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

Library Bookwatch

Volume 15, Number 10 October 2020 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf General Fiction Shelf Literary Fiction Shelf
Romantic Fiction Shelf Western Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Parenting Shelf Sports Shelf Biography Shelf
Art Shelf Science Shelf American History Shelf
Business Shelf Architecture Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Archaeology Shelf Military Shelf
Travel Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Spotting Danger Before It Spots You
Gary Quesenberry
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594397370, $18.95, PB, 172pp

https://www.amazon.com/Spotting-Danger-Before-Spots-You/dp/1594397376

Synopsis: Spotting danger before it happens is an essential survival skill that can be developed and may even save your life. It is a three part process that includes: Understanding the threat; Building situational awareness; Developing personal defenses.

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, there were an estimated 1.25 million violent crimes committed in the United States in 2018. Make no mistake; in a world filled with crime and violence, you are your own last line of defense.

In "Spotting Danger Before It Spots You: Build Situational Awareness To Stay Safe", author Gary Quesenberry breaks down the basic techniques necessary to help you develop good situational awareness and increase your levels of personal safety. Gary calls upon his extensive background as a Federal Air Marshal and defensive tactics instructor to explain these methods in simple terms that will greatly improve your general understanding of how, when and where violence occurs. He will then take the next critical step -- providing you with the tools you need to properly identify and evade danger before it ever has a chance to materialize.

"Spotting Danger Before It Spots You" covers: The common traits of predatory behavior; How to conduct a personal "safety check"; How to develop strong awareness skills; What to do when you spot potential trouble; Staying safe and living life free of worry and fear.

Critique: A thoroughly 'user friendly', DIY instructional guide and manual, "Spotting Danger Before It Spots You: Build Situational Awareness To Stay Safe" is a timely and appropriate acquisition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Martial Arts and Personal Security collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Spotting Danger Before It Spots You: Build Situational Awareness To Stay Safe" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Gary Quesenberry is a US Army veteran and a career Federal Air Marshal. As a defensive tactics trainer for Federal and civilian services, he has devoted his life to studying the areas of violence and predatory behavior. Gary serves as the CEO of Q-Series LLC and has developed numerous basic and advanced level training courses focused on mental toughness, marksmanship, and defensive tactics. As a competitive pistol shooter, Gary has been featured on the History Channel's hit television series Top Shot - Season 3 and Top Shot All-Stars. He has an extensive background in domestic and foreign counter-terror training and has worked in both the private and corporate sectors to help educate others on the importance of situational awareness, and personal safety.

Pure Space
Elisa Silva
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
http://actar.com
9781948765428, $39.95, PB, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Space-Expanding-Transformations-Settlements/dp/194876542X

Synopsis: "Pure Space: Expanding the Public Sphere through Public Space Transformations in Latin American Spontaneous Settlements " by Elisa Silva may seem a simple accumulation of twenty-one public space projects in eight Latin American cities. On closer inspection, the presentation of project descriptions, photographs, and annotated drawings reflects a concern to analytically explain the operative aspects at work.

"Pure Space" is not intended to serve only as a catalogue, guide, or manual on how to produce public space in spontaneous settlements. Rather, it goes beyond the aims of an index of best practices. It is intended, instead, as an empirical base for a critical and theoretical engagement with the problematic of development, social inclusion, public investment, (in)formal settlement, civil society and the public sphere.

"Pure Space" achieves its final function at this third level, by providing a compelling argument to expand the agency of architects and urban designers and creatively find ways of justifying, financing, and building public spaces in communities -- spaces that have a catalytic effectiveness in achieving significant urban and social transformation.

Critique: A meticulously presented, informed and informative study, "Pure Space: Expanding the Public Sphere through Public Space Transformations in Latin American Spontaneous Settlements" is a seminal and extraordinary volume that is especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, college and university library Urban Planning Studies & Latin American Architectural Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Elisa Silva is director and founder of Enlace Arquitectura 2007 and Enlace Foundation 2017, established in Caracas, Venezuela. Projects focus on raising awareness of spatial inequality and the urban environment through public space, the integration of informal settlements and community engagement in rural landscapes. Public space interventions in informal settlements through didactic and participatory methodologies are central to the firm s practice and were awarded in the XX Architecture and Urbanism Biennial in Valparaiso, Chile 2017.

The Organ Thieves
Chip Jones
Gallery Books/Jeter Publishing
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781982107529, $28.00, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Organ-Thieves-Shocking-Transplant-Segregated/dp/1982107529

Synopsis: In 1968, Bruce Tucker, a black man, went into Virginia's top research hospital with a head injury, only to have his heart taken out of his body and put into the chest of a white businessman.

Now, in "The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South", journalist Chip Jones exposes the horrifying inequality surrounding Tucker's death and how he was used as a human guinea pig without his family's permission or knowledge.

The circumstances surrounding his death reflect the long legacy of mistreating African Americans that began more than a century before with cadaver harvesting and worse. It culminated in efforts to win the heart transplant race in the late 1960s.

Featuring years of research and fresh reporting, "The Organ Thieves" is a story that resonates now more than ever, when issues of race and healthcare are the stuff of headlines and horror stories.

Critique: A revelatory piece of investigative journalism, "The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South" exposes the dark underbelly of racism as it is to be found in American medicine -- and why so many members of today's Black American community are hesitant to entrust their health and well-being to the American medical profession -- even in this time of pandemic.

While absolutely and irrevocably recommended for all community and college/university library American Medical History collections in general, and 20th Century African-American History supplemental curriculum studies, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797108322, $44.99, CD).


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

27 Essential Principles of Story
Daniel Joshua Rubin
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
www.workman.com
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781523507160, $19.95 PB, $9.99 Kindle, $39.99 Audio CD, 374pp

https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Principles-Story-Storytelling-Shakespeare/dp/1664460829

Synopsis: Experienced author Daniel Joshua Rubin unlocks the secrets of what makes a story work and then shows aspiring writers just how to understand and use these principles in their own writing. The result is nothing short of an invaluable and practical writing resource that covers such literary issues as: Escalating risk (with an example from Pulp Fiction); Writing characters to the top of their intelligence (from the Eminem song "Stan"); Earning transformations (draw from Alison Bechdel's Fun Home); Attacking your theme (from The Brothers Karamazov).

Critique: Expertly written and a thoroughly 'user friendly' DIY instructional guide and 'how to' manual, "27 Essential Principles of Story: Master the Secrets of Great Storytelling, from Shakespeare to South Park" is essentially a master class in the art of written down storytelling and should be a part of every aspiring writer's reference shelf. While unreservedly recommended for both community and college/university library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "27 Essential Principles of Story is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781664460829, $39.99, CD).


The Cookbook Shelf

Sustainable Kitchen
Heather Wolfe & Jaynie McCloskey
Herald Press
P.O. Box 866, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
www.heraldpress.com
9781513805818, $32.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sustainable-Kitchen-Heather-Jaynie-McCloskey/dp/1513805819

Synopsis: The collaborative work of Heather Wolfe and Jaynie McCloskey, "Sustainable Kitchen" will substantially aid in cooking more healthfully, eating more sustainably, and living more faithfully.

We all know that daily food choices help or harm our bodies, families, communities, and planet. But its not always easy to find resources that enable us to grow, shop for, prepare, cook, and eat food in ways that connect us to our "Sustainable Kitchen" is the result of years of practical experience in holistic nutrition, health coaching, homesteading, and scratch cooking to this practical guide for home cooks.

Abundant gifts of flavor, nourishment, and community shine through in this culinary handbook for those seeking to prepare plant-based, planet-conscious meals their families will love. Vibrant color photographs and tantalizing step-by- step recipes empower home cooks to: Cook using local, seasonally available foods Find flexibility in recipes Prepare nourishing foods from scratch Decrease food waste and conserve energy Limit processed, refined foods Eat a plant-based diet Reflect on food choices that matter.

Critique: Comprised of nourishing and tasty recipes that range from Split Pea Vegetable Stew; Winter Wheat Berry Bowl with Agrodoce Sauce; Crispy Roasted Chickpeas; and Sprouted Wheat Crust Pizza; to End-of-Summer Quiche; Cruciferous Cranberry Crunch Salad; Chipotle Pumpkin Chili; and Seitan Piccata, "Sustainable Kitchen" will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly appreciated addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted for the family cook that "Sustainable Kitchen" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Jaynie McCloskey is a freelance graphic designer with a degree from The Ohio State University. She is a self-taught cook and attributes her guidance to the generous food bloggers who shared their skills, knowledge, and photography. Heather Wolfe is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified health coach. Wolfe earned degrees from the University of Vermont and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. She has been providing nutritional counseling at Dartmouth-Hitchcock since 2006 and health coaching for their employee wellness program since 2009.


The Education Shelf

Teacher's Survival Guide: Gifted Education
Julia Link Roberts, author
Julia Roberts Baggess, author
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781646320714, $29.95, PB, 250pp

https://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Survival-Guide-First-Year-Introduction/dp/1646320719

Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition "Teacher's Survival Guide: Gifted Education" is packed from cover to cover with practical information, up-to-date resources, tips for success, and advice from experts in the field.

"Teacher's Survival Guide: Gifted Education" is the perfect introduction to gifted education for beginning and early career educators and provides field-tested, proven strategies. "Teacher's Survival Guide: Gifted Education" is specifically designed to help classroom teachers build their understanding of gifted education and gifted learners and covers topics essential to gifted education teachers, including identifying giftedness and encouraging creativity. Of special note is the inclusion of practical tips for providing resources and opportunities to spur talent development.

Each chapter features a key question, making this instructional guide and manual ideal for an engaging in-service curriculum book study, as well as a source of survival tips and a survival toolkit of resources to keep readers on course as they navigate through gifted ed.

Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in commentary, organization and presentation, "Teacher's Survival Guide: Gifted Education" is an extraordinary and impressively useful DIY addition to personal, professional, school district, college, and university library Teacher Education collections.

Editorial Note: Julia Link Roberts, Ed.D., and Julia (Julie) Roberts Boggess have worked with gifted students in many roles: elementary teacher, middle school teacher, director of summer camps for gifted kids, librarian, and parent of gifted kids. This mother-daughter team stays current in gifted education through their involvement at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Chasing Aces in Middle-grade Math
Phil Atkinson, author
Pat Bochnak, illustrator
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620237199, $24.95, PB, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Aces-Middle-School-Math/dp/1620237199

Synopsis: For most middle schoolers, math doesn't stand out as their favorite subject. It isn't as active as P.E. and can feel useless in the real world. Included within is a lens of over 65 concepts embedded in 13 lessons to provide optimum cross-curriculum learning, an excellent resource for home schoolers, public schoolers, and private schoolers alike.

The collaborative work of middle school math teacher Phil Atkinson and artist/illustrator Pat Bochnak, "Chasing Aces in Middle-grade Math: A Guide to Teaching Through the Lens of Disc Golf" proves that math can be fun and demonstrates how useful it is throughout our lives. Using the game of disc golf, teachers will discover new ways to incorporate math problems in, and out, of the classroom.

Students will be introduced to math, science, and technology concepts that will require them to think outside the box. By providing innovative exercises for students to attempt, they are given the opportunity to give math a second try.

Critique: Thoroughly kid (and teacher!) friendly in organization and presentation, "Chasing Aces in Middle-grade Math: A Guide to Teaching Through the Lens of Disc Golf" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to school district, college, and university library Teacher Education collections in general, and middle school level mathematics curriculums in particular. It should be noted that "Chasing Aces in Middle-grade Math: A Guide to Teaching Through the Lens of Disc Golf" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.95).

College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities
Cynthia Simpson & Vicky Spencer
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781646320455, $19.95, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/College-Success-Students-Learning-Disabilities/dp/164632045X

Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded section edition, "College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities: A Planning and Advocacy Guide for Teens With LD, ADHD, ASD, and More" by the team of Cynthia Simpson and Vicky Spancer offers students and their parents the knowledge, guidance, and strategies they need to effectively choose a college, prepare for university life, and make the most of their collegiate experience.

This newly revised edition of "College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities": Outlines the rights and responsibilities of students with learning disabilities; Gives advice on talking to professors and peers, getting involved, and asking for and receiving accommodations; Helps students utilize their strengths to meet and exceed academic standards; Provides additional information on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and ADHD; Includes a handy guide to universities with special programs and advice from current college students with disabilities.

Planning for college can be one of the biggest moments in any student's life, but for students with disabilities, the experience can be challenging on many different levels. "College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities" will empower future students and provide them with hope for success.

Synopsis: Expertly written, exceptionally well organized, and accessible presented, "College Success for Students With Learning Disabilities: A Planning and Advocacy Guide for Teens With LD, ADHD, ASD, and More" is especially recommended for personal, professional, highschool counselor, and community library College Placement information resources collections.

Editorial Note: Cynthia G. Simpson, Ph.D., is the former Vice President of Academic Affairs at Houston Baptist University and currently serves as an educational consultant in higher education with a focus on special education and accreditation issues. Vicky G. Spencer, Ph.D., is an associate professor and director of the Graduate Program in Applied Behavior Analysis at Shenandoah University.

Islamophobia in Higher Education
Shafiqa Ahmadi & Darnell Cole
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781620369746, $125.00, HC, 180pp

https://www.amazon.com/Islamophobia-Higher-Education-Discrimination-Understanding/dp/1620369745

Synopsis: Islamophobia is the fear, hatred of, or prejudice against the Islamic religion or Muslims generally, and especially when seen as a geopolitical force or the source of terrorism.

While Islamophobia was present in our society before 9/11, it has become more pervasive in recent years. This is evidenced by the current social and political climate, hate speech and hate crimes directed at Muslims, and the Supreme Court's upholding of Presidential Proclamation 645 that effectively bans Muslim immigration from coming to the U.S.

What does this mean for Muslim students in college, and indeed for institutions of higher education as they navigate law and policy on the one hand and adhere to their mission of achieving inclusive and equitable educational environments on the other?

Two thirds of Muslims in the U.S. are vexed with current policy, and there has been an alarming increase in reports of bigotry and discrimination against them since the 2016 presidential elections. The fear of Islam, in general, and Muslims, specifically, not only compels non-Muslims to differentially treat Muslims, but also trade some of their own civil rights and civil liberties under the guise of national security.

To address these issues, institutions require a nuanced understanding of laws and policies that institutionalize Islamophobia, and a greater understanding of the diverse college students that identify as Muslim. "Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Discrimination and Creating Understanding" fills what has been a dearth of research that explores the experiences and navigation of Muslim students in colleges and universities, and addresses the even less studied domain of the experiences of Muslim students who hold multiple marginalized identities (such as race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ status) as well as the intersection of those identities that may create multiple burdens of oppression and discrimination.

"Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Discrimination and Creating Understanding" begins by critically engaging with how current laws and policies institutionalize Islamophobia and affect the intersectionality and diversity within the Muslim community. It includes multidisciplinary voices, such as an international human rights attorney, a civil rights attorney, a criminal law attorney, student affairs practitioners, and research faculty whose work on this marginalized student population are traditionally not recognized within academic settings; and brings the voices of female Muslim scholars to the fore. Each chapter includes a critical analysis of the literature, a legal analysis when appropriate, a set of recommendations for policy and practice, and discussion questions.

Critique: A seminal work of documented and expertly presented scholarship, "Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Discrimination and Creating Understanding" is the collaborative editorial work of Shafiqa Ahmadi (an Associate Professor of Clinical Education at the Rossier School of Education (Rossier) and the Co-Director for the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice) and Dr. Darnell Cole (Associate Professor of Education with an emphasis in higher education and education psychology) and comprised of eight informative articles by experts in their respective fields. Enhanced for academia with a listing of the contributors and their credentials, along with an eight page index, "Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Discrimination and Creating Understanding" is a critically important, timely, and unreservedly recommended addition to both college and university library Higher Education Administration, College & University Student Life, and Education Administration collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists that "Islamophobia in Higher Education: Combating Discrimination and Creating Understanding" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781620369753, $29.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.45).


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

What Birds Eat
Kim Long
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680513004, $24.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/What-Birds-Eat-Preserve-Behavior/dp/1680513001

Synopsis: The more than 900 bird species in North America have natural diets ranging from seeds, foliage, nectar, and nuts to fish, insects, crustaceans, carrion, and mammals -- and sometimes other birds!

"What Birds Eat: How to Preserve the Natural Diet and Behavior of North American Birds" by Kim Long explores the senses that birds depend on (sight, sound, odor, taste, and touch) and their food ingestion. Extensive feeding profiles then detail what various species eat naturally and how we can support those diets in backyards and feeders.

"What Birds Eat" enriches our understanding, allowing us to engage more meaningfully with birds along the way.

Critique: Profusely illustrated in full color throughout, "What Birds Eat: How to Preserve the Natural Diet and Behavior of North American Birds" is a comprehensively informative survey that is impressively organized and throughly 'reader friendly' in presentation. Enhanced for academia and dedicated ornithologists, "What Birds Eat: How to Preserve the Natural Diet and Behavior of North American Birds" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Aviary Wildlife and Bird Field Guide collections.

Editorial Note: Kim Long is a naturalist and the author or co-author of 22 books, including Owls (1998), Hummingbirds (1997), and The Moon Almanac (2018). He also maintains an informative website at: www.WhatBirdsEat.com.

Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History
Paul Bannick
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680513356, $18.95, HC, 128pp

Synopsis: The Great Gray Owl (also known as the Phantom of the North, Great, Gray Ghost, and Bearded Owl) is one of the largest owl species and lives in the western mountains and boreal regions of North America.

With "Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural History", award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick delves into the natural history of this owl species, including the latest research, providing readers with comprehensive yet accessible looks at their preferred habitat, hunting and feeding behavior, mating and nesting actions, owlets and fledglings, and more.

Bannick's unique and gorgeous full color photographic owl images are enhanced by additional images of the owls' habitats and other species that share the Great Gray ecosystems. Throughout each narrative, his time in the field observing and photographing these enigmatic birds comes to life in evocative, experiential passages.

Critique: Also very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Aviary Wildlife collections is Paul Bannick's companion book, "Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History" (Mountaineers Books, 9781680513158, $18.95, HC, 128pp). "Great Gray Owl" and "Snowy Owl" are two visually spectacular and informatively captioned photographic compendiums that are a pure delight to browse through and a 'must' for the growing legions of birdwatching enthusiasts and ornithologists.

The Reign of Wolf 21
Rick McIntyre
Greystone Books
www.greystonebooks.com
9781771645249, $26.95, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Wolf-Yellowstones-Legendary-Yellowstone/dp/1771645245

Synopsis: "The Reign of Wolf 21: The Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack" is the dramatic true story of a remarkable wolf pack leader known as Wolf 21.

In this compelling wildlife study, author Rick McIntyre profiles one of Yellowstone's most revered alpha males, Wolf 21. Leader of the Druid Peak Pack, Wolf 21 was known for his unwavering bravery, his unusual benevolence (unlike other alphas, he never killed defeated rival males), and his fierce commitment to his mate, the formidable Wolf 42.

Wolf 21 and Wolf 42 were attracted to each other the moment they met -- but Wolf 42's jealous sister interfered viciously in their relationship. After an explosive insurrection within the pack, the two wolves came together at last as leaders of the Druid Peak Pack, which dominated the park for more than 10 years.

In "The Reign of Wolf 21", McIntyre deftly recounts the pack's fascinating saga with compassion and a keen eye for detail, drawing on his many years of experience observing Yellowstone wolves in the wild. His outstanding work of science writing offers unparalleled insight into wolf behavior and Yellowstone's famed wolf reintroduction project. "The Reign of Wolf 21" also offers an inherently fascinating and authentic wildlife love story.

Critique: Impressively informative, expertly written, organized and presented, "The Reign of Wolf 21: The Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack" is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary wolf pack lead by an extraordinary alpha male -- and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and college/university library Contemporary Wildlife collections.

Editorial Note: Rick McIntyre has spent more than fifty years watching wolves in America's national parks, twenty-five of those years in Yellowstone, where he has accumulated over 100,000 wolf sightings and educated the public about the park's most famous wolves. He has spoken about the Yellowstone wolves with 60 Minutes, NPR, and CBC, and he is profiled extensively in Nate Blakeslee's American Wolf and in international publications.

Second-Chance Cats
Callie Smith Grant, editor
Revell
www.RevellBooks.com
9780800735722 $14.99 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chance-Cats-True-Stories-Rescue/dp/0800735722

Synopsis: There's no feeling quite like that of getting a second chance and a fresh start. When we adopt a homeless cat--or that cat decides to adopt us--we're not just giving one of earth's most beautiful and inscrutable creatures a chance at a good life, we're giving ourselves the gift of companionship, solace, and love. And plenty of laughter too!

This heartwarming collection includes more than 30 true, contemporary stories told by a variety of writers, including Melody Carlson, Lauraine Snelling, and Kristin Billerbeck. Each feel-good story involves cat rescue, some in a typical way and others in surprising--even miraculous--ways. Sometimes the question becomes: Really, who rescued whom?

A thoughtful gift for the cat lover in your life, Second-Chance Cats is the purrfect companion for cozy nights, lazy weekends, and any time you need a pick-me-up.

Critique: Second-Chance Cats is a wonderful anthology of true stories about choosing to share one's life with an animal in desperate need of a home, and the joys of love and companionship obtained in return. Emotional and inspirational, Second-Chance Cats is a must-read for animal lovers, and makes an excellent gift as well. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Second-Chance Cats is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Economic Studies Shelf

When More Is Not Better
Roger L. Martin
www.rogerlmartin.com
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781647820060, $30.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/When-More-Not-Better-Overcoming/dp/1647820065

Synopsis: For its first two hundred years, the American economy exhibited truly impressive performance. The combination of democratically elected governments and a capitalist system worked, with ever-increasing levels of efficiency spurred by division of labor, international trade, and scientific management of companies. By the nation's bicentennial celebration in 1976, the American economy was the envy of the world.

But since then, outcomes have changed dramatically. Growth in the economic prosperity of the average American family has slowed to a crawl, while the wealth of the richest Americans has skyrocketed. This imbalance threatens the American democratic capitalist system and our way of life.

"When More Is Not Better: Overcoming America's Obsession with Economic Efficiency" by Roger L. Martin is bracing yet constructive book in which a world-renowned business thinker starkly outlines the fundamental problem: We have treated the economy as a machine, pursuing ever-greater efficiency as an inherent good. But efficiency has become too much of a good thing. Our obsession with it has inadvertently shifted the shape of our economy, from a large middle class and smaller numbers of rich and poor (think of a bell-shaped curve) to a greater share of benefits accruing to a thin tail of already-rich Americans (a Pareto distribution).

With lucid analysis and engaging anecdotes, Martin argues that we must stop treating the economy as a perfectible machine and shift toward viewing it as a complex adaptive system in which we seek a fundamental balance of efficiency with resilience. To achieve this, we need to keep in mind the whole while working on the component parts; pursue improvement, not perfection; and relentlessly tweak instead of attempting to find permanent solutions.

Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, packed from cover to cover with keen economic insight and advice for citizens, executives, policy makers, and educators, "When More Is Not Better" is a timely and must-read guide for saving democratic capitalism -- especially in view of the present economic collapse initiated by the current pandemic. While an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Contemporary Economics collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, corporate executives, economists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "When More Is Not Better" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).

Editorial Note: Roger L. Martin is Professor of Strategic Management, Emeritus, at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, where he served as Dean (1998 - 2013) and as Director of the Martin Prosperity Institute (2013 - 2019). In 2017 Thinkers50 named him the world's #1 management thinker. He has published eleven books, including Creating Great Choices with Jennifer Riel and Playing to Win with A.G. Lafley, as well as many Harvard Business Review articles. Martin is a trusted strategy adviser to the CEOs of many global companies. He maintains a web site at www.rogerlmartin.com and can be followed on Twitter at twitter.com/RogerLMartin


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

John Badham On Directing, second edition
John Badham
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615933167, $28.95, PB, 220pp

https://www.amazon.com/John-Badham-Directing-Notes-Saturday/dp/1615933166

Synopsis: John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an English-born American director of film and television, best known for the films Saturday Night Fever (1977), Dracula (1979), Blue Thunder (1983), WarGames (1983), Short Circuit (1986), and Stakeout (1987).

Action and suspense movies have almost always been made by 'seat of the pants' with film makers crafting their cinemas on gut instinct and intuition their innate talent often leads them to exciting results. In "John Badham On Directing", Badham examines and explains the elements of action and suspense that are needed to make a great film. Badham also dissects the elements of any good scene from any genre of film and gives valuable tools that the reader can apply in directing and acting for maximum impact.

This newly updated and expanded second edition features a brand new section: The Director's Survival Guide to Episodic Television and explores the political danger zones faced in the ever expanding world of Streaming, Cable and Network television. Badham has created a much needed First Aid Kit for all directors and the newly expanded list of "14 Must Ask Questions Before Rehearsal" - an absolute essential in any filmmakers toolbox.

Intended for actors, directors, cinematographers, production designers or other creatives, Badham gives you the tools to deconstruct and understand your scenes. Continuing the work begun in Badham's best-selling book "I'll Be In My Trailer" he shares more insights from talented directors on how they work with the difficult actor, rehearsal techniques and getting the best performance from any actor whether novice or pro.

Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "John Badham On Directing" would make an ideal curriculum textbook for directorial film classes and should be considered essential reading for anyone wanting to successfully craft a movie from a writer's script. While an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, film school, community, and academic library Film/Television/Video/Movie Direction & Production collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of film students, academia, aspiring film directors, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "John Badham On Directing" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.95).


The General Fiction Shelf

Something Worth Doing
Jane Kirpatrick
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800739249, $29.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Something-Worth-Doing-Jane-Kirkpatrick/dp/0800739248

Synopsis: Although a deftly crafted and riveting work of fiction by Jane Kirpatrick, "Something Worth Doing" is based on the true story of pioneer Abigail Scott who denies herself the joys of a simpler life to achieve her dream of securing rights for women, because running a controversial newspaper and leading suffrage efforts in the Northwest carries a great personal cost.

Critique: An impressively entertaining novel, "Something Worth Doing" carries a relevant underlying message that is appropriate for this present era of the #MeToo movement and the striving of women voters to restore decency and competency to a heretofore male gender dominate society and culture. While especially and unreservedly recommended for any and all community library general fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Something Worth Doing" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780800736118, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Literary Fiction Shelf

Jubilee
Jennifer Givhan
Blackstone Publishing
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781538556771, $25.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jubilee-Novel-Jennifer-Givhan/dp/1538556774

Synopsis: When Bianca appears late one night at her brother's house in Santa Ana, she is barely conscious, though not alone. Jubilee, wrapped in a fuzzy pink romper, is buckled into a car seat. Jubilee, who Bianca feeds and clothes and bathes and loves. Jubilee, who Bianca could not leave behind. Jubilee, a doll in her arms.

Told in alternating points of view, Jubilee reveals both the haunting power of our lived experiences and the surreal possibility of the present to heal the past.

The first thread, ''Before Jubilee,'' follows Bianca in her girlhood home on the Mexicali border as she struggles with her high school sweetheart, Gabe, and a secret they've shared since she was fifteen.

The second thread, With Jubilee, is told from the point of view of her new love, Joshua, who along with Bianca's family helps her cope with a mysterious trauma by accepting Jubilee as part of the family. As Joshua's love for Bianca grows, he fears that Jubilee has the power to tear his tiny family apart.

Alternating chapters give readers a unique perspective on Bianca's present and on her relationship with Jubilee as her past life with Gabe comes to a catastrophic end.

Jubilee is at once a darkly suspenseful psychological drama and a luminous reflection on how beauty emerges from even the most traumatic of experiences.

Critique: An elegantly crafted novel by an author with an impressive set of narrative driven storytelling skills, Jennifer Givhan's "Jubille" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Jubille" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Out of Mesopotamia
Salar Abdoh
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
www.dreamscapeab.com/audiobooks
9781617758607, $26.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Out-Mesopotamia-Salar-Abdoh/dp/1617758604

Synopsis: Saleh, the narrator of "Out of Mesopotamia" by Salar Abdoh, is a middle-aged Iranian journalist who moonlights as a writer for one of Iran's most popular TV shows but cannot keep himself away from the front lines in neighboring Iraq and Syria. There, the fight against the Islamic State is a proxy war, an existential battle, a declaration of faith, and, for some, a passing weekend affair.

After weeks spent dodging RPGs, witnessing acts of savagery and stupidity, Saleh returns to civilian life in Tehran but finds it to be an unbearably dislocating experience. Pursued by his official handler from state security, opportunistic colleagues, and the woman who broke his heart, Saleh has reason to again flee from everyday life. Surrounded by men whose willingness to achieve martyrdom both fascinates and appalls him, Saleh struggles to make sense of himself and the turmoil in his midst.

An unprecedented glimpse into "endless war" from a Middle Eastern perspective, "Out of Mesopotamia" follows in the tradition of the Western canon of martial writers but then subverts and expands upon the genre before completely blowing it apart. Drawing from his firsthand experience of being embedded with Shia militias on the ground in Iraq and Syria, author Salar Abdoh gives agency to the voiceless while offering a meditation on war that is moving, humane, darkly funny, and resonantly true.

Critique: An inherently fascinating read that echoes the devastated and devastating real world conditions of so many war torn populations in the Middle East, "Out Of Mesopotamia" by Salar Abdoh is one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. An extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Out Of Mesopotamia" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781662031649, $22.99, CD).

The Glass House
Beatrice Colin
Flatiron Books
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
https://www.flatironbooks.com
9781250152503, $26.99, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Glass-House-Novel-Beatrice-Colin/dp/125015250X

Synopsis: In 1912 Scotland, Antonia McCulloch's life hasn't gone the way she planned. She and her husband, Malcolm, have drifted apart; her burgeoning art career came to nothing; and when she looks in the mirror, she sees disappointment. But at least she will always have Balmarra, her family's grand Scottish estate, and its exquisite glass house, filled with exotic plants that can take her far away.

When her estranged brother's wife, Cicely Pick, arrives unannounced, with her young daughter and enough trunks to last the summer, Antonia is instantly suspicious. What besides an inheritance dispute could have brought her glamorous sister-in-law all the way from India?

Still, Cicely introduces excitement and intrigue into Antonia's life, and, as they get to know one another, Antonia realizes that Cicely has her own burdens to bear. Slowly, a fragile friendship grows between them. But when the secrets each are keeping become too explosive to conceal, the truth threatens their uneasy balance and the course of their entire lives.

Critique: A deftly crafted and absorbing novel populated with a cast of memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, "The Glass House" by Beatrice Colin is an elegant story by an author with a genuine flair for originality and a consistently entertaining and narrative driven storytelling style. While especially and unreservedly recommended for both community and college/university library Literary Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Glass House" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

A Cerebral Offer
Ken Janjigian
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama
Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
https://livingstonpress.uwa.edu
9781604892581, $21.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cerebral-Offer-Ken-Janjigian/dp/1604892587

Synopsis: Harry Gnostopolos is frantically trying to keep his beloved indie theater afloat while his frustrated girlfriend implores him to let it go along with his other neuroses. Harry's fate suddenly changes with the arrival of an old bohemian friend and an exotic woman who tempt him with a chance to save the theater and his life. All he has to do is join a subversive cabal of thieves, who have planned a heist that will rewrite history!

Critique: Clearly showcasing author Kan Janjigian's natural flair as a novelist for originality and the kind of narrative driven storytelling, "A Cerebral Offer" is populated with distinctive and memorable characters embedded in an ever evolving plot with many and unexpected twist and turn -- making it especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and college/university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.


The Romantic Fiction Shelf

Finding Cassie
Anna Jacobs
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845518, $TBA, HC, Large Print, 354pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444845518

Synopsis: When the teenage girl who has been hanging around near the house knocks on the door and tells her she's her granddaughter, Cassandra Bennington is shocked rigid. There's only one way this can be true: if Evie is the daughter of the baby Cassie gave away for adoption when she was herself a troubled teenager. Is this a trick?

Or is Evie's tale true? When she discovers why the girl has come to find her, it brings a tangle of other problems that she can't ignore. This was the last thing she expected to be dealing with as she moves into her new home in a leisure village in Wiltshire.

Critique: Anna Jacobs is the author of eighty novels and is addicted to storytelling. She grew up in Lancashire, emigrated to Australia in the 1970s and writes stories set in both countries. With "Finding Cassie", she has once again created a finely crafted novel of romance, family ties, and the human condition. An original and absorbing story, this large print edition of "Finding Cassie" is very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library collections.


The Western Fiction Shelf

Bad Day In Greenville
Alex Frew
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444844733, $21.49, PB, Large Print, 24pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444844733

Synopsis: Sheriff Joe Flint wakes up to just another day in Greenville. But when you live in a border town in New Mexico, every day is different, and this is a bad one. Who is the dead man on the mysterious coach that rides into town, also carrying a badly injured woman and crying child? When Flint tries to investigate, the mystery deepens. He is soon dragged into a fight for his own life -- but with the help of a stranger, Flint learns to fight for the answers he so richly deserves.

Critique: Author Alex Frew is a master of the western novel and this large print edition of "Bad Day In Greenville" from the Linford Western Library collection is a solidly entertaining and original story that combines a deftly scripted mystery with all the western action/adventure that any western buff would ever want. "Bad Day In Greenville" is certain to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Hunting Harker
Greg Mitchell
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444844894, $21.49, PB, Large Print, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Harker-Greg-Mitchell/dp/144484489X

Synopsis: When Ollie Harker's wagon fails to arrive at Logjam Creek, his employer hires Tom Parry and Durango Finch to find it. It appears that Harker has been killed by hostile Indians, but when a murder in town is linked to him, Harker's mission is revealed to be something more than routine freighting. The trail leads Parry and Finch to an illegal whiskey-running operation in which Logjam Creek's saloon owner is implicated -- and the two hunters find themselves in deep peril when they come up against a ruthless gang of moonshiners.

Critique: Another thrill packed action/adventure western from the pen of Greg Mitchell, "Hunting Harker" is pure entertainment -- western style! An inherently riveting read leading to a dramatic gun fire showdown, this large print paperback edition of "Hunting Harker" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community western fiction collections.

The Adventures Of Hawke Travis
Eli Colter
Sagebrush Lare Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785417016, $30.59, PB, Large Print, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Hawke-Travis-Eli-Colter/dp/1785417010

Synopsis: The life of Hawke Travis began when the West was young. Born in Ohio, he moved West with his family when he was nine years old, where he became a good shot even at that young age. Times were hard, but Hawke dreamed of something better. He was sent to live with an uncle in Iowa, where he gained some education, improved his gunmanship, and met a friend called Joe Towers. In 1877, he and his deadly gun started their journey, and now he drifts from town to town as the law tries to catch up with him - though no one can rightly call him an outlaw. He never double-crosses a friend, a partner, or even a sucker who trusts him, and to abuse a woman or a child is to invite his swift and devastating rage.

Critique: One of the most unusual western novels you will ever read, "Hawk Travis" is actually a series of short stories that are chronologically laid out and reveal a man who has his own code of conduct that compels him to defend women and children, defend the oppressed against an oppressor, yet at the same time cheat at cards, rob banks, steal from mining operations, attempt the holdup of trains, and live a life of one cliffhanger event after another. A simply absorbing read from beginning to end, this large print edition of "The Adventures Of Hawke Travis" is strongly recommended for the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans and community library Western Fiction Collections.

The Holmbury County Seat War
K. S. Stanley
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444844900, $21.49, PB, Large Print, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Holmbury-County-Seat-War/dp/1444844903

Synopsis: Who really was involved in the Confederate's brutal massacre of a small village at the start of the American Civil War, and what became of them? In this bitter tale, the truth doesn't finally emerge until 1887, when good men turned bad fight ruthlessly to ensure that their town is elected as the Holmbury county seat.

Critique: With plenty of gun blazing action and a fair amount of detective investigation, "The Holmbury County Seat War by K. S. Stanley has everything a western novel should have -- including a thoroughly unexpected and riveting finale! This large print edition from the Linford Western Library will prove to be a welcome addition to the personal reading lists of all dedicated western buffs and an enduringly popular addition to community library Western Fiction collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Murder at the Manchester Museum
Jim Eldridge
Charnwood Large Print
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845501, $TBA, HC, Large Print, 336pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444845501

Synopsis; The year is 1895 when former Scotland Yard detective Daniel Wilson (famous for working the notorious Jack the Ripper case), and his archaeologist sidekick Abigail Fenton are summoned to investigate the murder of a young woman at the Manchester Museum.

Though staff remember the woman as a recent and regular visitor, no one appears to know her and she has no possessions from which to identify her.

When the pair arrive, the case turns more deadly when the body of a second woman is discovered hidden in the depths of the museum. Seeking help from a local journalist, Daniel hopes to unravel this mystery, but the journey to the truth is fraught with obstacles and the mistakes of the past will not be forgotten.

Critique: A deftly scripted and thoroughly engaging mystery by a true master of the genre, this large print edition of novelist Jim Eldridge's "Murder at the Manchester Museum" is an extraordinarily entertaining read from first page to last -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery/suspense fans and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

A Deception at Thornecrest
Ashley Weaver
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
www.dreamscapeab.com/audiobooks
9781250159793, $27.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Thornecrest-Amory-Ames-Mystery/dp/1250159792

Synopsis: Amory Ames is alone at her country house Thornecrest, enjoying her last few weeks of peace and quiet as she prepares for the imminent arrival of her baby. Her husband, Milo, is in London on business, and Amory is content to catch up on her correspondence, organize the nursery, and avoid the well-meaning if rather overbearing company of the ladies in the village as they prepare for the Springtide Festival. But then a woman appears on her doorstep, claiming to be another Mrs. Ames, Milo's wife.

Amory's marriage has had its ups and downs in the past, but her faith in her husband has been restored, and Milo has been nothing but thrilled about becoming a father. Though the alleged second Mrs. Ames seems earnest, Amory is convinced she must be mistaken, a belief that Milo confirms upon his homecoming. However, when another unexpected visitor arrives at Thornecrest, secret identities and whirlwind romances appear to be becoming par for the course.

It's not until the day of the festival, when Milo's stable hand Bertie is found dead, that the strange characters appearing in town begin to seem more sinister, and Amory is determined to uncover the killer in the crowd.

Critique: A deftly scripted mystery that plays fair with the reader, "A Deception At Thorncrest" is a mystery lover's delight. A compelling and exceptionally entertaining read from beginning to end, "A Deception At Thorncrest" by novelist Ashley Weaver will prove to be an immediate and enduringly welcome addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs (especially those that appreciate a little romance along with the mayhem) that "A Deception At Thorncrest" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781662031922, $22.99, CD).

In a Midnight Wood
Ellen Hart
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250308443, $26.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Wood-Jane-Lawless-Mysteries/dp/1250308445

Synopsis: Minnesota private investigator Jane Lawless is headed on a little getaway. She and her best friend, Cordelia Thorn, plan to visit their old friend Emma in her hometown of Castle Lake, while also participating in the small town's local art festival. Between the festival and an upcoming high school reunion for the class of 1999, no one in Castle Lake is quite sure who will make an appearance.

But back in 1999, Emma's boyfriend and Castle Lake high school senior Sam Romilly went missing. Everyone thought he ran away, though the town rumor mill has always claimed his father murdered him. Today, within a week of his class's 20th reunion, Sam's remains are found in someone else's burial plot. Suddenly the case is warming up fast. People who knew Sam (friends and enemies alike) will be in town for the much anticipated reunion. It's up to Jane to sort the innocent from the guilty, before it's too late.

Critique: The latest novel in author Ellen Hart's 'A Jane Lawless Mystery' series, "In A Midnight Wood" is a true mystery lover's treat from beginning to end. With more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller coaster ride, "In A Midnight Wood" continues to showcase Ellen Hart's originality and storytelling style as a novelist and no community library's Mystery/Suspense collection would be complete with it. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "In A Midnight Wood" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).


The Parenting Shelf

What They Don't Teach Teens
Jonathan Cristall
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610353588, $19.95, PB, 344pp

https://www.amazon.com/What-They-Dont-Teach-Teens/dp/1610353587

Synopsis: Young people coming of age today face new risks, expectations, and laws that didn't exist when their parents were young. "What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" provides teens, tweens, and young adults, and their parents with up-to-date, realistic strategies to protect young people against the pitfalls of modern adolescence.

Author Jonathan Cristall, who was once a troubled teen himself and is now a veteran prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles and a sexual violence prevention instructor, works extensively with teenagers and their families to teach physical, digital, emotional, and legal safety skills. Drawing on Cristall's hands-on experience, "What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" gives parents and other caregivers techniques for talking to their children about these urgent issues.

"What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" is a compendium of sound advice on police interactions and personal safety (your constitutional rights, what to do/not do when stopped by the police while driving, situational awareness, street robberies, gun violence); sexual violence and misconduct (sexual consent, sexual harassment prevention, dating violence, sextortion); and staying safer online (digital footprint and citizenship, cyberbullying, underage sexting, online porn).

"What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" is packed from cover to cover with practical guidance, thoughtful insight, and simple-to-use tips and tactics that will empower young people to make good choices now and into the future.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" is a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide and manual that is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Contemporary Parenting collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of parents, teens, and young adults that "What They Don't Teach Teens: Life Safety Skills for Teens and the Adults Who Care for Them" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome
Terry Katz & Lina Patel
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
www.woodbinehouse.com
9781606132951, $22.95, PB, 164pp

https://www.amazon.com/Potty-Time-Kids-Down-Syndrome/dp/1606132954

Synopsis: Whether as a parent just getting started potty training a child having Down syndrome or as one who has been at it for months or years, "Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience" offers the specialized guidance needed for both the parent and the Down Syndrom child to be successfully toilet trained.

In "Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience", authors Terry Katz and Lina Patel have created a customizable developmental-behavioral model based on a thorough understanding of how the behaviors of children with Down Syndrome are affected by their neurodevelopment.

For instance, the low muscle tone common in children with Down syndrome can affect bladder and bowel control. Or a child may be motivated to continue using a diaper because he enjoys the interaction while being changed. The empathetic and encouraging tone of "Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience" is effectively coupled with its positive behavior-based strategies geared specifically to children with Down Syndrome and will help parents to avoid typical challenges encountered with toilet training a Down Syndrome child.

"Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience" covers medical & physical issues, behavioral & cognitive challenges, collecting data to inform the training plan, behavioral principles, prepping the bathroom, supports & strategies to increase success, desensitization for children who are anxious, troubleshooting, working with the school team, using public toilets, and much more.

With its effective potty-training strategies, helpful planning and tracking forms, examples of visual supports, and lists of training products and resources, parents will be well prepared to help Down Syndrome children achieve this important milestone toward greater independence.

Critique: Thoroughly 'parent friendly' in commentary, organization and presentation, "Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience" should be considered an essential 'must read' DIY instruction guide and manual for all parents of Down Syndrome children having to be toilet trained. "Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience" is a critically essential addition to personal, family, professional, community, and college/university library Parenting & Down Syndrome collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists.

Editorial Note: Terry Katz is a licensed psychologist who has worked with children with developmental disabilities and their families for over thirty years. She co-founded a sleep behavior clinic in 2009 and a toileting clinic in 2011 for children with special needs at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is also a co-author of Solving Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Woodbine House, 2014).

Lina Patel is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Psychology for the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Hospital Colorado and has worked with hundreds of children, adolescents, and young adults with Down syndrome. She provides consultation with schools, parent training for management of challenging behaviors, evaluation for dual diagnoses (Down syndrome and autism), toilet training, and desensitization to medical devices.


The Sports Shelf

Latinos and Latinas in American Sport
Jorge Iber, editor
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttupress.org
9781682830406, $39.95, PB, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Latinos-Latinas-American-Sport-Peloteros/dp/1682830403

Synopsis: An anthology comprised of an informative Introduction and Conclusion by the editor, Jorge Iber, and thirteen inherently interesting articles comprised by experts in the field of Latino/Latina sports and athletics, "Latinos and Latinas in American Sport: Stories Beyond Peloteros" expands upon the significance of sport in U.S. Latino communities by looking at sports as diverse as drag racing and community softball, the rise of Latinas in high school athletics -- and their use of sports to protest social injustice.

Critique: A seminal project of meticulous scholarship, "Latinos and Latinas in American Sport: Stories Beyond Peloteros" is an extraordinary series of studies. Of special note is the inclusion of a listing of all the contributors and their credentials. Impressively informative, thought-provoking, and timely, "Latinos and Latinas in American Sport: Stories Beyond Peloteros" is an especially an unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library Sociology of Sports collections in general, and History of American Sports supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that 'Latinos and Latinas in American Sport: Stories Beyond Peloteros" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Jorge Iber is a professor of history and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Tech University. Over the past ten years, he has written and published widely on the role of Latinos/as in the history of US sports.


The Biography Shelf

A Champion Cyclist Against the Nazis
Alberto Toscano
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526753397, $34.95, HC, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Cyclist-Against-Nazis-Incredible/dp/1526753391

Synopsis: Although allied with Hitler, in 1943 Italy there were those who refused to accept the fascist policies of racial discrimination and deportation. Among them was Gino Bartali.

A champion cyclist, he won the Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) three times and the Tour de France twice. But these weren't his only achievements. Deeply religious, Bartali never spoke about what he did during those dark years, when he agreed to work with the Resistance and pass messages from one end of the country to the other. Despite the dangers, Bartali used his training as a pretext to crisscross Italy, hiding documents in the handlebars and saddle of his bicycle, all the while hoping that each time he was searched they wouldn't think to disassemble his machine.

As a result of his bravery, 800 Jews (including numerous children) were saved from deportation. He died in Florence in 2000 and was recognized as one of the 'Righteous Among the Nations' in 2013. In the pages of "A Champion Cyclist Against the Nazis: The Incredible Life of Gino Bartali", journalist and biographer Alberto Toscano shares the incredible story of this great sportsman and recalls the dramatic moments in Italy and Europe in the twentieth century.

Critique: An informative testament to the kinds of risks and sacrifices the anti-Nazis in Mussolini's Italy during World War II, "A Champion Cyclist Against the Nazis: The Incredible Life of Gino Bartali" is an extraordinary story of an extraordinary man in extraordinary times. While especially and particularly recommended for both community and college/university library Biography collections and World War II European Theatre supplemental curriculum studies, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Champion Cyclist Against the Nazis: The Incredible Life of Gino Bartali" is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Alberto Toscano is an Italian journalist, writer and political scientist. He moved to France in 1986 and has worked with both Italian and French media. Awarded the French National Order of Merit, he was also a researcher at the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Milan, has served as the president of the Foreign Press Association in France, and is president of the European Press Club, Paris.

Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick
Andrea Friederici Ross
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809337903, $29.95, HC, 248pp

https://www.amazon.com/Edith-Rockefeller-Andrea-Friederici-Ross/dp/0809337908

Synopsis: Edith Rockefeller McCormick (August 31, 1872 - August 25, 1932) was a daughter of America's foremost industrialist, John D. Rockefeller, and her life story involves sex, money, mental illness, and opera divas. A woman who strove for the independence to make her own choices, Edith rejected the limited gender role carved out for her by her father and society, Edith forged her own path, despite objections from her family and her ultimate financial ruin.

Young Edith and her siblings had access to the best educators in the world, but the girls were not taught how to handle the family money; that responsibility was reserved for their younger brother. A parsimonious upbringing did little to prepare Edith for life after marriage to Harold McCormick, son of the Reaper King Cyrus McCormick. The rich young couple spent lavishly. They purchased treasures like the jewels of Catherine the Great, entertained in grand style in a Chicago mansion, and contributed to the city's cultural uplift, founding the Chicago Grand Opera. They supported free health care for the poor, founding and supporting the John R. McCormick Memorial Institute for Infectious Diseases. Later, Edith donated land for what would become Brookfield Zoo.

Though she lived a seemingly enviable life, Edith's disposition was ill-suited for the mores of the time. Societal and personal issues (not least of which were the deaths of two of her five children) caused Edith to experience phobias and panic attacks. Dissatisfied with rest cures, she ignored her father's expectations, moved her family to Zurich, and embarked on a journey of education and self-examination. Edith pursued analysis with then-unknown Carl Jung. Her generosity of spirit led Edith to become Jung's leading patron. She also supported up-and-coming musicians, artists, and writers, including James Joyce as he wrote Ulysses.

While Edith herself became a Jungian analyst, her husband, Harold, pursued an affair with an opera star. After returning to Chicago and divorcing Harold, Edith continued to deplete her fortune. She hoped to create something of lasting value, such as a utopian community and affordable homes for the middle class. Edith's goals caused further difficulties in her relationship with her father and are why he and her brother cut her off from the family funds even after the 1929 stock market crash ruined her. Edith's death from breast cancer three years later was mourned by thousands of Chicagoans.

Respectful and truthful, biographer Andrea Friederici Ross presents the full arc of this amazing woman's life and expertly helps readers understand Edith's generosity, intelligence, and fierce determination to change the world.

Critique: Meticulously researched and featuring a number of black/white historical photos, "Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick" is an inherently fascinating life story of a remarkable woman who lived a wealthy yet unconventional life. While certain to be a welcome addition to community and college/university library American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick" is readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.17).

Editorial Note: Andrea Friederici Ross is the author of Let the Lions Roar! The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo. A native of the Chicago area and a graduate of Northwestern University, Ross works in a grade school library, where she encourages young readers to develop a lasting love of books.

Bavinck: A Critical Biography
James Eglinton
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9781540961358, $44.99, HC, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bavinck-Critical-Biography-James-Eglinton/dp/1540961354

Synopsis: Dutch Calvinist theologian Herman Bavinck, (13 December 1854, Hoogeveen, Drenthe - 29 July 1921, Amsterdam) was a significant voice in the development of Protestant theology, and remains relevant many years after his death. His four-volume Reformed Dogmatics is one of the most important theological works of the twentieth century.

His biographer, James Eglinton, is widely considered to be at the forefront of contemporary interest in Bavinck's life and thought. After spending considerable time in the Netherlands researching Bavinck, Eglinton brings to light a wealth of new insights and previously unpublished documents to offer a definitive biography of this renowned Reformed thinker.

"Bavinck: A Critical Biography" follows the course of Bavinck's life in a period of dramatic social change, identifying him as an orthodox Calvinist challenged with finding his feet in late modern culture. Based on extensive archival research, this critical biography presents numerous significant and previously ignored or unknown aspects of Bavinck's person and life story. A black-and-white photo insert is included.

Of special note is that this volume complements other Baker Academic offerings on Bavinck's theology and ethics.

Critique: An exceptionally detailed and documented work of meticulous scholarship, "Bavinck: A Critical Biography" will prove to be a welcome and highly valued addition to community, seminary, and college/university library Calvinist collections in general and Herman Bavinck supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Bavinck: A Critical Biography" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.72).

Editorial Note: James P. Eglinton is the Meldrum Senior Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of Trinity and Organism (Bloomsbury, 2012), edited and translated Herman Bavinck on Preaching and Preachers (Hendrickson, 2017), co-edited and co-translated Christian Worldview (Crossway, 2019), and co-edited Neo-Calvinism and the French Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2012). He has written for Christianity Today, The Times, The Herald, The Scotsman, Nederlands Dagblad, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.


The Art Shelf

Cy Twombly: Making Past Present
Anne Carson, et al.
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878468744, $65.00, HC, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cy-Twombly-Making-Past-Present/dp/0878468749

Synopsis: Cy Twombly's first visit to Italy as a young man ignited a lifelong passion for classical culture that is everywhere present in his art. Painted canvases, works on paper and small-scale sculptures reveal the historical soul of Twombly's abstract compositions. Taking on myths and heroes as personal guides, he created a psychologically complex dialogue with the visual and literary art of antiquity.

"Cy Twombly: Making Past Present" is sumptuously illustrated publication that flawlessly reproduces a carefully chosen and representative selection of the artist's paintings, drawings and sculptures alongside works of classical antiquity, including a number from his personal collection.

"Cy Twombly: Making Past Present" also features illuminating essays by leading scholars and writers, including Anne Carson, Jennifer R. Gross, Brooke Holmes and Mary Jacobus that collectively explore the often enigmatic engagement of Twombly's art with the world of the past.

Critique: A beautiful reproduced, impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented coffee-table style (9.5 x 1.25 x 11 inches) volume celebrating and showcasing the artwork of this impressively talented artist, "Cy Twombly: Making Past Present" would grace any personal, professional, community, and college/university library Art History collection.

Editorial Note: Cy Twombly (1928-2011) was born in Lexington, Virginia, and lived and worked in New York in the early 1950s and at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. After traveling around North Africa, Spain and Italy, he settled in Rome, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Rookwood
Bob Batchelor
Rockport
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9781631598630, $45.00, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rookwood-Rediscovery-American-Icon-Illustrated/dp/1631598635

Synopsis: Published to coincide with Rookwood's 140th anniversary, "Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon -- An Illustrated History", author and historian Bob Batchelor tells the compelling story of this artisanal ceramics company, still operating in the heart of the Ohio River Valley, from its founding to present day. Filled with behind-the-scenes artist and creator interviews, stories of Rookwood's avid collectors, as well as never-before-seen images and documents from the company's historic archives, pottery enthusiasts will see why Rookwood remains a pillar of true craftsmanship to this very day.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon -- An Illustrated History" is an extraordinary, informative, and delightful volume to page through. This coffee-table style (10.5 x 0.88 x 11.63 inches) volume would grace any personal, professional, community, or college/university library Ceramic Arts collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists.

Editorial Note: Bob Batchelor is a critically acclaimed cultural historian and biographer. He has published widely on American culture and literature. His latest book is The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius (Diversion) won the 2020 Independent Press Award for Historical Biography. Bob also wrote Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel (the first full-scale biography of the Marvel Universe legend), as well as books on Bob Dylan, Mad Men, John Updike, and The Great Gatsby, among others.


The Science Shelf

The Secret Language of Cells
Jon Lieff, MD
BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781948836043, $26.95, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Language-Cells-Biological-Conversations/dp/1948836041

Synopsis: While cells are commonly considered the building block of living things, it is actually the communication between cells that brings us to life, controlling our bodies and brains, determining whether we are healthy or sick, and directly influencing how we think, feel, and behave.

In "The Secret Language of Cells: What Biological Conversations Tell Us About the Brain-Body Connection, the Future of Medicine, and Life Itself", doctor and neuroscientist Jon Lieff lets us listen in on these conversations, and reveals their significance for everything from mental health to cancer. He explains the surprising science of how very different cells (bacteria and brain cells, blood cells and viruses) all speak the same language. This overarching principle has been long overlooked because scientific journals use impenetrable jargon that makes it hard to be understood across disciplines, much less by the general public.

Dr. Lieff presents a fascinating and accessible look into cellular communication science -- a groundbreaking and comprehensive exploration of this biological phenomenon. In these pages, discover the intriguing lives of cells as they ask questions, get answers, give feedback, gather information, call for each other, and make complex decisions. During infections, immune T-cells tell brain cells that we should "feel sick" and lie down. Cancer cells warn their community about immune and microbe attacks. Gut cells talk with microbes to determine which are friends and which are enemies, and microbes talk with each other and with much more complicated human cells in ways that determine which medicines work and which will fail.

With applications for immunity, chronic pain, weight loss, depression, cancer treatment, and virtually every aspect of health and biology, cellular communication is revolutionizing our understanding not just of disease, but of life itself. "The Secret Language of Cells" is required reading for anyone interested in following the conversation.

Critique: An ideal and comprehensive introduction to the subject for both the non-specialist general reader and members of the medical community alike, "The Secret Language of Cells: What Biological Conversations Tell Us About the Brain-Body Connection, the Future of Medicine, and Life Itself" is extraordinarily informative and impressively presented, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Medical Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and the general public that "The Secret Language of Cells: What Biological Conversations Tell Us About the Brain-Body Connection, the Future of Medicine, and Life Itself" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781721365814, $24.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Dr. Jon Lieff is a nationally recognized neuro-psychiatrist, a former president of a national medical subspecialty organization, founder of a major scientific journal, and was the medical director for 25 years of a large network of psychiatric care for the elderly. He was a pioneer in several medical fields including geriatric psychiatry, brain injury, computer applications in psychiatry, and the integration of medicine, psychiatry, and neurology. Five years ago, he established his acclaimed and popular scientific website, Searching for the Mind, about the topic of cellular communication. With weekly posts, he reviewed and synthesized the latest scientific literature in neuroscience and cell biology.


The American History Shelf

Organized Labor & The Black Worker 1619-1981
Philip S. Foner
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
www.haymarketbooks.org
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781608467877, $22.00, PB, 520pp

https://www.amazon.com/Organized-Labor-Black-Worker-1619-1981-dp-1608467872/dp/1608467872

Synopsis: "Organized Labor & The Black Worker 1619-1981" is classic study by the late historian Philip Foner that traces the radical history of Black workers' contribution to the American labor movement. A contribution too often devalued, under reported, and discounted.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "Organized Labor & The Black Worker 1619-1981" is a comprehensive and documented labor history that is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of twenty-seven pages of Notes, a four page Select Biography, and a twenty-page Index. A core addition for community and college/university library American Labor History collections in general, and Black Studies supplemental curriculum lists in particular, it should be noted that "Organized Labor & The Black Worker 1619-1981" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance, 9781713507956, $29.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Philip S. Foner (1910-1994) was an American historian and professor who taught and lectured all over the world. He wrote and edited more than a hundred books, including the ten-volume History of the Labor Movement in the United States and The Black Panthers Speak.


The Business Shelf

Hyper-Learning
Edward D. Hess
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
www.bkconnection.com
9781523089246, $29.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hyper-Learning-How-Adapt-Speed-Change/dp/1523089245

Synopsis: Our new Digital Age raises the question of how we humans can stay relevant in the workplace. To stay relevant, we have to be able to excel cognitively, behaviorally, and emotionally in ways that technology can't.

In "Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change", Professor Ed Hess believes that requires us to become what he calls Hyper-Learners: continuously learning, unlearning, and relearning at the speed of change. To do that, we have to overcome our reflexive ways of being: seeking confirmation of what we believe, emotionally defending our beliefs and our ego, and seeking cohesiveness of our mental models.

Hyper-Learning requires a new way of being and a radical new way of working. In Part 1 of this how-to instructional book, Professor Hess takes a practical workbook approach and helps readers create their Hyper-Learning Mindset, choose and embrace their needed Hyper-Learning Behaviors, and adopt their daily Hyper-Learning Practices. In Part 2, Hess focuses on how to humanize the workplace to optimize Hyper-Learning.

Featuring case studies of three business leaders and two public companies, "Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change" shows how to harness the power of human emotions, choices, and behaviors to enable the highest levels of human cognitive, emotional, and behavioral performance -- individually and organizationally.

Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change" is especially relevant and critically important reader for entrepreneurs, business managers, and corporate executives if they are to succeed and survive in this new and global digital age. While an exceptional and seminal study that is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.17) for MBA students, academia, those engaged in corporate commerce, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "Hyper-Learning: How to Adapt to the Speed of Change" is highly recommended for corporate, community, and college/university library Business Management collections.

Editorial Note: Edward D. Hess is a professor of business administration and Batten Faculty Fellow at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His professional experience includes twenty years as a business executive and eighteen years in academia. His research and thirteen books have a common theme: high individual and organizational performance. His work has been featured in over 400 global media outlets.


The Architecture Shelf

Being the Mountain: Productora
Carlos Bedoya, et al.
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
http://actar.com
9781948765510, $34.95, HC, 96pp

https://www.amazon.com/Being-Mountain-Productora-Carlos-Bedoya/dp/1948765519

Synopsis: Collaboratively published by the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture & Actar Publishers, "Being the Mountain: Productora" casts new light on the relationship between modernism and the ground, calling into question received assumptions and liberating new possibilities for how a building relates to its site.

"Being the Mountain" examines the relationship between architecture and the ground it occupies, an interaction so obvious (a building must touch the ground) that it often remains under-explored. Richly illustrated contributions by Carlos Bedoya, Frank Escher, Wonne Ickx, Veronique Patteeuw, and Jesus Vassallo revisit significant moments in architectural history that cast new light on the techniques and legacies of modernism, especially in settings like Mexico and California, where architects such as Ricardo Legorreta and John Lautner incorporated dramatic natural topography in their agendas. Additional essays investigate the role of the ground in the thought of Kenneth Frampton in the 1980s and Luis Moreno Mansilla in the 1990s, as well as point to important parallels between premodern land practices, twentieth-century art, and today's architecture.

Together, these episodes call into question our received assumptions and present new possibilities for the connection between a building and its site. A portfolio of related projects by Productora concludes the volume, further drawing out the idea of architecture as a form of constructed ground.

Critique: A seminal collection of insightful commentary, "Being the Mountain: Productora" will prove to be a core addition to personal, professional, corporate, college and university library Contemporary Architectural Studies collections and reading lists.

Editorial Note: Productora is a Mexico City - based architectural studio founded in 2006 by Carlos Bedoya (1973, Mexico), Wonne Ickx (1974, Belgium), Victor Jaime (1978, Mexico), and Abel Perles (1972, Argentina). The studio's work is distinguished by an interest in precise geometries, the production of clearly legible projects with limited gestures, and the search for timeless buildings. Productora has been recognized by the Architectural League of New York with the Young Architects Forum (2007) and Emerging Voices (2013) awards. In 2016, they received the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize for Emerging Practice from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago for the Pavilion on the Zocalo. In 2018, Productora was recognized with the Oscar Niemeyer Award for Latin American Architecture for the Teopanzolco Cultural Center, a project realized in collaboration with Isaac Broid.

Chateau La Coste: Art and Architecture in Provence
Robert Ivy, author
Alistair Hicks, author
Alan Karchmer, photographer
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946818, $70.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ch%C3%A2teau-Coste-Art-Architecture-Provence/dp/1858946816

Synopsis: Chateau La Coste, near Aix-en-Provence, France, is a unique property that combines sculptural artworks by leading contemporary artists alongside works by some of the world's best-known architects, all within the grounds of a working organic vineyard. Since 2004 the estate, which occupies an ancient site, has been transformed into an exceptional plein-air museum, and the number of installations grows every year.

The spreading collection lies within the walk of a spectacular Art Centre, designed by the world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. On the reflecting pool in front of the building is one of Louise Bourgeois' giant arachnoid sculptures, Crouching Spider. To the north lies a futuristic winery by Jean Nouvel.

By taking one of several routes to the south or west, the visitor encounters such monumental installations as Sean Scully's sculpture of stacked blocks of limestone, Wall of Light Cubed; Richard Serra's steel sheets, AIX; and Oak Room by Andy Goldsworthy, a cave of interwoven oak branches, integrated into an old stone wall. Installations by Liam Gillick, Kengo Kuma, Paul Matisse, Sophie Calle and many others punctuate the pathways. And by an ancient Roman route, Ai Weiwei has created another new path up the hillside, using paving stones salvaged from the renovated port at Marseilles.

Overlooking the site is a 16th-century chapel restored by Ando and enclosed by a framework of steel and glass. The music and exhibition pavilions, close to the 'village' of buildings at the heart of the property, have been designed by Frank Gehry and Renzo Piano respectively.

"Chateau La Coste: Art and Architecture in Provence" is stunning new collaborative study by Robert Ivy of the American Institute of Architects and the curator Alistair Hicks explore each work of architecture and art installation in depth. Their insightful commentaries are accompanied by specially commissioned photographs by architectural photographer Alan Karchmer.

"Chateau La Coste: Art and Architecture in Provence" is deftly arranged into sections covering all areas of the property, so that the reader is able to experience and discover Chateau La Coste as a visitor would. In the introduction, Ivy relates the conception, creation and further development of Chateau La Coste by its owner, Patrick McKillen; while, to conclude this study, Hicks considers the site's ever-increasing exhibition programme. Throughout the pages, the reader will feel transported to idyllic Provence, to this most remarkable and significant collection of modern and contemporary art and architecture.

Critique: A delightful pleasure to browse through beautifully illustrated and informative page at a time, "Chateau La Coste: Art and Architecture in Provence" is an armchair traveler's delight and an architectural student's inherently fascinating read. Impressively informed and informative, "Chateau La Coste: Art and Architecture in Provence" is the next best thing to an on-site visit and is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Architectural Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Dark Side of the Ocean
Albert Bates
GroundSwell Books
c/o BPC
https://www.bookpubco.com
https://groundswellag.com/books
9781570673948, $12.95, PB, 158pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Side-Ocean-Destruction-Matters/dp/1570673942

Synopsis: Ocean biodiversity is being decimated on par with the fastest rates of rain forest destruction. More than 80 percent of pollutants in the oceans come from sewage and other land-based runoff (some of it radioactive). The rest is created by waste dumped by commercial and recreational vessels. In many areas and for many fish stocks, there are no conservation or management measures existing or even planned.

In "Dark Side of the Ocean: The Destruction of Our Seas, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do About It", climate author Albert Bates explains how ocean life maintains adequate oxygen levels, prevents erosion from storms, and sustains a vital food source that factory-fishing operations cannot match--and why that should matter to all of us, whether we live near the ocean or not. Bates presents innovative companies and organizations working to change the human impact on marine reserves, improve ocean permaculture, and put the brakes on the ocean heat waves that destroy sea life and imperil human habitation at the ocean's edge.

Along with eye-opening revelations of serious environmental concerns, "The Dark Side of the Ocean" conveys a deep appreciation for the fragile nature of the ocean's majesty and compels us to act now to preserve it. We can make a difference.

Critique: A clarion call to action if the oceans and the marine life it contains and/or supports are to be rescued from the depredations of humans and the impact of climate change, it is critically imporant that "Dark Side of the Ocean: The Destruction of Our Seas, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do About It" have as wide a readership as possible. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library Environmental Studies and Oceanic Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists, it should be noted for students, academia, environmental activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Dark Side of the Ocean: The Destruction of Our Seas, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do About It" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Albert Bates is an influential figure in the intentional community and ecovillage movements and a groundbreaking author on climate change. His 1990 title, "Climate in Crisis" (with a forward by then-senator Al Gore), was one of the first books to sound the clarion call. He is also the author of "Transforming Plastic" (2019) and "Carbon Cascades" (2019).


The Audiobook Shelf

Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her
Melanie Rehak
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887; Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781713525431, $24.99, MP3 CD

https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Sleuth-Nancy-Women-Created/dp/1713525437

Synopsis: The plucky "titian-haired" teenage sleuth now known world wide as Nancy Drew solved her first mystery in 1930 -- and eighty million books later she is still as popular as ever. Nancy Drew has survived the Depression, World War II, and the sixties (when she was taken up with a vengeance by women's libbers) to enter the pantheon of American culture. As beloved by girls today as she was by their grandmothers, Nancy Drew has both inspired and reflected the changes in her readers' lives. Here, in a narrative with all the page-turning pace of Nancy's adventures, Melanie Rehak solves an enduring literary mystery: Who created Nancy Drew? And how did she go from pulp heroine to icon?

Critique: Impressively narrated by author Melanie Rehak, "Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, community library, and college/university library audio book collections. A 'must hear' for the legions of Nancy Drew fans, "Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her" is a flawless recorded audio book in an MP3 CD format (1 Disc, 9 hours 31 minutes) from Brilliance Audio.

The Immortal Words
Jeff Wheeler, author
Emily Woo Zeller, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887; Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781713506737, $14.99, MP3 CD

https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Words-Grave-Kingdom/dp/1713506734

Synopsis: As kingdoms fall, brave young warrior Bingmei fights to fulfill a prophecy and save what's left of the world from the coming darkness. Should she fail, Echion, the diabolical Dragon of Night, and his queen will hold sway over the next thousand years. With Echion comes his unstoppable army of dragons -- powerful, vengeful, and under his control.

Accompanied by her loyal friend Quion, Bingmei journeys toward her last hope. It lies among the savage beasts just beyond the ancient Death Wall - an uninhabited realm from which no one has ever returned alive. Bingmei's mission is to find the phoenix shrine and learn the Immortal Words that will allow her to harness eternal magic. With Echion and his legions in pursuit, Bingmei must choose her words wisely to break Echion's spell and accept her fate.

Bingmei knows what she must do. She must join the ranks of the dead as well. For a fearless and selfless warrior, it's the ultimate sacrifice. But Bingmei is about to discover that even in death, the greatest sacrifices are yet to come.

Critique: Another great action/adventure fantasy novel from the imaginative mind of novelist Jeff Wheeler, "The Immortal Words" is virtually brought to life in a true theatre of the mind experience for the listener by the narrative skills of Emily Woo Zeller in this compact, complete and unabridged MP3 CD edition that is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal listening lists and community library fantasy fiction audio book collections. (1 Disc, 11 hours, 20 minutes).

Hunted: An Avalon Novella
Steve McHugh, author
Simon Hattacks, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887; Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781799761761, $9.99, MP3 CD

https://www.amazon.com/Hunted-Avalon-Novella-Chronicles-dp-1799761762/dp/1799761762

Synopsis: Cursed by witches centuries ago, Remy Roax was content with living his long life as a half-man/half-fox. But when he learned he had undiscovered powers, he had no choice but to learn how to use them.

After relocating to North Dakota in order to practice his new-found abilities, he soon finds himself in the targets of Louis Bonne, a man who wants to understand how the curse placed on Remy worked, so that he can use the souls of innocent people to make himself immortal.

Since Remy has no interest in helping, Louis sends a group of murderers intent on convincing him. But Remy isn't some helpless bystander, and these people will soon discover that Remy isn't the kind of fox who runs from a hunt.

Critique: Brilliantly narrated by Simon Hattacks, "Hunted" by Steve McHugh is an exceptionally entertaining fantasy novella that set in the universe of the author's Avalon Chronicles series. This exceptionally entertaining, 'theatre of the mind' audio book is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal listening lists and community library MP3 CD audio book collections. (1 Disc, 2 hours 59 minutes)

Infamous Reign: A Hellequin Novella
Steve McHugh, author
Simon Hattacks, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887; Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781799761747, $9.99, MP3 CD

https://www.amazon.com/Infamous-Reign-Hellequin-Novella-Chronicles/dp/1799761746

Synopsis: In late 15th century England, two young princes are given over by Merlin to the protection of their uncle, King Richard III. They soon vanish from sight, igniting tales of their demise at Richard's hand and breeding unrest throughout the land.

Nathanial Garrett, also known as Hellequin, is sent to London to decipher fact from rumor and uncovers a plot to replace the king. But his investigation quickly becomes personal when he learns that an old nemesis is involved. He soon finds himself racing against time to rescue the boys before their fate, and the fate of all England, is sealed in blood.

Critique: "Infamous Reign" is a novella author Steve McHugh's inherently fascinating Hellequin Chronicles historical fantasy series in a story that deftly combines gritty and action-packed historical fantasy with elements of ancient mythology. The result, as skillfully narrated by Simon Hattacks is a fully entertaining and very highly recommended MP3 CD complete and unabridged audio book addition to personal listening lists and community library audio book collections. (1 Disc, 2 hours, 6 minutes).


The Library CD Shelf

Old Soul
Kelly Lang
kellylang.net
Leopard Entertainment
$10.98 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

Old Soul is a music album of popular, beloved classics superbly performed by the debonair Kelly Lang. Her smooth-as- silk performance is an audio treasure. Old Soul is highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections, and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks are "Drive", "Let's Stay Together", "I've Got To Use My Imagination", "Me and Mr. Jones", "Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher", "Get Here", "Every Breath You Take", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", "Quando, Quando, Quando (feat. TG Sheppard)", "Let's Give 'em Something To Talk About", "At This Moment", "Easy", and "All By Myself".

Double Helix
Peter Manning Robinson
Heart Dance Records
$15.98 CD / $18.98 MP3 amazon.com

Double Helix is the debut two-CD music album by award-winning composer and pianist Peter Manning Robinson, showcasing his original songs drawing upon a technique that he terms "Refracted Music". He does not employ prerecorded tracks, triggered samples, external sounds, or MIDI instruments, but rather an acoustic piano that is "refracted" during live performances. The mellifluous results are a wonder to immerse onself in. Highly recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Surfing the Sunrise", "Secret Sauce", "Moon Vines", "Fugitive Heart", "Catch Your Breath", "Dark Moon", "Invisible Highway", and "Emergence" on the first CD, and "Labyrinth of Petals", "Fresh Light", "Enigma", "Swimming With Ghosts", "Undying Spirit", "River of Mirrors", "Sweet Shadows", and "Inside Out" on the second CD.


The Library DVD Shelf

For They Know Not What They Do
A film by Daniel Karslake
First Run Features
$24.95 firstrunfeatures.com

For They Know Not What They Do is a documentary about the backlash against marriage equality and LGBTQ rights in modern America. Showcasing how religious conservatives and politicians have collaborated to undo civil rights gains in the name of "religious freedom", For They Know Not What They Do is especially disturbing when it spotlights threats and incidents of violence against LGBTQ people. Tackling a deadly serious issue head-on, For They Know Not What They Do is a "must-have" especially for public library documentary collections, highly recommended. 91 min.

Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America
AMC Networks
https://www.amcnetworks.com
$34.97 DVD / $34.97 Blu-ray amazon.com

Available as a 2-disc set on DVD or Blu-ray, Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America is a documentary series in which each of the six episodes focuses on a different hip-hop song that influenced American music and culture. The spotlighted songs are "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West; "Alright" by Kendrick Lamar; "Rock Box" by Run-DMC; "Elevators" by OutKast; "The Bridge" by Marley Marl and MC Shan; and "Ladies First" by Queen Latifah. Special features include a Barbershop freestyle and bonus interviews with music icons. Hip Hop: The Songs that Shook America lives up to its title as a "must" for fans of the genre and music scholars alike! Highly recommended. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs or 2 Blu-ray discs, 4 hours 12 min., SDH subtitles.

Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile
Starring David Suchet
Acorn
www.acornonline.com
$19.99 DVD / $19.99 Blu-ray

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile is the classic crime drama adaptation of Agatha Christie's mystery novel, featuring the impeccable Poirot (superbly played by David Suchet). While Poirot vacations in Egypt, he encounters a perilous quarrel between a spurned woman and her former friend. Death stalks the cruise, and Poirot must investigate a web of deception and betrayal! Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile is a "must- have" for connoisseurs of British mysteries in general, and Agatha Christie's cherished works in particular. Highly recommended! 102 min., SDH subtitles.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

A Therapist's Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age
Shauna Frisbie
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393714456, $25.95 PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Therapists-Treating-Eating-Disorders-Social/dp/0393714454

Synopsis: All humans need space to think, to be, and to process without constant distraction. This is especially true of adolescents and young adults, for whom identity formation is a consuming task. Social media has generated both a place for the creation of identity and an audience. But constant connection leaves little space without intrusion from others. For those with body dissatisfaction and/or eating disorders, living in today's world can be especially challenging, and viewing images on social media and other online formats can be devastating.

In "A Therapist's Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age", therapist Shauna Frisbie utilizes phototherapy techniques to view client-selected images (whether they be of themselves or others) to help uncover underlying messages that are impacting their relationship to their bodies. Integrating concepts of healing narratives, neuroscience, and phototherapy, "A Therapist's Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age" will be instrumental in helping any therapist promote self-compassion, self-reflection, and healing in their clients in this age of Social Media.

Critique: An ideal instructional guide and manual for both the therapeutic practitioner and the non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, "A Therapist's Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age" will prove to be a welcome and valued addition to both community and college/university library Health/Medical collections in general, and Contemporary Psychology & Counseling supplemental studies list in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of therapists, psychology students, and anyone else that "A Therapist's Guide to Treating Eating Disorders in a Social Media Age" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.73).

Editorial Note: Shauna Frisbie, Ed.D, is a certified eating disorders specialist who integrates cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and mindfulness-based approaches in her clinical work. She is a professor in the graduate psychology and counseling department of Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, Texas).

Restart Your Heart
Aseem Desai, MD, FHRS
www.draseemdesai.com
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
9781626347083, $21.95, HC, 216pp

https://www.amazon.com/Restart-Your-Heart-Playbook-Thriving/dp/1626347085

Synopsis: Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) characterized by the rapid and irregular beating of the atrial chambers of the heart. (Wikipedia)

AFib patients, their family, friends, and caregivers are often misinformed about the latest research, advancements, and treatments. "Restart Your Heart: The Playbook for Thriving With AFib" is a life-changing book by renowned cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Aseem Desai and diminishes the worry and confusion that come with an AFib diagnosis by presenting the reader with the latest medical information in a concise and positive way.

Dr. Desai has made it his mission to significantly improve the lives of those diagnosed with AFib and to offer hope and encouragement to patients and their loved ones. Filled with innovative knowledge and vivid illustrations, "Restart Your Heart" will empower and inspire the reader by providing straightforward answers and options to deal with this complex disease.

A comprehensive guide to living the best life possible with AFib, "Restart Your Heart" covers:
What AFib is, why it happens, and simple steps to take after being diagnosed; Dealing with the diagnosis and condition on mental and emotional levels, and creating a toolbox for resilience in challenging times; Gaining crucial knowledge about trigger and risk factor modifications, the latest treatment options, and how to monitor the disease for progression or recurrence.

"Restart Your Heart" delivers cutting-edge information, options, and solutions that will afford you a newfound sense of comfort, confidence, and control.

Critique: Expertly written and thoroughly reader friendly in organization and presentation, "Restart Your Heart: The Playbook for Thriving With AFib" should be considered essential reading for anyone having to deal with this medical condition within themselves or a loved one. While unreservedly recommended for both community and college/university library Health & Medicine collections in general, and Cardiac supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for medical professionals and non-specialist general readers alike that "Restart Your Heart: The Playbook for Thriving With AFib" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. Aseem Desai is a cardiac electrophysiologist (EP), a physician specializing in heart rhythm disorders. He has been caring for people with atrial fibrillation (AFib) for over seventeen years and currently practices in Orange County, California. Dr. Desai served as Assistant Professor of Medicine and Director of Implantable Device Therapy at the University of Chicago Hospital. As an author of several scientific manuscripts, he has published in peer-reviewed journals such as HeartRhythm Journal, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, American Journal of Medicine, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Dr. Desai maintains a website at: www.draseemdesai.com

That's Why I'm a Doctor
Mark Bulgutch
Douglas & McIntyre
c/o Harbour Publishing
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771622523, $24.95, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Thats-Why-Doctor-Physicians-Memorable/dp/1771622520

Synopsis: Doctors hold a pretty special place in our lives. They're often there when we're born, and they're usually there when we die. They're there for a lot of the scary or weird stuff that happens in between, too.

In the pages of "That's Why I'm a Doctor: Physicians Recount Their Most Memorable Moments", journalist Mark Bulgutch brings together forty-six stories drawn from a diverse group of physicians that includes pediatricians, interventional radiologists, general surgeons, psychiatrists, family doctors, gastroenterologists, ophthalmologists, gynecologists, neurologists and more. Each doctor's individual story describes the moment that left them thinking, "That's why I became a doctor."

"That's Why I'm a Doctor" includes stories of innovation (developing a treatment for cholera); rare and fascinating medical cases (the separation of conjoined twins); the less dramatic but still quietly satisfying times when the doctor was able to have a lasting positive impact on the life of a patient or their family; and, of course, those unexpected moments when the patient taught the doctor an important life lesson that would inform their practice for years to come.

These stories, big and small, are tied together by a sense of caring. It's impossible to read what these doctors have to say and not come away with a new understanding of what goes through the mind of the person on the other end of the stethoscope and how dedicated doctors must be to do what they do.

Critique: Memorably inspired and inspiring, "That's Why I'm a Doctor: Physicians Recount Their Most Memorable Moments" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, medical school, and college/university Health & Medicine collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of medical students, academia, medical practitioners, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "That's Why I'm a Doctor: Physicians Recount Their Most Memorable Moments" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).

Editorial Note: Canadian journalist Mark Bulgutch worked for CBC News for over thirty-five years. He is the recipient of fourteen Gemini awards, four Radio Television News Directors Association awards, the Canadian Journalism Foundation Award of Excellence and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Gold Ribbon Award. His previous book, "That's Why I'm a Journalist" (Douglas & McIntyre), was released in 2015.


The Archaeology Shelf

Egyptologists' Notebooks
Chris Naunton
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606066768, $40.00, HC, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Egyptologists-Notebooks-Exploration-Pictures-Letters/dp/1606066765

Synopsis: For centuries, the ancient ruins of Egypt have provided an endless source of fascination for explorers, antiquarians, archaeologists, and the public. All, from the very earliest travelers down to the present, were entranced by the beauty of the landscape and the remains of tombs, temples, and cities consumed by drift sand. Many of those early adventurers were gripped by the urge to capture what they saw in writings, sketches, paintings, and photographs.

While it was always the Egyptologists who were in charge, they depended on the assistance of architects, artists, engineers, and photographers. Yet when we read about Flinders Petrie and Norman de Garis Davies, we rarely hear about their wives, Hilda and Nina, or how the work of Amelia Edwards helped to fund their explorations. Only through diaries, letters, and other archival discoveries have we come to realize how important these other partners were. Similarly, the contributions of Egyptians, such as Hassan Effendi Hosni, are only now coming to light.

Compiled with commentary by Chris Naunton, "Egyptologists' Notebooks: The Golden Age of Nile Exploration in Words, Pictures, Plans, and Letters" is a visual celebration of Egypt's ancient past, featuring evocative sketches, paintings, and photographs from pioneering explorers' and archaeologists' journals. Reproduced in their original form, they provide intimate, behind-the-scenes access to the archaeological discovery of Egypt.

Critique: A unique and impressively informative contribution to the growing library of Egyptology, "Egyptologists' Notebooks: The Golden Age of Nile Exploration in Words, Pictures, Plans, and Letters" is gorgeously illustrated throughout, making it an exceptionally and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Archaeology collections in general, and Egyptology supplemental curriculum studies reading lists in particular.

Editorial Note: Chris Naunton is an Egyptologist and the author of Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt (2018). He studied ancient history, archaeology, and Egyptology at the University of Birmingham and Swansea University and has presented many TV programs on Egypt, including The Man Who Discovered Egypt (2012), Ancient Mysteries (2016), King Tut's Treasure (2018), and Egypt's Lost Pyramid (2019). He was director of the Egypt Exploration Society from 2012 to 2016.


The Military Shelf

Battle of Berlin
Martin W. Bowman
Air World
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526786388, $52.95, HC, 362pp

https://www.amazon.com/Battle-Berlin-Bomber-Command-1943-1945/dp/1526786389

Synopsis: "Battle of Berlin: Bomber Command over the Third Reich, 1943 - 1945" by Martin W. Bowman is the story of the bombing of the 'Big City' as it was known to the crews of RAF Bomber Command, and raged from 18 November 1943 to the end of the war in Europe in 1945. It is recalled in this volume of military history both by those in the air over capital of the Third Reich, as well as those who suffered under the bombing onslaught.

At the start of the Battle of Berlin, Sir Arthur Harris had predicted that the 'Big City' would 'cost between 400-500 aircraft', but that it would also 'cost Germany the war'. He was proved wrong on both counts. Berlin was not 'wrecked from end to end', as Harris predicted on 3 November 1943 ('if the USAAF will come in on it') although a considerable part of it was destroyed. And the 'Main Battle of Berlin' did not cost Germany the war; a grinding land campaign had yet to be fought. More than 9,000 bombing sorties were flown during the battle on round trips of about 1,200 miles to Berlin and back.

Berlin was bombed by four Allied air forces between 1940 and 1945. British bombers alone dropped 45,517 tons of bombs, whilst the Americans a further 23,000 tons. By 1944, some 1.2 million people, 790,000 of them women and children, about a quarter of Berlin's population, had been evacuated to rural areas. An effort was made to evacuate all children from Berlin, but this was defeated by parents and many evacuees who soon made their way back to the city. However, by May 1945, 1.7 million people some 40% of the population had fled the city.

"Battle of Berlin: Bomber Command over the Third Reich, 1943 - 1945" is a fitting tribute to those who died in the relentless struggle to knock Berlin (and hopefully Germany), out of the war and resonates with eyewitness accounts and background information which has painstakingly investigated and methodically researched. The result is a hugely fascinating and highly readable narrative containing very real and unique observations by British and Commonwealth aircrew and, equally importantly, the long-suffering citizens of Berlin, and well as the capital's defenders.

Up to the end of March 1945, there had been a total of 314 air raids on Berlin, eighty-five of these in the last twelve months. Estimates of the total number of dead in Berlin from air raids range from 20,000 to 50,000; the relatively low casualty figure in Berlin is partly the result of the city's formidable air defenses and shelters.

The Battle of Berlin was not a defeat in absolute terms, but in the operational sense it was an offensive that Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris and his aircrews could not win. 'Berlin won' concluded Sir Ralph Cochrane, the Air Officer Commanding 5 Group RAF Bomber Command. 'It was just too tough a nut.'

Critique: An impressively informative, deftly written, exceptionally well documented, and expertly organized history, "Battle of Berlin: Bomber Command over the Third Reich, 1943 - 1945" is a seminal work of original scholarship and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for both community and college/university library World War II European Theatre collections in general, and WWII aerial warfare supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Battle of Berlin: Bomber Command over the Third Reich, 1943 - 1945" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.95).

Editorial Note: Martin Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors and has written a great deal of books focusing on aspects of Second World War aviation history. He is the author of many Pen and Sword Aviation titles, including all releases in the exhaustive Air War D-Day and Air War Market Garden series.

North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive: Hanoi's Gamble
Stephen Emerson
Pen & Sword
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526757128, $22.95, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/North-Vietnams-1972-Easter-Offensive/dp/1526757125

Synopsis: By the end of 1971, in what Hanoi called the American War and at the height of the Cold War, the fighting had dragged on for eight years with neither side gaining a decisive advantage on the battlefield and talks in Paris to the end the war were going nowhere. While the United States was steadily drawing down its ground forces in South Vietnam, Washington was also engaging in a grand effort to build up and strengthen Saigon's armed forces to the point of self-sufficiency. Not only had the ranks of Saigon's forces swelled in recent years, but they were now being equipped and trained to use the latest American military equipment. Perhaps now was the time for Hanoi to take one last gamble before it was too late.

With the rumble of men and mechanized equipment breaking the early morning silence, some 40,000 North Vietnamese troops advanced across the demilitarized zone into South Vietnam on March 30, 1972 in what would become the largest conventional attack of the war. Ill-prepared and poorly led, South Vietnamese troops in the far north were quickly routed in the face of the ensuing onslaught.

Likewise, coordinated attacks across the Cambodian border northwest of Saigon and into the central highlands in the coming weeks gained steam and in due course as many as 200,000 men along with T-54/55 main battle tanks, 130mm towed artillery, ZSU-57 self-propelled ant-aircraft guns, and hundreds of trucks and armored personnel carriers were engaged across three battlefronts.

Soon Saigon's beleaguered forces were being pushed to the brink of defeat in what appeared to be the end for the Thieu government. Ultimately, however, the timely and massive intervention by U.S. and South Vietnamese air power, along with the bravery of some South Vietnamese commanders and their American advisers saved the day. Hanoi's gamble had failed and in its wake lay up to 100,000 dead and South Vietnamese roads littered with the smoldering wrecks of North Vietnamese military equipment. Moreover, it would be another three years before the North had recovered enough to try again.

Critique: A part of the outstanding Pen & Sword 'Cold War 1945-1991' series, "North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive: Hanoi's Gamble" informatively presents an episode of the Vietnam War that has otherwise lapsed into obscurity, crowed out of the history books by North Vietnam's ultimate victory against the U.S. and South Vietnamese military. Illustrated throughout with black/white historical photographs, "North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive: Hanoi's Gamble" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Vietnam War collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive: Hanoi's Gamble" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Stephen Emerson worked as intelligence analyst covering political-military affairs in Africa and the Middle East. He served as Security Studies Chair at the National Defense University's Africa Center for Strategic Studies and previously as an associate professor of National Security Decision-making at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. As the author of more than 100 classified and unclassified publications, Steve has written widely on subjects from American national security affairs and political instability to terrorism, African conflicts, and counter-insurgency. Chief among these are his critical assessment of U.S. counter-terrorism policy in Africa, 'The Battle for Africa's Hearts and Minds', and his comprehensive military history of the Mozambican civil war in The Battle for Mozambique.


The Travel Shelf

Mystical Places
Sarah Baxter, author
Amy Grimes, illustrator
White Lion Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
100 Cummings Center, Suite 265D, Beverly, MA 01915
www.quartoknows.com
9781781319581, $19.99, HC, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mystical-Places-Inspired-Traveller-Guides/dp/1781319588

Synopsis: In "Mystical Places", travel writer Sarah Baxter expertly curates the world's most wonder-filled sites where magic is made manifest. Her readers will discover the history and geography for each of twenty-five mystical sites and learn their most significant and spellbinding stories, with suggestions of features to look out for and information on ceremonies.

Filled with beautifully bewitching illustrations, this unique travel guide aims to transport you, in the comfort of your own armchair, to sacred and mystical spots, digging into their legends and evoking their supernatural essence.

Seeking a transcendent travel experience? Take a magical pilgrimage to Alfaborg, the City of Elves; marvel at the otherworldly splendour of Xandadu, the heart of a lost dynasty; and discover the gateway to the afterlife in the Alepotrypa Cave. In the pages of "Mystical Places" we will encounter mythical kings, explore sacred summits and enchanted architecture, and find a cast of giants, ghosts, golems and sea creatures.

Critique: Beautifully enhanced with the mystic artwork of Amy Grimes, "Mystical Places" is a unique and extraordinary travel guide that will have special appeal for students and practitioners of the metaphysical arts. Inherently fascinating and impressively informative, Sarah Baxter's "Mystical Places" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as both community and college/university library collections.

Editorial Note: Sarah Baxter grew up in Norfolk, England and now lives in Bath. Her passion for travel and the great outdoors saw her traverse Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States before settling into a writing career. She was Associate Editor of Wanderlust magazine, the bible for independent-minded travellers, for more than ten years and has also written extensively on travel for a diverse range of other publications, including the Guardian, the Telegraph and the Independent, plus160 newspapers. Sarah has also contributed to more than a dozen Lonely Planet guidebooks.

Amy Grimes is an artist and illustrator based in London. Drawing inspiration from nature and the natural world, Amy's work often features bright and bold illustrated motifs, floral icons and leafy landscapes. As well as working on commissioned illustrations, Amy also sells prints, textiles and stationery under the brand of Hello Grimes.


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