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The Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 8 August 2014 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Mystery/Suspense Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Automotive Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Autism Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Sports Shelf Military Shelf
Art Shelf Computer Shelf Education Shelf
Technology Shelf Business Shelf Crafts Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Interior Design Shelf Architecture Shelf
Gardening Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Music Shelf
Travel Shelf Photography Shelf Botany Shelf
Political Science Shelf Railroading Shelf Science Shelf
Beer Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Criminology Shelf International Studies Shelf American History Shelf
Nautical Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

A Word from Our Sponsor
Cynthia B. Meyers
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823253715, $32.00, www.amazon.com

A Word from Our Sponsor: Admen, Advertising, and the Golden Age of Radio is a pick for any sociology or media studies collection and covers the 'golden age' of radio from the late 1920s to the late 1940s, when ad agencies were the key sources of radio entertainment. Most nationally broadcast programs on network radio were created and managed by these agencies, from Kraft's involvement in Music Hall to Rubicam's management of the comedy presentation Town Hall Tonight for Bristol-Myers. This survey fills in important ad industry history in connecting broadcasts and shows to these advertisers and considering their role and influence in the media arena, and makes for a fine combination of business and media history recommended for any college-level media studies collection.

Tiny Homes on the Move
Lloyd Kahn
Shelter Publications
P.O. Box 279, Bolinas, CA, 94924 USA
9780936070629, $28.95, www.shelterpub.com

TINY HOMES ON THE MOVE: WHEELS AND WATER describes nomadic life in modern times and charts homes on wheels and water alike, from a school bus and a truck/camper to a sailboat. Over a thousand color photos pack a rich adventure account which will appeal to homeowners and travel fans alike, charting the moving explorations of all kinds of buildings.

The Norm Chronicles
Michael Blastland and David Spiegelhalter
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465085705, $16.99, www.basicbooks.com

The Norm Chronicles: Stories and Numbers About Danger and Death comes from a journalist and a risk expert who tackle the statistics of risk and pair them with the stories of people experiencing risk through numbers and real-world encounters. Three very different characters are used here to explore risk and its perceptions, helping readers view danger from the vantage point of daily life experience. Anecdotes, stories, accidents, and numbers coalesce in a quirky, whimsical account highly recommended for any general reader.

Italoamericana
Francesco Durante, Editor, et.al.
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823260621, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Italoamericana: The Literature of the Great Migration, 1880-1943 is a weighty, 1,000+ page study recommended for college-level audiences looking for a serious anthology key to Italian and American studies, and provides the first English-language edition of a collection of critical studies examining the social lives and psychology of Italian immigrants in America up to World War II. Many of the writings here have not been translated into English before, while works include insights on poetry, essays, and the extent of Italian-language literary history. With its focus on cultural and social change as well as literary representation of the Italian experience, this is a top pick recommended for any college-level literary or social issues holding strong in Italian-American heritage.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Yarn Over Murder
Maggie Sefton
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9780425258422, $25.95, www.amazon.com

YARN OVER MURDER: A KNITTING MYSTERY joins others in the 'knitting mystery' series and tells of Kelly and her knitting group, which are helping endangered alpacas at a ranch when wildfires begin. And when the ranch owner is found dead, suspicion falls on employee Connie and prompts Kelly and her friends to unravel a complex sequence of events. With knitting references spicing the story line, this is a powerful survey, highly recommended for any mystery fan and especially for those who enjoy knitting.

Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com

Elaine Viets's CATNAPPED! A DEAD-END JOBS MYSTERY (9780451466303, $24.95) joins others in the series to provide a new story of Helen and Phil, who here are trailing a kitty kidnapper. A bitter divorce centers around the custody of a cat, but when Mort is found dead and the cat vanishes, it's up to the P.I. team to probe the wider world of cat shows to find the thief and possible murderer. The result is a fine whodunit replete with intrigue and cat-oriented drama. Hy Conrad's MR. MONK IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS (9780451470560, $23.95) provides another Adrian Monk novel based on the hit TV series. Here Monk returns to San Francisco only to find that Natalie has opened an office for their detective business. They've barely opened the doors before their first case arrives in the form of an employee who has killed several hostages at work, then vanishes. There's surprisingly little to go on as Monk and Teeger search for clues and answers in an increasingly complex case.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Complete Dressmaking Skills
Lona Knight
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
9781438003566, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Complete Dressmaking Skills provides a paring between printed book format and online support systems that include 15 teaching clips online and even scanable QR codes for smartphones, and is a fine recommendation for any who would integrate new technology with learning the basics of dressmaking. This pairing makes for a unique coverage recommended for dressmakers of all levels, packing in advice on tools and equipment, troubleshooting guides, discussions of customization and decorative embellishments, and much more. The book stands well alone, with bright, close-up color photos throughout; but works exceptionally well with its website companion, making for a recommendation above all others.

The Techniques and Art of Weaving: A Basic Guide
Marylene Brahic
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764344138, $34.99, www.amazon.com

The Techniques and Art of Weaving: A Basic Guide is a lovely pick for any who would learn about different kinds of weaving throughout history, and incorporate weaving in their own lives. Step-by-step instructions for various techniques from warping to threading a loom are provided in a logical sequence of instructional with projects backing how-to advice. From weaving a rug or a jacket to making placemats, this is filled with home decor projects as well as clothing, and encourages beginners to learn some basics. Its oversize presentation makes for a perfect pick for any new to weaving who want bright, inviting color photos and a coffee-table-style presentation.

Carolina Lily: New Quilts from an Old Favorite
Baxter Lasco
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781604601374, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Carolina Lily: New Quilts from an Old Favorite provides some 18 applications for the traditional Carolina Lily block, and is a recommendation for quilters especially interested in new variations on the old block. The National Quilt Museum's annual New Quilts from an Old Favorite Contest resulted in these variations and innovations, which are here reproduced to offer both the results of the contest and exhibit and new ideas quilters will appreciate. Especially recommended for those already familiar with Carolina Lily.

Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com

John Q. Adams's BEYOND NEUTRAL: QUILTS INSPIRED BY NATURE'S ELEMENTS (9781604683905, $24.99) provides a fine survey of quilting color palettes and uses graphic designs to gain inspiration from nature. Here are 16 projects for all skill levels that focus on moving beyond classic neutral backgrounds to provide new nature-inspired designs. Full-page color photos of quilts and earth, plants and landscapes accompany step-by-step instructions and patterns for achievement, making this a solid quilter's project book. Kelly Ashton's HEXAGONS, DIAMONDS, TRIANGLES, AND MORE SKILL-BUILDING TECHNIQUES FOR 60-DEGREE PATCHWORK (9781604683691, $26.99) is for any interested in incorporating shapes into their builts, and provides a progressive instructional for piecing 12 shapes plus incorporating problem-solving tips for common pitfalls. From creating an original design using some 80 block examples herein to making your own pattern templates, this is packed with versatile ideas for building skills and is a pick for any needleworker's collection. Also important for such holdings is Cap Sease's CAST ON, BIND OFF: 211 WAYS TO BEGIN AND END YOUR KNITTING (9781604684292, $19.99), a fine compendium of specific instructions on how to cast on and bind off. Each technique is presented with step-by-step written instructions, easy how-to illustrations, and a photo of the finished edge. Tips describe when (and when not) to use each knitting technique and provide a wealth of color illustrations throughout, making for a treasure trove of information for all levels of knitter.


The Audiobook Shelf

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

Sarah Lotz's THE THREE (9781478952268, $30.00) receives a fine reading by Melanie McHugh and Andrew Wincott, whose acting and reading training lends to an engrossing saga of harbingers of the apocalypse. When four passenger planes crash at nearly the same moment at four different points around the world, they release four children who survive unhurt: children with dangerous powers and who may portend the end of days. An engrossing saga becomes all the more compelling for its dual narration and vivid audio rendition! John Osteen's POWER OVER THE ENEMY (9781478953296, $25.00) comes from a late pastor and teacher who has spread his message of love far and wide. Dr. Paul Osteen reads this narrative of how modern Christians don't perceive Satan's evil in the world, are tormented by fears and addictions, and what to do about it. The answer lies in gaining power over temptations: this audio tells how to identify Satan's devices in the world, and is key for any Christian who would develop a better life.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The World According to Bob
James Bowen
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250046321, $24.99, www.thomasdunnebooks.com

The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Streetwise Cat follows the author as he moves from being a street musician to an author and celebrity - because of writing about his pet, street cat Bob, in a prior book. This is a pick for cat-lovers both familiar with the prior A STREET CAT NAMED BOB and newcomers: either group will find this a hilarious and fun survey of their ongoing life together. It's a poignant, fun story highly recommended for any with an interest in cats and pet stories in general and the savvy, personable Bob in particular!

Touching the Wild: Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch
Joe Hutto
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781626362130, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Touching the Wild: Living with the Mule Deer of Deadman Gulch comes from a filmmaker, writer and naturalist who here tells of a man who has lived among the mule deer in Wyoming for some seven years. Now, mule deer aren't ordinary friendly animals with humans, so when one curious animal made friends with author Joe Hutto, it was an extraordinary experience made all the more unusual by his increasingly close associations with the animals. His story provides close-up natural history observation at its best and is a top pick for any who would better understand the mule deer and its world.

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

Amy Johnson's SMALL ANIMAL PATHOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (9781118434215, $49.99) offers a discussion of the technician's role in pathology, terminology and diagnosis and provides a fine survey packed with practical information technicians can use in their daily work. Each body system receives a review of anatomy and function, color images, and tip boxes highlighting important issues. Additional support is provided via a companion website that also offers review questions, case studies, and images from the book, making for a 'must have' reference for any veterinarian's library. Angela Taibo's VETERINARY MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: GUIDE AND WORKBOOK (9781118527481, $69.99) provides a user-friendly guide for understanding veterinary medical terms, and explains the basics of using this terminology in the course of veterinary medicine. Any vet's office looking for quick references and any veterinary school appealing to students learning new phrases and terms will appreciate the pairing of case studies, word lists, tip boxes, and review exercises - not to mention a companion website of flash cards, PowerPoints and images. Species-specific chapters on lab animals, exotics and horses offer a wide coverage while explanations are logically arranged by body system, which lends to at-a-glance lookup reference, for those who would use this as a dictionary. The result is a powerful survey, highly recommended for any veterinary reference library.


The Automotive Shelf

Stealing Cars
John A. Heitmann & Rebecca H. Morales
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421412979, $29.95, www.amazon.com

STEALING CARS; TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY FROM THE MODEL T TO THE GRAN TORINO provides a fine study of auto theft and culture, and examines a range of topics to include motives, methods, and more. Studies of transportation issues have typically focused on auto manufacturing history, so it's refreshing to see a treatment that considers users and the automobile's role in American life. Experts from technology, transit and cultural history combine forces to consider American priorities and values in a solid recommendation for any transportation history collection.

The Life of the Automobile
Steven Parissien
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250040633, $27.99, www.amazon.com

The Life of the Automobile: The Complete History of the Motor Car considers the impact the car has made on the world, and considers the history of the car, their creators, and the social, political and economic influences on their evolution. Stories of those who had visions for bigger, better cars are brought to life in a story of the entrepreneurs and engineers who worked to create and promote the automobile. The result is a lively, wide-ranging history recommended for any transportation collection.

Cafe Racers
Paul D'Orleans
Motorbooks
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760345825, $50.00, www.motorbooks.com

Cafe Racers: Speed, Style and Ton-Up Culture features an oversized format paired with full-page color photos by Michael Lichter as it covers the cafe-racer subculture of racers that exceed speeds of 100 miles per hour on public roads throughout the U.K. and Europe. The term originally replied to rebellious riders who toured on modified motorcycles for sport, but evolved to grow into a sport representing the British counterculture and a movement that swept around the world. The modern cafe-racer movement is present in numerous countries and this book examines the phenomenon and its people and places. Lovely photos accompany in-depth history by Paul d'Orleans, profiling the bikes and their riders.


The Cookbook Shelf

Make it Lighter
Angela Nilsen
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600627739, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Make it Lighter provides a fine collection of healthier versions of favorite recipes, and offers the author's own tips for making the most of traditional dishes that have been slimmed down for modern eaters. This is more than another recipe collection: it outlines how she modified dishes and adds nutritional analysis and step-by-step photos. Tips for each dish range from using a nonstick skillet to use less oil to using olive oil substitutes for butter and cream-based dishes. The result is a powerful survey of delicious favorites recommended for any who want to diet without giving up their favorite comfort foods!

The New Greenmarket Cookbook
Gabrielle Langholtz
Da Capo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216898, $24.99, www.dacapopress.com

The New Greenmarket Cookbook gathers recipes and culinary tips from modern chefs who focus on farm-fresh ingredients, and provides home cooks with a set of insights on using fresh produce in innovative new ways. Ideas come from New York's best chefs and range from Fresh Fettuccini with Spring Greens to Spicy Watermelon Granita and Apricot Jam. The recipes follow a year's cycle at the market where local farmers and gardeners sell their wares, and accompany profiles of some twenty farmers who sell to New York City residents. A fine collection emerges!

Everyday Vegan Eats
Zsu Dever
Vegan Heritage Press
P.O. Box 628, Woodstock, VA 22664-0628
9780985466268, $19.95, www.veganheritagepress.com

Everyday Vegan Eats: Family Favorites from My Kitchen to Yours presents plant-based meals that families will enjoy. Author and restaurant owner Zsu Dever's family went vegan years ago: this compiles the recipes she's used to keep them satisfied, and demonstrates methods for adapting traditional family recipes to vegan tastes. With her guidance even Baked Macaroni and Cheese and French Toast assume new, satisfying make-overs. Add color photos throughout and you have a winning guide.

A Change of Appetite
Diana Henry
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781845338923, $34.99, www.amazon.com

A Change of Appetite offers a fine collection of recipes for healthy eating and offers dishes inspired by world cuisines from Russia to Scandinavia, packed with flavor and appeal. While 'healthy' here is profiled, it's less about weight loss than about flavor and freshness. Chapters are packed with recipes organized by season for maximum use of fresh, seasonal ingredients and pair this approach with dishes packed with unusual flavor combinations from Ricotta with Summer Berries and Honey to Shawarma Chicken with Warm Chickpea Puree and Sumac Onions. Expect something delightfully different with this appealing coverage, recommended for any cookbook collection looking for something different.

Gluten-Free Baked Products
Jeffrey L. Casper and William A. Atwell
AACC International Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
9781891127809, $179.00, www.aaccnet.org/Pages/default.aspx

Food service professionals, chemists working with foods, and bakers involved with gluten-free baked products will all find this technical treatment of gluten-free baked goods to be key to developing and manufacturing gluten-free products. Chapters provide a basic introduction to such products, their development requirements, and how to understand Celiac disease and gluten intolerance: something quite essential as gluten is evident in many products one wouldn't ordinarily think about. From formulating snacks, cakes and breads to regulations and certification procedures, this is a 'must' for any interested in the latest gluten-free technology.

The Best of Rose Elliot
Rose Elliot
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600628774, $29.99, www.amazon.com

The Best of Rose Elliot: The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection comes from one of England's best vegetarian chefs, and provides a fine collection from two of her books: vegetarian Supercook and Sumptuous Suppers. It's packed with influences from around the world, take-offs on meat dishes, and meals designed for parties to quick dinners alike. The result is a lovely collection of original creations that will expand any vegetarian cook's collection.

Da Capo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com, www.dacapopress.com

Jane Barthelemy's GOOD MORNING PALEO: MORE THAN 150 EASY FAVORITES TO STAR YOUR DAY, GLUTEN- AND GRAIN-FREE (9780738217451, $18.99) provides recipes for some 150 low-carb recipes for breakfasts that are gluten-, grain-, and dairy-free, and is a pick for any who would use it to support either the Paleo diet or other diet plans. Recipes for Breakfast Burritos, Baked Eggs, Quiche Lorraine and others modify ingredients and use easy lists of staples commonly found in Paleo kitchens. The result is a fine survey recommended for any general cookbook collection; especially those seeking more Paleo guides. Terry Hope Romero's SALAD SAMURAI: 100 CUTTING-EDGE, ULTRA-HEARTY, EASY-T0-MAKE SALADS YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE VEGAN TO LOVE (9780738214870, $19.99) comes from an award-winning chef that shows how salads can move beyond bland, boring styles to become amazing entrees. From a Deviled Kale Caesar Salad to Seared Garlic Chickpeas, Spinach and Farro, expect a dose of 'exotic' ingredients (i.e. to be found in health food stores, not your everyday supermarket), amazing dressings, and meatless, dairy-free dishes arranged by season (even winter). A top pick for any looking for something different.

The All-New Vegetarian Passport
Linda Woolven
Whitecap Books
314 West Cordova St., Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1E8
www.whitecap.ca
9781770501799, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The All-New Vegetarian Passport: 350 Healthy Recipes Inspired by Global Cuisines is packed with color photos, arranged with color-coded pages by region to make for quick and easy referencing, and recipes that are geared to vegan and gluten-free options. From Asia and the Middle East to India and the Americas, this pairs recipes with icons on which are suitable for different diets, from celiac disease and diabetes to heart disease, arthritis and vegan diet plans. The result is a highly recommended pick for any vegetarian cook and collections catering to them.

Tea and Treats
Liz Franklin
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com
9781849754972, $24.95, www.amazon.com

TEA AND TREATS is packed with over fifty recipes matching tea to sweets, and is the perfect item of choice for any who would create classic afternoon teas by understanding different kinds of teas and how they pair with sweets. In order to fully appreciate this approach, of course cooks should have an affinity for both. Those who do will find the coverage of teas offers many insights, from bubble teas and green and white teas to fruit trees - and will discover how to pair each kind of tea with the appropriate sweet flavors for best effect. The history and health applications of the teas are also included in a fine pick for any cookbook collection.

Itsu: The Cookbook
Julian Metcalfe and Blanche Vaughan
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781845338985, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Itsu: The Cookbook: 100 Low-Calorie Eat Beautiful Recipes for Health & Happiness comes from the London-based restaurant chain: the first and only fast food chain dedicated to light, healthy food. It's spent some ten years developing a range of fast, delicious and Asian-inspired dishes which are offered here to home cooks in a user-friendly manual packed with some 100 recipes from soups and salads to noodles and desserts. Each dish is less than 300 calories per serving, takes less than 30 minutes to prepare from scratch, and adheres to any dieter's plan. Add color photos for maximum impact and appeal!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Confronting Chronic Pain: A Pain Doctor's Guide to Relief
Steven H. Richeimer, MD with Kathy Steligo
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421412535, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Confronting Chronic Pain: A Pain Doctor's Guide to Relief is filled with tips to help everyone who struggles with daily, chronic pain, and comes from a doctor who specializes in the field of pain management. Chapters survey what causes different kinds of pain, from arthritis and back pain to migraine and cancer - and offers the latest information on neurostimulators, pain medications, and alternative medicine alike. There are different, new approaches to pain management that a everyone should become familiar with: this book covers them all!


The Autism Shelf

101 Tips for Parents of Children With Autism
Arnold Miller and Theresa C. Smith
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849069602, $19.95, www.amazon.com

101 Tips for Parents of Children With Autism: Effective Solutions for Everyday Challenges offers strategies to help children cope with obstacles and inappropriate behaviors, and is directed to parents who want to know more about the successful Miller Method. This book has been featured before but deserves ongoing mention for its expansion of Miller's techniques and for its important keys to understanding behavior modification.

The Asperkid's Game Plan
Jennifer Cook O'Toole
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849059596, $26.95, www.amazon.com

The Asperkid's Game Plan provides a fine survey on structured play that engages kids with Asperger syndrome and uses strengths they already have to develop skills, making this a solid compendium of games and activities for parents and teachers alike. A range of scenarios shows how Aspie kids learn and how activities can be tailored to make the most of their abilities, making for an education title applicable to a range of budgets and scenarios.

Sleep Well on the Autism Spectrum
Kenneth J. Aitken
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849053334, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Sleep Well On The Autism Spectrum: How To Recognise Common Sleep Difficulties, Choose The Right Treatment, And Get You Or Your Child Sleeping Soundly is an outstanding book for parents and individuals who look for better sleep patterns for those on the autism spectrum, and considers the special management of these individuals who struggle with sleep disorders. A range of sleep disorders and possible treatments consider their symptoms, how they evolve, and their treatment, making for a fine survey recommended for any psychology, health, and medicine collection.

LEGO-Based Therapy
Daniel B. LeGoff, et.al.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849055376, $24.95, www.amazon.com

LEGO-Based Therapy: How to Build Social Competence Through LEGO-Based Clubs for Children With Autism and Related Conditions offers a complete guide to the therapy that contains all the basics needed to set up and run a LEGO-Based Club for special-needs kids. It uses LEGO building to foster social development and social rules, and provides a manual outlining the theory and research of autism treatments and how the LEGO-Based Club idea works in real life. The result is a solid reference for any education or health collection working with autistic kids.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Drawing Down the Sun
Stephanie Woodfield
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738740379, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Drawing Down the Sun: Rekindle the Magick of the Solar Goddesses is a recommendation for any new age collection strong in goddess-based spirituality and the melding of spirit, mind and body, and features focus on fourteen different goddesses and how to use and recognize their different divine spirits through rituals and spells. Chapters discuss their different attributes, how to use healing energies differently for each, and how to incorporate solar magick and meditations into the mix, making this a fine guide for any looking to incorporate the divine feminine in their rituals and spiritual work.


The Sports Shelf

The Greatest Golf Courses and How They Are Played
Mark Rowlinson, General Editor
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600628477, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The Greatest Golf Courses and How They Are Played provides a unique insight into the world's best golf clubs, has been selected by a panel of experts and illustrated with computer art, and imparts the basics of what makes these courses exceptional and how to play them. Golfers will appreciate a fine survey profiling the golfing scene in different regions, with photos from experts in course design accompanying quotes from architects and players alike. From courses across America to Canadian courses, this packs in lovely photos to pair with statistics on the best golf courses around, and is a pick for any avid golfer.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com

Chris McNab's SOVIET SUBMACHINE GUNS OF WORLD WAR II (9781782007944, $18.95) is for any collection strong in either military history or weaponry, and provides a coverage of the origins and development of the Soviet-made submachine guns of World War II. Chapters provide assessments of their strengths and limitations and provide strong historical and technical surveys of these guns and their impact on the war. The result is a powerful survey recommended for firearms and military history holdings. Barrett Tillman's US MARINE CORPS FIGHTER SQUADRONS OF WORLD WAR II (9781782004103, $25.95) provides a fine survey of Marine Corps action during the second world war, and covers Marine fighter squadrons operating legendary aircraft. It comes from an aviation historian who here provides tribute to individual flyers and combat operations alike, packing in historic details about the squadrons and their activities. The result is a powerful survey, highly recommended for any military history, Marine or aircraft history holding. Douglas C. Dildy's FALL GELB 1940(1): PANZER BREAKTHROUGH IN THE WEST (9781782006442, $21.95) provides a fine survey of the clash between German and French forces in 1940. Hitler moved 136 divisions through Belgium and northern France to destroy the Allied forces there and gain territory for campaigns against France and English: this follows the German efforts as its three Panzer corps embarked on their assault. Vintage black and white photos, charts, and maps accompany a fascinating chronology of military engagement perfect for any World War II history collection. David R. Higgins' JAGDPANTHER VS. SU-100 (9781782002956, $18.95) provides a powerful account of the Eastern Front in 1945 and focuses on the German Jagdpanther and Soviet SU-100 destroyers who fought each other during the final German offensive in the area. Chapters offer close inspection of weaponry, strategies, and fighters and come from an authority on armored warfare, offering a blend of vintage photos and color contemporary illustrations to reveal the weapons and their use. A fine recommendation for military collections strong in weapons analysis. CHALLENGE OF BATTLE: THE BRITISH ARMY'S ENTRY INTO THE FIRST WORLD WAR by Adrian Gilbert (9781849088596, $25.95) offers general military history holdings a close inspection of the British Army in 1914, considering its organization and tactics during the war and reviewing its progress and failings. Chapters examine the decisions made by officers and use diaries, letters and other historical documents to trace not just events, but how they affected all involved. A fine recommendation for any general collection. Also recommended for the same general military history audience is GARY GALLAGHER'S CIVIL WAR: FORT SUMTER TO APPOMATTOX (9781782006435, $30.00), an exploration of the political, historical and cultural significance of the war. Chapters consider the war from beginning to end with an eye to exploring how four bloody years of battle affected civilians and military fighters alike, making for a fine addition not just to military but general American history holdings alike. Chris McNab's HITLER'S FORTRESSES: GERMAN FORTIFICATIONS AND DEFENCES 1939-45 (9781782008286, $40.00) provides a detailed guide to every defensive project in the Third Reich, and packs in drawings, maps, and photos that include 3-D and cutaway views to further display defensive operations. Chapters offer insights into Germany's defensive history and strategies and make for a fine account recommended for any definitive military collection. TRENCH: A HISTORY OF TRENCH WARFARE ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Stephen Bull (9781472801326, $19.95) offers something different to readers of military history: a narrowed focus on the tactics, events, and struggles revolving around trench warfare. Photos, illustrations, trench maps and first-hand accounts accompany a detailed soldier's viewpoint of World War I, offering discussions of the new farm of warfare, its methods and tactics, and its impact on soldiers. It's an outstanding survey highly recommended for any interested in military history.


The Art Shelf

Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting
David Bellamy
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
www.searchpressusa.com
9781844487349, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting comes from a watercolourist who shares his expertise in a reference for artists that covers everything from landscapes and buildings to people. It offers seven step-by-step demonstrations, over 250 photos accompanying them, and other inspirational photos documenting the process and its results. From incorporating different kinds of perspective to working with nature and capturing light, this guide covers all the basics watercolourists must know in order to create a polished, professional-looking result. Any who would improve their skills or begin a project in watercolour will find this a winning survey.

Colliding Worlds
Arthur I. Miller
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393083361, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Colliding Worlds: How Cutting-Edge Science is Redefining Contemporary Art is a recommendation for arts and science holdings alike, and considers the common ground connecting these seemingly-disparate worlds. It comes from a professor and popular science writer who reviews the concept of the Third Culture, based on British novelist C.P. Snow's description of Western culture as divided between the sciences and the humanities. In this environment the two fuse and scientists and artists work together to create works that illustrate and display high-tech modern society. Chapters provide plenty of examples and support for the connections between the two seemingly-disparate disciplines and make for accessible reading for general-interest and specialty audiences alike!


The Computer Shelf

Facebook All-in-One For Dummies
Jamie Crager, et.al.
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
http://www.dummies.com
9781118791783, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Facebook All-in-One For Dummies has been completely updated to include Facebook's latest changes, from using mobile Facebook apps to managing pages, news feeds and timelines, and is a pick for both newcomers to Facebook and those who would delve into using the social media for marketing their own brand or pursuit. Chapters cover all aspect of connecting using social media, and assume no prior knowledge as they provide a sequence of opportunities for applying Facebook's structure to business and social pursuits alike. A great place for beginners to locate the latest information in the most accessible format!

Build an Awesome PC, 2014 Edition
Mike Riley
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381, Frisco, TX 75033-7438
www.pragprog.com
9781941222171, $17.00, www.amazon.com

The 2014 edition of Build an Awesome PC is edited by Jacquelyn Carter and provides a short yet in-depth focus on how to build a PC, pairing a tutorial approach with basics covering every point, from powering the motherboard to installing CPU cooling units and selecting a case. Any working on their own computer-making projects will find this packed with color photos throughout, and plenty of description of processes and pitfalls - enough to successfully complete a PC-building job!

A Practical Guide to Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, seventh edition
Mark G. Sobell
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133477436, $32.75, www.prentice-hall.com

The seventh updated edition of A Practical Guide to Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux blends a tutorial format suitable for classroom study with a programmer's desk reference, which makes it a recommendation for students and practicing professionals alike. The focus is on the latest Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux applications, with chapters from one of the world's leading Linux experts offering all the basics. But don't assume this is only for those with Linux backgrounds: no prior Linux experiences is needed and chapters begin with the basics of installation and applying Linux operations to different tasks. This edition includes new programming chapters, new tutorials, and the latest program versions and concerns, from security to cloud computing.

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

Michael Manoochehri's DATA JUST RIGHT: INTRODUCTION TO LARGE-SCALE DATA & ANALYTICS (9780321898654, $39.99) is recommended for businesses and computer collections interested in applying large-scale data to building applications. It's a survey that tells how to manage datasets, build pipelines and dashboards, and apply statistical analysis to business pursuits, and it's packed with a blend of theory and applications key to successful business pursuits in any industry. Techniques use many of the latest data analysis tools in a pick business leaders will find perfect for communicating with IT professionals. Brad Dayley's JQUERY AND JAVASCRIPT PHRASEBOOK (9780321918963, $29.99) provides a key reference of codes and commands and is recommended for any who would use jQuery more effectively. Its pocket tote appearance lends to a guide that is both compact and well organized, offering some 100 reusable code bits to code functional jQuery on the fly. With its fine arrangement, this is a top pick for any who seek a take-along tote.

WordPress for Dummies
Lisa Sabin-Wilson
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
http://www.dummies.com
9781118791615, $24.99, www.amazon.com

WordPress for Dummies covers the latest releases of WordPress and is a recommendation for both newcomers who would use it for the first time and those who would set up their first blog using either of the popular WordPress versions. From locating free themes and plug-ins to customizing templates and staying up to date with WordPress changes, this is a fine introduction for any who would apply WordPress to a blog or online pursuit, offering plenty of visuals and a chatty, easy format that lends to understanding.


The Education Shelf

Leading the e-Learning Transformation of Higher Education
Gary Miller, et.al.
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781579227968, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Leading the e-Learning Transformation of Higher Education comes for innovators in the field of on-line learning, and not only reviews the specifics of how technology is changing the world of higher education, but considers the leadership and educational challenges that come with the e-learning environment. Chapters share successes, explains how to blend e-learning into higher education goals, and comes from contributors who themselves hold leadership roles in their organizations. A 'must' for any educator involved in higher learning processes.

Uncommon Core
Michael W. Smith, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com
9781483333526, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Uncommon Core: Where the Authors of the Standards Go Wrong About Instruction - and How You Can Get it Right provides a fine survey offering reader-based approaches as alternatives to text-based ones in the common core standards, and pinpoints misunderstandings about standards-based instruction that could prove detrimental to student learning. This is more than criticism of some of the approaches of common core instruction: it's packed with alternatives and discussions of criteria that augment and enhance the basic concepts of the common core. The result is a powerful teacher's guide packed with food for thought on customizing common core approaches for maximum benefit.

Your Left-Handed Child
Lauren Milsom
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600628767, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Your Left-Handed Child: Making Things Easy for Left-Handers in a Right-Handed World comes from an author who herself is a left-hander, as well as a mother of one - and she has owned the Left Handed Shop in London for some thirty years. Her title is packed with strategies for helping kids of all ages adjust to their left-handed nature, and covers everything from recognizing early signs of left-handedness from infancy to school years to helping young children learn even complicated tax such as getting dressed. Her coverage of manufactured aids and new designs accompanies educational strategies that will appeal to any educator or parent.

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

Leslie Blauman with Jim Burke's THE COMMON CORE COMPANION: THE STANDARDS DECODED (9781483349855, $34.95) is recommended for educators of grades 3-5 who will find this a fine reference for any interested in the standards for literature and informational texts. Teaching ideas for each standard is accompanied by adaptations, tips on how to develop skills key to using the standards successfully, and a glossary of academic language for each standard. Add graphic organizers, rubrics, and reproducible planning templates and you have an educator's workbook that is geared to classroom teachers who want to adopt the standards to their own techniques and lesson plans. Kristen Swanson and Hadley J. Ferguson's UNLEASHING STUDENT SUPERPOWERS: PRACTICAL TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR 21ST CENTURY STUDENTS (9781483350969, $30.00) provides instructors with the basics of creating an inquiry-based, student-driven learning environment and pairs research with specific directions on how to turn ordinary students into stars. Each student has hidden talents, and part of a teacher's job is bringing these abilities to light and nurturing them. This book shows how, supports one of six 'superpowers', and encourages depth of thought and Common Core applications throughout.


The Technology Shelf

Highly Integrated Low-Power Radars
Sergio Saponara, et.al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781608076659, $149.00, www.amazon.com

Highly Integrated Low-Power Radars discusses how highly integrated radar has been adopted by several new markets ranging from harbor traffic control to vital sign monitoring, and provides radar system engineers with scenarios and requirements of this technology. New advances in radio detection and ranging technology have led to a wide variety of different applications: this book discusses its adaptation to new markets and offers keys to scenarios, requirements and limitations alike, making it a key acquisition for any engineering collection strong in radar technology.

Envelope Tracking Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications
Zhancang Wang
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781608077847, $179.00, www.amazon.com

Envelope Tracking Power Amplifiers for Wireless Communications represents the first book on the market to provide a complete, in-depth introduction to design and theory involved in envelope tracking for wireless communications, and provides a complete introduction to theory and design applications for professionals in high-technology industries. The details are complete and cover underlying theory as well as design considerations and real-world applications, with chapters including math, charts and diagrams, extensive references, and numerous examples. All this makes for a key reference addition to any engineering collection.


The Business Shelf

What Your Boss Really Wants From You
Steve Arneson
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
9781626560772, $15.95, www.amazon.com

What Your Boss Really Wants From You: 15 Insights to Improve Your Relationship provides a fine guide from a top executive coach who shows how to find answers to fifteen questions that will enable a better understanding of a boss's leadership style and goals. Examples from real life pair with details on how to analyze a boss's style and how to make the most of it, and contribute to a powerful survey highly recommended for any business or careers collection.


The Crafts Shelf

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Joe Silvera's SOLDERING BEYOND THE BASICS: TECHNIQUES TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND CONTROL (9781627000291, $21.99) is all about learning soldering and applying it to jewelry-making projects, and is a pick for jewelry makers who would go to the next level of skill. Some sixteen projects from rings to earrings are included in a guide that teaches all kinds of soldering techniques, from using small mixed-gas torches and fluxes to sawing and more. Materials, tools, and how to set up a studio accompany these projects, making for a top pick for newcomers to metalworking. Chris Mrosko's BUILDING DIORAMAS (9780890248706, $21.99) comes from an acclaimed modeler who shows how to make dramatic dioramas to showcase models, and uses a step-by-step approach to diorama modeling that includes selecting the right foundation for the display, painting and using realistic elements, and creating dioramas that profile figures. Modelers will find this specific guide covers everything from historical scenes to modern global conflicts in a survey of military modeling that will delight any modeler.


The Social Issues Shelf

Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
www.transactionpub.com

George Yancey's DEHUMANIZING CHRISTIANS: CULTURAL COMPETITION IN A MULTICULTURAL WORLD (9781412852678, $49.95) examines right-wing authoritarianism and its dehumanizing effects on Christians, considering how authoritarianism serves as a tool of the right-wing and progressives who would use it against conservative Christians. From methods both sides use to dehumanize their opponents to the existence and models of Christian dehumanizing actions, this is a powerful sociological survey that pinpoints actions of the left and right alike, considering the origins and actions of fear and loathing towards Christians. College-level sociology and religious studies readers alike will find this eye-opening. James A. Clapp's THE CITY (9781412852876, $89.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide a fine compilation of over three thousand quotes, from verses and proverbs to scripture and lyrics, on urban life from ancient to modern times. This reference reflects the words of over a thousand writers throughout history, from poets and public speakers to politicians and scientists, religious leaders and travelers. This second edition includes four hundred new entries, updates on their authors, and a expanded introduction and preface, making it a top pick for any studying urban culture.


The Interior Design Shelf

Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com, www.amazon.com

Ros Byam Shaw's ENGLISH ECCENTRIC: A CELEBRATION OF IMAGINATIVE, INTRIGUING AND STYLISH INTERIORS (9781849755030, $45.00) features some fourteen different interiors highly diverse in nature, from a tiny cottage filled with circus themes to a terraced home filled with political references. Each interior provides a host of inspirational choices readers will find central to producing their own English-style unusual decorations. Full-page color photos are perfect vehicles to display artworks, room accents, and how different influences are dictated by different kinds of structures. The result is a gorgeous presentation, recommended for any home and garden collection and arts libraries strong in interior design. Hilary Robertson works with photographer Anna Williams in THE STUFF OF LIFE (9781849755054, $35.00), a fine survey that covers possessions in the home. It comes from an interiors stylist who considers ways to style and display possessions, from ornaments to family photos, and is packed with colorful ideas for organizing and creating themes around possessions and their display.


The Architecture Shelf

Lake/Flato Houses: Embracing the Landscape
Guy Martin and Frederick Steiner, Introductions
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292758452, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Lake/Flato Houses: Embracing the Landscape displays the works and sentiments of Lake/Flato Architects of San Antonio, Texas, and provides a fine survey of the works of a firm that uses local materials and workmanship to design modern, environmentally responsible buildings. Lake/Flato has received numerous awards for its sustainable architecture designs, and this showcases their works with a combination of color photos and architectural commentary perfect for any interested in inspirational treatments of landscape design.


The Gardening Shelf

Power Plants
Frankie Flowers and Bruce Wylde
Collins
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780062367747, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Power Plants: Simple Home Remedies You Can Grow teaches how to harvest plants and how to use them in home-grown remedies: all that's required is a basic interest in gardening and herbal applications. Even novice gardeners who have only a few pots can use the tips here, which range from understanding which plants are easy and which require much tending to creating growing conditions that lead to bountiful harvests. With this guide in hand, any can choose particular plants that they want to grow with specific applications in mind, and will find here all the tools and techniques needed to create healthy plants and effective remedies.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Earth Awakens
Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765329066, $25.99, www.amazon.com

EARTH AWAKENS covers the first Formic War that happened nearly a century before the beginning of Card's famous Ender's Game, and is set in a world before Ender Wiggin was born, providing the first book in a projected series. Here humans are just beginning to explore the solar system when an alien ship's arrival cuts off human off-world habitats and an Earth unaware that it's been invaded. When awareness does set in, only a few men and women realize the importance of thwarting the invasion before the planet falls. A vivid military-style story is spiced by strong characters and settings in this engrossing story.


The Music Shelf

Cowboys and Indies
Gareth Murphy
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.stmartins.com
9781250043375, $27.99, www.amazon.com

Cowboys and Indies: The Epic History of the Record Industry comes from an industry leader who creates a definitive history of the music business and the early pioneers who created labels and fostered musical talents. It uses memoirs, archives, and over a hundred interviews with top names in the recording industry, from company founders to artists, to provide a fine survey linking record labels to the trends and rise of music across the country. The result is an engrossing music history that every popular music collection should have!


The Travel Shelf

Guide to New York City with Children
Angela Hederman & Michael Berman
Little Bookroom
435 Hudson St, Suite 300, New York NY 10014
9781936941094, $22.00, www.littlebookroom.com

Guide to New York City with Children is arranged around the subjects 'play', 'eat' and 'shop', and offers up a treasure trove of ideas for everything from dolls and movies to computers, sports and animation. Parks and playgrounds in all neighborhoods, stadium information, ballet classes and events - there's something for everyone here, including restaurants - all reviewed for their family-oriented appeal. The result is a 'must' for any family planning a visit to New York City, as well as for residents of the Big Apple who want more kid-oriented travel options within the City boundaries.


The Photography Shelf

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

Brett Florens' ONE WEDDING: HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH FROM START TO FINISH (9781608956951, $27.95) goes behind the scenes of a typical shoot to consider all that's involved with shooting extraordinary wedding scenes. A real wedding, that of Claire and Chris, is used throughout to cover everything from the engagement shot and post-wedding practice to coverage of the day itself. By taking a single event and covering it thoroughly, ONE WEDDING provides plenty of insights into the design and production of the wedding shoots, and will prove especially revealing for any photographer interested in wedding shots. Rayment Kirby's FANTASY NUDE PHOTOGRAPHY: SPECIALIZED LIGHTING, POSING, AND DIGITAL COMPOSITING FOR CREATING AMAZING IMAGES (978108957071, $27.95) provides a fine survey covering not just your usual nude photography, but how to add a touch of fantasy in backgrounds and poses alike. Kirby uses digital technology to change photos of models, incorporate props, and set dramatic backgrounds - and shows photographers how to do the same to get the most from small shooting areas and a minimum of specialized equipment. With its in-depth details on processes and techniques, this is a 'must' for any interested in digital composition in general and working with nudes on a new level, in particular.


The Botany Shelf

Handbook of African Medicinal Plants, second edition
Maurice M. Iwu
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466571976, $139.95, www.amazon.com

Handbook of African Medicinal Plants appears in its second updated edition to provide pharmacologists, anthropologists and others in the healing industry a compendium of African medical plant applications. This updated, expanded second edition reviews some 2,000 species of plants used in African medicine, pairs descriptions of usage with color photos and references tapping over 1,100 publications, and includes a catalog of plants used in traditional remedies along with a profile of 170 of the major herbs and their biology and botanical, common and African names. The result is key to any interested in African traditional medicine or botany, offering scientific surveys of folk use and biology alike.

Botanical Safety Handbook, second edition
Zoe Gardner and Michael McGuffin, Editors
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466516946, $119.95, www.amazon.com

The second updated edition of the American Herbal Product Association's handbook is a 'must' for any interested in herbal medicine and applications. Backed by an expert advisory council and covering clinical information and expert reviews, this covers the latest research on herbs and their applications - some 500 species of herbs and uses, all arranged in a classification system that highlights the safety of each listed species and its possible drug interactions. Healthcare professionals, regulatory agencies and herbal product consumers alike will appreciate a format that is packed with reference to studies, details on side effects, and everything needed to make the most of herbal products and their health applications.

Marine Plants of the Texas Coast
Roy L. Lehman
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
www.tamu.edu/upress
9781623490164, $32.00, www.amazon.com

Marine Plants of the Texas Coast will appeal to biology students and nature lovers alike, as well as any with an interest in the Texas coastal region and its plant life. It packs in details describing the area's marine plants, uses author photos to update identification keys geared to visual factors, and comes from a veteran biologist and educator who describes the plants in four major sections. Text is arranged alphabetically by family then by genus and species, with the photos providing important keys to identification descriptions that follow. The result is a complete, authoritative guide that documents all the organisms fishermen and visitors encounter.

Wildflowers of the Eastern United States
John Eastman
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811713672, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Wildflowers of the Eastern United States packs in discussions of well over a hundred flowers and also provides color close-up photos for all flowers, making for the perfect handbook for any interested in wildflower identification. It comes from a wild plant expert who discusses flower characteristics, biology, traditional uses and different wildflowers to be found in wetlands, clearings and fields, and it isn't geared to the specialist, but to the nature lover who wants a beginner's guide that doesn't assume prior identification experience, yet packs its pages with lively, in-depth information.


The Political Science Shelf

Global Gender Issues in the New Millennium, fourth edition
Anne Sisson Runyan and V. Spike Peterson
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Grop
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.westviewpress.com
9780813349169, $39.00, www.amazon.com

Global Gender Issues in the New Millennium is a pick for any college-level political science or women's studies collection, and provides a fine introduction to how gendered world politics affects social and political forces. Undergraduates and some graduates will find this packed with details that are tailored for classroom discussion and use, from questions at the beginning and conclusion of each chapter to exercises designed to test student understanding. This is a fourth updated edition that includes complete chapter revisions to provide more support to students with less background in gender politics, along with updates to data and related graphic presentation. The result is a 'must' for any college-level student of gender issues.

Interest Groups and Lobbying
Thomas T. Holyoke
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Grop
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.westviewpress.com
9780813345819, $33.00, www.amazon.com

Interest Groups and Lobbying: Pursuing Political Interests in America provides a college-level, in-depth exploration of interest group politics and lobbying and their role in political decisions, analyzing how interest groups lobby various branches of government and how they succeed or fail in their efforts. Chapters pair case studies and examples with reviews of such techniques, covering political and social interactions in a wide-ranging survey especially recommended for high school and college-level students of governmental studies.


The Railroading Shelf

The Historical Guide to North American Railroads, third edition
Jeff Wilson and Randy Rehberg, Editors
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890249703, $24.99, www.amazon.com

The Historical Guide to North American Railroads appears in its third updated edition, providing rail buffs with new maps, a new index that allows for easier searching, and a larger format packed with additional details on listings ranging from route maps and statistics to history and details of equipment. Any with a special interest in North American railroads will find this a colorful, definitive guide packed with vintage and contemporary photos alike, tracing the entire history and evolution of North American railroading.

The DCC Guide, second edition
Don Fiehmann
Kalmbach Publishing
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9781627001038, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The second updated edition of The DCC Guide covers the basics of the digital command control needed to control model trains, and covers DCC systems and their assembly and installation. From using the new Java Model railroad Interface technology and software to integrating computer controls into a DCC layout, this is a fine survey that tells model railroaders how to make the most of the wiring controlling their hobby. The result is an outstanding guide packed with illustrations and tips specific to model railroading.


The Science Shelf

The Island of Knowledge
Marcelo Gleiser
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465031719, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Human knowledge is considered vast; but in actuality it's a small part of the universe of uncertainty and the unknown - and the more we discover, the more our 'island of knowledge' in this vast universe expands. This setting is used to examine the nature of knowledge and how humans try to make sense of the world. It surveys scientific history and how scientists and thinkers have uncovered truths about our universe. The result is a lively historical overview of the human race's changing knowledge base, recommended for any interested in science history.

Wild Connection
Jennifer L. Verdolin
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781616149468, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Wild Connection: What Animal Courtship and Mating Tell Us About Human Relationships provides an outstanding survey that offers a scientific view of animal and human behavior on dating and relationships, and considers the elements that makes individuals attractive to others. It uses animal behavior to make these connections, from considering how smell works and why humans mask their natural scents to how animals instinctively know how to locate compatible mates. With its human/animal associations, this is an excellent pick for any science or psychology general-interest reader.


The Beer Shelf

Sustainable Homebrewing
Amelia Slayton Loftus
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612121229, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Sustainable Homebrewing: An All-Organic Approach to Crafting Great Beer covers all the basics of not just brewing beer, but brewing an organic homebrew using organic ingredients. Aside from this difference, you'd think the process would be largely the same - and it is - but there are differences. For one, instructions advocate recycling the wort-chilling water, using spent grain in a compost pile, and growing your own organic ingredients. For another, the focus on reducing waste in homebrewing helps brewers make more economical brews. The result is a top pick for any who would modify their homebrewing techniques to include better ingredients and less waste!

American Sour Beers
Michael Tonsmeire
Brewers Publications
P.O. Box 1679, Boulder, CO 80306
www.brewersassociation.org
9781938469114, $19.95, www.amazon.com

American Sour Beers: Innovative Techniques for Mixed Fermentations narrows the usual brew-making focus to sour beers, offering a thorough investigation into the processes and ingredients used in American sour beer production and covering different methods of souring, fermentation techniques, aging and blending, safety and sanitation, and more. While some of this information is general to brewing as a whole, much of it is particular to producing a sour-style beer, making for a top pick for any interested in brewing.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Examining Lois Lane
Nadine Farghaly, Editor
Scarecrow Press
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9780810892361, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Collections strong in popular culture and comic history will appreciate the first anthology to limit its exploring on Lois Lane in EXAMINING LOIS LANE; THE SCOOP ON SUPERMAN'S SWEETHEART. Chapters consider her character, culture, and how she compares to mythological heroines. This is no light read, but a semi-scholarly treatment recommended for any collection serious about comic book history and analysis.

American Comic Book Chronicles 1965-69
John Wells
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490557, $41.95, www.amazon.com

American Comic Book Chronicles 1965-69 provides the second volume in the series covering the mid-1960s: a pivotal era in comic book history, and provides a year-by-year account of publications, comic artists, trends, and history. From the big changes at Marvel Comics to the rage of the TV show Batman featuring Adam West, this gathers all the top moments of five years under one cover and covers not just superhero comics, but the entire industry, from the Gold Key classics and its appearance in a new digest form to The Archies. Comic book enthusiasts will appreciate this involving history!


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters
August Ragone
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9781452135397, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters provides a fine survey of Eiji Tsuburaya's creations, providing coverage not from the usual Japan but from the U.S. and considering his involvement in Japanese productions. If you've ever seen a monster movie or TV show containing Godzilla, Ultraman or other characters, you probably already know Tsuburaya's works. This gathers hundreds of film stills, posters, and character art under one cover and provides a visual biography of both the man and his creations, packing in details about his influences and inspirations. The result is a definitive guide packed with color and details essential to any film or television history.


The Criminology Shelf

Labeling Theory: Empirical Tests
David P. Farrington and Joseph Murray, Editors
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
www.transactionpub.com
9781412842464, $59.95, www.amazon.com

Labeling Theory: Empirical Tests: Advances in Criminological Theory V. 18 delves into the processes of a theory key to criminology whose recent advancements have been largely ignored, and is a reference for any college-level criminology collection. It details the history of the theory, its evolution and its applications, it considers previous tests of labeling theory, and it considers both the long-term effects of incarceration and both repeat offenders and future employment. The result is a technical survey and a 'must' for any criminology theory student.


The International Studies Shelf

An Introduction to the Modern Middle East
David S. Sorenson
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Grop
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.westviewpress.com
9780813349220, $45.00, www.amazon.com

An Introduction to the Modern Middle East: History, Religion, Political Economy, Politics appears in its second updated edition to provide a fine review of the region, including coverage of the Arab Spring, changes in individual nations in the region, and the Iranian nuclear controversy. Different themes that evolve from regional history and interactions help organize content and keep the treatment lively and varied enough to allow for cross-comparisons of country history. Vignettes include the author's own personal experience from his travels throughout the Middle East and greatly enhance the background information, making this professor's treatment a fine pick for any college-level student of modern Middle Eastern affairs.


The American History Shelf

Gotham Unbound
Ted Steinberg
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781476741246, $32.00, www.amazon.com

Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York provides a fine survey from an environmental historian and native New Yorker, who tells how the city was transformed from an unspoiled estuary to a huge city unparalleled in size and scope on the planet. This transformation was not without its costs: 'Gotham' is, as a result, especially vulnerable to climate change, and its focus on growth has long ignored the region's prior natural history and importance as a wetlands area. Any interested in environmental transformation in general and New York history in particular will find this a solid examination of the city's ecological evolution and changes.


The Nautical Shelf

Sextant
David Barrie
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062279347, $25.99, www.amazon.com

SEXTANT: A YOUNG MAN'S DARING SEA VOYAGE AND THE MEN WHO MAPPED THE WORLD'S OCEANS comes from a sailing expert who tells of inventions, discoveries, and epic voyages, blending his stories of his own transatlantic passage as a young man with the tales of great navigators and seamen who undertook explorations that made maritime history. From the science and math involved in making such a journey to evolving maritime discoveries over the decades, SEXTANT reads like a travelogue or adventure story, but is so much more. Recommended for autobiography, nautical, history and travel collections as well as many a science reader!


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


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