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Reviewer's Choice
Taxi!
Biju Mathew
The New Press
38 Green Street, New York, NY 10013
www.thenewpress.com
156584811X $24.95 1-800-233-4830
New York City taxi drivers work long shifts, seven days a week: most are lease drivers on a daily or weekly contract and until the relatively recent Taxi Workers Alliance was formed, most bore the brunt of bad business. Taxi! comes from Biju Mathew, a long-time organizer of the Alliance, and uses interactions from the drivers themselves to reveal the history of the taxi business. Chapters focus on labor struggles and urban politics in New York as much as on immigrant history and influences on the taxi industry as a whole.
Bridges That Changed The World
Bernhard Graf
Prestel
900 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
379133400X $19.95 www.prestel.com
Over fifty famous bridges and their stories are gathered in a survey which will appeal to a far wider audience than the usual specialty bridge book. Here is a satisfying blend of striking photos and technical detail blended in with a history of bridge-building around the world. The real surprise lies in a lively writing style paired with discussions of bridges in regions which usually don't receive much mention, such as a sand-cast iron bridge in Coalbrookdale from the 1700s or the 1800s Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
Video Production Workshop
Tom Wolsky
CMP Books
600 Harrison St., San Francisco CA 94107
157820268X $34.95 cmpbooks.com
Interested in making video production a career - one more stable than most in the face of technological changes? Make Video Production Workshop your course-in-a-book on the technical aspects of video production: it comes complete with a DVD-ROM outlining technical production formats, skills, editing concepts and shooting tips - everything needed to produce a quality video. The 'workshop' offers in-depth analysis of three stages of production and explains the importance of team roles throughout. And, the DVD portion offers slips and sequences to further illustrate. You can't go wrong!
Enlightening The World
Philipp Blom
Palgrave Macmillan
175 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.palgrave-usa.com
1403968950 $29.95 1-888-330-8477
What was the real significance of the 'Encyclopedie' by Diderot and d'Alembert? Many will say its size and date of appearance marked it as special: Philipp Blom reveals its significance lie in its blend of politics, honesty and ideas which went against the Church and Crown alike in its effort to provide unbiased truth. Its publication was to underwrite the values of two centuries to come, with philosophers Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and medical scientist Louis de Jaucourt living through arrest, imprisonment, attacks and more for their achievement. The real importance of the Encyclopedie comes to life in this history of its controversies.
A Bloomsday Postcard
Niall Murphy
Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
www.dufoureditions.com
184351043X $37.95 1-800-869-5677
The sending, receiving and collecting of postcards as a major part of life in Edwardian Dublin, where there were six mail deliveries a day and one on Sunday, so it's fitting that Niall Murphy has gathered a fine representation of over two hundred postcards posted in Dublin during 1904 to display the messages and interests of ordinary people of the time. More than just a display of vintage cards, A Bloomsday Postcard pairs postcard images and messages with a re-creation of everyday life; thus earning a place as literature, social commentary, and art history all under one cover.
Losing Our Heads
Regina Jones
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 1003-4812
081474270X $22.00 www.nyupress.org
Why are beheadings so captivating in society and literature? Losing Our Heads: Beheadings In Literature And Culture tackles a gruesome topic, providing a healthy dose of anthropological, medical, social and literary insight to accounts of beheadings from antiquity to modern times. College-level audiences will welcome Professor Janes' studies analysis of decapitation over history and in literature. One would anticipate gruesome details; but the focus on more than physical details makes for an intriguing discussion.
Kumarian Press
1294 Blue Hills Av, Bloomfield CT 06002
www.kpbooks.com
Three very different, important new publications provide college-level students with food for thought and supplemental reading. John Ikerd's Sustainable Captialism: A Matter Of Common Sense (1565492-064, $21.95) traces the modern change of capitalism from a political system driven by social purpose to one searching for economic growth at all costs. The sustainability of the planet is at risk under this new capitalism, and Ikerd provides a critique of this new order and a framework for restoring balance into world economic system, making capitalism not the enemy of these goals, but a means to an end. G. Shabbit Cheema's Building Democratic Institutions: Governance Reform In Developing Countries (1565491971, $25.95) is also college-level in its orientation, discussing how to rebuild democratic institutions and reform systems in countries around the world and considering connections between democracy and human development. Cheema's background as a professor of politics and a practicing advisor on governance within the U.N. lends a practical as well as a scholarly aspect to his case studies. Wendy Harcourt and Arturo Escobar's Women And The Politics Of Place (1565492072, $24.95) analyzes women's economic and social justice movements, again assuming a scholarly, college-level audience is studying the new framework for considering women's issues in light of their culture and modern world events. From women's reproductive rights and the politics of community economics and involvement to the control of public space, chapters delve into women's concerns and the forces which shape them. All are excellent references, lending particularly well to supplemental reading and classroom discussion.
The Quest For Human Longevity
Lewis D. Solomon
Transaction Books
390 Campus Dr., Somerset, NJ 08873
www.transactionpub.com
0765803003 $34.95 1-888-999-6778
Scientists are working to retard the aging process in humans and people are also living longer - but they bring with them new medical and ethical challenges, with skeptics challenging the quality of life which results. The Quest For Human Longevity: Science, Business And Public Policy will appeal to college students of both social issues and medicine: Solomon examines eight businesses pursuing different age-related interventions and considers their studies, goals, and financing alike. Issues of commercializing science take on intriguing discussions in a title which questions whether discoveries will lead to profound social changes.
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands CA 92373
www.esri.com
ESRI Press is the publisher of choice when it comes to GIS discussions, and three new in-depth GIS systems surveys are recommended for both college-level students and professionals. Ian Masser's GIS Worlds: Creating Special Data Infrastructures (1589481224, $49.95) provides an overview of SDI, which is being used increasingly by countries around the world to promote economic development and sustainable development. SDIs help assemble geographic information important to decision-making, from materials and technology to other descriptions of world processes. GIS Worlds provides an overview of the concept and its technical evolution, describing both local and global impacts and those organizations which are fostering SDI development and applications around the world. Roger Tomlinson's Thinking About GIS: Geographic Information System Planning For Managers (1589481194, $19.95) has been revised and updated to provide practical details on how to implement a GIS system - and Tomlinson is known as the creator of GIS, so is in the perfect position to provide the methodology behind the practices. His background launching GIS systems around the world lends to discussions of how to plan and lunch a successful GIS system within a business environment. Cynthia Brewer's Designing Better Maps: A Guide For GIS Users (1589480899, $24.95) covers advances in digital mapmaking the GIS software, which go hand in hand to create important reference materials useful for organizations and businesses. The modern GIS user may not have the technical cartographic training or background to use the powerful mapmaking tools in the GIS framework: Designing Better Maps is written for the non-cartographer and shows how to design for audience, objective, and how to choose appropriate GIS tools for presentation. For a workbook for ArcView 9, Wilpen Gorr and Kristen Kurland's GIS Tutorial (1589481275, $69.95) is the perfect item of choice. It pairs a 180-day trial version of ArcView 9 on CD-ROM and data with exercises which require learners to perfom basic GIS tasks without step-by-step instruction - requiring both thought and a real ability to understand ArcView rather than routine memorization. Students learn how to use ArcView 9 to create maps, collect, collate and analyze data, and more. Many a teacher will make this a course text. All are excellent guides.
Wisconsin StarWatch
Mike Lynch
Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0896587231 $24.95 mbipublishing.com
Enhanced with 90 color photos, 23 illustrations, 21 constellation charts, 12 star maps, and 27 diagrams, Wisconsin StarWatch by Mike Lynch (a meteorologist, a weekly astronomy columnist for the "St. Paul Pioneer Press", and teacher of thousands of stargazing classes since 1973), surveys the major constellations, their seasonal movements in the Wisconsin night sky, and offers updated tales of the mythology surrounding them. Also covered are lunar, solar eclipses, the phases of the moon, comets, meteor showers, and the aurora borealis. A concluding chapter offers practical advice for aspiring astronomers on purchasing a telescope and other stargazing equipment. The Appendices include monthly star maps for the 45 degree latitude, a local resource guide, and a list of Wisconsin's brightest stars. No Wisconsin school or community library should be without a copy of Wisconsin StarWatch in their Astronomy Studies reference collections, and Wisconsin astronomers any age or degree of experience should have their own personal copy as well!
Cream Of The Crop
LeAnn R. Ralph
Privately Published
E6689 970th Ave., Colfax, WI 54730
1591138205 $13.95 ruralroute2.com
Cream Of The Crop: More True Stories Form A Wisconsin Farm is the third anthology of biographical and anecdotal stories by LeAnn Ralph about growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. In the 1960s there were more than 60,000 dairy farms in Wisconsin, in May of 2004 the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service recorded the number of surviving dairy farms in the state at 15,591. The number has dropped even lower since then. That dairy farming reality is what helps to give LeAnn's deftly told stories their nostalgia for a rural lifestyle that is not-so-slowly disappearing in the Badger state. There are twenty short but immensely entertaining stories in this simply superb anthology. They range from "What's in a Name", to "She'll Be Comin' Round the Cornfield", to "Gertrude and Heathcliff", to the title story "Cream Of The Crop". LeAnn continues to write with a remarkable knack for making people and events come alive in the reader's imagination. Also very highly recommended are LeAnn's two earlier anthologies about life on the family farm in Wisconsin: Give Me A Home Where The Dairy Cows Roam (1591135923, $13.95) and Christmas In Dairyland: True Stories From A Wisconsin Farm (1591133661, $13.95).
The 25 Greatest Moments In Camp Randall History
Mike Lucas
KCI Sports Ventures, LLC
1402 Quail Run Drive, Savoy, IL 61874
www.kcisportsventures.com
0975876953 $24.95 www.amazon.com
The 25 Greatest Moments In Camp Randall History is a tribute to the University of Wisconsin football program, offering an inside look at the players, coaches and teams. Painstakingly researched by columnist Mike Lucas, who has twice been named Sportswriter of the Year in Wisconsin, The 25 Greatest Moments In Camp Randall History describes each memorable instance in detail, and ranks them in order of their importance and impact on the UW program. Black-and-white and color photographs bring memories of gameplay and competition alive. The 25 Greatest Moments In Camp Randall History is surely the next best thing to attending the #4 rated college football venue (according to ESPN's 2004 ranking) and witnessing a moment in person.
Werewolves, Witches, And Wandering Spirits
Kathryn A. Edwards, editor
Truman State University Press
100 E. Normal St., Kirksville, MO 63501
http://tsup.truman.edu
1931112088 $34.95 1-800-916-6802
Werewolves, Witches, And Wandering Spirits: Traditional Belief & Folklore In Early Modern Europe is an anthology of essays by learned scholars of Europe, America and Australia concerning the fantastic elements of popular religious belief: ghosts, werewolves, spiritualism, animism, and witchcraft. Though such beliefs are often marginalized in studies of popular religion, Protestants and Catholics alike of the era truly believed that supernatural entities such as ghosts, imps, and werewolves existed. Essays draw from in-depth archival research, and the contributors make a forceful case for the importance of integrating such beliefs and folklore into human understanding of late medieval and early modern Europe. Especially recommended for folklore and religious history reference shelves.
Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy?
Joseph A. Ilardo & Carole R. Rothman
VanderWyk & Burnham
PO Box 2789, Acton, MA 01720-6789
1889242187 $16.95 www.kVandB.com
Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy?: Getting To Yes With Competent Aging Parents by co-authors, therapists, and consultants Joseph A. Ilardo and Carole R. Rothman addresses the common problems of adult children dealing with their aging parents. Practical advice is provided for caregivers and family members having to deal with aging parents who refuse to stop driving when they can no longer safely do so; skimp on expenses when there is no need to do so; refuse to see and/or ignore their doctor; antagonize home health aides; avoid discussing end-of-life issues; as well as those who want to move in with their children. But more than this, Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy? has sound advice on dealing with family members who never offer to help, who resent the time the caregiving sibling spends on caring for the aging parent, actually discourages caregiving sibling involvement. There is even a section dealing with children who take undue advantage and even steal from the aging parent. Additionally, this new edition addresses the reality that assisted living is not a solution for everyone. If you have an aging parent requiring help and care, then give Joseph Ilardo and Carole Rothman's Are Your Parents Driving You Crazy? a careful reading. It could save time, energy, anxiety, all the while improving the quality of the relationship between an aging parent and their adult children.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
www.limelighteditions.com
Aspiring actors receive specific tips on how to win an audition in Mark Bandon 's Winning Auditions: 101 Strategies For Actors (0879103167, $10.95). Don't expect just a method instructional here: it's a shared collection of real winning actors' trade secrets revealed by working pros in an experimental workshop which lasted nearly a year. From what body language works to how color works in the audition room and what keeps a photo prominent on a casting director's desk. A 'must' for any serious aspiring actor. Tom Logan's Acting In The Million Dollar Minute: The Sequel (0879103078, $14.95) comes from an award-winning screen writer and director who has directed numerous feature films and TV shows: his is one of the few actor's guides to focus exclusively on TV commercial work, and chapters cover such commercial-specific tips as how to understand the intention behind a commercial, how to compel auditioners to watch your playback tape, how to make a director's job easier, and more. Why do many auditions not work well for the actor? Found out - and discover how to recognize and fix common problems in Acting In The Million Dollar Minute: The Sequel.
The Complete Professional Audition
Darren Cohen & Michael Perilstein
Backstage Books/Watson Guptill
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.watsonguptill.com
0823076830 $16.95 1-800-451-1741
Actors, whether seasoned or new, who regularly audition for musicals and plays should not omit taking at least a peek at the advice in The Complete Professional Audition: A Commonsense Guide To Auditioning For Musicals And Plays: it's a 'must' for would-be pros and provides an edge over the competition in both musical theater and regular play auditions, from locating the right music or monologue to demonstrating unique talents in a mere 2 minutes. An added bonus: chapters which discuss the realities of a working actor's life beyond the audition, from union regulations and the roles of agents to further reference tips, including web sites. Simply invaluable.
The Military Shelf
75th Rangers
Russ Bryant & Susan Bryant
Zenith Press
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
www.mbipublishing.com
0760321116 $19.95 1-800-458-0454
75th Rangers is an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes look at the 75th Ranger Regiment, a light- infantry unit of the United States Army composed of three Ranger battalions. Full color photographs illustrate the training, daily life, and rigorous conditions that Rangers face; to be a Ranger means that one must hone body and mind with specialized skills that can be applied to a wide range of conventional and special operations targets. Covering the origins, military service, daily life, and future challenges of the Rangers, 75th Rangers is a breathtaking look at military life of a rightfully proud group of soldiers striving to be the best they can for the sake of their country.
The Second Attack On Pearl Harbor
Steve Horn
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
1591143888 $29.95 1-800-233-8764
Written by aviation journalist and retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel Steve Horn, The Second Attack On Pearl Harbor: Operation K And Other Japanese Attempts To Bomb America In World War II is a crucial history of a little-known facet about the war in the Pacific - that Pearl Harbor was targeted for attack again after the infamous incident that led to America's entry into World War II. In March of 1942, the Japanese launched Operation K and attached Pearl Harbor a second time; yet because dense cloud cover over Pearl Harbor obscured the targets, the bombs did no damage. Other largely unknown or historically neglected Japanese military plans include a plan to bomb the Panama Canal, abandoned when the war ended, and a plan to launch thousands of bomb-carrying balloons intended to ride the jet stream across the Pacific and create terror in American cities, scrapped when the effect of these so-called "wind weapons" could not be practically determined. Accessible to lay readers and scholars alike, The Second Attack On Pearl Harbor is a welcome contribution to military history libraries for its illumination of an oft- overlooked topic, and highly recommended.
F-102A Delta Dagger In Action
Don Greer
Squadron/Signal Publications
1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010
0897474945 $8.92 www.squadron.com
The newest title (Aircraft Number 199) of the outstanding "In Action" series by Squadron/Signal Publications showcasing military combat aircraft, Don Greer's F-102A Delta Dagger In Action again offers a succinct, informed, and informative text enhanced by a profusion of historical photographs, schematics, and line drawings. Of special note is the full color "center page" spread showcasing side views of ten variations of this remarkable jet aircraft that played such a notable role in the American airforce around the world. No military aviation collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Squadron/Signal's F-102A Delta Dagger In Action!
Stay Off The Skyline
Laura Homan Lacey
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.potomacbooksinc.com
1574889524 $27.50 1-800-775-2518
Stay Off The Skyline: The Sixth Marine Division On Okinawa is an oral history collecting the testimonies of the Sixth Marine Division in their own words. The Sixth Marine Division was formed of battle-tested veterans and fought its only action on the island of Okinawa from April to June 1945, capturing most of the ground in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. A gripping compilation that immerses the reader in the experiences of those who laid their lives on the line for their country, Stay Off The Skyline is a primary source enthusiastically recommended for lay readers and military historians alike.
Infidels In The Holy Land
John Peters
Word Association Publishers
205 5th Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
www.wordassociation.com
159571085X $14.95 1-800-827-7903
Infidels In The Holy Land: A Mechanized Infantryman's Personal Account Of The 1990-1991 Gulf War is the vividly candid account of SFC John Peters service on the front lines of the Gulf War. His story draws upon his real life wartime experiences enhanced with personal photographs as he guides the reader through the day-to-day life of a grunt infantryman. From racing across the desert in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle during the brutally lethal ground war, to clearing enemy bunkers, to capturing and patching-up Iraqi prisoners of war, to dealing with long stretches of monotony and boredom, to going months without bathing, Peters takes the reader into the gritty realism of the war from beginning to end with a blend of GI humor and sarcasm. Infidels In The Holy Land is a superbly written battlefield memoir of the highest caliber and a very welcome addition to the military history of the Gulf War.
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com
Mir Bahmanyar's Shadow Warriors: A History Of The US Army Rangers (184176860X, $29.95) provides a vivid and in-depth history of the US Army Rangers, a colorful military unit which has served as a key part of American warfare for over 300 years. This history of the Rangers begins during the French and Indian War of the 18th century and continues to modern times, describing their experiences and history, actions, and operations both past and in the present war on terrorism. Add black and white and color photos and illustrations throughout and you have a hard-hitting history which is a 'must' for any serious military bookshelf. Andrew Thomas' Mosquito Aces Of World War II (1841768782, $19.95) focuses on the all-wooden Mosquito aircraft, which entered service in early 1942 and was an effective fighter in Britain. It went on to counter the V-1 flying bombs in 1944 and made a name for itself with its ability to locate the enemy at night and develop hard blows with four cannons. Vintage black and white photos are packed throughout but it's the written history of the Mosquito and its 59 pilot fighters which is the meat of Mosquito Aces Of World War II, which will delight any avid scholar or WWII student.
Surviving Deployment
Karen M. Pavlicin
Elva Resa Publishing
8362 Tamarack Village, Suite 119-106, St. Paul, MN 55125
0965748367 $19.95 www.elvaresa.com
Military families facing the uncertainties of war now have something to turn to for guidance in Karen Pavlicin's Surviving Deployment: A Guide For Military Families. Learn how to stay together as a family, how to adjust to long absences and uncertain communications, how to overcome the challenges of single-family parenting and new responsibilities, and how to manage financially through a blend of personal stores from hundreds of fellow military families and checklists. An important, general title tackling a host of deployment issues families across the country face.
Pen & Sword Books Ltd/Casemate
2114 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishing.com
A lot has gone into the making of David Raw 's Bradford Pals: A Comprehensive History Of The 16th-18th & 20th Service Batillions Of The Prince Of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regiment 1914-1918 (0850523508, L25.00): though a specialty item for military libraries, it uses memoirs, letters, diaries, newspaper reports, and official archives to recount the experiences of the Bradford Pals in the face of war. The early days of World War I led two volunteer Pals Battalions to recruit, train and serve in Egypt and in France between 1916 and 1918: their experiences and shared memories document over two years of war during which over a third of the original Pals were killed or wounded. Black and white photos pepper the account and cement the 'you are there' feel of Bradford Pals, which is recommended for any in-depth survey of the World War I battlefield experience. Eric Williams' The Wooden Horse (1844153037, $15.95) is another military classic which shouldn't be missed, even though it first appeared over fifty years ago. Here's the story of a daring escape during World War II in an expanded, revised edition that tells of a break from one of Germany's most escape-proof camps. The account doesn't just tell how they did it - it covers the aftermath of the break-out, which involved getting out of Germany entirely. It may read like fiction with high drama, but The Wooden Horse is pure fact and an important chronicle in the history of the war.
Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co.
1250 Fairmont Avenue, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
www.nauticalaviationpublishing.com
Military libraries will be happy to make these two standards a part of their collection: they provide narrowed focuses on some of the mainstays of modern warfare. David F. Crosby's A Guide To Airborne Weapons (1877853674, $26.95) pairs small black and white photos with descriptions of various air weapons employed by all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Descriptions include their characteristics, delivery aircraft, manufacturers, military nomenclature, and details on control, guidance system and warheads. Behind on your weaponry? Not with this quick reference! Andrew Faltum's The Independence Light Aircraft Carriers (1877853-623, $34.95) covers those light carriers built during World War II: a nine-ship class which contributed to victory but has been under-considered in most military histories. The Navy converted light cruiser hulls into fast, light aircraft carriers which proved efficient and solid fighters, using them through the Korean War and beyond. Chapters follow their deployment around the world from Japan to Korea and eventually into mothballs. While some black and white photos pepper the account, the meat of The Independence Light Aircraft Carriers lies in its military history.
Greenhill Books/Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
www.stackpolebooks.com
Two exceptional, very specific military titles are top picks for any studying special operations in particular. Leroy Thompson's Secret Techniques Of The Elite Forces (1853676527, $19.95) tells what training and missions the specialist handles in the course of becoming one of the world's fighting elite; from equipment he uses to tactics. This is no general overview, either: it covers such specifics as how combat swimmers launch from submarines to carry out beach reconnaissance before an invasion, how airborne and automobile forces operate in conjunction with other military units, and how the forces train for all types of terrain. Alexander Kouzminov's Biological Espionage: Special Operations Of The Soviet And Russian Foreign Intelligence Services In The West (1853676462, $19.95) provides an eye-opening coverage not just of modern biological threats as depicted in the news, but of the history of Department 12 special operations, the elite core of the KGB charged with encouraging biological espionage and terrorism. This is no rumor title: one of the KGB's top operatives writes this expose, breaking silence for the first time to outline plans, tactics, and what others in the West and developing world are capable of achieving.
The Science Shelf
Out Of The Blue
Paul Horsman
MIT Press
55 Hayward St., Cambridge MA 02142
http://mitpress.mit.edu
0262083418 $29.95 1-800-356-0343
Gorgeous underwater color photos by Seapics.com provide a vivid accompaniment to Paul Horsman's lovely Out Of The Blue: A Journey Through The World's Oceans. This is a focus on the drifters - the creatures which are the ocean's life force - and describes a range of such animals, from turtles and whales to coral reefs and fish. Each ecosystem and its habitats are surveyed with plenty of detail, including consequences of human threat, emphasizing on how all ocean elements are interconnected - and fragile. Out Of The Blue holds plenty of science and plenty of color: it's designed to invite the non-specialist general reader to learn about ocean ecology - and it succeeds well, promising to reach all age ranges in the process with its lively text, science, and stunning color.
Joseph Henry Press
c/o National Academies Press
500 - 5th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.jhpress.org
Four new arrivals provide important, diverse scientific discussions and will appeal both to school and general-interest collections. Most unusual is Mary Mycio's Wormwood Forest: A Natural History Of Chernobyl (0309094305, $27.95), from the reporter who first visited Kiev in 1989 to interview a local environmentalist about Chernobyl. One would anticipate Wormwood Forest would be telling of a barren wasteland left behind after contamination: 20 years after one of the worst nuclear plant disasters in history, Mycio finds a real surprise: one of Europe's largest wildlife sanctuaries, teeming with rare animals and birds - and all radioactive. An intriguing, startling discussion. Robert M. Hazen's Genesis: The Scientific Quest For Life's Origin (0309094321, $27.95) comes from a scientist who conducts astrobiological research: his search for the space origins of life on Earth has led to many years of research, experimentally tracing the sequence of events which lead to interactions of carbon-based molecules. Other books have been written with theories in mind: Genesis comes from a practicing experimenter in the sciences and traces the achievements of scientists the world over as they consider the origins of life. Mike Hally's Electronic Brains: Stories From The Dawn Of The Computer Age (0309096308, $27.95) covers the period just after World war II when modern computers were developed, examining some of the world's first 'techies' and projects which fostered computer discoveries. Author Mike Hally traveled around the world interviewing surviving members of early computer teams and researchers, and provides a series of rich descriptions from their experiences, paired with a lively history. Julie Wakefield's Halley's Quest: A Selfless Genius And His Troubled Paramore (0309095948, $27.95) tells of a man better known for his accuracy in predicting the periodic appearance of a comet, but who should be renowned for his solving the riddle of accurate navigation for seagoing vessels. Halley was branded a church heretic and he changed science, producing accurate sea charts and documenting geophysical phenomena. His sea voyages were controversial and difficult and make for lively insights into the life of a multi-faceted scientist and early thinker.
Firefly Books
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1-800-387-5085 www.fireflybooks.com
Plenty has been written about pack ice and floating, frozen expanses of ice; but few books provide much detail. Enter David N. Thomas, a scientist who has studied pack ice for 13 years, with Frozen Oceans (1554070007, $45.00), which surveys the biology, chemistry and importance of pack ice. From the properties of pack ice and what happens when seawater freezes to threats to pack ice and its future exploration, chapters provide important keys to understanding an extreme environment. Sylvia Arditi and Marc Lachieze-Rey's Cosmos (1552979326, $39.95) gathers almost ninety images of the cosmos selected from millions of objects captured by telescopes and cameras. Beautiful planets, other worlds, and dazzling images are accompanied by commentary and wrapped in an oversized package to appeal to lay audiences and science student alike. Alain Dupas' Destination Mars(1552979342, $29.95) is also a recommended pick for the neo-scientist: here's a fine history of human discoveries about the red planet, from ancient Babylonian times to modern times up to plans for a manned voyage to Mars scheduled for 2015. The latest new color photos and illustrations are accompanied by physicist Alain Dupas' insights.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
Two outstanding titles are top picks for science audiences seeking to keep up with the latest details. J. Storrs Hall's Nanofuture: What's Next For Nanotechnology (1591022878, $28.00) explores a diverse set of possibilities for nanotechnology's applications, from flying cars and the elimination of hunger to new smart machines built at the molecular and atomic levels. Dr. Hall himself is a leading research in nanotechnology who invented utility fog and explores the new technology's hopes, potentials, and dangers. Cathy Cobb & Monty L. Fetterolf's The Joy Of Chemistry: The Amazing Science Of Familiar Things (1591022312, $26.00) challenges the idea chemistry is a complex, challenging science not for lay readers. The authors are both professional chemists as well as educators, and here provide easy illustrations of basic chemistry using everyday experience as the foundation for understandable examples. From how to assemble a bottle rocket using basic household chemicals to gemstone chemistry, there is much of interest in The Joy Of Chemistry - even for readers with no scientific background whatsoever.
The World History Shelf
Genoa And The Sea
Thomas Allison Kirk
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
0801880831 $49.95 1-800-537-5487
There are many histories of Florence and Venice, but far fewer of Genoa. Genoa And The Sea: Policy And Power In An Early Modern Maritime Republic 1559-1684 is the story of one of Italy's great cities along the Mediterranean coast, and its transformation from a maritime republic into one of Europe's most crucial financial centers. When Spanish prosperity began to wane, Genoa, whose trade and prosperity had been closely linked with Spain, had to reinvent itself to continue its prosperity. A critical key to Genoa's success was a free-port policy that spurred trade and made it especially inviting to merchants. A thoroughly researched, scholarly scrutiny of a changing economic era as reflected in a bustling and complex metropolis.
When Baghdad Ruled The Muslim World
Hugh Kennedy
Da Capo Press/Perseus
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142
www.perseusbooks.com
0306814358 $26.00 1-800-242-7737
The rise and fall of Baghdad considers the earliest days of the city's origins, charting the rise and fall of the city during the Abbasid dynasty, when Baghdad was the seat of cultural and political power in the region. Any who would profess to understand modern Islam and Baghdad must understand the city's heyday during the 8th and 9th centuries: and this is the place to do it. When Baghdad Ruled The Muslim World: The Rise And Fall Of Islam's Greatest Dynasty offers important keys to understanding Islam's foundations.
The Poetry Shelf
Rilke's Book Of Hours
Rainer Maria Rilke
Riverhead/Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
1594481563 $15.00 1-800-847-5515
Co-translated by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy and a finalist for the Pen/West Translation Award, Rilke's Book Of Hours: Love Poems To God presents poems of spiritual yearning originally penned one hundred years ago by Rainer Maria Rilke. Presenting both the original German text and skillful English translations by Anita Barrows and Joanna Macy, Rilke's Book of Hours speaks of a reciprocal relationship between mortals and the divine, in which God needs us as much as we need Him. A preface and brief commentary round out this commemorative 100th anniversary edition of classic works of faith and inspiration. I find you there in all these things / I care for like a brother. / A seed, you nestle in the smallest of them, / and in the huge ones spread yourself hugely. // Such is the amazing play of the powers: / they who give themselves so willingly, / swelling in the roots, thinning as the trunks rise, / and in the high leaves, resurrection.
This Horizon And Beyond
Nancy-Gay Rotstein
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookny.com
1585675326 $24.95 1-800-743-1312
This Horizon And Beyond: Poems Selected And New is an anthology of brief, poignant free-verse poems by critically acclaimed author and poet Nancy-Gay Rotstein. Including both poetry from her previous books, her travels through China, and previously unpublished poems, the works in This Horizon And Beyond have been written over the course of a twenty year period, with an awareness of the ever-changing nature of family and life itself. Images in Snow: I am the first wanderer / in this wilderness of snow, / Moses in a snow desert. / My step breaks / the frozen silence / as my feet sink slowly / into the powdered softness. / The cold run strikes / the oasis- trees / transforming knife icicles / into a flame; / the sand-wind whips / my uncovered face / forcing each pore / open, vibrant, alive.
100 Essential Modern Poems
Joseph Parisi
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622
1566636124 $24.95 www.ivanrdee.com
Joseph Parisi is former longtime editor of Poetry magazine, so is in a better position than most to select the most influential and memorable of modern poetry in 100 Essential Modern Poems, a survey of the finest written in English over the past century. Works by Philip Larkin, Frank O'Hara, W.D. Snodgrass and many others are personally selected by Parisi and provides particularly inspired works which are classics.
The Women's Studies Shelf
A Woman's Guide To Success
Dopris Pooser with Jenny Au
Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1592009247 $24.99 www.courseptr.com
People form an initial impression of you within the first thirty seconds with half based on how your look, and only 38% on voice and body language: that's why A Woman's Guide To Success Perfecting Your Professional Image is so important to an achiever's plans. Doris Pooser is an expert in fashion and beauty and has written several other books on personal style for men and women, reaching millions through TV broadcasts as well as her writings. A Woman's Guide To Success tells how to blend clothing, style and body language to achieve business objectives. An excellent strategy guide.
The Music Shelf
Exploring Haydn
David Hurwitz
Amadeus Press
933 Metropolitan Avenue, #2L, Brooklyn, NY 11211
1574671162 $27.95 amadeuspress.com
Exploring Haydn: A Listener's Guide To Music's Boldest Innovator is a book and music CD set that introduces the reader to the life and works of Haydn. An astonishingly creative genius, Hayden invented the string quartet as it is known today, earned the title of "The Father of the Symphony", and mentored the renowned Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Author David Hurwitz guides the reader through a brief tour of Haydn's life, a close discussion of Haydn's instrumental music including first movements, slow movements, minuets, scherzos, and finales, and a topical view of Haydn's art and works. Two full-length Naxos CDs, filled with more than two and a half hours of beautiful music keyed to pieces described in the text, allow the reader to experience Hayden's music firsthand. Highly recommended for lay readers, novice music scholars, and anyone seeking a greater understanding and appreciation of Haydn's monumental legacy.
The Petrie Collection Of The Ancient Music Of Ireland
George Petrie; David Cooper, editor
Cork University Press/Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
www.styluspub.com
1859183018 $25.00 1-800-232-0223
First published in 1855, The Petrie Collection Of The Ancient Music Of Ireland is widely considered one of the most important nineteenth-century collections of traditional Irish music, containing nearly two hundred melodies collected by Petrie along with song texts in Irish and English and detailed notes by Petrie about each melody's source. This new edition contains all of Petrie's original text, the melodies, his introduction, and a new biographical essay that places the collection in the context of Petrie's life and accomplishments in the field of Irish traditional music. The piano accompaniments written by Petrie's daughter and included in the first edition have been removed, in order to restore the melodies to their original form, and the Irish spelling of the text has been standardized according to modern guidelines. A uniquely valuable, scholarly addition to Irish folk music and reference shelves.
iPod, Therefore I Am
Dylan Jones
Bloomsbury USA
175 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
1596910216 $14.95 bloomsbury.com
The iPod's ease and compact attraction to music lovers has moved it far from the realm of the computer geek, and author Dylan Jones explores this phenomenon in considering the music's effect on the ipod and visa versa. From the origins of the ipod idea by Steve Jobs to the latest phenomenon of 'podcasting', iPod, Therefore I Am: Thinking Inside The White Box is for any who would understand where the future of music is heading.
The Reader's Digest Keyboard Course
Reader's Digest
200 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0762106883 $30.00 www.rd.com
Beginners will appreciate this oversized keyboard course: it has a lot of extras the usual sheet music format misses. For one, it addresses all kinds of keyboards for both absolute beginners and those who may be re-starting after many years of non-practice. Peel-off decals help identify piano keys to make playing easier, while color-coded music also enhances the effort. It's easy to get discouraged when just starting out: that's why Reader's Digest Keyboard Course: Learn To Play 100 Unforgettable Songs The Easy Way works to get the beginner up to speed as quickly as possible, presenting actual songs rather than routine chords for practice.
Princes Amongst Men
Garth Cartwright
Serpent's Tail
255 West 108th Street, Suite 9D1, New York, NY 10025
www.serpentstail.com
1852428775 $20.00 1-800-283-3572
In search of the Gypsies, master nomadic musicians of Europe, author Cartwright makes a journey through the Balkans and navigates areas not common covered in the usual travelogue: the result introduces readers to the world of the Gypsy mahalas and their musical talents. From Macedonian music's relevance to the modern world to different vocalist styles and the universal Roma hatred of the misleading Gypsy Magic, Princes Amongst Men: Journeys With Gypsy Musicians is steeped in history, culture, and the foundations of Roma musical heritage.
Routledge
270 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
www.routledge-ny.com
Pop music history is filled with musicians who are too quirky and unusual to appeal to a the usual mass listening audience, so it's about time they received their own allocates in a title such as Lost In The Grooves: Scram's Capricious Guide To The Music You Missed by Kim Cooper & David Smay, Editors (0415969980, $19.95). These musicians don't fit into neat categories but had their own strong influence on the pop music world - and there are a few notables, too, chose lesser-known works are profiled. Music trivia fans who enjoy the offbeat and odd get all the stories behind these selected notables-but-not-greats. Highly recommended. William Duckworth's Virtual Music (041596-6752, $24.95) could have been featured in our Computer Corner area but is reviewed here for its strong study of how music came to the Web as a blend of interactive sound bytes, and how it moved into cell phones and now iTunes. This history covers everything from file sharing and the creation of one of the first interactive works of music and art on the web by composer/musician Duckworth to the possibilities of nanotechnology and controversial new musics developing in the online world only. An intriguing survey of the science and musics of sound in a new environment.
Which Side Are You On?
Dick Weissman
Continuum
15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
www.continuumbooks.com
0826416985 $24.95 1-800-561-7704
Dick Weissman worked with the Journeymen and here uses a popular song from the 1930s to fuel chapters discussing the history and culture of American folk music from Joan Baez to Ani DiFanco, Peter Paul and Mary and more. Here are discussions of all the top names in American folk, written with authority because author Weissman is more than a historian here - he was a participant in the folk movement of the times, and adds persona anecdotes about the folk music business and its artists. From pop artists to the re-emergence of female blues singers, Which Side Are You On? An Inside History Of The Folk Music Revival In America is not to be missed by any serious about American popular music history.
Dream Boogie
Peter Guralnick
Little, Brown
1271 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0316377945 $27.95 www.twbg.com
Plenty of other accounts of gospel/soul singer Sam Cooke have been written before, so at first glance the need for yet another in Dream Boogie: The Triumph Of Sam Cooke seems illogical, even redundant - but wait, there's more depth and detail here than in others. Perhaps this is because Peter Guralnick already has a history writing extensively on American popular music and musicians, from Robert Johnson to Western Swing and soul; or perhaps it's because Dream Boogie goes beyond the listings of hits and biographical detail to probe the social and cultural atmosphere which fostered Cooke and his music. Either way, it's a powerful account which blends personal with professional facts to lend many more insights into artist Sam Cooke than other biographies can offer.
The Business Shelf
Applying E-Commerce In Business
Rana Tassabehji
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
www.sagepublications.com
0761948759 $49.95 1-800-818-7243
This is no casual eBay user's guide: it's a serious business survey which uses examples from around the world to link e-commerce with both business and technological frameworks, examining how business models have changed due to the 'dot com' revolution, how new ways of doing business have emerged, and the new legal and ethical challenges an e-business faces. Quite scholarly and analytical, Applying E-Commerce In Business is highly recommended for the college-level business student analyzing e-commerce history and structure.
Resonant Leadership
Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
www.HBSPress.org
1591395631 $25.95 1-800-668-6780
Organizational Behavior and Human Resources professor Richard Boyatzis and Co-chair of Teleos Leadership Institute Annie McKee present Resonant Leadership, a guide to the three key elements - mindfulness, hope, and compassion - that are critical to enabling renewal and stability in great leaders. Emphasizing the importance of balance so as to avoid burnout and the precipitation of failure due to exhaustion and excessive stress, Resonant Leadership is an optimistic yet serious-minded discourse about what it takes to be a leader in an increasingly pressurized world. A highly accessible guide filled with examples and plain common sense.
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
1-800-250-5308 www.amacombooks.org
Not just any seller or homeowner can make money in real estate: you have to know what you're doing - and what better place to gain some of the knowledge than with real estate salesman Jim Remley, who bases Make Millions Selling Real Estate: Earning Secrets Of Top Agents (0814472923, $18.95) on his own experience, as well as those of fellow agents. From referral-driven agents and qualifying buyers to solutions to common problems, Remley's is a 'must' for any serious real estate salesperson. Jake Steinfeld's I've Seen A Lot Of Famous People Naked, And They've Got Nothing On You (081-4408605, $21.95) provides a collection of 'street smart' business tips from a body builder businessman who is recognized as a fitness icon, and responsible for creating the personal fitness training industry. Does fitness translate to business savvy? Jake's seen a lot of celebrities stripped of their fame and fortune, and learned what made them succeed and failure: that knowledge helped him build a branded fitness product, a professional sports league, and more - and Steinfeld here shares some secrets of success.
The Political Science Shelf
Unleashing Change
Steven Kelman
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
www.brookings.edu
081574899X $29.95 1-800-275-1447
Public management expert Steven Kelman presents Unleashing Change: A Study Of Organizational Renewal In Government, an ambitious blueprint for accomplishing goals in reform, based heavily on his involvement in federal procurement reform in the 1990s. Chapters address the smoothest way to introduce change, how change effort feeds on itself in theory and evidence, applying models and determinants, methodological considerations, and much more. Blending abstract or mathematical models with practical-minded situations and responses, Unleashing Change is a valuable resource and reference to consult when attempting large-scale bureaucratic reorganizations, from corporate hierarchies to the government of nations.
Misuse Of Power
Ed Asner & Burt Hall
Mayhaven Publishing
PO Box 557, Mahomet, IL 61853
www.mayhavenpublishing.com
1932278141 $19.95 www.amazon.com
The far right have imposed a national agenda that's taking America in the wrong direction in many respects: that's the hard-hitting message of an award-winning actor and political activist and a retired government analyst in their Misuse Of Power: How The Far Right Gained And Misuses Power. Democracy is deteriorating as a result, the authors maintain: chapters show just how, and how the system of checks and balances isn't working in a right-controlled political system.
Is The American Dream Killing You?
Paul Stiles
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York, NY 10022-5299
0060593784 $24.95 harpercollins.com
Does the Constitution create the framework for the American dream which is contributing to a faster-paced modern world? CEO/former military man Stiles consulted the Constitution and discovered, to his surprise, that aside from authorizing Congress to regulate commerce and mint money, there was no reference to capitalism, corporations, or business at all. So the free market considered a cornerstone of democracy is actually not even mentioned in the key founding documents of our nation! With this information in hand, Stiles discusses the free market's history, how it's remade the American life, and how it may be eroding some of our most beloved human values. From the creation of market-driven culture to the ironies of economics, Is The American Dream Killing You? How 'the Market' Rules Our Lives provides some hard-hitting analysis.
The Psychology Shelf
Breaking Through To Teens
Ron Taffel
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
1593851359 $35.00 www.guilford.com
Breaking Through To Teens: A New Psychotherapy For The New Adolescence is a cutting-edge psychology book by award-winning academic author Ron Taffel, Ph.D., founder of Family and Couples Treatment Services at The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York City. Breaking Through To Teens blends crucial insights into teen culture with the hard-earned knowledge of what can get through to the troubled adolescents of today's world. From the basic conditions kids need to feel "held", to clear means for breaking through parent-teen gridlock, to creating "flexible confidentiality", and getting teens to speak up, Breaking Through To Teens is extremely valuable both as a parenting resource and as a professional sourcebook of general understanding and specific techniques for youth psychologists and family counselors. Highly recommended especially for psychology reference shelves.
Self Creation
Frank Summers
The Analytic Press
101 West Street, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
0881633968 $39.95 analyticpress.com
Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Frank Summers presents Self Creation: Psychoanalytic Therapy And The Art Of The Possible, a fresh view on the often difficult relationship between "insight" and "change" in order to bring about transformations in manners of being, relating, and benefiting from therapy. The latter half of Self Creation applies the author's new model of therapeutic action to common clinical syndromes such as depression, harmful narcissism, somatic symptoms, and more. A valuable source of insight and new applicable techniques written especially for psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, also highly recommended for psychology students.
A Natural History Of Human Emotions
Stuart Walton
Grove Press
841 Broadway. New York, NY 10003
www.groveatlantic.com
0802118046 $25.00 1-800-788-3122
Charles Darwin's survey of emotions serves as a starting point - and a focal point - for Stuart Walton's A Natural History Of Human Emotions, an insightfully informative examination of the history of human emotions, which considers how these emotions have fueled social and political change over time. Human emotion hasn't been a constant in as much as society has changed its rules for expression in both public and private and thus emotional honey has come to be valued while other emotions have risen to the foreground to dominate. Chapters use plenty of historical references from Biblical to modern times to chart these changes.
Autism And The Myth Of The Person Alone
Douglas Biklen, et.al.
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd fl., NY, NY 10003
www.nyupress.org
0814799280 $21.00 1-800-996-6987
Autism is defined as a developmental disorders which appears in the first three years of life and affects social and communication skills on different levels, and discussions often revolve around levels of impairment and treatment. Autism And The Myth Of The Person Alone disagrees with the common picture of autism, presenting chapters written by those with autism themselves - including those considered most severely disabled within the world of autism - to present a personalized view of how autism is experienced by those diagnosed. Through communication by type or a blend of speech and typing, the language, communication methods, and perceptions of the autistic are effectively contrasted. A 'must' for any who would understand the autistic experience.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., NY, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com 1-800-451-7556
Religious Studies professor Bart D. Ehrman presents a glimpse into thousands of years in Christianity's past. Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make It Into The New Testament (0195182502, $15.95) is a compendium of the non-canonical writings from the first centuries after Christ, translated into readable modern prose. A handful of background information and insights into these texts is included, but most of the writings speak for themselves. Lost Christianities: The Battles For Scripture And The Faiths We Never Knew (0195182499, $15.95) takes one step further to explore early forms of Christianity and how they came to be suppressed, reformed or forgotten - even though each variant insisted upon upholding the teachings of Jesus and his apostles, and even though each possessed writings that supported their claims, books allegedly written by Jesus' followers. Together, both volumes draw upon a wealth of meticulous research to reveal long-hidden perspectives of faith and worship; and both are serious-minded theological studies quite accessible to lay readers.
The American History Shelf
The Guns Of Independence
Jerome A. Greene
Savas Beatie/Casemate Publishing
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.casematepublishing.com
1932714057 $34.95 savasbeatie.com
Most scholars of the American Revolution concur that the single most decisive engagement for General George Washington and his troops was the siege of the British forces at Yorktown , Virginia, in the fall of 1781. America had been at war with England for six years when Washington was able to trap Cornwallis on the tip of the narrow peninsula, resulting in a military action that would result in Cornwallis' surrender on October 19, 1781 and effectively end the war in North America, thereby securing American national independence. The Guns Of Independence: The Siege Of Yorktown 1781 by historian Jerome A. Greene provides the reader with an informed and informative examination of the siege and the participants involved on both sides of the conflict. Drawing upon extensive archival research and a personal archaeological study of the battlefield, Greene has written the definitive study of the Yorktown siege, making a seminal and very strongly recommended contribution to American history. No academic or community library American Revolutionary History reference section can be considered complete without the inclusion of The Guns Of Independence.
Picturing Arizona
Katherine G. Morrissey
Kirsten M. Jensen
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816522723 $24.95 1-800-426-3797
Skillfully edited by Associate Professor of History Katherine G. Morrissey and former Arizona Library Special Collections archivist Kirsten Jensen, Picturing Arizona: The Photographic Record Of The 1930s offers more than one hundred images by well-known photographers such as Dorothea Lange and Laura Gilpin, offering a wide range of perspectives on Depression-era Arizona history. A thoughtful text commentary accompanies poignant black-and-white photographs, which reveal an unfolding picture of character, struggle, determination, and ordinary life amid the Arizona desert landscape. Picturing Arizona is a moving visual experience, perfectly capturing Arizona grit and character of a bygone era.
The Mind Of The Master Class
Elizabeth Fox-Genovese
Eugene D. Genovese
Cambridge University Press
40 W 20th St, 7th fl, NY, NY 10011-4211
www.cambridge.org
0521615623 $29.00 1-800-872-7423
Humanities professor Elizabeth Fox-Genovese and retired history professor Eugene D. Genovese combine their talents in The Mind Of The Master Class, an intellectual history of the psychology of American slaveholders and slavery supporters in the antebellum South. The Mind Of The Master Class is so thoroughly researched, and draws so heavily upon primary sources, that every single page of the main text sports meticulous citations in footnote format. Though The Mind Of The Master Class is a scholarly text, scrutinizing in-depth exactly what made the slaveholding South tick. Why and how was American slavery once so thoroughly justified, defended, and fought for, in spite of its reprehensible violation of human rights - a violation as apparent to abolitionists and others 150 years ago as it is to all of America today? The reasoning and examples given in The Mind Of The Master Class flow very naturally, and will easily draw lay readers into the labyrinthine intrigue of the deceptions the human mind plays on itself. Highly recommended.
Impressions Of New York
Marilyn Symmes
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
1568984928 $50.00 www.papress.com
Impressions Of New York: Prints From The New York Historical Society serves a dual purpose: it provides a companion to an exhibition celebrating the Historical Society's bicentennial anniversary, gathering a selection of historic images of the city from 1672 to present; and it also serves as a stand-alone volume capturing the images and written stories of the people and places of the city. Each duotone print or illustration is centered on a full page with a facing page describing history and painting origin. An outstanding tribute which works as well alone as with the exhibit.
San Francisco's Lost Landmarks
James R. Smith
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Ave., Sanger, CA 93657
www.quilldriverbooks.com
1884995446 $14.95 1-800-497-4909
So many books appear yearly on San Francisco that it's easy to miss one - and San Francisco's Lost Landmarks is not one to miss; it holds riches like few others. Where competitors offer listings of dates and facts, San Francisco's Lost Landmarks uses vintage pictures to blend with history to tell of lost pieces of the past. From the Tivoli Opera House and Gardens to Ralston's failed Grand Hotel, San Francisco's Lost Landmarks is history at its best.
Skylines
M. Hill Godsped
Hugh Lauter Levin
9 Burr Road, Westport, CT 06880
0883635275 $75.00 www.hlla.com
The oversized, oblong shape of this lovely title will challenge library shelves but lends to display: perfect for the panoramic scenes of American skylines which is the focus of Skylines: American Cities Yesterday And Today. The world's first skyscraper in Chicago was finished in 1885, but skyscrapers have graced almost every large American city since. This celebration provides modern photos of almost fifty such skyscrapers, adding more from around the world and providing historical photos and maps for each city. Personal travel and research combined with these original shots makes Skylines a unique and important contribution to American architectural, city planning, and urban studies.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Complete Book Of Elk Hunting
Sam Curtis
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.lyonspress.com
1592286534 $24.95 1-800-836-0510
Elk are one of the most popular hunting sources in the West, but they can be elusive despite their bulk and hunters need to understand their habits and habitat, to be successful. Enter The Complete Book Of Elk Hunting: Tips And Tactics For All Weather And Habitat Conditions. From the behavior of big bulls to stalking, tracking and other tactics, Sam Curtis has spent 30 years hunting elk successfully and here explores all the methods which have contributed to his own success.
Fit To Fish
Stephen L. Hisey & Keith R. Berend
Frank Amato Productions
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883541 $19.95 amatobooks.com
Does casting give you shoulder problems, or are your wrists suffering from fishing? While fishing is ordinarily seen as a relatively passive sport, it exhorts demands on the body which can result in injury - and which need preventative exercises to resist. The collaborative and expert work of physical therapy Stephen L Hisey and Medical doctor Keith R. Berend, Fit To Fish: How To Tackle Angling Injuries uses photos, illustrations, and written description to discuss common fishing-related overuse injuries. Symptoms, causes, and remedies for each are discussed along with equipment and methodology modifications for both optimum fishing and optimum health. The perfect gift for any fisherman.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Krazy Ignatz
Ged Herriman
Fantagraphics
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
156097690X $19.95 fantagraphics.com
Krazy Ignatz is the sixth volume of the Krazy Kat reprint series - but it's the first volume to appear in full color, representing the comic strip's color appearance in June 1935 after being a black-and-white Sunday strip. The new color format has been digitally cleaned for sharp appearance - better than the original strips - and harvests a wealth of Krazy Kat and non-Kat materials from Herriman archives from 1935-36. Krazy Ignatz is a 'must' for any KK fan.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Alaskan Malamute Yesterday And Today
Barbara A. Brooks & Sherry E. Wallis
Alpine Publications, Inc.
225 S. Madison Ave, Loveland, CO 80537
www.alpinepub.com
0931866960 $49.95 1-800-777-7257
The Alaskan Malamute Yesterday And Today is a hardcover compendium of virtually everything there is to know about the Alaskan Malamute breed of dog. From the history of this celebrated canine, to in-depth instructions and recommendations for the selection, care, training, and grooming of one's own Malamute, to pedigree and bloodline information concerning the formation of the breed, extensive information to be weighed when contemplating breeding Malamutes, and much more, The Alaskan Malamute Yesterday And Today is valuable as a breeder resource, a pet owner's reference, and a true dog lover's treasury. A profusion of lack-and-white photographs throughout illustrate this comprehensive and highly recommended guide to a hardy and enduring species of man's best friend.
The Clicked Retriever
Lana Mitchell
Dogwise Publishing
Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778
www.dogwise.com
1929242301 $19.95 1-800-776-2665
Written by professional dog trainer Lana Mitchell, who has helped pioneer clicker training since the 1990s and achieved High In Trial awards in both obedience and herding, The Clicked Retriever is a straightforward guide to using the clicker in retrieval training, one of the more complex types of training a dog can undergo because of its many steps. Chapters discuss how to build trust with one's dog without using force, training basics, retrieval basics, how to impress and strengthen the chain of retrieval steps, turning, holding and carrying, the directed retrieve, scent articles, and much more. Though written especially for dog show and dog obedience handlers, The Clicked Retriever is also ideal for anyone interested in teaching a hunting dog useful behaviors, or even ordinary pet owners who want to instruct their dog to play "fetch" rather than "tug of war". The Clicked Retriever even demonstrates how to apply retrieving skills to such activities as Flyball and service dog training. A superb, step-by-step pet trainer's manual.
Field Guide To Insects Of South Africa
Mike Picker, et al.
Struik/International Pub. Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
1770070613 $32.95 1-800-758-3756
Featuring full-color photography of over 1,200 insect species, Field Guide To Insects Of South Africa is a comprehensive guide to insect fauna of South Africa, now in an updated 2004 edition. Senior Zoology Lecturer Mike Picker, Associate Zoology Professor Charles Griffiths, and retired entomologist Alan Weaving combine their knowledge and expertise in this guide that offers extensive identification details, maps of regional habitats, and basic biology information allowing for quick and simple field identification of insect species. An index of scientific names, and an introduction to insect hunting and classification round out this easy-to-use guide for amateur nature lovers and professional zoologists alike.
Breeding Horses
Dr. Mina Davies Morel, Bsc, PhD
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
www.blackwellpublishing.com
1405129662 $39.99 1-800-216-2522
Lecturer and head of the Equine Studies group at the Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth Dr. Mina Davies Morel presents Breeding Horses, an in-depth instruction manual especially for professional horse handlers and breeders, but also intended for any agriculture student or horse owner who plans to breed their prize animals yet has little experience. Breeding Horses covers basic equine reproductive physiology, explanations of artificial insemination and embryo transfer; advice for selecting the proper broodmare and stallion; management at covering and during pregnancy and post-partum care; and much more. Above all, emphasis is placed on the importance of avoiding or minimizing risk of injury to the horses, the foal, and the handlers. Black-and-white diagrams and photographs illustrate this exhaustively researched, no-nonsense, down-to-earth manual.
Baby Birds
Jeffrey Rich
Rio Nuevo Publishers
451 N. Bonita Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85745
1887896708 $12.95 www.rionuevo.com
Wildlife biologist/author Jeffrey Rich's lovely color close-ups of wild birds of all kinds is the centerpiece of Baby Birds, a slim but colorful book which narrows the focus to baby birds in Alaska, Hawaii and the West. Explanations of orders, habitats, range and clutch size accompany these bright, compelling photos. It's unusual to see baby birds featured for adult audiences: all ages will enjoy the presentation.
Rainbows & Bridges
Allen & Linda Anderson
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315030 $24.95 newworldlibrary.com
Rainbows & Bridges is the first set to address the need for mourning the death of an animal in the family, offering the clergy member authors' insights on healing. It's more than a book - it's a kit of materials which walks adults, kids and even other household pets through the grieving process, identifying 'rainbows' and 'bridges' which allow the user to move from grieving to recovery. From what things should never be said to someone whose pet has died to how to support a person suffering from pet loss and how kids and adults adjust, Rainbows & Bridges covers the entire process from initial loss to phrases of grieving and considering a new pet.
Stoeger Publishing
17603 Indian Head Highway, #200, Accokeek MD 20607
www.stoegerindustries.com
If you're looking for a quick guide to identifying the few snakes in the U.S. which are venomous, you can't go wrong with Scott Shupe's U.S. Guide To Venomous Snakes And Their Mimics (0883173026, $22.95), which pairs full-color photos and range maps with discussions of each species and subspecies by region. Author Scott Shupe has been working with snakes for over thirty years in Florida as a professional naturalist specializing in herpetology: if there's only one book on the topic to be purchased for a library collection, make it his. The 2005 edition of Birder's Bible: The Ultimate Bird Watcher's Reference Guide (0883172909, $19.95) packs in product listings for virtually anything you'll need to effectively watch birds; from considerations of feeders and their contents to baths, nesting boxes, binoculars, and more. Prices, descriptions, and catalog numbers are included with black and white photos: all introduced by articles by respected bird professionals.
Tiger Bone & Rhino Horn
Richard Ellis
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, #300, Washington, DC 20009
www.islandpress.org
1559635320 $26.95 1-800-828-1302
Richard Ellis has written sixteen books on ecology and extinction and is a research associate at the American Museum of Natural history: his Tiger Bone & Rhino Horn: The Destruction Of Wildlife For Traditional Chinese Medicine presents a damning expose of the tortures and horrors animals experience in the trade for animal parts in traditional Chinese medicine. There's a large list of endangered animals which are deemed essential ingredients in Chinese potions: Richard Ellis discusses the dilemma and explores how the animals may be protected.
Doral Publishing/Bowtie
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618
www.doralpub.com
Four fine dog guides offer very different topics and approaches for owners who would learn more about their pets. Anet Haithcox's Training The Mature Dog: New Strategies For Common Problems (0974540706, $9.95) tells how to train the older dog with established problems: a departure from most dog training guides which assume puppy status. Older dogs often have ingrained bad habits, from marking territory inappropriately to digging and running through the house or stealing food. Even if your dog refuses to break these habits, Haithcox has routines which resolve them. Behavior issues are also addressed in Daine Morgan's Train The Wolf In Your Dog: Genetic Clues To Solving Behavior Problems (0974540722, $12.95). Dogs have many close connections with wolves, right down to genetics: Train The Wolf In Your Dog addresses these connections, shows how to understand dog moods and behaviors through using a visual language glossary, and teaches how human body language can affect dog obedience. From simple obedience turn to Patricia Craige's Born To Win, Breed To Succeed (0944875823), which covers all the basics of dog breeding from the experiences of top breeders. From developing a plan for sires and champions to understanding common mistakes and training routines, Born To Win Breed To Succeed covers all aspects of dog showing and breeding champions, from judge routines to dog show politics. Susan Neal's Without Regret: A Handbook For Owners Of Canine Amputees (0944875858, $26.95) is the only source book for owners of canine amputees, providing a unique reference which surveys accessible environments, conditions requiring amputation, prevention, and post-surgical complications. A well-rounded guide for any owner of an amputee dog - or one which has all four legs and then only three.
The Photography Shelf
Step-By-Step Digital Photography
Jack & Sue Drafahl
Amherst Media, Inc.
175 Rano St., #200, Buffalo, NY 14207
www.amherstmedia.com
1584281413 $14.95 1-800-622-3278
Now in an updated second edition, Step-By-Step Digital Photography: A Guide For Beginners walks the reader through digital photography basics, from how to hold the camera to ISO camera settings, photography tips, tricks, and techniques, applying filters, camera care and cleaning, all about digital memory cards, and much more. Written in jargon-free prose, and dividing each nugget of information into a numbered paragraph with a full-color photograph to illustrate the point, Step-by-Step Digital Photography is as intuitive and user-friendly as a photography instructional manual can possibly be. Highly recommended.
Yellowstone To Yukon
Florian Schulz
The Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
0898869897 $34.95 1-800-553-4453
Yellowstone To Yukon: Freedom To Roam is a coffee-table photography book that takes the reader along with Florian Schulz on a visual journey of the Northern Rocky Mountain landscape. Two hundred full color images showcase that landscape along with the people, animals, and plants that inhabit it. Enhanced with original thematically appropriate essays by Douglas Chadwick, Karsten Heuer, Ted Kerasote, David Quammen, Rick Bass, and others, Yellowstone To Yukon is a testament to the need for conservation of one of our country's still wild, free, and open places where "bison move across prairies, wolves converge on the hunt, elk bugle across valleys, river otters fish the streams, and grizzlies roam the mountains". Yellowstone To Yukon is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Environmental Studies and Photography collections.
Wings Across America
Bruce McAllister & Jesse Davidson
Graphic Arts Center Publishing
PO Box 10306, Portland, OR 97296-0306
0963881795 $39.95 www.gacpc.com
While not a military title per say, Wings Across America: A Photographic History Of The U.S. Air Mail is a stunning account of early aviation history and surely will find many an interested reader among those who gravitate from military accounts to stories of U.S. air endeavors. Beautiful duotone vintage photos capture the spirit of early U.S. postal efforts, covering both the aircraft which served as mail carriers, their designs, and those who flew the mail. The blend of rare and vintage full-page photos and extensive detail on both planes and mail service makes for an exceptional coverage.
Art Photography Now
Susan Bright
Aperture
547 W. 27th Street, New York, NY 10001
193178891X $55.00 www.aperture.org
Photography not only shaped art in the last century, it dominated it - and what better to demonstrate and celebrate this domination than Susan Bright's Art Photography Now, which surveys eighty of the most important and influential contemporary artist-photographers working today. Seven sections are divided by photo type: portrait, landscape, fashion, etc., and each explores and contrasts methods used by artists in their genres. Not only are styles compared, but inspirations and different philosophical and artistic approaches shared. Much more than your usual photography exhibition, Art Photography Now seeks an explanation of the nature and purposes of contemporary art photographers.
The Photographer's Guide To Negotiating
Richard Weisgrau
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York, NY 10010
www.allworth.com
1581154143 $19.95 1-800-491-2808
Every photographer needs to know how to negotiate to be successful in marketing their services and skills, but most photographer's guides focus on technique and marketing and devote only cursory attention to the finer art of negotiating prices and terms. That's why it's important to have The Photographer's Guide To Negotiating in hand for any business proposal: chapters review good negotiation traits and strategies, discuss issues on stock photo sales, contracts and assignments, and provide in-depth interviews with experienced negotiators.
Assembling Panoramic Photos
William Rodarmor, translator
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol CA 95472
0596009755 $19.95 www.oreilly.com
Few books on photograph go into much detail or depth on handling panorama format photos, which makes the advice of Assembling Panoramic Photos: A Designer's Notebook important. Another feature which lends unique value: leading French photographers and artists present their techniques, translated by William Rodarmor for English readers, with step-by-step examples of technique beginning with initial shots and progressing to specific panoramic techniques. The end result is an essential reference which should be a part of any solid photography book collection.
Wide Angle
National Geographic
1145 - 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
www.nationalgeographic.com
079223913X $30.00 www.amazon.com
It's hard to believe the price tag of this hefty, 500 page reference is so reasonable at $30.00: especially since it's packed with full-page color photos on virtually every page! Wide Angle: National Geographic Greatest Places packs in visual displays culled from millions of images in the archives of Geographic, presenting scenes from around the world by both early and modern photographers. From urban scenes and empty deserts to centers of teaming human life, Wide Angle is perfect for that armchair traveler who wants to see as much of the world as possible from his easy chair.
The Education Shelf
Common Bonds
Deborah A. Byrnes & Gary Kiger, eds.
ACEI
17904 Georgia Avenue, #215, Olney, MD 20832
0871731673 $18.50 1-800-423-3563
Now in an updated third edition, Common Bonds: Anti-Bias Teaching In A Diverse Society is an assembly of essays by diverse educators concerning dilemmas encountered while teaching tolerance and respect for diversity in the classroom. Sample essays cover the issues of religious, ability, economic, language, and sexual diversity, and more. Researched with care and supported with lists of references, the essays keep in mind the demands of law as well as practical and ethical necessities in treating sensitive topics. An excellent, insightful and well-rounded resource for practicing and aspiring schoolteachers, both public and private.
Math Wars
Carmen M. Latterell
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275984230 $29.95 www.praeger.com
Parents and teachers interested in the cross-country debate about how to teach basic math won't want to miss the debate coverage in Math Wars: A Guide For Parents And Teachers. Here the heated issues between the NCTM curricula and traditional original curricula are discussed with an eye to understanding how kids learn math, what the differences are in what they are bringing home from the new curriculum, and why the standards created by the NCTM don't help prepare students for college. An intriguing survey of the many issues and theories involved in math teaching.
E-Learning Solutions On A Shoestring
Jane Bozarth
Pfeiffer
989 Market St, San Francisco CA 94103
0787977128 $40.00 www.pfeiffer.com
The chronically under-funded HR department needs E-Learning Solutions On A Shoestring: Help For The Chronically Underfunded Trainer: its focus is how to incorporate e-learning into a company at minimal cost, and provides chapters on products, incorporation tools, and workplace strategies. Chapters cover all the resources available for this purpose, from creating games and simulation learning tools to creating low-cost collaboration and bartering for resources. An outstanding business resource.
The Literary Shelf
Western Law, Russian Justice
Gary Rosenshield
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
029920930X $45.00 1-800-621-2736
University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Emeritus of Slavic Languages and Literature Gary Rosenshield presents Western Law, Russian Justice: Dostoevsky, The Jury Trial, And The Law offers a new interpretation of classic author Dostoevsky's greatest novel, "The Brothers Karmazov". Closely exploring how Dostoevsky contextualized his portrayal of trials and trial participants in the political, social, and ideological framework of his time, Western Law, Russian Justice reveals that Dostoevsky directly confronts problems in the legal system that have plagued the United States up to the modern day, particularly in the past two decades. Chapters specifically scrutinize the realization of Russian justice, the perils of narrative empathy, and the imprisonment of the law itself in "The Brothers Karmazov." A thought-provoking, in depth, and sometimes highly technical literary analysis, especially recommended for college libraries and literature students.
Hesperus Press/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road
North Pomfret, VT 05053
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
In 1915 Edgar Lee Masters presented stories of the dead through their own posthumous words, using poems to aim darts at hypocrisy and small-town American injustices: Spoon River Anthology (1843911-086, $15.95) used his own childhood experiences in rural Illinois as ammunition, and is as powerful today as it was in its heyday. Alessandro Gallenzi's A Modern Bestiary - Ars Poetastrica (1843917777, $16.00) provides a whimsical gathering of sixteen sonnets about humans who are transformed into beasts. As a passionate new interpretation of the old 'bestiary' traditions from long ago, A MODERN BESTIARY will delight fans of the sonnet.
Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com
Two notable critical companions are important additions to libraries where advanced high school to college-level students regularly require supplemental in-depth works for essay assignments in literature. Patrick A. Smith's Tim O'Brien: A Critical Companion (0313330557 $49.95) covers the works of a man who chronicled his Vietnam experiences in a memoir, then wrote eight novels where characters struggled with issues of American upbringing in the Vietnam era. All eight novels receive analysis and background insights essential to understanding their influence and evolution. Ruth Johnston Staver's A Companion To Beowulf (031333224X, $59.95) will hold even wider relevance to more collections, as Beowulf is one of the most important - and most assigned - works in Old English. The first section focuses on a general discussion of Beowulf and the times and society it's set in; the second discusses different translations, provides a plot summary, and surveys the language, style and social insights of the piece. A 'must' for any in-depth literary collection
Critical Companion To John Steinbeck
Jeffrey Schultz & Luchen Li
Facts on File
132 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001
0816043000 $65.00 factsonfile.com
John Steinbeck is not only the most beloved of American authors - he's one of the most studied, so Critical Companion To John Steinbeck: A Literary Reference To His Life And Work will find many student readers; from high school to college. Here's a comprehensive biography which includes critical commentary on his novels, short stories, nonfiction and other works, discussing major themes, characters, film adaptations, and more. The blend of biography and critical reviews of all of Steinbeck's works provides students with all the background they need, handily under one cover.
Under Kilimanjaro
Ernest Hemingway
The Kent State University Press
PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44240-0001
www.kentstateuniversitypress.com
0873388453 $34.00 1-800-247-6553
Under Kilimanjaro was Hemingway's last book and was an autobiographical novel about the country he knew and grew to love when he spent several months in Kenya between 1953 and 1954 - but it was completed in 1956 and is the last of his manuscripts to be published in its entirety. No definitive Hemingway collection could be without Under Kilimanjaro: co-editors Robert Lewis and Robert Fleming have aspired to produce a complete reading text of Hemingway's original and their work makes for an important, definitive polishing of Hemingway's final creation.
Defining the World
Henry Hitchings
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374113025 $24.00 fsgbooks.com
Dr. Johnson is known for putting together the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language in the 18th century, creating a massive dictionary intended to be competed in 3 years, but which took over a decade of work. His dictionary was one of the most important creations of its times and it reached even into America with its importance - but relatively few accounts have followed Dr. Johnson's actual work. Defining The World: The Extraordinary Story Of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary also presents an A-Z dictionary-like arrangement to describe Johnson's effort, vision, mistakes, and frustrations in creating his famous work. It's a 'must' for any who would understand how the work was created, and its ongoing impact on the world.
Fact, Fiction And Folklore In Harry Potter's World
George Beahm
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stony Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571744401 $16.95 www.hrpub.com
If you want an unofficial guide to Harry Potter's characters and commentary on their roots in other fantasy classics, use George Beahm's Fact, Fiction And Folklore In Harry Potter's World, an intriguing survey of over 300 entries to locate the myths, legends, literature and history in the Potter novels. From beasts and wizards to zombies, owls and amulets, this visual Harry Potter companion is much more than whimsy: it traces the literary roots - and often, the origins- of Potter's creations in traditional mythic literature.
The Art Shelf
Moving Pictures
Nancy Mowll Mathews & Charles Musser
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952283 $65.00 hudsonhills.com
Moving Pictures: American Art And Early Film 1880-1910 is a fantastic artbook about the intersection between American art and the new medium of moving pictures during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A medley of essays written by a variety of authors explore the complex interplay of both genres and how they impacted one another, while color illustrations and photography (black-and-white in the cases when the original film or artwork is black-and-white) reveal the evolution of images and the portrayal of motion. Chapters especially focus upon American artistic traditions, and how artists and filmmakers of the era captures both the body in motion and the city in motion. Moving Pictures: American Art And Early Film 1880-1910 is a truly stunning art history that places as much emphasis on the written insights concerning the transformation of genres as it does on upon its vivid and vibrant images. A companion DVD-ROM, which is compatible with PC Internet Explorer/Firefox or Macintosh Safari/Firefoxm, complements this impressive volume.
Trompe L'Oeil: Sky And Sea
Ursula E. & Martin Benad
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.wwnorton.com
0393731715 $29.95 1-800-233-4830
Sea and sky are the trompe l'oeil painter's favorite and best motifs for modern interiors, and here Ursula E. and Martin Benad provide artists with easily-followed introductions to painting clouds, waves and seascapes. Patterns, examples, and tips cover both large and small formats for walls and ceilings, discuss the challenge of perspective and special lighting, and gauging color intensity and effects. Packed with color photos and illustration examples, Trompe L'oeil: Sky And Sea is a wonderful beginning artist's guide.
Pacific Pattern
Susan Kuchler & Graeme Were
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
050051237X $50.00 www.amazon.com
Very highly recommended as a special holiday pick or art collection basic is the gorgeous Pacific Pattern, blending lovely color photos by Glenn Jowitt with a survey of South Pacific arts, from fiber art and videos to traditional patterns used in floor coverings and clothing. Pacific traditional patterns blend with new materials and purposes to blend old styles with new innovations - and Anthropology researcher Susanne Kuchler is the perfect choice, paired with Research Fellow Graeme Were, to explore both the artistic and anthropological roots of Pacific region art. A gorgeous history of patterns, fiber and peoples evolves.
Advanced Airbrush Art
Timothy Remus
Wolfgang Publications
217 - 2nd Street N., Stillwater, MN 55082
1929133200 $24.95 www.wolfpub.com
Advanced Airbrush Art: How To Secrets From The Masters could also have been featured in our 'Transportation' section, for many of the techniques are demonstrated for auto art purposes - but it's reviewed here for its fine technical survey of airbrush techniques. Nearly 500 color photos provide step-by-step explanation to accompany projects from ten selected airbrush masters. The bikes being decorated serve as project examples for cutting masks, using graphics, mixing and more, making Advanced Airbrush Art a definitive guide for any entering into the airbrush art world.
Art Deco Ironwork And Sculpture
S.F. Jerry Cook III & Tina Skinner
Schiffer Publications
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
0764322923 $49.95 schifferbooks.com
Any interested in either studying or collecting art deco ironwork simply must have Art Deco Ironwork And Sculpture: it's the definitive guide to the topic, presenting over 500 pieces in detail on pages which pair photos with history of the Modern Art movement in Paris. The illustrations were selected from folio volumes published in the mid-1920s to inspire other artists, and are arranged by ironwork theme: windows, facades, walls, columns, and more.
Paintings Of New York 1800-1950
Bruce Weber
Pomegranate Communications
775A Southpoint Boulevard, Petaluma, CA 94954-1495
0764933191 $30.00 pomegranate.com
Almost eighty artists celebrate New York through paintings featured in Bruce Weber's excellent Paintings Of New York 1800-1950. Undoubtedly there were thousands to choose from - but only a little less than a hundred made the cut for Paintings Of New York, which profiles works by such classic artists as Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Childe Hassam. These are New York at its finest: crowds, seasons, architectural and neighborhood atmosphere and wonders. The idea was to provide a diverse selection of New York interpretations accompanied by a scholarly text blending history with art appreciation: packaged in an affordable hardcover, Paintings Of New York is a pick for any with an affection for the city.
The Fashion/Costuming Shelf
Costumes Accessories Props And Stage Illusions Made Easy
Barb Rogers
Meriwether Publishers
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
1566081033 $19.95 meriwether.com
Usually Meriwether's fine guides are aimed to kids and young adult - but Costumes, Accessories, Props And Stage Illusions Made Easy is too important to limit to teens alone: it offers any aspiring stage crew the tools needed to create quality stages and dramatic acts. Chapters cover all aspects of making costumes and scenes, and will prove a perfect reference for beginning productions at any age level.
Shoes
Stephanie Pederson
David & Charles/F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715322346 $12.99 fwpublications.com
One would think Shoes: What Every Woman Should Know would be another historical survey or a shopping guide: actually, it's both under one cover: a history and a consumer's guide with lovely color photos following, literally, the ups and downs of shoe styles and considering how shoe trends are influenced by fashion. From how shoe sizing began to wartime shoes and art deco styles, Shoes is packed with color and interest, and is highly recommended for any with an interest in shoes, from students to casual consumers.
Fashion Designer Survival Guide
Mary Gehlhar
Dearborn Publishing
30 South Wacker Drive, #2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
0793198992 $22.95 dearborntrade.com
Usually industry guides offer tips from seasoned pros - who may have forgotten the real focus and experiences of novices; so it's refreshing to see industry newcomers included alongside pros in Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look At Starting And Running Your Own Fashion Business. Emerging designers receive practical strategies and advice from both big names (Tommy Hilfiger, Richard Tyler and more) and newcomers who all share their industry insights. The result is a 'must' for any aspiring fashion designer: packed with strategy, insights, and even checklists for success.
The Biography Shelf
Tom Custer: Ride To Glory
Carl F. Day
University of Oklahoma Press
4100 28th Ave., NW, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
0806136871 $21.95 1-800-627-7377
Tom Custer: Ride To Glory is the first biography of Thomas Ward Custer, the younger brother of the infamous George Armstrong Custer. Thomas Ward Custer enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, and saw action in Kentucky and Tennessee before he was transferred to his brother's command in Virginia, and was the first man in American history and the only Federal soldier in the Civil War to earn the Medal of Honor twice. He later participated in the Battle of the Washita, Stanley's Yellowstone Expedition, the Black Hills expedition, and met his end along with George Custer in the final march to the Little Bighorn. A revealing story of an overshadowed yet notable figure in American history, highly accessible to scholars and lay readers alike.
Remembering Joseph
Mark L. McConkie
Deseret Book Company
Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130
1570089639 $32.95 1-800-453-4876
Drawing from more than 800 primary sources, many of which are previously unpublished, Remembering Joseph: Personal Recollections Of Those Who Knew The Prophet Joseph Smith is a compilation of hundreds of personal accounts of encounters with Mormon founder Joseph Smith. Organized by topic for quick search and reference, Remembering Joseph reveals Joseph at work, at rest, as a father and a son, as a boy and prophet, and as a leader of men. A searchable companion CD-ROM with thousands more stories, quotes, and memories as well as an extensive bibliography, biographical registry, and index round out this "must-read" for anyone seeking a personal perspective of this renowned religious leader.
Buster Keaton: Tempest In A Flat Hat
Edward McPherson
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
1557046654 $26.95 newmarketpress.com
Buster Keton is one of the best actor-directors in movie history, and has received biographical attention before - but for true depth don't miss Buster Keaton: Tempest In A Flat Hat: it comes from a young writer who spent over a year repeatedly watching over 60 Keaton films and follows Keaton's career from vaudeville to silent film. Keaton used his vaudeville years to apply some unique techniques to the silents: Buster Keaton: Tempest In A Flat Hat identifies and celebrates these techniques and describes his life and influences.
The Hammer
Lou Dubose & Jan Reid
Public Affairs
250 W. 57th St. #1321, NY, NY 10107
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
1586482386 $26.00 www.amazon.com
Tom DeLay came from the camps of Texas and lived with an alcoholic father: a questionable beginning indeed. He moved from the owner of a pest control business with a reputation as a party boy to become the most powerful man in Congress, today: The Hammer: God, Money And The Rise Of The Republican Congress charts his rise to power. Not only does The Hammer cover DeLay's life: it analyzes accompanying social and political changes which fostered his rise.
Tab Hunter Confidential
Tab Hunter & Eddie Muller
Algonquin Books
Box 2225, Chapel Hill NC 27515-2225
1565124669 $24.95 algonquin.com
Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making Of A Movie Star provides an candid, informative, and intensely personal autobiography by one of Hollywood's biggest names: and here Tab speaks out for the first time about what it was like to be a movie star around 1950, when he was first 'discovered' by an agent. His Hollywood acting experiences, his confusion about being gay and trapped in a romantic image for females, and his dealings with Hollywood's politics and seedier side makes for a vivid memoir which reveals a multi-faceted actor's life.
Calamity Jane
James D. McLaird
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069-8218
www.oupress.com
0806135913 $29.95 1-800-627-7377
Calamity Jane is a major figure in Western history so it's not surprising numerous titles have been written about her previously: what is surprising is that Calamity Jane: The Woman And The Legend has so much new material to reveal. Here's the definitive biography of one Martha Canary, written by one of the best modern authorities and packed with meticulous research. McLaird had to study conflicting accounts of her life and adventures to arrive at the truth: Calamity Jane comes packed with depth and detail on known facts and you won't find a better coverage elsewhere.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
"I Liked It, Didn't Love It"
Rona Edwards & Monika Skerbelis
Lone Eagle Publishing Company
1024 N. Orange Dr, Hollywood CA 90038
www.hcdonline.com
1580650627 $18.95 1-800-815-0503
Titled after the most common rejection line listed by studio executives, "I Liked It, Didn't Love It" is a no-nonsense guide to what happens to one's screenplay or novel when it is submitted to a studio or production company, and how to maximize one's odds of getting picked up. Written by a pair of industry insiders who have developed and sold screenplays for fifteen years, as well as teaching feature film development classes at UCLA for the past seven years, "I Liked It, Didn't Love It" covers important details to polish in one's writing, the art of pitching, crossing into television and cable movies, and much more. The refreshingly blunt honesty of "I Liked It, Didn't Love It" makes it as entertaining for readers of all backgrounds as it is vital for anyone looking to make a name or career for themselves in the screenplay industry. Highly recommended.
Writing And Developing College Textbook Supplements
Mary Ellen Lepionka
Atlantic Path Publishing
Box 1556, Gloucester, MA 01931-1556
www.atlanticpathpublishing.com
0972816410 $19.95
Veteran development editor in higher education publishing Mary Ellen Lepionka presents Writing And Developing College Textbook Supplements, a practical guide for anyone involved in developing, creating, or editing a print or electronic supplement, whether it is an instructor's manual, annotated edition, test bank, study guide, student reader, lab manual, transparency set, multimedia CD-ROM, video or audiotape, PowerPoint presentation, e-text, website, or other format for study material enhancement. Chapters discuss manuscript development and preparation, guidelines for creating sample tests, tips unique to multimedia or online course materials, and much more. Written in plain terms with an eye toward practical usage, Writing And Developing College Textbook Supplements is a "must-have" for academic writers charged with expanding upon standard textbooks to facilitate student learning.
Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets
James Russell
James Russell Publishing
780 Diogenes Drive, Reno NV 89512
www.powernet.net/~scrnplay
0916367118 $34.95 www.amazon.com
Learn all the basics of selling and marketing a script through the practical marketing guide Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets: Everything You Need To Know To Market Your Screenplay, TV Or Stage Play Script. This goes beyond advice on how to produce a script to focus on the nuts and bolts of how to market and protect one, from contacting production companies and increasing the possibility of a response to accessing the TV market. You don't have to have an agent to do it right - but you do have to have industry savvy, which Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets will provide.
I Could've Written A Better Movie Than That!
Derek Rydall
Michael Weise Productions
11288 Ventura Boulevard, #621, Studio City, CA 91604
1932907076 $26.95 www.mwp.com
There are plenty of movies on the market which feature substandard writing - so bad that even an audience member might think they can do better, let alone an aspiring screenwriter. If you're a member of the latter group, I Could've Written A Better Movie Than That! How To Make Six Figures As A Script Consultant Even If You're Not A Screenwriter is for you. It tells how to use this sense of perfection to earn cash as a script consultant, and comes from author Rydall's years of experience in the industry. Chapters show how to analyze stories in any form, write coverage, repair scripts, negotiate contracts and more. Plenty of books tell how to write the script: few, except for this, tell how to make money repairing one.
The Computer Shelf
Network Administrators Survival Guide
Anand Deveriya
Cisco Press
800 E. 96th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240
1587052113 $50.00 ciscopress.com
Network administration problems often have common denominators when it comes to Cisco system management, so any network administrator will welcome Network Administrators Survival Guide, which is offers chapters based on network functions. Each chapter provides an overview of the function, tools available, methods for configuration, and usage. Both Windows and Linux operating systems are covered in tools which take advantage of different operating systems, while author Anand Deveriya's field experience lends to identifying common traps and problems involved in set-up.
Lakeview Research
5310 Chinook Lane, Madison, WI 53704
$49.95 each www.lvr.com
Not for the casual lay computer book reader but perfect for any who regularly configure or assemble systems or need specific customization routines is Jan Axelson's fine guides to USB and networking. The third updated edition of USB Complete (1931448027, $49.95) provides a powerful and in-depth guide to anything you'd want to know about designing with USB in mind. The USB was designed to be a user-friendly interface for computer peripherals, and each must support USB protocols for exchanging data and managing power. USB Complete covers the devices which use USB, how to access them from various major applications, powering devices from USB, and troubleshooting common problems. From chip choices and controller interfaces to host applications, hosting, device drivers and more, clear-cut explanations and examples keep this weighty reference from bogging down, even for those not as advanced in programming or assembly. Embedded Ethernet And Internet Complete: Designing And Programming Small Devices For Networking (1931448000, $49.95) tells how to create min-web servers and use TCP/IP protocols to communicate over both local networks and the Net. From integrating hardware with device needs to creating such embedded Web site to respond to user input and exchanging messages, here's a detailed treasure trove of data.
Final Cut Pro 5
Larry Jordan
Lynda.com
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321375718 $44.99 lynda.com/books
Competing computer guides explain Final Cut Pro 5 and even offer examples - but how many books can claim to come paired with hands-on exercises and training video projects? The DVD loaded with exercises and examples accompanies Final Cut Pro 5 to offer something different to learners: a visual classroom in a book which blends over 80 step-by-step tutorials with illustrations of concepts and applications.
Charles River Media
10 Downer Ave, Higham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com
Rickland Hollar and Richard Murphy's Enterprise Web Services Security (15845-04137, $49.95) discusses the risks inherent in B2B and B2C transactions which expose critical web services to security threats. Here's a handbook developers and application architects can use to isolate network systems and consider their vulnerabilities: a guide which details how to secure workstations and servers alike, how to put policies in place to keep them secure, and how to handle attacks and threats. From authorization to authentication, Enterprise Web Services Security teaches how to work in a secure Web Services environment.
Adobe/Peachpit/New Riders
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
www.peachpit.com
Three outstanding computer guides are highly recommended picks. Scott Kelby and Terry White's InDesign CS/CS2 Killer Tips (0321330641, $29.99) provides a series of insider's tips for using InDesign which will streamline your operations. This book joins other series titles in assuming a basic knowledge and providing nothing but tips on how to enhance, streamline, and improve efforts. Each page consists of a sample illustration or screen to enhance the quick-learning reference. Adobebridge Official Javascript Reference: Automate Your CS2 Workflow (03-21409728, $39.99) tells of the support for scripting used by Adobe's extended JavaScript, ExtendScript. Learn how to use JavaScript objects and other methods AdobeBridge defines, and write scripts which use functionality from different applications with a reference which contains strings, definitions, protocols and more. Patti Schulze's Macromedia Fireworks 8: Training From The Source (0321335910, $44.99) tells how to use Fireworks bitmap tools to edit, create, streamline, and work with images. A CD-ROM offers all needed to build projects and runs under either Windows or Mac, while Fireworks 8 provides the power.
Learning Maya 7
Alias Learning Tools
Sybex/Wiley
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
www.alias.com
1894893743 $69.99 1-800-227-2346
Learning Maya 7/Foundation is the only real how-to manual you'll need to learn Maya effectively: it covers all the key techniques Maya holds and uses real-life project-based lessons as the teaching model, making it easy to take on step-by-step projects which can easily apply to one's own. Chapters move quickly into advanced functions, and Maya owners will be pleased at the progress and the sense of production gained from working on the sample project robot Blue.
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro, #250, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.nostarch.com
Michael Banks' The eBay Survival Guide (1593270631, $19.95) is another fine guide to selling and buying on eBay - and avoiding common pitfalls - which covers just about everything including discerning the 'real prices' of items and learning more effective bidding strategies. From using HTML in listings and handling templates to considering private auctions and handling problem buyers or sellers, all the basics of the interactive auction forum that is eBay are covered. Charles M. Kozierok's The TCP/IP Guide: A Comprehensive, Illustrated Internet Protocols Reference (159327047X, $79.95) provides technical, internet working students and professionals with an updated TCP/IP reference essential to understanding the protocol suite. There are over hundreds of illustrations and tables packing a book of over 1,500 pages, with a writing style which lends to quick reference to dozens of the protocols and procedures which run the web: UDP, DNS, TCP, RIP and more. From encoding to message exchanges and formats, The TCP/IP Guide is a 'must' for any serious web operator.
The Official Robosapien Hacker's Guide
Dave Prochnow
McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, NY, NY 10121-2298
www.books-mcgraw-hill.com
0071463097 $24.95 1-877-833-5524
Here are a dozen hacks which you can perform with Robosapien to make it more capable and attractive than it already is: a guide which packs in instructions on how to control your robot with either Mac or PC, and which provides insights into how Robosapien functions and how its uses can be expanded. Robot designer Mark Tilden's interview enhances one of the most in-depth Robosapien references in print.
123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments For Evil Genius
Myke Predko
TAB/McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
0071451420 $24.95 1-877-833-5524
Any electronics whiz seeking projects for programming and customizing the PIC MCU will find 123 PIC Microcontroller Experiments For The Evil Genius a wonderful technical project guide for creating projects and games. More than just a collection of projects, Predko explains the science and techniques beyond the ideas, tells how to set up a microcontroller and development lab based on an inexpensive Microchip PICkit 1 starter kit, and provides a healthy dose of assembly and language applications in the process, imparting a thorough education.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
1-800-428-5331 www.phptr.com/ibmpress
Network and systems engineers have three very technical, important references to consult in IMB Press's latest publications. Mike Moran and Bill Hunt's Search Engine Marketing, Inc.: Driving Search Traffic To Your Company's Web Site (0131852922, $49.99) discusses search engine optimization and how to develop an effective marketing program for a business. From creating site standards which code best to search engine routines to automating reports, indexing sites, selecting links and keywords and more, Search Engine Marketing, Inc. is for any building a more effective site: one which actually will get hits. The second edition of David E. Bellagio and Tom J. Milligan's Software Configuration Management Strategies And Ibm Rational Clearcase: A Practical Introduction (0321200195, $49.99) is for the project team which wants to manage changes more quickly and effectively. Here are the basics for understanding SCM concepts, IBM's UCM model, and ClearCase: all chapters written with the project manager/developer in mind. An excellent technical reference. Sandip Lahiri's RFID Sourcebook (0131-851373, $39.99) is for any developer who wants more depth and detail on wireless RFID systems. Author Lahiri is an RFID Solution Architect with IBM, and has developed many of its training courses. He's therefore the perfect author to produce RFID Sourcebook, packed with details on business flows, designing solutions for RFID, discussions of its pros and cons, and more.
Apress
2560 - 9th St. #219, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.apress.com
These very weighty references are picks for computer professionals who need very specific solutions-oriented references to programming questions. The signature edition of Thomas Kyte's Expert Oracle (15-90595254, $69.99) provides well over a thousand pages and comes from one of the leading professionals in the industry. Kyte develops Oracle database software and runs the 'Ask Tom' column in its magazine: his expertise lends to an insider's in-depth guide to programming solutions for Oracle versions 7.3 through 8.1.7. From fine-tuning tools and strategies to partitioning techniques, global indexes, C-based externals and more, Expert Oracle should be a mainstay on the shelves of any serious computer programmer. Magnus Lie Hetland's Practical Python (1590590066, $49.95) provides developers with a practical guide to the Python programming language: while it does assume a degree of basic Python programming experience, it leads readers from the basics to the advanced concepts needed to understand datatypes, abstracts, and other concepts central to Python's datatype offerings. The program's object-oriented applications receive thorough coverage; but half the book covers project development and walks users through ten increasingly complex projects to demonstrate application choices at work. George Stepanek's Software Project Secrets: Why Software Projects Fail (1590595505, $39.99) surveys the reasons why software projects fail: most commonly conflicts between software developers and project manager goals. It's the first to analyze how project management's goals conflict with software development - and to provide a solution to the time and budget goals of managers and the accuracy of software developers.
The Genealogy Shelf
The Genealogist's Address Book
Elizabeth Petty Bentley
Genealogical Publishing Company
1001 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
0806317574 $49.99 genealogical.com
The 5th updated edition of The Genealogist's Address Book is a special resource perfect for any library which sees regular traffic in genealogical research: it includes the national addresses of archives, government departments, agencies and vital records offices by state, lists of libraries and religious research center - just about any US agency needed to conduct research. But this isn't all: special resources include newspapers, microform publishers, surname registries, adoption registries and much more: all packaged with an easy state-by-state alpha arrangement. There are over 16,000 resources here, assuring all kinds of researchers will find this of interest.
The Fiction Shelf
The Trudeau Vector
Juris Jurjevics
Viking Press
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
0670034371 $24.95 1-800-847-5515
A team of scientists at the Arctic Circle finds their members dying terrible deaths - and nobody knows why. Dr. Jessica Hanley is summoned to investigate, and as another naval mystery threatens, scientific investigation, disease and politics clash in a much wider fight for survival and control. The Trudeau Vector is international intrigue and scientific mystery at its finest.
Red Leaves
Thomas H. Cook
Harcourt Books
15 E. 26th Street, 15th fl., NY, NY 10010
www.harcourtbooks.com
0151012504 $23.00 1-800-543-1918
Eric Moore has a good life with a prosperous business and stable family - until a neighbor's child goes missing when his teen son baby-sits her. Eric maintains his son's innocence - even as police are convinced otherwise - and he finds his own doubts surfacing as time goes on and he's forced to face some dangerous doubts not only about his son Keith, but about Keith's potential danger to others. Red Leaves is a gripping, thought-provoking story of a parent caught in the middle.
The Cookbook Shelf
Soup!
Pippa Cuthbert
Lindsay Cameron Wilson
Good Books
PO Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534-0419
www.goodbks.com
1561485004 $15.95 1-800-762-7171
Soup!: Hot And Cold Recipes For All Seasons is a compendium of more than seventy delicious, nutritious, "kitchen cook friendly" soup recipes that draw from a wide range of ingredients. Co-authored by culinary experts Pippa Cuthbert and Lindsay Cameron Wilson, each recipe is characterized by easy-to-follow directions for soups that range from the velvety smooth to the thick and chunky, from the sweetly chilled to the hot and spicy. Enhanced with full- color photography and a line or two of personalized introduction, the soups range from Black Bean Soup with Salsa and Chips; to Celeriac, Pear and Rosemary Soup; to Romesco Soup; to Wild Rice and Porcini Soup. There is an informative sections at the front of the book on "The Basics of Soup", "Equipment", as well as "Handy Hints". Soup! also features a Glossary and an Index. A simply wonderful addition to any kitchen cookbook collection, Soup! is also available in a comb edition format (1561485012, $19.95).
Bluephies New American Cooking
Bill Horzuesky
Itchy Cat Press
c/o Flying Fish Graphics
5452 Highway K, Blue Mounds WI 53517
0976145014 $22.95 ffg@mhtc.net
Bill Horzuesky is the Chef and co-owner of Bluephies, an upscale Madison, Wisconsin restaurant known and appreciated for its eclectic blend of food and atmosphere. Bluephies New American Cooking showcases the best of what Bill Horzuesky has come up with. From Tomato Basil Soup; Rice Tabouli Salad; Chile Infused Sweet Potatoes; Blue Berry Compote; and Eggplant Curry Stew; to Euro Scallops; Vegetable Strudel; Brown Sugar Vanilla Creme Brulle; and Chocolate Toffee Coffee Cheesecake, this is a compendium of mouth watering, palate pleasing recipes that can turn any ordinary meal into a true culinary adventure. Enthusiastically recommended, Bluephies New American Cooking is a "kitchen cook friendly" addition to any gourmet quality kitchen cookbook collection!
Mama Dip's Family Cookbook
Mildred Council
University of North Carolina Press
PO Box 2288, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
0807829897 $24.95 1-800-848-6224
A follow-up to the popular "Mama Dip's Family Kitchen," Mama Dip's Family Cookbook is a treasury of more than three hundred recipes for savory, homestyle Southern cooking, from traditional meals to festive party foods and dishes ideal for community gatherings. An introductory essay by author Mildred "Mama Dip" Council, winner of the 2004 North Carolina Restaurant Association Neighbor Award for her role in Chapel Hill's annual community dinner, offers memories of her early life and her experiences as her exceptional cooking style became increasingly well-known and appreciated. Taste-tested dishes such as Spoon Bread, Chicken Noodle Pie, Apple-Nut Squares, Candied Carrots are presented with easy-to- follow instructions. Mama Dip's Family Cookbook is a superb cookbook for creating meals and festive trays with down-home Southern flavor.
The Prickly Pear Cookbook
Carolyn Niethammer, author
Robin Stancliff, photographer
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
1887896562 $14.95 www.rionuevo.com
The Prickly Pear Cookbook is a unique recipe guide devoted to the culinary delicacy that is the prickly pear cactus. A savory ingredient held in high esteem from Mexico to the Mediterranean, Prickly Pear Cactus is featured in 60 mouth-watering international recipes from Prickly Pear Margaritas, to Peruvian Nopalito Rice, to Sabra Souffle and more. Color photography and an extensive introduction to the harvest, cleaning, and preparation of prickly pear cactus round out this savory cookbook.
The Cornucopia
Judith Herman
Marguerite Shalett Herman
Huntington Library Press
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, CA 91108
0873282132 $29.95 www.huntington.org
First published in a single volume in 1973, The Cornucopia: Being A Kitchen Entertainment And Cookbook is a thoroughly annotated collection of five centuries of European and American culture focusing upon the perspective of the chef and the gourmet. Composed of entries from over 150 sources, ranging in origin from the years 1390 to 1899, The Cornucopia is a treasury of food lore, cultural mementos, luscious drinks, and exquisite recipes, such as Economist's Pudding, Venison Pasty, Spider Corn Cake, and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations round out this venerable kitchen classic.
Egyptian Cooking
Samia Abdennour
The American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10018-2729
9774249267 $19.95 www.aucpress.com
First published twenty years ago, and now in a revised and expanded edition with over eighty new recipes added by author Samia Abdennour, Egyptian Cooking And Other Middle Eastern Recipes is a spiral-bound cookbook featuring classic dishes that perfectly capture the staples of Egyptian cuisine. A handful of color photographs illustrate the simple and practical instructions for creating such Middle Eastern delicacies as Falafels, Duck Pot Roast, Baked Rice With Milk, Hot Yogurt Soup, Pickled Eggplant, and so much more. A glossary, list of common spices and cooking utensils, and index round out this "must-have" cookbook for anyone interested in savoring Egyptian cuisine.
The Everything Italian Cookbook
Dawn Altomari, B.P.S.
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield St., 2nd fl, Avon, MA 02322
www.adamsmedia.com
1593374208 $14.95 1-800-872-5627
The Everything Italian Cookbook is an easy-to-use resource packed with 300 authentic Italian recipes, from Antipasto Salad, to Lobster Risotto, to Roasted Red Peppers, to Almond Loaf, and a great deal more. An introduction offers a brief overview as well as a handful of tips and tricks for flavorful classic Italian cooking, and the instructions are clear and straightforward. Most recipes have ingredient lists with portions designed to serve 10 people, making The Everything Italian Cookbook particularly ideal for planning large family meals with leftovers or dishes for party gatherings.
The Silver Spoon
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th fl, NY, NY 10014
0714845310 $39.95 www.phaidon.com
The Silver Spoon has been to Italy what "The Joy of Cooking" has been to America for years: a mainstay for home cooks. Its appearance in English for the first time profiles the classic dishes which make Italian home cooks so famous - and The Silver Spoon is a 'must' for any serious about Italian cooking. It's been Italy's best-selling cookbook for over fifty years, with over 1,200 pages packed with color-coded pages of references and recipes. Add pepperings of color photos of completed dishes and you have a highly recommended pick for the holiday season; even for that experienced Italian cook who 'has everything'. If they don't have The Silver Spoon already - and if they only speak English they are unlikely to have gleaned a copy from Italy itself - then they don't have everything. Ditto for libraries strong in cookbook references: The Silver Spoon simply can't be missed and should be considered a standard acquisition.
The Arab Table
May S. Bsisu
Morrow
10 E. 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
0060586141 $34.95 harpercollins.com
Arab food is one of the world's oldest cuisines; yet surprisingly little has been written to provide an in-depth coverage: that's why The Arab Table: Recipes & Culinary Traditions's 188 recipes is so important as an introduction to the range of Arab culinary traditions. From Eggs with Ground Beef and Sumac to Chicken Stuffed with Spiced Beef and Rice and Fried Cauliflower, there's a good mix of both traditional and less familiar dishes. A centerfold of color photos enhances the appeal. If only one Arab cookbook were to round out an international culinary collection, it should be The Arab Table: its range and presentation can't be beat.
Every Day's A Holiday Diabetic Cookbook
Mr. Food
American Diabetes Association
1701 N Beauregard Alexandria VA 22311
1580401384 $16.95 www.diabetes.org
At first glance Every Day's A Holiday Diabetic Cookbook might seem a Christmas title - but it's far more; it promotes making every meal 'holiday' through flavorful, healthy food. Mr. Food is best known for his earlier 'guy food' books on how the basic bachelor male could whip up a gourmet meal with few ingredients or knowledge: with this and his prior Quick And Easy Diabetic Cooking, he moves in a healthier direction, lending his focus on flavor and speed and appeal to a diabetic's healthy requirements. From Garlic-Crusted Cornish Hens to Champagne Turkey, Creamy Spinach Soup and Balsamic Pork, the dishes sound complicated and fancy - but complicated, they are not! Packed with flavor and appeal - and some of the appeal lies in the super-quick preparation times!
Our Latin Table
Fernando Saralegui
Bullfinch Press/Little, Brown
1271 Ave of the Americans NY NY 10020
www.bullfinchpress.com
0821257471 $19.95 1-800-759-0190
It's not often you find a cookbook which contains not only menus and recipes, but wine tips, but Our Latin Table: Celebrations, Recipes And Memories is designed to bring the full flavor of Latin foods to readers - and that includes wine. From Picadillo Chile Rellenos to a shredded meat pastry Ropa Viega Empanadas, bright color photos accompany dishes which are fancy yet easy to make.
The South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook
Arthur Agatston, MD
Rodale Press
400 South 10th St., Emmaus, PA 18098
www.rodalestore.com
1594862923 $27.95 1-800-527-8200
The South Beach Diet is now recommended by many doctors around the world: it's more than a weight loss program; it's a lifestyle change based on what experts agree is a sound way to eat and live. The South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook supports this lifestyle change, providing over 200 recipes to make it easy to cook and eat the right way. Each recipe is coded Phase 1, 2 or 3 for easy access to diet stages, while suggestions for quick dishes round out the presentation.
Turning The Tables
Steven A. Shaw
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
0060737808 $24.95 harpercollins.com
Plenty of books discuss how to start a restaurant, or how to invest in one - but too few go behind the swinging doors to explore how famous restaurants run behind the scenes. Enter Turning The Tables: Restaurants From The Inside Out, which takes eaters behind the scenes into top restaurant kitchens. Author Steven Shaw is not a restaurant critic; he loves food and stands in awe of the restaurant industry: his survey reveals not only what goes on behind the scenes, but how consumers can make the most of it by getting the best treatment and understanding critic reviews.
Wine Report 2006
Tom Stevenson
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0756613205 $15.00 www.dk.com
Seeking a pocket guide to the wine world which offers the latest insider's information on new vintages, upcoming trends, new discoveries, and the latest harvest predictions? You can't go wrong with Wine Report 2006, which was rated the 'Best Wine Book in the World 2004 and 2005' by Gourmand International: it packs a wealth of updated facts in a truly pocket-sized - albeit thick - edition and is a 'must' for any wine buff who wants to latest news on the greatest wines.
Homegrown Pure And Simple
Michel Nischan & Mary Goodbody
Chronicle Books
85 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94105
0811844722 $35.00 chroniclebooks.com
Vegetable gardening and recipes seldom blend so seamlessly as in Homegrown Pure And Simple: Great Healthy Food From Garden To Table. Here's a compendium of dishes spiced with color photos by Susie Cushner throughout which celebrate both gardening and cooking. This isn't your usual vegetable cookbook, either: Grilled Lamb Chops with Home-Dried Tomatoes and Citrus Yogurt and Pistachio Pork Loin with Pumpkin Sauce are dishes not to be found in any cookbook. That's because author Michel Nischan has served up healthful haute cooking at a range of upscale restaurants: so these are largely his own inventions.
Collector Press
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
www.collectorspress.com
These exciting titles serve up 'retro' dishes: comfort food from yesteryear, and join others in the popular 'retro' food book series combining vintage color illustration with foods which have time-tested appeal. Randy Garbin and Teri Dunn's More Retro Diner: A Second Helping Of Roadside Recipes (193312093, $16.95) gathers 1950s classics from one of the founders of Roadside Magazine, a magazine devoted to exploring America's diners. Recipes for Black Bean & Macaroni Soup, Hoppin John Rice, and more come packed with color and appeal. Dolores Kostelni's The Potluck Cookbook: Classic Recipes For Any Occasion (19331214X, $19.95) presents a host of traditional popular potluck dishes which can be made ahead, travel well, and can be served quickly. From Turkey Pie with Sweet Potato Biscuits to Italian Meatball Soup and Cheese Strata with variations, these are crowd-pleasers many a cook will want for dinner, too.
Searching For The Dixie Barbecue
Wilber W. Caldwell
Pineapple Press
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230
1561643335 $14.95 pineapplepress.com
The culinary and cultural attributes of Searching For The Dixie Barbecue make for an important and unusual blend of information on Southern cooking, culture, and redneck barbecue origins - but don't expect a recipe book alone. Searching For The Dixie Barbecue: Journeys Into The Southern Psyche pairs black and white photos of Southern barbecue establishments with plenty of travel and cultural background to provide a road journey through the contentious world of Dixie barbecue. The lively, folksy manner makes for a winner for any who love barbecue!
Meredith Books
1716 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
www.meredithbooks.com
Recipes from big-name chefs and celebrities are collected in a benefit to the T.J. Martell Foundation in Today's Kitchen Cookbook: Our Favorite Recipes From America's N. 1 Morning Show. Pair these dishes with full-page color photos facing each page and you home something special which goes above and beyond the usual singular-chef presentation. From Lamb Stew with Rosemary and Orange to Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine, these are surprisingly quick and easy dishes to put together at home; not your usual 2-hour chef's dishes. This too makes Today's Kitchen Cookbook a special winner. It's hard to believe Better Homes and Gardens' classic "New Cookbook" has been around for 75 years now - but the publication of the 75th anniversary edition of Better Homes And Gardens New Cookbook (0696222507, $29.95) edited by Tricia Laning proves it. Just take a look at the classic red/white checked 'tablecloth' cover with the blue edging and most of us will recognize a title that's been in our parents and even grandparents' homes as a reference mainstay - and with this new reprint, will also find a place in our sons' and daughters' homes. So what's new about an old classic? 900 new recipes, 500 new photos, updated classics for easy preparation, and even exchanges with nutrition info: all these factors keep Better Homes And Gardens New Cookbook current.
Absolute Beginner's Guide To Cooking
Deb Roussou
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
www.quepublishing.com
0789733706 $21.99 1-800-428-5331
Cooking can be simple with the right teaching tool; and where better to find one than through an author who began cooking at age four in her grandmother's Santa Cruz restaurant, then opened her own Greek restaurant followed by a catering service. These professional experiences resulted in Absolute Beginner's Guide To Cooking, a "user friendly" instructional resource which covers all the basics; from stocking a kitchen with tools and basic pantry ingredients to learning about cheeses, herbs, cooking terms and meal preparation times. Charts, recipes, and shopping lists abound.
From Storebought To Homemade
Emyl Jenkins
Taylor Trade
4501 Forbes Boulevard, #200
Lanham, MD 20706
1589792181 $18.95 www.rowman.com
Think it takes hours to put together a decent home-cooked meal? Think again: Emyl Jenkins' From Storebought To Homemade: Secrets For Cooking Easy, Fabulous Food In Minutes focuses on how to take storebought food and turn it into gourmet meals with unique finishing touches and planning. How? By enhancing ready-made food with homemade touches. Take Tell Me It's Homemade Clam Chowder. A base of a high-quality clam chowder soup brand is enhanced with fresh cream and an extra can of minced clams with juice. There's a host of dishes which can be 'enhanced' this way: From Storebought To Homemade is perfect for the busy working cook who still wants the impression of 'from scratch' meals.
Complete Idiot's Guide To Smoothies
Ellen Brown
Alpha/Penguin Publishing Group
385 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1592573185 $14.95 idiotsguides.com
Smoothie drinks look so easy to make and there are many options, so having a cookbook at hand which is devoted to smoothie drinks alone, discussing many options from nondairy choices to dessert and low-carb smoothies, makes it much easier to understand all the choices available. The combo creations, often using veggie/fruit blends, and the nondairy and low-carb recipes are particularly intriguing: Blackberry-Payaya, Raisin Bran Smoothie, and so many more.
Perfect Recipes For Having People Over
Pam Anderson
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
0618329722 $35.00 www.amazon.com
When entertaining, it's important to have a cache of tried-and-tested dishes which are simple yet foolproof: Pam Anderson shares nearly 200 convenient dishes in Perfect Recipes For Having People Over, filled with dishes which lend to both make-ahead preparation and crowd-pleasers. From Easy Savory Strata to Perfect Roast Chicken with Several Sauces and Quesadillas for a Crowd, this is a highly recommended pick for any regular hostess.
Authentic Recipes From Jamaica
John DeMers
Periplus/Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794603246 $12.95 tuttlepublishing.com
There's always room for another Jamaican cookbook on the market. What makes Authentic Recipes From Jamaica appealing is a blend of traditional and new dishes gathered from the island's chefs and restaurants, paired with over 60 color photos shot on location. From a Smoked Marlin Salad created by James Palmer of Strawberry Hill to a variation of the classic Fricasseed Chicken created by Norma Shirley of Norma at the Wharfhouse, including pepper sauce, catsup, chili and thyme, it's these originals which delight.
Arnaud's Restaurant Cookbook
Kit Wohl
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna LA 70053
1589803094 $29.95 pelicanpub.com
Arnaud's Restaurant is well known for its leadership in New Orleans cuisine, holding roots from 1918 to modern times and establishing a solid reputation for presenting Creole foods to customers around the world. Now you can enjoy many of these signature dishes at home with Arnaud's Restaurant Cookbook: New Orleans Legendary Creole Cuisine. Each recipe has been adapted for use in home kitchens, translating large-volume and complicated restaurant fare to home cooking. The resulting Creole dishes are very easy to work with - especially given the numerous full-page color photos throughout.
Conscious Cuisine
Cary Neff
Sourcebooks Inc.
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
1402204051 $24.95 sourcebooks.com
Chef/author Cary Neff wasn't born to the cooking class; he was a Chicago kid raised to love football who developed a love of food and made a name for himself with unique, bold recipes. Conscious Cuisine reflects his move from rich cooking to healthier cooking - still packed with his signature flavors. Blending Thai, Mediterranean and other influences, Conscious Cuisine promotes not just healthy recipes, but a lifestyle which embraces the bold flavor over the fat content. The goal is for all busy cooks to understand the conscious choices in shopping and cooking habits: chapters reflect this philosophy through shopping tips as well as recipes.
The Coming To America Cookbook
Joan D'Amico & Karen Eich Drummond
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0471483354 $14.95 www.wiley.com
Written by an instructor at King's Cookingstudio in New Jersey and a registered dietitian, The Coming To America Cookbook: Delicious Recipes And Fascinating Stories From America's Many Cultures offers delights from Mexican, Irish, Chinese, Moroccan, Turkish, Ethiopian, Nigerian, and more cultures, immigrants from whom have come to America over the course of centuries and shared their individual cooking traditions. Recipes such as Oh-So-Hot Salsa, Korean-Style Short Ribs, The Best Baklava, Fried Bananas with Cinnamon and so much more reflect a wide range of mouth-watering international morsels to please any palate. A brief introduction to the different cultures featured and a kid-friendly tone distinguish this varied and delightful cookbook.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Woolley Fox American Folk Art Rug Hooking
Barbara Carroll
Landauer Corporation
12251 Maffitt Road, Cumming, IA 50061-1009
www.landauercorp.com
1890621927 $24.95 1-800-557-2144
Woolley Fox American Folk Art Rug Hooking by expert needlecrafter and rug hooker Barbara Carroll is divided into three major sections, Part I tours the Wooley Fox guesthouses and classroom, Barbara's wool collection, and introduces the reader to the art of rug hooking. Part II provides rug hooking basics, step-by-step instructions, including how to work with wool, dyeing wool, cutting wool, tools, hooking the wool, transferring the pattern, as well as adding backing, borders, and finishing. Part II offers eighteen patterns along with complete "how to" instructions inspired by leading American folk artists Warren Kimble and Carol Endres. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, Barbara Carroll's Woolley Fox American Folk Art Rug Hooking is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, academic, professional, or community library needlecraft instructional reference collection.
Pineapple Lace with Complete Diagrams
Nihon Vogue Staff
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022
www.kodansha-intl.com
4889961895 $18.00 1-800-451-7556
Now in a newly revised edition, Pineapple Lace With Complete Diagrams is a collection of crochet patterns and instructions for intermediate to advanced practitioners. Each stunning design is shown in a full-color photograph and has instructions for its creation written in crochet shorthand alongside a detailed black-and-white pattern diagram. The finished projects include centerpieces and doilies, textured lace, tablecloths, cushions, and runners. An appendix includes brief instructions with diagrams displaying symbols and techniques used in the instructions, and tips for finishing crochet lace neatly. While prior familiarity with basic crochet steps is advised, the intricate patterns and creations here presented make Pineapple Lace With Complete Diagrams a confidently recommended resource for experienced crocheters to create beautiful decorations and handmade gifts.
New Knits On The Block
Vickie Howell
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpub.com
1402720653 $14.95 1-800-805-5489
The host of 'Knitty Gritty' here provides playful, unique designer knits geared to kids' needs in New Knits On The Block, an excellent gathering of fun projects. From a pirate theme bath set to a knitted dress for an Egyptian dress-up theme or a tool set and pouch for the older boy, New Knits holds some truly innovative ideas the most modern child will appreciate.
Oddball Knitting
Barbara Albright
Clarkson Potter Publishers
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, NY, NY 10019
www.clarksonpotter.com
140005351X $19.95 1-800-726-0600
Plenty of knitters wind up with odds and ends in yarn stashes which just keep growing: now there's a use for these stashes in Oddball Knitting: Creative Ideas For Leftover Yarn. Patterns for the projects are arranged within chapters by the amount and type of yarn required, so it's easy to link a project based on what's available in a leftover stash. You can make a rug or poncho if you have a lot - or can provide mini-holiday stockings if you have just a little. Of course, there's the usual anticipated scarf projects - but there's plenty of original new designs to pique interest. The perfect gift for the avid knitter who always has leftover yarn.
Stemmer House
4 White Brook Rd, Gilsum, NH 03448
www.stemmer.com
Two very different black and white pattern books hold templates for designs which are derived from a singular focus, but which translate to all kinds of projects. Phoebe Ann Erb's Floral Designs From Traditional Printed Handkerchiefs (088-0451416, $6.95) provides a number of vintage handkerchief florals which hold flowers, dots, scrolls and a ranged of styles. These are perfect for edging and border projects, especially. Caren Caraway's Aztec & Other Mexican Indian Designs (0880450517, $7.95) provides a collection of Aztec-influenced design art: serpents, monsters, calendars, eagles and pottery decoration. Very detailed and busy, these will translate well to pottery or intricate art patterns projects. Both are wonderful pattern guides for artists working in a range of mediums.
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE
Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
If you're a beginner seeking easily-produced knitted sweaters, start with Doreen L. Marquart's Saturday Sweaters: Easy To Knit, Easy To Wear (156477-6050, $24.95), which tells how to create striking sweaters using easy designs. From using multisized patterns to get the right fit to choosing different kinds of sweaters and handling neckbands, sleeves and finishing touches, the bright color photos, easy patterns and author/knitter introductions make this an item of choice. Cynthia Tomaszewski's Tea In The Garden: Quilts For A Summer Afternoon (156-477600X, $27.95) blends patchwork with fusible applies to produce everything from wall hangings to lap quilts, adding plenty of easy embroidery embellishments and even recipes for muffins and tea. Color photos of finished products abound and
compliment patterns and step-by-step instructions for bright summertime productions.
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com
Joyce Mori's Around The World Quilting Designs (157432893X, $21.95) celebrates international influences with a regional world arrangement of patterns and a focus on cultural patterns. Author quilter Dr. Joyce Mori is an anthropologist, and her interests influence over a hundred patterns which can be adapted to machine applique, embroidery, and even redwork. Full-page patterns make it easy to reproduce the designs into one's own quilting efforts. Mori also provides Native American Designs 2 (1574328956, $22.95), which packs in over a hundred American Indian-inspired motifs and also features full-page designs for easy use. From the Southwest to the far north, basic Native designs can make very original embellishments, and this pattern book includes motifs from across the country. Keryn Emmerson's Beautiful Quilts As You Go (1574328905, $22.95) shows how to finish more quilts and work with smaller pieces to control size and management of designs. These are tested ideas using a blend of hand and machine stitches which works with either patchwork or whitework quilts: there are 48 oversized patterns which provide a variety of border and block designs, and an approach which lends to polished perfection.
The Civil War Shelf
Stonewall Jackson's Book Of Maxims
James I. Robertson Jr.
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive
Nashville, TN 37211
www.cumberlandhouse.com
1581824858 $10.95 1-888-439-2665
Stonewall Jackson was heavily influenced by the writings of Lord Chesterfield and began collecting maxims as part of his search for status as a gentleman before he became famous during the war. These maxims he wrote into a personal notebook scholars had assumed lost - until James Robertson discovered it in the Tulane University archives in the 1990s. Jackson's maxims for gentlemanly behavior are here reproduced for modern audiences and Civil War fans alike. Highly recommended.
Plain Folk's Fight
Mark V. Wetherington
University of North Carolina Press
Box 2288, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2288
www.uncpress.unc.edu
0807829633 $39.95 1-800-848-6224
The Civil War's reconstruction process in Piney Woods Georgia is the narrowed focus of Plain Folk's Fight, an in-depth examination of the efforts to the Civil War on the rural South. Race consciousness was at the forefront of a fight by rural whites to defend their way of life in their neighborhood. These rural folk helped tip Georgia toward secession in 1861, supplied troops during the war, and found themselves divided in loyalty to the Confederate nation and their neighbors. Chapters focus on volunteer units, family organization, stories of hardship and independence, and black/white relationships affected by terrorism. Not for the casual Civil War student, but a 'most' for any serious discussion or collection.
The International Studies Shelf
I Is For Infidel
Kathy Gannon
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St., #1321, NY, NY 10107
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
1586483129 $25.00 1-877-782-1234
Any seeking to understand the roots of 9/11, terrorism, or Afghanistan history must read I Is For Infidel: From Holy War To Holy Terror: 18 Years Inside Afghanistan. The country is not only among the world's poorest: it's the least understood and had been visited only by those passing through, until author Kathy Gannon arrived in 1986 dreaming of being a foreign correspondent. She too intended on passing through - but her growing fascination with the country led to 18 years there, during which she became the most knowledgeable Western journalist to observe its changes. Essential reading for any who would learn the heart of Afghan culture and politics from an insider's view.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
KP Books
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.fwpublications.com
If you want a beginner's guide to antiques, you can't go wrong with Frank Farmer Loomis' Antiques 101: A Crash Course In Everything Antique (0896891585, $19.99). Here's a lively coverage of all kinds of antiques, from period furniture to china and folk art. It's packed with color illustration throughout, provides historical background about makers, trends, and manufacturing, and discusses what elements make for an antique. The style is livelier than most, providing a vivid set of insights and history which lend to a better understanding of the antiques world as a whole. Leish Leshner's Secrets Of Collecting Jewelry: How To Buy More For Less! (0896891801, $19.99) imparts veteran collector/author Leshner's own tips on how to identify period jewelry, buy effectively at auctions or estate sales, and how to understanding the jewelry market as a whole. Readers learn how to identify and value their finds through chapters covering everything from costume pieces to popular novelty jewelry from the 1920s-60s. While Russell E. Lewis' Fishing Collectibles (0873499433, $29.99) comes packed with color photos - some 2,000 of them - as it covers everything from bamboo, glass and metal rods to ice fishing, fly reels, bait traps, creels and more. Fishing collectibles hold surprisingly high values and range from lures to all kinds of equipment, and Russell Lewis' title is the definitive price and identification guide for any working in the fishing collectible industry.
Antique Guns
Shooter's Bible
Stoeger Publishing
17603 Indian Head Highway, #200
Accokeek MD 20607
www.stoegerpublishing.com
088317300X $24.95 www.amazon.com
Any who buy, sell or trade in antique firearms needs to know identification, firearm specs, and how to value one: Shooter's Bible Presents Antique Guns: A Collector's Guide provides everything needed to do all of this. Color photos introduce the topic, but the heart of the title isn't color: it's black and white photos paired with caliber, barrel, weight and model specifications. Year of introduction or making and current valuation creates an important collector's reference.
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
Collector Books provides the avid collector with the in-depth, subject-specific guides needed to make correct valuations and assessments, and some new recommended picks appeal to just these specialty markets. Helene Guarnaccia and Barbara Guggenheim's Handkerchiefs Volume 2: A Collector's Guide (1574324721, $24.95) packs every page with medium-sized color photos of full handkerchiefs, making it easy for collectors to locate an item by style. An A-Z arrangement by subject - Botanicals, Children, Fashion and Lipstick Reds, for example, makes it quite easy to use Handkerchiefs Volume 2 as a quick reference for identification, with each display including a current value range. Volume One of Brenda Roberts' Collector's Ultimate Encyclopedia Of Hull Pottery And Values(157432442X, $29.95) also packs in the color photos for easy identification of Hull pottery, from figures to vases and period pieces of the turn of the century all the way through the 1980s. The chronological arrangement makes it easy to follow the changing Hull pottery styles and makes. Both are excellent references. Schroeder's Collectible Toys Antique To Modern 2006 (1574324799, $17.95) appears in its latest updated 10th edition to provide identification and values for over 20,000 collectible toys. No color photos here, but the small black and white images prove just fine for identification, while the updated values are a 'must' for any serious buyer or seller. Mary Young's 20th Century Paper Dolls: Identification And Values (1574324500, $19.95) appears in full color packing in values and displays of hundreds of paper dolls. An organization by manufacturer or publication makes it easy to quickly look up a paper doll booklet. Diane Lytwyn's Pictorial Guide To Silvered Mercury Glass: Identification And Values (1574324756, $24.95) excels in lovely color photos of silvered mercury glass pieces accompanied by their latest values, and is a 'must' for any entering the field who want a clear guide. Jim and Susan Harran's Meissen Porcelain Identification And Values 1574324748, $29.95) is packed with lovely color photos on every page showing the edging displays and images of Meissen porcelain. An organization by pattern - rose, Indian paintings, florals - makes identification easy.
Hobby House Press
1 Corporate Dr, Grantsville, MD 21536
www.hobbyhouse.com
Mary Gorham Krombholz's Identifying German Chinas: 1840s-1930s (0875886-71X, $39.95) is to be considered the definitive book on German chinas, identifying the makers of a hundred years of German porcelain dolls and packing in over three hundred small color photos with the face of every doll. Often both front and back shots are included for clarity, while descriptions provide company and doll histories and plenty of background detail. Sally Van Luven and Susan Graham's Half-Dolls Price Guide (0875886701, $22.95) is one of the only titles to cover the smaller 'half-version' pincushion dolls of the past. Color photos of over 300 half-dolls accompany insights on models with specific, unique features, details of arm placements, and more, lending to identification in an area where so many half-figures tend to seem alike. John Axe's Kewpie For Collectors (0875886663, $27.95) tells of the origins of the Kewpie doll and its evolving value over the years. From changing doll materials to novelties, pages of introductory history on major makers and trends lead to handy pages of value and identification - all in full color.
Beckett Media, LP
15850 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75248
www.beckett.com
Sports and racing collectibles are Beckett's forte in two new books which pack in the latest prices. The 2005 price guide Beckett Racing Collectibles Price Guide (1930692390, $19.95) features more cars, more checklists, and more die-cast replica models from 1910 to modern times, and is a pick whether you're a NASCAR, Indy or Formula One fan - or love sprints, drags or dirt cars. The staff of the professional Beckett Racing compile a pricing source which includes a checklist for all cards issues, values for both individual cards and sets, front and back photos of a sample card from most sets, and more. Even more weighty and extensive is the 2005 edition of Beckett Almanac Of Baseball Cards And Collectibles (1930692404, $39.95), which even includes Canadian cards from 1912 to modern times - and coins, pins, stickers, team yearbooks and more. There are thousands of photos which lend to easy identification even in black and white, there are card grading tips and guides for beginners, and each section is introduced with a specific set of notes or collector's tips. Conclude with a glossary of hobby terms and series indexes and you have a top pick which represents a virtual 'bible' - and a must for any serious baseball card collector.
The Homeowner's Shelf
Gutted
Lawrence LaRose
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Ave., New York, NY 10010
1582345740 $14.95 bloomsbury.com
When humorist Lawrence LaRose, author of "The Code", fell in love and bought a decrepit house in Sag Harbor, then lost his job - he was to embark on a renovation journey which was to challenge his new marriage, his bank account, and his own skills set. So what can an unemployed new homeowner with a broken-down house do? Why, bluff your way into a construction crew to learn basic renovation techniques, of course! Gutted: Down To The Studs In My House, My Marriage, My Entire Life is hilarious and eye-opening all at once, from its advice to singles to its encounters with subcontractor mysteries.
Sunset Publishing
80 Willow Road, Menlo Park CA 94025
1-800-643-8030 www.sunset.com
Two home handyman workbooks pack in a wealth of tips, dos and don'ts, and practical innovative ideas for renovation projects. Work Surfaces And Countertops (0376018070, $14.95) covers all kinds of surfaces, from tiled counter tops and sink edges to glass desktops, plastic laminate work spaces, new materials such as richlite and plastics, and old-fashioned wood. Step-by-step photos are illustrated with project ideas and finished results in 14 selected projects. Ideas For Great Bathrooms (0376013311, $14.95) presents all kinds of bathroom ideas, from romantic to traditional, large rooms to tiny ones, and different styles. From handling walls and considering wallpaper choices to lighting and fittings, re-do your bathroom with all the options in mind, no matter what your space or requirements.
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com
Lucinda Ganderton and Rose Hammick's Vintage Fabric Style (1841724165, $19.95) uses gorgeous color photos by Catherine Gratwicke to embellish the authors' discussions of incorporating vintage fabrics into a modern home. There are ideas for every room of the house, plenty of step-by-step projects, and plenty of insights on fabric qualities and project suitability. Bright photos everywhere make for fabulous examples. Elizabeth Wilhide's Flooring: The Essential Source Book For Planning, Selecting And Restoring Floors (1841729981, $19.95) is packed with ideas for restoring or installing a floor in any room of the house. Packed with illustrative photos of a range of settings and uses, Flooring discusses wood qualities, finishes, maintenance, and styles ranging from glass and metal floors to traditional wood. From differences between new and old wood to sealing and treating a floor, Flooring offers insights into not just choices, but maintenance after installation.
Trim Idea Book
Mary Ellen Polson
The Taunton Press
PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
1561587109 $19.95 www.taunton.com
Nothing defines a room like trim, and Trim Idea Book offers not just wall trim ideas, but tips on handling doorways, ceilings, stairs, mantels and more. Enrich and add color to different kinds of ceilings, trim a door to frame a view, and understand how informal and formal casings affect appearance in a photo-packed idea book which covers all kinds of styles and options.
Hot Tubs, Saunas & Steam Baths
Alan E. Sanderfoot
Storey
210 Mass MoCa Way
North Adams, MA 01247
158017549X $19.95 www.storey.com
Relax in a home spa - but choose one wisely: there are many models and possibilities on the market with a sometimes-bewildering array of features. Sanderfoot's Hot Tubs, Saunas & Steam Baths: A Guide To Planning And Designing Your Home Health Spa covers all these options, from colored waters which change hues according to mood desired to electric heater and cleaning problems, basic maintenance, to building an actual spa with wood and a steam generator. All the options are covered in a guide packed with charts, color photos, and more.
The House That Jill Built
Judy Ostrow
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
1586854593 $24.95 1-800-748-5439
More women are moving into home repair and construction, and The House That Jill Built: A Woman's Guide To Home Building celebrates this move with a guide which blends success stories from women builders on budgets with insights into how to do it yourself. Judy Ostrow is an independent journalist training in construction; photographer Karen Leffler specializes in architectural photography and has built and designed three houses herself. Together in the pages of The House That Jill Built, they gather stories from all over America, aptly displaying how women are taking charge of their home construction needs.
House Framing
John D. Wagner
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com
1580112358 $19.95 1-800-631-7795
The first edition of House Framing: Plan, Design, Build received much acclaim from contractors and builders who wished to take the next step in construction techniques: this second updated edition promises even more, pairing over fifty step-by-step construction sequences with over 700 photos and illustrations and even original home designs for framers. From wood and steel framing options to tools and materials and building tips unique to framing challenges, House Framing is a must for any serious builders.
The Social Issues Shelf
Guide To Food Laws And Regulations
Patricia A. Curtis
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
www.blackwellprofessional.com
0813819466 $59.99 1-800-216-2522
Students involved in food science as well as working professions need a copy of Guide To Food Laws And Regulations: it's an essential introduction to food laws and regulations covering state, federal and local laws on everything from food labeling and OSHA regulations to biotech and health issues. Chapters probe legal and health issues as they review both the letter of the law and how the laws affect how food is processed, handled, packaged and stored.
The Challenge To Power
John C. Harrington
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
1931498970 $40.00 chelseagreen.com
Corporations have great power on how democracy is handled in America: that's the message of and proof contained in The Challenge To Power: Money, Investing And Democracy. Individuals and other organizations need to break big business' hold on society and the world economy, argues Harrington, who has led the socially responsible investment movement for over thirty years: Challenge To Power tells how to fight fire with fire, through active citizenship, responsible investing, and shareholder activism.
Battlebabble
Thomas Lee
Common Courage Press
PO Box 702, Monroe, ME 04951
www.commoncouragepress.com
1567512860 $18.95 1-800-497-3207
Plenty of books talk about wartime jargon, but here's an actual dictionary exposing war propaganda usage and terms in Battlebabble: Selling War In America. Soldiers and civilians alike will find it's a-z reference allows for quick look-up of terms and definitions - but it's much more than just a one-paragraph dictionary: in-depth coverage often takes up several pages to thoroughly explain history, jargon, and approaches to selling war in the media and to the public.
Rethinking The Economics Of War
Cynthia Arnson & I. Wiliam Zartman
Woodrow Wilson Center Press
1 Woodrow Wilson Plaza
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-3027
0801882982 $22.95 wilsoncenter.org
Conflict prevention titles usually focus on ideology and politics, but a more comprehensive overview is taken in Rethinking The Economics Of War: The Intersection Of Need, Creed, And Greed. It crosses disciplines in considering all the different influences on war decisions, it goes beyond economic consideration to discuss cultural identity, grievances, and income gains from war, and it provides scholarly, college-level essays which pinpoint greed and discrimination as primary causes of war within states. Essential for understanding some of the real origins of war.
In Harm's Way
Aphrodite Matsakis, Ph.D.
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
1572244003 $14.95 newharbinger.com
If the man in your life is in a high-risk profession, whether it be military or domestic policing, you need In Harm's Way: Help For The Wives Of Military Men, Police, Emts & Firefighters: it's one of the few to tell how to cope with loved ones operating daily under high-risk circumstances. Learn how to handle both emotional stress and children needs, learn about common homecoming pressures and readjustment issues which emerge from them on all sides, and learn how to define and communicate important emotional information through a guide which teaches better coping strategies.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
A Drug-Free Approach To Healthcare
David W. Tanton
Soaring Heights Publishing
PO Box 2138, Jasper, OR 97438
0977270300 $27.95 www.drtanton.com
Stressing disease prevention over mere symptom suppression, A Drug-Free Approach To Healthcare by holistic nutrition expert David W. Tanton is a 356-page compendium of vetted and practical medical information for anyone seeking a drug-free alternative to addressing their health and medical needs. Readers will learn about eliminating unnecessary medications, as well as drug-free approaches and practices in dealing with the problems such as hypertension, hypoglycemia, back pain, acid reflux, depression, hypothyroidism, stroke prevention, heart attack emergencies, cancer, high cholesterol, Type II Diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, intestinal disorders, bipolar disorder, and more. The basic premise underlying David Tanton's approach in A Drug-Free Approach To Healthcare is that creating healthy cells should be the primary objective in maintaining and restoring good health. Informed and informative, this reader friendly "how to" book is especially commended to the attention of those with an interest alternative medicine seeking to avoid the side effects of many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as avoid the inherent dangers of unnecessary surgeries.
From Earth To Herbalist
Gregory L. Tilford
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806
www.mountain-press.com
0878423729 $21.00 1-800-234-5308
From Earth To Herbalist: An Earth-conscious Guide To Medicinal Plants is a straightforward field guide to the sustainable harvesting and usage of North American medicinal plants, emphasizing the principles of ethical wildcrafting and the herbalist's connection with the earth. The introduction offers a basic guide to earth medicine; detailed profiles of 52 medicinal plants, along with color photographs, detailed line drawings, instructions to distinguish, harvest, handle and propagate herbs, how to make use of herbal remedies, and when to choose alternative herbal medicines make From Earth To Herbalist an practical, easy-to-use, quick-reference resource. A resource list, bibliography, and index, round out this valuable field guide to healing plants from Bee Balm to Goldthread and Valerian.
The Genius Of Flexibility
Bob Cooley
Fireside/Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743270878 $17.00 simonsays.com
Resistance stretching offers a permanent increase in flexibility and takes the pain out of stretching, and the Meridian Flexibility System provides a routine for stretching particular muscle groups. Bob Cooley founded The Moving Center in 1974, using his research in Exercise Science and own research into traditional Chinese medicine and physical therapy to develop the two programs: Genius Of Flexibility: The Smart Way To Stretch And Strengthen Your Body covers each move using clear black and white photos on every page to create a step-by-step set of routines.
Healthy Aging
Andrew Weil, MD
Alfred A. Knopf
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.aaknopf.com
0375407553 $27.95 1-800-726-0600
How is it that some people age gracefully and easily and others face challenges early on in life? Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide To Your Physical And Spiritual Well-Being draws on many case history examples - including the author's own mother, who lived into her nineties and even journeyed to Antarctic a few months after a heart problem - to consider how people age well. With so many entering their advanced years and living longer thanks to medical science, Healthy Aging is sure to be a winner years into the future, and provides many important keys to understanding how aging works - and how to control it.
Beyond Pain
Angela Mailis-Gagnon & David Israelson
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
0472030825 $19.95 press.umich.edu
Beyond Pain: Making The Mind-body Connection isn't a scholarly analysis of pain management but a set of firsthand stories of patients and problems which are used to illustrate the condition of chronic pain and the complexities surrounding its management. Case studies from the authors' own practices and experiences describes options, techniques to block pain, lasting effects of chronic pain, and how pain experiences differ between patients. A fine study which outlines many different causes, experiences, and solutions surrounding pain.
Cry Until You Laugh
Richard Obsershaw, MSW, LICSW
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, #216, Edina, MN 55439
www.beaverspondpress.com
1592980899 $18.00 www.amazon.com
Plenty of books advise to work through loss and grief - but how? Now there's a book which tells just how, addressing the needs and expectations of the bereaved and blending in light humor with its insights on how to come to terms with grief. Obershaw has founded and directed The Grief Center in Burnsville, Minnesota: he's worked with hundreds plus conducted seminars and given lectures on grief and death for both professional and lay groups across the country. There are no set 'stages' to the process, Obershaw advises: only 'rocks, boulders' and obstacles which can affect the end results of grieving. Cry Until You Laugh: Comforting Guidance For Coping With Grief points out these obstacles and how to avoid them, tells friends how they can help, and discusses contact, communication, and recovery. One of the best books on the market today, it covers all the points of grief and recovery yet doesn't pigeonhole it into required courses like so many grief handbooks try to do.
My One-Night Stand With Cancer
Tania Katan
Alyson Books
245 W. 17th Street, #1200, NY NY 10011
1555838901 $15.95 alyson.com
Author Tania Katan was 21 when she was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer: 10 years later and one breast less she again faced the same diagnosis. Don't expect the usual story of pain and courage: Katan's raw, blasting memoir is playful and angry alike, covering everything from self-image and post-mastectomy sex to shopping for a mastectomy bra. My One-Night Stand With Cancer is a hard-hitting, honest account which doesn't pull punches or disguise its humanness.
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, #500
Hillsboro, OR 97124-9808
Learn the truth about aging and beauty with Janet Champ and Charlotte Moore's Ripe: The Truth About Growing Older And The Beauty Of Getting On With Your Life (1582701326, $19.95): it's a book about the changes aging brings and how to handle them. Profiles of good and bad changes accompany descriptions of how others found acceptance and positives in the aging process: RIPE serves as an inspiration in a society obsessed with youth. Kat James' The Truth About Beauty: Transform Your Looks And Your Life From The Inside Out (1582701008, $17.95) tells how to overhaul personal routines to bring out real beauty. From weaning off sugars and caffeine to using supplements for maximum health, The Truth About Beauty shows that health and beauty go hand in hand - and that any individual can take charge of both.
Healing Adult Acne
Richard G. Frided, MD, Ph.D.
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
1572244151 $15.95 newharbinger.com
Understand what triggers adult acne, begin treatment, and handle issues of both self-image and skin care with a new guide which finally tackles adult concerns in Healing Adult Acne: Your Guide To Clear Skin & Self-Confidence. Different treatment options are discussed, skin scarring and aging are considered, and psychological responses to acne are analyzed.
No Excuses
Kyle Maynard
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
0895260115 $25.95 www.regnery.com
Author Kyle Maynard was born a congenital amputee, with his arms ending at his elbows and his legs at his knees: he seemed a most unlikely candidate to become an athlete - yet he did, against seemingly impossible odds. No Excuses: The True Story Of A Congenital Amputee Who Became A Champion In Wrestling And In Life is hard-hitting. It tells of how his parents handled his birth, why they taught him to take a tough attitude as he learned to live without hands yet do many normal things, and how he became a top wrestler and football team member. Truly inspirational.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Captured
Scott Zesch
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
0786183403 $80.00 1-800-729-2665
The Captured: A True Story Of Abduction By Indians On The Texas Frontier is an unabridged examination of what it was like to be kidnapped and raised by Indians, written with a historian's exactitude rather than a novelist's fancy panache. When author Scott Zesch stumbled across the grave of his great-great-great-uncle Adolph Korn, Zesch wondered about Korn's life story. Abducted by Comanche Indians at ten, Korn was raised as a Comanche and became one of the tribe's fiercest warriors. Returned to his family by force at age thirteen, Korn never adjusted to white society life and spent his final years living in a cave. How could an ordinary boy have become Indianized so completely? Zesch searched for the answer throughout the West, in archives, in dialogues with Comanche elders, and in the history recorded of eight other child captives from the region, each with similar experiences. The Captured is a most welcome addition to Native American studies for its serious nonfiction treatment of true stories that have been all too frequently fictionalized for public entertainment.
Rules Of Engagement
Bruce Alexander, author
John Lee, narrator
Books On Tape, Inc.
Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
www.librarybooksontape.com
1415921989 $TBA 1-800-541-5525
Rules Of Engagement is a richly detailed murder mystery audiobook, set in eighteenth century London. Sir John Fielding and Jeremy encounter a puzzle when Lord Lammermoor, a personal friend of the Lord Chief Justice, falls to his death from Westminster Bridge in front of witnesses. Suicide is ruled to be the most likely cause of death, yet Sir John remains suspicious when his investigations uncover individuals with a great deal to gain from Lord Lammermoor's death, particularly the alluring Lady Lammermoor. This thrilling audiobook addition to Bruce Alexander's outstanding series of Fielding mysteries is suspensefully and effectively narrated by John Lee.
Himalaya
Michael Palin
BBC Audiobooks America
PO Box 1450, Hampton, NH 03843-1450
www.BBCAudiobooksAmerica.com
0792737571 $89.95 1-800-704-2005
Compiled from the diaries of Michael Palin's extraordinary journey, and read by the author, Himalaya is the unabridged audiobook chronicle of Palin's personal determination to climb the full length of the Himalaya including the Khyber Pass, the valleys of the Hindu Kush, the ancient cities Peshawar and Lahore, and the peaks including K2, Annapurna and Everest. Altitudes as high as 17,500 feet, some of the world's deepest gorges, and the background threat of strife in political hotspots such as terrorism-plagued Kashmir were among the many hardships and risks Palin confronted in his expedition. His story tells of natural wonders and daily life, civilizations in the shadow of a global landmark, joy and suffering in a casual, easygoing manner that will nonetheless enthrall the listener. A captivating experience, and "must-read" for anyone planning to climb dangerous or potentially fatal peaks, Himalaya is surely the next best thing to personally being there. Consisting of 9 CDs with a total running time of 11 hours 32 min, Himalayan is especially recommended for library collections.
Perfect Match
Jodi Picoult, author
Nancy Black, narrator
Bolinda Publishing, Inc.
2 Trap Falls Road, Suite 113, Shelton, CT 06484
www.bolinda.com
1740936876 $96.00 1-888-235-2019
Perfect Match is a chilling, unabridged audiobook novel about an assistant district attorney Nina Frost, whose specialty is prosecuting child molesters. But when her own five-year-old son is traumatized by sexual assault, Nina's struggle to find justice is stymied at every turn by the limits of a system she knows only too well. Personal experience upends her own convictions, until as a mother she resolves to exact justice for her son - regardless of the consequence or the sacrifice. A tense, tautly written and delicately balanced intellectual thriller. 12 CDs, 15 hours 30 min.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte
Naxos AudioBooks
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Franklin, TN 37067
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9626343575 $111.98 1-877-629-6723
Amanda Root's rendition of Charlotte Bronte's classic comes to life in unabridged audio format, and is a highly recommended pick for two distinct audiences: adults who wish to recall Bronte's talents and pick up new nuances from a well-done audio reading by a real pro, and young adults who are reluctant readers but avid listeners, who will find this complete classic on cd provides unparalleled opportunity to find meaning in Bronte's words. Amanda Root has many TV and film credits to her name, including parts in many Shakespearean dramas: this background lends to a professional, dramatic production which makes for one of the best audio versions available.
A Million Little Pieces
James Frey
Highbridge Audio
33 South Sixth Street, CC-2205, Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.highbridgeaudio.com
1565117786 $34.95 1-800-847-5515
James Frey entered a residential treatment center at the age of 23: he had been an alcoholic for ten years and a crack addict for three. Can anyone break their mind and body repeatedly over such a period of time and come back? Frey struggled to understand his life and uncertain future - and his autobiographical A Million Little Pieces relates this struggle and journey to acceptance and chemical-free living. A Million Little Pieces is an Oprah Book Club selection: Oliver Wyman narrates a gripping audio just as powerful as the written word.
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859 www.brillianceaudio.com
Romance, seduction, power and passion in Hollywood even holds a gay detective in a series of adventures ranging from light to intriguing. Romance also offers light-hearted moments in three listens. Catherine Coulter's Lion's Gate (1596008067, $26.95) receives Anne Flosnick's warm voice as it tells of a racing family member who falls in love with a horse stud farm and must fight Hallie to obtain it. Carly Phillips' Summer Lovin' (1597371831, $29.95) receives Bernadette Quigley's warm style in telling of security specialist Zoe, who suspects charming Ryan Baldwin when he shows up claiming to be related to Sam, the little girl her family is about to adopt… Fern Michaels produces a light sizzler in Texas Heat (1597375004, $26.95) which enjoys Laural Merlington's clear rendition as it traces the adventures of the Coleman family through four generations of romance, rivalry, success and failures. D.J. MacHale's Pendragon Book 6: The Rivers Of Zadaa (1597372773, $29.95) receive William Dufris' experienced voice and will best be enjoyed by prior fans of the series, who will be able to follow the good/evil battle smoothly as here Bobby Pendragon journeys to Zadaa in the course of the struggle, pursuing Saint Dane in a quest which is changing him into a man. Kevin J. Anderson's Scattered Suns (1597372099, $29.95) is book 4 of the 'Saga of Seven Suns' series, with David Colacci providing the gripping vocal rendition to this story of a war between aliens and the facros rages which reduce suns to black shells. A civil war divides humanity and a new emperor must put it to a stop before the hydrogues destroy the empire completely. Juliet Marillier's The Dark Mirror (1596002956, $29.95) enjoys Michael Page's reading, which brings to life this first in a new series featuring a beautiful woman and an abandoned fairy child. A decision to save the child against common logic leads to a changed world. Johanna Lindsey's Marriage Most Scandalous (159600228X, $26.95) enjoys Anne Flosnik's voice, which lends naturally to romance plots, as t tells about an Earl's daughter who poses as the wife of a deadly mercenary. Scandal, intrigue, and romance abound.
Recorded Books
270 Skipjack, Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
The latest audios from Recorded Books are special picks recommended for the format and durability needed for rigorous library lending. Barbara Rosenblat lends a fine narration to Lisa Scottoline's Devil's Corner (1419344641, $79.95) which pairs a veteran narrator's smooth and accomplished voice with the story of an informant killed and a US Attorney's investigation. Vicki can identify the assailants - and she meets a streetwise woman who may be able to help her track them down. Nevada Barr's Hard Truth (1419338862, $79.75) also enjoys Rosenblat's fine acting style as it tells of a new ranger at the Rocky Mountain Park who faces her major challenge with three missing young girls. Robin Cook's Marker (1419344609, $109.75) enjoys 40-year narrator veteran George Guidall's ability to bring drama to life: especially appropriate for the story of a woman who walks out on a man who can't commit to raising a family only to find herself joining forces with him when two healthy young people suddenly die at the hospital. Both find danger encircling them as their investigation becomes more terrifying. Michael Morpurgo's Private Peaceful (1419329774, $39.75) receives actor Jeff Woodman's winning and powerful voice as it tells of a young Army boy who must stay awake the night or face death. His reflections on home and family will change his life. Audio cd is becoming increasingly popular as a desirable listening format and Recorded Books/Clipper Audio don't hesitate to satisfy listeners with fine new arrivals. Some of these have been reviewed previously in their cassette version, so cd listeners now have their own special recommendations! Edward Marston's The Railway Detective (14193-53985, $74.75) enjoys veteran narrator Simon Prebble's ability to bring drama to life as it tells of 1851 London when a mail train is robbed and a new crime taxes the local police.
Martha Inc.
Christopher Byron
Penton Audio
1958 Kellogg Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008
1591255651 $18.95 www.amazon.com
Martha Stewart's story has all the trappings of fiction: written and read by author Byron, it tells of her rise to fame, her hidden world, and a background which led a quiet girl to become the richest self-made businesswoman in America, selling her confidence and poise to a nation. An intriguing story of Martha's surprising roots evolves in a memorable biography.
Audio Renaissance
175 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10010
1-800-221-7945 audiorenaissance.com
Fans of Frank Herbert's "Dune" worlds who can't get enough of him, even posthumously, will relish Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Road To Dune (159397776X, $49.95), an audio companion for prior fans of Dune featuring newly discovered papers and stories plus Spice Planet, a 60,000 word novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson. This includes the original correspondence between Frank and editor John Campbell, and the source of his original inspiration for DUNE. Orson Scott Card's Speaker For The Dead (1593974760, $49.95) completes his classic Ender's Game with a stunning sequel. While prior fans will be the best listeners of this sequel, which is spiced with a full-cast audio staff for a dramatic radio-drama effect, newcomers may also absorb the aftermath of the war Ender Wiggin won against aliens. Ender remains young while traveling the stars, but back home on Earth his books have become indicative of the man who destroyed the only other thinking intelligence in the galaxy - until a new planet is discovered…Robert Ludlum's The Altman Code (1593978863, $14.95) is actually written by Gayle Lynds, based on a Covert One series Ludlum created: here on the docks of Shanghai a photographer is killed for what he observes…and Covert-One agent Jon Smith is sent to understand the ship's cargo. Don Leslie's gripping narrative style brings high drama and tension to life. Ludlum's Ambler Warning (1593977824, $29.95) is written by Ludlum however, highlighted by Scott Sowers' acting background which lends tension and action to the story, and revolves around a restricted island's psychiatric facility where the government keeps former intelligence employees with mental problems on ice - until Ambler breaks free and escapes. Want it unabridged? Then choose Ambler Warning's full-length audio cd version (1593977840, $49.95) and don't miss anything! Sowers also provides the drama, here!
Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, 8th fl, NY, NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 www.randomhouse.com
Fans of Beatles musician John Lennon can't do without giving a listen to Cynthia Lennon's John (0739324322, $27.50), narrated by the author who was his former wife. Cynthia was 18 when she met and married John Lennon: their ten-year relationship was also the Beatles years - and so Cynthia had an insider's seat during the height of their most productive years. Until now she's seldom imparted details of her marriage: in John it all comes out and is especially vivid in audio format, which includes an exclusive interview with the author. John Berendt's The City Of Falling Angels (0739311476, $29.95) also receives the author's own reading as it tells of a fire which destroys one of Verdi's opera houses in 1996. Arson might be the cause, and thus the author investigates the story to find the 'real Venice' behind a mask of riddles and images. Any with an interest in Venice will find The City Of Falling Angels absorbing - and it, too, includes an exclusive interview with the author as an audio bonus. Alan Alda's Never Have Your Dog Stuffed (073932277X, $27.50) receives Alda's compelling voice which heightens his memoir of a boy's coming of age. His early encounter with death and his effort to find compassion and acceptance for his parents makes for both a fun and revealing autobiography recounting both high and low moments in Alda's early life. E.L. Doctorow's The March (0739321358, $39.95) receives film star Joe Morton's brisk and clear reading: set in 1864 after the burning of Atlanta, it tells of Sherman's march into the Carolinas and his destruction of cities and countryside alike. The vivid story of a country facing war's conclusion makes for a fine listen. Terry Brooks' High Druid Of Shannara: Straken (0739321323, $29.95) receives an excellent reading by Charles Keating as it continues Brooks' popular 'High Druid' fantasy setting. Keating's dramatic Broadway background lends to the drama imparted in this latest story of a king who chares young Penderrin with the task of rescuing his Druid aunt from exile in a danerous forbidden zone. High drama and high fantasy blend in another action-packed Shannara adventure. Stephen Hawking works with Leonard Mlodinow in his latest A Briefer History Of Time (0739321870, $29.95), here narrated by Erik Davies, whose theatre and TV background lends well to dramatic flair. Hawking still has a flair for translating complex physics concepts into everyday language for everyday listeners, and A Briefer History Of Time simplifies Hawking's original effort for readers without a physics background.
Greathall Productions
PO Box 5061, Charlottesville VA 22905
$14.95 Each www.greathall.com
At first glance the Jim Weiss audio cds would seem more appropriate for kids, with their storytelling versions - but the entire family will find them engrossing and therefore limiting them to an audience of kids alone is not recommended. Romeo & Juliet (1882513851) from Shakespeare is recreated by Jim Weiss in a powerful story consisting of 12 acts and high drama. Ditto Thomas Jefferson's America: Stories Of The Founding Fathers: only this was created as well as told by Weiss and provides a healthy dose of American history, with 11 sections ranging from the declaration of independence to accounts of Monticello. History comes to life, here.
The Library Video/DVD Shelf
Agatha Christie's Romantic Detectives
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Rd., Silver Spring, MD 20910
1569387826 $99.99 acornmedia.com
Agatha Christie's Romantic Detectives is a 7-DVD set featuring more than 17 hours of murder mystery, romance, and simply thrilling British drama. Based on Agatha Christie's popular mystery novels, the DVDs include sets 1 & 2 of "Tommy & Tuppence: Partners in Crime", a sleuthing upper-class duo with a knack for putting together clues; "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" the tale of a vicar's son and his aristocratic childhood friend grown up seeking to solve the riddle of a dying man's last words; "Seven Dials Mystery" about a plucky flapper and a genteel man-about- town chin-deep in international intrigue; and "Agatha Christie: A Life in Pictures", a bonus BBC drama about the beloved author of so many page-turning classics. The flawless productions showcase beautiful scenery, elegant sets, superb costuming, and historically authentic detail. The result is a "must-see" for PBS Mystery! fans in general, and connoisseurs of Agatha Christie stories in particular. DVD extras include cast filmographies and interactive trivia. Agatha Christie's Romantic Detectives is very highly recommended -- especially for community library DVD collections.
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
1-800-255-8629 crystalproductions.com
Crystal Productions and art educator Peggy Flores present two fun and motivational VHS videotapes about creating works of art with paper, offering expert how-to advice and insights for ages eight to eighty. Sculpting With Paper (1562903-101, $29.95) demonstrates basic techniques of scoring, cutting, folding, curling, and building three- dimensional sculptures from paper. Students learn how to craft such varied scenes as an underwater seabed, leaves and blooming flowers, paper beads, and more up to the limit of their own imaginations. Paper Mosaics (1562903128, $29.95) shows how to create a mosaic portrait of any subject conceivable, from selecting different colored papers for each section of the mosaic to cutting and gluing them to the background. Both are superb introductions to art classroom or a fun rainy-day pastime at home. Highly recommended.
Icons Rock
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 each www.iconsofrock.com
Icons Rock presents a set of instructional DVDs for budding musicians of all ages looking to pick up the basics of an instrument or hone their technique and style. Learning Guitar (65 min.) covers basic chords for the novice guitar player, including open chords, barre chords, scales, finger exercises, and chord exercises. Special features include an interactive chord cart. Greg Douglass Fingerstyle (75 min.) offers lessons with platinum recording artist Greg Douglass, who has appeared on over 75 albums and whose music is heard on radio stations throughout the country. Greg Douglass Fingerstyle features exercises to build strength and flexibility in both hands, playing techniques, and sample songs designed to help intermediate players improve. Greg Douglass Lead Guitar (100 min.) is a fully interactive lesson library covering scale patterns, slide techniques, alternate positions, phrasing, an online downloadable book, and much more. Tony Saunders Beginning Bass (90 min.) is a guide for 4 or 5 string beginning players, featuring Tony Saunders, a bass expert who has performed with countless famous artists including Stevie Wonder and Elton John. Covering notes on bass, major scales, blues progressions, right hand techniques, tips for keeping time with a band, and free access to online bass lessons, Tony Saunders Beginning Bass is a must-have for beginning to intermediate bass players. Beginning Drums (75 min.) instructs viewers in the subjects of rock beats, blues beats, enhanced fills, cymbal techniques, shuffle patterns, bass drum techniques, quadruplet patterns, triplet patterns, and more, with special features of an interactive rhythm chart an and on screen tablature. Instructor Chris Taylor demonstrates patterns to help one practice drums solo or with a full band, in this hands-on guide for novice drum players. All these outstanding instructional videos are well-thought out, clearly presented, and highly recommended for self-study.
Johnny Cash The Man In Black
Timeless Media Group
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
0741110776 $9.98 timelessvideo.com
Johnny Cash The Man In Black: A Documentary is a DVD documentary showcasing the true story of one of the greatest figures in American music history. His career spanned more than five decades, and included collaborating with great names from Elvis Presley to Bob Dylan to Willie Nelson. Johnny Cash The Man In Black follows Cash from the major influences of his childhood to his first heady flush of success to the rocky road of drug addiction, and discovering both true love and personal salvation. His sense of camaraderie, wit, humor, and love for his fellow man endear him to generations today and for decades to come. 51:30 minutes.
Koch Vision
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.411videoinfo.com
"Self" women's magazine presents two energetic, body-toning workout DVDs filled with easy-to-follow moves for better health and a sexier body. Self Slim And Sleek Fast! (1417228679, $14.98, 45 min.) emphasizes whole- body fitness in a routine that combines cardio and resistance training to burn calories and leave one feeling confident. Self Your Best Butt Fast! (1417228636, $14.98, 45 min.) targets glutes and thighs especially with standing, floor, and resistance exercises devoted to shaping a firmer, stronger butt. Both workouts require only a simple set of 2 to 5 pound hand weights and a floor mat for equipment, and both are designed to bring about results in just 4 weeks of regular use! Both are lively and invigorating exercise routines, especially meant for women, and demonstrated by fitness experts.
If Someone Had Known
MPI Media Group
16101 South 108th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462
www.mpihomevideo.com
0788606816 $9.98 1-800-777-2223
A pampered daughter of a police chief (Kellie Martin) finds romance with an attractive, polite young man who seems to give her a wonderful home and child - but beneath their perfect surface lies abuse, and when Jimmy gets more violent as time goes on, Katie finds herself with no future at all. Part of the 'True Stories Collection', If Someone Had Known is a powerful, gripping tragedy. Keith is an oversized child unready to become a father even though he's married to Kim, who has always longed for children and is determined to adopt. When baby Brittany arrives in their lives Keith finds not only his carefree ways challenged, but a newfound love for his new daughter - a love shaken by the death of his wife from cancer, and by a court system determined to take away his baby before the adoption is complete. Teri Polo provides a gripping, believable protagonist as a young woman determined to have a child, and Andrew McCarthy as Keith is the perfect vision of a young father unprepared for the challenges of parenthood.
Farscape: Starburst Edition
Jim Henson/Hallmark Ent.
ADV Films
10114 W. Sam Houston Pkwy #200, Houston, TX 77099
$24.98 Each set (5 sets) advfilms.com
If you've never seen the science fiction drama Farscape on television, here's a word of warning: don't start in the middle. The avant-garde series is sophisticated enough that missing even one or two episodes makes the setting difficult to absorb - and it's certainly well worth the effort - which is why the new release Farscape: The Starburst Edition of both seasons on a 5-DVD set is not to be missed. You don't miss a single episode - and you DO get to miss all the ads - by purchasing the set over viewing on television. Season 1 is covered on 3 DVDs, with the collection updated and expanded to include a documentary on the production, archives, video profiles, audio commentaries and more. Each DVD holds 7 episodes on double-sided dvds, making their price tag a bargain. The extras alone on each set make it worth the purchase even for fans who've managed to view nearly every show in the two-season series. Farscape: Starburst Edition is a highly recommended, choice pick for both newcomers and old fans. View its unusual, rapidly changing plots and offbeat humor and you'll see why it became a cult classic for the small Sci Fi Network.
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
148 Madison Ave, 16th Fl, NY, NY 10016
1593753624 $124.95 shop.wgbh.org
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Series 1, 2, & 3 is a three-DVD compilation of Mystery! episodes originally aired on Public Television, centering upon the British detective duo of upper- crust aristocrat Inspector Thomas Lynley and intuitive working-class Sergeant Barbara Havers. Special features include a virtual tour of the Mystery! studio, closed captions and descriptive video for the visually impaired, a Q&A session with lead actors Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, and much more. A captivating collection of 13 episodes of backstabbing, intrigue, and murder, including the pilot, offering hours of viewing suspense. Approx. 1244 minutes on 13 DVDs, color.
The Large Print Shelf
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
1-800-955-9659
One of the premiere publishers and distributors of large print books, Ulverscroft is a respected and dependable source for creating, maintaining, and expanding the large print collections of community libraries in just about every genre. Some of their newest and enthusiastically recommended titles include: Co-authored by Sara Payne and Anna Gekoski, Sara Payne: A Mother's Story (1843958732, $32.50) the autobiographical story of a little girl who was found murdered and how her mother and her other family members sought to deal with this tragedy. Raymond Haigh's Cripplehead (1843958848, $32.50) is a robust mystery featuring an "errant wife" case that private eye Paul Lomax never wanted, but then a hit man starts to fill up the local morgue and Lomax finds himself and the wife of his client are marked for death unless he can figure things out. Alarm Call (1843958708, $32.50) by Quintin Jardine is a superbly crafted crime novel when a man finds that his sweet life suddenly goes sour when his lying, cheating, con-man of a father is at the center of dark intrigue and unexpected discoveries. Stanley Middleton's superbly written novel Brief Garlands (1843957205, $32.50) is the story of John Stone, a retired headmaster at Beechall, trying to find how he, his wife, and there various friends and relatives find themselves having to deal with societal changes are they try to live a good life on a quiet street of Victorian villas. Sue Gee's The Mysteries Of Glass (1843956926, $32.50) is a masterpiece of romantic suspense set in the winter of 1860 when a young curate in his first position with a rural parish and mourning the sudden death of his beloved father, finds he has feelings for a married woman -- complicated by a little girl who sees to much. Away From You (184395737X, $32.50) by Melanie Finn is an imaginative work of general fiction and is the story of Ellie, a young girl who returns to her childhood home in Kenya only to be confronted with dark family secrets. Judy Corbett's Castles In The Air (184395754X, $32.50) is nother outstanding autobiography of a woman who, along with her husband-to-be, move into a cold, filthy, damp, dilapidated sixteenth century castle that proves to be a proverbial money pit -- but the magic of the building, the landscape the surrounds it, and the history that endows its blend together in a unique and engaging story. All of these superbly written Ulverscroft titles share the qualities of a sturdy binding and a large print format that make them ideal acquisition choices for librarians looking for an extended shelf life, and library patrons seeking a visually accessible read.
The Nautical Shelf
The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat
Mark Nicholas
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
0939837668 $17.95 www.paracay.com
The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat: The Definitive Guide For Liveaboards is a no-nonsense, highly practical guide to making a boat one's home. Written by a liveaboard who has spent extensive time and effort gathering research and advice from other liveaboards, The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat cover how to choose the right boat and marina, estimating costs, helping family, children and pets adjust, safety issues, amenities, climate and sanitation problems, legal issues including all-too-common limitations on liveaboards, and much more. The Essentials Of Living Aboard A Boat is a "must-have" resource for anyone seriously contemplating or dedicatedly seeking to refine their life aboard a boat.
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Str, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com
Sheridan House's excellent boating catalog just got broader with three powerful, very different titles. If you think a serious approach is inherent in a book like John Vigor's Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing (1574092111, $17.95), think again: there's no orthodoxy to sailing, and plenty of truths to tell - and Vigor reveals them in 200 entries which blend humor with solid practical advice. From knowing what kind of documentation is needed to sail into foreign waters to renaming or repainting a boat, Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Started Sailing avoids many pitfalls. Tania Aebi's I've Been Around (1574092138, $17.95) provides a new book gathering her sailing experience. And if her name sounds familiar, it's because Aebi sailed around the world alone on her Maiden Voyage boat at age 18, producing a best-selling account of the voyage which continues to sell to this day. Her experience blends with reflections on sailing and life and will bring new audiences to enjoy her experiences. Frances and Michael Howorth's The Sea Survival Manual (1574092162, $26.95) is the item of choice for any working on an ocean-going boat, whether it be small or large. From safety and survival equipment and safe practices at sea to handling emergencies, abandoning ship, understanding how the life raft works, and more, The Sea Survival Manual is all about coping in an emergency, and is the first comprehensive, modern book to address the topic for small craft owners. All are excellent guides.
The Mythology/Folklore Shelf
Handbook Of Chinese Mythology
Lihui Yang & Deming An
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911 Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
157607806X $75.00 abc-clio.com
ABC-CLIO's wonderful handbooks on world mythology offer in-depth explorations linking traditional cultural myths to insights on behavior and ideals, and Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is an essential reference for any high school to college-level collection with a Chinese studies program. From main sources of myths and their importance to Chinese society and psyche to a timeline of myths as they evolved through Chinese history and a survey of the myths and themes themselves, Handbook Of Chinese Mythology is a real winner.
The Railroading Shelf
The Model Railroader's Guide To Bridges, Trestles & Tunnels
Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Publishing Company
PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187
www.kalmbachbooks.com
0890245967 $19.95 1-800-533-6644
The Model Railroader's Guide To Bridges, Trestles & Tunnels is an in-depth hobbyist's guide to adding minutely detailed, realistic bridges and tunnel portals to a model railroad layout. Chapters include overviews of the construction and purpose of bridges, trestles, and tunnels; historic and contemporary prototype photos, in black-and-white and color; strategies for modeling, painting, and weathering scale replicas; listings of bridge, trestle, and tunnel kits in HO, N, and O scale, as well as excellent suggestions for modifying kits and scratchbuilding; and so much more. An in-depth guide that combines an appreciation of railroad history with solid how-to tactics for bringing said history to life.
The Interior Design Shelf
India Modern
Michael Freeman
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
0794650201 $40.00 www.periplus.com
Featuring eye-catching, full-color photography throughout, India Modern is an experience in modern-day East Indian interior design, from the latest stylish homes to bars, restaurants, hotels, spas, and more. Exploring both innovative Indian ideas and influences of foreign architecture, India Modern offers astounding visions of geometry, colorful harmony, symbolism and more. The text offers the perfect complement to the sometimes sparse or minimalist yet always breathtaking visions of cutting-edge Indian homes. Highly recommended, especially as a source of design inspiration.
The Martial Arts Shelf
Manual Of The Baratero
James Loriega, translator
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
1581604718 $20.00 1-800-392-2400
James Loriega is a master at the arts of fighting with a steel blade. His translation from the original Spanish of the Manual Of The Baratero Or The Art Of Handling The Navaja, The Knife, And The Scissors Of The Gypsies is an instruction book for the non-specialist general reader in the basic techniques of fighting with knives which was originally published in Madrid, Spain, in 1849. There are occasional woodblock illustrations but they are decorative, not instructional. It is the text itself that provides an informed and informative "how to" manual for defending against attackers or robbers with a blade in your hand. A long recognized and appreciated contribution to Spain's historic martial arts culture, Manual Of The Baratero has never before been available to English readers. Here is an invaluable and enduringly impressive addition to personal and professional reference collections for historians, edged-weapons enthusiasts, and students of diverse martial arts legacies from around the world.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Zen Buddhism
Heinrich Dumoulin
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
0941532895 $26.95 worldwisdom.com
Zen Buddhism: A History India And China is a new edition of volume 1 of the classic two- volume history by Heinrich Dumoulin (1905-1995), one of the world's most renowned Zen scholars. Covering the emergence of Zen through India and China, the new edition also includes additional notes by James W. Heisig of the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture; a new introduction by John R. McRae of Indiana University exploring recent developments in the study of Zen; and the complete original text. An excellent, thoroughly researched, in-depth history especially recommended for advanced students and scholars of Buddhism and religious history.
Highest Yoga Tantra
Daniel Cozort
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com
1559392355 $16.95 1-800-950-0313
Professor of Religion Daniel Cozort offers the fruits of his studies with numerous Tibetan lamas in Highest Yoga Tantra, a straightforward discussion of the methods to transform one's body and mind through the highest forms of tantric practice, as applied in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Part One offers an introduction to the practices common to sutra and tantra, Part Two presents the generation stage of Highest Yoga Tantra, Part Three studies the completion stage yogas (physical isolation, verbal isolation, mental isolation, illusory body, clear light, and unison), and Part Four compares the Kalachakra and Guhyasamaja stages of completion. Highest Yoga Tantra offers a clear-minded, no-nonsense scrutiny of the meditation disciplines requisite to advanced practices of Tibetan Buddhism, and is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about or personally experiencing the highest tantras.
Buddhist Folk Tales From Ancient Ceylon
Dick de Ruiter, translator
Binkey Kok Publications
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress St, 4th fl, Boston MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
9074597866 $18.95 1-800-423-7087
Buddhist Folk Tales From Ancient Ceylon is an anthology of stories about the lives of the Buddha before his enlightenment. Some are like fairy tales; others paint a picture of provincial life centuries ago; all are part of a tradition preserved by the Buddhist monks of Ceylon (now part of modern-day Sri Lanka). A fascinating repository of tradition, belief, and fable, highly recommended for folklore shelves as well as Buddhist studies and literature collections.
The Gardening Shelf
East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers
Gil Nelson
Falcon Press/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
0762727187 $22.95 1-800-582-2665
Printed on heavy stock, water-resistant paper and featuring stunning full color photography throughout, East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers is a field guide wildflowers found in a region of the United States including Southwest Georgia, Northwest Florida, Southern Alabama, Southern Mississippi, and parts of Southeastern Louisiana. An introduction and overview offers maps, information about floral diversity, and tips for using the guide, yet the bulk of East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers is devoted to single-column entries of individual blossoms. Each flower's entry includes a color photograph, extensive text description, information on its bloom season and habitat range, and more. A glossary and index round out this superb quick-reference field guide.
Wild Orchids Across North America
Philip E. Keenan
Timber Press
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881927201 $27.95 1-800-327-5680
Now in paperback for the first time, Wild Orchids Across North America: A Botanical Travelogue is offers detailed information concerning orchid biology, ecology, history, and conservation for nature lovers and gardeners alike. Full-color photographs throughout reveal the beauty of these wonderful flowers, making Wild Orchids Across North America a stunning visual treasury as well as a repository of information on all things orchid. The emotion that author and North American Native Orchid Alliance founding member Philip E. Keenan has for these captivating blossoms shows through in his exquisite attention to detail. Highly recommended especially for orchid lovers.
In Our Backyards
John Watson, et al.
Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens & Nature Center
c/o Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
0976623501 $39.95 tamu.edu/upress
The collaborative work of John Watson, Carole Peterson, and Deanna Payne, In Our Backyards: Public And Private Gardens Of The Texas Coastal Bend is a showcase of the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, created to commemorate the center's new focus on local environmental issues and ecofriendly tourism. Beautiful full-color photography of public and private gardens give a personal view of delicate wildflowers, soothing greenhouses, somber statues, Mexican courtyards, and much more. Each location has a brief amount of text guiding the reader amid highlights of its harmoniously cultivated plant life. In Our Backyards is a rapturously beautiful giftbook and the next best thing to visiting Texas gardens in person.
Garden Lunacy: A Growing Concern
Art Wolk
AAB Book Publishing
PO Box 749, Voorhees, NJ 08043
www.aabbookpublishing.com
0972973036 $26.95 www.amazon.com
Garden Lunacy: A Growing Concern is an utterly irreverent gardening book. Not intended as an instructional about raising plants or gardens (though the astute reader will acquire many tips on what not to do!), Garden Lunacy offers sharp-tongued wit and humor about the unique manner in which gardeners see the universe: plants first, humans last. Eccentric, covetous, even compulsive gardener traits are explored with a wink and a smile, sure to sound a sympathetic chuckle in plant lovers everywhere. A deftly amusing celebration of a widely beloved hobby and the people who embrace it.
The Language Studies Shelf
Federal Street Press
c/o Merriam-Webster Inc.
PO Box 281, Springfield, MA 01102
www.m-w.com federalstreetpress.com
There are three new and simply outstanding titles from Federal Street Press that are ideal for personal, family, school, and community library dictionary reference collections. There is a new edition available for Webster's New Explorer Student Dictionary (1892859955, $10.98) that is specifically intended for students ages 9 through 12. In addition to compiling more than 32,000 "user friendly' definitions, there are special features including more than 10,000 word-use examples, 400 highlighted synonym and word history paragraphs, 600 detailed illustrations, and all new homework help sections. The new and second edition of Webster's New Explorer Crossword Puzzle Dictionary (189-2859947, $10.98) is completely revised and updated to include 50,000 new answer words augmenting 350,000 answer words in over 150 categories. Organized alphabetically and by letter count, with comprehensive coverage of proper names, this is a "must have" for crossword puzzle enthusiasts. Created in cooperation with the editors of Merriam-Webster, the Webster's Family Spanish-English Dictionary (189-285998X, $12.98) is an invaluable and practical lingual aid with word definitions arranged from English to Spanish, and Spanish to English. Featuring clear, concise translations for more than 80,000 words and phrases, Webster's Family Spanish-English Dictionary is enhanced with special sections on Spanish grammar and the conjugation of Spanish verbs.
A Book Of Middle English
J. A. Burrow & Thorlac Turville-Petre
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
www.blackwellpublishing.com
1405117095 $34.95 1-800-216-2522
Now in its third edition, enhanced with revisions to key works in light of new editions, updated bibliographies, and two new extracts from "Pearl" and Chaucer's "Troilus and Criseyde", A Book Of Middle English is a scholarly classroom text designed to introduce readers to comprehending the language and literature of England between 1150 and 1400. Part One focuses on understanding how to pronounce Middle English, and its rules of grammar, syntax, and applications of metre in rhyming verse; Part Two offers a selection of Middle English reading material including "The Owl and the Nightingale", The Cloud of Unknowing", Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and many more. An excellent practical resource for literature students and scholars striving to better understand classical writings in their original language.
The Philosophy Shelf
Plato's Sun
Andrew Lawless
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
www.utppublishing.com
0802038093 $29.95 1-800-565-9523
Plato's Sun: An Introduction To Philosophy is a straightforward guide to the mentally demanding rigors of philosophical study, intended especially for students and novices. Chapters cover such topics as "What Is Philosophy?", "Metaphysics: The Search for the God's-Eye View", "Logic and Its Place in the Universe", and "Ethics: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful". Glossaries of names, key terms, and Greek terms, as well as a suggested reading list, round out this excellent text for classroom or self-study.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Entering The High Holy Days
Reuven Hammer
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1399
www.jewishpub.org
0827608217 $18.00 1-800-234-3151
Now in a new paperback edition, Entering The High Holy Days: A Complete Guide To The History, Prayers, And Themes is a classic guide to Jewish religious holidays. Written by Reuven Hammer, head of the Rabbinical Court of the Masorti Movement, Entering The High Holy Days has earned the National Jewish Book Award for its scholarly yet straightforward presentation of the liturgy, necessary preparations, ceremonies, historical background and more as connected to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur especially. A useful guide written with a contemporary audience firmly in mind.
The Woodworking Shelf
Unique Wood Lamination Projects
Jerry Syfert
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.lindenpub.com
0941936880 $19.95 1-800-345-4447
Unique Wood Lamination Projects by woodworking expert and craftsman Jerry Syfert showcases thirteen absorbing lamination-based projects to engage and challenge the woodworker. By following the project designs and step-by- step illustrated instructions, anyone can learn to make clocks, piggy banks, lazy Susans, puzzles, and more. Ideal for the weekend workshop project, Jerry Syfert's Unique Wood Lamination Projects is a welcome and prized addition to any amateur (or professional!) woodworker's reference collection.
The Parenting Shelf
Long Distance Grandma
Janet Teitsort
Howard Publishing Company
3117 N. 7th St., West Monroe, LA 71291
www.howardpublishingdealer.com
1582294445 $12.99 1-800-858-4109
Long Distance Grandma: Staying Connected Across The Miles is a highly practical compendium of ideas written especially for grandparents and other family relatives seeking to stay in touch with faraway youngsters. Organized by themes pertaining to different months of the year, suggestions include plans for using the Internet and e-mail to stay connected, projects to send via snail mail, camera suggestions, recipes that are fun to make and ship easily, great craft ideas and much more. An excellent resource for connecting hearts across the span of miles, particularly in an increasingly mobile era.
The Travel Shelf
Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide
Sarah Woods
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
184162117X $21.95 1-800-243-0495
Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide is a superb in-depth travel guide, packed cover to cover with everything from where to view more than 350 species of bird to fishing, rafting and hiking opportunities, prime beaches and watersport locations, top-rated locations to stay or eat, the history of the Panama Canal, an extensive focus on Bocas del Toro, and much more. On a less lighthearted note, Panama: The Bradt Travel Guide also covers "need-to-know" information concerning common diseases, what to bring in a first aid kit, natural hazards, and locations that are particular hotbeds of crime or danger. Maps, charts, graphs, and a handful of photographs round out this practical-minded, "user friendly" and informative guide ideal for the casual tourist and the dedicated business traveler alike.
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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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