Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Internet Bookwatch

Internet Bookwatch

Volume 24, Number 3 March 2014 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Art Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Photography Shelf Autism Shelf Political Science Shelf
Technology Shelf Sports Shelf Computer Shelf
Women's Issues Shelf Education Shelf Psychology Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Music Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Military Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Native American Studies Shelf Business Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Science Shelf Agriculture Shelf Parenting Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Railroading Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Architecture Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Gardening Shelf
Library Science Shelf Biography Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Civil War Shelf Fishing Shelf Gaming Shelf
Travel Shelf Homeowner's Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Wisconsin's Flying Trees in World War II
Sara Witter Connor
The History Press
645 Meeting Street, Suite 200
Charleston, SC 29403
9781626193505 $24.99 www.historypress.net

Wisconsin's Flying Trees in World War II is a historical examination of one of Wisconsin's valuable roles serving the nation in World War II. The Badger State was a forest-rich resource during that era, and its trees provided the critical material to create aircraft in the Allied aerial campaign - aircraft such as CG-4A battle-ready gliders, known for their stealth and silence, which brought the 82nd and 101st Airborne into the European Theater as needed. Wisconsin's Flying Trees in World War II tells the true stories of the pilots, inventors, factory workers, and the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory, who all pushed themselves to help win a world war with paper, wood, and glue. Highly recommended, especially for Wisconsin history shelves!

Virgil's Aeneid In Modern Verse
Howard Felperin
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.authorhouse.com
9781491878194, $42.65, www.amazon.com

The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, and tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who traveled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. It is composed of 9,896 lines in dactylic hexameter. The first six of the poem's twelve books tell the story of Aeneas' wanderings from Troy to Italy, and the poem's second half tells of the Trojans' ultimately victorious war upon the Latins, under whose name Aeneas and his Trojan followers are destined to be subsumed. The hero Aeneas was already known to Greco-Roman legend and myth, having been a character in the Iliad, composed in the 8th century BC. Virgil took the disconnected tales of Aeneas' wanderings, his vague association with the foundation of Rome and a personage of no fixed characteristics other than a scrupulous piety, and fashioned this into a compelling founding myth or national epic that at once tied Rome to the legends of Troy, explained the Punic wars, glorified traditional Roman virtues and legitimized the Julio-Claudian dynasty as descendants of the founders, heroes and gods of Rome and Troy. "Virgil's Aeneid In Modern Verse" by Howard Felperin is an impressive presented, thoroughly 'reader friendly', 504 page compendium offering an engaging translation into modern English, and one that will make this epic Latin poem accessible to a whole new generation of appreciative readers. "Virgil's Aeneid In Modern Verse" is especially recommended for student reading lists and community library collections.

Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, sixth edition
Anna Post & Lizzie Post
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062326102, $29.99, www.harpercollins.com

The sixth updated edition of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette brings Emily Post into the modern world and is written by her great-great-granddaughters, who offer insights on everything from traditions of the past to modern times. A new chapter on photography covers digital photography while sections on invitations, planning for gay marriage and civil unions, and a new chapter on the perspectives of the main wedding participants from the happy couple to their parents provides a fine survey of etiquette surrounding technology and changed family structures. It's a 'must' for any interested in the latest wedding 'dos and don'ts'.

Program Evaluation in Practice, second edition
Dean T. Spaulding
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley Trade Publishing Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118345825, $65.00, www.josseybass.com

The second updated edition of Program Evaluation in Practice: Core Concepts and Examples for Discussion and Analysis covers all the basics of program evaluation, relying on case studies to reveal real-world issues involved in an evaluation report. Businesses, educators, and any who use such reports will find this packed with examples of evaluation projects, with chapters considering the basics of collecting, analyzing and writing up data into reports. A new chapter on objectives-based evaluation processes and a new section covering ethics in program evaluation rounds out updates that include more details and descriptions for each case, making this a 'must' reference for business, educators and other readers relying on program evaluation processes.


The Art Shelf

The Big Book of the Human Figure
Gabriel Martin Roig
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438003436, $22.99, www.barronseduc.com

The Big Book of the Human Figure provides a fine survey of how artists represent the human body, and offers a step-by-step instructional drawing guide to the human figure that takes into account anatomy, lighting, and how color works with artist drawings to reveal the human figure's nuances. From paintings in full color to sketches, illustration is packed into the program and leaves nothing to guesswork. The photos focusing on drawing methods are specific and close-up - and very clear, making this a 'must' for any illustrator's toolbox.

Rings
Diana Scarisbrick
Thames & Hudson Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500291122, $34.95, www.thameandhudsonusa.com

RINGS: JEWELRY OF POWER, LOVE AND LOYALTY appears in paperback to offer collections a fine guide to the art, creation, symbolism and significance of jewelry, is arranged thematically rather than chronologically, and provides hundreds of historical examples of rings and their significance. From those associated with famous people to decorative rings and rings as depicted in artwork through the ages, this provides an artistic, literary and social survey of rings and their meaning, from ancient Greek and Roman to modern times. The rings displayed in color come from museums and private collections alike, especially that of the gem dealer Benjamin Zucker: the result is an outstanding survey highly recommended for any interested in jewelry in general and rings in particular.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Guillermo Del Toro Cabinet of Curiosities
Guillermo del Toro and Marc Scott Zicree
HarperDesign
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062082848, $60.00, www.harperdesignbooks.com

Guillermo Del Toro Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions comes from a Hollywood visionary who for two decades offered classics such as Cronos and Pacific Rim and winning productions such as Hellboy. While he's earned much acclaim in the film industry, this book is a lavish illustrated collection of his notes, drawings, private journals and filmmaking diaries with rare glimpses into the art, characters and mind of a film artist. It could have been reviewed in our 'Film and Stage' section, but it's featured here for its wider-ranging appeal to any arts collection, offering vivid reproductions of del Toro's lovely illustrated notebooks. No fan of del Toro's artistry should be without this vivid collection documenting his mind and art.


The Photography Shelf

Road to Seeing
Dan Winters
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com
9780321886392, $79.99, www.amazon.com

"Road To Seeing" is a massively impressive, 696 page compendium comprised of award winning photojournalist Dan Winter's black-and-white, duotone, and full color photographs. The images are enhanced with Winter's own accompanying and informative commentary, including observations concerning key moments in his career as a photographer and including both personal photographic projects and his portraiture work. Superbly documented and with flawless reproduction values, "Road To Seeing" should be considered a "must" for all who aspiring to become professional photographers themselves, as well as providing keen insights into the life and work of master photographer Dan Winters himself. Simply stated, "Road To Seeing" is an important and highly recommended contribution to personal, professional, and academic library Photography Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Images From The Arsenal Of Democracy
Charles K. Hyde
Painted Turtle
c/o Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814339817, $34.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled with informative captions by Charles K. Hyde, "Images From The Arsenal Of Democracy" is a 312 page compendium of almost three hundred black-and-white period photographs of World War II era Detroit factory workers and assembly lines creating the machines of war for America's military. Organized thematically, the chapters comprising these historic and photographically documented years of 1940-1945, include: "Preparing for War before Pearl Harbor"; "Planning Defense Production after Pearl Harbor"; "Aircraft Engines and Propellers"; "Aircraft Components and Complete Aircraft"; "Tanks and Other Armored Vehicles"; "Jeeps, Trucks, and Amphibious Vehicles"; "Guns, Shells, Bullets, and Other War Goods"; "The New Workers"; and "Celebrating the Production Achievements." An impressive, unique, and documented body of work, "Images From The Arsenal Of Democracy" is very highly recommended as a core addition to 20th Century American Photography and 20th Century American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Images From The Arsenal Of Democracy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).

Our Beautiful, Fragile World
Peter Essick
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538347, $34.95, www.rockynook.com

Our Beautiful, Fragile World features the beautiful nature and environmental photos of Peter Essick and is a fine addition to both photography and natural history holdings alike. This isn't just a photograph collection, however: each photo is accompanied by an in-depth account of the challenges involved in taking the picture, the journey through wilderness to get the shot, and the natural history of the area. And these aren't ordinary places in the world, either: the author has over twenty-five years' experience traveling to some of the most remote regions in the world photographing them for National Geographic articles. His is simply a gorgeous presentation capturing the sights and experience of these visits: highly recommended for any looking for a combination of nature and photography.


The Autism Shelf

Finding Lina
Helena Hjalmarsson
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781620875957, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

FINDING LINDA: A MOTHER'S JOURNEY FROM AUTISM TO HOPE provides a powerful account of a mother's journey as her daughter descends into autism at the age of three. Lina's autism began as a seizure and evolved to the loss of her ability to play, use language, or control impulses. This book charts the struggle and isolation of parents who find themselves caring for a disabled child after years of acquaintance with a healthy child, and provides a powerful account of treatment options, special schools, and efforts that ultimately resulted in no big revelations about autism, but a story other parents can use to create new meaning in their lives and in their child's life. The approach is gripping!


The Political Science Shelf

The Presidency And Political Science, second edition
Raymond Tatalovich & Steven E. Schier
M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
www.mesharpe.com
9780765642288, $32.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Raymond Tatalovich (Professor of Political Science, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois) and Steven E. Schier (Dorthy H. and Edward C. Congdon professor of Political Science, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota), now available in a newly revised and updated second edition, "The Presidency and Political Science: Paradigms of Presidential Power from the Founding to the Present" is a 336 page compendium providing an historical and analytical overview and perspective on the evolution of presidential authority. A work of seminal and documented scholarship, "The Presidency And Political Science" begins with an informed and informative Foreword (The End of Presidential Power) and Introduction (Exploring the Scope of Presidential Power), and is then organized into three major sections: The Origins of Constitutionalism; Progressivism and the Critics; The Empirical Presidency. Of special note is the authors concluding commentary 'The Empirical Presidency and Presidential Power'. An invaluable and highly recommended contribution to the field of American political science, it should be noted that "The Presidency And Political Science" is also available in a hardcover edition (9780765642271, $74.95).

The Legislative Legacy Of Edward M. Kennedy
Craig A. Horowitz
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786478736, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (February 22, 1932 - August 25, 2009) was the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. He was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and was the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history, having served there for almost 47 years. Ted Kennedy entered the Senate in a November 1962 special election to fill the seat once held by his brother John. He was elected to a full six-year term in 1964 and was reelected seven more times before his death. "The Legislative Legacy of Edward M. Kennedy: Eleven Milestones in Pursuit of Social Justice, 1965-2007" is a 232 page compendium by Craig A. Horowitz that provides an historical and analytical overview of ten major pieces of legislation that Senator Kennedy supported -- including legislatively unintended consequences when Kennedy sought to promote social and governmental reforms, including those dealing with racial and gender discrimination. Informative, deftly written, soundly analytical, insightful, "The Legislative Legacy of Edward M. Kennedy: Eleven Milestones in Pursuit of Social Justice, 1965-2007" is very highly recommended reading and an invaluable contribution to academic library American Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Myth of the Democratic Peacekeeper
Arturo C. Sotomayor
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
97814214112139, $39.95, www.press.jhu.edu

The Myth of the Democratic Peacekeeper: Civil-Military Relations and the United Nations is recommended for any college-level collection strong in international relations and re-evaluates how the U.N. peacekeeping missions reform or fail to reach their members. Chapters discuss the origins, perspectives and approaches of the UN's peacekeepers, and maintain that democratic practices aren't just absorbed by example. It studies a decade of research in different nations around the world with peacekeeping forces at work to consider civil-military relations and how armed forces are impacted and changed by peacekeeper efforts. The result is a solid assessment recommended for military and political science holdings alike.

The Upside of Down
Charles Kenny
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465064731, $26.99, www.basicbooks.com

The Upside of Down: Why the Rise of the Rest of Good for the West comes from a former World Bank economist and provides an optimistic view of America's changing role in the world, arguing that America's not in decline but that it's falling status is instead a result of the rise of other countries. His book considers this rise from India and China to Africa and Latin American nations, arguing that no longer being Top Dog might actually be in America's best interest. From the value of increased choices and its beneficial influence on the American economy to new opportunities for investments around the world, The Upside of Down charts different courses and different opportunities inherent in the development of a better world, and is a top pick for any interested in global interactions, politics and economics.


The Technology Shelf

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

Aldo Petosa's FREQUENCY-AGILE ANTENNAS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS (9781608077687, $139.00) is a 'must' reference for any college-level collection strong in wireless communications engineering, and discusses the present and future capabilities and applications of frequency-agile antennas. From how they are evaluated and used to achieving tunability and examples of designs, this focus is on FAAs for wireless mobile communications and applications that range from laptops to machine-to-machine communications. Packed with charts, graphs, and technical discussions of everything from tuning techniques to integrated devices, this is a 'must' for any electrical and antenna engineering collection. Rick Sturdivant's MICROWAVE AND MILLIMETER-WAVE ELECTRONIC PACKAGING (9781608076970, $149.00) covers the basics of packaging electronic components at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies and is a pick for electronics engineering collections where electronic packaging is the topic. Packaging issues unique to these frequencies are analyzed for how they can be tailored to better designs, with chapters arranged by logical groups and holding examples from real-world applications. The second updated edition of BAYESIAN MULTIPLE TARGET TRACKING by Lawrence D. Stone, et.al. (9781608075539, $159.00) represents a key revision from its initial 1999 appearance, and reflects many changes in the multiple target tracking field. The focus here is on multiple target tracking as a Bayesian inference problem, with theories of single and multiple target tracking and ratio detection accompanying discussions of particle filters. Examples using these filters and accompanied by supportive math and statistics make for an in-depth technical reference no engineering library should be without.


The Sports Shelf

Media Relations In Sport, fourth edition
Brad Schultz, Philip H. Caskey, Craig Esherick
Fitness Information Technology
West Virginia University
262 Coliseum, WVU-PE, PO Box 6116
Morgantown, WV 26506-6116
www.fitinfotech.com www.fitpublishing.com
9781935412946, $69.00, www.amazon.com

Professional and amateur organized sports are big business and like all economic enterprises have strong media requirement to insure financial success. Now in a completely updated and significantly expanded fourth edition, "Media Relations In Sport" is a 312 page compendium compiled and written by the team of Brad Schultz (Associate Professor, School of Journalism and New Media, University of Mississippi), Philip H. Caskey (Social Studies Educator, University High School, Morgantown, West Virginia), and Craig Esherick (Assistant Professor, School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism, George mason University) that provides a complete and comprehensive introduction to all the elements of media relations with respect to sports. Individual chapters address print media, broadcast media, social media and technology, sports information specialists, developing interviewing skills, developing writing skills, creating promotional guides, event management, publicity crisis management, global sports media relations, law and ethics. Enhanced with extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Media Relations In Sport" is an ideal text book for college and university curriculums, and should be considered an invaluable reference for anyone engaging in any form of media with respect to sports reporting, sports team advocacy, and sports franchise promotion.

Sponsorship For Sport Managers
John L. Crompton
Fitness Information Technology
West Virginia University
262 Coliseum, WVU-PE, PO Box 6116
Morgantown, WV 26506-6116
www.fitpublishing.com
9781935412540, $72.00, www.amazon.com

A sponsor is a person or organization that pays the cost of an activity or event (such as a radio or television program, sports event, concert, etc.) in return for the right to advertise during the activity or event; a person or organization that gives someone money for participating in a charity event (such as a walk or race); an organization that gives money to an athlete for training, clothes, equipment, etc., in return for the right to use the athlete for advertising. Financial sponsorships is a critically important revenue source for athletes, sports teams, and sports franchises and therefore a major task for the managers of those athletes, sports teams, and sport franchises. It is also a typically neglected subject in collegiate and university physical education curriculums. That's why John L. Crompton's "Sponsorship for Sport Managers" will prove to be an invaluable instructional guide and manual to understanding how companies use sponsorships in their marketing programs and publicity campaigns, how to be effectively responsive to the needs of a sponsor, setting appropriate fees for sponsor participation, and how to determine sponsor solicitation and utilization effectiveness. Practical, 'real-world' oriented, superbly organized and presented, "Sponsorship for Sport Managers" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone charged with a managerial responsibility in sports and would make an excellent addition to personal, professional, academic, corporate, and sports franchise reference libraries.

Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.humankinetics.com

Jeffrey M. Willardson, Editor's DEVELOPING THE CORE (9780736095495, $19.95) is an excellent guide for athletes and covers a topic any athlete can appreciate: how to develop a strong, well-conditioned core. It comes from the National Strength and Conditioning Association which provides writings by 17 of the top sports trainers in the nation, reflects the latest sports science insights, and profiles over seventy of the most effective exercise routines for developing one's core. Black and white photos for every exercise provides clear step-by-step insights to accompany specifics on how to achieve goals, making this a powerful 'must' for any physical education or athletic reference collection. Women who seek a training system unique to their needs will find Dean Hodgkin and Caroline Pearce's BETTER BODY WORKOUTS FOR WOMEN (9781450432764, $19.95) packs in the latest science and insights on new routines for weight loss and athletics, and represent the authors' combined expertise in helping women train. Chapters cover key information for would-be and professional athletes and offer specific exercises, programs and strategies proven to work. With its fine full-color illustrations and easy detailed directions, this is a 'must' for any female athlete.


The Computer Shelf

Sams Teach Yourself HTML and CSS in 24 Hours, ninth edition
Julie C. Meloni
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780672336140, $34.99, www.informit.com/sams

Sams Teach Yourself HTML and CSS in 24 Hours is a programmer's lesson plan in a book and uses the 24-hour time frame to provide a program that teaches the basics of using HTML and CSS to design and maintain a website. It provides a series of lessons that dovetail into each other, with each building upon the previous and providing keys to success that even beginners can use. All this is accompanied by color screenshots and photos and step-by-step instructions and examples throughout. Tests at many points allow users to self-test and identify any problems. From creating web-based user forms to updating a growing site, this ninth edition includes all the basics of the latest programs.

Networking: A Beginner's Guide, sixth edition
Bruce Hallbert
McGraw-Hill
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
New York, NY 10020
9780071812245, $45.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Networking: A Beginner's Guide teaches the basics of wired and wireless networking basics, from design to hardware and security, and shows how to work with Windows Server 2012, Apache and others to get the most from networking efforts. This has been completely revised to cover the latest technologies and provides all the basics in a sixth updated edition covering both wired and wireless network design, protocols, security, backup and more. Any who want step-by-step directions for installing and tweaking Windows Sever 2012 and the other main networking programs will find this the perfect place to begin!

Functional Programming Patterns in Scala and Clojure
Michael Bevilacqua-Linn
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381, Frisco, TX 75033-7438
9781937785475, $36.00, www.pragprog.com

Functional Programming Patterns in Scala and Clojure teaches the basics of solving programming problems using a minimum of object-oriented programming code, and uses Scala and Clojure to solve many problems. From discovering object-oriented patterns and understanding their functions to creating code with less bugs and easier maintenance, this pairs patterns with traditional object-oriented solutions, contrasting them with their functional replacements in Scala and Clojure. The result is a fine survey teaching the basics of Scala and Clojure applications and is a top pick for any programmer's reference collection.

3D Printing for Dummies
Kalani Kirk Hausman and Richard Horne
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118660751, $29.99, www.fordummies.com

3D Printing for Dummies teaches the basics of how to use 3D printing software, hardware, and tools to work with different types of processes and services, and creates a set of 'best practices' that 3D printers will find key to assembling and using a 3D printer. Any interested in electronics and printers will find this filled with black and white photos and insights on fabricating models and using 3D printers for best results, with chapters identifying materials and applications for 3D print work. The result is an excellent survey highly recommended for any interested in taking 3D printing to the next level.

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

Lenny Delligatti's SysML DISTILLED: A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE SYSTEMS MODELING LANGUAGE (9780321927866, $36.99) provides an excellent software engineering guide that considers the SysML language's ability to extend UML with systems engineering capabilities for modeling systems, and is recommended for any systems engineer interested in SysML models. It teaches all the basics using real-world applications to help programmers get up and running quickly, and it provides a method to support any tools and procedures already in place. Most of all, it covers the basic and key concepts applicable to all SysML diagrams and offers charts, maps and frameworks for sequencing diagrams, understanding token flow processes, and much more. Reference holdings appealing to systems engineers will find this a top recommendation. Capers Jones' THE TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (9780321903426, $39.99) is a recommended reference for software engineering professionals and comes from a practitioner who provides a fine history of the industry. From his own decades as a leading researcher and innovator to decade-by-decade trends, new innovations and technologies, key inventions and more, this provides a strong overview of technology and its effects on the directions and trends of the software engineer, and is a key acquisition for any software engineering collection!


The Women's Issues Shelf

Women Entrepreneurs in the Global Marketplace
Andrew E. Smith-Hunter
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781848441705, $149.95, www.e-elgar.com

Women Entrepreneurs in the Global Marketplace provides an outstanding survey considering the status of female entrepreneurs around the world, discussing business and how social and political forces affect their contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation in different countries. Original data blends with statistics from government agencies and international organizations to make for a powerful survey documenting the experiences of women around the world, and offering recommendations for improving their positions. Any international organization that helps women as well as students of global business will find this a key acquisition, packed with statistics, trends, and insights.

Women Who Dare
Chris Noble
Falcon Guides
c/o Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762783717, $24.95, www.falcon.com

Women Who Dare: North America's Most Inspiring Women Climbers features some twenty women climbers from legends like Lynn Hill to new names many won't have heard of, and provides a coverage of their inspirational achievements via interviews and discussions with each female climber. Each woman reveals her philosophy, accomplishments, and how climbing achievement leads to reflections on life. Color photos by adventure photojournalist Chris Noble rounds out a stunning collection of inspirational revelations about women's involvement in the finer art of climbing, making this an outstanding guide.


The Education Shelf

The Best Value Colleges
Robert Franek, et al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9780804124478, $21.99, www.amazon.com

The cost of a college education has been rising significantly faster than the rate of inflation. Attending a university as either an undergraduate or as a graduate students has never been more expensive in the history of our country than it is today -- and threatens to be even more expensive in the years to come. That is what this newly updated and significantly expanded fourteenth edition of "The Best Value Colleges, 2014 Edition: The 150 Best-Buy Schools and What It Takes to Get In" will prove to be an invaluable resource for parents and students. Packed with practical and detailed information from cover to cover, "The Best Value Colleges: 2014 Edition" showcases 75 private and 75 public schools that are considered the most economical in terms of their tuition costs and the quality of education provided. Enhanced further with information on nine tuition-free schools, "The Best Value Colleges: 2014 Edition" should be considered a mandatory acquisition by parents of graduating seniors, high school guidance counselors, and community library reference collections. It should be noted that "The Best Value Colleges: 2014 Edition" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Educating Literacy Teachers Online
Lane W. Clarke & Susan Watts-Taffe
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807754962, $33.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Lane W. Clarke (Assistant Professor and Literacy Concentration Leader in the Education Department of the University of new England) and Susan Watts-Taffe (Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Reading Endorsement Program at the University of Cincinnati), "Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations" is a 160 page instructional guide specifically written to enable classroom literacy teachers to avail themselves of the online resources. A seminal work, "Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations" is deftly written, impressively organized, accessibly presented, and thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end. Practical and informative, "Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations" is highly recommended reading for not only classroom teachers, but literacy program coordinators seeking to update and upgrade their curriculums. "Educating Literacy Teachers Online: Tools, Techniques, and Transformations" should be considered a mandatory addition to academic library Education & Language Arts reference collections, as well as the supplemental reading lists of student teachers intending on entering the specialized field of literacy education.

The Student Engagement Handbook
Elisabeth Dunne & Derfel Owen
Emerald Group Publishing
84 Sherman Street, Cambridge, MA 02140
www.emeraldinsight.com
9781781904237, $140.00, www.amazon.com

The collaborative editorial work of University of Exeter (UK) academicians Elisabeth Dunne and Derfel Owen, "The Student Engagement Handbook: Practice in Higher Education" is a 580 page compendium comprised of thirty-three informed and informative essays by experts in the field of education the ways educational institutions are striving to understand and improve their student's learning environment. Of particular value are the numerous examples of innovative and inspiring means of engaging educators and educational policy makers have developed with the students in practice, empowering those students to engage in the decision-making processes and enabling them create and implement change. An impressive body of seminal work and enduring value, "The Student Engagement Handbook: Practice in Higher Education" is especially recommended for academic library Educational Studies reference collections in general, and Education Administration supplemental reading lists in particular. It should be noted that "The Student Engagement Handbook: Practice in Higher Education" is also available in a Kindle edition ($112.00).

Gap Year
Joseph O'Shea
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421410364, $29.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Gap Year: How Delaying College Changes People in Ways the World Needs is for general-interest collections and those strong in higher education issues, and provides the first systematic study of how having a 'gap year' helps college-bound students develop - more so than going straight from high school to college. During this year students can travel, work or volunteer, and grow up a little, and they often return to college with honed vision of what they want out of their education. This analyzes the gap year's influence on student development and provides ways universities and educators can develop gap year programs to promote this learning. Higher education collections should consider this a basic!

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

Judith K. March and Karen H. Peters' THE COMMON CORE, AN UNCOMMON OPPORTUNITY: REDESIGNING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION (9781452271828, $34.95) considers an issue largely overlooked in the process of assessing and implementing common core educational standards: how to redesign a K-12 instructional delivery system. This book addresses the issue by showing how to foster structured teaching and learning in the classroom, and provides principals and district leaders alike with discussions of how to use data to monitor performance goals and how to use Common Core-aligned tools to best advantage. The result is a powerful guide to common core implementation key to any educator's collection. Jennifer Abrams and Valerie A. von Frank's THE MULTIGENERATIONAL WORKPLACE: COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, & CREATE COMMUNITY (9781452218823, $31.95) provides a fine survey that considers generational differences and their effects in the classroom. It's based on Abrams' popular workshop and shows how educators can overcome their own generational perspectives to consider new ideas, recruitment options, coaching, and succession planning. Tools and checklists permeate discussions of professional development activities and blend well with case studies and accounts from real-world settings, making this a fine account of how teachers and collaborators can work together on different levels. The second updated edition of Marcia L. Tate's READING & LANGUAGE ARTS WORKSHEETS DON'T GROW DENDRITES: 20 LITERACY STRATEGIES THAT ENGAGE THE BRAIN (9781452280301, $34.95) provides a range of brain-based activities that turn readers into learners, and offers some 300 literacy strategies that are consistent with the Common Core Standards. Chapters discuss techniques that help teach reading and literacy, covering everything from discussions and creative writing pursuits to conducting research and including diversity in language and activities. The result is a fine primer highly recommended for teachers working closely with reading-challenged students. Steve Dembo and Adam Bellow's UNTANGLING THE WEB: 20 TOOLS TO POWER UP YOUR TEACHING (9781483333205, $29.95) provides a clear guide to teachers who want to use the internet to create fine classroom study guides. It helps teachers on any skill level to develop new classroom tools, requires no particular expertise in computers, and comes with full color screenshots and examples throughout to better explain the hidden gems of selected recommended websites and programs. From using WeVideo to have a classroom create a video synthesis of the year's experiences to tips for tweeting and collaborative storytelling, this surveys a wide range of classroom tools and methods and is a 'must' for any teacher looking to integrate the best web options with classroom instruction. Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria G. Dove's COMMON CORE FOR THE NOT-SO-COMMON LEARNER (9781452257185, $29.95) provides a fine survey for grades 6-12 and follows up with the author's best-selling approach for ages K-5, packing in tools, advice and strategies for applying the Common Core to classroom activities. From learning specific skills to collaborating and implementing programs then anchoring performance, this uses Anchor Standards as the foundation for considering Common Core's most effective uses, and makes for a guidebook filled with specific English language arts strategies for grades 6-12. Points of view of different educational systems on these strategies round out the details and make this a specific, important guide. Lee Schumow and Jennifer A. Schmidt's ENHANCING ADOLESCENTS' MOTIVATION FOR SCIENCE: RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS (9781452269696, $27.95) collects research-proven strategies on how to best motivate students in science, and covers everything from gender differences in what translates to motivation for boys and girls to approaches to making science more relevant for all students. All this advice is supported by video clips, links, and tutorials that are contained in a companion website, and perfectly supplement a primer filled with classroom applications of educational psychology. From understanding and using classroom social relationships to the latest indicators of success in the science classroom, this is all about measurement and applications, and is a solid pick for any science teacher. Paula Prentis and Chris Parrott work with Amy Smith in REACH BEFORE YOU TEACH: IGNITE PASSION AND PURPOSE IN YOUR CLASSROOM (9781452261386, $34.95), a fine tool for teaching young teens by reaching out to them and helping them develop their sense of self in school settings. From interventions that help students really learn to handling classroom disturbances, developing cognition to help students realize their latent potential, and handling the emotions of teens, this is a powerful connection between learning and emotional growth, and is a recommended pick for any classroom teacher. Alfred S. Posamentier, et.al.'s 100 COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN MATH CLASS; ANSWERS THAT PROMOTE MATHEMATICAL UNDERSTANDING, GRADES 6-12 (9781452243085, $36.95) provides some 100 ways to get kids interested in math, and arranges questions around the Common Core's math content standards to explore teaching methods and answers that keep kids engaged. From how to teach inquiry and mathematical thinking to encouraging problem-solving flexibility and building student understanding, this offers examples of problems, uses examples to show how teachers approached different challenges, and includes plenty of mathematical formulas throughout. The result is an excellent recommendation for any interested in employing teaching methods that teach more effectively.


The Psychology Shelf

Interpersonal Relationships
Diana Jackson-Dwyer
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, NY, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780415429160, $30.95, www.amazon.com

The latest addition to the outstanding Foundations of Psychology series from Routledge, "Interpersonal Relationships" by psychologist and academician Diana Jackson-Dwyer is a 200 page compendium that addresses the place of human relationships within the history and context of psychology; the evolution roots of relationships; research methodologies utilized in the study of relationships; and the different categories of relationships including kinship, friendship, love and mating. Of special note are the chapter specific learning objectives and summaries of key points; study boxes presenting reflective exercises, research questions and discussion issues; glossaries and suggestions for further reading. A model of scholarship and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Interpersonal Relationships" is very highly recommended for psychology student and counselor supplemental reading lists and academic library Psychology Studies reference collections. It should be noted that "Interpersonal Relationships" is also available in both a hardcover edition (9780415429153, $125.00) and a Kindle edition ($17.02).

Autism and Spirituality
Olga Bogdashina
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849052856, $32.95, www.jkp.com

Autism and Spirituality: Psyche, Self and Spirit in People on the Autism Spectrum uses interdisciplinary research from psychology, philosophy, linguistics and science to blend first-hand experiences of autism spectrum people with insights on how they experience self and spirituality. Chapters discuss autism's lack of body awareness, perceptions of the world, and how these various characteristics translate into and affect the religious experience. From the definitions of a mystical experience to how conscious thinking evolves in animals and humans and worldviews about the nature of reality, this provides clear discussions that are key to any spirituality and health collection dealing with autism individuals.

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com

Laury Rappaport, PhD, EDITOR'S MINDFULNESS AND THE ARTS THERAPIES (9781849059091, $29.95) provides a powerful book exploring the clinical and training process of applying mindfulness with all of the arts therapies, and blends research from neuroscience with keys to success. Leaders in the arts therapies and psychology fields are the source of writings that describe their applications to work with cancer, chronic pain, mental illness and other patients in both private practice and clinical settings, and provide important guides to both successful, field tested processes and underlying science and health rationale behind them. The result is a powerful blend of theory and practice that should be a 'most' for any practicing professional. Brian Draper's UNDERSTANDING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER DEMENTIAS (9781849053747, $24.95) provides a fine guide from a leading Alzheimer's expert and describes the symptoms, disease and management of this and other dementia forms. It's packed with keys to understanding disease progression and management options, and provides clear information for families and caregivers that take into account ethical, legal and end-of-life decisions. The result is a thorough yet accessible coverage any newly struggling with a loved one's diagnosis will find important.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

15 Natural Remedies For Migraine Headaches
Jay S. Cohen
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757003585, $7.95, www.amazon.com

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of autonomic nervous system symptoms. Typically the headache affects one half of the head, is pulsating in nature, and lasting from 2 to 72 hours. Associated symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell. The pain is generally made worse by physical activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive an aura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur. Occasionally an aura can occur with little or no headache following it. Migraines are believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors. About two-thirds of cases run in families. Changing hormone levels may also play a role, as migraines affect slightly more boys than girls before puberty, but about two to three times more women than men. The risk of migraines usually decreases during pregnancy. The exact mechanisms of migraine are not known. It is, however, believed to be a neurovascular disorder. The primary theory is related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of pain neurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem. "15 Natural Remedies for Migraine Headaches: Using Natural Supplements, Nutrition & Alternative Therapies to Better Manage Migraine Pain" by psychopharmacology expert Dr. Jay S. Cohen is a compact, 196 page paperback providing migraine headache sufferers fifteen alternative, documented, relatively inexpensive, and practical natural remedies that can be readily applied by anyone. Each of these fifteen natural treatment approaches is appropriate for children as well as adults. "15 Natural Remedies for Migraine Headaches: Using Natural Supplements, Nutrition & Alternative Therapies to Better Manage Migraine Pain" is strongly recommended for migraine sufferers. It should be noted that "15 Natural Remedies for Migraine Headaches: Using Natural Supplements, Nutrition & Alternative Therapies to Better Manage Migraine Pain" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.80).

Alzheimer's Early Stages, third edition
Daniel Kuhn, MSW
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914
Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897936675 $17.95 www.hunterhouse.com

Now in a thoroughly updated third edition, Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps for Family, Friends and Caregivers is an accessible guide written to aid readers of all backgrounds - especially those who have an elder friend or a loved one susceptible to the degenerative brain disease known as Alzheimer's. Chapters explain in plain terms the early symptoms of Alzheimer's and how to recognize them, responses that should be swiftly made, practical advice for ensuring safety, health, and well-being, ways to keep a person with Alzheimer's active, caring for oneself as well for a person in need of assistance, and much more. "As a rule, relocation should happen sooner rather than later in the disease. People with AD are much more likely to make a positive adjustment to a new environment in the early stage of the disease than they are in later stages. Nevertheless, even for people in the early stage, a temporary worsening in memory, mood, and behavior is likely to occur when they move. Keeping up the daily routine of the person with AD and retaining favorite home furnishings and keepsakes may help to ease the transition." Alzheimer's Early Stages is especially recommended for public library collections, because it delivers need-to-know information for the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the aging baby boom generation.

The New Science of Overcoming Arthritis
C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., MD with Greg Ptacek
Da Capo Press
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02210
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738217222, $15.99, www.dacapopress.com

The New Science of Overcoming Arthritis: Prevent or Reverse Your Pain, Discomfort, and Limitations offers specific strategies for any looking to prevent or reverse osteoarthritis, the most common type, and comes form an orthopedic surgeon who refutes common 'cures' and myths about the disease while providing details on weight loss, dietary changes, and exercises that can help. From which drugs make the most difference to surgical options and routines for managing arthritis, this considers conventional and experimental treatments alike, and is a fine survey of not only existing options but future research and patient trials. A 'must' for any interested in arthritis and its treatment.

Within
Dr. Habib Sadeghi
Premier Digital Publishing
www.premierdigitalpublishing.com
9781624671807, $18.99, www.amazon.com

WITHIN: A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING TO LOVE & WEIGHT LOSS comes from a renowned healer and the co-founder of Be Hive of Healing Integrative Health Center, and provides a weight loss program with a different focus: that of self-love. Such self-love incorporates physical and spiritual nutrition and advocates a weight loss program that satisfies the soul as well as the body. It identifies common obstacles keeping you from optimum health, and it provides tools any reader can use to accomplish goals of not just weight loss, but greater overall physical abilities. With its dual focus on mind and body approaches, this is truly 'integrative' in scope and presentation and recommended for alternative health, new age and health collections alike!

A Short Guide to a Long Life
David B. Agus, MD
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781476730950, $17.95, www.simonandschuster.com

A Short Guide to a Long Life isn't just about longevity: it's about living better, and it synthesizes the ideas in his best-selling THE END OF ILLNESS to provide a set of over sixty easy roles readers should follow to live a healthy, productive life. The idea is that daily habits are the foundation for this health, and there are many surprising contentions herein, from the importance of getting an annual flu shot even if one is never sick or never gets the flu, to (surprisingly) avoiding juicing, detoxes, and vitamins and supplements. Plans based on what decade you're in provide 'agenda items' key to particular age groups, while chapters discuss top actions to reduce illness. The result is a top, quick read of 'do and don't' keys to illness and wellness that any general-interest collection should have.


The Music Shelf

Flute Lore, Flute Tales
Couchgrass Books
PO Box 3481, Duluth, MN 55812
9780991091119, $18.00

Filled with fascinating historical anecdotes, true origin sources of ancient flutes, and additional myths, legends, and fairytales about flutes, "Flute Lore, Flute Tales: Artifacts, History, and Stories About the Flute" is a succinct, intriguing summary of the history and significance of the flute as it has evolved since prehistoric times. Combining actual artifact discovery with relevant snippets of world wide cultural history patterns, "Flute Lore, Flute Tales" describes the origin and development of four different flute types: the vertical flute, the transverse flute, the panpipes, and the whistle or ocarina. Many different types and styles of flutes are presented in 66 color photo-illustrations, and the final chapters are dedicated to famous 20th century performers, women flutists, jazz flutists, and traditional flute performers of different ethnicities who are bringing old styles of flute performance to new audiences. In addition, there is a helpful glossary, sites for further reading, sources, and recommended web sites. "Flute Lore, Flute Tales" is a delightful source of historical information about flutes and flute performance in world cultural settings, from prehistoric times to the present day. "Flute Lore, Flute Tales" is suitable for both young adult readers and curious adult audiences.

An Organ A Day
Bynum Petty
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576472439, $54.00, www.amazon.com

Mathias Peter Moller (29 September 1854, Ostermarie, Denmark - 13 April 1937, Hagerstown, Maryland, US) was a prolific organ builder.[1] A native of the Danish island of Bornholm, he founded the M.P. Moller Pipe Organ Company in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, in 1875. The city of Hagerstown, Maryland, took notice of M”ller's early successes and induced him to move his business to Hagerstown to help make it a viable business center in Western Maryland. The company remained in business until 1992 with a lifetime production of over 11,000 instruments. The ninth and latest volume in the outstanding Pendragon Press 'The Complete Organ Series', "An Organ A Day: The Enterprising Spirit of M.P. Moller" by Bynum Petty (Archivist of the American Organ Archives of the Organ Historical Society) is a 230 page compendium that provides a documented history and descriptive legacy of this master organ builder's career and achievements. Enhanced with the inclusion of an impressive number of appendices, a bibliography, an index, and an accompanying CD (Moller Opus List by Number; Moller Opus List by Region), "An Organ A Day:The Enterprising Spirit of M.P. Moller" is an informed, informative, and seminal work of impressive scholarship making it a unique and strongly recommended contribution to academic library Musicology and Music History reference collections.

Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music
Angelique Kidjo with Rachel Wenrick
Harper Design
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780062071798, $27.99, www.harperdesign.com

Angelique Kidjo was born in the West African nation of Benin and grew up surrounded by music, so it's no wonder she became a musician. When the Communists took over they demanded she sing in praise of them - so she escaped to France where she moved from poverty to become an award-winning artist. This account provides a powerful narrative of her life, how she persisted in furthering her music, and her international encounters with other singers and musicians around the world. It's filled with her cultural encounters and reflections on how they enhanced her music and it's packed with powerful first-person insights, making this a unique 'must' for any who would understand West African music and culture in general and Kidjo in particular.

Beyond Mastering: A Conceptual Guide
Steve Turnidge
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458474513, $24.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

In his first book, DESKTOP MASTERING, Turnidge revealed his unique approach to mastering, but this latest companion volume goes beyond the basics of workflow and delves into the physics and philosophy that capture the mastering engineer, drawing unusual comparisons between mastering music and life. The author holds over twenty-five years in art and technology and his insights are peppered with anecdotes and examples from real life, while tips on how to better understand audio mastering techniques are incorporated into the basics of music editing and creation. The result is a lively and vivid survey packed with a blend of philosophical reflection and techniques, perfect for any who would master music and more.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Four Seasons Of Cross-Stitch By House-Mouse Designs
Annie's
306 East parr Road, Berne, IN 46711
9781573673624, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. The stitcher counts the threads in each direction so that the stitches are of uniform size and appearance. This form of cross-stitch is also called counted cross-stitch in order to distinguish it from other forms of cross-stitch. Sometimes cross-stitch is done on designs printed on the fabric (stamped cross-stitch); the stitcher simply stitches over the printed pattern. "Four Seasons Of Cross-Stitch By House-Mouse Designs" is a 48 page compendium showcasing fourteen cross-stitching designs celebrating happy (albeit mischievous) mice. The needlecraft instructions are clearly organized and deftly presented. The fourteen projects are thoroughly 'user friendly' and will enable even the most novice of needlecrafters to successfully turn out charming work that would be ideal for gift-giving and as family heirlooms to be passed down from generation to generation. "Four Seasons Of Cross-Stitch By House-Mouse Designs" is enthusiastically recommended!

Easy Sew Jelly Roll
Jody Anderson
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604601053, $19.95, www.americanquilter.com

Easy Sew Jelly Roll Provides a fine collection of projects based on precut Jelly Roll strips, and teaches how to create bags and totes with the 2 1/2" strips. These projects require no special sewing skills: any who can sew a seam will find them easy, while projects include options and embellishments using cutting charts, full-size templates and patterns, and step-by-step directions. The result is a fine recommendation for any needleworker new to the Jelly Roll strips idea.

A Quilter's Ark
Margaret Rolfe
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604684360, $24.99, www.shopmartingale.com

A Quilter's Ark: More Than 50 Designs for Foundation Piecing provides quilters with a fine collection of block designs by the author which focuses on quilted animals, and teaches how to use her foundation-piecing technique to incorporate these animal designs into even small blocks. 4" x 4" blocks can be used for large or small quilts, while patterns for four quilts accompanies block instructions, color photos, and clear color patterns. Quilters will find this a solid reference packed with fun designs, and will also learn techniques that lead to further quilting block skills, making this a reference for newcomers and experienced quilters alike.

Simple Crochet
Sara Sinaguglia
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845338343, $19.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

Simple Crochet teaches crochet basics and uses step-by-step photographs to help the needleworker learn how to crochet, with over thirty easy projects for the home lending to applying the basics to completed projects. Chapters are broken down by room of the house and projects are diverse, from cushions and toys to scarves and cosies. Lovely photos by Yuki Sugiura rounds out the effort, making this a 'must' for bare-bones beginners new to crochet who want both techniques and home-oriented projects.


The Fiction Shelf

The Invention of Wings
Sue Monk Kidd
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670024780, $27.95, www.penguin.com

The Invention of Wings provides a fine story of two American women: Hetty, an urban slave in early 19th century Charleston who longs for freedom from the wealthy Grimke family she serves, and Sarah, a daughter determined to achieve more in the world than women are usually allowed. Their stories and destines are entwined as each strives towards a kind of freedom their present worlds don't permit. The result is a captivating, engrossing novel filled with satisfying evolution and growth as the protagonists face their own challenges and find their worlds collide. Based on a true story, this adds more characters, depth, and historical background and makes for a powerful read.

The Kept
James Scott
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062236739, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

THE KEPT is a debut novel set in rural New York at the end of the 19th century, and tells of a mother who returns home to find her youngest daughter shot dead in front of their farmhouse, and four others (including her husband) murdered. Only one of her children witnessed the murders - and mistakenly shoots his mother. The focus is on the mother's tortured efforts to survive, a chain of events that leads towards revenge, and closely-held family secrets that will shake the very foundations of a family. THE KEPT is packed with surprises at every turn and its action and psychology is both unexpected and riveting.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Leave Tomorrow Behind
Judy Clemens
www.judyclemens.com
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
c/o Maryglenn McCombs (publicity)
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
www.maryglenn.com
9781464202049 $14.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

A new Stella Crown mystery by Judy Clemens (a past president of "Sisters in Crime"), Leave Tomorrow Behind follows dairy farmer/biker Stella struggling with an empty bank account, a sick fiance, and brutal summer heat. Stella's life takes a turn for the worse when the corpse of a local country star turns up dead at Stella's calf barn exhibit during a county fair. Relentlessly scrutinized by cops and entertainers alike, Stella decides that at least nudging law enforcement in the right direction might be what she needs to get her ordinary life back in time for her wedding! A tangled story of suspense featuring a strong female protagonist, Leave Tomorrow Behind is a treat for fans of the genre.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Warren C. Easley's MATTER OF DOUBT (9781464201721, $24.95) is legal writing at its best, and provides a thriller that deftly revolves around one Cal Claxton, who is recovering from his wife's suicide. His move from being a L.A. prosecutor to a small town Oregon lawyer seems an easy one, but when he's called upon to help a kid solve his mother's murder, he becomes embroiled in a world of art, deception and danger. When the kid becomes charged with murder himself and faces a mountain of evidence, Cal is the only person who believes in his innocence - and he must call upon all of his skills to prove it. Solid action, characterization and courtroom drama mark a murder mystery that is hard to put down, and offers a focus out of the ordinary. Steven Axelrod's NANTUCKET SAWBUCK (9781464200878, $24.95) tells of a Nantucket homeowner killed in his mansion - making everyone on the island a suspect. Preston owed money to many and before he was killed many suspected he was planning to disappear. It's up to Henry Kennis, a California transplant and the new Chief of Police, to uncover the real perp and solve the case. And he does, quickly. Too quickly. Because scandals remain, possibilities remain, and a dangerous criminal may still be on the loose in this tense thriller, recommended for any mystery collection looking for something little different.


The Cookbook Shelf

The New Chicago Diner Cookbook
Jo A. Kaucher, et al.
Agate Midway
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841543, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Jo A. Kaucher with the assistance of Kat Berry and The Chicago Diner Crew, "The New Chicago Diner Cookbook: Meat-Free Recipes from America's Veggie Diner" is an elegantly illustrated, 180 page compendium comprised of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, nutritious, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes. With dishes ranging from Savory Tomato Tartlets; Arugula Salad with Cranberries and Pear; Spicy Potato Soup; and Pistachio-Crusted Tofu with Porcini Bread Pudding; to Spinach Turnovers; Spaghetti Squash; Raw Orange-Ginger Cheezecake; and Chocolate Ganache, "The New Chicago Diner Cookbook: Meat-Free Recipes from America's Veggie Diner" is an impressive culinary anthology that is highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library vegetarian cookbook collections. It should be noted that ""The New Chicago Diner Cookbook: Meat-Free Recipes from America's Veggie Diner" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Yankee Magazine's Lost And Vintage Recipes
Amy Traverso, et al.
The Countryman Press
43 Lincoln Corners Way/P.O. Box 748
Woodstock, Vermont 05091
www.countrymanpress.com
971581571813, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by editorial staff of Yankee Magazine in general, and culinary expert Amy Traverso in particular, "Yankee Magazine's Lost And Vintage Recipes" is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 192 page compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes from our culinary past. The recipes themselves are organized into Appetizers, Soups and Salads, Vegetable Entries and Sides, Meat and Seafood Entries, Breakfasts and Breads, Desserts and Sweets, as well as Preserves and Sauces. Of special interest is the section devoted to Beverages. From Chestnut Soup with Bacon; Glazed Orange-Scented Parsnips; Sour Cream Coffee Cake; and Vermont Apple-Cider Doughnuts; to Blackberry Cobbler; Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll; Grape Catsup; and One-Week Ginger Beer, these 'time lost' dishes will grace any family meal and celebratory dining occasion. Also available in a paperback edition (9781581572582, $16.95), "Yankee Magazine's Lost And Vintage Recipes" is passionately recommended and an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Greek Revival From The Garden
Patricia Moore-Pastides
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
www.sc.edu/uscpress
9781611171907, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled and written by Patricia Moore-Pastides, "Greek Revival from the Garden: Growing and Cooking for Life" is a beautifully illustrated, 160 page compendium showcasing a wide range of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly, 'garden fresh' recipes. But more than that, "Greek Revival from the Garden: Growing and Cooking for Life" also provides novice kitchen cooks with gardening advice, basic kitchen safety, kitchen equipment, cooking method tips, and even anecdotal comments from cooking class participants. The fifty recipes range from an Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Balsamic Vinegar and Lemon-Thyme Confetti; to Sauteed Greens with Garlic over Pasta; to Parsleyed Meatballs in Cinnamony Tomato Sauce; to a Tabbouleh with herbs, Dried Fruit, and Nuts. Informed and an extraordinary source of culinary inspiration, "Greek Revival from the Garden: Growing and Cooking for Life" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that 'Greek Revival from the Garden: Growing and Cooking for Life" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.49).

Wild Flavors
Didi Emmons
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com
9781603585187, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled with commentary by culinary enthusiast Didi Emmons, "Wild Flavors: One Chef's Transformative Year Cooking from Eva's Farm" is a 320 page compendium showcasing 46 herbs, greens, and edible 'weeds' that their uses in creating 150 outstanding recipes that are as diverse as they are 'kitchen cook friendly'. Of special note is Emmons' commentaries that accompany each recipe. The dishes themselves range from Goosefoot Pancakes; Stinging Nettle Soup; Raspberry Rose Milkshake; and Salad of Chervil, Apples, Walnuts, Quinoa, and Onion; to Spaghetti Squash with Lentils and Sage; Fried Duck Egg on Rye Berry Hash; Tarragon Millet Tempeh Cakes; Rosemary-Ginger Minestrone; and Cafe Cocoa's Apricot Sage Cookies. Nicely illustrated with color photos of the plants, "Wild Flavors: One Chef's Transformative Year Cooking from Eva's Farm" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Wild Flavors: One Chef's Transformative Year Cooking from Eva's Farm" is also available in a hardcover edition (9781603582858, $34.95).

Gluten-Free Pasta
Robin Asbell
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
www.runningpress.com
9780762449675, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Gluten (from Latin gluten, "glue") is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species, including barley and rye. Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape and often gives the final product a chewy texture. Gluten has proven to be hazardous to the health of anyone who is allergic to it. Knowledgeably compiled by food writer and professional chef Robin Asbell, "Gluten-Free Pasta: More than 100 Fast and Flavorful Recipes with Low- and No-Carb Options" is a 216 page compendium showcasing more than one hundred palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes for gluten free dishes that would grace any dining occasion from modest family meals to elegant celebratory dining. The dishes range from Crispy Noodle Cakes with Peas and Orange-Miso Tofu; Avocado, Fresh Mozzarella, and Peach Pasta Salad; Spicy Fusilli and Escarole with Yellow Squash; and Chicken Pad Thai with Cilantro and Lime; to Sausage and Spicy Red Sauce Lasagna; Roasted Vegetable Egg Crepe Cannelloni with Chevre; Gnocchi-Veggie Gratin with Aged Cheddar; and Cajun Crab, Greens, and Noodle Soup. Nicely illustrated with occasional full color photography of finished dishes, "Gluten-Free Pasta: More than 100 Fast and Flavorful Recipes with Low- and No-Carb Options" is strongly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The New Southern Table
Brys Stephens
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
Dalyn Miller Public Relations
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592335855, $21.99, www.amazon.com

In "New Southern Table: Classic Ingredients Revisited", foodwriter, photographer, and fifth-generation southerner Brys Stephens has compiled a 200 page, lushly illustrated compendium comprised of simply outstanding recipes for elegant dishes that would grace and enhanced any and all dining occasions. Ranging from Squash Tempura with Soy Dipping Sauce; Saffron Chicken and Rice with Golden Beets; Chocolate and Sea Salt Peanut Brittle; and Herb Grilled Bison Rib Eyes with Onion, Tomato, and Fig Chutney; to Peach Ginger Smoothie; Grilled Shrimp and Watermelon kebabs with Lime Cream and Basil; Pizza with Figs, Country ham, and Mustard Greens; and Purple Hull Pea Tabouleh, all of these "The New Southern Table" culinary creations are deftly presented with clear step-by-step directions making them all 'kitchen cook friendly' and enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Patissier
Emmanuel Mollis
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781742584966, $55.00, www.amazon.com

A patissier is a pastry chef, skilled in the making of pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods, positioned as a station chef in a professional kitchen. The pastry chef is often in charge of the dessert menu, which besides traditional desserts, may include dessert wines, specialty dessert beverages, and gourmet cheese platters. "Patissier" by professional pastry chef Emmanuel Mollis is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 288 page compendium showcasing a culinary wealth of French pastry dishes suitable for all dining occasions. Each recipe is clearly presented with a full color photograph of the finished dish, a list of ingredients, and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step instructions. An elegant and superbly presented, "Patissier" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

250 Best Meals In A Mug
Camilla V. Saulsbury
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778804741, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A veritable cornucopia of delicious, nutritious, and kitchen cook friendly recipes-for-one, "250 Best Meals In A Mug" will prove to be especially welcome by anyone who is pressed for time and dining solo. These palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes range from Creamy Blue Cheese Pasta; Cinnamon Sugar Muffin; Manhattan Clam Chowder; and Chickpea Potato Masala; to BBQ Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl; Sesame Noodles; Chocolate Trail Mix Bark; and Banana Pudding. Of special note are the color photographs of finished dishes that can't help but inspire their inclusion into a satisfying meal experience. In addition to the recipes themselves, "250 Best Meals In A Mug" is enhanced with the inclusion of an informative introduction, as well as basic information on the use of a microwave with preparing a meal in a mug, 'Mug Smarts', 'The Mug Meals Pantry', and on measuring out ingredients for a mug-based recipe. A terrific family cookbook, "250 Best Meals In A Mug" will also prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library cookbook collections.

Rawsome Vegan Baking
Emily von Euw
Page Street Publishing
27 congress Street, Suite 103, Salem, MA 01970
The Trina Kaye Organization (publicity)
www.pagestreetpublishing.com
www.ThisRawsomeVeganLife.com
9781624140556, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, as well as following an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of sentient animals. A follower of veganism is known as a vegan. Expertly compiled by Emily von Euw, "Rawsome Vegan Baking: An Un-cookbook for Raw, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Beautiful and Sinfully Sweet Cookies, Cakes, Bars & Cupcakes" is a 224 page, beautifully illustrated, 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium offering a wide range of vegan culinary creations ranging from a Double Decadence Chocolate Silk Cake with Hazelnut Crust; to a Sorbet with Strawberries, Agave & Mint; to Endless Energy Bars with Nuts, Seeds, Figs, Raisins & Sweet Coconut Drizzle; to Super Sexy Cacao cashew Cupcakes. "Rawsome Vegan Baking" documents and demonstrates that a vegan diet can (and indeed does!) include elegant desserts suitable for all manner of dinning occasions, making it strongly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections in general, and Vegan/Vegetarian specialty cookbook shelves in particular. It should be noted that "Rawsome Vegan Baking" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.89).

Feasting On Food Storage
Jane P. Merrill & Karen M. Sunderland
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462112890, $18.99, www.amazon.com

The Mormon Church advises its members to have a one year supply of food and other necessities on hand in the even of emergency. Often specific food items that are canned or boxed are purchases in case lots. Buying in bulk saves money. But for a food storage supply to be truly useful by the time an emergency arises, the stored foods must be kept 'fresh' by using them up in a systematic way so that when an item is utilized it is replaced so that the basic year's supply of it is kept intact. That's why "Feasting on Food Storage: Delicious and Healthy Recipes for Everyday Cooking" by Jane P. Merrill and Karen M. Sunderland will prove extraordinarily useful. This 304 page culinary compendium is comprised of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for nutritious and delicious dishes ranging from Hamburger Soup; Chicken Dinner in a Pot; Mac and Cheese in a Skillet; and Quick Enchilada Casserole; to Pumpkin Bars; Quick Rice Pudding; Caesar Salad; and Beef Stroganoff. Of special note is the roster of recipes for Perfect Whole Wheat Bread for large, medium, and small batches. Enhanced with advice on how to plan meals using food storage items, how to store water safely, recipes for baby food, home remedies, and even gluten-free options, "Feasting on Food Storage: Delicious and Healthy Recipes for Everyday Cooking" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

In A While, Crocodile
Patrice Keller Kononchek & Lauren Malone Keller
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455618422, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Next to the microwave oven, the slow-cooker (often called a crock pot) is a busy wife's best friend in the kitchen when it comes to the ease of making family meals. "In a While, Crocodile: New Orleans Slow Cooker Recipes" is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 112 page compendium showcasing a culinary treasure of more than fifty authentic southern recipes which are ideal for the family crock pot. With recipes ranging from Marigny Mushrooms; Audubon Zoo Shrimp and Okra Stew; Jazzy Jambalaya; and French Quarter French Dip; to Baronne Street Bruscialoni; City Park Corn Bread; Shotgun Sweet Potatoes; and Big Easy Bananas Foster, "In a While, Crocodile: New Orleans Slow Cooker Recipes" present 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. "In a While, Crocodile: New Orleans Slow Cooker Recipes" is an extraordinary and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Gluten Free, Hassle Free, second edition
Marlisa Brown
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, NY, NY 10036
www.demoshealth.com
9781936303588, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Gluten Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program For Eating Your Way Back to Health" by registered dietician and certified diabetes educator Marlisa Brown is a 480 page compendium specifically written to be accessible to the non-specialist general reader and kitchen cook with an interest in providing meals that are easy to prepare and gluten free. Of special note is the information on diagnosing gluten disorders, the latest gluten-free labeling regulations, complete meal plans, and the more than 140 recipes ranging from Strawberry Shortcake; to Apple Cranberry Quinoa Salad; to Easy Chicken and Rice Soup; to Cheddar Quesadillas. Of special note is the chapter on 'Making It Easy for Children' addressing cross-contamination tips, kids at school, on field trips and picnics, on holidays and family events, at camps, 'eating on the go', gluten-free snacks, and more. Enhanced with a Recipe Directory with Allergy Information and a comprehensive index, "Gluten Free, Hassle Free, Second Edition: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program For Eating Your Way Back to Health" is very highly recommended for family and community library Health/Medicine and Specialty Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Gluten Free, Hassle Free, Second Edition: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program For Eating Your Way Back to Health" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.49).

Payard Desserts
Francois Payard
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9781118435892, $40.00, www.hmhbooks.com

Payard Desserts packs in dishes from Payard's twenty years of professional dessert cooking, and is a recommendation for any dessert cook looking for something special. Here are 'upscale' desserts from Dark Chocolate Souffle with Pistachio Ice Cream to Gorgonzola Ice Cream and beyond: the focus here is on offering unexpected combinations of flavors and of sweet and savory dishes. Many recipes can be made ahead, making them accessible to even busy cooks who want to cook on the side, while a 'whisk' rating system allows for at-a-glance assessment of which recipes are easier than others. With its mouth-watering display of original creations, this is a 'must' for any cook looking for something different.

Growing a Feast
Kurt Timmermeister
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393088892, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com

GROWING A FEAST: THE CHRONICLE OF A FARM-TO-TABLE MEAL comes from a Seattle chef and restaurateur who made the transition to small-scale farming, and this documents his experiences with a series of start-up projects on that farm from beekeeping to farming. He prepared weekly dinners from the farm's fresh ingredients to help support this transition - and GROWING A FEAST documents the evolution of this process. All the basics of how such a feast is conceived and carried out are covered in chapters loaded with engrossing farming stories, making this a 'must' for any interested in food or farming alike.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Land of the Fallen Star Gods
J.S. Gordon
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591431640, $20.00, www.bearandcompanybooks.com

Land of the Fallen Star Gods: The Celestial Origins of Ancient Egypt are recounted in a fine survey of prehistory that shows how forgotten civilizations are hidden beneath the Mediterranean and the coast of Africa, and how the appearance of Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations 5,000 years ago represents the last remains of an ancient, sophisticated world culture. Physical evidence of mystical traditions, rituals, and more discusses the culture of these ancient Egyptians and provides another perspective on their divine purpose and human evolution in general, making for a fine new age history filled with new insights about mankind's possible origins.

The Practice Of Nada Yoga
Baird Hersey
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620551813, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Nada yoga is an ancient Indian metaphysical system. It is both a philosophical system, a medicine, and - as the name suggests - a form of yoga. The system's theoretical and practical aspects are based on the premise that the entire cosmos and all that exists in the cosmos, including human beings, consists of sound vibrations, called nada. This concept holds that it is the sound energy in motion rather than of matter and particles which form the building blocks of the cosmos. Nada yoga is also a way to approach with reverence and respond to sound. Sound and music is in this context, something more than just the sensory properties and sources of sensuous pleasure, sound and music is considered also to play the role as a potential medium to achieve a deeper unity with both the outer and the inner cosmos. Nada yoga's use of sound vibrations and resonances are also used to pursue palliative effects on various problematic psychological and spiritual conditions. It is also employed to raise the level of awareness of the postulated energy centers called chakra. "The Practice of Nada Yoga: Meditation on the Inner Sacred Sound" by musician and yoga expert Baird Hersey is a 224 page compendium that details the teachings on nada yoga from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika with clear, step-by-step instructions to find and hear the inner sacred sound of nada; explains the 4 levels of sound through a series of practical meditation exercises; and includes instructions for a daily nada yoga meditation practice as well as ways to strengthen advanced practice. Exceptionally well written and organized, "The Practice Of Nada Yoga" is highly recommended reading for all yoga enthusiasts and practitioners. It should be noted that "The Practice Of Nada Yoga" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
179 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT 06902
www.usgamesinc.com www.amazon.com

U.S. Games Systems is the premier publisher of tarot decks in this country. Three of their newest offerings are particular noteworthy because of their hauntingly beautiful artwork. Accompanied by a 28 page booklet compiling inspirational messages and featuring 44 oversized cards, "Magical Times Empowerment Cards" (9781572817234, $16.00) showcases the work of Jody Bergsma. "Gilded Reverie Lenormand" (9781572817548, $19.95) by Ciro Marchetti comprises 36 superbly crafted cards and a 48 page booklet of interpretations and instructions. Deftly written and stunningly illustrated by Kim Dreyer, "Conscious Spirit" (9781572817241, $16.00) features a 44 impressively imaged card collection and 44 page 'user friendly' booklet that will enable the user to plumb the depths of their consciousness. All three of these simply outstanding decks are very highly recommended. For a complete and descriptive listing of all their outstanding tarot card collections, visit the U.S. Games Systems web site at www.usgamesinc.com

New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
www.newpagebooks.com

Scott Alan Roberts and John Richard Ward's THE EXODUS REALITY: UNEARTHING THE REAL HISTORY OF MOSES, IDENTIFYING THE PHARAOHS, AND EXAMINING THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT (9781601632913, $19.99) comes from a historian and theologian and an anthropologist who here provide insights into one of the Bible's oldest mysteries. Chapters probe the figure of Moses, four pharaohs, the Templars, Masons and more in a probe of the Exodus of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, offering archaeological evidence and history of the biblical accounts and considering the Ark and other biblical interpretations. Spirituality and new age collections alike will find this a winning examination. These collections will also appreciate Susan Shumsky, D.D.'s THE POWER OF AURAS: TAP INTO YOUR ENERGY FIELD FOR CLARIFY, PEACE OF MIND, AND WELL-BEING (9781601632890, $16.99), one of the most in-depth guides in print. This is a new, enhanced edition of the classic and offers over seventy illustrations and specific reader guidelines in each chapter as it considers ways to heal through intuitive dowsing, color, movement and meditation. Learn how to see auras, develop spiritual self-defense mechanisms, heal dense vibrations, and more with a guide that goes far beyond most (which teach how to see/interpret an aura) to promote a more active role in the process of using energy fields.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Renaissance Soul, updated edition
Margaret Lobenstine
The Experiment Publishing
9781615190928, $14.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com

The Renaissance Soul: How to Make Your Passions Your Life provides a guide linking passionate achievement to personality type and appears in an updated edition in paperback for the first time to pair a life-planning strategy to greater aspirations. From how to thrive on many interests to creating joy from many different passions, this provides an innovative survey highly recommended for any who would cultivate not a singular path, but one comprised of many different inte5rests.


The American History Shelf

Necessary Courage
Lowell J. Soike
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381936 $24.95 www.uiowapress.org

In the early 1850s and 1860s, Iowa was the westernmost free state bordering a slave state. Necessary Courage: Iowa's Underground Railroad in the Struggle Against Slavery examines Iowa's role as an antislavery bastion, as conflict over America's "peculiar institution" moved westward. Historian Lowell J. Soike has collected little-known tales of desperate runaway slaves brave Iowans, and the Underground Railroad that spirited slaves to freedom. Serving the Underground Railroad was literally life-threatening - people who helped escaped slaves could be arrested, attacked, or killed by the authorities, by slavecatchers, or by pro-slavery neighbors. Extensive notes supplement this historical chronicle; though its true-life stories are presented with the meticulous precision of a scholar, they are more tense, exciting, and heartbreaking than any novel. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History shelves.

The Sagebrush State
Michael W. Bowers
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu
9780874179231, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Nevada is the 7th most extensive, the 35th most populous, and the 9th least densely populated of the 50 United States. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas - Paradise metropolitan area where the state's three largest incorporated cities are located. Nevada's capital is Carson City. Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" due to the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is known as the "Sagebrush State" because of the native eponymous plant. Nevada is largely desert and semiarid, with much of it located within the Great Basin. Areas south of the Great Basin are located within the Mojave Desert, while Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada lie on the western edge. Approximately 86% of the state's land is owned by various jurisdictions of the U.S. federal government, both civilian and military. Now in an updated and significantly expanded fourth edition, "The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics" by Michael W. Bowers (Professor of Political Science and Public law, University of Nevada, Las Vegas) is a 312 page compendium providing an analytical overview of the state from its inception down to the present day. A seminal work of impressively detailed and documented scholarship, "The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics" is very highly recommended and instructive reading for students of Nevadan history and would make an important contribution to academic library American History and Political Science reference collections. It should be noted that "The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.88).

Histories Of American Christianity
Christopher H. Evans
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602585454, $44.95, www.amazon.com

No other country on earth has a larger percentage of their population self-identify as being religious. Religion (principally Christianity) has been an integral part of the history of America from its founding down to the present day. Histories of American Christianity: An Introduction" by Christopher H. Evans (Professor of the History of Christianity, Boston University School of Theology) is a 403 page compendium providing an introduction and informative overview of the pluralism and impact of Christianity (especially the Protestant churches) upon American culture, society, and politics. Exceptionally well written and presented, "Histories of American Christianity: An Introduction" is chronologically organized into five major sections: Constructing a Protestant Worldview 1600-1800; The Evangelical Empire and Its Critics 1800-1865; American Christianity in Tumult 1865-1920; American Christianity and Modernity 1920-1965; The Restructuring of American Christianity 1965-2009. Enhanced with an Epilogue, extensive notes, a select bibliography, and an index of names as well as an index of subject, "Histories of American Christianity: An Introduction" is a very highly recommended history for personal, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Studies and American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Histories of American Christianity: An Introduction" is also available in a Kindle edition ($42.47).

Freedom National
James Oakes
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393347753, $18.95, www.wwnorton.com

Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865 provides a fine history of emancipation and comes from a history professor who closely examines the idea that the Civil War held a singular purpose. For Lincoln and the Republican Congress of the times, restoring the Union and ending slavery were entwined from the start, and the Southern states began to secede after Lincoln's election in the face of his emancipation policies. Lincoln had to rely on his military authority as commander in chief to justify his emancipation policies in a move that would further embroil and separate states even though Lincoln tried to foster gradual, compensated emancipation policies to ease the transition. The result is a history of emancipation that is a 'must' for any collection strong in civil war or civil rights issues.


The World History Shelf

Medieval Mysteries
Karen Ralls
IBIS
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
665 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com
9780892541720, $22.95, www.amazon.com

Europe's 'High Middle Ages' ranged from 1100 to 1300 A.D. and was a time of legend, folklore, superstition, myth, and cultural/religious symbolism that governed the beliefs and behaviors of the populace from the most impoverished peasant to the most opulent of the royalty. Compiled and written by medieval historian Karen Ralls (who served as the Deputy Curator of Art at the Rosslyn Chapel from 1996 to 2001), "Medieval Mysteries: A Guide to History, Lore, Places and Symbolism" is a beautifully illustrated, 304 page, compendium that showcases a series of medieval groups and beliefs that range from the Knights Templar; Mary Magdalene; The Black Madonna; The Holy Grail; and the Cathars; to Medieval Guilds; heretics and heresy; the Troubadours; King Arthur; and the Rosslyn Chapel. Enhanced with two appendices, substantial endnotes, an impressive bibliography and list of recommended readings, and a comprehensive index, ""Medieval Mysteries: A Guide to History, Lore, Places and Symbolism" is a seminal work of outstanding scholarship, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, and very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Medieval Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that ""Medieval Mysteries: A Guide to History, Lore, Places and Symbolism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).

Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography
Kerry Brown, editor-in-chief
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9781933782669, $595.00, www.amazon.com

"The Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography" is a three volume, 1750 page, encyclopedic compendium comprised of contributions from one hundred internationally recognized experts from nearly a dozen countries. It is specifically designed to accessibly present the entire span of Chinese history in the form of succinct biographical descriptions of China's emperors, politicians, poets, writers, artists, scientists, explorers, and philosophers who have shaped and transformed culture, politics, economics, technology, and social structure of China over the course of five thousand years. In 135 entries, ranging from 1,000 to 8,000 words the "Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography" ranges from the possibly mythological figures of ancient China down to the 20th Century Communist leaders Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. Deftly written in-depth essays present a complex historical context, providing readers with a compelling narrative that weaves abstract concepts and disparate events into a coherent story. Of special note are the cross-references between the articles showing the connections between times, places, movements, events, and individuals. Enhanced with the inclusion of a time line of key events, a pronunciation guide, a bibliography, lists of rulers and other prominent people, and other supplemental materials for students of Chinese history and culture, "Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography" is an impressive and seminal work of outstanding scholarship and a critically important addition to academic library biographical reference collections in general and Chinese History Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Tending the Heart Fire
Shiva Rea
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781604077094, $29.95, www.soundstrue.com

Tending the Heart Fire: Living in Flow with the Pulse of Life comes from a yogini and spiritual teacher who explains how to blend yoga's teachings into daily life, and offers a guide for connecting with the heart and the planet. Rituals, practices and yoga philosophy blend with keys to creating connections between the sacred and emotions, offering some 40 HeartFire meditations and a weekly, daily and cyclic planning guide for harmonizing self with the universe. The result packs in color images, charts, diagrams and more for an exceptional, inspirational new age survey especially recommended for newcomers to yoga and meditation.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Inspiration From Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Pauline Books & Media
50 Saint Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3433
www.pauline.org
9780819837226, $9.95, www.amazon.com

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio (17 December 1936) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church, in which capacity he is Bishop of Rome and absolute Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He worked briefly as a chemical technician and nightclub bouncer before entering the seminary. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and was created a Cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, the subsequent papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March. He chose his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi and is the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope from the Americas, the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European Pope since Pope Gregory III in 741, 1272 years earlier. From the beginning of his papacy he has made a very popular impression on both Catholics and non-Catholics around the world. Compiled by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, "Inspiration From Pope Francis" is a 160 page compendium comprised of more than ten years worth of homilies written while Pope Francis was an archbishop, cardinal, and finally as Pope. Along with a brief biography, the topics are organized thematically. "Inspiration From Pope Francis" should be considered mandatory reading by all Catholics and will prove of immense interest and illumination to non-Catholics as well.

Old Testament Today
John H. Walton & Andrew E. Hill
Zondervan Academic
c/o Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com
9780310498209, $44.99, www.amazon.com

The Old Testament is the Christian term for the Hebrew Bible, a collection of religious writings by ancient Israelites that form the first section of the Christian Bible, to which were added a second collection of writings referred to as the New Testament. The books included in the Old Testament canon varies markedly between Christian denominations; Protestants accept only the books of the official Jewish Hebrew Bible canon as their Old Testament but divide it into 39 books, while Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and Ethiopian churches accept a considerably larger collection of writings in their Old Testament canon. The Old Testament was compiled and edited by various men over a period of centuries, with many scholars concluding that the Hebrew canon that was destined to become the Old Testament of the Christian communities was solidified by about the 3rd century BC. Now in a thoroughly updated and significantly expanded second edition by John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill (both of whom are professors of Old Testament studies at Wheaton College in Illinois), "Old Testament Today: A Journey from Ancient Context to Contemporary Relevance" is a 480 page compendium that provides students and non-specialist general readers with an informed and informative historical and theological analytically descriptive and historical overview of the books of the Protestant version of the Old Testament, as well as the relevance the Old Testament has for contemporary Christian faith, practice, and application. Enhanced throughout with the addition of illustrations, maps, scriptural quotations, charts, and full color photography, "Old Testament Today" is an impressive and 'reader friendly' work of impeccable scholarship, giving it the highest recommendation possible for personal, family, school, seminary, academic, and community library collections.

Julian of Norwich
Annotation by Mary C. Earle
Skylight Paths Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4
PO Box 237
Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594735134 $16.99 www.skylightpaths.com

Julian of Norwich: Selections from Revelations of Divine Love - Annotated & Explained presents excerpts from "Revelations of Divine Love", a classic spiritual text by the fourteenth-century English Mystic Julian of Norwich, well known for her timeless reflections on the Christian faith. Each page of excerpts is paired with a page of annotations by Episcopal priest Mary C. Earle, interpreting Norwich's revelations in terms more accessible to modern lay readers of all backgrounds. An excellent introduction to "Revelations of Divine Love", Julian of Norwich is especially recommended for church library collections and as a starting resource for amateur theologians.

Ethics and Moral Reasonings: A Student's Guide
C. Ben Mitchell
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433537677, $11.99, www.crossway.org

Ethics and Moral Reasonings: A Student's Guide is a fine primer considering Christian morality and using insights from key Christian ethicists to discuss moral reasoning in the Scripture, and is a pick for any college student studying Biblical meaning. It provides simple reflections for moral understanding based on Biblical accounts and the history of moral reasoning alike, and makes for an excellent survey perfect for study and classroom discussion.

Chasing God
Angie Smith
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433676611, $17.99, www.BHPublishinggroup.com

CHASING GOD is a combination of memoir and insights into the difference between chasing God and following, and it's an inspirational piece recommended for any spiritual reader interested in autobiographies charting the process of finding greater connections to God. Chapters discuss being busy, not being able to see or discern God's message, and how life events are often God speaking through other means. The trick is how to develop the vision and perception needed to perceive these messages - and CHASING GOD provides this foundation for understanding, always using the author's experiences to connect with God and her audience. Any collection strong in inspirational Christian reading will find this a find addition.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Why We Remain Jews
Vladimir Tsesis, MD
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.academychicago.com
9780897337175, $19.95, www.amazon.com

In "Why We Remain Jews", Dr. Vladimir Tsesis candidly describes his personal transformation from religious ignorance to strong belief in the Jewish religion. Dr. Tsesis assigns a special place to the proof of his conclusion that religion and science (especially in light of recent discoveries) are not in opposition, but are in complete harmony and supplementing, not excluding, each other. In the spirit of ecumenism Dr. Tsesis persuasively advocates the coexistence of different religions -- all of which share the common objective of the physical, emotional, and spiritual survival of the human race. The unifying theme of "Why We Remain Jew" is the beauty of the Jewish religion and a coherent explanation for both Jews and non-Jews to why adherence to Judaism is so tenacious, especially in the realities of the 20th and now the 21st centuries, making it a very highly recommended for students of Judaism, members of the Jewish community, as well as both community and academic library Judaic Studies collections. It should be noted that "Why We Remain Jews" is also available in a hardcover edition (9780897337328, $32.50).

The Prophetic Law
Sandor Goodhart
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611861242, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Rene Girard (born December 25, 1923) is a French historian, literary critic, and philosopher of social science. His work belongs to the tradition of anthropological philosophy. He is the author of nearly thirty books (see below), in which he developed the ideas of: mimetic desire: all of our desires are borrowed from other people; mimetic rivalry: all conflict originates in mimetic desire; the scapegoat mechanism is the origin of sacrifice and the foundation of human culture, and religion was necessary in human evolution to control the violence that can come from mimetic rivalry; the Bible reveals the three previous ideas and denounces the scapegoat mechanism. Girard's writings cover many areas. Although the reception of his work is different in each of these areas, there is a growing body of secondary literature that uses his hypotheses and ideas in the areas of literary criticism, critical theory, anthropology, theology, psychology, mythology, sociology, economics, cultural studies, and philosophy. "The Prophetic Law: Essays in Judaism, Girardianism, Literary Studies, and the Ethical" by Sandor Goodhart (Professor of English and Jewish Studies, Purdue University) is a 342 page compendium comprised of twelve erudite and scholarly essays organized into four thematic sections: Dialogue Among Girardians; Girardian Reading and the Scriptural; Girardian Reading and the Literary; Girardian and the Ethical. As informed and informative as they are thoughtful and thought-provoking, this anthology of essays should be considered a "must" for students of the life and work of Rene Girard and an important contribution to academic library Contemporary Philosophy collections. It should be noted that "The Prophetic Law: Essays in Judaism, Girardianism, Literary Studies, and the Ethical" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.60).


The Audiobook Shelf

Foreign Gods, Inc.
Okey Ndibe, author
Dominic Hoffman, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969
Ashland, OR 97520
9781482968255 $32.95 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Okey Ndibe (teacher of African Literature at Brown University) presents Foreign Gods, Inc., the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a novel about desperation. Ike is a Nigerian cab driver in New York, who despite his economics degree can barely make enough money to survive, let alone meet the needs of his fractious African-American wife or his widowed mother. He hatches a dangerous but potentially lucrative plan - to travel back to Nigeria, steal the statue of an ancient war deity from his home village, and sell it to a New York gallery. His plot leads him to estranged friends and family, as well as the middle of an ongoing conflict between those in his village who worship the deity and those who practice Christianity. An examination of thorny moral choices, the pressures of globalization, and being caught between two dramatically different worlds, Foreign Gods, Inc. is captivating from beginning to end. 10 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

Do You Believe in Magic?
Paul A. Offit, MD, author
Corey Snow, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781452619262 $37.99 www.tantor.com

"There's no such thing as alternative medicine. There's only medicine that works and medicine that doesn't," states medical expert Paul A. Offit, MD (chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and director of the Vaccine Education Center, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia). "Do You Believe in Magic? The Sense and Nonsense of Alternative Medicine" is the unabridged audiobook rendition of his cautionary warning. Offit lays bare the shameful deceptions of the alternative medicine industry. Although some alternative medicine patients can benefit from the placebo response (when a person starts to feel or be healthier just because they think they're being treated, even though they aren't), far too many of these so-called treatments are ineffective, expensive, injurious, or even fatal. Alternative medicine is a largely unregulated industry, and without that legal obligation to prove its claims or disclose its risks, it can cause great harm either directly (when "treatments" are harmful) or indirectly (by luring patients away from the traditional medicine that is more likely to help them the sooner they receive it). Offit takes a stand against phony cancer-cure claims, anti-aging hucksters, and conspiracy theorists whose claim that vaccines cause autism has been scientifically debunked over and over again. Anyone and everyone considering alternative medicine treatments should first listen carefully to Offit's wisdom! Highly recommended, especially for public library collections. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

Andrew's Brain
E.L. Doctorow
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780804127752, $30.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

Author E.L. Doctorow narrates his own vivid novel that examines the life of a man who has caused disaster more than once in his life. Here he tells the story of this life, these disasters, his loves and tragedies, and he considers truths about memory, personality and choice that offer vivid insights into the human condition. With its progressive series of reflections, ANDREW'S BRAIN is a compelling inspection perfect for listeners who like complex, thought-provoking novels.

Brown Dog
Jim Harrison, author
Read by Bronson Pinchot, Ray Porter, and Lloyd James
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969
Ashland, OR 97520
9781482952728 $39.95 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Now in an unabridged audiobook rendition, Brown Dog collects all of author Jim Harrison's novellas about Brown Dog - a hedonistic, reckless, unlucky but plucky Michigan Indian. Stories follow his exploits as he just barely ekes out a living while pursuing his triple passions of food, drink, and women; searches for an alleged Native activist who stole his bearskin; adopts two Native children and flees the authorities before returning across the Canadian border in the cover of a rock band tour bus, and more. Will Brown Dog ever achieve stability, family, or redemption for his heedless ways? A grand tour through the eyes of a complex character, Brown Dog is especially recommended for public library audiobook collections.

Baseball Forever!
From the Miley Collection
Jason Turbow, editor
Bob Costas, narrator
AudioGo
9780792791409 $19.95 www.audiogo.com

Baseball Forever! is an audiobook compilation of some of the greatest highlights in baseball history from the Miley Collection. Originally spoken live on radio by the top sports broadcasters of the day, Baseball Forever! is filled with amazing feats such as Carl Hubbell striking out Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx and Joe Cronin (in that order); Bill Mazeroski' homer; the Shot Heard 'round the World; and much more. Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster Bob Costas guides the listener through baseball history with his smooth narrative, in this superb treasury for sports enthusiasts and sports historians alike. 4 CDs, 4 1/2 hours.

We're Alive: A Story of Survival, The Third Season
Wayland Productions
c/o Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969
Ashland, OR 97520
9781482909951 $105.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Named "Best of 2012" on iTunes, We're Alive: A Story of Survival, The Third Season is the library edition of a radio play audiobook chronicling the brutal and hazardous fallout from a zombie apocalypse. Brought to life with a full-cast performance and chilling sound effects, the saga follows a band of survivors struggling to create and fortify a sanctuary from the flesh-eating undead. But zombies are far from the only monsters in a barren hellscape, where far too many human beings no longer constrain themselves with a conscience! Exciting, terrifying, and sure to be a popular library lend, the We're Alive series is highly recommended. 12 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

The Hanging Garden
Ian Rankin, author
Performed by Michael Page
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480523791 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Hanging Garden is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the ninth book in the Inspector Rebus series. Organized crime is descending upon Scotland, perpetuating the evils of drugs, extortion, and forced prostitution. Stalwart policeman Rebus is in the thick of fighting back, as well as pursuing a lead on an elderly Nazi alleged to have murdered an entire French village. But Rebus' battle against crime turns viciously personal when his own daughter becomes a casualty of the gang wars. A story of revenge, violence, and fighting back against a menace that lacks the barest shred of a conscience, The Hanging Garden is an edge-of-one's-seat thriller that fans of the genre are sure to enjoy! 10 CDs, 11 hours 25 min.

Be Careful What You Wish For
Jeffrey Archer
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427239365 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Be Careful What You Wish For is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a new novel in the "Clifton Chronicles" saga of the wealthy yet sometimes troubled Clifton family. Set in the 1960's era., the story begins with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to the hospital, not knowing whether their son Sebastian is dead or alive. Meanwhile, Ross Buchanan's forced resignation from the Barrington Shipping Company leaves open a power vacuum - and if the wrong person is maneuvered to replace him, the entire Barrington family firm could be devoured from within! A skillfully woven interpersonal saga, Be Careful What You Wish For is a "must-read" for anyone following the multi-tiered family tale, and an attention-grabbing jumping-on point for anyone brand new to the series. Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

From the Dead
Mark Billingham, author
Paul Thornley, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781622312849 $34.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com

From the Dead: A Tom Thorne Novel is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an intense mystery-thriller. Donna Langford was convicted of conspiracy to murder her husband, and served ten years in prison, but just before her release, she received an anonymous letter with a photography of her husband - apparently, he is alive and well. Detective Inspector Tom Thorne of London's Metropolitan Police becomes embroiled in a case of deception, intrigue, and manipulation; can any justice be salvaged from the wreckage of a lost decade? Exciting to the very end, From the Dead is especially recommended for connoisseurs of quality crime writing. 10 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200
Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com

L. Ron Hubbard was a master storyteller during the 'Golden Age' of pulp magazine fiction. Galaxy Press is dedicated to keeping Hubbard's impressive roster of short stories and novels in print for the enjoyment of new generations of appreciative readers. What may be less well known is that Galaxy Press is also producing multicast performances of Hubbard's stories complete with music and sound effects. The result is a true 'theatre of the mind' experience for listeners. One of their outstanding titles showcasing Hubbard's mastery of the action/adventure genre is the novel "The Headhunters" (9781592122882, $9.95) inch which adventurer Tom Christian must deal with the murderous Punjo Charlie and his tribe of headhunters in the jungles of the Solomon Islands. There is gold and a girl as the ultimate goal with true 'cliff-hanger' suspense in this unabridged, two hour, two CD audio book edition. Also very highly recommended, "Hell's Legionnaire" (9781592122622, $9.95) offers two more hours of CD audio book adventure comprised of three of Hubbard's action-packed short stories: 'The Squad That Never Came Back'; 'The Barbarians', and the title piece, 'Hell's Legionnaire'. Solid entertainment with flawless production values, both of these terrific audio masterpieces are enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library audio book collections.

Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.highbridgeaudio.com

The eight audio books in author Cressida Cowell's 'How to Train Your Dragon' series receive a strong reading by David Tennant (the Scottish actor who has played many classic roles but is perhaps best-known for his role in Doctor Who) and provides a lively set of fantasy adventures perfect for any who like a combination of humor and fantasy. Begin with Book 1 (9781478954002, $20.00), which tells what happens when a boy, the quiet son of a chief, determines he will capture a dragon and train it: something nobody has done before. Move to How to Be a Pirate (9781478954033), which tells what happen when the same boy Hiccup finds a coffin at sea that could be the key to a great pirate treasure. A treasure hunt leads to more dangers. How to Speak Dragonese (9781478954057, $20.00) follows and tells what happens when Hiccup and his best friend accidentally raid the wrong ship, rescuing a tiny dragon before they are kidnapped, while How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse (9781478954071, $20.00) tells of a dangerous incurable sting and a journey to battle a crazy Chief if a curse is to be changed, while How to Twist a Dragon's Tale (9781478954095, $20.00) revolves around a stolen Fire-Stone, an active volcano, and the hatching of Exterminator Dragon eggs. A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (9781478954163, $20.00) tells of Hiccup's plan to save his dragon from being banished, while How to Ride a Dragon's Storm (9781478954187, $20.00) tells of a swimming race which Hiccup can only win by coming in last - discovering America along the way. Finally, How to Break a Dragon's Heart (9781478954200, $20.00) tells of an impossible mission which must be completed if Hiccup is to live. These interconnected stories are enjoyed best as a set, with each plot building upon another and providing a powerful enjoyment for any audio listener of any age.

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

James Patterson and Emily Raymond's FIRST LOVE (9781619697010, $30.00) receives a fine narration by theater grad Lauren Fortgang, who adds a spicy and evocative voice to this story of Axi Moore, a 'good girl' who wants to run away from her life. She's madly in love with her best friend Robinson - so when she invites him to join her on a life-changing cross-country road trip, she begins breaking rules. All the rules. This story of first love is a powerful saga of what happens when rules are broken, and is a top pick for any audio listener. Rocco Dispirito is a James Beard award-winning chef and author of nine other diet and cookbooks: the appearance of his POUND A DAY DIET (9781478900689, $30.00) in audio provides listeners with a chef-based diet and a new idea in accelerated weight loss. His is a low-cal, six-meal-a-day formula proven to help users lose up to five pounds every five days. It's a diet developed with a doctor's aid and it teaches the basics of a successful weight loss strategy that's especially recommended for audio listeners.


The Library CD Shelf

Libation
Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
www.sierraleonesrefugeeallstars.com
Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
www.cumbancha.com
c/o Press Junkie PR (publicity)
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221, Austin, TX 78748
$15.98 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars is a musical performance group who celebrate their African cultural heritage while taking stand against tribalism, regionalism, and divisive violence in their latest album, Libation. The title refers to a common African custom of pouring a small amount of drink on the ground as an offering to gods, spirits, ancestors, or departed loved ones. Brimming with rhythm, enthusiasm for life, and the will to build a better world, Libation is a choice pick for international music collections. The tracks are "Chaimra" (3:50), "Can't Make Me Lonely" (3:29), "It's So Sorry" (4:24), "Gbaenyama" (4:38), "Rich But Poor" (4:34), "Ghana Baby" (3:05), "Manjalagi" (4:18), "Maria" (3:43), "Money No Do" (3:58), "Treat You Right" (4:11), "Min Do Sin Tay" (3:48), and "No Feel Bad O" (3:48).

Gypsy Dream
Ferenc Illenyi with Andrew Leinhard, Erich Avinger, Chris Maresh, and guests
MesaBluemoon Recordings
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Hungarian-born violinist Ferenc Illenyi presents Gypsy Dream, an instrumental odyssey. Accompanying Illenyi are expert jazz pianist Andrew Leinhard, Erich Avinger on the guitar, Chris Maresh playing acoustic bass, and other contributing musicians. Gypsy Dream especially delves into the ever-evolving legacy of Hungarian "Gypsy music", which has a long tradition of being open to improvisation or additions. Soulful, invigorating, and rewarding, Gypsy Dream is a gem for any international music collection. The tracks are "Ando Beco" (4:30), "Tears" (4:06), "Boabdit, Bulerias" (3:50), "Gypsy Caprice" (4:33), "Indifference" (5:54), "Oblivion" (3:33), "Tortura" (5:14), "A Minor Swing" (3:18), "Gloomy Sunday" (3:19), "Birds of Santa Maria Novella" (5:51), and "Sonata in F Minor K466" (4:30).

Faya
Joe Driscoll & Sekou Kouyate
Cumbancha Music Publishing
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$15.00 CD/ $9.99 MP3 www.cumbancha.com

US-born, England-based rapper/beatboxer/singer Joe Driscoll and Guinean kora (a West African stringed instrument similar in sound to a harp) master Sekou Kouyate combine their musical talents in their smash debut album Faya. Though Driscoll and Kouyate do not share a common language (Kouyate speaks French and very little English; Driscoll speaks English and no French at all), music enables their flowing communication, and introduces listeners worldwide to an international fusion of stellar talent. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Tanama" (3:29), "Passport" (3:47), "Faya" (3:37), "Lady" (3:38), "Ghetto Many" (4:10), "Birnakely" (3:18), "Wonamati" (3:11), "New York" (3:25), "Zion" (3:30), and "Faya (Gentleman's Dub Club Remix)" (3:50).

Up.Rooted
Gina Chavez
www.ginachavez.com
Privately Published
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com

Award-winning Austin singer and songwriter Gina Chavez presents Up. Rooted, her sophomore studio album about reaching out to her Latin roots. Chavez, who is of Mexican and Swiss-German descent, has traveled from Austin to do community work (living with Catholic nuns and teaching English at a girls' school) in El Salvador. In the process she learned more about Latin American culture and music, and elements of her transformative journey enrich her mellifluous stylings. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Save Me" (4:31), "Gotta Get" (4:09), "Like an Animal" (4:37), "Maiz" (3:54), "Siete-D" (4:01), "The Sweet Sound of Your Name" (4:38), "Soy Quien Soy" (3:56), "Fire Water" (3:12), "Will You Love" (3:39), "Miles de Millas" (4:16), and "Todo Cambia" (5:00).


The Library DVD Shelf

Think Before You Drink
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Printable teaching materials online at www.learningzonexpress.com/worksheets complement Think Before You Drink: Sugar Shockers & Beverage Tips, an educational DVD for viewers of all ages, about the often harmful way in which high-sugar drinks affect the average American diet (alcoholic drinks are not covered in this DVD). From why sugary sport drinks can actually be deleterious to performance, to the jitters and sleep disturbance of caffeinated energy drinks, to how sugar soda contributes to obesity, to recommendations for healthy beverages, Think Before You Drink is an excellent contribution to public and school library DVD collections. 25 min. closed-captioned.

Parenting Principles
Featuring Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D.
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

An educational DVD accessible to viewers of all ages, Parenting Principles discusses the ten basic precepts of good parenting. Adolescent and parenting expert Laurence Steinberg, Ph.D. teaches viewers about the crucially important role that parents play in shaping the next generation. Personal anecdotes from individual parents round out this excellent and welcome resource for both public and school DVD libraries. Printable teaching materials are available online at www.learningzonexpress.com/worksheets as well. 38 min, closed-captioned.

The Science of Measurement
Hosted by Marcus du Sautoy
Athena Learning
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781598289961 $34.99 www.acornonline.com

Accessible to viewers of all backgrounds, The Science of Measurement: Taking the Measure of the World is a documentary about how human beings have attempted to quantify the world about them, from ancient history to the modern day. Host Marcus du Sautoy (Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, Oxford University) shows how seven fundamental units of measurement form the basic framework of key scientific concepts and affect every aspect of our daily lives. Bonus materials include a 12-page viewer's guide and a biography of Marcus du Sautoy. Fascinating and enlightening, The Science of Measurement will prompt the viewer to rethink his or her understanding of the wider world, and is highly recommended especially for public and school library DVD collections. 3 episodes / 177 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Into the Cold
A film by Sebastian Copeland
Shelter Island
c/o TDC Entertainment (publicity)
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 405
New York, NY 10010
9781934708958 $24.98 www.intothecold.org

Into the Coldis an extraordinary documentary following two men's expedition to the frigid North Pole. Viewers witness the intense survival training that environmental advocate, photographer, filmmaker, and polar traveler Sebastian Copeland endures to prepare for a two-month, 400+ mile journey on foot across the frozen ice cap. Aided by his partner Keith Heger, Copeland reveals the beauty of nature at its most inhospitable (temperatures were often below -50 F). Astonishing and profound, Into the Cold is highly recommended for personal, school, and public library DVD collections. 87 min., widescreen.

Wings of a Warrior
A Gardner Doolittle film
Shelter Island
c/o Damore Public Relations
9781939517081 $14.98 www.shelterisland.net

Wings of a Warrior: The Jimmy Doolittle Story is a DVD biography of James Harold Doolittle (1896-1993), one of the most decorated aviators in U.S. military history. Covering Doolittle's entire life from his childhood in Alaska, to service in the Signal Reserve Corps Aviation Section, to his record-breaking coast-to-coast flight in 1922, to his development of "instrument-only" flying and his role in the Invasion of Normandy and the raid on Tokyo, Wings of a Warrior is an incredible portrait of an intelligent, inventive, gifted man who was deadly serious about his duty. A ten-minute bonus interview with filmmaker/host Gardner Doolittle rounds out this extraordinary portrait of a larger-than-life pilot. Highly recommended. 84 min. plus extras.

Psychology and the New Heroism
Philip Zimbardo and Daniel Ellsberg
Moderated by Bill Roller
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772837 $195.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Psychology and the New Heroism is a documentary DVD of a deep, philosophical and psychological discussion between Philip Zimbardo (Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Stanford University) and Daniel Ellsberg. Zimbardo is best known as the creator of the notorious "Stanford Prison Experiment" that reveled just how easily the roles of authoritarian and subject can enable abusive behavior; Ellsberg served in the Pentagon under Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and risked imprisonment (or worse) to publicly reveal the Pentagon Papers, which documented the lies that perpetuated the Vietnam war long after any hope of victory was lost. Both men examine the fundamental questions: why are some people willing to risk their freedom or their lives to speak out, become whistleblowers, or defend ethical principles? The new heroism includes daring to tell the truth and bring the public crucial information, despite great personal danger. Psychology and the New Heroism challenges viewers to listen to their conscience above all, for the sake of their fellow citizens. 87 min., SDH captions.

Under Capricorn
Based on the novel by Helen Simpson
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621721383 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

Based on a popular novel by author Helen Simpson Under Capricorn, is an extraordinary saga set in 1831 Australia. Filmed on location in Australia, and first seen on the A&E channel, Under Capricorn follows Irishman Charles Adare (played by Peter Cousens) in search of his fortune, who becomes entangled in the lavish world of wealthy land baron Samson Flusky (John Hallam). Flusky's wife Lady Henrietta (Lisa Harrow) is not mentally well, and Flusky hopes Adare can ease her out of her melancholy. But Henrietta's erratic behavior is a mask for a dark and savage secret. An increasingly poisonous environment of greed, jealousy, passion, and guilt threatens to crush both Henrietta and Adare, in this dramatic glimpse of the dark side of the human condition. A "must-have" for connoisseurs of quality British drama! 2 episodes on 2 DVDs, fullscreen, not rated (contains nudity).

Poise Fit & Fierce: Take Back Your Core
Dr. Teri Jory
Poise Productions
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.411videoinfo.com
$19.95 www.poisefitproductions.com

Fitness and life coach Dr. Teri Jori presents Poise Fit & Fierce: Take Back Your Core, a workout DVD created especially to help tone the abdominals and sculpt the body. Poise Fit & Fierce consists of three sections: one for power sculpting the arms and back, one for strengthening the legs, and one for working abdominal muscles (also the pelvic floor)! Poise Fit & Fierce is an excellent workout viewers of both genders and all backgrounds, though Dr. Teri Jory is especially dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors achieve better quality of life through exercise, and a portion of the proceeds from Poise Fit & Fierce will be donated to Breast Cancer foundations. No expensive equipment is needed to take full advantage of Poise Fit & Fierce, an excellent addition to any fitness DVD collection!

Get Extremely Ripped! & Chiseled
With Jari Love
www.jarilove.com
Privately Published
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Shot in high definition, Get Extremely Ripped! & Chiseled is a fitness DVD focused on challenging and strengthening one's muscles. Certified personal trainer Jari Love leads this excellent program for both male and female fitness enthusiasts. No expensive equipment is required, though 3-8 pound handheld dumbbells and something to use as a step are recommended. Divided into a 30-minute upper body workout and a 30-minute lower-body workout, Get Extremely Ripped! & Chiseled targets each individual muscle group with specific weight-training exercises. An excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their overall health, strength, and muscle mass! 80 min., widescreen.

Joint Locks
Rory Miller
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480
Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392627 $29.95 www.ymaa.com

Martial arts and physical combat expert Rory Miller, with aid from his students, presents Joint Locks: Learn to Improvise Joint Locks Under Pressure, an instructional DVD about one of the most difficult yet effective means of immobilizing opponents. Miller demonstrates a teaching method involving a principle-based approach, which even beginners can use to improvise joint locks with as little as one hour of training. Miller emphasizes that joint locks are not a primary self-defense technique; when one is in a deadly conflict, a higher level of force is justified and often necessary for survival. But for those who earn a living controlling violent people with a minimum of injury, joint locks can be an invaluable occupational tool. Joint Locks is a clear, accessible, and welcome addition to martial arts DVD shelves. 60 min.

TM Books & Video
PO Box 9228
Michigan City, IN 46361
www.tmbv.com

Model railroad enthusiasts will thrill to three full-color DVDs from TM Books & Video. "Ticket To Ride" ($9.99, 52 min., a McComas/Stachler Production) is an installment of the 17-part award-winning "I Love Toy Trains" series. Featuring vintage diesels at the Illinois Railway Museum, a real Shay compared to the Lionel model of a Shay, the 999 steamer that set a world speed record, and more, "Ticket To Ride" is a bargain bonanza for trainspotters and hobby enthusiasts alike. "Railroads on Parade" ($14.99, 53 min.) is an extraordinary video tour of multiple railroad and model train exhibits, including a 5000 square-foot model railroad display in Pottersville, NY, complete with a striking replica of an art deco train station. Other showcased sites include the 1939 World's Fair Exhibit, the NYC Subway Exhibit, Prince Edward Island Exhibit, and much more! Toy Train Revue 1 ($19.99, 90 min.) kicks off an exciting video magazine all about toy trains. Inspired by TM's previous "Toy Train Revue" magazine from the 1990's, "Toy Train Revue 1" is packed with all-new material, including three expertly staged layouts, military and space toys from Lionel, a demonstration of controlling Lionel trains with an iPad, and much more. In addition to DVD format, "Toy Train Revue 1" and future issues are also available as a stream or a download. All three DVDs are a family-friendly treat, especially for trainspotters and model railroad enthusiasts!


The Military Shelf

The Ultimate Deployment Guide
Paul N. Smith & SFC Kristina A. Smith
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611211429, $18.95, www.amazon.com

There are a great many lifestyle changes when making the transition from civilian to military life. There are also significant changes from a stateside military posting to being deployed to a posting overseas -- especially if that posting is to a country with elements hostile to an American military presence. "The Ultimate Deployment Guidebook: Insight into the Deployed Soldier and a Guide for the First-Time Deployed" is a 216 page compendium of instruction, advice and commentary free from military jargon and acronyms, making it easily accessible to novice members of the military and their families. Practical tips are provided on a number of issues ranging from shower etiquette, to meals, to figuring out if what's going on with the locals is a riot or a celebration. "The Ultimate Deployment Guide" provides a pre-deployment checklist and shows how to create a financial plan for time spent overseas. Enhanced with the inclusion of a list of organizations that support deployed service members, a list of suggested care package items with mailing tips, and many other helpful suggestions to make life more enjoyable and meaningful while our loved ones serve and defend the country we love, "The Ultimate Deployment Guide" should be considered a "must" for anyone being deployed for their first time. It should be noted that "The Ultimate Deployment Guide" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).

World War I Companion
Matthias Strohn, Editor
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781782001881, $27.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

World War I Companion gathers articles covering a period of change in terms of military doctrine and high technology, and provides a fine guide of a complex war that resulted in the rise of airpower, new artillery, and new vehicles that lent mobility to the conflict, spreading it out and altering the face of warfare forever. Here fourteen historians investigate different aspects of the Great War in articles that consider its various revolutionary changes. The result is a survey that moves beyond events or even strategies to consider the elements of the war that represented a true departure in military techniques and approaches, and should be in any collection analyzing World War I.

The Morenci Marines
Kyle Longley
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66049
9780700619344 $34.95 www.kansaspress.ku.edu

The Morenci Marines: A Tale of Small Town America and the Vietnam War offers the close-up-and-personal true stories of nine Marines from the Arizona mining community of Morenci, all of whom served fresh out of high school. Not only does The Morenci Marines cover their severe training and their deadly battles in the Vietnam jungle; it also reflects on the troubles that plagued their coal-mine hometown. The townspeople supported the war effort with patriotic fervor, even though the Phelps Dodge Mining Corporation to demanded that the government put down a union strike that allegedly "undermined the war effort". A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, extensive notes, a bibliography and an index round out this welcome contribution to collections focusing on a small town American history and the Vietnam War.

Convair Advanced Designs II
Robert E. Bradley
Crecy Publishing
c/o Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, NY, NY 10012
www.specialtypress.com
9780859791700, $39.95, www.amazon.com

In "Convair Advanced Designs II: Secret Fighters, Attack Aircraft, and Unique Concepts 1929-1973", author and aerospace history Robert E. Bradley draws upon his more than 30 years experience and expertise in working at Convair Astronautics to present a profusely illustrated, 176 page compendium packed from cover to cover descriptive illustrations, engineer drawings, sketches, artwork and photos of Convair military aircraft. Featuring an informed and informative text, "Convair Advanced Designs II: Secret Fighters, Attack Aircraft, and Unique Concepts 1929-1973" is a seminal work that is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Aviation History and Military Aviation reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

The Best Flea, Antique, Vintage, and New-Style Markets in America
Pamela Keech
The Little Bookroom
435 Hudson St, Suite 300, New York NY 10014
9781936941049, $22.00, www.littlebookroom.com

The Best Flea, Antique, Vintage, and New-Style Markets in America offers a fine survey by a museum curator who shops professionally at such markets, and is a colorful pick for any who want to know her top twenty choices and why she considers them superior. From a specialty flea market for film, fashion and costume designers to a winter Florida antique and collectible market, descriptions cover number of dealers, specialties of the market, setting, where to park, stay and eat, and much more. While this is a fine pick for travel collections, it's also highly recommended for collectors who want to travel cross-country in search of the best venues for buying or selling.

Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money, tenth edition
John Schwartz and Scott Lindquist
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com
9781440217036, $32.99, www.shopnumismaster.com

The tenth updated edition of Standard Guide to Small-Size U.S. Paper Money covers issues from 1928 to modern times, providing collectors with an authoritative reference covering the latest prices. Some 300 color photos make identification easy, while listings include complete serial numbers, current market values in up to four grades of condition, listings different series notes, and much more. This is a solid survey highly recommended for any who would collect paper money, and provides all the latest details with a color format that is key to proper identification. No collector's library should be without it.

A Guide Book of United States Coins, Professional Edition
R.S. Yeoman
Whitman Publishing
4001 Helton Drive, Florence, Alabama, 35630
079483972X, $29.95, www.whitmanbooks.com

The fifth updated professional edition of A Guide Book of United States Coins has been expanded into nearly four hundred pages and is recommended for intermediate to advanced coin collectors, dealers, auctioneers and those serious about collecting at the professional level. It offers not only the latest market prices in different grades, but updated auction records, updated coin photos, essays, discussions of new die varieties, and coverage of every federal coin type. Add expanded valuations sections and keys for understanding certified coins and the wider coin market and you have a detailed, in-depth reference that includes all the latest facts on U.S. coin collecting.

Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com, www.shopnumismaster.com

George S. Cuhaj, Editor's 12th updated edition of CONFEDERATE STATES PAPER MONEY (9781440230868, $29.99) is packed with history and a color catalog of issues and appears in its 12th revised edition to represent the latest prices, grades, and collector market relating to Confederate States money, and is a 'must' for both Confederate history holdings and especially for numismatics neo-professionals. Complete coverage of Upham and other facsimile notes as well as advertising notes and errors feature the work of numismatist Arlie Slabaugh and prices by William Brandimore, and offer the most in-depth, authoritative coverage available. The sixth updated edition of Geworge S. Cuhaj and Thomas Michael's STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD COINS 1701-1800 (9781440238840, $85.00) provides a detailed reference packing in over 1,400 pages of information for any world coin collector. Over 20,000 black and white images of coins accompany descriptions and market analysis in a new edition for researchers and collectors of world coins from the 18th century. This isn't the work of a few people: nearly 80 international coin experts and some 50 auction houses around the world contribute to a completely revised, vetted coin valuation guide that will prove a key reference for any more than casually involved in 18th century numismatics.


The Native American Studies Shelf

Elder Brother and the Law of the People
Robert Alexander Innes
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
www.uofmpress.ca
9780887557460, $31.95, www.amazon.com

The latest addition to the University of Manitoba Press outstanding 'Critical Studies in Native History' series, "Elder Brother and the Law of the People: Contemporary Kinship and Cowessess First Nation" by Robert Alexander Innes is a 216 page study of Canada's pre-reserve era Aboriginal bands in the northern plains maintained whose fluid and inclusive membership through traditional kinship practices were governed by the 'Law of the People' as described in traditional Elder Brother stories. Elder Brother stories outlined social interaction, marriage, adoption, and kinship roles and responsibilities. In "Elder Brother and the Law of the People" provides students of Native American Studies with a detailed analysis of the role of Elder Brother stories in historical and contemporary kinship practices in Cowessess First Nation, located in southeastern Saskatchewan. "Elder Brother and the Law of the People" reveals how these practices came to undermine legal and scholarly definitions of "Indian" and counter the perception that First Nations people have internalized such classifications. Presenting an new perspective on northern plans Aboriginal cultural identity, "Elder Brother and the Law of the People" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship and strongly recommended as a core addition to academic library Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Elder Brother and the Law of the People" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.19).

The People Who Stayed
Geary Hobson, et.al.
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141367, $24.95, www.oupress.com

The People Who Stayed: Southeastern Indian Writing After Removal is the first anthology to focus on the literature of native Americans whose ancestors stayed in southwestern states after 1830, and represents every state and every genre, from short stories and novelettes to poetry, essays and blogs. All the writers have strong Indian roots through many live outside the Southeast, and all of them speak of past and present as well, making for a volume strong in Indian heritage and experience as well as modern worldviews from a Native American perspective.


The Business Shelf

Essential Business Networking
Andrea R. Nierenberg
Pearson Education
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.pearsoned.com
9780133742886, $29.99, www.amazon.com

"Essential Business Networking: Tips, Tactics, and Tools You Can Use" by networking expert Andrea R. Nierenberg is a 200 page instruction guide and manual that shows the reader how to start networking immediately with easy steps that can be taken without delay; build on strengths already present; find 10 extra minutes a day for networking; connect with 10 types of great new contacts; 'give first' (because that's what networking is all about); tell people why they need to know you - in 20 seconds; listen better, ask better questions, and show you care (because you do); learn 3 effective ways to remember names; do the simple follow-up that makes you unforgettable; create high-value connections between your contacts; set goals, keep track, and learn from experience; become the go-to leader of your network; and transform networking from a chore into a pleasure!. Of special note is the inclusion of the appendix: Six-Month Weekly Networking Reminders. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Essential Business Networking" is highly recommended reading and will prove invaluable for anyone seeking to create and utilize networking to advance their corporate goals. It should be noted that "Essential Business Networking" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.19).

Idea to Invention
Patricia Nolan-Brown
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814432938, $17.95, www.amacombooks.org

Idea to Invention: What You Need to Know to Cash In on Your Inspiration comes from an inventor and writer who shares her unique formula for success, and is a top pick for any inventor who would learn how to translate an idea into a business success. Six personality traits lend to this experience, especially when paired with the six 'action steps' that can link creative passions to entrepreneurial ventures. From techniques to spark creative thinking to turning ideas into something real, protecting them and generating excitement for a product idea, this is filled with specifics and offers inventors and creative thinkers the building blocks to success, making this a fine pick for any business collection.

The Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up 2014
Sara Williams
Publicity Department
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ftpress.com
9781292004662 $44.99 pbk. / $17.22 Kindle www.amazon.com

Also available as an ebook, The Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up 2014 is an annually updated handbook of legal, financial, and tax-related considerations, all of which are especially critical to anyone starting or running a business. Chapters also contain valuable information for adapting to the digital age, from advertising online and efficiently using social media to choosing the right information technology equipment. Although Business Start Up 2014 particularly addresses those looking to run a business in the United Kingdom or branch out in the UK market (the information on the UK's Value-Added Tax is extremely helpful for this purpose), nearly all of its general advice is directly applicable to any business worldwide. "Before you approach a designer [for one's business website, stationery, or anything else], you should have a clear idea of what you want, although you should be prepared to listen to suggestions. You should ask the designer to show you a wide range of ideas in what is called 'scamp' form, which is a very cheap way of letting you see what sort of impression the idea will give." Highly recommended.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Penny Capitalist
James J. Hester
Access Consciousness Publishing
www.accessconsciousnesspublishing.com
9781939261267, $35.00, www.amazon.com

The Penny Capitalist: How to Build a Small Fortune From Next to Nothing is a fine pick for any interested in better money management, and tells of the author, who began married life with, $70 and a four-year-old car in 1955. By 1968 they had a better car and, $14,000 - and then they increased their net worth to, $300,000. How? The Penny Capitalist provides a formula for success that any can follow. It originally appeared in 1979 to great acclaim: its republication today attests to its ongoing successful message about opportunities, money management, and successful investing, and will make an inspirational pick for any reader or business collection.


The Science Shelf

The Volcano Registry
Harris M. Lentz III
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786493593, $29.95, www.amazon.com

A volcano is an opening, or rupture, in the surface or crust of the Earth or a planetary mass object, which allows hot lava, volcanic ash and gases to escape from the magma chamber below the surface. Volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are diverging or converging. A mid-oceanic ridge, for example the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, has examples of volcanoes caused by divergent tectonic plates pulling apart; the Pacific Ring of Fire has examples of volcanoes caused by convergent tectonic plates coming together. By contrast, volcanoes are not usually created where two tectonic plates slide past one another. Volcanoes can also form where there is stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust in the interiors of plates, e.g., in the East African Rift, the Wells Gray-Clearwater volcanic field and the Rio Grande Rift in North America. This type of volcanism falls under the umbrella of "Plate hypothesis" volcanism. Volcanism away from plate boundaries has also been explained as mantle plumes. These so-called "hotspots", for example Hawaii, are postulated to arise from up-welling diapirs with magma from the core - mantle boundary, 3,000 km deep in the Earth. "The Volcano Registry: Names, Locations, Descriptions and Histories for over 1500 Sites" by academician Harris M. Lentz III is a 200 page compendium comprised of an encyclopedic style listing of more than 1500 volcanic sites around the world that includes their individual locations, descriptions, and histories. Of special note are the appendices listing unnamed volcanoes, features previously thought to be volcanoes, generic terms used in volcano names, and even the volcanoes found on Jupiter's moon Io. Enhanced with the inclusion of a bibliography, "The Volcano Registry: Names, Locations, Descriptions and Histories for over 1500 Sites" is an important and highly desirable addition to academic library Vulcanology Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Ask a Science Teacher
Larry Scheckel
The Experiment Publishing
9781615190874, $14.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com

ASK A SCIENCE TEACHER: 250 QUESTIONS YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD ABOUT HOW EVERYDAY STUFF REALLY WORKS gathers over two hundred of the author's favorite questions and answers and probes the mysteries of physics, astronomy, earth science and more. The focus is on problems that don't neatly fit into any category, uncomplicated explanations resolving everyday mysteries, and creating a lively dialogue that involves non-scientist readers in science explanations. From how microwaves heat food to how planes fly, this is a lively discourse for all ages.

The Science Writers' Handbook
The Writers of SciLance
Da Capo Press
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02210
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216560, $17.50, www.dacapopress.com

The Science Writers' Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Pitch, Publish, and Prosper in the Digital Age is edited by Thomas Hayden and Michelle Nijhuis and provides a fine survey of science writing and its special challenges. Those who would form a career from science writing receive chapters that discuss different career stages, how to hone skills needed for producing quality science writing, and how to balance work and home life. The focus on freelance science writing's special challenges accompanies real-world solutions as each chapter concludes with a SciLance member handling a modern science writing challenge, serving as an example for others. From reporting in multiple media to time management and working with editors, this is a fine reference for any who would write about science for a living.


The Agriculture Shelf

Pure Poultry
Victoria Redhed Miller
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717534 $19.95 www.newsociety.com

Pure Poultry: Living Well with Heritage Chickens, Turkeys, and Ducks is a guide especially for individuals seeking to raise lesser-known poultry breeds as part of a sustainable food system. (Commercial poultry farms generally prefer hybrids over the purebread chickens, turkeys, and ducks discussed here). Though raising heritage birds on a small-scale is unlikely to generate profit, the intangible joys of caring for a flock can be tremendous (plus all the eggs you eat). Chapters cover how to protect one's birds from weasels and other predators, accommodating broody hens, looking after baby chicks both in and out of the shell, how to cook heritage turkeys, chickens, and ducks (with sample recipes), and much more. Black-and-white and a handful of color photographs enrich this "must-have" guide for anyone considering raising purebred chickens, whether for food, for show, or as lively pets.

Homegrown Pork
Sue Weaver
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121260, $18.95, www.storey.com

Homegrown Pork comes from a livestock expert who provides all the basics of how to raise pigs in a safe way, showing how pigs can be raised in small spaces and how they can produce large quantities of meat. Any collection strong in livestock management will find this a fine survey of keeping pigs, covering everything from different breeds and their options to working with a butcher and preparing the meat. From shelters and upkeep to pig behavior and handling, this is a fine recommendation for any who would raise meat pigs and covers all the latest approaches and research on the topic.


The Parenting Shelf

Parenting the Whole Child
Scott M. Shannon, MD with Emily Heckman
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393708332, $22.95, www.wwnorton.com

Parenting the Whole Child: A Holistic Child Psychiatrist Offers Practical Wisdom covers a range of child concerns, from exercise and home life to school life and trauma, and blends parenting insights with discussions of brain chemistry and the pros and cons of different treatment approaches. Chapters show how adults can actively participate in a child's mental health process, and how treatment options should embrace the entire mind/body process, not just a piece of it. The result is a title highly recommended for parenting and psychology collections alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

Sustainist Design Guide
Michael Schwarz and Diana Krabbendam with the Beach Network
BIS Publishers
Het Sieraad, Postjesweg 1, 1057 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
9789063692834, $32.00, www.bispublishers.nl

Sustainist Design Guide: How Sharing, Localism, Connectedness and Proportionality are Creating a New Agenda for Social Design is a pick for arts and social issues collections alike and features twelve change-making cases from urban farming to public architecture in its discussions of social innovation. It's all about a movement where millions are starting to 'design' different kinds of living environments that are more collaborative and more sustainable. This guide fosters the idea through examples of successful design criteria and processes, and demonstrates best practices. The result is a solid pick for any designer looking to become more socially aware.

Fast Future
David D. Burstein
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807033698, $25.95, www.beacon.org

FAST FUTURE: HOW THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION IS SHAPING OUR WORLD provides a fine survey of the Millennial Generation and their unique blend of pragmatism and civil idealism, and shows how these attitudes combined with their technological savvy is leading to powerful results. This book predicts this generation will overcome national divisions and make headway in addressing world challenges and sticking points. This is the largest generation in U.S. history and represents a diversity unprecedented in U.S. history. This provides a powerful documentation of their abilities and power, and is a pick for any general-interest or social issues collection.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love
George O'Connor
A Neal Porter Book
First Second
175 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.olympiansrule.com
9781596437395 $9.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Part of the "Olympians" series of full-color graphic novel adaptations of Greek mythology, Aphrodite: Goddess of Love tells the story of the deific personification of love, seduction, and desire. The stories of Aphrodite's origin and interactions with gods and mortals are sanitized just enough to be suitable to readers of all ages, while remaining faithful to the cruel and dangerous chronicles of Greek mythology. Aphrodite's story culminates in the legendary competition between Aphrodite, Helen, and Athena to determine who is the most beautiful. "As king of the gods, it fell to Zeus to settle disputes among the Olympians. But he wasn't stupid. 'Ladies, you are all so beautiful to me, I couldn't possibly judge.'" (The artwork of Zeus' desperately insincere smile when he speaks these words is a sight to behold). One does not need to be a scholar of Greek mythology to thoroughly enjoy the epic struggles of gods and hapless mortals! Highly recommended for both personal and public library collections, as are the previous graphic novels in the series: "Zeus: King of the Gods", "Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess", "Hera: The Goddess and Her Glory", "Hades: Lord of the Dead", and "Poseidon: Earth Shaker".

The Undertaking of Lily Chen
Danica Novgorodoff
First Second
175 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
9781596435865 $29.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

The Undertaking of Lily Chen is a color graphic novel about homicide, despair, and love. In modern-day China, family is paramount - so when Deshi Li accidentally kills his older brother in a brawl, he fears not only the wrath of the law, but also the scorn of his grieving parents. They command Deshi to find a deceased young woman, so that his brother may be married in the afterlife. Deshi hires an unscrupulous grave robber to aid his morbid task... but they fail to find any suitable dead bodies. Deshi sets eyes on the very-much-alive Lily Chen, the willful teenage daughter of an impoverished family. Lily rebels against her protective father's desire to make her marry a venal but wealthy creditor, and runs away with Deshi. Is she fleeing one bleak destiny only to run headfirst into the cold embrace of the grave? Will Deshi resort to murder most foul to appease his family? The minimalist artwork complements the stark nature of this dramatic and deadly story, suspenseful to the very end.

Secret Agent Moscow
Jennifer Jigour
www.jenniferjigour.com
Privately Published
c/o Smith Publicity
1930 E Marlton Pike, Suite I-46
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
9781940656373 $29.95 www.secretagentmoscow.com

A full-color graphic novel drawn in a vibrant yet edgy style reminiscent of underground comix, Secret Agent Moscow: Part One - Goodbye, Natasha threads the memories of a former Women Airforce Service Pilot of World War II, beginning with 1949 San Francisco. Yearning to be with the one person she loved and lost, Natasha is isolated and alienated, in an era where gay and lesbian people are commonly scorned, beaten, arrested, or imprisoned. She is accused of being a sexual deviant, and coerced into a "secret mission" to find an agent gone missing in Moscow. The pressures of having to hide her own identity, both as a person and as a spy, threaten to unravel her mind; her search paints a historical perspective of what it was like to be L.G.B.T. in the postwar world. Entrancing, mysterious, and heartfelt, Secret Agent Moscow is recommended for older readers due to some nudity and mature content. Part two of the Secret Agent Moscow is forthcoming - the sooner the better!

Joe Kubert
Jon B. Cooke
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490533, $17.95, www.twomorrows.com

JOE KUBERT: CREATOR & MENTOR provides a tribute to the late comic artist with a special book devoted to the man who passed away in 2012. Here are detailed examinations of his career, from his pioneering work in 3-D comics to his work as a Tarzan writer and artist and founder of the Kubert School. Kubert was no singular graphic artist: his many interests and approaches are examined here with a fine collection of interviews gathered over a period of years, along with rare artwork. The result is a tribute no comics collection should be without.


The Railroading Shelf

Workshop Tips & Projects for Model Railroaders
Cody Grivno
Kalmbach Publishing
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780890248690, $19.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Workshop Tips & Projects for Model Railroaders provides wide range of tips to improve layouts for model railroads, and includes original projects from the pages of Model Railroader and his own online video series "Cody's Office". Any entering the world of modeling will find this a fine hobby book that offers specific projects, from gluing structures using braces and jigs to model patching, to accompany insider tips on how to achieve the best results. Color, close-up step-by-step photos along the way provide clear explanations while first-person notes chart the progress of each model project. The result is a lively, revealing project book recommended for all levels of rail modelers, from beginners to advanced hobbyists!


The Philosophy Shelf

Reading Richard Dawkins
Gary Keogh
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781451472042, $49.00, www.amazon.com

Clinton Richard Dawkins (born 26 March 1941) is an English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and popular author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008. Dawkins first came to prominence with his 1976 book "The Selfish Gene", which popularized the gene-centered view of evolution and introduced the term meme. In 1982, he introduced into evolutionary biology the influential concept that the phenotypic effects of a gene are not necessarily limited to an organism's body, but can stretch far into the environment, including the bodies of other organisms; this concept is presented in his book "The Extended Phenotype". Dawkins is an atheist, a vice president of the British Humanist Association. He is well known for his criticism of creationism and intelligent design. In his 1986 book "The Blind Watchmaker", he argues against the watchmaker analogy, an argument for the existence of a supernatural creator based upon the complexity of living organisms. Instead, he describes evolutionary processes as analogous to a blind watchmaker. He has since written several popular science books, and makes regular television and radio appearances, predominantly discussing these topics. In his 2006 book "The God Delusion", Dawkins contends that a supernatural creator almost certainly does not exist and that religious faith is a delusion - "a fixed false belief". "Reading Richard Dawkins: A Theological Dialogue with New Atheism" by Gary Keogh (Adjunct Lecturer, All Hallows College, Dublin City University) is a 272 page compendium comprised of five erudite and perceptive essays in refutation of Dawkins' atheist assertions. The essays include: A Distinct Methodological Framework; Encountering Evolution: Dawkins' Perspectives; Beyond Biology: An Evolutionary Weltanschauung; Religion: An Evolutionary View; Evil, Evolution, and God: Dawkins and Theology in Dialogue. Articulate examples of incisive scholarship, "Reading Richard Dawkins: A Theological Dialogue with New Atheism" is very highly recommended reading and a critically important addition to seminary and academic library Religion & Philosophy collections. It should be noted that "Reading Richard Dawkins: A Theological Dialogue with New Atheism" is also available in a Kindle edition ($30.39).

Paul and the Philosophers
Ward Blanton & Hent De Vries, editors
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823249657, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. In more casual speech, by extension, "philosophy" can refer to "the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group". The word "philosophy" comes from the Ancient Greek and literally translates into English as the "love of wisdom". The introduction of the terms "philosopher" and "philosophy" has been ascribed to the Greek thinker Pythagoras. Paul the Apostle (c. 5 - c. 67), taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world. He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age. In the mid-30s to the mid-50s, he founded several churches in Asia Minor and Europe. Paul used his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to advantage in his ministry to both Jewish and Roman audiences. The writings of Paul in the New Testament have impacted western philosophers for the past two millennia. Compiled by the editorial team of Ward Blanton (Reader in Biblical Cultures and European Thought, Department of Religious Studies, University of Kent, England) and Hent De Vries (Professor of Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland) "Paul and the Philosophers" is a 608 page compendium comprised of twenty-five erudite and scholarly essays organized into six major sections: Reconstructing the Ancient Paul 'Between Athens and Jerusalem'; Sovereignty and the Aporias of Universalism; Paul, Materialism, and the Contingencies of Emancipation; Communal Spaces between Times; Ethics and the Foundations of Law. Informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Paul and the Philosophers" is a strongly recommended addition to academic library History of Philosophy reference collections and supplemental Christian Studies reading lists.

The Original Atheists
S.T. Joshi, Editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148416, $20.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE ORIGINAL ATHEISTS FIRST THOUGHTS ON NONBELIEF provides the first anthology in print to collect the writings of leading 18th century thinkers on atheism, religion and secularism, and is an essential edition for philosophical and spiritual collections alike. Chapters provide essays from writers around the world and provide pieces on freethought, charting its evolution and considering Enlightenment principles and basic tenants of atheist thinking. The result is a thorough discussion of the origins and evolution of atheism which will engage any religion or philosophy student.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing Historical Fiction
Celia Brayfield and Duncan Sprott
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781780937854 $24.95 www.bloomsbury.com

Writing Historical Fiction: A Writers' & Artists' Companion is an in-depth companion, guide, and resource for anyone working on a great period piece novel of any era in human history. Part one offers reflections, an overview, and a history of the historical fiction genre; part two consists of tips, tricks, and techniques from literally dozens of accomplished authors and guest contributors; and part three offers focused advice on everything from research methods to the writing process to getting published in the increasingly competitive modern era. "Remember that info can be shunted sideways. We don't know what Alexander the Great ate for breakfast. But we do know that the ancient Greeks in general ate hot dough dipped in honey, or in neat wine, for breakfast. It's not unreasonable to assume that Alexander ate hot dough for breakfast too. If you proceed according to this slightly wacky logic, you are writing what is essentially the truth. It's as true as it can be." A bibliography and an index round out this absolute "must-have" for aspiring and practicing authors in the genre!


The Architecture Shelf

Architectural Guide: Hong Kong
Ulf Meyer
DOM Publishers
c/o Lakewood Art & Architecture
406 Wyckoff Mills Road, East Windsor, NJ 08520
9783869222011, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements. Compiled with informative commentary by Ulf Meyer, "Architectural Guide: Hong Kong" is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 176 page compendium showcasing an impressive series of architectural gems that combine functionality with aesthetics, the practical with the artistic, in what is an outstanding survey. Very highly recommended to the attention of architects and students of architecture, "Architectural Guide: Hong Kong" would also admirably serve as a supplemental guide for visitor itineraries to Hong Kong.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Implosion of Contemporary Capitalism
Samir Amin
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, NY, NY 10001
www.monthlyreview.org
9781583674208, $16.00, www.amazon.com

Samir Amin (born 3 September 1931) is an Egyptian Marxian economist who lives and works in Dakar, Senegal. In "The Implosion of Contemporary Capitalism", Amin presents insightful, informative, analytical commentary on the key contemporary economic events ranging from the recent global financial crisis, the economic problems and prospects of emerging nations, the effect of globalization, financialization, the impact of political Islam, the Euro-zone implosion, and more. Erudite, articulate, and accessible to both experts and non-specialist general readers with an interest in global economics alike, "The Implosion of Contemporary Capitalism" is very highly recommended reading and a critically important contribution to academic library Economic Studies reference collections. It should be noted that "The Implosion of Contemporary Capitalism" is also available in both a hardcover edition (9781583674215, $79.00) and a Kindle edition ($8.69).


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Fur Seals And Sea Lions
Roger Kirkwood & Simon Goldsworthy
CSIRO Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9780643096929, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Fur seals are any of nine species of pinnipeds in the Otariidae family. One species, the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) inhabits the North Pacific, while seven species in the Arctocephalus genus are found primarily in the Southern Hemisphere. They are much more closely related to sea lions than true seals, and share with them external ears (pinnae), relatively long and muscular foreflippers, and the ability to walk on all fours. They are marked by their dense underfur, which made them a long-time object of commercial hunting. Sea lions are sea mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short, thick hair. Together with the fur seals they comprise the family Otariidae, eared seals, which contains six extant and one extinct species (the Japanese sea lion) in five genera. Their range extends from the subarctic to tropical waters of the global ocean in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the notable exception of the northern Atlantic Ocean. They have an average life span of 20 - 30 years. The collaborative work of Roger Kirkwood and Simon Goldsworthy, "Fur Seals and Sea Lions" is an illustrated, 160 page comparative descriptive analysis of seal and sea lion evolutionary ecology, biology, life-history, behavior, conservation status, and research on these two species. An impressively detailed, yet thoroughly accessible text makes the information readily accessible and recommended for both biology students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in these animals. Also available in a Kindle edition, "Fur Seals and Sea Lions" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library wildlife reference collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Sunset Western Garden Book Of Landscaping
Kathleen Norris Brenzel
Sunset Magazine
c/o Oxmoor House
3000 University Center Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612-6408
www.oxmoorhouse.com
Dadascope Communications (publicity)
9780376030108, $29.95, www.amazon.com

The American West, (and most especially the southwest) has been under drought conditions for the past two decades with no sign of let up. That makes gardening in the western states especially difficult. That's why the "Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping: The Complete Guide to Designing Beautiful Paths, Patios, Plantings and More" will prove to be an invaluable instruction guide, manual, and source of inspiration for homeowners with an interest in improving the esthetic appearance of their homes and properties. Enhanced and illustrated with some 600 full color photographs, "Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping: The Complete Guide to Designing Beautiful Paths, Patios, Plantings and More" will provide western homeowners and avid gardening enthusiasts with a wealth of practical and esthetic ideas for their gardens ranging from arbors and trellises, to firepits, patios, fences, walls and more. Of special note is the information, commentary, and ideas for ground covers, native plants, and trees. With reference to "Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping: The Complete Guide to Designing Beautiful Paths, Patios, Plantings and More", even the most novice of gardeners will be able to remodel any existing garden utilizing outdoor fabric, paint, lighting, portable water features, found items, etc. Thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping: The Complete Guide to Designing Beautiful Paths, Patios, Plantings and More" is an ideal and very highly recommended instruction guide.


The Library Science Shelf

Exploring Digital Libraries
Karen Calhoun
Neal-Shuman Publishers
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9781555709853, $95.00, www.amazon.com

An electronic library (colloquially referred to as a digital library) is a focused collection of digital objects that can include text, visual material, audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media), along with means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in the library collection. Digital libraries can vary immensely in size and scope, and can be maintained by individuals, organizations, or affiliated with established physical library buildings or institutions, or with academic institutions. The electronic content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks. Basically, an electronic library is a type of information retrieval system. "Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects" by academic librarian Karen Calhoun is a 224 page compendium offering a complete introduction to digital library development, maintenance, and utilization. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Digital libraries and the social web: collections and platforms'. An extraordinarily well organized and presented instructional guide, "Exploring Digital Libraries" is especially recommended as a supplementary Library Science curriculum text, as well as useful manual for community and academic librarians seeking to develop and offer digital library resources for their patrons.


The Biography Shelf

Rudolf Laban: Man Of Theatre
Valerie Preston-Dunlop
Dance Books
c/o Princeton Book Company
614 Route 130, Highstown, NJ 08520
www.dancehorizons.com
9781852731670, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Rudolf von Laban (15 December 1879 - 1 July 1958) was a dance artist and theorist, notable as one of the pioneers of modern dance in Europe. His work laid the foundations for Laban Movement Analysis, Labanotation (Kinetography Laban), other more specific developments in dance notation and the evolution of many varieties of Laban Movement Study. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of dance and fencing. "Rudolf Laban: Man of Theatre" by Valerie Preston-Dunlop is a 192 page compendium presenting a descriptive analysis of the author's recreations of four of Laban's dance theater pieces from the 1920s (Swinging Temple; Suite; Nacht; and Green Clowns). "Rudolf Laban: Man of Theatre" begins with an informative opening chapter on Rudolf Laban's history and culture. Profusely illustrated with black-and-white photography, and enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and comprehensive index, "Rudolf Laban: Man of Theatre" is a seminal work and strongly recommended for academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists for students of the history of dance.

Sinner's Creed
Scott Stapp
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781414364575, $15.99, www.amazon.com

Scott Alan Stapp (born August 8, 1973) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is also the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed, of which he is a founding member. His debut solo album, The Great Divide, was released in 2005. His second album, Proof of Life, was released on November 5, 2013. Stapp has received several accolades, including a Grammy Award for Creed's song "With Arms Wide Open" and numerous RIAA certifications. In 2006, Hit Parader ranked Stapp as the 68th greatest heavy metal vocalist of all time. "Sinner's Creed" is his uncensored and impressively candid autobiography. Raised by an abusive stepfather, Scott was always aware of God's presence, but it wasn't until years later, amid a life punctuated by sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll that Scott began to feel a need for God in his life. During Creed's decade of dominance and in the years following the band's breakup, Scott struggled with drugs and alcohol, which led not only to a divorce, but also to a much-publicized suicide attempt in 2006. Now clean, sober, and in the midst of a highly successful solo career, Scott has finally come full circle - a turnaround he credits to his renewed relationship with Jesus Christ. An inspiring personal saga, "Sinner's Creed" is very highly recommended reading. It should be noted that "Sinner's Creed" is also available in a hardcover edition (9781414364568, $24.99), an unabridged audio book edition (Christian Audio, 9781610454858, $26.98), and a Kindle edition ($9.99).

In the Governor's Shadow
Carol O'Keefe Wilson
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574415537 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

In the Governor's Shadow: The True Story of Ma and Pa Ferguson is a sordid true tale of rampant political corruption. In 1915, newly elected Texas governor James Ferguson took office to high popular expectations, but his term was a disaster. He'd campaigned on an appeal to rural constituents and a temporary hiatus from the Prohibition debate; what the electorate received was a tangled mess of corruption and cronyism. Ferguson's financial problems, questionable business sense, and uncomfortably close relationship with Texas brewers, combined with extreme personal incompetence, proved to be his political downfall - charges were brought against him through impeachment. He defiantly launched a campaign to regain the political power he had squandered, and in 1925 he aided his wife, Miriam in a successful bid for governorship. History repeated itself when one scandal after another tarnished her administration. In the Governor's Shadow is an in-depth expose of back-door deals, disregard for the law, and flagrant misconduct, and its cautionary true tale of these charismatic yet deleterious politicians is filled with crucial lessons that are just as relevant today as they were almost a century ago. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library biography, American history, or political science shelves.

Pioneer Programmer
Jean Jennings Bartik, author
Jon T. Rickman & Kim D. Todd, editors
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612480862, $32.00, www.amazon.com

Jean Jennings Bartik (December 27, 1924 - March 23, 2011) was one of the original programmers for the ENIAC computer. Her maiden name was Betty Jean Jennings and she attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College, majoring in mathematics. In 1945, she was hired by the University of Pennsylvania to work for Army Ordnance at Aberdeen Proving Ground. When the ENIAC computer was developed for the purpose of calculating ballistics trajectories, she was selected to be one of its first programmers. Bartik later became part of a group charged with converting the ENIAC into a stored program computer; in the original implementation, ENIAC was programmed by setting dials and changing cable connections. She went on to work on the BINAC and UNIVAC I computers. Collaboratively edited by the team of Jon T. Rickman and Kim D. Todd, "Pioneer Programmer: Jean Jennings Bartik and the Computer that Changed the World" is Bartik's autobiography. This 248 page compendium of her life is enhanced with the inclusion of 57 black-and-white period photographs. More than just a memoir, "Pioneer Programmer" is also an extraordinary eye-witness account of the birth of the modern computer age and therefore very highly recommended for academic library American Biography and Computer Science History reference collection and supplemental reading list. It should be noted that "Pioneer Programmer" is also available in a Kindle edition ($24.99).


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Law And War
Austin Sarat, Lawrence Douglas, Martha Merrill Umphrey, eds.
Stanford Law Books
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804787420, $75.00, www.amazon.com

Compiled and co-edited with an introduction by the team of Austin Sarat (Associate Dean of the faculty and the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence & Political Science, Amherst College), Lawrence Douglas (James J. Grosfeld Professor Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought, Amherst College), and Martha Merrill Umphrey (Professor of Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought, Amherst College), "Law And War" is a 248 page compendium comprised of five outstanding academic contributions focusing on the cultural, historical, spatial, and theoretical dimensions of the relationship between law and war. These informed and informative essays include Sarah Sewall's 'Limits of Law: Promoting Humanity in Armed Conflict'; Gabriella Blums' 'The Individualization of War: From War to Policing in the Regulation of Armed Conflicts'; Laura K. Donohue's 'Pandemic Disease, Biological Weapons, and War'; Samuel Moyn's 'From Antiwar Politics to Antitorture Politics'; and 'Larry May's War Crimes Trials During and After War'. Enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive index, "Law And War" is a collective work of outstanding scholarship and a highly recommended addition to academic library Judicial Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Law And War" is also available in a Kindle edition ($60.00).


The Civil War Shelf

The Handy Civil War Answer Book
Samuel Willard Crompton
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
KT Public Relations
9781578594764 $21.95 www.visibleinkpress.com

The Handy Civil War Answer Book lives up to its title as a thoroughly accessible guide to the American Civil War, presented entirely in question-and-answer format. Historical study and trivia tidbits alike abound in the questions, which cover the generals, weapons, great events, tragedies, causes, social effects, and legacies of the war. "Q: 'What was the attitude, or stance, of Imperialist Russia?' A: '...In the summer of 1863, New Yorkers were surprised and pleased that a squadron of ships from the Imperial Russian Navy arrived in their harbor; the people of San Francisco soon were also paid a visit... For many years, historians believed that Czar Alexander II sent the ships in order to demonstrate his support for the Union cause. If so, this was definitely a secondary motive; his primary reason was to have his fleets at sea so that if a war began with Britain, his ships would not be bottled up in their ports.'" An index rounds out this enthusiastically recommended addition to public library collections, especially due to its ease of use.

The Battle of Peach Tree Creek
Robert D. Jenkins, Sr.
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881463965 $35.00 www.mupress.org

The Battle of Peach Tree Creek: Hood's First Sortie, 20 July 1864 is an exhaustive analysis of the point in the American Civil War when the tide of battle shifted strongly against the South. General John Bell Hood of the Confederacy moved away from the defensive tactics of his predecessor (General Joseph E. Johnston); Hood's bold and desperate offense could not repel the Union troops closing in on Atlanta. Peach Tree Creek and its successive battles effectively spelled out the death knell of the Confederacy. Extensively researched and meticulously presented, The Battle of Peach Tree Creek is an excellent and welcome contribution to public and college library Civil War shelves.


The Fishing Shelf

Fly-Fishing's Final Frontier
Geoff Bernardo
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
www.amatobooks.com
9781571885036, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial "fly" is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or "lure" requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. Fly fishermen use hand tied flies that resemble natural invertebrates or other food organisms, or "lures" to provoke the fish to strike. "Fly-Fishing's Final Frontier: Specialty Fly Patterns and Fishing Techniques for North America's Alternate Species" by Geoff Bernardo is a beautifully and profusely illustrated, 292 page compendium that covers fly fishing techniques and fly patterns that would be appropriate and successful with more species of freshwater fish than the usual trout, chart and salmon -- all of whom are dwindling in numbers as a result of environmental issues and decreasing budgets for fish hatcheries around the country. Informed and informative, "Fly-Fishing's Final Frontier: Specialty Fly Patterns and Fishing Techniques for North America's Alternate Species" will make an outstanding addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists for fly-fishing enthusiasts.


The Gaming Shelf

Beat The Slots
Marten Jensen
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580420631, $9.95, www.amazon.com

A slot machine is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed. Slot machines are also known as one-armed bandits because they were originally operated by a lever on the side of the machine (the arm) instead of a button on the front panel, and because of their ability to leave the gamer penniless (bandit). Many modern machines still have a legacy lever in addition to the button. Modern slot machines include a currency detector that validates the money inserted to play. The machine pays off based on patterns of symbols visible on the front of the machine when it stops. Advancing computer technology has resulted in many variations on the slot machine concept. Slot machines are the most popular gambling method in casinos and constitute about 70 percent of the average US casino's income. "Beat the Slots" by casino gambling expert Marten Jensen is a 144 page compendium of practical information and useable advice for winning money at slots. Of special note is the chapter devoted to Video Poker (bonus games, banking games, multi-game machines). "Beat The Slots" is an essential and invaluable read for anyone hoping to win out over a casino slot machine.


The Travel Shelf

Discover Australia
Charles Rawlings-Way, et al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781742205601, $27.99, www.amazon.com

No one makes better and more 'user friendly' travel guides than Lonely Planet Publications. "Discover Australia" is one of their newest titles and should be considered a "must" for anyone planning a trip or creating a travel itinerary to Australia. Profusely illustrated and expertly organized, "Discover Australia" is a 400 page compendium packed from cover to cover with useful, practical, and detailed information. Along with suggestions of what to see and do in various towns, cities, and country sides of Australia, "Discover Australia" offers succinct sections devoted to Family Travel; Aboriginal Australia; Food & Wine, Sport; and more. Of special note is the 'Survival Guide' section that covers everything from customs regulations, Gay and Lesbian travelers, internet access, and travelers with disabilities, to discount cards, climate, public holidays, and visas. Comprehensive, practical, informed and informative, "Discover Australia" is an essential reference for getting the most out of a visit to Australia for business or pleasure!


The Homeowner's Shelf

Jay Shafer's DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses
Jay Shafer
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565238169, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Whether the project is constructing a guest cottage, a writing studio, a home office, a craft workshop, or a simple personal retreat, "Jay Shafer's DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses" is a profusely illustrated, 144 page manual offering ideas, blueprints and instructions that are thoroughly 'user friendly' in content and presentation. Offering a wealth of tips ranging from the use of masonry piers for stronger supports, siding with plywood, to alternative ways to attach post to beams, to the safe way to fell a tree, "Jay Shafer's DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses" will prove an ideal do-it-yourself instruction manual. Nicely organized into four major sections (Committed to Less; Plans for tiny Houses and Box Bungalows; Tiny House Portfolio; How to Build a Tiny House), "Jay Shafer's DIY Book of Backyard Sheds & Tiny Houses" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Architectural Studies collections.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design