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The Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 2 February 2013 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Cookbook Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf
Travel Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Political Science Shelf
Education Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Art Shelf Computer Shelf
American History Shelf Business Shelf Biography Shelf
Hobby Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Military Shelf Social Issues Shelf Native American Studies Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Gaming Shelf Sports Shelf
Music Shelf Photography Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Philosophy Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Train Tracks
Michael Savage
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062210645, $21.99, www.harpercollins.com

TRAIN TRACKS: FAMILY STORIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS arrived too late for more timely holiday mention but is recommended for year-round inspirational reading. The premise is that every person story is like a set of train tracks that begins at one's childhood and runs to the present. Such stories chart life courses and choices and are enriched by encounters with others: TRAIN TRACKS holds many such memories, from the author's experiences growing up poor in the Bronx during the 1940s to his development of political awareness thanks to an uncle. Part autobiography memoir and part inspirational reflection, this set of vignettes is recommended for year-round general reading!

The Homebuilt Winery
Steve Hughes
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427272, $19.95, www.storey.com

THE HOMEBUILT WINERY: 43 PROJECTS FOR BUILDING AND USING WINEMAKING EQUIPMENT pairs step-by-step projects with tips and techniques for making the most of wine-making processes and equipment. From planning and setting up all aspects of wine production to understanding different testing processes, handling equipment ranging from racking to filters, and assembling and applying wine-making devices, this is a pick for any who would make wine or build their own small-scale winery, and belongs in crafts and food and wine collections alike.

Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com

Mark L. Haas and David W. Lesch's THE ARAB SPRING: CHANGES AND RESISTANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST (9780813348193, $27.00) provides a fine collection of essays by noted experts on the Arab Spring revolts and their impacts, and will appeal to college-level collections looking for scholarly writings on the event. In late 2010 the Arab Spring inspired ongoing political changes across the region - and this event heralded the lasting impact of Arab changes in the area and upon the world. THE ARAB SPRING is key to understanding these changes, and is a 'must' for any serious Middle East political studies library. Steven M. Cahn and Robert B. Talisse's POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE 21ST CENTURY: ESSENTIAL ESSAYS (9780813346908, $38.00) covers a range of political philosophy topics from justice and democracy to human rights issues, and provides some fifteen critical, scholarly essays covering modern political philosophy. All cover major issues in the genre, and include section introductions and study questions that lend to this book's use as supplemental reading for any political studies collection. Mark D. Brewer and L. Sandy Maisel's THE PARTIES RESPOND: CHANGES IN AMERICAN PARTIES AND CAMPAIGNS (9780813346007, $36.00) appears in its fifth updated edition to update information on contemporary issues on party politics in this country. Top scholars offer original writings specifically for this volume as they consider state and federal parties, the American party system, and campaign finance in this new political milieu. The result is a scholarly analysis that includes assessment of the Tea Party movement, and makes for an important survey for any college-level holding.


The Cookbook Shelf

Best Food Writing 2012
Holly Hughes, Editor
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216034, $16.00, www.dacapopress.com

Best Food Writing 2012 gathers stories and essays from 2012, pairing a wide range of voices and discussions on everything from the case for hunting to the current struggles of the Gulf of Mexico food scene in the aftermath of the hurricane's changes and a variety of pastrami-making methods. Eating habits, culture, and history merge in an essay collection that provides solid insights into food culture and reflections on American culinary history, making this a fine pick for any literary or culinary collection.

Mac & Cheese, Please!
Laura Werlin
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449426460, $16.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Mac & Cheese, Please! 50 Super Cheesy Recipes comes from a cheese fan who applies her expertise to 50 recipes for macaroni and cheese made with different kinds of cheeses and spice combinations, and is a pick for any who love the dish but are interested in variations on a traditional theme. Dishes are arranged by topics from 'Party Time' to 'Breakfast for Dinner' and discuss different cheese options that work with the dish. Vegetables, meats, and spices are also surveyed. Some dishes are easy; others are more complicated than one might expect, or contain unusual flavor combinations: all push the boundaries of the traditional mac 'n cheese!

Simply Satisfying
Jeanne Lemlin
The Experiment, LLC
260 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3 South, NY, NY 10001-6408
9781615190621, $21.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com

SIMPLY SATISFYING: OVER 200 VEGETARIAN RECIPES YOU'LL WANT TO MAKE AGAIN AND AGAIN promises much - and doesn't disappoint. From its pages of color photos liberally peppered amongst recipes such as Noodle Timbales with Pesto Cream Sauce and Mexican-Style Stuffed Summer Squash, this is packed with vegetarian winners based on seasonally available dishes. Each dish can be part of a weekday meal for the entire family, and accompanies menu suggestions and ideas for entertaining. Any cookbook collection wishing to include a general vegetarian cookbook updated for international influences and modern tastes will find this a winner!

Primal Cuisine
Pauli Halstead
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594774867, $19.95, www.healingartspress.com

PRIMAL CUISINE: COOKING FOR THE PALEO DIET explains the dietary theory behind Paleo cooking and pairs this explanation with over a hundred budget recipes that are easy to follow, offer courses for all meals of the day, and are free of grains, gluten, sugar, chemicals and hormones. From pecan and cheese Barbecued Chicken Salad to Sweet and Sour Hawaiian Snapper, this promotes wild-caught seafood, grass-fed meat, and a wide array of vegetables. Any who enjoy natural foods and are interested in exploring the Paleo Diet will find this a winner!

Let the Meatballs Rest
Massimo Montanapi
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231157322, $26.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

LET THE MEATBALLS REST AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT FOOD AND CULTURE provides a lively survey of food culture, cooking methods and eating habits over history and provides about a hundred essays in a collection discussing food's evolution. It focuses on the selection, preparation and culinary mythology of food and its discussions are wide-ranging covering everything from changing pantry 'staples' over the centuries to changing approaches to cooking, as well as changing tastes. The result is a powerful survey of food culture recommended for any interested in food and cooking history.

The Golden Book of Pasta
Anne McRae
Barrons
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764165597, $29.99, www.barronseduc.com

If it's a single volume pasta cookbook you seek packed with some 100 sauces to serve with store-bought pasta varieties, you'll find no better reference than The Golden Book of Pasta. It's an al dente collection of fresh, filled, and baked pasta dishes packed with easy yet fancy-looking fare, each with a facing full-page color photo of the completed dish for quick reference. Add gold gilt edges and an attention to recipes any cook can duplicate and you have an outstanding survey highly recommended for any who seek a lavishly-presented, practical pasta reference filled with new ideas.

Inventing Wine
Paul Lukacs
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393064520, $28.95, www.wwnorton.com

INVENTING WINE: A NE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ANCIENT PLEASURES provides a fine account of how wine and its appreciation came to be, considering its change from a source of spiritual nourishment to a widely-distributed and valued food. From the prototypes of modern wines and changing public opinion of what to drink when to the history of wine in cultures around the world, this provides a spirited survey of the entire industry and its evolution, and is a 'must' for any serious wine fan.

Savory Pies
Greg Henry
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612431062, $16.95, www.ulyssespress.com

SAVORY PIES: DELICIOUS RECIPES FOR SEASONED MEATS, VEGETABLES AND CHEESE BAKED IN PERFECTLY FLAKY CRUSTS is an outstanding recommendation for any collection strong in savory cookery, and represents a fine alternative to pie cookbooks that entirely or largely focus on sweets. Here are recipes for both pies made in tins and loose-edged pies, turnovers, and savory flatbreads that include such dishes as Caramelized Fennel and Onion Passaladiere, Lattice-Topped Mushroom Pie, and Jerk-Spiced Meat Patties with Mango Habanero Hot Sauce. Color-coded bars of ingredients accompany notes on wine pairings in this appealing collection, recommended for any cookbook collection.

Petite Treats
Morgan Greenseth and Christy Beaver
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612431116, $14.95, www.ulyssespress.com

PETITE TREATS offers a cookbook dedicated to producing bite-sized desserts which are relatively guilt-free for all occasions, and is a pick for any who would learn how to miniaturize everything from pies and scones to brownies and more. Color photos accompany step-by-step recipes and ideas and offers easy achievement for newcomers to the idea of producing miniature sweets. In an era where many are trying to watch their intake, PETITE TREATS is sure to be a hit.

The 1500 Calorie a Day Cookbook
Betty Crocker
Wiley Cookbooks
c/o Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9781118344347, $19.99, www.amazon.com

African Squash and Chickpea Stew, Asian Chicken and Rice, and Beef and Noodle Layered Casserole: these are only a few of the dishes packing an appealing cookbook that tells how to produce tasty, low-calorie main dish meals and sides. Each recipe offers the calories in a colored 'bubble' suitable for at-a-glance menu plans, while start-to-finish prep times and serving sizes makes it a snap to organize dinner. Color photos on most facing pages assure success to the entire endeavor, making this a top pick for any diet cookbook collection.

The Mystic Cookbook
Denise Linn & Meadow Linn
Hay House
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401937225, $19.95, www.hayhouse.com

The Mystic Cookbook: The Secret Alchemy of Food offers a delicious new book by a mother/daughter team who explore the idea of nourishment and spirituality under one cover. Recipes designed to nourish spirit, body and more offer keys to blended success that focus on connections between nourishment and spiritual awakening and provide over 100 color photos to pair with delicious, appealing and different approaches to food. The result is a recommendation for a range of collections, from cookbook holdings to new age and spirituality shelves.

The Cracker Book
Lee E. Cart
Burford Books
101 East State Street, #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801706, $12.95, www.burfordbooks.com

THE CRACKER BOOK: ARTISANAL CRACKERS FOR EVERY OCCASION provides a key to making some fifty different crackers from traditional grahams to specialty crackers and those seasoned with a range of spices. From traditional wheat flour-based crackers to gluten-free creations, this provides bakers with a wide range of options and flavors and also includes over a dozen recipes for accompanying dips and spreads, making for a fine pick for any general cookbook collection.


The Audiobook Shelf

Grace: A Memoir
Grace Coddington
Random House Audio
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449808061, $35.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

GRACE: A MEMOIR reviews the life and achievements of Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue magazine and an international icon, and follows her career and life from her years as a model to becoming a fashion editor in the late 1960s. Her encounters with designers, hairstylists, photographers, models and more makes for a lively survey while her descriptions of family life make this an involving, fun survey recommended for any interested in Grace Coddington in particular or the world of fashion and design in general.

Oliver Twist
Focus on the Family
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781589977136, $39.99, www.tyndale.com

OLIVER TWIST has been done many times over the decades, but this presentation is different: it's a Family Radio Theatre production, has been adapted by author Paul McCusker whose version lends well to the multi-voiced theatre approach, and comes to life for new generations in a production recorded on location in London with a full cast and original music score. Five CDs and a bonus DVD to the package make for an exciting multimedia production highly recommended for any interested in either the classic Oliver or a more modern, accessible take.

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

David Baldacci's THE FORGOTTEN (9781607885771, $39.98) benefits from a dual narration by veteran actor and author Ron McLarty and actress Orlagh Cassidy, a Broadway actress with extensive credits to her name, and tells of Army Special Agent John Puller, a combat veteran with a reputation for investigating the toughest crimes facing the nation. His new case hits too close to home: an aunt is found dead in Paradise, Florida and local police have ruled it an accident. But Puller's father is in receipt of a letter she mailed just before she died, which seems to indicate otherwise. The result is a gripping audio story perfect for any audio novel holding. Ted Dekker's THE SANCTUARY (9781611133998, $34.98) receives a fine dual narration by classically trained actor Henry Leyva and New York actress Rebecca Soler, who join together to bring to life this story of a vigilante priest serving a long prison term for murdering two abusive men. When the woman he loves receives demands from an enemy outside the prison, Danny must find a way to protect her even as she plans to free him. A powerful story of intrigue and danger comes to life in audio! Pete Hamill's THE CHRISTMAS KID AND OTHER BROOKLYN STORIES (9781619698222, $29.98) receives a fine narration by Henry Leyva, a classically trained actor whose smooth voice lends to a fine collection of original stories about Brooklyn. These are inspirational holiday mentions, from a man who returns to town to avenge his brother's death to a famous author who revisits the Brooklyn of his childhood memories. Short fiction unavailable for years is profiled in a lovely listen for any with an affection for New York. Michael Connelly's THE BLACK BOX (9781600247248, $39.98) receives a fine reading by actor and voiceover artist Michael McConnohie, who tells of one Harry Bosch, who in his quest to clear unsolved cases finds something new about the death of a woman shot execution-style during the L.A. riots. His investigation covers some of the most dangerous underworld areas of the city as he fights to understand what happened to her, and what brought her to Los Angeles, in a gripping murder mystery that comes to life in audio.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Book of Cats
Ralph Steadman
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547594002, $24.00, www.hmhbooks.com

BOOK OF CATS is a lovely pick for a wide audience, from art-oriented collections looking for contemporary depictions of animals to cat enthusiasts and graphic novel and cartoon holdings. Ralph Steadman provides a series of fun and unique cats capturing whimsical images in full color that range from cats exploding due to baked beans to strange combinations of cats and people such as a Mancat. It's a fun, artistic gathering of cartoon images perfect for any cat lover who also appreciates artistic renderings.

For the Love of Cats
Animal Rescue League of Iowa Inc.
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9781935726135, $21.95, www.landauercorp.com

FOR THE LOVE OF CATS: A HANDS-ON JOURNEY covers all the basics of cat care and is the perfect primer for the new potential owner. From selecting a cat or kitten and understanding their care to problem-solving and blending a cat or kitten into a home, this comes from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and covers everything from scratching and nocturnal activities to toys and cat communication processes. A 'must' for any newcomer to cats who would contemplate what's involved in owning one.

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

Jeanne R. Perrone's SMALL ANIMAL DENTAL PROCEDURES FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND NURSES (9780813820750, $59.99) provides a fine procedures-based resource for technicians and nurses involved with all aspects of animal dentistry and provides a clinically-oriented training manual packed with step-by-step instructions on the oral exam, cleaning, and more. Basic dental anatomy accompanies keys to everything from anesthesia and radiology to common diseases, and pairs black and white and color photos with charts, diagrams and keys to understanding dentistry in all kinds of animals. Any dental clinic needs this! Michael J. Day and Barbara Kohn edit BSAVA MANUAL OF CANINE AND FELINE HAEMATOLOGY AND TRANSFUSION MEDICINE (9781905319299, $151.99), which appears in its second updated edition to cover the basic principles of hematology, all updated to include the latest new diagnostic procedures and new treatment options. Chapters pack in color photos, there are no chapters on inflammation and anaemia and other advancements in the field, and the powerful survey will provide an outstanding and in-depth discussion suitable for any veterinary student or practicing clinic.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
www.orbisbooks.com

Victor M. Parachin's SWAMI VIVEKANAND ESSENTIAL WRITINGS (9781570759963, $22.00) joins others in Orbis' 'Modern Spiritual Masters' series and blends biography with Hindu theology as it tells of a scholar and wandering monk from India who traveled to Chicago in 1893 for the first World Parliament of Religions, won acclaim, and established the first Vedanta centers in the U.S. His yoga philosophy would change the world, and this collection of his essential teachings is key to any Eastern spirituality collection looking to understand his perspective and works. Dermot A. Lane's STEPPING STONES TO OTHER RELIGIONS; A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE (9781570759918, $40.00) is a pick for Christian and Catholic religions looking for a comparative religion volume conducive to discussion on other faiths. Inter-religious dialogue is now part of what it means to be Catholic in modern times, and this scholarly yet accessible volume considers and summarizes concepts in modern Catholic theology in relation to interreligious dialogue. The result is a powerful survey that any Christian religious collection will find key to advanced debate and interfaith endeavors.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

America's Blessings
Rodney Stark
Templeton Foundation Press
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 670
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
9781599474120, $24.95, www.templetonpress.org

AMERICA'S BLESSINGS: HOW RELIGION BENEFITS EVERYONE, INCLUDING ATHEISTS provides a powerful debate on religion's positives for all and comes from a researcher who considers the lasting impact of faith on American society as a whole. His history focuses on America's religious roots from its founding to modern times, considering the latest research on how religion affects American life and values and analyzing the financial impact of religion. Belief benefits the American economy - this book outlines all the ways belief enhances life in the country, and is a pick for spirituality collections and general American social issues holdings, as well.

Faitheist
Chris Stedman
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807014394, $22.95, www.beacon.org

FAITHEIST: HOW AN ATHEIST FOUND COMMON GROUND WITH THE RELIGIOUS comes from an author who moved from being a true believer to a nonbeliever, and who is the Assistant Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University. His autobiography charts a journey that began from his being a 'born again' Christian to an openly gay atheist, following his struggles to reconcile his religious belief with his life and following how he stopped believing in God and hating religion while at a Christian college. His questions and perceptions make for an outstanding survey of not only his personal evolution, but the life changes affecting spiritual belief, and makes this an important title for general and spiritual holdings alike.

Torn
Justin Lee
Jericho Books
Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9781455514311, $21.99, www.jerichobooks.com

TORN: RESCUING THE GOSPEL FROM THE GAYS-VS-CHRISTIANS DEBATE is a powerful pick documenting the cultural and religious wars between gays and Christians, and comes from an author caught between both worlds. Justin Lee was committed to his evangelical faith as a teen - but he also knew he was gay. The events surrounding his coming out to his Christian family and friends and his experiences with the "ex-gay" movement permeate a blend of memoir and spiritual survey recommended for Christians who face their own struggles with gay friends or family members.


The Science Shelf

Clandestine Marriage
Theresa M. Kelley
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421405179, $55.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Clandestine Marriage: Botany and Romantic Culture is a pick for college-level collections interested in botany and culture alike, and provides a scholarly assessment of the British romantics' interest in plants. An interdisciplinary approach lends to a discussion of an era when plants and culture were more closely linked then they are now, and blends lovely color period reproductions of botanicals with writings of the times and modern critical reflection on the history and culture of plants in human affairs. Any college-level science holding and many a history collection will appreciate the multi-faceted coverage.

Disaster Deferred
Seth Stein
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231151399, $22.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

Disaster Deferred: A New View of Earthquake Hazards in the New Madrid Seismic Zone tackles the geology and story of the Midwest's New Madrid fault - and argues that estimates of quake risks along this fault have long been exaggerated. From the since involved in geology and earthquake prediction to explanations of how earthquakes work, plate tectonics, and other influences on how and why quakes develop, this is a top recommendation that goes beyond the usual California focus to consider the wider-ranging science of earthquake prediction around the world. Accessible to general readers, this is recommended for community and academic library reference collections and non-specialist general readers with an interest in geology and earthquake phenomena.

Zooplankton of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, second edition
William S. Johnson & Dennis M. Allen
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406183, $50.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The second updated edition of Zooplankton of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts: A Guide to Their Identification and Ecology pairs black and white illustrations throughout by Marni Fylling with in-depth coverage of the behavior and natural history of these aquatic animals. The updated second edition includes an updated introduction, descriptions of life cycles, illustrations that identify over three hundred taxa and life stages, discussions of ranges, and more. Teachers, students and professionals in marine biology at the college level will find this a key survey.

Electric System Operations
Subramanian Vadari
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075492, $99.00, www.artechhouse.com

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM OPERATIONS: EVOLVING TO THE MODERN GRID provides a resource packed with business ideas on electric systems operations and is a pick for any serious engineer working on or with electronics systems for utilities. Here is a basic survey of such system operations, identifying various systems that support utility functions of providing reliable power to customers, and examining the types of systems used in modern grid operations. From ensuring safety and reliability in transmission and distribution functions to examining systems that operate outside the control center, this considers DEMS, EMS and OMS and how such systems interact with customers, making for a specific technical reference for any electrical engineering holding.

Handbook of Dielectric and Thermal Properties of Materials at Microwave Frequencies
Vyacheslav V. Komarov
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075294, $99.00, www.artechhouse.com

Handbook of Dielectric and Thermal Properties of Materials at Microwave Frequencies considers microwave energy used for thermal processing of different materials, and provides engineers with a key reference compiling and analyzing data on the dielectric and thermal properties of microwavable materials. The author is a leading expert in the field and presents important data on basic materials and their characteristics relating to microwaves. Calculations and formulas accompany insights on how these properties interact and function in a key acquisition for engineering collections featuring microwave research and applications.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

A Land Between Waters
Christopher R. Boyer, Editor
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816502493, $55.00, www.uapress.arizona.edu

A Land Between Waters: Environmental Histories of Modern Mexico explores the relationship between the people and environment in Mexico and arranges a dozen original works of environmental history by experts in Mexican environmental issues on both sides of the border. From a history of Mexico's early independence to modern times, essays consider how humans have interacted with nature in Mexico for over two hundred years in a work widely recommended for college-level readers in social issues, Mexican history and culture, and environmental history alike.

Fields and Streams
Rebecca Lave
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820343921, $22.95, www.ugapress.org

FIELDS AND STREAMS: STREAM RESTORATION, NEOLIBERALISM, AND THE FUTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE considers the science of stream restoration and argues that the neoliberal emphasis on the privatization and commercialization of knowledge has changed how science is both funded and conducted in this country. Stream restoration science is one example of this disparity: its most successful expert is a private consultant with little formal scientific background. Many academic and federal agency-based scientists have denounced him as a charlatan - yet his unique approach and classification system are widely accepted, and are now promoted by federal agencies. This focus on Rosgen's success and the evolution of how science receives legitimate analysis makes for a thought-provoking, well researched analysis key to any geography or environmental studies program.

The Whole Story of Climate
E. Kristen Peters
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146726, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE WHOLE STORY OF CLIMATE: WHAT SCIENCE REVEALS ABOUT THE NATURE OF ENDLESS CHANGE comes from a geologist who describes the contributions geology has made to our perception of climate change, and considers the evidence of rocks in the evolution of global climate processes. The geologic history of Earth in fact reveals a long succession of climate change patterns and shifts, some very rapid occurring in as little as twenty or thirty years time, and this book reflects the story of how Earth's geological history contributes additional insights into how climate change happens. Readers will find this a powerful addition to any collection discussing natural and manmade effects on climate change patterns.


The Psychology Shelf

Beyond Human Nature
Jessie J. Prinz
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393061758, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

BEYOND HUMAN NATURE: HOW CULTURE AND EXPERIENCE SHAPE THE HUMAN MIND teaches the basics of "nurture" over "nature" and uses research in neuroscience, psychology and anthropology to show how human behavior differs between cultures and changes with experiences. From examining the legacy of inheritance and how language, thinking and emotions evolve and are influenced to the latest research on consciousness and links between intelligence, race and gender, BEYOND HUMAN NATURE is a powerful probe of innate abilities and cultural influences, and is a powerful pick for any health or science holding from general-interest to college-level audiences.

The Ravenous Brain
Daniel Bor
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465020478, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com

THE RAVENOUS BRAIN: HOW THE NEW SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS EXPLAINS OUR INSATIABLE SEARCH FOR MEANING provides cutting-edge science from a neuroscientist who considers brain biology and the nature of consciousness, and provides a survey studying consciousness and why humans have it. From what consciousness means for self-perception and mental health to the evolutionary nature of such consciousness and instinct, this proves research on how information is structured in the brain, how man's search for understanding creates patterns, and how evolution-driven emotions result in highly functioning biological computers. Collections strong not only in science but in health, bioethics, and self-help will find this a powerful survey.

How Come They're Happy and I'm Not?
Dr. Peter Bongiorno
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573245807, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

How Come They're Happy and I'm Not? The Complete natural Program for Healing Depression for Good is for any confused by anti-depressant medications and searching for a natural alternative to drug treatments of depression. It considers natural and pharmaceutical treatments addressing depression, provides a seven-step program for healing, and considers a range of related medical concerns form the relationship between cholesterol and depression to mood-improving supplements and alternatives to medication. A 'must' for any interested in combating depression.


The Travel Shelf

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

Brett Atkinson's NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTH ISLAND (9781742202129, $21.99) is packed with detailed listings and tips from three authors who have conducted weeks of on-the-road research to assure all information is correct. New Zealand holds a lot of outdoor opportunities and varied environments that lend to outdoor activities. This coverage of the South Island alone is packed with small maps, sidebars of information, tour opportunities and much more, making it an outstanding pick for any travel holding. Karla Zimmerman and Regis St. Louis's WASHINGTON, D.C. (9781741799514, $19.99) profiles clubs, bars, family-oriented attractions, and cultural surveys of Washington, D.C. from free museums to the White House, and outlines a course of sightseeing action for any who would visit the nation's capitol. Color photos and maps throughout pack a survey filled with colorful 'must see' attractions, making this a top pick for any Washington, D.C. travel planner. Any bound for South Africa will want to include James Bainbridge, et.al.'s SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO & SWAZILAND (9781741798005, $27.99) on their reading lists: it covers three neighboring countries under one cover, surveys some eleven languages and forty wineries, and packs in information on parks, reserves, and outdoors opportunities in all three areas. Color maps, sidebars of information, and the latest assessments of pros and cons of different areas pack a take-along tote perfect for both advance travel planning and at-destination reference.

Moon Publications
1700 - 4th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
www.moon.com

Kathleen Bryant's FOUR CORNERS (9781598805987, $16.99) is a travel guide that includes Navajo and Hopi Country, Moab and Lake Powell, and packs in over twenty easy maps to be included with sightseeing Indian regions located in the four corners of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. From making the best of this region to understanding its history and taking advantage of backcountry sights and Native cultural interests, this is packed with travel recommendations personally presented from the author's firsthand experience, and is a powerful pick for any planning to visit the area. Joshua Berman's MAYA 2012: A GUIDE TO CELEBRATIONS IN MEXICO, GUATEMALA, BELIZE & HONDURAS (9781612381190, $7.99) is a top pick for any heading to these countries and covers archaeological ruins, Mayan ceremonies, and celebrations specific to 2012. While this was received too late for earlier mention, traveling the Mundo Maya in 2012 helps plan the perfect journey to the region at any time in 2013, and is a top pick for any who would plan either an independent trip or partake of a specialty tour or package. The firsthand experience of author Joshua Berman enhances the entire survey.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation
Lou Scheimer with Andy Mangels
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490441, $29.95, www.twomorrows.com

Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation comes from the co-founder of Filmation Studios, which for over 25 years provided animated TV and film, creating the first DC cartoons with Superman and Aquaman, producing the animated series of Star Trek, and blending special effects into live-action film. Photos, model sheets, storyboards, and more examine Filmation's history and art, surveying its artists and offering behind-the-scenes insights into Filmation as a whole and the art of animated TV and film in particular. The result is a key acquisition for not only cartoon and comics holdings, but for film collections strong in animation history.

Rat Pack - Guns, Guts and Glory V. 1
Carlos Ezquerra & Gerry Finley-Day
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781848560352, $19.95, www.titanbooks.com

Rat Pack - Guns, Guts and Glory V. 1 provides the first in a series collecting the adventures of the Rat Pack in their entirety, returning a classic World War II action comic to popular circles. When Major Taggart breaks four military convicts out of jail they become 'rats' in one of the deadliest missions in the world, living by their own rules to get dirty military jobs done. Any fan of vintage war comics will find this first volume a solid addition to comic history and culture.


The Political Science Shelf

Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu

Toshi Yoshihara and James R. Holmes' STRATEGY IN THE SECOND NUCLEAR AGE: POWER, AMBITION, AND THE ULTIMATE WEAPON (9781589019287, $32.95) charts the course of a "second nuclear age" begun in the post-Cold War world, fueled by the expansion of nuclear arsenals and new proliferation in Asia. A group of scholars from different perspectives provide analysis of how the U.S. and its allies need to address this problem with new strategies and approaches. The focus on responses that reinforce deterrence under different, more complicated scenarios makes for a powerful study key to any international studies or security collection, and many a political studies college-level audience. Dall W. Forsythe and Donald J. Boyd's MEMOS TO THE GOVERNOR: AN INTRODUCTION TO STATE BUDGETING (9781589019249, $19.95) appears in its third updated edition to provide a revised, updated consideration of budgeting and its political and economic impact. From developing a multiyear strategic budget plan to how to get budgets adopted by legislatures and understanding business and political influences alike, this is a top pick for any college-level political studies collection and many a business shelf.


The Education Shelf

Paying for College Without Going Broke: 2013 Edition
Kalman A. Chany with Geoff Martz
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307945327, $20.00, www.princetonreview.com

Paying for College Without Going Broke: 2013 Edition is the only updated financial guide providing step-by-step strategies for completing the 2013-14 standardized aid application forms to include the federal FAFSA and CSS Profile application, packing samples of the forms with the latest details on pros and cons of financial aid legislation and education tax breaks. From what parents and students should and shouldn't do in the process to what independent students and divorced parents need to know about eligibility, this packs in the latest details in a 'must have' reference for any education collection appealing to high school students college-bound.

Stallcup's Master Electrician's Study Guide 2011
James G. Stallcup and James W. Stallcup
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9781449605773, $51.75, www.jblearning.com

Stallcup's Master Electrician's Study Guide 2011 is based on the NEC and other established industry standards and provides all the formulas, tools and details needed to help ace the Master Electrician exam. From black and white illustrations of motors, compressors, conductors and more to calculations and discussions of their applications in the field, this packs in all kinds of questions, approaches, and technical specs any such electrician must know. It's recommended beyond the exam as a basic reference any serious electrician should have in his library.

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

Janet C. Richards and Cynthia A. Lassonde edit STRATEGIC WRITING MINI-LESSONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, GRADES 4-8 (9781452235011, $38.95), a fine survey covering all four key writing strategies from inventing and drafting to writing and editing, and provides mini-lessons teachers can use in their classrooms to encourage consistent structure and results. From using color-coding techniques for different kinds of learners to applying structured strategies for independent writing and adopting portal writing ideas, this is packed with student strategies and teacher applications. D'Ette Cowan, Stacey Joyner and Shirley Beckwith's GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT THE SYSTEM: A FIELDBOOK FOR DISTRICT AND SCHOOL LEARNERS (9781452205113, $31.95) provides a focused approach to raising student achievement, and focuses on Common Core State Standards applications and linking the overall improvement process to levels, components, and competencies to ensure consistent strategies. Chapters use vignettes to illustrate each phase and link to a companion website with online modules in a fine survey that is recommended for any school leader. Phyllis Hostmeyer's TOOLS STUDENTS NEED TO BE SKILLFUL WRITERS: BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES (9781412989046, $36.95) goes beyond the usual diagram approach to sentence-building to offering a lesson plan for grades 3-8 that provides sentence patterns in logical sequence, exploring their possibilities and providing reinforcement exercises for each. Student activities complete the process while the instructions emphasize the end goals of preparing students to be better writers. Any educator teaching these grades needs this! The second updated edition of Richard D. Sorenson and Lloyd Milton Goldsmith's THE PRINCIPAL'S GUIDE TO SCHOOL BUDGETING (9781455255477, $31.00) provides a fine guide to developing a successful school budget during demanding economic times, and offers over twenty tips for budgeting during an economic turndown. From analyzing school budgets to a case study involving problems and applications and a checklist for administrators, chapters cover budget allocation processes, offer integrated approaches to planning and budgeting, and cover the basics of changing school culture. A fine guide for any school administrator and education libraries catering to them! Robert J. Manley and Richard J. Hawkins' MAKING THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS WORK (9781452258577, $33.00) presents realistic strategies supported by many examples from a range of schools and covers everything from adapting existing curricula to meet math and language goals for different grades to planning for and implementing the new standards. The focus on the entire integration process for all kinds of classrooms provides detailed coverage of systems and how to manage the changes, includes real-world examples, and makes this a top pick for any education holding seeing interest in common store standards development.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula
Loren D. Estleman
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781781161425, $11.95, www.titanbooks.com

The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes comes from the author of over sixty books and hundreds of short stories and adds to the series presenting more adventures in Conan Doyle's style. This story offers a lively account based on a mysterious ship's crash-landing in England and the subsequent bloodbath of horror unleashed on the London. It's obvious Count Dracula has returned - but can Sherlock Holmes track him down? Fans of Dracula and Holmes alike will find this compelling.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing Skills for Public Relations, fifth edition
John Foster
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749465438, $37.50, www.koganpage.com

Writing Skills for Public Relations: Style and Technique for Mainstream and Social Media provides a completely updated fifth edition for PR students and practitioners alike, and covers grammar and editing skills as it surveys the specifics of developing writing skills for public relations. New examples and advice in the new edition also covers the basics of web development, blogs, and online media relations. Any student of public relations needs this specific reference.

Deeper Writing
Robin W. Holland
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452229942, $31.95, www.corwin.com

DEEPER WRITING: QUICK WRITES AND MENTOR TEXTS TO ILLUMINATE NEW POSSIBILITIES packs in keys to developing fluent writers and while originally intended for teachers encouraging students, is reviewed here as a recommendation for any who would hone their own creative writing pursuits. Tools and strategies cover student writing and provide 45 quick writes in frameworks geared to grade levels, using 'mentor texts' as examples to provide models and inspiration. It provides the basic tools and strategies to refine any creative effort, and is a 'must' of resources showing how to nurture deeper writing efforts. Any creative writer and teacher of such needs this key to deeper writing.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

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

James D. Stein's THE PARANORMAL EQUATION: A NEW SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON REMOTE VIEWING AND OTHER INEXPLICABLE PHENOMENA (9781601632289, $16.99) is a top pick for any new age collection strong in paranormal experiences, and provides an argument for the existence of the supernatural based on math and science discoveries of the last century. The argument also uses logic to show how such phenomena must exist if conditions already accepted by many working scientists are present. From how scientists have researched the supernatural to how belief systems evolve and are tested, THE PARANORMAL EQUATION is a recommendation for any new age and many a science collection. Erich von Daniken is back, this time including over 150 color photos in his new book EVIDENCE OF THE GODS: A VISUAL TOUR OF ALIEN INFLUENCE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD (9781601632470, $19.99), and documents many intriguing facts from archaeological findings, from why rock and cave paintings from around the world depict the same forms to how 'flying chariots' came to be described in a world which had no technology. Any fan of von Daniken will find this offers intriguing, supportive information for his ongoing theory. THE UFO SINGULARITY: WHY ARE PAST UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA CHANGING OUR FUTURE? WHERE WILL TRANSCENDING THE BOUNDS OF CURRENT THINKING LEAD? HOW NEAR IS THE SINGULARITY? (9781601632401, $15.99) comes with a long title and big ideas, comes from a prominent UFO researcher, and offers keys on what can be expected from contact with UFOs. From the latest research on the singularity and how it relates to UFOs to theories about the UFOs being time travelers from our future, and the latest observations about their advanced technology, this is a recommendation for any new age collection where UFOs are of interest. Sahvana Arienta's THE LIGHTWORKER'S SOURCE: AN ENLIGHTENING GUIDE TO AWAKEN THE POWER WITHIN (9781601631886, $15.99) provides a fine key to a magical power that allows the user to both create a more desirable life and fulfill a higher purpose, and explores the role and nature of 'lightworkers' who lend their light energy to counteract negativity in the world. Many such workers have forgotten their divine purpose yet achieve light-lending goals: this book analyzes their gifts, describe their pros and cons, and consider how to work with such gifts. A fine guide for new age and inspirational spirituality holdings alike!


The Art Shelf

The Harold Samuel Collection
Michael Hall with Clare Gifford
Paul Holberton Publishing
89 Borough High Street
London, England SE1 1NL
9781907372414 L15.00 www.paul-holberton.net

The Harold Samuel Collection: A Guide to the Dutch and Flemish Pictures at the Mansion House is a key to a very unique collection of 17th-century paintings from Holland bequeathed to the City of London in 1987 by philanthropist Sir Harold Samuel of Wych Cross, and is published to mark the 25th anniversary of the bequest. Pages of color photos are accompanied by extensive description of each work that includes critical inspection both pro and con. From analysis of painting themes to what makes each piece unique in its place in the collection, this provides a thorough coverage perfect for any arts history holding.


The Computer Shelf

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

Gary A. Donahue's ARISTA WARRIOR: A REAL-WORLD GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ARISTA SWITCHES AND EOS (9781449314538, $59.99) is a pick for any computer collection strong on networking in general and the relatively new company of Arista Networks in particular, and comes from a technical consultant who focuses on Arista's hardware lineup and explains why its network switches are effective. Any with CCNA knowledge, from administrators to engineers, will find this offers plenty of technical assessments key to assessing and building an Arista network. The result is an excellent survey perfect for any considering working with Arista hardware and systems. Kurt Demagd, et.al.,'s PRACTICAL COMPUTER VISION WITH SIMPLECV (9781449320362, $24.99) teaches how to build your own computer vision applications using SimpleCV, an open source program written in Python, and uses real-world applications to impart the basics of CV applications for collecting, processing and analyzing digital images. From using detection processes to hone in on the interesting parts of an image to identifying objects that change between two image frames, this is a pick for any who want to learn the basics of SimpleCV. Brett McLaughlin's PHP & MYSQL: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449325572, $34.99) is a pick for any web programmer looking to get up and running with PHP and MySQL, covering the basics from the initial installation to advanced operations relating to building a good database and keeping a site working. From managing content and creating dynamic, changing pages to allocating design time and using tables for storage, this uses a combination of specific code, sidebars of information, and keys to thinking about scripting to create a specific, recommended guide for any web programmer. Mike Halsey's WINDOWS 8: OUT OF THE BOX (9781449326647, $9.99) offers a step-by-step guide to Windows 8, the latest operating system that is so very different from any other Windows product. A little over a hundred pages makes this a top pick for navigating the Windows 8 interface, setting up email and browses, watching movies and listening to music, and editing photos. Keys to using older software and adding on features make this a top pick for any Windows 8 newcomer.


The American History Shelf

A Disability History of the United States
Kim E. Nielsen
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807022023, $25.95, www.beacon.org

A Disability History of the United States explores the experiences of people with disabilities and retraces history with this focus in mind, considering such events as slavery, immigration and the evolution of politics and social issues against such a backdrop. Chapters survey the legal, economic, political and social impact of disability in American history, using primary source documents and narrative accounts to reveal experiences ranging from indigenous peoples to early colonizers alike. The result is a wide-ranging analysis of American history and democracy, tracing the evolution of the realization of physical disability's social issues and providing a fine guide any interested in disability's changing perceptions.

Well Met
Rachel Lee Rubin
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10003
9780814771389, $35.00, www.nyupress.org

WELL MET: RENAISSANCE FAIRES & THE AMERICAN COUNTERCULTURE offers college-level readers a social, cultural and political history of the renaissance fair and uses interview material and archival research to show how the faires became pioneering institutions examining family arrangements, consumer goods, and entertainment processes alike. It's at once a history of the faire's performers, crafters, and influence on American culture and considers its contributions to American counterculture. The result is a fine and detailed survey of labor history and cultural institutions and is a pick for any interested in American social change.

1775: A Good Year for Revolution
Kevin Phillips
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670025121, $36.00, www.penguin.com

1775: A Good Year for Revolution comes from a political and economic commentator who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in history and here analyzes the events of 1775, providing many unique insights into the politics of the times. It focuses on the confrontations of 1775, when Congress presented economic ultimatums to Britain and began the expulsion of British royalty from this country. A series of events offered radical changes in political control processes and established the US Army, navy and Marine Corps. The politics, economics, and evolving military structures of the times are all analyzed in a powerful survey highly recommended for any college-level American history holding.

The Eve of Destruction
James T. Patterson
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465013586, $28.99, www.basicbooks.com

THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION: HOW 1965 TRANSFORMED AMERICA refutes the popular notion that the sixties redefined the nation, and instead argues that 1965 was the true focal point between different American eras, and marked a turning point in history - not the events of 1968, as are popularly presented in other books. This history considers the evolution of cultural and political ideals in America of the times, and narrows the focus to 1965 in particular to consider how American unity was changing and the series of shocks that sent the nation in new directions. Any American history holding must have this lively re-assessment of events.


The Business Shelf

Innovation at Work
Richard Brynteson
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814432341, $34.95, www.amacombooks.org

INNOVATION AT WORK: 55 ACTIVITIES TO SPARK YOUR TEAM'S CREATIVITY comes from an innovation coach who provides managers with the methods to encourage team creativity, and provides over fifty tested and proven exercises that help participants unlearn negative concepts and explore alternatives to standard uses of familiar objects or routines. Chapters focus on breakthroughs and how to achieve them by considering the personality, skill sets, and process of innovation, then devising routines that encourage this. From worksheets and discussion questions to lists of required materials and step-by-step 'how to' basics, this is a top recommendation for any business manager seeking to step up employee and team innovation at work.

Enterprise Games
Michael Hugos
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449319564, $24.99, www.oreilly.com

ENTERPRISE GAMES: USING GAME MECHANICS TO BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS is a pick for any business collection concerned with organizational behavior patterns and provides a fine guide to game dynamics, applying virtual worlds and such dynamics to business intelligence and data analytics applications, and more. Games can serve as models for designing better business systems, and Michael Hughes has a strong background working with clients to find solutions to complex business problems. His approach will intrigue any business leader looking for something different.

Changing Business from the Inside Out
Timothy J. Mohin
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609946401, $24.95, www.bkconnection.com

CHANGING BUSINESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT: A TREEHUGGER'S GUIDE TO WORKING IN CORPORATIONS is a strategic winner for any who would enter a corporate structure with the idea of influencing it. It tells how to incorporate the concepts of doing good into a corporate environment at all levels, whether readers are looking to blend responsibility into an existing career or want to change a company's strategy and choices of action. The result is an outstanding survey highly recommended for any business library and for any interested in social change.

Think Twice
Michael J. Mauboussin
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422187388, $16.00, www.hbr.org/books

Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition is a fine pick for any business collection strong in management issues, and addresses some of the predecessors of bad mistakes. The focus on mistakes offers a fine survey that tells of the opportunity stemming from them - and how to reduce mistakes by seeing such opportunity more clearly. From developing situational awareness to overstating the role of the individual in a business structure, this provides an excellent survey highly recommended for any management-oriented business collection.

Understanding Digital Marketing, second edition
Damian Ryan & Calvin Jones
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749464271, $29.95, www.koganpage.com

UNDERSTANDING DIGITAL MARKETING: MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING THE DIGITAL GENERATION appears in its second updated edition to examine the world of digital marketing and its future. This latest edition discusses digital media and how to apply it to business pursuits, from choosing online marketing challenges to building an effective e-mail list, developing on online outreach code of ethics, and more. An excellent 'must have' reference for any business concerned with digital marketing.

Make Your Job a Calling
Bryan Dik, PhD and Ryan Duffy, PhD
Templeton Foundation Press
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 670
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
9781599473802, $24.95, www.templetonpress.org

Make Your Job a Calling: How the Psychology of Vocation Can Change Your Life at Work provides a fine survey linking job and vocational purpose to the idea of making a job a 'calling' - one which offers opportunity for hope, joy and meaning. From finding underlying purpose in company products to defining the concept of a business 'calling' and a more purpose-driven work world, this is a fine pick offering insights into vocational purpose and career satisfaction. Any business holding will find it an important, thoughtful guide!


The Biography Shelf

The Grand Tour
Mathew Prichard
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062191229, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

THE GRAND TOUR: AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE QUEEN OF MYSTERY offers a fine collection of previously unpublished letters and photos following author Agatha Christie's travels around the British Empire in 1922: a year-long voyage undertaken as part of a promotional trade mission. Agatha explored exotic places, encountered many peoples, and achieved her long-held goals of world travel, maintaining a weekly correspondence with her mother during the process. Here letters and experiences accompany photos taken with her own portable camera and make for a pick recommended for a range of general-interest libraries; from travel holdings to literary and biography collections.

Young Thurgood
Larry S. Gibson
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145712, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

YOUNG THURGOOD: THE MAKING OF A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE offers a fine biography of the most important American lawyer of our times, covering his efforts to fight for racial justice and his relationships with opponents and all sides. These well-known traits of his were shaped by events in his yearly years, discussed here for the first time in a title that offers new information about his family, youth, and education. From his influences to his law practice struggles and his move up to his position, this is the only Thurgood Marshall biography to be endorsed by his immediate family and provides a fine title for any collection strong in law, civil rights issues, American history and biography alike.


The Hobby Shelf

Modelling Luftwaffe Jets and Wonder Weapons
Brett Green
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781780961606, $39.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

Modelling Luftwaffe Jets and Wonder Weapons is a fine survey of military aircraft developed by the Luftwaffe and is a strong pick for any military aircraft modeler who wants a blend of history and keys to authentic modeling. From painting patterns for different jets to building and finishing the models, this packs in hundreds of color photos, step-by-step instructions, and realistic model displays in a 'must' for any serious modeler and many a military collection interested in Luftwaffe jets and their weaponry.

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

Jeff Wilson's GUIDE TO INDUSTRIAL SERIES: LIVESTOCK & MEATPACKING (9780890248676, $19.95) features industry tips and over 100 rare prototype photos - some from the early 1900s - and provides railroad modelers with all the possibilities about the industry that lend to an authentic layout. Railroads were key to the livestock and meatpacking industries for decades: this explains stockyard operations, stock cars, regulations and much more and covers the role railroads played in the industry. No railroad modeler should be without this! Sue Ripsch's CLASSIC CHAIN MAIL JEWELRY (9780871164070, $21.95) updates chain mail jewelry making in a guide that uses over thirty projects for all skills levels to teach the basics. From step-by-step photography and a wide range of styles to keys to integrating crystals and other wires for embellishment, this introduces the basics of chain mail jewelry making skills. Her CLASSIC CHAIN MAIL JEWELRY WITH A TWIST (9780871164834, $21.95) blends tradition weaves for silver with more variations in her second book, which profiles rings made of twisted wire and weaves that are turned and twisted with added bead and crystal embellishments. Nearly thirty projects based on these weaves offer details on making the most of jump rings, with step-by-step instructions and photos lending to easy construction. Jewelry-making collections will find these intriguing variations on the chain mail jewelry theme. Kimberly Sciaraffa Berlin's BUILD YOUR OWN WIRE PENDANTS (9780871164568, $19.95) offers a three-step process to choosing a frame, making a bail, and adding beading embellishments. Each simple project includes a list of supplies, step-by-step instructions, and design options that help customize pendants. Any who would start with the basics of making a wire-based pendant will find this an easy starting point.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Telling Genes
Alexandra Minna Stern
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406688, $25.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Any collection strong in medicine history will find important TELLING GENES: THE STORY OF GENETIC COUNSELING IN AMERICA. It traces the development of genetic counseling from the eugenics movement of the early twentieth century to modern times, using a combination of archival records, patient files, and oral history to trace the science, health developments and growth of genetic counseling practices. It considers the evolution of genomic medicine and provides an excellent, rich survey for any health collection, surveying not only the development of genetic counseling as a science but considering its ethical and moral evolution as well. Any collection strong in genetic health will find this a winner.

The Evolution of the Human Placenta
Michael L. Power and Jay Schulkin
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406435, $65.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The Evolution of the Human Placenta begins its history with some of the earliest events that have influenced placental evolution in mammals and progresses to the human placenta, considering modern gestation and why there is an apparent disparity between human placental development and complications of pregnancy. From how the placenta regulates and coordinates the metabolism to its role in producing a fetus from the other's immune system, this reveals the importance of this organ for individuals and the species as a whole, and is recommended for science and health holdings alike.

The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine, revised edition
James Le Fanu, MD
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465058952, $22.00, www.basicbooks.com

The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine appears in a revised edition and comes from a doctor and historian of science and medicine who considers the medical community's postwar achievements and how modern advancement has stalled. From a history of twelve selected definitive moments in medical history to an ongoing drive to over-extend the influence of medicine, this identifies modern medical challenges and the factors involved in medicine's continuing expansion, and is a pick for social issues and health collections interested in considering the technological and social influences on medical research and discovery.

Addicted Healers
Ethan O. Bryson, MD
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823928, $14.95, www.newhorizon.com

ADDICTED HEALERS: 5 KEY SIGNS YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL MAY BE DRUG IMPAIRED pinpoints a growing problem in the healthcare industry: the addiction of physicians. Stories of such addiction, drug-seeking behaviors, and how patients can identify these activities make for an eye-opening survey that reveals the signs and symptoms of drug abuse among healthcare professionals. True-life stories identify the problem, its results, and how and why healthcare professionals become addicted. Consumers receive a fine survey that tells them how to recognize the warning signs in a guide recommended for any health library.

New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com

Valerie DeLaune's TRIGGER POINT THERAPY FOR REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY: YOUR SELF-TREATMENT WORKBOOK FOR ELBOW, LOWER ARM, WRIST, AND HAND PAIN (9781608821273, $21.95) provides exercises and approaches for addressing everything from tendonitis and tennis elbow to hand and finger numbness, bursitis and various conditions. From common symptoms and probable causes and perpetuators to black and white photos clearly showing anatomy and providing step-by-step photos for exercises and therapies, this packs in discussions of common trigger points and their solutions, and is a pick for any health collection. William J. Knaus, EdD's THE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL WORKBOOK FOR DEPRESSION: A STEP-BY-STEP PROGRAM (9781608823802, $24.95) provides a fine, updated second edition to cover the most widely used treatment for depression. It's a program that has helped thousands of readers, may be used alone or in conjunction with therapy, and offers worksheets and exercises helping readers evaluate depression and learn keys to overcoming it. Bonus tips from depression experts streamline the process in a book packed with strategies proven to work. Any collection strong in psychology or self-help must have this revised second edition! Henry Emmons, MD, et.al.'s THE CHEMISTRY OF JOY WORKBOOK: OVERCOMING DEPRESSION USING THE BEST OF BRAIN SCIENCE, NUTRITION, AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MINDFULNESS (9781608822256, $21.95) provides a fine self-help workbook for any who would tap into their natural resilience and capacity for joy. From understanding how nutrition affects joy and using ayurvedic medicine to affect this piece to using mindfulness practices to settle the mind and manage emotional upsets, this teaches how to re-build self-acceptance and connections with others - and, ultimately, how to find joy in the overall process.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

And Then You Die
Monica Ferris
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425252819, $24.95, www.penguin.com

AND THEN YOU DIE provides a fine needlecraft mystery for any who have enjoyed Monica Ferris' past titles. Here Betsy, owner of Crewel World needleshop in Minnesota, discovers one of her clients dead in her home - and becomes immersed in the world of dye - and to more murder threats that hit even closer to home. Needlework and intrigue form a satisfying blend in a mystery replete with twists and turns of plot, making this a top pick for either mystery or needlework collections.

The Sanctity of Hate
Priscilla Royal
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464200182, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

The Sanctity of Hate provides a fine medieval mystery set in the summer of 1276 at Tyndal Priory, where a villager's corpse is discovered in the millpond. The murder, shockingly, occurred on priory grounds, and was a newcomer disliked in Tyndal - but intent on protecting their own, the villages point to a trio of Jewish refugees as the perps, and riots and threats mount as Prioress Eleanor and local Crowner Ralf work to thwart public error and uncover the real source of the killing. A fine medieval-era-steeped mystery makes this a winning tale for any library's historical mystery collection.


The Military Shelf

Soul Repair
Rita Nakashima Brock & Gabriella Lettini
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807029077, $24.95, www.beacon.org

SOUL REPAIR: RECOVERING FROM MORAL INJURY AFTER WAR provides a powerful survey from two who grew up on homes affected by ear's aftermath, and explores the idea of moral injury, or the violation of core moral beliefs during conflict. Such injury is a largely unrecognized wound of war, different from PTSD and lasting in its effects. Personal stories from veterans accompany accounts of the recovery process and discusses the impact of modern warfare on soldiers. No military collection - and many a community lending library - should be without this hard-hitting examination.

Thirty Days With My Father
Christal presley
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9760757316463, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com

THIRTY DAYS WITH MY FATHER: FINDING PEACE FROM WARTIME PTSD tells of a father drafted to Vietnam, forever changed once he returned. He spent much of her childhood locked in his room, depressed and enraged: at an early age she learned to deflect, avoid, and act out; and when she was eighteen she left him and barely spoke to him for thirteen years. In 2009 she began a healing process that evolved into a "Thirty Days Project": a month's worth of conversations during which she'd ask him difficult questions about Vietnam. Her story of their reconnection offers striking possibilities for any military person suffering from PTSD, and also offers striking insights into its effects on family dynamics. No military holding should be without this memoir.

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Mark Stille's USN DESTROYER VS. IJN DESTROYER: THE PACIFIC 1943 (97817849086233, $18.95) provides a fine history of the arena of destroyers in the pacific War during 1943, where night battles were a technological and strategic challenge on both sides. Four key night battles are closely examined in an analysis that documents the evolution of the destroyer fleets on both sides and how these key battles brought an end to the much-feared Japanese destroyer forces. Color maps and vintage black and white photos abound in an exceptional presentation recommended for any naval or military history holding. Ken Ford's THE MARETH LINE 1943: THE END IN AFRICA (9781780960937, $21.95) provides a new study that describes the fighting that took place in the six months between Alamein and the final surrender - a battle that ended Germany's hopes for victory in North Africa and began the inevitable slide to defeat. Packed with color battle scenes and illustrations plus maps and vintage black and white photos, this is a fine pick for any World War II collection strong in battle analysis. Linda Kush's THE RICE PADDY NAVY: U.S. SAILORS UNDERCOVER IN CHINA (9781849088114, $24.95) covers espionage behind Japanese lines in China during World War II and is a specific, detailed account of the birth and operations of the Sino-American Cooperative Organization, which consisted of over 2,500 American servicemen and some 97,000 Chinese guerrillas plus other private groups who worked with the Nationalist Chinese to fight the Japanese occupation of China. This organization and actions of this effective 'rice paddy navy' was one of the best-kept secrets of the war - and here is recounted in detail in a rare survey that's a 'must' for any World War II history holding. There is so much depth and insight here, that it is an unparalleled achievement based on source materials and key to any definitive collection covering events of the times. Louis A. DiMarco's CONCRETE HELL: URBAN WARFARE FROM STALINGRAD TO IRAQ (9781849087926, $24.95) studies modern combat and military operations in an urban environment, using experiences ranging from the Soviet defense of Stalingrad during World War II to the US Army's experiences in Iraq. It comes from a former lieutenant colonel who describes in detail some nine urban conflict scenarios and their strategies around the world from 1942 to as recently as 2007, considering different challenges posed by different urban environments and covering the tactical and strategic considerations of urban warfare. Very highly recommended! Chris McNab's HITLER'S EAGLES; THE LUFTWAFFE 1933-45 (9781780962832, $40.00) provides a weighty coverage surveying the history of the Luftwaffe from its secret origins in defiance of the Versailles Treaty through its destruction, considering how German air power developed and how the Luftwaffe emerged from secrecy to expand under a massive rearmament program under Hitler. Vintage black and white photos pack a survey of its history, combat, and the crews who flew it, packing in over 150 photos and capturing the extent of the Luftwaffee experience. Any military collection interested in World War II experiences must have this! Gregory Fremont-Barnes' THE SOVIET-AFGHAN WAR 1979-89 (9781849088053, $20.95) tells of the historical and military events of the war in 1979-89: one which the Soviets intended as a limited engagement that turned into a long and futile war against Afghan guerrillas fought with modern weapons and unconventional tactics. Pages detail these events and the strategies, offering a close focus on political and tactical maps and arrangements and packing in black and white photos throughout. The result is a winning pick for any modern military analysis. Sean McLachlan's THE LAST RIDE OF THE JAMES-YOUNGER GANG: JESSE JAMES AND THE NORTHFIELD RAID 1876 (9781849085991, $18.95) tells of two ex-Confederate bushwhackers who became the most famous outlaws in the world - and the events that brought their actions to the limelight. The James Gang planned their most daring raid with the Younger brothers, riding literally hundreds of miles from Missouri to rob the First National Bank at Northfield, Minnesota. This chronicles one of their most daring bank jobs, analyzes their strategy, and is an intriguing pick for history and military collections alike. Gordon L. Tottman's US ARMY PARATROOPER IN THE PACIFIC THEATER 1943-45 (9781780961293, $18.95) provides fine surveys of the US Army's paratroopers and their pacific operations during World War II, examining the two major Army units and their background, training and operations. From color battle scenes to maps and other illustrations including vintage photos, this is a 'must' for any serious World War II history collection. Benjamin Lai's THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY SINCE 1949: GROUND FORCES (9781780960562, $18.95) provides a fine survey of the history and organization of the guerrilla group PLA, known for its 1940s attacks of the Korean War and vastly reformed since with the latest assault weaponry and camouflage outfits. This group has moved from low-tech guerrilla origins to a formidable high-tech force, and this book follows the PLA's ground forces and their evolution, offering a powerful survey packed with color photos throughout. Any military library strong in either Chinese history or world military forces will find this a fine addition.


The Social Issues Shelf

Far From the Tree
Andrew Solomon
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9780743236713, $37.50, www.simonandschuster.com

FAR FROM THE TREE: PARENTS, CHILDREN, AND THE SEARCH FOR IDENTITY comes from ten years of research and some 40,000 pages of interview transcripts from discussions with over 300 families across the country, and considers experiences of children and parents who have been the victims of prejudice. It opens with his own autobiographical account of being the gay son of heterosexual parents and how he evolved his own separate identity apart from the badge of 'illness' that threatened his being, then tells stories of children and parents who have faced challenging conditions. The inspiring stories of parents - and kids - who managed to overcome preconceived fears and change their lives in the face of prejudice offers a powerful saga of identity development and cultural influence, and is a 'must' for any social issues, parenting or cultural issues collection.

Race in a Bottle
Jonathan Kahn
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231162982, $35.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

RACE IN A BOTTLE: THE STORY OF BIDIL AND RACIALIZED MEDICINE IN A POST-GENOMIC AGE provides a powerful saga of the drug BiDil, approved by the FDA in 2005 as the first drug with a race-specific indication on its label, and promoted as an option for black patients facing heart failure. That's its surface saga: underneath is a quagmire of racial issues, politics, and health issues that Jonathan Kahn uncovers as being a process of legal and commercial influences throughout its history. Health, political science and social issues collections alike will find this a powerful saga packed with engrossing twists and turns of plot and filled with food for thought and debate on the politics and health implications of racial perception.


The Native American Studies Shelf

The Peyote Road
Thomas CF. Maroukis
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143231, $19.95, www.oupress.com

THE PEYOTE ROAD: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH provides an updated history of the peyote faith that challenges the federal government's intention to restrict the use of Peyote, and is a pick for any Native American collection. The author has conducted extensive interviews with NAC member and leaders to provide an in-depth history of the church's religious practices and evolution, blending oral histories with legal research and considering its earliest instances to modern times. Any collection strong in either Native American rights or First Amendment legal concerns will find this a unique addition.

A New Deal for Native Art
Jennifer McLerran
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816519521, www.uapress.arizona.edu

Any interested in how Native Americans participating in government-sponsored programs used their art to portray the realities of their situation will find this a powerful assessment of these methods. Chapters consider the New Deal romanticization of indigenous arts, how representing the native artist as a pre-modern Other served the goals of the programs, and how all this worked against native elf-sufficiency. The focus is on federal policies of the 1930s and early 40s that tried to create an upscale market for Native arts and crafts, and it provides a survey of native arts evolution, its changes from a commodity status, and concurrent changes in Native social status and arts representations. Any Native American library will find it a top pick!


The Library DVD Shelf

Intro to Yoga
Tamal Dodge
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.anchorbayentertainment.com
No ISBN DVD, $14.99, www.amazon.com

INTRO TO YOGA offers two yoga programs on one DVD: one teaching the fundamentals and step-by-step basics ad the other moving to an intermediate level. From the basics of yoga breathing and foundation postures to intermediate sequences and programs, this offers a strong survey that moves viewers from very basic introductions to more advanced postures and routines, explaining the core movements and their values at every step of the process. It comes from a long-time yoga instructor raised on the family's yoga ashram in Hawaii, and is a top pick for any interested in beginning yoga.

Merrithew Entertainment
c/o Merrithew Health & Fitness
2200 Yonge Street, Suite 500
Toronto, Ontario M4S 2C6, Canada
www.merrithew.com

Three DVDs pack in descriptions of specific kinds of exercise programs and will prove welcome additions to any DVD exercise holding interested in versatile programs for home or professional studio use. ZEN GA FLOW WITH THE MINI STABILITY BALL ($14.99) teaches the basics of exercising core muscles and challenging balance through the Mini Stability Ball workout program, which promotes Mindful Movement. This workout is lead by instructor Kim Kraushar who specializes in Scott Pilates and Zen Ga. Stott Pilates routines are covered in PILATES TOWEL WORKOUT FOR STRENGTH & MOBILITY ($14.95, lead by instructor Moira Merrithew who teaches using a Conditioning Towel to help create resistance and support movement during exercise. It's a simple routine that can be done anywhere - even in a hotel room when traveling - and this DVD covers the five basic principles and also provides a satisfying workout with music only. TOTAL BODY TONE WITH TUBING: UPPER BODY & CORE ($14.99) is taught by Master Instructor Trainer John Garey, who teaches how to develop core and general upper body tone through using resistance tubing to target specific muscles. Again: workouts with music only follow guidelines of the basic principles and practices, making all these exceptional picks for any exercise library.


The Gaming Shelf

The World of Might & Magic
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781780968643, $24.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

The World of Might & Magic: The Ashan Compendium provides a lovely hardback guide to the world of Ashan, the current setting for Might and Magic games, and will appeal to gamers who want such details as the histories of the nine key factions, abilities, strengths and capabilities. Artwork, legends and facts accompany a timeline of history and more, providing gamers with maps and plenty of colorful detail. A 'must' for any Might & Magic avid gamer and collections catering to them!


The Sports Shelf

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

MEETING PHYSICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS THROUGH MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENT: RESEARCH-BASED STRATEGIES FOR SECONDARY (9781450412711, $35.00) Greg Bert and Lisa Summers's Teachers provides an assessment of the benefits of standards-based assessment, providing six power standards based on the NASPE standards and blending in kid-friendly objectives to help teachers communicate with students. From creating lesson plans that connect students to each power standard to game-based assessments, this provides templates and answer keys to forms and makes for an excellent survey. Mark Klion, MD and Troy Jacobson's TRIATHLON ANATOMY (9781450421386, $21.95) is packed with exercises to help multisports athletes exercise property and profiles over eighty of the best exercises for this group, using color anatomical descriptions and step-by-step directions for profiling muscles and how they work. The focus on this work plus the changes and results of exercise makes for a very specific analysis of triathlon athletics, teaching how to avoid injury, modify exercises for specific areas, and develop a customized training program. Any aspiring to triathlon goals must have this! Bob Schwartz's I RUN, THEREFORE I AM STILL NUTS! (9781450428569, $16.95) provides a fine account from a humorist of fitness and offers a fun assessment of common runner conditions and challenges, from how to handle favorite equipment - such as a shoe - being discontinued to running with a reluctant dog companion. Chapters come with such fun headings as "Runner, Heal Thyself!" and "Woe is Knee!" and supplement zany insights with fun reflections on health, achievement and the world of the runner.


The Music Shelf

Guitar Chord Songbook White Pages
Hal Leonard
PO Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9781458417800, $29.99, www.halleonard.com

Guitar Chord Songbook White Pages offers complete guitar chord and lyrics for nearly 400 songs ranging from classics like Sweet Caroline and We Are the World to How Deep is Your Love, La Bamba, and Puff the Magic Dragon. The book format doesn't lend to lay-flat binding as a traditional songbook would do - but does hold three times as many classics. Guitar players interested in classics from the 1960s, 1970s and other eras will find this a solid collection of top winning songs, perfect for reproducing winning music!

The Southern Journey of Alan Lomax
Tom Piazza
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393081077, $35.00, www.wwnorton.com

The Southern Journey of Alan Lomax: Words, Photographs, and Music provides a visual log of Alan Lomax's recording trips through the American South of the late 1950s gathering music doomed to be lost otherwise. His father John Lomax was a collector of folk materials also: the two would travel and record together before Alan struck out on his own, covering the south to document nearly-forgotten musical styles and vanishing folk traditions. Some eighty hours of music and conversation were paired with photos: here recreated in a lovely celebration of his achievements and even including a music CD in the back of the book. Very highly recommended for any collection strong in American folk music history and culture.


The Photography Shelf

Black and White Female Glamour Images from Nudes to Fashion
Jack Watson
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601389022, $39.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Jack Watson's Complete Guide to creating Black and White Female Glamour Images from Nudes to Fashion bows to the Hollywood stills photographers of the 1920s and 30s in providing a book dedicated to female glamour images created in black and white. This collection shows how to create such glamour images from nearly any color photo, showing how to use a range of techniques from dodging and burning to using software to manipulate images to mimic the look and feel of Hollywood. An accompanying CD provides all the images in the book and can be used to import them into Photoshop for various tasks. All the photos featured here began as color and are provided on disc for free, non-commercial use. Any who would hone their Photoshop abilities in this area will find this a top pick!


The Literary Studies Shelf

Traditional Japanese Literature
Haruo Shirane, Editor
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231157315, $35.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600 is a fine pick for any college-level student of Japanese literature, and offers examples of high and low styles of poetry, drama, prose fiction and essays. This abridged edition of the original title offers excerpts from many Japanese standards of literature, surveying secular and religious as well as classical poems and offer critical commentary on everything form war epics and essays to drama. Texts are bundled together under common themes and provide students of ancient and medieval Japanese culture and history with a fine and scholarly examination recommended for any Japanese literature holding.

Fanpire
Tanya Erzen
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807006337, $24.95, www.beacon.org

Fanpire: The Twilight Saga and the Women Who Love it charts the upward swing of the Twilight vampire romance series, its ongoing cult appeal to women of all ages, and the subculture it's created, and is a pick for any collection seeing popularity with the Twilight series. Erzen interviewed dozens of fans online, attends conventions, and joins a tour of Twilight-inspired locales in the course of her research for Fanpire: the result charts the rise of women's obsession for the series, its underlying sources, and the lasting effects of Twilight in popular media.


The Needlecraft Shelf

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

Barbara J. Jones's A BATCH OF QUILTSOUP: FUN PATCHWORK AND EASY APPLIQUE PATTERNS (9781604681574, $26.99) teaches quilters the basics of creating applique quilts and is a pick for beginner to intermediate quilters. It's packed with template patterns, color photos, and easy designs all can access, all based on the works from QuiltSoup Pattern Company, and serves up precise cutting and matching patterns to make the entire assembly process a snap. Quilters will find this a winning collection of ideas. Judy Turner and Margaret Rolfe's SUCCESSFUL SCRAP QUILTS FROM SIMPLE RECTANGLES (9781564773669, $26.99) tells how to create scrap quilts with dozens of block designs based on the rectangle, and presents some fifteen patterns based on one-patch designs. Discussions of value, color and printed fabric styles lend to insights on how to blend a fabric collection for variation and repetition, and includes many options for designing with rectangles in mind. Kim Diehl and Laurie Baker's HOMESTYLE QUILTS: SIMPLE PATTERNS AND SAVORY RECIPES (9781604681635, $26.99) teaches the basics of finding easy projects and sewing them, and comes from an author and a quilt designer who provide some thirteen patchwork and applique quilts for bed, lap and home. These are formulas for success and pair color photos and sidebars of information with templates and keys to adding embellishments, borders, and more. Quilters will find this a formula for success! Rebecca Danger's KNIT A MONSTER NURSERY: PRACTICAL AND PLAYFUL KNITTED BABY PATTERNS (9781604681499, $22.99) is a pick for any interested in knitting baby clothes and toys, and provides formulas for everything form sweaters and pillows to decorations that all hold a fun monster motif. Knitters will appreciate step-by-step knitting directions and color photos throughout in a guide that goes beyond your usual children's clothing approach to cover the entire nursery. Melinda Bula's CUTTING-GARDEN QUILTS (9781564777591, $27.95) uses a simple paint-by-number process to create lovely floral quilts, pairing five basic patterns featuring flowers and apples with fusible designs and easy color charts. Readers receive a fine guide to using machine quilting for further details and embellishments, and will appreciate colorful examples of how garden themes can be incorporated into a quilt theme. Any outdoors-oriented quilter will relish this! Martingale's MODERN QUILTS FROM THE BLOGGING UNIVERSE (9781604862113, $26.99) features some 19 unique quilts and considers such techniques as playing with negative space, using different piecing methods, and more. It features bloggers' perceptions of modern quilting and design, their blogs, and their very different techniques and approaches, pairing a sidebar of information about the blogger's quilting background with a selected project. The result is a fine pick from the blogging/quilter world! Rose Hughes' DESIGN, CREATE, AND QUILT: HOW TO DESIGN A QUILT (9781604881741, $26.99) shares the author's techniques for using the five basic design elements of line, shape, texture, color and space, and offers a blend of sketchbook exercises and individual profiles of each design element in quilts. Some ten projects not only illustrate these elements; they encourage creative manipulation of these pieces to achieve different, often striking results. Add color photos and templates to the mix and you have an outstanding quilt designer's guide, perfect for any quilting collection!


The Philosophy Shelf

Atheism and the Case Against Christ
Matthew S. McCormick
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145811, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Atheism and the Case Against Christ argues that the central piece of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus, is false, and here builds a case based on the evidence about Jesus as it's been gathered over the centuries. Philosophy, science and religious perspective blend in an examination that focuses on using modern research about people's belief systems to consider the origins of Christianity and other religions. It examines the nature and possibility of miracles, how Christians who live by faith alone can consider other religions' supernatural events, and why arguments support atheism, creating an absorbing, warm study highly recommended for any spirituality collection.

Ayn Rand Explained
Ronald E. Merrill
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697988, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

AYN RAND EXPLAINED: FROM TYRANNY TO TEA PARTY provides Volume 10 in the 'Ideas Explained' series and provides a completely revised edition of the 1991 classic THE IDEAS OF AYN RAND. Readers already familiar with her classic books now have a philosophical and literary analysis that covers her ideas and how they evolved from her times and influences. This also considers her later writings on ethics and politics, includes a consideration of her thinking that requires little prior knowledge of her works, and serves as a fine critical introduction especially recommended to college-level audiences intending on embarking upon a survey of her philosophy.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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