements" and much more), which are in turn presented in alphabetical order, Chinese Symbolism And Art Motifs includes over 400 black-and-white illustrations and an index for quick and easy reference. The text succinctly surveys different uses of each symbol, and also presents the names for symbols and important historical or mythical Chinese figures in Chinese characters as well as in translation. An easy-to-use guidebook especially recommended for college libraries and students and scholars of Chinese art.

Tank Too
Masoud Golsorkhi & Andreas Laeufer
Thames & Hudson
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
0500285977 $34.95 www.amazon.com

The founders of the magazine "Tank" envisioned their publication as a gathering place for artistic imagery and ideas drawn from the fashion, architecture and design worlds alike: a uniquely visual magazine that would challenge and stretch the boundaries between these worlds. This second fathering of images from Tank covers four years worth of works and continues to excite and amaze by focusing on startling concepts grouped by theme. From ideas of elitism to etiquette and social mores, images of people and places juxtapose a range of approaches and provide colorful reflective images. University level art library reference collections must include a copy of Tank Too.

Mary In Western Art
Timothy Verdon
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
097129819X $60.00 hudsonhills.com

Mary In Western Art is an impressively informative and visually captivating artbook with a wealth of full-color illustrations of classic artworks of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and also featuring a lengthy and insightful discussion of Mary's identity by Timothy Verdon, a priest and Yale- trained art historian. The individual chapters and images comprising Mary In Western Art reflects upon Mary as a figure, Mary as a woman, and Mary's influence upon the city of Florence. The theological depth of the extensively researched text will appeal particularly to art history scholars, while the exquisite beauty of the artworks on every page is universal. Mary In Western Art is enthusiastically recommended for community library collections and academic library religious art history shelves.

The New Jewelry
Carles Codina
Lark/Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Ave. South, NY NY 10016-8810
1579907342 $29.95 www.sterling.com

A range of modern alternative materials are used for producing the works in The New Jewelry: Contemporary Materials & Techniques, differentiating it from other jewelry-making books which focus on old standards. Here are jewelry creations made from rice paper, paper clay, wood, polymer clay and plastics. Here too are tips on using alternative materials to produce professional-quality results. Step-by-step color photos accompany finished product photos to review every step of the process.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Christianity And The Secular
Robert A. Markus
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
0268034907 $30.00 undpress.nd.edu

Christianity And The Secular by Robert A. Markus (Professor Emeritus at the University of Nottingham) is a fascinating and informative survey of Christian history and the pervasive influence of Christianity on secular society. Following the Christian movement from its earliest manifestations and describing its emergence as a government approved religion with the sanctioning of the Roman Emperor Constantine, as an established religion of the state, Christianity And The Secular reveals intriguing concisely documented facts and information on the inevitably blurring of the lines with respect to legitimate and proper autonomy of secular public life free from the religious control of Christian authorities. Part of the "'Blessed Pope John XXIII Lecture Series in Theology and Culture" published by the University of Notre Dame Press, Christianity And The Secular is very highly recommended reading for all students Christianity and Culture and a welcome addition to seminary and university level Christian Studies reference collections.

World Wisdom
Box 2682, Bloomington, IN 47402-2582
www.worldwisdom.com

Sri Ramana Maharshi's Timeless In Time (1933316152, $21.95) blends the autobiographical statements of Sri Ramana Maharshi with his teachings and biographical background details by A.R. Natarajan, gathered from direct sources, pairing all this with over a hundred photos and a glossary of Hindu terms to provide an outstanding survey of one of the greatest Hindu sages of our times. Maharshi was known for his simple approach in leading people to spiritual realization and for his peaceful presence: Timeless In Time celebrates his life and teachings and makes for a solid introduction for newcomers. Titus Burckhardt's The Foundations Of Christian Art (1933316128, $18.95) provides a fine illustrated edition of Burckhardt's writings on Christian sacred art, pairing over a hundred color illustrations of such art with his expertise and insights. The entire history of Christian art is surveyed with a focus on its manuscripts and arts and crafts guilds and their connections to Christian spiritual concepts. This lovely presentation is a top pick for newcomers to Christian art history or theory.

Embracing Relationships
Carol S. & Robert F. Lawson, Editors
Chrysalis Books
c/o Swedenborg Foundation
320 North Church Street, West Chester, PA 19380
0877852367 $14.95 swedenborg.com

For a uniquely spiritual perspective on life and its wealth of familial, social, and communal relationships, Embracing Relationships provides a set of inspired and inspiring, warm-hearted stories which reflect on just how the progress of life affects such contacts. Here's a literary gathering which enters well into the realm of personal spirituality and should earn attraction from both spiritualists and students of literature: Indeed, compiled and edited by Carol and Robert Lawson, Embracing Relationships an impressive reader which provides some truly lovely first-person reflections on encounters in life, promising thoughtful insights and is deserving of as wide a readership as possible and is recommended for anyone seeking uplifting reading material regardless of their denominational affiliation or religious background.


The Science Shelf

Scientific Reasoning
Colin Howson & Peter Urbach
Open Court Publishing Company
315 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 61354
www.opencourtbooks.com
081269578X $40.00 1-800-815-2280

Now in its third edition, Scientific Reasoning: The Bayesian Approach, is a basic introduction to the philosophy that scientific reasoning is, and should be, conducted in accordance with the axioms of probability. Called the Bayesian view, after a theorem first proven by Thomas Bayes in the late eighteenth century, has recently gained increased standing as a valuable methodology for examining scientific evidence. Scientific Reasoning explains the elements of probability calculus that are relevant to Bayesian methods and argues that probability calculus should be understood as a form of logic. Accessibly written, even to readers who understand only the basics of probability or calculus, Scientific Reasoning is a solid explanation of how Bayesian theory offers a unified and highly satisfactory accounting of scientific procedure, and is an absolute "must-read" for all scientists and students of science.

The Last Of The Great Observatories
George H. Rieke
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816525226 $40.00 1-800-426-3797

The Last Of The Great Observatories: Spitzer And The Era Of Faster, Better, Cheaper At NASA is the story of the last of the four "Great Observatories" that tell modern scientists more about the stars, planets, and galaxies beyond our own; the other three are the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Developed over twenty years and nicknamed the "Infrared Hubble", Spitzer launched in 2003 to resounding scientific success. The Last Of The Great Observatories tells of the long history and creation of Spitzer, from its lengthy planning to its reflection of the desire to get it done "better, faster, cheaper" to complications plaguing its launch and more. An excellent, smartly written contribution to astronomy history shelves.

Geology Underfoot In Southern Utah
Richard L. Orndorff, et al.
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806
www.mountain-press.com
0878425179 $18.00 1-800-234-5308

Co-authored by the team of Richard L. Orndorff, Robert W. Wieder, and David G. Futey, Geology Underfoot In Southern Utah presents the true stories behind thirty-three of southern Utah's wondrous geological sites, some well-known, others much less so. Maps, black-and-white photographs, and lengthy descriptions and histories make Geology Underfoot In Southern Utah ideal for armchair travelers, geology buffs, and Utah vacationers looking to visit canyons, dinosaur trackways, old mines, rock glaciers, oysters in the desert, and much more. A highly readable, jovially presented celebration of southern Utah's magnificent natural and man-made geologic features, including Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Valley of the Gods, The La Sal Mountains, The San Rafael Reef & Swell, and much more.


The Poetry Shelf

New Orleans Suite
Peg Lauber
Marsh River Editions
M233 Marsh Road, Marshfield, WI 54449
www/mashrivereditions.com
0977276813 $10.00

New Orleans Suite is an anthology of free-verse narrative poetry, written before the havoc that Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans. Succinctly capturing the Peg Lauber's journey from Wisconsin to New Orleans and back, New Orleans Suite captures the essence of Louisiana's nature, wildlife, and bustling people, as well as reflecting on the bonds between mother and daughter. A vibrant taste of a thronging city, beautifully preserved in memory. First Crawfish Ball: Someone asks, "What time / is the Crawfish Ball?" / That's how it sounded. / Crawfish dancing? / People dancing with crawfish? // So come Friday we promenade up / to the chef's front porch, see / a small canoe laid on sawhorses. / In the backyard a huge pot / pumps out the rhythms / with the help of a small, / steel drum of a propane tank.

Shorts
John Lehman
Zelda Wilde Publishing
315 Water Street, Cambridge, WI 53523
0974172820 $11.95

Shorts: 101 Brief Poems Of Wonder And Surprise is an anthology of bite-sized, free-verse that quintessentially capture the moment when an unexpected moment of joy overwhelms the mind. Written by the poetry editor of the "Wisconsin Academy Review", these upbeat and sometimes morsels of glowing moments of memory or imagination. A delight to read. Houdini Prepares for a Blind Date: He buffs his cordovans, dons gray / serge slacks and places a blindfold / in his breast pocket just in case.

Memories Like Burrs
Gertrude Halstead
Adastra Press
16 Reservation Rd Esthampton MA 01027
0977666719 $14.00 www.spdbooks.org

Gertrude Halstead was a young German Jewish woman living in Berlin in the 1930s and witnessed the Nazi rise to power first hand. Gertrude narrowly escaped the Nazi roundups of jews, eventually fleeing to France where she was later sent to an internment camp near the Spanish border. By writing her own liberation papers (and with the help of sympathetic French officers that were in charge of the camp), she was able to flee over the Pyrenees to Lisbon, Portugal, and in 1941, boarded the last passenger ship to leave Europe for the United States. Gertrude lost most of her family who were to perish in the concentration camps of Dachau and Auschwitz. This remarkable woman today lives in Worcester, Massachusetts, and at the age of 90, Memories Like Burrs is her debut poetry collection and stands as a testament to her ability to compose images of words whose emotional impact upon the reader is as memorable as her personal story of survival against horrific odds. Painting: on the back of his old white shirt/i paint nightmares and the sun exploding/cathedral windows and the light always the light/pattern on the stones at Sainte-Chapelle//i paint black books and books burning/i paint you blind because you would tell them nothing/i paint you free falling from that high window ledge/before they kicked your door in//i paint trenches i paint the charred/ribcage of my father's house/i paint the dead ash gray/and the light always the light

The Form Of A City Changes Faster, Alas, Than The Human Heart
Jacques Roubaud
Dalkey Archive Press
ISU Campus Box 8905, Normal, IL 61790
1564783839 $13.95 dalkeyarchive.com

The Form Of A City Changes Faster, Alas, Than The Human Heart is a collection written as an homage and response to the best-known poets of France, including Charles Baudelaire and Raymond Queneau, is the latest work by author Jacques Roubaud. The free verse varies widely in structure from poem to poem, and all the works offer a keenly whetted slice of insight into the dynamic history and culture of France. XVth Arrondissement: no doubt in possession / of a smattering of Latin / an old man in Rue de la / Croix-Nivert smirks / before a store window / of lingerie feminine / "IN FINE"

Dark Familiar
Aleda Shirley
Sarabande Books
2234 Dundee Road, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40205
www.sarabandebooks.org
1932511369 $13.95 1-800-283-3572

Dark Familiar is an anthology of impressively crafted free-verse poetry about the transition between life and death, and the unknowable hereafter. Poignant, meant to be read in silence and soberly contemplated, Dark Familiar is Aleda Shirley's first collection in nearly ten years, and contains the emotion and the harsh perspective that concrete awareness of entropy brings to one's personal daily life. A grim yet powerful collection. The Asphodel Fields: In its liquid form water's incompressible / & yet a river moves not only through space / but through time. When I lived by the river // it rose ten feet in a single night - there / were petals on the surface, carnelian flecks / from a Judas tree. A boy waved from a ledge // of blue light, but i must have been the bridge, / or a barge lifted to eye-level by the flood. / Where is he now. And you, where are you.

Stubborn
Jean Gallagher
Oberlin College Press
50 North Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074-1095
www.oberlin.edu/ocpress
0932440274 $14.95 1-800-666-2211

An award-winning poet, Jean Gallagher presents Stubborn, a collection of free-verse poetry revolving about the author's intransigent affection for art and events, above and beyond their aesthetic or beautiful dimensions. Stubborn reaches beyond what the human eye gauges, and strives to express the co-mingling of the mundane and the divine, as well as the natural power of personal will. Each poem is directly inspired by a work of great art from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, many of which depict Biblical scenes. A singularly powerful poetic reinterpretation of visual classics. Self-Diagnosis (Last Supper): Lined up all my cells at the table and said: / one of you will. Which one which one not me: / little birds, the weight of the early elements, / falling off the high wire into / doubt's life-long, unresisting blue.

The Gods We Worship Live Next Door
Bino A. Realuyo
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
www.uofupress.com
0874808618 $12.95 1-800-773-6672

The 2005 winner of the Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry, The Gods We Worship Live Next Door is a stark free- verse collection. Written by a Manila native who survived the Bataan Death March and a WW II Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines, The Gods We Worship Live Next Door images horrific events in human history with the stark clarity that only art can provide. A dark, vivid insight into unjustifiable cruelties and wrongs. From a Filipino Death March Survivor Whose WW II Benefits Were Rescinded by the US Congress in 1946: 1. I left three years ago. / 2. If you want to know about my rural childhood, ask my survivors. / 3. If you want to know how I was recruited into the United States Army at twenty, ask President Roosevelt. / 4. If you want to know how I ended up in the Death March at twenty-one, ask General MacArthur. / 5. If you want to know how many of my friends perished in the Japanese concentration camps, ask General Homma. / 6. If you want to know how I contracted malaria, beri-beri, dysentery, skin disease, gastrointestinal disease in one month, ask the Japanese Camp Commander. / 7. If you want to know how my military benefits were rescinded at the end of the war, ask President Truman. / 8. If you want to know how I became a 100% disabled veteran, ask my V.A. doctors.


The Criminology Shelf

Chemistry, Medicine, And Crime
Jose Ramon Bertomeu-Sanchez
Agusti Nieto-Galan, editors
Science History Publications
Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562
0881352756 $52.00 www.shpusa.com

Chemistry, Medicine, and Crime: Mateu J.B. Orfila (1787-1853) is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors about Mateu J.B. Orfila, forensic researcher, laboratory worker, and educator of nineteenth century Europe. Orfila's theories and experiments led to striking advances in chemical and medical scientific knowledge. Essays discuss Orfila's input into controversies surrounding toxicology and especially arsenic poisoning; the lasting legacy of Orfila's regularly updated and translated textbooks; teaching practices of Orfila's era; and much more. A fascinating glimpse into the world of a gifted man who dedicated himself to advancing human scientific understanding.


The Railroading Shelf

Logging Railroads Of The Adirondacks
Bill Grove
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Ave, Syracuse, NY 13244
0815607946 $49.95 www.syr.edu

Logging Railroads Of The Adirondacks by retired forester and railroading enthusiast Bill Grove is an impressively detailed and smoothly written account of the many interesting facets and over all history of the logging methods, the use of the railway in the Adirondack forest. As an in-depth reference and informative documentation of the railways in the Adirondack forest, enhanced with historic photographs and illustrations, Logging Railroads Of The Adirondacks is an engaging study of the history of these Adirondack railroads and their relationship to logging, forestry, and their effects upon a beautiful American forest. Enhanced with a glossary, a bibliography, and an index, Logging Railroads Of The Adirondacks is very strongly recommended reading to all students of American history, as well as railroads buffs, the logging industry, and the Adirondacks.

Dow's Dictionary Of Railway Quotations
Andrew Dow
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
0801882923 $45.00 1-800-537-5487

Dow's Dictionary Of Railway Quotations is a gigantic compendium of quotations about railways from 1608 to the present day. Presenting more than 3,400 entries from over 1,300 writers and speakers and diverse British and American sources, from Acts of Parliament to poetry, songs, and journals, to obituaries, novels, histories, plays, films, radio broadcasts, private conversations, and much more, each selected quote vividly conveys a lasting impression that trains have had on human culture and the psyche, as well as basic economics and transportation. Organized according to subject, with an index for quick and easy lookup, Dow's Dictionary Of Railway Quotations is especially recommended for railroad buffs, and also for railroad-related publications, even railroad-themed personal blogs and online journals. My heart is warm with friends I make, / And better friends I'll not be knowing; / Yet there isn't a train that I wouldn't take, / No matter where it's going. -Edna St Vincent Millay, Travel, 1921.


The Dance Shelf

A Game For Dancers
Gay Morris
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
www.wesleyan.edu/wespress
0819568058 $24.95 1-800-421-1561

Dance and art critic Gay Morris presents A Game For Dancers: Performing Modernism In The Postwar Years 1945-1960, a study of the challenge posed to American modern dancers as the Cold War seized hold of American culture and the genre became categorically institutionalized. Chapters discuss the changes, for better or worse, imposed upon ballet, African-American vanguardism, modernist theory, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this scholarly and serious-minded scrutiny of a critical phase of the evolution of an art form.


The Psychology Shelf

Dying To Be Free
Beverly Cobain & Jean Larch
Hazelden Publishing
PO Box 176, Center City, MN 55012
1592853293 $12.95 www.hazelden.org

Suicide is present in every community and in every segment and strata of our society, creating an emotional impact that can often be catastrophic to families, devastating to friends, and shocking to the community. Dying To Be Free: A Healing Guide For Families After A Suicide offers an informative and thoroughly accessible understanding of the terrifying realities suicide and its aftermath, including the necessity for developing a caring process for overcoming the resultant grief, guilt, and psychic damage to surviving family member, friends, and associates. Carrying readers through the commonly encountered emotional issues and offering an up-front, honest recollection of personal struggles involved in a loved one's suicide or suicide attempt, Dying To Be Free offers a complete, insightful, expert and sensitive guide through the many psychological influences and diverse situational contributions to the matter of suicide, as well as first hand accounts provided by suicide survivors. Critically important reading for anyone having to deal with the suicide and/or suicidal behavior of a loved one, Dying To Be Free is very highly recommended for its perspective on working through the grief and emotional distress that results from the self-inflicted taking of a human life.

Identity And Story
Dan P. McAdams, et al
American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
159147356X $59.95 www.apa.org

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly co-authored by the team of Dan P. McAdams (Professor of Human Development and Social Policy and Director of the Foley Center for the Study of Lives at Northwestern University), Ruthellen Josselson (Professor of Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem), and Amia Lieblich (Professor of Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Identity And Story: Creating Self In Narrative is an in-depth examination of self-identity and the profound nature by which the human psyche creates and maintains an identity for itself. Identity And Story provides a thoughtful and thought-provoking introduction to a comprehensive exploration of what one might psychologically encounter while in the course of their self-identification processes utilizing narrative situations between researcher and the narrator, as well as a research-based exploration and analysis of the individuals telling those stories. A seminal contribution to professional and academic library Psychology Studies reference collections, Identity And Story is very highly recommended for its educated understanding and erudite presentation.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Contemporary Fly Patterns Of British Columbia
Art Lingren
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883754 $25.00 amatobooks.com

Contemporary Fly Patterns Of British Columbia is an extensive showcase of flies commonly used in British Columbia, a land rich in fly-fishing opportunity. Full-color photographs illustrate each sample fly, and several paragraphs of extensive description teach the reader exactly how to create and use such flies, down to the most minute technical detail. An index allows for quick and easy reference in this "must-have" in depth source material for intermediate to advanced fly fishermen looking to experiment with new varieties of flies and learn from expert fly tying techniques.


The Nautical Shelf

Small-Boat Seamanship Manual
Richard N. Aarons, editor
The McGraw Hill Companies
2 Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
007146882X $19.95 1-877-833-5524

Based on the 1,200 page U.S. Coast Guard Boat Crew Seamanship Manual, Small-Boat Seamanship Manual condenses the wisdom of the highest standards of seamanship as practiced by professional mariners into concise, no-nonsense instructions for novice to advanced sailors. Chapters describe not only basic boat handling and navigation, but also everything from maneuvering in heavy surf or close quarters, to capsize prevention and survival techniques, plugging holes for flood control, predicting weather, using the right lines and knots, and much, much more. An utterly invaluable reference for personal study, and a "must-have" on board any small seacraft, the Small-Boat Seamanship Manual carries the absolute highest recommendation for its lifesaving attention to detail and safety precautions.


The Philosophy Shelf

Experience And Prediction
Hans Reichenbach
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
0268040559 $48.00 1-800-621-2736

Experience And Prediction: An Analysis Of The Foundations And The Structure Of Knowledge reprints the classic treatise by German-American philosopher of science Hans Reichenbach (1891-1953). Paving the way for the rigorous post-WW II philosophy of science, Experience And Prediction breaks down the fundamental conundrums of existence, reduction, projection, construction, the nature of the ego, probability logic, and much more. A highly scholarly text, written expressly to introduce the concept of "logical positivism" (a form of epistemology the prioritized scientific truths over metaphysical truths) to English speakers, Experience And Prediction is a classic work highly recommended for college library and philosophy reference shelves.

Boyle On Atheism
J.J. MacIntosh, editor
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
www.utppublishing.com
0802090184 $95.00 1-800-565-9523

Boyle On Atheism is a compilation of writings by seventeenth-century scientist-philosopher Robert Boyle (1627-91), who throughout his life felt a deep opposition to atheism and planned to publish a text delineating his objections. Though he died before publishing a book on the subject, his many writings rationally resisting atheism survive. Now J.J. MacIntosh (Professor, Dept. of Philosophy, University of Calgary) presents Boyle's transcribed and edited papers, with extensive and informative notations. Boyle On Atheism presents Robert Boyle's views on the causes and remedies of atheism, the nature of God, arguments for God's existence, the virtues of Christianity, and deconstructs the character of atheists as well as the deficiencies in their arguments. A valuable insight not only into philosophical and religious debate, but also greater understanding of seventeenth century society.


The Military Shelf

Blossoms in the Wind
M. G. Sheftall
New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0451218523 $15.00 1-800-847-5515

Blossoms In The Wind: Human Legacies Of The Kamikaze presents the true stories of Japan's kamikaze corps survivors - pilots who were slated to sacrifice their lives in battle during World War II, but who survived through chance or fate. Now after the September 11th attacks, in an era when suicide attacks are becoming an increasingly serious threat in the present, Blossoms In The Wind explores what can bind a human heart and soul to commit to the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the bonds of brotherhood that remain between fellow warriors after sixty years of peace. A profound and directly relevant testimony, often directly recounting the survivors' perspectives in their own words.

Black Shoe Carrier Admiral
John B. Lundstrom
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
1591144752 $39.95 1-800-233-8764

Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher At Coral Sea, Midway, And Guadalcanal is the true story of Frank Jack Fletcher, the admiral who won battles at sea in World War II but lost the battle of public opinion. A "black shoe" surface warrior, as opposed to a "brown shoe" naval aviator, Fletcher led carrier forces that won victories at Coral Sea, Midway, and the Eastern Solomons, which denied Japan key strategic positions and were critical to winning the Pacific war. Yet by 1950, Fletcher was popularly portrayed as an overly hesitant and incompetent stooge who failed to relieve Wake Island in December 1941 and who chose to abandon the Marines at Guadalcanal. Author and Curator Emeritus of History at the Milwaukee Public Museum John B. Lundstrom examines the realities of war in-depth, scrutinizing the strategic decisions that Fletcher had to make without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. A sober and scholarly evaluation that dares to meticulously defend Fletcher after over half a century of brutal criticism.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Wisdom Of Imperfection
Rob Preece
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com
1559392525 $16.95 1-800-950-0313

Practicing Buddhist of the Tibetan tradition and professional psychotherapist Rob Preece shares his years of experience in The Wisdom Of Imperfection: The Challenge Of Individuation In Buddhist Life, a guidebook written especially for Buddhists struggling with problems and the need to balance both spiritual and psychological perspectives. Chapters discuss not only the reality of awakening and dealing with one's own dark side, but also the path to individuation and the necessity of accepting imperfection for the sake of both psychological and spiritual health. A fascinating exploration of the psychological processes underlying the path of the Bodhisattva, as well as a helpful guide for modern Buddhists struggling with contemporary psychological and sociological difficulties.


The Parenting Shelf

Winning The Drug War At Home
Kathy Pride
Living Ink Books
c/o Tapestry Ministries
PO Box 463, Danville, PA 17821
0899570828 $14.99 livinginbooks.com

Winning The Drug War At Home by Kathy Pride is an informed introduction on how parents should deal with the discovery of drugs and/or drug usage by a child or a teen. Deftly guiding parents through the complexities of dealing with the psychology and mentality of teenagers, Winning The Drug War At Home offers a comprehensive and accessible understanding of strategies and tactics when approaching teens on the subject of dangerous drugs throughout a sixteen month time frame. Winning The Drug War At Home is very highly recommended for all parents struggling with the pains of confrontation of the issues surrounding their teen's use of addictive drugs.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

The Heart Has Reasons
Mark Klempner
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115
0829816992 $24.00 thepilgrimpress.com

Enhanced with an informative foreword by Christopher R. Browning, The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers And Their Stories Of Courage by folklorist and oral historian Mark Klempner is the account of how many valiant people worked at great personal peril through the Holocaust and Hitler's Reign to save Jewish children and others from being murdered in the Nazi death camps. Guiding readers through the epic and heroic tales of these Dutch rescuers, The Heart Has Reasons vividly recounts deeply terrifying efforts of ten gallantly individual experiences. Superbly presented and an important addition to the growing library of Holocaust literature, The Heart Has Reasons is very highly recommended reading, especially for all historians and students of the Dutch involvement in World War II.


The Archaeology Shelf

Space And Spatial Analysis In Archaeology
Elizabeth C. Robertson, et al.
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W. , Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.uofcpress.com
1552381684 $74.95 1-800-565-3770

Compiled, organized and edited by the team of Elizabeth C. Robertson, Jeffrey D. Seibert, Deepika C. Fernandez, and Marc U. Zender, Space And Spatial Analysis In Archaeology is an anthology of thirty-seven contributions based on, or developed from, academic papers presented at the 2001 Chacmool Conference. The papers examine studies taken in a wide variety of different archaeological settings, and apply an extensive array of both methodological and theoretical approaches to spatial analysis. A fascinating freeze-frame of spatial research in archaeology just as the field entered the twenty-first century, Space And Spatial Analysis In Archaeology combines photography, references, black-and-white illustration, and advanced theory into a seminal whole, recommended especially for advanced archaeology students and practicing field archaeologists alike.


The Genealogy Shelf

Jamestowne Ancestors 1607-1699
Virginia Lee Hutcheson Davis
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
0806317671 $29.50 1-800-296-6687

Commemorating the 400th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown Island, Jamestowne Ancestors 1607-1699 is a genealogical reference featuring a list of known residents of the historic Jamestowne settlement, along with birth and death dates, occupation, and place of origin or county represented. Maps with detailed keys and explanations of descriptive terms round out this handy reference.

Only the truly literate mind can soar beyond the boundaries of time and space, and then return to share with others what they have seen, felt, discovered, and imagined.


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