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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 33, Number 1 January 2023 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Education Shelf Science Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf World History Shelf Military Shelf
Biography Shelf General Fiction Shelf Historical Fiction Shelf
Literary Fiction Shelf Romantic Fiction Shelf Western Fiction Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Music Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Religious Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Sports Shelf Travel Shelf Business Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Crafts Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf DVD Shelf
Automotive Shelf Photography Shelf Wine Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Architecture Shelf Computer Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Veterinary Shelf Native American Studies Shelf Gaming Shelf
Folktale/Fairytale Shelf Archaeology Shelf Library Science Shelf
Art Shelf Mathematics Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Frontiers in Civil Justice
Xandra Kramer, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781802203813, $160.00 HC / $TBA ebook, 320pp

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/frontiers-in-civil-justice-9781802203813.html

Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Xandra Kramer, Jos Hoevenaars, Betul Kas, and Erlis Themeli, "Frontiers in Civil Justice: Privatisation, Monetisation and Digitisation" is comprised of studies in three interrelated frontiers civil justice issues from European and national perspectives, combining theory with policy and insights from practice: the interplay between private and public justice, the digitization of justice, and litigation funding. These current topics are viewed against the backdrop of the requirements of effective access to justice and the overall goal of establishing a sustainable civil justice system in Europe.

With perspectives from an impressive selection of contributors "Frontiers in Civil Justice: Privatisation, Monetisation and Digitisation" takes on a pan-European perspective and zooms in on several European jurisdictions, thereby providing a holistic exploration of current civil justice debates and frontiers. It includes chapters dedicated to the interaction between public and private justice, the digitisation of both private dispute resolution and court litigation, including the rapid development and use of advanced forms of Artificial Intelligence, and the funding of justice, especially collective actions and settlements by means of private funding and common funds.

Addressing these key issues in the current European debate on civil justice, "Frontiers in Civil Justice: Privatisation, Monetisation and Digitisation" will be an ideal read for academics and policy makers interested in the most recent frontier developments and innovations. Legal practitioners will also benefit from the insight into complex topics such as litigation funding, legal conflicts in a digital age, and resolving disputes in a private setting.

Critique: Comprised of an informative Introduction and thirteen erudite essays deftly organized into three major sections (ADR and the Courts; Digitising Private and Public Justice; Collectivising and Monetising Civil Litigation), "Frontiers in Civil Justice: Privatisation, Monetisation and Digitisation" is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, and academic library International Law collections and supplemental Contemporary Judicial curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Xandra Kramer (http://www.xandrakramer.eu) is Professor of Private Law, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Professor of Private International Law, Utrecht University.

Editorial Note #2: Jos Hoevenaars, Betul Kas and Erlis Themeli are Postdoc Researchers, Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In Their Names
Lenore Anderson
The New Press
120 Wall Street, Floor 31, New York, NY 10005
www.thenewpress.com
9781620977125, $28.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Their-Names-Untold-Victims-Incarceration/dp/1620977125

Synopsis: When twenty-six-year-old recent college graduate Aswad Thomas was days away from starting a professional basketball career in 2009, he was shot twice while buying juice at a convenience store. The trauma left him in excruciating pain, with mounting medical debt, and struggling to cope with deep anxiety and fear. That was the same year the national incarceration rate peaked. Yet, despite thousands of new tough-on-crime policies and billions of new dollars pumped into "justice", Aswad never received victim compensation, support, or even basic levels of concern. In the name of victims, justice bureaucracies ballooned while most victims remained on their own.

With the publication of "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Victims' Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety, Lenore Anderson (president of one of the nation's largest reform advocacy organizations) offers a close look at how the political call to help victims in the 1980s morphed into a demand for bigger bureaucracies and more incarceration, and cemented the long- standing chasm that exists between most victims and the justice system.

She argues that the powerful myth that mass incarceration benefits victims obscures recognition of what most victims actually need, including addressing their trauma, which is a leading cause of subsequent violent crime.

A solutions-oriented, paradigm-shifting volume, "In Their Names" argues persuasively for closing the gap between our public safety systems and crime survivors.

Critique: A timely and appreciated contribution to our national dialogue on crime (which has been increasing these past few years), incarceration, and the impact on the victims of crime, "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Victims' Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Criminology Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for criminology students, academia, legal justice reformers, victim advocates, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Victims' Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.65).

Editorial Note: A former punk drummer turned prosecutor, Lenore Anderson is the founder and president of the Alliance for Safety and Justice. She is a former chief of policy at the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, former director of public safety for the Oakland mayor, and the recipient of a James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and a Frank Carrington Crime Victim Attorney Award. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenore_Anderson)

Conversations Across America
Kari Loya
XK Productions, LLC
9798986125817, $29.95

https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-Across-America-Alzheimers-TransAmerica/dp/B0BFHW79VD

"Where did you start? Wow! VA?! Just the two of you? Did you fight a lot?"

Conversations Across America: A Father and Son, Alzheimer's, and 300 Conversations Along the TransAmerica Bike Trail that Capture the Soul of America follows a father/son cycling journey undertaken in 2015 by a 75-year-old father with early-stage Alzheimer's and his adult son. It's remarkable not just for the physical effort, but for the mental revelations that accompanied and affected their relationship as the miles and time passed. The effort afforded father and son both a long goodbye and new observations of 2015 America through conversations with ordinary Americans from all walks of life.

Three decades of a shared dream culminated in an experience that broadened the lives of both participants, leading them into new territory both in their relationship and in their perception of a changing nation. Their epic adventure will attract a wider audience than the usual father/son memoir, Alzheimer's reader, or cyclist adventure bookworm.

Packed with photos of the two cyclists as their journey evolved, as well as the individuals they encountered and write about, readers ride through the concurrent transitions of different parts of the American psyche and the interactions and efforts of father and son as they connect with one another and those around them.

This concurrent gift of revelation both personal and social examination makes for a journey like few others: a testimony to love, perseverance, understanding, and experience that captures the real reason for undertaking a road trip -- to live life at its fullest, experience surprises, and ultimately cultivate deeper understanding.

The quotes, visual reinforcement, and opportunity to visit, via this book, the byroads of America and taste the values and beliefs of a disparate population make for an immersive experience highly recommended for audiences beyond the usual memoir reader alone. Ideally, Conversations Across America will be chosen by book clubs interested in discussing a variety of topics, from early-stage Alzheimer's to worldviews and emotional connections from all walks of life. Its conversations capture the purposes and perspectives of ordinary Americans and how they live their lives with gusto.


The Education Shelf

Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect
Mark Purcell, Psy.D
Kellen Glinder, MD
Free Spirit Publishing
6325 Sandburg Road, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55427-3674
www.freespirit.com
9781631983474, $34.99, PB, 198pp

https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Kids-Pause-Cope-Connect/dp/1631983474

Synopsis: Elementary school students today face many challenges that did not exist a generation or two ago, and rates of emotional disorders (including anxiety and depression) have increased steadily over the years. Students must also manage an overwhelming amount of information. With today's reliance on technology and social media, they have fewer opportunities to develop effective self-regulation strategies and interpersonal and stress management skills.

Helping students understand their emotions and behavior when they're young will set them on a path to being successful learners and empathetic people throughout their lives. Comprised of thirty easy-to-implement, skill-based lessons and activities for grades 3-6, "Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect: Lessons for Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness" provides educators with strategies to help students: Manage and reduce their anxiety with healthy coping skills; Understand and regulate physical responses to stress; Separate emotions from actions; Respond mindfully (rather than impulsively) to difficult situations; Improve social skills, social awareness, and self-regulation; Develop empathy and compassion.

Digital content includes reproducible student handouts that accompany each lesson, plus six bonus lessons.

Critique: An ideal and unreservedly recommended elementary school curriculum development resource, "Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect: Lessons for Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness" is highly recommended for school district and academic library In-Service Training curriculums and college/university library Teacher Education collections. It should be noted that "Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect: Lessons for Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.24).

Editorial Note: Mark Purcell, Psy.D., (www.drmarkpurcell.com) is a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating children and families with emotional regulation challenges. He has been working in various aspects of the mental health field for over twenty years. Mark's professional experience has ranged from providing psychotherapy to children to developing specialized treatment programs and teaching professionals and graduate students. In addition to teaching and training, he provides therapy in his private practice. Mark has particular interests in mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches, such as DBT and MBSR. He also has research interests in the effects of trauma and effective treatment modalities. He coauthored Mindfulness for Teen Anger, which integrates these interests into a self-help workbook for adolescents. He lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area and can be followed on Twitter @dr_mark_purcell

Editorial Note #2: Kellen Glinder, M.D., (https://profiles.stanford.edu/kellen-glinder) is a pediatrician and site lead for the Silicon Valley office of Private Medical. He is also the emeritus chair of pediatrics at the Palo Alto Division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and an adjunct clinical assistant professor at Stanford University. He is active in both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. As a Wilderness Medical Society member, he enjoys figuring out how to get kids outside often and with smiles. Kellen is a Screen Actors Guild member, has trained as an improvisational actor, and has taught classes in medical improv and the art of communication, including a course at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. He can be followed on Twitter @drglinder

Equity in the Classroom
Todd M. Mealy, editor
Heather Bennett, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476687032, $39.95, PB, 298pp

https://www.amazon.com/Equity-Classroom-Curricular-Pedagogical-Approaches/dp/147668703 X

Synopsis: Almost 200 years after public schools moved toward free education for all children, educators are still exploring the best approaches for promoting equitable student growth.

In early 2020, Covid-19 operational changes and the challenge to confront America's most profound racial problems exposed many equity issues in schools. As a result, educators were called to reimagine the field of education as the curtain closed on the first quarter of the 21st century.

The essays comprising "Equity in the Classroom: Essays on Curricular and Pedagogical Approaches to Empowering All Students" challenge classroom instructors to consider new approaches to education theory, classroom praxis and teaching content. The chapters herein draw on mixed-methods and narrative form essays to provide practical tools and techniques for building equitable schools.

Viewing schools as extensions of society-at-large, collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of Todd M. Mealy and Heather Bennett, delivers innovative curricular approaches to STEM education, the Humanities and applied theater. The authors offer methods for empowering student voices, managing moments of crisis, increasing representation in computer science and implementing restorative justice disciplinary practices in learning institutions. These essays provide all educators with proven instructional models for curricular equity with the goal of moving America closer to a multicultural democracy.

Critique: Along with an informative Introduction by the two editors, "Equity in the Classroom: Essays on Curricular and Pedagogical Approaches to Empowering All Students" is a compendium of thirteen deftly crafted contributions by experts. Of special note is a one page listing of the contributors and their credentials. Timely, thought-provoking, and 'real world' relevant, "Equity in the Classroom: Essays on Curricular and Pedagogical Approaches to Empowering All Students" is an especially recommended addition to professional and academic library Education Theory and Ethnic Education Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists of teachers, school district administrators, board of education policy makers, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Equity in the Classroom: Essays on Curricular and Pedagogical Approaches to Empowering All Students" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note #1: Todd M. Mealy (https://www.toddmealy.com) has Ph.D. in American studies from Penn State University, and is a writer who specializes in 19th and 20th century civil rights history and sports culture. A contributor to Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine, he resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Editorial Note #2: Heather Bennett (https://heatherlbennett.com) assists public school boards and districts with equity-focused tools, programming, and research. Her scholarship focuses on the intersection of education, law, and policy, primarily focusing on the impact of the educational experiences of marginalized students, families, and communities. She currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.

The New Classroom Instruction That Works
Bryan Goodwin, et al.
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416631613, $32.95, PB, 178pp

https://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Instruction-That-Works-Research-Based/dp/1416631615

Synopsis: Built on a more rigorous research base and updated to emphasize student diversity, equity, and inclusion, "The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement" offers a streamlined focus on the 14 instructional strategies proven to promote deep, meaningful, and lasting learning including: Cognitive interest cues; Student goal setting and monitoring; Vocabulary instruction; Strategy instruction and modeling; Visualizations and concrete examples; High-level questions and student explanations; Guided initial application with formative feedback; Peer-assisted consolidation of learning; Retrieval practice; Spaced and mixed independent practice; Targeted support; Cognitive writing; Guided investigations; and Structured problem solving.

These strategies (all of which are effective and complementary) are presented within a framework geared toward instructional planning and aligned with how the brain learns. For each strategy, their are key research findings, the important principles of classroom practice, and recommended approaches for using the strategy with today's learners.

Both new and veteran teachers will finish "The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement" with a better understanding of how effective teaching boosts student achievement and a clearer idea of what to do, when to do it, and why.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement" is an ideal textbook for in-service training programs on lesson planning/instruction methods, and college/university library Teacher Education instructional reference collections.

Editorial Note #1: Bryan Goodwin (https://www.ascd.org/people/bryan-goodwin) is the president and CEO of McREL International, a Denver-based nonprofit education research and development organization. Goodwin, a former teacher and journalist, has been at McREL for more than 20 years, serving previously as chief operating officer and director of communications and marketing. Goodwin writes a monthly research column for Educational Leadership and presents research findings and insights to audiences across the United States and in Canada, the Middle East, and Australia.

Editorial Note #2: Kristin Rouleau (https://www.ascd.org/people/kristin-rouleau) serves as the executive director of learning services and innovation at McREL International, where she guides a team of consultants who help schools, districts, and state education agencies and ministries of education across the United States, Canada, Micronesia, Australia, the Middle East, and China translate research into solutions that transform teaching, leading, and learning. A licensed school administrator with more than 25 years of classroom and school leadership experience, she coauthored Learning That Sticks: A Brain-Based Model for K - 12 Instructional Design and Delivery, Curiosity Works: A Guidebook for Moving Your School from Improvement to Innovation and Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your School.

Editorial Note #3: Cheryl Abla (https://www.edutopia.org/profile/cheryl-abla) is a senior managing consultant at McREL International, where she develops workshops and professional learning sessions for K-12 teachers on research-based instructional strategies in the areas of instructional technology, English learners, and developing a learner-centered classroom and school environment. She also provides consultation for technology integration, technology leadership, and McREL's classroom observation software, Power Walkthrough . Prior to joining McREL, Abla taught all grades from 1-12 for more than 20 years. She is a coauthor of Tools for Classroom Instruction That Works (2018) and a contributor to the George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia blog.

Editorial Note #4: Karen Baptiste, EdD, is a consulting director of learning services and innovation at McREL International, where she provides professional learning and consulting services to schools, districts, and educational agencies. Baptiste's career started in the New York City Department of Education, where she was a special educator, instructional coach, and director of special education. She has worked with K-12 schools across the United States to support improved teaching and learning with an emphasis on quality implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies, including helping teachers create learning environments that encourage student voice and ownership of learning. Her experience also includes being an executive coach to state, district, and school leaders across the nation to transform school culture and educational experiences for students and their families.

Editorial Note #5: Tonia Gibson (https://www.ascd.org/people/tonia-gibson) is a senior managing consultant for McREL International's learning services team. She supports education ministries, district and school leaders, and teachers in using research to improve professional practices and support systemic improvement. She works with educators to address their identified needs, employing a range of strategies including using data for reflection, observations of practice, and analyzing people/organization performance data. In addition to leading workshops and presenting at conferences, Gibson has developed practical guides and materials for teachers and leaders and coauthored Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your School (2018). She served as a teacher and assistant principal at primary schools in Melbourne, Australia.

Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew, second edition
Ellen Notbohm
Future Horizons, Inc.
107 W. Randol Mill Road, Suite 100, Arlington, TX 76011
www.fhautism.com
9781949177862, $17.95, PB, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Things-Your-Student-Autism-Wishes/dp/1949177866

Synopsis: This newly revised and expanded second edition of "Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew" is exciting companion to "Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" and offers the unique perspective of an autistic child's voice describing for teachers, in the classroom and adults in the larger community, how to understand thinking and processing patterns common in autism, how to shape an environment conducive to their learning style, and how to communicate with autistic learners of all ages in functional, meaningful ways.

Simply stated, the second edition of "Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew" is the perfect guidebook every educator and family member, worldwide seeking to create effective and inclusive settings where child and adult are both teachers and learners.

This vibrantly updated and expanded edition of {"Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew" includes an imaginative, all-new guide adaptable for group discussion, self- reflection, or self-expression, an afterword from the author's autistic son, and added perspective from autistic adults about their experiences in education. Continuously in print for 16 years, and translated into multiple languages, "Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew" brings fresh perspective to a new generation of educators and autistic learners.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this second edition of "Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew, second edition" must be considered an essential, core addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Autism collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Ten Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew, second edition" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Ellen Notbohm (https://ellennotbohm.com) is internationally renowned for her work which has informed, inspired, and an instructed millions of readers in more than twenty languages. In addition to her four popular award-winning books on autism and her multiple-award winning novel The River by Starlight, her articles and posts on such diverse subjects as history, genealogy, baseball, writing and community affairs have appeared in major publications, and captured audiences on every continent.

The Death of Learning
John Agresto
Encounter Books
www.encounterbooks.com
9781641772686, $30.99, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Learning-American-Education-Students/dp/1641772689

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It" it is the contention of Professor John Agresto that the liberal arts are dying out. That they are diminishing in importance because most Americans don't see the point of them. Americans don't understand why anyone would study literature or history or the classics (or, more contemporarily, feminist criticism, whiteness studies, or the literature of postcolonial states) when they can get an engineering or business degree that will lead to higher incomes and standards of living.

Even more concerning is when they read how "Western civilization" has become a term
of reproach at so many supposedly thoughtful institutions; or how fanatical political correctness works hard to silence alternative viewpoints; or, more generally, how liberal studies have become scattered, narrow, and small. In this atmosphere, it's hard to convince parents or their progeny that a liberal education is all that wonderful or that it's even worthy of respect.

Over sixty years ago, we were introduced to the idea of "the two cultures" in higher education -- that is, the growing rift in the academy between the humanities and the sciences, a rift wherein neither side understood the other, spoke to the other, or cared for the other. But this divide in the academy, real as it may be, is nothing compared to another great divide -- the rift today between our common American culture and the culture of the academy itself.

So, how can we rebuild the notion that a liberal education is truly of value, both to our students and to the nation? Our highest hopes may be not to "restore" the liberal arts to what they looked like fifty or a hundred years ago but to ask ourselves what a true contemporary American liberal education at its best might look like. Remedying this situation will involve knowing clearly where we wish to go and then understanding how we might get there.

For those objectives, "The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It" is meant to be the beginning.

Critique: Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It" is an extraordinary alert to what is happening in colleges and universities today. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Education History and Philosophy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798200993789, $31.95, CD).

Editorial Note: John Agresto has taught at the University of Toronto, Kenyon College, Duke University, Wabash College, and the New School University. He was a scholar at the National Humanities Center in North Carolina and later served in senior positions at the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was president of St. John's College in Santa Fe for 11 years.

In 2003, Professor Agresto went to Iraq as the Senior Advisor for Higher Education and Scientific Research for the Coalition Provisional Authority. Between 2007 and 2010, he occupied roles including academic dean, provost, and chancellor at the American University of Iraq. He has also been the Lilly Senior Research Fellow at Wabash College, scholar-in-residence at Hampden-Sydney College, and fellow at the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.

Professor Agresto has authored five books and edited three others, including Rediscovering America; Mugged by Reality; The Supreme Court and Constitutional Democracy; The Humanist as Citizen; a cookbook; and a political/religious thriller under a pen name. His essays have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, among others.

A Curious Curriculum
Claire Banks, author
Mary Myatt, author
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785836435, $34.95, PB, 230pp

https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Curriculum-Teaching-foundation-subjects/dp/1785836439

Synopsis: Rather than simply offering a model curriculum that can be uprooted and planted in any school, "A Curious Curriculum: Teaching Foundation Subjects Well" by educators Claire Banks and Mick Waters is a model schools can use to design their own curriculum, one that not only encourages children to be active participants in their own learning, but also to see the benefits of being part of a bigger, wider family of learners.

"A Curious Curriculum" focuses upon the foundation subjects, particularly history, geography and science but also design and technology (DT) and art and design -- areas that are often challenging for teachers in primary schools. Subjects are brought together and explored under "big ideas" and, crucially, the emphasis is on avoiding the superficial and trivial and rooting teaching in extending and challenging children.

"A Curious Curriculum" also shares the story of one multi-academy trust (MAT) which designed and delivered a shared educational vision, a rationale for excellence in the curriculum, and the resources and support given to help reduce teachers' workload.

"A Curious Curriculum" presents a clear model both for supporting a group of schools or leading one school, offering a fresh perspective on working on a MAT-wide curriculum, as well as providing a range of snapshot examples of the curriculum in action -- in the form of documents, plans, photos and the learners' own work. Furthermore, "A Curious Curriculum" shares transferrable lessons from the trust's journey to success, setting out an educational philosophy that pairs pedagogy with a well-structured curriculum designed with learners' best interests at its heart.

All school children deserve an engaging, exciting curriculum designed to spark their curiosity, feed their imagination and develop their skills and knowledge. With clear timelines and an honest and transparent dialogue about the challenges and benefits of working together collaboratively and the importance of external expertise, "A Curious Curriculum" is an essential read for all school leaders.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and an ideal textbook for school district in-service training programs and college/university teacher education curriculums, "A Curious Curriculum: Teaching Foundation Subjects Well" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, school district, and academic library Teacher Education & Curriculum Development collections. It should be noted for teacher education students, academia, classroom teachers K-12, school district administrators, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "A Curious Curriculum: Teaching Foundation Subjects Well" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.20).

Editorial Note #1: Claire Banks (https://www.crownhouse.co.uk/claire-banks) was a head teacher for nine years in an inner-city primary school and then became Director of Education for The Olympus Academy Trust, a cross-phase multi-academy trust in north Bristol. Throughout her career she has been interested in social and emotional learning and school climate, which has led to her work on leadership culture. Claire now works on curriculum design and school improvement in a system leadership capacity, offering school-to-school support to school trusts. Her passion for succession planning for the profession has led to her coaching and mentoring on aspiring heads and women in leadership programmes.

Editorial Note #2: Mick Waters (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Waters_(education)) is a former head teacher works closely with teachers and leaders in schools, MATs and local authorities to support the development of teaching approaches and curriculum to ensure the best learning outcomes for children. For some years he was Director of Curriculum for England, based at the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA), and before that held the post of Chief Education Officer for the City of Manchester. He is also invited to work at a policy level with government in different parts of the world.

The C.A.P.E. Crusade
Billy Lombardo
https://www.billylombardoauthor.com
Muse Literary
https://museliterary.com
9781958714140, $10.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/C-P-Crusade-Application-Personal/dp/1958714143

Many books for teens and college applicants discuss the application form, SATs, and other influencers on college acceptance, but The C.A.P.E. Crusade: Your Guide to a Great College Application Personal Essay narrows the focus to what often proves the determining factor between acceptance and rejection - the essay.

While it can be said that this, too, is a subject covered elsewhere, what sets Billy Lombardo's title apart from others is its attention to injecting some of the excitement and potential into the effort, which will inspire students to write their best. Lombardo emphasizes his different approach from the beginning, presenting his view of how and why a student essay should not assume the regimented formula approach that other books too often recommend. With this encouragement in mind, students are led into the world of college essay writing with a different, more creative mindset that remains open to all possibilities of subject and presentation.

Pre-writing exercises, examples of topics designed to get students testing their skills and hand at writing tasks, and advice tailored to encouraging creative inspiration over regimented requirements adds to this process by encouraging students to set pen to paper and free flow with creative responses: "Obsess over word count now, and I guarantee that you'll never get to the discoveries necessary for a great essay. Imagine that you're secretly competing with your classmates to write a ten-thousand-word discovery draft. If you come back to shore with more than ten thousand words, we'll sift through the flotsam and jetsam and worry about the word count later."

The C.A.P.E. Crusade is filled with good advice, inspirational and motivating lessons, and cautions about the kinds of input that reduces rather than accents creativity and good writing. The result is a highly inspirational, motivating, different college application advice title filled with rich exercises and examples of work well-done. Billy Lombardo admits from the start that he never had to write such an essay to gain entry into college, and never even took a SAT. What he did do was hone the approaches to writing that support creative efforts and ultimately lend to outstanding results.

Any library strong in recommendations for college-bound students, as well as creative writing sources for inspiring essay writing, will find The C.A.P.E. Crusade a standout and a winner for not only its encouraging approach, but its specific contrasts between what makes for staid and dull writing and the contents of great prose.


The Science Shelf

Roadside Geology of Hawaii, second edition
Rick Hazlett, author
Cheryl Gansecki, author
Steve Lundblad, author
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780878427116, $26.00, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Geology-Hawaii/dp/0878427112

Synopsis: Now in a completely revised and expanded full-color second edition of "Roadside Geology of Hawai'i", the team of collaborative authors Rick Hazlett, Cheryl Gansecki, and Steve Lundblad informatively detail the evolution of this volcanic island chain, from its first tumultuous appearance above the sea to ongoing eruptions, including the 2018 eruption of K lauea.

Erosional landscapes dominate the older islands, such as Waimea Canyon on Kaua'i, enormous rounded rocks at Garden of the Gods on L na'i, and the highest shoreline cliff in the world on Molokai, the scarp of the Wailau landslide. Volcanoes, cinder cones, and craters dominate the younger islands, from Haleakal Volcano on Maui and Diamond Head and Koko Craters on O'ahu to the active caldera in the Big Island's Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

With "Roadside Geology of Hawaii" as a guide, native residents and tourists alike will discover waterfalls, lava tube caves, black sand beaches, and other world-famous geologic features around every bend in the road.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color throughout, this new second edition of "Roadside Geology of Hawaii" is particularly timely given the current volcanic eruption taking place. Exceptionally informative, accessible organized and presented, "Roadside Geology of Hawaii" is an especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Geology collections in general, and Hawaiian Geology supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular.

Editorial Note #1: Rick Hazlett (https://mountain-press.com/collections/hazlett-richard-w) received his PhD in geology from the University of Southern California and his master's degree from Dartmouth College. His graduate work included volcanic hazards evaluation around San Cristobal Volcano in Nicaragua and mapping of the Mopah Range volcanic field in California's Mojave Desert. Subsequent research included studies in Italy, the Aleutian Islands, and Hawai i. He taught for nearly thirty years at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he helped found the Environmental Analysis Program. He is coauthor of Volcanoes: A Global Perspective (Wiley-Blackwell Press) and is presently retired in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai i.

Editorial Note #2: Cheryl Gansecki (https://mountain-press.com/collections/gansecki-cheryl) teaches geology courses at the University of Hawai i-Hilo and intensive volcanology field camps in Hawai i for the Black Hills Field Station. She holds a BA in earth science and archaeology from Wesleyan University and a PhD in geology from Stanford University. She has researched volcanoes in Greece, Yellowstone, and Hawai i. She works with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to monitor K lauea Volcano, both in the field and in the lab studying the chemistry of erupted lava. She also filmed and produced many educational videos (and a card game) about volcanoes along with spouse and fellow volcanologist, Ken Hon.

Editorial Note #3: Steve Lundblad experienced firsthand the eruption of Mt. St. Helens because it covered his hometown with ash during his high school years. This encounter, coupled with his interest in the outdoors, fostered his interest in volcanoes and geology. Steve received his BA from Harvard University and earned a master's degree at the University of Wisconsin and a PhD at the University of North Carolina. He is currently a professor of Geology at University of Hawai i-Hilo and is the recipient of the 2018 UH Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award. Along with his students, Steve monitors ground deformation of the K lauea Volcano. (https://hilo.hawaii.edu/keaohou/2012/04/12/lundblad-mills-edxrf)


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Planting an Idea
Jerry Apps and Natasha Kassulke
Fulcrum Publishing
3970 Youngfield Street, Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033
www.fulcrumbooks.com
c/o Independent Publishers Group (distribution)
https://www.ipgbook.com
9781682753422, $19.95, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/Planting-Idea-Guidebook-Critical-Environmental/dp/1682753425

Synopsis: "Planting an Idea: A Guidebook to Critical and Creative Thinking About Environmental Problems" by Jerry Apps and Natasha Kassulke is specifically written to help the reader figure out what his or her position is on a particular environmental problem, and ultimately not only know what their position is but help provide evidence to back up what that position may be. And not just any evidence, but accurate, verifiable evidence from a reputable, reliable source. So, in a way, "Planting an Idea" is a instructive guidebook and resource for examining and thinking critically and creatively about the important environmental problems that face our planet today.

Critique: As thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring, "Planting an Idea: A Guidebook to Critical and Creative Thinking About Environmental Problems" impressively written, deftly organized and accessibly presented -- making it unreservedly recommended for anyone with an interest in environmental issues. Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a seven page bibliography (For Further Reading), twenty pages of Notes, and an eight page Index, "Planting an Idea" will prove an invaluable addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Environmental Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Jerry Apps (https://jerryapps.com) was born and raised on a central Wisconsin farm. He is a former county extension agent and professor emeritus for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Today he works as a rural historian, full-time writer, and creative writing instructor. Jerry is the author of more than forty fiction, nonfiction, and children's books with topics ranging from barns, one-room schools, cranberries, cucumbers, cheese factories, and the humor of mid-America to farming with horses and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Editorial Note #2: Natasha Kassulke is a former journalist for the Wisconsin State Journal and former editor of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Today, she directs communications for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and teaches journalism courses part-time at Madison College.

The Lost Continent
David Alexander Baker
Imagine Publishing
https://www.imaginebooks.net
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
https://www.charlesbridge.com
9781623545147, $27.99, HC, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Continent-Conservation-Restoration-Extinction/dp/1623545145

Synopsis: Deftly organized and presented into three parts (Discovering Corals, Wonder and Devastation, and Searching for Hope) and told through a series of gripping stories, with the publication of "The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction" documentarian David Alexander Baker takes his readers on a global adventure to the front lines of an unfolding ecological crisis.

More than half of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed in the past fifty years due to the climate crisis. "The Lost Continent" helps readers gain a deeper understanding of coral reefs and why they are vital to the health of our oceans (and the survival of our planet and of our species) and highlights the incredible conservation and restoration strides being made around the world.

With over 60 breathtaking photographs of coral reefs spanning from Colombia to Australia to the Florida Keys readers will be moved both by the majesty of nature and the urgency to preserve and restore these great cities of the seas.

Critique: "The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction" is a compelling call to action and is particularly and especially recommended as an essential and critically important addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Marine Environmental Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, environmental activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Lost Continent: Coral Reef Conservation and Restoration in the Age of Extinction" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: David Alexander Baker is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker. His feature documentaries include Saving Atlantis, American Wine Story, and Three Days of Glory. He's the author of the critically acclaimed novel Vintage, and his fiction and nonfiction have appeared in a range of publications. He leads a media production team at Oregon State University where he has covered research projects around the world.


The World History Shelf

The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy
Diana Darke
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500252666, $39.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ottomans-Cultural-Legacy-Diana-Darke/dp/0500252661

Synopsis: One hundred years after the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate on November 1, 1922, enough time has passed to reexamine the Ottomans and reassess their legacy. "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" by Diana Darke is an illustrated volume that deftly explores their unique achievements in architecture, cuisine, music, science, and medicine, as well as the political challenges they met.

The Ottoman Empire faced issues shared by modern European and Middle Eastern countries: how to maintain a balance between religious ideology and secular politics and how to promote fairness and equality among citizens in a multicultural society.

While many still equate the Ottomans with the decadence of Istanbul (extravagant architecture, harems, and hookahs) they are unaware that the secrets of Ottoman success lay in a disciplined bureaucracy and a standing army that both awed and seduced its opponents.

The Ottomans harnessed the talents of their diverse populations and quickly buttressed the crumbling edifice of Byzantine Christianity. Their dynamism and resilience helped fuse the cultures of Asia, Europe, and Africa, from the Himalayas to the Sahara, absorbing whatever impressed them, from Mongol armor to Persian tile work.

Alongside their essential rigor, they enjoyed the finer aspects of life: in music, cuisine, and art, unafraid, even as rugged fighters, to display their love of flowers and gardens, especially tulips and roses. Behind the fine robes, carpets, and ceramics on display today in their great architectural monuments, Istanbul's Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, lie centuries of migration, trade, and struggle.

An original and beautifully illustrated volume, "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" reveals a radically new picture of the Ottoman Empire.

Critique: Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" by Diana Darke is informative enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a four page Select Bibliography, five pages of Notes, a one page listing for Sources of Illustrations, and a three page Index. "The Ottomans: A Cultural Legacy" is an impressive and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Ottoman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Diana Darke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Darke) is the author of Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe, which was one of BBC History Magazine's best books of 2020. Her other books include The Merchant of Syria, My House in Damascus, and The Last Sanctuary in Aleppo.

The King in the North
Gordon Noble, author
Nicholas Evans, editor
Birlinn
c/o Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781780275512, $21.99, PB, 208pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-king-in-the-north-gordon-noble/1131287380?ean=9781 788851930

Synopsis: Some years ago a revolution took place in Early Medieval history in Scotland. The Pictish heartland of Fortriu, previously thought to be centred on Perthshire and the Tay found itself relocated through the forensic work of archaeologist Alex Woolf to the shores of the Moray Firth. The implications for our understanding of this period and for the formation of Scotland are unprecedented and still being worked through.

"The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" by Gordon Noble (and edited by Nicholas Evans) is the first account of this northern heartland of Pictavia for the non-specialist reader with an interest in the subject to take in the full implications of this and of the substantial recent archaeological work that has been undertaken in recent years.

Part of the The Northern Picts project at Aberdeen University, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" represents an exciting cross disciplinary approach to the study of this still too little understood yet formative period in Scotland's history.

Critique: Nicely illustrated throughout, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is comprised of nine informative essays, plates, figures, a list of Abbreviations, Acknowledgments, a seven page listing of Sites To Visit, a twenty-one page listing of References, and a six page Index. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is a singularly recommended addition to personal, professional, college and university library Scottish Archaeology & History collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and the general public that "The King in the North: The Pictish Realms of Fortriu and Ce" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).

Editorial Note #1: Gordon Noble (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/geosciences/people/profiles/g.noble) is Senior Lecturer in Archaeology and Honorary Curatorial Fellow to the University Museums at the University of Aberdeen. He has also been director of the Rhynie Environs Archaeological Project. He is author of a number of books, including Neolithic Scotland: Timber, Stone, Earth and Fire.

Editorial Note #2: Nicholas Evans is a Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen School of Geosciences (https://www.abdn.ac.uk/geosciences/people/profiles/nicholas.evans#about)

Military History of Late Rome 602-641
Ilkka Syvanne
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781399075671, $52.95, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Military-History-Late-Rome-602-641/dp/1399075675

Synopsis: With the publication of "Military History of Late Rome 602-641", Ilkka Syvanne provides a fresh analysis of the Roman Empire from the reign of Phocas (602-10) until the death of Heraclius (610-41).

This was an era of unprecedented upheavals which is usually considered to have resulted in the end of antiquity. The usurpations of Phocas and Heraclius led to the collapse of the Roman defenses; The Persians conquered Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt; The Avars and Slavs ravaged the Balkans; The Lombards held the upper hand in Italy; the Visigoths conquered Spain; But then happened one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune in the history of mankind. Heraclius began his holy war against the fire-worshippers. He launched a very effective counterattack against the Persians as a result of which the Romans not only defeated the Persians but actually even extended their domains at their expense, and not only this, because by 633 Heraclius was already restoring the Roman fortunes in the Balkans.

"Military History of Late Rome 602-641" revises many of the previously held views of how this took place and what actually happened. The Roman armies seemed invincible and then happened yet another great reversal of fortune -- the Muslims began their jihad to conquer the world.

Author Ilkka Syvanne provides a fresh analysis of all of these upheavals; explaining in detail why these reversals of fortune happened; what enabled the Romans to defeat the Persians; and why the Romans lost when they fought against the Muslims and, conversely, why the Muslims were so successful.

This was an era of epic campaigns and battles all of which are explained in unprecedented detail. The epic campaigns needed equally talented commanders who include, for example, Heraclius, Chosroes II Parwez, Shahrbaraz, Shahin, Abu Bakr, Umar, Abu Ubaydah, and Khalid b. al-Walid, the Sword of Allah.

Critique: Part of the seven volume 'Military History of Ancient Rome' series from Pen & Sword Books, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is informative enhanced with the inclusion of color plates, b/w illustrations, maps, three appendices, forty-two pages of Notes, a six page Bibliography, and an eight page Index. A fascinating, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking history, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is exceptionally well written, comprehensively detailed and documented. While a critically important addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Roman History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, "Military History of Late Rome 602-641" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.99).

Editorial Note: Currently residing in Kangasala, Finland, Ilkka Syv nne gained his doctorate in history in 2004 from the University of Tampere in his native Finland. Since then he has written extensively about ancient and medieval warfare and his publications include: 'The Age of Hippotoxotai, Art of War in Roman Military Revival and Disaster 491-636' (Tampere UP 2004), 'The Reign of Gallienus' (Pen & Sword, 2019), the multivolume 'Military History of Late Rome' published by Pen & Sword and the critically acclaimed Caracalla. He is the co-author with Professor Katarzyna Maksymiuk of the 'Military History of Third Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2018) and the 'Military History of Fifth Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2019). He was Vice Chairman of the Finnish Society for Byzantine Studies from 2007 until 2016. He has been an Affiliated Professor of the University of Haifa since 2016.


The Military Shelf

The Greatest Military Mission Stories Ever Told
Tom McCarthy
The Lyons Press
http://lyonspress.com
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
http://www.globepequot.com
9781493066131, $19.95, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Military-Mission-Stories-Ever/dp/1493066137

Synopsis: For many a battle, the orders to proceed were nothing more than an invitation to die, and usually in unpleasant ways. But the soldiers proceeded nonetheless, because a higher cause was at stake.

"The Greatest Military Mission Stories Ever Told" by award-winning editor and writer Tom McCarthy is stunning collection of war stories and a tribute to the courage, steely resolve, and discipline of men who accomplished daunting missions in the face of almost certain death. Nonetheless, they stepped into the breach and performed heroically. That was their duty and they did not question. They had a mission and they accepted.

"The Greatest Military Mission Stories Ever Told" is comprised of ten powerful stories of American soldiers and sailors that span more than 200 years of action with one common theme, summed up succinctly a participant who took control of Omaha Beach on D-Day, 1944.

From Marines taking Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi or defending Khe San, Navy pilots taking to the air to defend Pearl Harbor, or an outnumbered American regiment in Korea defeating the Chinese at the Battle of Chipyong-ni, courage was the common watchword, death the common consequence. Such is the lot of soldiers everywhere.

"The Greatest Military Mission Stories Ever Told" is also a not-so-gentle reminder of the price of freedom that was paid by American men for more than 200 years of struggle, from the Revolutionary War, the Spanish-American War, Civil War, World War II, Korea, and Viet Nam.

Critique: Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.63), and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated military history buffs, "The Greatest Military Mission Stories Ever Told" is an inherently engaging and core addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library American Military History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Bloody Verrieres
Arthur W. Gullaghsen
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781636240947, $37.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Verri%C3%A8res-Verri%C3%A8res-Bourguebus-Tilly-Camp agne/dp/1636240941

Synopsis: South of the Norman city of Caen, Verrieres Ridge was seen a key stepping-stone for the British Second Army if it was to break out of the Normandy bridgehead in late July 1944. Imposing in height and containing perfect terrain for armored operations, the Germans viewed it as the lynchpin to their defenses south of the city of Caen and east of the Orne river.

Following the failure of British Operation Goodwood on 18-20 July and the containment of the Canadian Operation Atlantic, further Allied attacks to seize the ridge would have to defeat arguably the strongest German armored formation in Normandy: The I. SS-Panzerkorps 'Leibstandarte.'

"Bloody Verrieres: The I. SS-Panzerkorps Defence of the Verrieres-Bourguebus Ridges: Volume II: The Defeat of Operation Spring and the Battles of Tilly-la-Campagne, 23 July - 5 August 1944" by Professor Arthur W. Gullachsen is the second volume of a two-volume military history, that chronicles in detail the premier Anglo-Canadian operation to capture Verrieres Ridge, Operation Spring on 25 July. Designed as an attack to seize the ridge and exploit south with armor, this battle saw the 2nd Canadian Corps attack savaged again by German armored reserves brought in specifically to defeat another Goodwood.

Not satisfied with this defensive victory, German armored forces would then seek to restore an earlier defensive line further north, attacking to destroy the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division. Largely unknown, these were some of the strongest and most successful German armored operations to take place in the Normandy campaign.

Critique: An invaluable and superbly researched contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library World War II European Theatre histories, "Bloody Verrieres: The I. SS-Panzerkorps Defence of the Verrieres-Bourguebus Ridges: Volume II: The Defeat of Operation Spring and the Battles of Tilly-la-Campagne, 23 July - 5 August 1944" is informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a six page Bibliography, eighteen pages of Endnotes, a Glossary, a listing of Rank Equivalents, and an eleven page Index. It should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Blood Verrieres" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.95).

Editorial Note: Arthur W. Gullachsen (https://www.rmc-cmr.ca/en/history/arthur-gullachsen) is an Associate Professor within the Royal Military College of Canada's History Department. A Canadian Army officer, he currently teaches military history. The author of An Army of Never-Ending strength: The Reinforcement of the Canadian Army 1944 - 1945, he is also a regular contributor to the Canadian Military History Journal and has authored chapters to the US Army University Press's Large Scale Combat Operations book series. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario History PhD program, he completed his degree in 2016. Captain Gullachsen currently resides in Kingston, Ontario.

C-130 Hercules: A History
Martin W. Bowman
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781399074858, $34.95, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/C-130-Hercules-History-Martin-Bowman/dp/1399074857

Synopsis: Designed in response to a 1951 American military requirement, the C-130 Hercules is the most successful military airlifter ever built. Since it first flew in prototype form on 23 August 1954, more than 2,100 have been produced in over eighty different versions. Across its variants, the Hercules serves more than sixty air forces, as well as many civilian cargo operators, in a multiplicity of roles, including air-to-air refueller, gunship, airborne command post, flying hospital and fire-fighter.

This rugged and easily maintained aircraft entered service in 1956 with the USAF Tactical Air Command. Ten years later the 'Charlie 130' was providing essential logistical support in Vietnam. This period in South-East Asia was the Hercules' finest hour. Paradrops, airlift and evacuation operations were completed around the clock, often at low level, usually under fire and nearly always in bad weather.

A generation later this 'Mr Dependable' was serving with equal distinction in the Gulf War in the role of airlifter, radio-countermeasures and 'psy-ops' platform, gunship and, once again, 'block-buster bomber'. The 'Herky Bird' or 'Fat Albert', as the C-130 is fondly known, has proved a key component in humanitarian relief operations ever since, in all parts of the world.

The incredible success story of the C-130 is far from over. With the publication of "C-130 Hercules: A History", military aviation historian Martin W. Bowman tells the full story of this remarkable aircraft at first-hand.

Critique: Profusely illustrated with b/w photography throughout, "C-130 Hercules: A History" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Military Aviation collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. Exception in organization and presentation, "C-130 Hercules: A History" is a comprehensive and detailed history that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99) for students, academia, military buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.

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

Red Army Tank Commander
Vasiliy Bryukhov
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
https://iremember.ru/en/memoirs/tankers/bryukhov-vasily-pavlovich
9781781590232, $34.95, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Red-Army-Tank-Commander-Eastern/dp/1781590230

Synopsis: What was it like to command a T-34 tank on the Eastern Front during the Second World War? How were tank operations organized and carried out, what was the actual experience of combat, and what were the qualities that made the difference between success and failure - and what were the chances of survival? "Red Army Tank Commander: At War in a T-34 on the Eastern Front" by Vasiliy Pavlovich Bryukhov's vivid, detailed and gripping memoir of his wartime service gives a fascinating and authentic insight into these questions.

In addition, "Red Army Tank Commander" provides an accurate, unsentimental record of the day-to-day life of a tank man whose unit fought in the forefront of the Red Army throughout the conflict across the western Soviet Union and into Eastern Europe. Vasiliy's first-hand eyewitness account is a memorable personal story, and it gives a powerful insight into the reality of tank warfare seventy years ago.

Vasiliy was born in 1924 in Osa. In April 1943, after graduation from tank school, he was given command of a T-34 tank, and he took part in the Battle of Kursk. He served continuously until the end of the war, fighting through Ukraine, Moldavia, Romania and Hungary to Austria. In one action his crew destroyed nine German panzers and in another he led the vanguard of his tank brigade through German lines to capture bridges and cut off the German retreat. In 1944, he was promoted to battalion commander. For his actions at the end of 1944 and 1945, he was nominated for the title Hero of the Soviet Union, but this nomination was not fulfilled until 1995 when he was given the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation for the courage and gallantry he displayed in battle during the Great Patriotic War.

Critique: Ably translated into English by Vladimir Krupnik, "Red Army Tank Commander: At War in a T-34 on the Eastern Front" by Vasiliy Pavlovich Bryukhov is a simply fascinating and impressively informative account which will be a welcome and much appreciated contribution to the growing library of World War II military histories and biographies. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library World War II Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Red Army Tank Commander: At War in a T-34 on the Eastern Front" is also available in a paperback edition (9781399077330, $26.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Bombs and Barbed Wire
Ronald Cormier
Goose Lane Editions
www.gooselane.com
9781773102788, $19.95, PB, 222pp

https://www.amazon.com/Bombs-Barbed-Wire-Prisoners-1939-1945/dp/1773102788

Synopsis: Little has been written about the Acadians who served in Canada's armed forces during the Second World War. In fact, the prevailing notion suggested that Acadians refused to support the war effort.

"Bombs and Barbed Wire: Stories of Acadian Airmen and Prisoners of War, 1939-1945" by Ronald Cormier provides an alternative point of view, revealing the commitment and bravery displayed by the approximately 24,000 Acadians who voluntarily joined the war effort. Battling both language barriers and a culture of exclusion, they overcame frustrations and prejudice to fight for the freedom of the country they loved.

Based on extensive, in-depth interviews Cormier conducted in 1990 with eleven surviving Acadian veterans, "Bombs & Barbed Wire" brings to life the experience of Acadian soldiers for English-language readers for the first time.

Critique: "Bombs and Barbed Wire: Stories of Acadian Airmen and Prisoners of War, 1939-1945" is volume 29 of the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series. A unique and exceptional contribution to the growing library of World War II histories, "Bombs and Barbed Wire" will have a very special appeal to dedicated military history buffs and is unreservedly recommended to personal, professional, community, and academic library World War II collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Ronald Cormier is a passionate Second World War historian. He has written several French-language books on the war and has served as the historian of the Dieppe Veterans' Association since 2003. He previously worked for Radio-Canada and History Television, where he wrote and directed documentaries on the Second World War.


The Biography Shelf

The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes
Michael W. Nagle
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814349939, $26.99, HC, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Iron-King-Great-Lakes/dp/0814349935

Synopsis: Eber Brock Ward (December 25, 1811 - January 2, 1875) began his career as a cabin boy on his uncle's sailing vessels, but when he died in 1875, he was the wealthiest man in Michigan.

His business activities were vast and innovative. Ward was engaged in the steamboat, railroad, lumber, mining, and iron and steel industries. In 1864, his facility near Detroit became the first in the nation to produce steel using the more efficient Bessemer method. Michael W. Nagle demonstrates how much of Ward's success was due to his ability to vertically integrate his business operations, which were undertaken decades before other more famous moguls, such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.

And yet, despite his countless successes, Ward's life was filled with ruthless competition, labor conflict, familial dispute, and scandal. With the publication of "The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, 1811-1875" Professor Michael W. Nagle makes extensive use of Ward's correspondence, business records, contemporary newspaper accounts, and other archival material to craft a balanced profile of this fascinating figure whose actions influenced the history and culture of the Great Lakes and beyond.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a twelve-page Bibliography, fifty-eight pages of Notes, and an eight page Index, "The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, 1811-1875" by Professor Michael W. Nagel is a model biography that reads with all the narrative flair of a novel. Impressively researched, written, organized and presented, "The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, 1811-1875" is especially recommended for community and academic library 19th Century American Biography collections. A work meticulous and detailed scholarship, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Forgotten Iron King of the Great Lakes: Eber Brock Ward, 1811-1875" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.57).

Editorial Note: Michael W. Nagle (https://www.facebook.com/MWNagleHistory) is Professor of History and Political Science at West Shore Community College in Scottville, Michigan. He is also the author of "Justus S. Stearns: Michigan Pine King and Kentucky Coal Baron, 1845-1933" (Wayne State University Press, 2015), which won the Kentucky History Award.

I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood
Sally Stevens
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639886319, $27.99, HC, 390pp

https://www.amazon.com/I-Sang-That-Memoir-Hollywood/dp/1639886311

Synopsis: "I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood" by Sally Stevens takes her readers on a personal journey behind the scenes into the world of music-makers who created the film scores, television music, sound recordings, commercials and concert evenings over the last sixty years.

"I Sang That" is the story of a long singing career that began in 1960 with concert tours (Ray Conniff, Nat King Cole, and later, solo work in concert with Burt Bacharach) and went on for another thirty years of vocals and main titles for The Simpsons, vocals for Family Guy -- vocals on hundreds of film & television scores & sound recordings, plus twenty-two years as Choral Director for the Oscars.

"I Sang That" is also the personal story of growing up in a "his, hers and theirs" family in the forties and fifties, and how a shy little girl became a second-generation singer in the ever-evolving music business of Hollywood.

Critique: A delightfully informative and inherently fascinating memoir that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in the movie and television music business, "I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood" is an impressively written and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Hollywood History, Contemporary American Biography and Composer/Musican Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood" is also available in a paperback edition (9781639885510, $18.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Sally Stevens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Stevens) is an American actress, singer and a vocal contractor. She has sung on hundreds of The Simpsons episodes, and sings the main title, which has been in use since the inception of the show. She also sings the main title for Family Guy and has worked for Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the show, as vocal contractor and singer since the inception of the series on Fox in 1999. She has sung, and been vocal contractor for hundreds of films, some of which include The Last Airbender, The Abyss, Contact, Amistad, Power of One, Behind Enemy Lines, Beyond Borders, Forrest Gump, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive
Dick Nunis
Disney Editions
c/o Disney Book Group
https://books.disney.com
9781368078047, $25.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Walts-Apprentice-Keeping-Disney-Dream/dp/1368078044

Synopsis: "Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive" is the personal memoir of Disney Legend Dick Nunis. It is a warm personal reminiscence of learning directly from Walt Disney for 12 years, followed by more than 30 years devoted to championing his vision and standards as the Disney empire grew.

"Walt's Apprentice" covers many Disney's highlights, including the 1960 Winter Olympics, 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, and the development and opening of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. Unlike other Disney histories and biographies, "Walt's Apprentice" is told from the perspective of operations rather than Imagineering.

It touches on decisions that defined the guest experience and Disney's reputation for quality in areas ranging from capacity and people-moving, training, delivering a consistent "good show", food service, and more.

This first-person narrative is presented as a series of wide-ranging vignettes. Some vignettes focus on personal, character-shaping events, such as the injury that ended his collegiate football career. Other stories touch on national events, such as Nikita Khrushchev's derailed visit to Disneyland, the decision to close the park following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan's assistance in expediting the visa process for cast members staffing the Epcot World Showcase.

Few people have enjoyed a life so immersed in Disney magic. These personal stories from Dick Nunis share that magic through the memories of one of the original doers and dreamers.

Critique: An absolute 'must' for the legions of Disney fans wanting a true insider's perspective and account of the evolving Disney accomplishments over the past 5 decades, "Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and academic library American Biography/Memoir collections in general, and Disney theme park and corporate histories in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Walt's Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Dick Nunis (https://twitter.com/DickNunis) was a cast member when the gates of Disneyland opened in 1955. For the next eleven years, he learned professional and personal lessons from his mentor Walt Disney, America's greatest showman. This personal journey takes us through his remarkable forty-four-year career with The Walt Disney Company, beginning as an hourly cast member, and rising to Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, where he nurtured and applied with unwavering dedication and tireless energy the lessons he learned alongside Walt Disney. Thanks to his contributions, Dick Nunis is a Disney Legend, and Walt's Disney's dream of creating "The Happiest Places on Earth" continues to delight each new generation of guests around the world.

Witness to Dignity
Russell J. Levenson, Jr.
Center Street
www.centerstreet.com
c/o Hachette Book Group
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781546003298, $29.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Witness-Dignity-Faith-George-Barbara/dp/1546003290

Synopsis: George and Barbara Bush belonged to and were active members of a Houston church for more than 50 years. The rector of that church, Reverend Russell Jones Levenson, Jr., believes he was invited into private moments with these public individuals so he could serve as a witness: a witness to observe, and a witness to tell.

With the publication of "Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush" and featuring never-before shared correspondence, experiences, and personal stories, Levenson offers new insight into the Bushes' wit and wisdom; their commitment to family and friends; their tireless desire to bless the lives of others; and their steadfast loyalty to their church, their faith, and their God. Before embarking on writing this book on faith, Levenson sought and received the blessing of all the Bush children, including the 43rd president.

Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired as Levenson ponders how and why he was put in this unique pastoral position, asking questions like, "What on earth was I doing reading the sports section of the paper with the forty-first president, his cabinet member Brent Scowcroft, and a Chinese official on a breezy morning at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine?"

Levenson writes with emotion about being with President Bush and Barbara Bush as they each took their last breaths on this earth. He then describes in full detail the surreal experience of planning a state funeral and giving a eulogy with other presidents in the front row.

"Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush" is for readers who yearn for our public officials to serve with faith and integrity like the Bushes. But above all else, the story of George and Barbara Bush reveals just how powerful it is when world leaders are humbled before the power that rests above all powers.

Critique: A carefully crafted, informative, and ultimately inspiring biography, "Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library American Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781668627587, $44.59, CD).

Editorial Note: The Reverend Russell J. Levenson, Jr. lives in Houston, Texas, where he has served as Rector of St. Martin's Episcopal Church since 2007. With nearly 10,000 members, St. Martin's is the largest Episcopal Church in North America. Levenson co-officiated and offered a homily at the state funeral for President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C. and in Houston. He also officiated and preached at the funeral for First Lady Barbara Bush in Houston. Levenson has been ordained for 30 years and is the author of several devotional books.

Snapshots of My Father, John Silber
Rachel Silber Devlin
Peter E. Randall Publisher
www.perpublisher.com
9781942155508, $29.95, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Snapshots-My-Father-John-Silber/dp/1942155506

Synopsis: With the publication of "Snapshots of My Father, John Silber" Rachel Silber Devlin provides an extensively illustrated memoir of her father, John Silber, a man who entirely transformed Boston University as its president and was a controversial, yet intellectually formidable, candidate for governor of Massachusetts.

In this personal and informative memoir, Rachel Silber Devlin looks at her family and her father's trajectory from Texas to Boston and what life became like there; she examines his personality and temperament; and she describes his later years, the hardships he weathered and his continued accomplishments out of the public eye.

Devlin chose to tell her father's story because John Silber, the man, is so widely misunderstood. People who knew him either loved him or hated him. None were indifferent. This memoir is in no way a full biography of Silber's life. That would require several volumes. As the title implies, each chapter is like a snapshot taken from a daughter's perspective, peering into the past she saw.

Silber championed freedom of speech, believing all sides should be heard, especially on college campuses. He was also the father of seven children, and the author often meets people who want to hear what he was like as a father and they like to tell her their own stories about him. Snapshots of My Father is her clear-eyed vision of this authentic man of principle who had a drive to achieve great things.

Critique: Impressively illustrated with inserts of historical black-and-white photographs, "Snapshots of My Father, John Silber" by Rachel Silber Devlin is a deftly crafted and inherently interesting memoir showcasing a daughter's account of her distinguished father. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Snapshots of My Father, John Silber" is a welcome and recommended addition to community and academic library American Biography/Memoir collections.

Editorial Note: Rachel Silber Devlin (https://prbythebook.com/experts/rachel-silber-devlin) is one of John Silber's six daughters. As a wife, a mother, and a homemaker, she always had a strong sense of who she was apart from any labels. Devlin says that she sometimes feels like she and her dad grew up together because she knew him so well from a time when he was young and still learning how to make his way in the world. She divides her time between her homes in Texas and Massachusetts, the states where her children and grandchildren live.

The Sign Catcher
Otilio Quintero
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Freeway, Bldg 19, Rm 100, Houston, TX 77204-2004
www.artepublicopress.com
9781558859395, $19.95, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sign-Catcher-Otilio-Quintero/dp/155885939X

Synopsis: As a young boy, Otilio Quintero lived with his family in abject poverty in a labor camp in California's San Joaquin Valley. Later, they moved to a housing project that exposed him to the madness of violence. Despite his difficult childhood, he managed to go to college. But more important to his development was a trip to Mexico in which he was taken in and taught by the Mayan Chol people.

With the publication of his memoir, "The Sign Catcher ", Quintero writes that he found his calling at an indigenous ceremony during The Longest Walk, a 3,000-mile march across the country (from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco to Washington, DC) in 1978 by Native Americans to protest federal attacks on their way of life. The marchers carried the scared pipe to the nation's capital and ultimately legislative bills detrimental to indigenous people were defeated.

His life then took a dramatic turn when he found himself in a maximum-security prison facing a possible 20-year sentence! Through a miracle of faith and hope, Quintero escaped prison and began teaching farmworkers at a community college. He would go on to become a leader in the movement against gang violence, joining forces with organizations such as Barrios Unidos and Homies Unidos.

He also worked alongside the likes of Cesar Chavez, Harry Belafonte and Tom Hayden, and his efforts to save lives took him to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Venezuela. "The Sign Catcher"s is a compelling read that exemplifies the need to make change within before attempting to change the world around us -- and Quintero contends the challenges of the current times require our awakening now!

Critique: An inherently interesting, informative, and well written memoir that will have a very special appeal for personal, community, and academic library Hispanic Biography collections, it should be noted for students, academia, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Sign Catcher" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Otilio Quintero (https://mesarefuge.org/people/otilio-quintero) is a founding member of the Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY) and a long-time youth violence prevention advocate. He worked for more than 24 years in prisons and detention centers in California and currently lives in Lebec, California.

Does My Voice Matter?
Cynthia James
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781647422431, $17.95, PB, 208pp

https://www.amazon.com/Does-Voice-Matter-Self-Discovery-Authenticity/dp/1647422434

Synopsis: We live in a critical and oftentimes violent world. People are afraid to talk about what they feel, think, or believe. They withhold energy for fear of being ridiculed, punished, or excluded. They hide their deepest dreams and desires away and cover them up with doubt, insecurity, old experiences, and fears. Cynthia James know this -- because that was her personal experience.

Covering seven decades of living, traveling, and growing, "Does My Voice Matter? A Journey of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, and Empowerment" follows her journey of self-discovery and authenticity as she gradually recognizes that she has a voice -- and learns how to use it. She uses her own life experiences as a backdrop for her exploration of how the voice is used as a tool of engagement; how a singular or collective voice can enhance empowerment, transparency, and accountability; and, finally, how expression can develop new ideas, shift cultures, political views, transform organizations, create laws, and improve lives.

Written for anyone who wants to discover the power within that makes them special, "Does My Voice Matter?" has a vital message: Uniqueness is your own glorious imprint on this planet, and it is calling you to come out. It doesn't matter if your awakening is large or small, it doesn't matter what your age, race, religion, or history is -- anyone can begin right where they are, right now.

Critique: A deftly crafted memoir with a mission, "Does My Voice Matter? A Journey of Self-Discovery, Authenticity, and Empowerment" by Cynthia James is an extraordinary, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring read. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary African-American and American Women Biography/Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Does My Voice Matter?" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).

Editorial Note: Cynthia James (https://cynthiajames.net) is a transformational specialist and the author of "What Will Set You Free", "Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence", and "I Choose Me". She is a sought-after radio guest and the host of the podcast Women Awakening. She has completed two master's degree programs, one in consciousness studies and the other in spiritual psychology. An ordained licensed minister, she is a frequent presenter and workshop facilitator at spiritual centers around the world who also leads pilgrimages to sacred sites. She is also a featured presenter with the Shift Network and Humanities Team summits, two of the largest and most successful providers of virtual courses, online workshops, and tele-seminar events taught by experts in the areas of spirituality and personal growth.

My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me
Terry Karger, author
Post Hill Press
www.posthillpress.com
9781637583265, $28.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/My-Maril-Marilyn-Monroe-Hollywood/dp/1637583265

Synopsis: Terry Karger is a child of Hollywood: the granddaughter of Metro Pictures cofounder Maxwell Karger, and the daughter of Fred Karger, a vocal coach at Columbia Pictures. Terry's memoir, "My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me" revolves around her father Fred and a trio of silver-screen legends: her stepmother Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, and, primarily, Marilyn Monroe.

Marilyn, recently evolved from Norma Jeane Mortenson, was an unknown starlet when, as a twenty-one-year-old, she first met six-year-old Terry (and began dating her dad) in the spring of 1948. The orphaned, emotionally fragile actress initially babysat Fred's daughter while turning to his family for support. Although the Marilyn-Fred romance lasted just over a year, her close friendship with the Kargers, including Fred, continued for fourteen years until the end of Marilyn's life.

While Fred was Marilyn's first true love, his mom, Nana, was the mother she never really had. "Maril," as they fondly called her, was allowed to relax and be herself. It also enabled Marilyn to appease her own unfulfilled maternal instincts, acting as a cross between a sweet, playful big sister and generous, caring surrogate mom to Terry.

This exceptional memoir also reveals privately taken, previously unpublished photos of the iconic superstar with her adopted family and friends.

Critique: Candid, informative, fascinating, "My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me" is a simply riveting read from first page to last and a 'must' for the legions of Marilyn Monroe fans. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community and academic library American Biography & Memoir collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "My Maril: Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Hollywood, and Me" is also available from Post Hill Press in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Terry Karger (https://posthillpress.com/authors/terry-karger) graduated from the University of Southern California in 1963, one year after Marilyn Monroe's death. She taught at Crescent Heights Elementary and would later teach at Westwood Elementary where her students had parents such as Micky Dolenz, Millie Perkins, Ronny Cox, and Richard Pryor.

You're Not From Around Here, Are You?
Martin Lehfeldt
Belle Isle Books
http://www.belleislebooks.com
c/o Brandylane Publishers
5 South First Street, Richmond, VA 23219
www.brandylanepublishers.com
9781953021960, $16.95, PB, 178pp

https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Not-Around-Here-Are/dp/1953021964

Synopsis: More than five decades ago, Northeast-native Martin Lehfeldt was so captivated by the South that he made it his home. Reflecting on his experiences in "You're Not From Around Here, Are You? Notes from a Naturalized Southerner" Lehfeldt has assembled a uniquely diverse collection of impressions that embrace an overview of the region's historically black colleges and universities, the unequaled pleasure of sipping a Bloody Mary on a rainy Saturday morning in New Orleans, the joys of 1960s-era first-class air travel, the discovery of a coon dog cemetery, a revelatory visit to Key West, throwing a good party, brushes with celebrity, and plenty more.

Open Lehfeldt's witty collection of sketches at virtually any page and you will find a story that lyrically captures a moment, a feeling, and possibly a piece of your heart.

Critique: A combination memoir and cultural observation, "You're Not From Around Here, Are You? Notes from a Naturalized Southerner" is a fascinating read that is articulate, engaging, thought-provoking, and fun. Highly recommended, "You're Not From Around Here, Are You? Notes from a Naturalized Southerner" is an ideal addition to personal reading lists and community library Social Activist, Educator, and African-American Biography/Memoir collections.

Editorial Note: Martin Lehfeldt (http://www.belleislebooks.com/martinlehfeldt.html) earned a Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York-but then self-defrocked in the mid-1960s. The opportunity to direct a program that recruited and placed outstanding young faculty members at historically Black colleges throughout the South gave him a unique perspective on that region, and lured him to Atlanta. What was intended to be a brief sojourn blossomed into a career as a college development officer, a fund-raising consultant, and President of the Southeastern Council of Foundations. During five decades as a naturalized Southerner traveling widely in the region, he has become known as a speaker and author whose books include The Sacred Call, Notes from a Non-Profitable Life, and (with Jamil Zainaldin) The Liberating Promise of Philanthropy.


The General Fiction Shelf

The Dixie Apocalypse
Richard Fossey
Brown Books Publishing Group
16250 Knoll Trail, Suite 205, Dallas, Texas 75248
https://www.brownbooks.com
9781612545745, $15.99, PB, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dixie-Apocalypse-Richard-Fossey/dp/1612545742

Synopsis: "The Dixie Apocalypse" by Richard Fossey is a near-future, post-apocalyptic novel. It's the story of retired lawyer-turned-professor Willoughby Burns who finds himself trying to survive against hunger and deadly threats in southern Louisiana.

"The Dixie Apocalypse" takes place in an America ravaged by natural disasters, lack of petroleum, plagues, and terrorism. What is left of the United States is controlled by martial law. Life itself becomes primitive and favors those who can grow their own food or handle firearms.

Will befriends US General Merski stationed in Baton Rouge, LA, and founds a farming community of fifty farms on the eastern bank of the Mississippi river due south of downtown Baton Rouge. General Merski enlists Will as a civilian commissary officer, in charge of carrying out errands for his troops without arousing suspicion.

"The Dixie Apocalypse" follows Will on his travels through Louisiana and Texas, as he seeks to establish a sense of order and peace in a dystopian America.

Critique: Extrapolating from current social, cultural, political, and climate change projections, "The Dixie Apocalypse" will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in dystopian fiction. Exceptionally well written by an author with a genuine flair for originality and an effective, narrative driven storytelling style, "The Dixie Apocalypse" is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

Editorial Note: Richard Fossey grew up in southwestern Oklahoma and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. He practiced civil law in Anchorage, Alaska before attending Harvard University, where he obtained a doctorate in education administration and social policy. He taught education law and policy for many years at universities in Louisiana and Texas, where he held endowed professorships. He edited Catholic Southwest, a journal of Catholic history in the American Southwest, and was named a Fellow of the Texas Catholic Historical Society in 2019.

Code Name Sapphire
Pam Jenoff
Park Row Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780778334293, $28.99, HC, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Sapphire-World-Novel/dp/0778334295

Synopsis: Its 1942 and Hannah Martel has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiance was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily, who lives with her family in Brussels. Fearful for her life, Hannah is desperate to get out of occupied Europe. But with no safe way to leave, she must return to the dangerous underground work she thought she had left behind.

Seeking help, Hannah joins the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network led by a mysterious woman named Micheline and her enigmatic brother Matteo. But when a grave mistake causes Lily's family to be arrested and slated for deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah finds herself torn between her loyalties. How much is Hannah willing to sacrifice to save the people she loves?

Critique: Of special note is that "Code Name Sapphire" by novelist Pam Jenoff is a work of fiction that was inspired by incredible true stories of courage and sacrifice in resisting the Nazis in Europe during World War II. Deftly crafted with memorable characters and a fully engaging storyline, "Code Name Sapphire" is a compelling and original novel about love, family and the unshakable resilience of women in even the hardest of times. While unreservedly recommended for community library fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of those with an interest in World War II stories that "Code Name Sapphire" is also available in a paperback edition (9780778387091, $17.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212223324, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Pam Jenoff (https://pamjenoff.com) is the author of several books of historical fiction, including the New York Times bestsellers The Lost Girls of Paris and The Orphan's Tale. Her novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and also as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She holds a bachelor's degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a master's degree in history from Cambridge, and she received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania.


The Historical Fiction Shelf

A Waltz with Traitors
A. L. Sowards
Covenant Communications
http://www.covenant-lds.com
9781524421120, $17.99, PB, 328pp

https://www.amazon.com/Waltz-Traitors-L-Sowards/dp/152442112X

Synopsis: Czech soldier Filip Sedlak never wanted to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. So at the first opportunity, he defected to the Russians. Now he and others like him have formed the Czechoslovak Legion. Their goal: leave the chaos of Russia, sail to France, and help the Allies defeat the Central Powers, thereby toppling a hated empire and winning an independent Czechoslovakia.

With the fall of the tsar, Nadia Linskaya's life is in ruins. Her family is dead, her lands are confiscated, and her aristocratic world is gone forever. But Nadia is determined to elude the Bolshevik agent who destroyed her family and find a way to survive in this changed world.

When Nadia takes refuge with the Czechoslovak Legion, the last thing she expects is an ally. But when Filip proposes a sham marriage to ensure her safe passage across Siberia, she takes it. Neither Filip nor Nadia expect real love, not when the legion has to take over the longest railroad in the world -- and then hold it against Bolshevik counterattacks, partisan sabotage, allied intrigue, and a set of brutal Siberian winters.

At risk is the future of Czechoslovakia, the fate of Russia -- and their hearts.

Critique: A deftly written, original, and inherently entertaining novel that fully showcases author A. L. Sowards' impressive and narrative driven storytelling talents, "A Waltz With Traitors" is a compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Waltz With Traitors" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: A. L. Sowards (www.ALSowards.com) is the author of multiple historical fiction novels, with settings spanning the globe from the fourteenth to twentieth centuries. Her stories have earned a Whitney Award, several Whitney Finalists positions, and a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal.

Blackout Book Club
Amy Lynn Green
Bethany House Publishers
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton Road, Ada, MI 49301
www.bethanyhouse.com
9780764240836, $29.99, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Blackout-Book-Club-Lynn-Green/dp/0764240838

Synopsis: An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to WWII puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian and book club organizer in small-town Maine. The women of her book club band together as the war comes dangerously close but their friendships are tested by secrets, and they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Critique: Amy Lynn Green is the kind of novelist who has a total mastery of narrative based storytelling that will keep the reader's full attention from first page to last. Her forth (and latest) novel, "The Blackout Book Club" will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in World War II and Christian oriented historical fiction. With deftly crafted and memorable characters, a plot with many an unexpected turn and twist, "The Blackout Book Club" is unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Blackout Book Club" is also available in a paperback edition (9780764239564, $17.99), and in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.09).

Editorial Note: Amy Lynn Green (www.amygreenbooks.com) has always loved history and reading, and she enjoys speaking with book clubs, writing groups, and libraries all around the country. Her debut novel, "Things We Didn't Say", was nominated for a 2021 Minnesota Book Award, won two Carol Awards, and received a starred review from both Booklist and Library Journal.


The Literary Fiction Shelf

Ghost House
Sara Connell
Muse Literary
https://museliterary.com
9781958714034, $24.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-House-Sara-Connell/dp/1958714038

Ghost House blends occult fiction with literary twists and turns, overlaying its short stories with a sense of psychological depth and feminist inspection. This makes for a delightful collection of diverse perspectives on ghosts and haunted lives. From childhood, Sara Connell has been enthralled by ghosts and the occult. Her early passion for haunts almost got her banned from the sleepover party circuit, as her embellishments and storytelling prowess captured vivid horror scenes that chilled her peers. Thankfully, she never 'grew out' of this fascination for the spiritual realm and its haunting possibilities. Thus, Ghost House represents not just a lifelong pursuit, but a literary collection honed with the trappings of creative horror embellishments and tempered by adult perspectives on traumas that haunt and heal at the same time.

Not every story in this collection features the conventional ghost. One of Connell's talents is to tackle the traditional image of the specter and its haunting capabilities to expand the notion of otherworldly encounters.

The collection opens with the title story 'Ghost House' and the delightful prospect of a new home where the husband buyer sees opportunity and his wife senses adversity. Few buyers are purposely looking for a ghost home. This couple's choice represents not just a bad decision, but good intentions gone awry. Mostly because the ghost does not like Caitlin.

Each story harbors and evolves a different definition of and sense of a ghostly encounter. Each provides readers with a spooky experience laced with a thought-provoking psychologist twist that turns the staid story or anticipated ending upside down. The result is a powerful literary work that offers the delightful juxtaposition of ghosts and unexpected insights and reflections. Libraries that choose Ghost House for its promise of occult entertainment will find the collection evolves beyond the usual supernatural focus. It offers many satisfying points of discussion that book clubs will want to consider, whether they be focused on literature, supernatural fiction, or women's writings, experiences, and issues.

Skins: A Novel
Adrian C. Louis
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu
9781647790226, $22.00, PB, 284pp

https://www.amazon.com/Skins-Novel-Adrian-C-Louis/dp/1647790220

Synopsis: It's the early 1990s and Rudy Yellow Shirt and his brother, Mogie, are living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home of the legendary Oglala Sioux warrior Crazy Horse. Both Vietnam veterans, the men struggle with daily life on the rez. Rudy, a criminal investigator with the Pine Ridge Public Safety Department, must frequently arrest his neighbors and friends, including his brother, who has become a rez wino.

But when Rudy falls and hits his head on a rock while pursuing a suspected murderer, Iktome the trickster enters his brain. Iktome restores Rudy's youthful sexual vigor (long-lost to years of taking high blood pressure pills) and ignites his desire for political revenge via an alter ego, the "Avenging Warrior."

As the Avenging Warrior, Rudy takes direct action to punish local criminals. In a violent act, he torches the local liquor store, nearly burning Mogie alive while he is hiding on the store's roof, plotting to steal booze. Although the brothers reconcile before Mogie dies, he leaves the Avenging Warrior with one final mission: go to Mount Rushmore and blow the nose off George Washington's face.

Critique: By the end of the twentieth century, Adrian C. Louis (1946-2018) had become one of the most powerful voices in the canon of Native American literature. "Skins: A Novel", his best-known work, is now available by the University of Nevada Press with a new foreword by David Pichaske. Louis's critically acclaimed novel was made into a movie in 2002, directed by Chris Eyre. Also now available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.55), "Skins" is an acclaimed and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Native American Literary Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Adrian C. Louis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_C._Louis) was a half-breed member of the Lovelock Paiute Tribe. In addition to Skins, he published over a dozen collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, and posthumously, Ghost Dancers: A Novel. Louis is remembered for his aggressive refusal to romanticize life on or off the reservation.

The Woods: Stories
Janice Obuchowski
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609388751, $18.50, PB, 212pp

https://www.amazon.com/Woods-Stories-Short-Fiction-Award/dp/1609388755

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Woods", short story writer Janice Obuchowski explores the lives of people in a small Vermont college town and its surrounding areas -- a place at the edge of the bucolic, where the land begins to shift into something untamed.

In the tradition of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge and Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, these stories follow people who carry private griefs but search for contentment. As they try to make sense of their worlds, grappling with problems (worried about their careers, their marriages, their children, their ambitions) they also sift through the happiness they have, and often find deep solace in the landscape.

What do we find in the woods? An uplifting of spirit or a quieting of sorrow. A sense of being haunted by the past. Sometimes rougher, more violent things: abandoned quarries and feral cats, black bears, brothers caught up in an escalating war, a ghost who wishes to pass on her despair, monsters who boom with hollow ecstatic laughter. But also songbirds: the hermit thrush and the winter wren. Rushing rivers glossy with froth. A nineteenth-century inn that's somehow gotten by all these years. And far within, a vegetal twilight and constant dusk that feels outside of time.

This remarkable short story compendium illuminates the ways we all carry within ourselves aspects stark, beautiful, wild, and unknowable.

Critique: Eloquent, erudite, inherently engaging, thought-provoking and fun, "The Woods" is an impressive collection of eleven original short stories by a master of this difficult literary format. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), this University of Iowa Press edition of "The Woods" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Janice Obuchowski (https://uipress.uiowa.edu/people/janice-obuchowski" is the author of a number of stories that have appeared in Gettysburg Review, Crazyhorse, Alaska Quarterly Review, Story, Conjunctions online, and LitHub. Previously a fiction editor at New England Review, she currently resides in Middlebury, Vermont.


The Romantic Fiction Shelf

A Gift of a Duke
Fenella J. Miller
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444849790, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 322pp

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/A%20Gift%20of%20a%20Duke

Synopsis: Miss Mirabelle Thompson, at almost one and twenty, is astonished to discover she is an heiress having believed herself to be a penniless orphan. Immediately she rents a house in Cavendish Square and commences her new life. She has no interest in finding a partner and if she did wish to marry it would be someone who loved her for herself and not her money.

Rordon, the Duke of Clonmel, is equally astonished to discover that he has inherited his title from his brother -- and that the estate is forfeit and all he has are debts. He only one way out of this impasse and that is to seek a rich bride in London. Even an impoverished Irish duke will be considered a desirable husband for the daughter of a wealthy cit.

Mirabelle and Rordon attend the same Christmas house party. This has been arranged by a Mr Bradley with the intention of finding his daughter an aristocratic husband - preferably a duke. Those attending the event are either rich young ladies in search of a title or poor aristocrats in search of a rich wife. Can Mirabelle and Rordon overcome the obstacles between them and find happiness together?

Critique: A fun read from beginning to end, "A Gift of a Duke" by novelist Fenella J. Miller will have a very special appeal to fans of Regency Romance. This large print paperback edition from the Linford Romance Library series is certain to be a welcome and popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Fenella J Miller (https://fenellajmiller.co.uk) was born in the Isle of Man. Her father was a Yorkshire man and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker, hotelier, chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full time writer who has over fifty Regency romantic adventures published -- plus four Jane Austen variations, four Victorian sagas and fourteen WW2 family sagas.

The Gentleman Gypsy
Sarah Swatridge
Linford Romance Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444849881, $23.00, PB, Large Print

https://www.ulverscroft.com/store/us/search/The%20Gentleman%20Gypsy

Synopsis: 1900. Ruth is in need of an income. Meanwhile, handsome but eccentric Newham needs someone to care for his animals while he roams the country in his horse-drawn caravan. Ruth, too, is unconventional, and can often be seen cycling around the village helping those less fortunate than herself. The two of them set off to explore together -- and their friendship may even turn into something more!

Critique: A gentle, heartfelt, deftly crafted novel of unexpected romance by an impressively talented and delightfully original author, this large print paperback edition of "The Gentleman Gypsy" by Sarah Swatridge is an ideal selection choice for community library Romance Fiction collections and the personal reading lists for all dedicated romance fans.

A Wicked Game: The Ruthless Rivals (romance)
Kate Bateman
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250801586, $8.99, PB, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Game-Ruthless-Rivals/dp/1250801583

Synopsis: Shipwrecked and imprisoned thanks to an incorrect map, Captain Morgan Davies has returned to London to exact sweet revenge on the cartographer responsible for his suffering. He's also vowed to claim the winner's prize (three kisses) in the bet he made with his long-time nemesis, the prickly, smart-mouthed Harriet Montgomery. His incarceration has clarified his feelings for her, but convincing the infuriating woman he wants to marry her is going to be his greatest challenge yet. When Harriet is revealed to be the very mapmaker he seeks, Morgan decides to combine revenge and seduction into one delightful package!

Harriet has always wanted witty scoundrel Morgan, and now he's back; as handsome and as taunting as ever. She has enough on her plate dealing with her father's failing eyesight and a rival mapmaker copying her work to play wicked games with a dastardly Davies -- however tempting he might be. But when a threat from Morgan's past puts them both in danger, Harry discovers that she and Morgan might not be enemies at all!

Critique: A masterpiece of Regency Romance by one of the best writers working in that genre today, "A Wicked Game" by Kate Bateman is a fun read from first page to last. While a highly recommended addition to community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted by the growing legions of Kate Bateman fans that "A Wicked Game" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Kate Bateman, (https://www.kcbateman.com), is the author of award-winning historical romances, including her RITA nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, the Bow Street Bachelors series (This Earl of Mine, To Catch an Earl, and The Princess and the Rogue), along with the novels in the Secrets & Spies series (To Steal a Heart, A Raven's Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart). When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England -- and can be followed on Twitter.

Coming Home
Shelley Shepard Gray
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593438084, $8.99, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Woodland-Firefighters-Romance/dp/0593438086

Synopsis: In Woodland Park, a small town nestled in the foothills of Pikes Peak, Anderson Kelly and Chelsea Davis were once the high school "it" couple -- the star quarterback and the valedictorian. They broke up when Anderson joined the army and one poor decision at a fraternity party changed Chelsea's life. Now, she works long shifts in a senior center to support her nine-year-old son, Jack.

After multiple tours in Afghanistan, Anderson has changed, too, physically scarred but mentally strong, and he decides to move back to Woodland Park. Anderson and Chelsea steer clear of each other to avoid reopening old wounds, until they are forced to reconnect through the senior center. They soon discover that the love they once shared never completely vanished. But it will take a fire, a dangerous collision, and the love of one little boy to help Anderson and Chelsea see that the future they've always yearned for is in sight.

Critique: With a very special appeal to readers with an interest in clean, wholesome, contemporary romance stories set in a small town American town, "Coming Home" by Shelley Shepard Gray will prove to be a fun and enjoyable read from first page to last. While highly recommended for community library Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of Shelley Shepard Gray fans that "Coming Home" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Shelley Shepard Gray (https://shelleyshepardgray.com) has published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray or on Twitter @ShelleySGray


The Western Fiction Shelf

Money Train
Michael Stewart
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444848700, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 228pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/money-train-michael-stewart/1130032702?ean=9781444848 700

Synopsis: Danny Spence plans to stay only one night in Gila Creek. But he's mistaken for a snake named Zeke Tolan, and from then on it's just one damn thing after another. He falls foul of the evil Ma Cole, then gets on the wrong side of Hernando Ortiz and his sadistic bodyguard Bracho. Somehow, this is all wrapped up with a train full of money that's rolling south of the border - right into the middle of the Mexican revolution.

Critique: A classic guns blazing western adventure of the first order, this large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library collection, "Money Train" by author Michael Stewart, is a riveting read from beginning to end and certain to be a popular addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Michael Stewart (August 1, 1924 - September 20, 1987) was a writer, actor, artist, and filmmaker. Several of his plays have been professionally staged, including his adaptation of Dracula, at the Leicester Square Theatre, London.

Wanted Dead Or Alive
Ralph Hayes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444848878, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 246pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wanted-ralph-hayes/1130032682?ean=9781444848878

Synopsis: A year after being saved from a kidnapping, Dulcie Provost is waiting for the return of her rescuer, bounty hunter Certainty Sumner. But first Sumner has to carry out one more mission - tracking down sadistic outlaw the Lakota Kid. Unbeknownst to Sumner, he himself is also the quarry of an equally ruthless bounty hunter, Luther Bastian. The father of a gang member Sumner killed while rescuing Provost wants vengeance and has duped Bastian into believing that Sumner has turned outlaw. Can Sumner survive being hunted down by a bounty hunter as skilled and determined as himself?

Critique: With many a riveting plot twist and turn, "Wanted Dead Or Alive" by Ralph Hayes is an extraordinary and entertaining read that will have special appeal for the dedicated western action/adventure buff. This large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library collections is an especially recommended addition to community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Ralph Hayes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Hayes_(author)) began authoring stories and full-length novels in 1969. His earliest published work was a short story titled "The Gumdrop Affair", which was featured in a 1967 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. He is the author of eight Black Horse Westerns.

Red Diamond Rustlers
Will DuRey
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444848724, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 288pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-diamond-rustlers-will-durey/1130032651?ean=9781444 848724

Synopsis: Law was a rare commodity on the vast cattle ranges and a man had to fight if he meant to hold on to what he owned. A rancher dispensed his owned justice when he caught those who stole his livestock, but Titus Sawyer lost more than cattle when rustlers raided his Red Diamond spread. Men were killed, too, slaughtered in a dreadful ambush, so, when he summoned his nephew Frank to track down the killers his desire to punish the culprits was deeper than justice; it was revenge.

Critique: With all the compelling drama of a true western vengeance quest, "Red Diamond Rustlers" by Will DuRey (who is a stickler for accuracy of detail in its historical western context) is a terrific and compulsive page-turner of a read from cover to cover. This large print paperback edition of "Red Diamond Ruslters" from the Linford Western Library collections will be a prized addition to community library Western Fiction collections -- and a 'must' for all dedicated western novel fans.

Editorial Note: Will DuRey (https://www.fantasticfiction.com/d/will-durey) is a life-long student of the history and legends of the Old West. He has been writing western fiction for more than a decade

Bad Blood At Harlow's Bend
Scott Connor
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444848472, $23.00, PB, Large Print, 210pp

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-blood-at-harlows-bend-scott-connor/1130032663?ean= 9781444848472

Synopsis: When Lorimer Hall returns to the town of Clear Creek after ten years away everything has changed. His father is dead, his friend Budd Ewing has been killed and nobody wants to know him. He decides to move on, but with it looking as if Budd's killer, Glenn Harlow, might get lynched, he is persuaded to accept the task of escorting him to jail. On the journey Glenn claims he's an innocent man, but Lorimer makes a mistake that leads to his prisoner being taken from him and lynched. Lorimer resolves to find out who really killed Budd, but as uncovering the facts could mean he allowed an innocent man to die, will the truth be enough to redeem him?

Critique: Deftly combining the best elements of a 'whodunnit' mystery with an action/adventure western, this large print paperback edition of "Bad Blood at Harlow's Bend" by veteran western author Scott Connor from the Linford Western Library collections is a fun and fascinating read from first page to last -- and certain to be a popular addition to both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Ian Parnham is the author of 37 western novels published as I. J. Parnham, Scott Connor, and Ed Law.

In Defense of Delia
Pat Stoltey
Five Star Publishing
c/o Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
https://www.gale.com/five-star
9781432894719, $25.95, HC, 269pp

https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Delia-Sangamon-Novel/dp/1432894714

Synopsis: 1838: Four years after the events in Wishing Caswell Dead. Delia Pritchard gets a chilly reception when she returns to Sangamon, Illinois after a thirteen-year absence. She's riding a Palouse stallion, is dressed like a man, has a bullet in her shoulder, and leads a horse with a seven-year-old black boy astride.

Some think Delia left at the age of sixteen because she killed her parents and set fire to their cabin with the bodies inside. It is also rumored that Delia runs with outlaws and that she shot a lawman.

When Doc Hemmer insists Delia and the boy remain in Sangamon while she recuperates from surgery, he doesn't realize a vicious gang known as the Biedler Brothers is on her trail. Preacher John Claymore, also unaware of the danger, wants to meet Doc's patient with the beautiful eyes.

Farmer Annie Gray kills one of the Biedlers and triggers a violent response from the gang. Delia knows the brothers will be relentless. She brought this disaster down on the town and its residents. Can she save them all?

Critique: As a novelist, Pat Stoltey is a master of the mystery thriller genre, but with the publication of "In Defense of Delia" she proves an equal mastery of the western action/adventure genre as well. Memorable characters, a riveting plot, everything a dedicated western fan wants, "In Defense of Delia" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Pat Stoltey (https://patriciastolteybooks.com) is the author of two Sylvia and Willie amateur sleuth mysteries, The Prairie Grass Murders and The Desert Hedge Murders; a thriller titled Dead Wrong; and the first Sangamon novel of frontier fiction, Wishing Caswell Dead. Dead Wrong and Wishing Caswell Dead were finalists for the Colorado Book Award.

Trini! Come!
W. Michael Farmer
Five Star Publishing
c/o Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
https://www.gale.com/five-star
9781432895785, $25.95, HC, 343pp

https://www.amazon.com/Trini-Come-Geronimos-Captivity-Trinidad/dp/1432895788

Synopsis: Although a work of fiction, "Trini! Come!: Geronimo's Captivity of Trinidad Verdin" is based on an historical event. Trinidad Verd in's story reveals the courage, suffering, and lessons a twelve-year-old girl learns about Apaches and herself during her captivity with the Naiche-Geronimo band hiding, fighting, and raiding in northern Sonora.

After breaking their surrender agreement with General George Crook in late March 1886, forty Apaches (eighteen men, fourteen women, and six children) led by Geronimo established a camp at the top of the Azul Mountains in western Sonora and began raiding north. They crossed the United States border with Mexico east of Nogales, Arizona, stole horses from the village of Calabasas.

On the morning of April 27, 1886, they attacked the Artisan and Petra Peck Ranch about eight miles northwest of Nogales. They killed pregnant Petra and her two-year-old son, Andy, and were about to kill her niece, Trinidad, when Geronimo decided to spare the child and took her captive. Later that day Geronimo also let Artisan Peck live after he was taken while branding cattle.

The Apaches carry Trinidad east deep into the Pinito Mountains where she witnesses an ambush of black soldiers before Geronimo leads the band back west to the Cibuta Mountains where they are attacked by Mexican militiamen who are mostly Tohono O'odham Indians. The Tohono O'odham militia suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Apaches who show them Trinidad, challenging them to come take her. Instead the militia run away.

The Apaches return east and establish a camp on the R io Santa Cruz and in the Coc ospera Mountains while they raid for livestock and fight US Cavalry. Trinidad becomes friends with a boy, Garditha, near her age who teaches her to use a sling. She helps him learn Spanish; he helps her learn Apache. While practicing with their slings they are attacked by three vaqueros who want the boy's scalp for Apache scalp reward money, but Trini and Garditha drive the attackers off. Geronimo later leads the vaqueros into a trap using Trini for bait.

With the US Cavalry hot on their trail, the Apaches split into three bands, the smallest being Geronimo's, which includes Trini, and they plan to reunite about a hundred miles southeast in the mountains at the confluence of the Yaqui and Aros Rivers. While going up the R io Dolores, Geronimo's band is attacked by Mexican militia. Geronimo tries to escape with Trinidad behind him but his horse stumbles and they are both thrown off. Trinidad uses the fall as an opportunity to escape to the Mexican militia led by Don Patricio Valenzuela.

After giving her story to the US Cavalry led by Captain Lawton and Mexican authorities, her Uncle Artisan returns her back to Nogales.

Critique: A simply fascinating story by historical novelist W. Michael Farmer, "Trini! Come!: Geronimo's Captivity of Trinidad Verdin" is a particularly recommended and unique addition to the personal reading lists of dedicated western action/adventure fans and certain to be an enduringly popular pick for community library Western Fiction collections.

Editorial Note: W. Michael Farmer (https://wmichaelfarmer.com) is the author of Hombrecito's War, which won a Western Writers of America Silver Spur Award for Best First Novel in 2006 and was a New Mexico Book Award Finalist for Historical Fiction in 2007. The sequel, Hombrecito's Search, was released in July 2007, and is based on the remarkable fact that Sierra Madre Apaches still raided across the United States border as late as 1930. He is also the author of Conspiracy: The Trial of Oliver Lee and James Gililland, Tiger Tiger Burning Bright: The Betrayals of Pancho Villa, as well as short stories for two anthologies, and won awards for essays at the Christopher Newport University Writers' Conference, and published an essay on Pat Garrett in Roundup magazine.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

City of Fortune
Victoria Thompson
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
www.penguin.com
9780593440575, $27.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/City-Fortune-Counterfeit-Lady-Novel/dp/0593440579

Synopsis: Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene's father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene's beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck -- but that the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence!

Critique: Especially recommended to the attention of dedicated historical mystery and cozy mystery fans, "City of Fortune" by impressively talented novelist Victoria Thompson is an original and fun read from first page to last. While highly recommended for personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections and reading lists, it should be noted that "City of Fortune" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Victoria Thompson (http://www.victoriathompson.com) is the Edgar and Agatha award-nominated author of the Gaslight Mysteries including Murder on Pleasant Avenue, and the Counterfeit Lady Mysteries including City of Scoundrels.

Death on a Winter Stroll
Francine Mathews
Soho Crime
c/o Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.sohopress.com
9781641292740, $27.95, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Winter-Stroll-Folger-Nantucket-Mystery/dp/1641292741

Synopsis: Nantucket Police Chief Meredith Folger is acutely conscious of the stress COVID-19 has placed on the community she loves. Although the island has proved a refuge for many during the pandemic, the cost to Nantucket has been high. Merry hopes that the Christmas Stroll, one of Nantucket's favorite traditions, in which Main Street is transformed into a winter wonderland, will lift the island's spirits. But the arrival of a large-scale TV production, and the Secretary of State and her family, complicates matters significantly.

The TV shoot is plagued with problems from within, as a shady, power-hungry producer clashes with strong-willed actors. Across Nantucket, the Secretary's troubled stepson keeps shaking off his security detail to visit a dilapidated house near conservation land, where an intriguing recluse guards secrets of her own. With all parties overly conscious of spending too much time in the public eye and secrets swirling around both camps, it is difficult to parse what behavior is suspicious or not -- until the bodies turn up.

Now, it's up to Merry and Detective Howie Seitz to find a connection between two seemingly unconnected murders and catch the killer. But when everyone has a motive, and half of the suspects are politicians and actors, how can Merry and Howie tell fact from fiction?

Critique: This latest installment in critically acclaimed author Francine Mathews's Merry Folger series, "Death On A Winter Stroll" is an immersive escape to festive Nantucket, as well as a poignant exploration of grief as a result of parental absence. A thoroughly entertaining mystery that plays fair with the reader while keeping them guessing, "Death On A Winter Stroll" is an especially an unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery fans that "Death On A Winter Stroll" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Francine Mathews (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francine_Mathews) attended Princeton and Stanford Universities, where she studied history, before going on to work as an intelligence analyst at the CIA. She wrote her first book in 1992 and left the Agency a year later. Since then, she has written thirty books, including six previous novels in the Merry Folger series (Death in the Off-Season, Death in Rough Water, Death in a Mood Indigo, Death in a Cold Hard Light, Death on Nantucket, and Death on Tuckernuck) as well as the nationally bestselling Being a Jane Austen mystery series, which she writes under the pen name Stephanie Barron.

Devil's Delight: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
M.C. Beaton, author
R. W. Green, author
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250816160, $26.99, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Delight-Agatha-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/1250816165

Synopsis: Agatha Raisin and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong's long-awaited wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified (and nude!) young man comes running down the country lane towards them.

The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha's hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil, with old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene.

But when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer, she finds herself in deadly peril, as the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion!

Critique: Another inherently fascinating and impressively original 'whodunnit' cozy mystery from the mind, imagination, and storytelling talents of the late novelist M. C. Beaton (completed with the posthumous assistance of co-author R. W. Green), "Devil's Delight" is an extraordinary and fun read replete with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, turns, and surprises. Highly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of the growing legions of M. C. Beaton fans that "Devil's Delight" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250816184, $8.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781665037099, $29.95, CD).

Editorial Note #1: M. C. Beaton (1936-2019) won international acclaim for her New York Times bestselling Agatha Raisin novels and Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth titles have sold more than 21 million copies worldwide and have both been adapted into BBC television series. She has been hailed as the "Queen of Crime" by the Toronto Globe and Mail, and her books have been translated into seventeen languages.

Editorial Note #2: R. W. Green, a long-time friend of M. C. Beaton, has written numerous works of fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Surrey with his family and a black Labrador called Flynn.

The Game is a Footnote
Vicki Delany
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639101450, $26.99, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Footnote-Sherlock-Holmes-Bookshop-Mystery/dp/1639101454

Synopsis: Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gemma doesn't believe in ghosts, but she agrees to 'eliminate the impossible'. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they're forced to consider an all too non-metaphysical threat.

Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit. Despite Gemma's determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.

Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?

Critique: A fun and finely crafted 'whodunnit' cosy mystery, novelist Vicki Delany's "The Game Is A Footnote" is the latest addition to her 'A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery' series. This original, clever, and inherently fascinating story is highly recommended for readers attracted to Amateur Female Sleuths. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape, 9781666628142, $22.99), "The Game Is A Footnote" will prove to be an enduringly popular contribution to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Vicki Delany (http://vickidelany.com) is the author of more than thirty novels/novellas in several of mystery's subgenres. Born in Manitoba and raised in Ontario, she is the former president of the Crime Writers of Canada, a member of Capital Crime Writers, and a member of Sisters in Crime.

Snuffed Out
Valona Jones
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639102051, $26.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Snuffed-Magic-Candle-Shop-Mystery/dp/1639102051

Synopsis: 30-year-old twin sisters Tabby and Sage Winslow own The Book and Candle Shop in Savannah. Sage is hot-headed and impulsive while Tabby is calm and collected, making them the perfect partnership. When one of their customers is found murdered, from a blow to the head, that partnership is put to the test.

Blithe McAdam had been seen in a heated argument with shop clerk Gerard, which immediately makes him suspect number one. The twins are convinced of Gerard's innocence and start digging into Blithe's past. But no one is cooperating. The neighbor who found the body isn't talking, medical examiner Quig won't give any details about the autopsy, and nasty rumors begin surfacing about the drowning of Blithe's father years earlier -- evidence that could seal Gerard's fate.

Tabby and Sage dig desperately for the truth. But it's not only their friend who's in peril. With the clock ticking, the twins find themselves in the grip of an unseen and deadly energy that has seeped into their midst -- and in the sights of a ruthless killer!

Critique: A master of the cosy mystery genre, novelist and storyteller Valona Jones' "Snuffed Out" is a part of the author's simply outstanding 'A Magic Candle Shop' mystery series. Certain to appeal to fans of culinary/craft/hobby 'whodunnit' mysteries, "Snuffed Out" is a mystery lover's delight from cover to cover. While highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Snuffed Out" is also available in a paperback edition (9781639104499, $19.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666628166, $22.99, CD)

Editorial Note: Valona Jones (https://www.valonajones.com) writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she's drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction.

Hidden in the Pines
Victoria Houston
Crooked Lane Books
2 Park Avenue, 10th floor, New York, NY 10016
www.crookedlanebooks.com
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781639101474, $29.99, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Pines-Lew-Ferris-Mystery/dp/1639101470

Synopsis: It's Lew Ferris's first day as the newly-elected Sheriff of McBride County, and already things are heating up in the Wisconsin Northwoods. The tragic drowning of a teenage girl draws an eerie parallel to the unsolved murder of another teen thirty years earlier, but one of Lew's new subordinates (Alan Stern, Chief of the Deer Haven Police Department) has ruled it an accidental death by drowning.

Neither Lew nor the girl's family accept the ruling, but Lew is up against a wall of sexism and subterfuge. Not only is Stern belligerent and dismissive of Lew, but he takes the word of the local coroner, Ed Pecore, who Lew believes is completely unqualified for the job.

Adding to Lew's headaches, an unwelcome interference in the case by a multimillionaire resident reopens a cold case that stretches back decades -- and could lead to an anguished relative taking justice into his own hands to avenge a crime the cops never solved.

And when Lew's dear friend, Dr. Paul "Doc" Osborne, finds himself witness to a sophisticated money laundering scheme that could threaten the lives of his daughter and her close friend, Lew finally feels like she's reached the breaking point.

The fish may be biting in McBride County -- but now, Lew is on the line to uncover the long-buried secret that could ensnare a killer once and for all.

Critique: A consummate 'whodunnit' novel of impressive originality and with more plot twists and turns than a Coney Island rollercoaster, "Hidden In The Pines" by novelist Victoria Houston will have a special appeal for readers with an interest in police Procedurals and small town fiction. While highly recommended as a community library Mystery/Suspense collection pick, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated suspense thriller fans that "Hidden In The Pines" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781666628111, $22.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Victoria Houston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Houston) is the author of the Loon Lake Mystery Series set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing. An award-winning author specializing in family issues, she has also written six non-fiction books.

Flight Risk
Cherie Priest
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
9781982168926, $27.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Risk-Novel-Booking-Agents/dp/1982168927

Synopsis: When psychic travel agent Leda Foley is approached by a man searching for his sister, she quickly agrees to help. The missing woman disappeared with a vintage orange car, a fat sack of her employer's cash, and a grudge against her philandering husband -- a man who never even reported her missing.

Meanwhile, Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt has temporarily misplaced his dog. While he's passing out bright pink "Lost" flyers at the Mount Rainier visitor's center, the wayward pooch appears -- with a human leg in his mouth.

Thanks to DNA matching, Grady learns that the leg has something to do with Leda's new client, and soon the two cases are tangled.

Critique: Of special appeal to fans of women sleuths, magical realism, police procedurals, and 'whodunnit' mysteries, "Flight Risk" by Cherie Priest will prove a welcome addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Flight Risk" is also available in a paperback edition (9781982168933, $17.99), a digital book format (Kindle, $10.00), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781797148427, $39.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Cherie Priest (https://www.cheriepriest.com) is the author of "Boneshaker" which was nominated for a Nebula and Hugo Award, won the Locus Award for best science-fiction novel, and was named Steampunk Book of the Year by steampunk.com. She is also the author of "Dreadnought", Boneshaker's sequel, and of the near-contemporary fantasy Fathom. She debuted to great acclaim with a trilogy of Southern gothic ghost stories featuring heroine Eden Moore which included "Four and Twenty Blackbirds", "Wings to the Kingdom", and "Not Flesh nor Feathers".

Punishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidential
Yulia Yakovleva, author
Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, translator
Pushkin Vertigo
c/o Pushkin Press
www.pushkinpress.com
9781782276791, $16.95, PB, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Punishment-Hunter-Leningrad-Confidential/dp/1782276793

Synopsis: 1930s Leningrad. Stalin is tightening his grip on the Soviet Union, and a mood of fear cloaks the city. Detective Vasily Zaitsev is tasked with investigating a series of bizarre and seemingly motiveless homicides. As the curious deaths continue, precious Old Master paintings start to disappear from the Hermitage collection. Could the crimes be connected?

When Zaitsev sets about his investigations, he meets with obstruction at every turn. Soon even he comes under suspicion from the Soviet secret police. The resolute detective must battle an increasingly dangerous political situation in his dogged quest to find the murderer -- and stay alive.

Critique: A deftly crafted suspense thriller novel of the first order, "Punishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidential" by gifted author Yulia Vakovleva is ably translated into English for an American readership by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp. The result is a simply riveting and original novel that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for dedicated international mystery buffs that "Punishment of a Hunter: A Leningrad Confidential" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note #1: Yulia Yakovleva (https://pushkinpress.com/our-authors/yulia-yakovleva) is a writer, theatre and ballet critic, and playwright. She is particularly known for two types of historical fiction set in Stalin-era Leningrad: the award-winning children's chapter book series The Leningrad Tales that confront Soviet history, and the thrilling new series of detective novels about Leningrad police investigator Vasily Zaitsev. Yakovleva received her MA from School of Creative Arts of the University of Hertfordshire. She lives in Oslo, Norway, with her husband and son.

Editorial Note #2: Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (https://ruthahmedzaikemp.com) translates literature from Arabic, German and Russian into English. Her work has been short listed for many prestigious prizes including the Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Lost Witch
Paige Crutcher
Griffin
c/o St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250797391, $16.99, PB, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Witch-Paige-Crutcher/dp/125079739X

Synopsis: 1922. The town of Evermore off the coast of Ireland is under the protection of a Goddess. She has bestowed power upon village healer Brigid Heron to ensure the heart of magic within the Lough of Briongloid (the lake of dreams) remains untouched. For the witches of Knight want to absorb its powerful energies and release the Damned from the Otherworld. Brigid has devoted her whole life to being Evermore's guardian, immersing herself in witchcraft, and sacrificing her own dreams. Until Luc Knightly, a trickster god with his own claim on the lough, offers Brigid her heart's desire in exchange for betraying her Goddess's trust.

2022. A century later, Evermore is under siege. The witches of Knight wield chaos magic, opening the rift between the island and the Otherworld wider every day. Beings born from folklore nightmares prey on the villagers, consuming their very humanity. Ophelia Gallagher, Brigid's descendent, and her fellow witch Finola McEntire do their best to keep the monsters and mayhem at bay.

Brigid awakens in this world with no memory of how she traveled into the future, and why Evermore has been cursed. To seal the lough and stop the witches of Knight, she must work with Ophelia and Finola to help her remember the events of a hundred years ago. But the knowledge she seeks lies with Luc Knightly himself (mysterious, handsome, and powerful) and the one who once upon a time granted Brigid her dearest wish -- a daughter. But to save Evermore, Brigid may have to lose her daughter -- again and forever!

Critique: An impressively crafted and original novel of fantasy, "The Lost Witch" by Paige Crutcher showcases the author's genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that provides the reader with compulsive page turner of a story from beginning to end. While very highly recommended for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Lost Witch" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).

Editorial Note: Paige Crutcher (https://paigecrutcher.com) is a former Southern Correspondent for Publishers Weekly, an artist and yogi, and co-owner of the online marketing company Hatchery.

The Tower of Nerek: A Descent
David Guymer
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081743, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Tower-Nerek-Descent-Legends-Novel/dp/1839081740

Synopsis: Nerekhall: a city of paranoia and fear, where the harsh and unbending rule of law is enforced by unfeeling automata called the Ironbound. Drawn to the city by recurring nightmares, Andira Runehand and her companion, Trenloe the Strong, soon find themselves caught up in a sinister plot and unable to escape. Both have different ideas about what it means to be a hero, and both must learn to trust the other. For in secret, an uneasy alliance concocts a dark plan in the city's infamous tower to open a portal and summon a demonic power, the likes of which has never set foot in Terrinoth.

Critique: The newest title in author David Guymer's simply outstanding 'Legends of the Dark' Sword & Sorcery series, "The Tower of Nerek: A Descent" has everything S&S fans have come to expect in a fantasy action/adventure novel -- originality, memorable characters, and a deftly crafted plot replete with many an unexpected twist, turn and trauma. Based on the game world of 'Descent: Legends of the Dark', "The Tower of Nerek: A Sescent" is an especially recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted that "The Tower of Nerek: A Descent" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: David Guymer (https://aconytebooks.com/?authors=david-guymer) is a scientist-turned science fiction and fantasy author from the north of England. His work includes many novels in the Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, and Marvel universes, notably Dark Avengers: The Patriot List, the bestselling audio production Realmslayer, and Hamilcar: Champion of the Gods, which has since been adapted into an animated TV series. He has also contributed to fantastical worlds in video games, tabletop RPGs, and board games.

Lair of the Crystal Fang
S. A. Sidor
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081880, $16.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Lair-Crystal-Fang-Arkham-Horror/dp/1839081880

Synopsis: In the swirling sewers beneath Arkham, excavators uncover a crystalline formation that hints at dark events from the city's past. As the discovery makes headlines, so too does a series of bizarre murders. With no leads, the Arkham police are always one step behind.

Acting on a hunch, down-on-his luck former journalist Andy Van Nortwick reunites with adventurer Jake Williams and struggling filmmaker Maude Brion to unearth the truth. The trio know of the supernatural horrors that lurk beyond this world, and the reality haunts them. But time is running out and between them they must face their nightmares before the city of Arkham is lost to blood and chaos.

Critique: "Lair of the Crystal Fang" is part of fantasy horror novelist S. A. Sidor's 'Arkham Horror' series and one of those read-with-the-lights-on thrillers and an homage to the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction magazines. A fun read for all dedicated horror fantasy fans, "Lair of the Crystal Fang" is highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Horry Fantasy and Historical Mystery collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lair of the Crystal Fange" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: S. A. Sidor (https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/S-A-Sidor/170519260) is the author of four dark crime thrillers and more recently two splendid supernatural-pulp adventures, Fury From the Tomb and The Beast of Nightfall Lodge.

Edge of Catastrophe
Jane Killick
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
c/o Simon & Schuster (distribution)
https://www.simonandschuster.com
9781839081613, $16.95, PB, 368pp

https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Catastrophe-Terraforming-Mars-Novel/dp/1839081619

Synopsis: In the 26th century, Mars is thriving: the huge crater made by the crashed moon of Deimos is now a vast domed city, buzzing with industry and a burgeoning Martian-born and immigrant workforce.

Ecoline scientist Mel Erdan is at the forefront of vital research to feed and maintain Mars' increasing population. But when her viral enhancer transforms lush green plants into a blackened swathe of dead crops, it triggers a wave of violent unrest across Deimos City, and Mel is accused of deliberately sabotaging Mars' fragile viability.

With resources rapidly dwindling, conspiracy theories flying, and criminal gangs rioting, Mel must prove her innocence, uncover the truth, and revitalise Mars' harvest before it's too late -- for everyone!

Critique: Another riveting science fiction thriller from author Jane Killick, "Edge of Catastrophe" is part of her 'Terraforming Mars' series. Original, riveting, and a terrific read from first page to last, "Edge of Catastrophe" is especially recommended to the attention of all dedicated science fiction fans. While a popular addition to community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Edge of Catastrophe" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Jane Killick (https://aconytebooks.com/?authors=jane-killick) is an author and journalist who juggles working for BBC Radio with a lifelong passion for science fiction. Alongside several series of original SF novels, she has also written numerous behind the scenes books, including Stasis Leaked Complete, a guide to TV show Red Dwarf, and a series on Babylon 5.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

Two new arrivals from Baen Books provide sci-fi readers with seasoned writers and compelling new productions.

https://www.amazon.com/Penrics-Labors-Lois-McMaster-Bujold/dp/1982192240

Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric's Labors (9781982192242, $25.00 provides three Penric and Desdemona adventures under one cover: Masquerade in Lodi, The Orphans of Raspay, and The Physicians of Vilnoc. Each revolve around sorcerers, demons, and gods which test Penric and Desdemona in new ways, from caring for orphans seeking a vanished father to dealing with a plague that may only be solved by ancient medicine. Bujold's trademark brand of humor and action permeate these tales, which represent space opera at its best.

https://www.amazon.com/1637-Transylvanian-Decision/dp/1982192232

Eric Flint again expands his 1637 series by working with Robert E. Waters on The Transylvanian Decision (9781982192235, $25.00). Alternate history enthusiasts who have enjoyed the many 1637 sagas of the past will find the same attention to drama and battles in this tale, which centers on the social, religious, and political battles involving the United States of Europe and the future of Eastern Europe as events in Transylvania heat up. The fast-paced action and story line provide complex, inviting scenarios that alternate history readers will appreciate.

Both are recommended for sci-fi readers looking for established authors whose popularity is evident in patron interest.


The Music Shelf

Diary of a Rock and Roll Tour Manager
Willie Perkins
Mercer University Press
1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207-0001
www.mupress.org
9780881468465, $25.00, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Rock-Roll-Tour-Manager/dp/0881468460

Synopsis: With the publication of "Diary of a Rock and Roll Tour Manager: 2,190 Days and Nights With the South's Premier Rock Band", Willie Perkins chronicles the triumphs and tragedies of the day-to-day touring of The Allman Brothers Band from 1970 to 1976, detailing their rise from obscurity to the absolute pinnacle of rock super stardom.

As their tour manager, Perkins shepherded the band from their lowly beginnings in smoke-filled bars to six figure payoffs before hundreds of thousands of fans in outdoor venues. He was there for the tragic, untimely accidental deaths of both Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, the ugliness of drug and alcohol abuse, and the love for the music and true brother and sisterhood among band, crew, management, and family members.

In a fully candid memoir, Perkins writes in detail about the efforts involved in the touring and recording career of The Allman Brothers Band in their early and most productive years. He also introduces the reader to some of the colorful promoters who produced the concerts and the interesting historical venues where they performed -- many of which no longer exist.

Critique: A fascinating and informative read, "Diary of a Rock and Roll Tour Manager: 2,190 Days and Nights With the South's Premier Rock Band" is a 'must' for the legions of Allman Brothers Band fans. Informatively illustrated throughout, "Diary of a Rock and Roll Tour Manager: 2,190 Days and Nights With the South's Premier Rock Band" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Popular Culture & Rock Music History/Biography collections.

Roadhouse Blues
Bob Batchelor
Hamilcar Publications
https://hamilcarpubs.com
9781949590548, $18.99, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Roadhouse-Blues-Morrison-Doors-Sixties/dp/1949590542

Synopsis: Shrouded in mystery and the swirling psychedelic sounds of the Sixties, the Doors have captivated listeners across seven decades. Jim Morrison (haunted, beautiful, and ultimately doomed) transformed from rock god to American icon. With each successive generation of fans, the Doors become more popular and transcendent. Yet the band's full significance is buried beneath layers of mythology and folklore.

With the publication of "Roadhouse Blues: Morrison, The Doors, and the Death Days of the Sixties", author Bob Batchelor presents an epic tale of one of rock's (and America's) most significant periods, as the Age of Aquarius gave way to a new age of mayhem, presidential misdeeds, and murder. In "Roadhouse Blues", Batchelor deftly combines cultural history, musical and lyrical analysis, along with a broad stroke of pop-culture mythos to give fresh perspective on a pivotal time.

Candid, authoritative, and utterly absorbing, "Roadhouse Blues" is a biography of a man, a band, and an era that set the tone for the contemporary world. Beyond the mythology, the hype, and the mystique around Morrison's untimely death, "Roadhouse Blues" takes its readers on a roller-coaster ride, examining the impact the band had on America as the nation veered from decadence to debauchery.

Critique: Fascinating, informative, extraordinary, and essential reading for the legions of Jim Morrison fans, "Roadhouse Blues: Morrison, The Doors, and the Death Days of the Sixties" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Rock Music/Rock Band collections in general, and Jim Morrison/The Doors reading lists in particular. It should be noted that "Roadhouse Blues" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Bob Batchelor (https://www.facebook.com/bobbatchelorauthor) is a cultural historian and the author of "Stan Lee: A Life", "The Bourbon King", and a dozen other books exploring history and biography. He has written about many iconic musicians and eras, including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Grunge, and jazz. Batchelor's books have been translated into a dozen languages, while his work has appeared or been featured in the New York Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, Los Angeles Times, Today.com, The Guardian, and Time.

Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983
Hamish Duncan
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781641608015, $30.00, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Out-L-Chili-Peppers/dp/1641608013

Synopsis: A rock music band, The Red Hot Chili Peppers were going to be a one-time act for a friend's album release party. Forty years later the funk rock band is arguably one of the best known and the longest running in the United States.

Everything that happened in 1983 set the course for the rest of the band's career. The scrappy band quickly rose to scene-wide fame, playing all over Los Angeles and gaining fans and media attention wherever they performed. Before the year was out, they had played approximately thirty shows, put together an early, beloved repertoire, recorded a blistering demo that secured them a recording contract with EMI/Enigma, and lost two of their founding members to a rival band.

"Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983" by Hamish Duncan is an attempt at finding out exactly what happened during that first year and exploring what it is that makes the Red Hot Chili Peppers so compelling and fresh, even as they continue on their musical journey today.

Critique: As the founding member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hamish Duncan provides an authentic 'insider' perspective as he deftly lays out the band's history with the publication of "Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983". Informative enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of an Appendix (The 1983 Venues), four pages of Notes, and a an eleven page Index, "Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983" is a 'must read' for the legions of Red Hot Chili Pepper fans. While unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library American Pop Culture and Rock Music History collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Hamish Duncan (https://www.toppermost.co.uk/red-hot-chili-peppers) is the founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Sessions Archive website (www.rhcpsessions.com) and editor of Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive (www.rhcplivearchive.com). He currently resides in Sydney, Australia.

Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview
Introduction by Dana Spiotta
Edited by Melville House staff
Melville House
46 John Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
https://www.mhpbooks.com
9781685890094, $17.99, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Kurt-Cobain-Interview-Other-Conversations/dp/1685890091

Synopsis: Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) burst into American consciousness with a vengeance with the release of Nevermind, an instant classic that defined a sound and a generation. Three years later, he was dead of suicide, leaving a meteoric career and a cultural influence that would never wane.

As the lead singer and guitarist of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain changed American music as few musicians ever have. His instantly identifiable raspy croon, his slash-and-burn guitar playing, and his corrosive and poetic lyrics made him a hero to a generation of lost souls. In interviews Cobain was funny, thoughtful, sarcastic, impassioned, and even kind. "Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview and Other Conversations" is collection of interviews provides a look at a man who was too often misunderstood.

Critique: Deftly compiled and edited by the Melville House staff, and an absolute 'must read' for the legions of Kurt Cobain fans, "Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview and Other Conversations" is an especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library 20th Century American Pop Culture and Music History collections. It should be noted that "Kurt Cobain: The Last Interview and Other Conversations" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Kurt Cobain was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. With his band Nirvana he invented the hard-rock genre known as grunge and became an inspiration to a generation with his corrosive, poetic lyrics and blistering stage presence. He was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain)


The Christian Studies Shelf

On Death and Eternal Life
St. Gregory of Nyssa, author
Brian Daley, translator
SVS Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
www.svspress.com
9780881417098, $28.00, PB, 328pp

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Eternal-Life-Gregory-Nyssa/dp/0881417092

Synopsis: Saint Gregory of Nyssa (c. A.D. 335 - after 384) was bishop of Nyssa and a prominent Christian theologian of the fourth century. The seven works by Saint Gregory comprising (some of which, ably translated by Brian Daley, are available in English for the first time) explore the great human mystery of death and the promise of eternal life.

The writings included in "On Death and Eternal Life" (along with On the Soul and the Resurrection (PPS 12) provide a vision that is consistent, philosophically profound, and characteristic of Gregory's wider theology.

The first three works (On the Dead, On Infants Taken Away before Their Time, and On the "Final Subjection" of Christ) might be termed thematic essays; the fourth is a sermon celebrating Christ's resurrection (On the Holy Pascha); and the remaining three are funeral homilies given for prominent people in Constantinople (Meletius, Pulcheria, and Flaccilla).

Of special note is that this volume, "On Death and Eternal Life", also includes the critical Greek text.

Critique: A part of the simply outstanding 'Popular Patristics' series from SVS Press, this compact paperback edition "On Death and Eternal Life" is an especially recommended addition to personal, ministerial, theological collections for Orthodox and Catholic Christians in general, and seminary students studies lists in particular. It should be noted that "On Death and Eternal Life" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Brian Daley, S.J. (https://theology.nd.edu/people/brian-daley-sj) did his undergraduate work at Fordham University and a subsequent M.A, (classics and philosophy) at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He then entered the Society of Jesus, taught for a year at Fordham, and studied theology for ordination in Frankfurt, Germany. He returned to Oxford in 1972 for doctoral studies, focused on the Patristic Christological tradition, and completed a critical edition of the works of the sixth-century theologian Leontius of Byzantium in 1978. He then was a faculty member of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, in Cambridge, MA, until 1996, when he moved to Notre Dame's Department of Theology as the Catherine Huisking Professor. He considers himself a historical theologian, studying the thought and practices of the first seven or eight centuries of Christianity as expressions of the developing common faith of the Church, especially as it is focused on our understanding of the person of Christ, the Trinity, and the hope for eternal life.

Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task
Daniel Overdorf
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825447228, $20.99, PB, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Preaching-Simple-Approach-Sacred-Task/dp/0825447224

Synopsis: Preaching with power and conviction is too important to be left to chance. With the publication of "Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task", experienced preacher and teacher of preachers, Daniel Overdorf, leads his readers through a tested process for sermon preparation that takes proclaiming God's Word seriously yet does not overly complicate the task or overwhelm the preacher.

Overdorf describes and demonstrates consistent, manageable steps to effective preaching, including: Clarifying the convictions that drive your preaching; Identifying the main idea of a Scripture text; Forming memorable word pictures; Reducing reliance on notes; Connecting with the congregation throughout the sermon; Speaking authentically.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task" is an ideal combination of instruction guide and how-to manual that will be of immense interest and value for readers charged with a ministerial responsibility within the Christian community. While especially and unreservedly recommended for church and seminary collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of ministers, seminary students, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of Christian Preaching, Christian Church Leadership, and Christian Pastoral Resources, "Preaching: A Simple Approach to the Sacred Task" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note: Daniel Overdorf (www.DanielOverdorf.com) grew up in the mountains of eastern Tennessee and southern West Virginia, where he experienced the value of the blue-collar work ethic, the wonder of Appalachian storytelling, and the joy of being raised in the home of a preacher who loves the church with all his heart. These early influences continue to shape his perspectives of life and faith. He graduated from Johnson University, then spent the next ten years ministering with churches in Illinois and Georgia. In the meantime, he earned a Master of Divinity from Lincoln Christian Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. At Gordon-Conwell, he had the joy of studying for four years under Haddon Robinson, a patriarch in the field of preaching. Robinson's influence significantly shaped Overdorf's philosophy and approach to preaching, both as a preacher and as a professor.

One Church
Charles C. Camosy
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781646801527, $17.95, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/One-Church-Rekindle-Negotiate-Difference/dp/1646801520

Synopsis: Vatican II baby boomers, trad millennials, zealous converts, Christmas and Easter Catholics -- these are some of the humorous stereotypes theologian Charles Camosy uses to explain the points of view that divide today's Church.

In the pages of "One Church: How to Rekindle Trust, Negotiate Difference, and Reclaim Catholic Unity", Professor Camosy says that in spite of our differences, unity and healing can be found through the fullness of the Gospel and an authentic understanding of the Catholic faith. With the publication of "One Church", Professor Camosy offers a hopeful and practical field guide for the here and now by sharing what it takes to listen and love those whose views are different than ours and to understand how we are united in the Body of Christ, the Church.

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church there have always been fundamental differences about how the faith should be expressed -- for example, between Peter and Paul, Jerome and Augustine, Franciscans and Dominicans, left and right, "Rad Trads" and Vatican II Catholics.

In today's climate of polarization, getting to unity-in-diversity has never been more difficult. Where Sts. Jerome and Augustine shared their differences by letter, social media is the place where division is most noticeable (and vitriolic) today.

In "One Church" Professor Camosy, founder and director of The Catholic Conversation Project, offers five principles of dialogue to build on our unity as the Body of Christ: Maintain a humble attitude; Avoid binary thinking and dismissive name-calling; Affirm and build on common ground; Make Christ the center of everything; and Lead with what you are for, not what you are against.

Critique: A timely contribution toward supporting the Catholic church in these especially trying times, "One Church: How to Rekindle Trust, Negotiate Difference, and Reclaim Catholic Unity" is an eloquent and 'real world practical' call to reform and reconciliation. Erudite, informative, inspiring, and also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.49), "One Church: How to Rekindle Trust, Negotiate Difference, and Reclaim Catholic Unity" is especially recommended to the attention of Catholic clergy, seminary students, congregants, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of Popes, Social Issues, and Spiritual growth from a Catholic perspective and history.

Editorial Note: Charles Camosy is a professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine and the Msgr. Curran Fellow in Moral Theology at St. Joseph Seminary in New York. He is also a columnist for Religion News Service, the Angelus, and the Pillar, and the author of eight books, including the award-winning Too Expensive to Treat?,Peter Singer and Christian Ethics, and Beyond the Abortion Wars. Camosy's book, For Love of Animals, was featured in the New York Times. He is the founding editor of The Magenta Project series and founding director of the Catholic Conversation Project.

His writing has been featured in publications including the American Journal of Bioethics, the Journal of the Catholic Health Association, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the Los Angeles Times, Church Life Journal, Commonweal, America magazine, Crux, the Tablet, and the National Catholic Reporter. Camosy serves as a moral theology consultant for Busted Halo. He is an advisor the faith outreach office of the Humane Society of the United States, the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of New York, and Holy Name Medical Center. He received the Robert Bryne award from the Fordham Respect Life Club and the 2018 St. Jerome Award for scholarly excellence from the Catholic Library Association.


The Religious Studies Shelf

Global Faith, Worldly Power
John Corrigan, et al.
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
https://uncpress.org
9781469670584, $110.00, HC, 410pp

https://www.amazon.com/Global-Faith-Worldly-Power-Internationalism/dp/1469670585

Synopsis: Assessing the grand American evangelical missionary venture to convert the world, with the publication of "Global Faith, Worldly Power: Evangelical Internationalism and U.S. Empire", an international group of leading scholars reveal how theological imperatives have intersected with worldly imaginaries from the nineteenth century to the present.

Countering the stubborn notion that conservative Protestant groups have steadfastly maintained their distance from governmental and economic affairs, these experts show how believers' ambitious investments in missionizing and humanitarianism have connected with worldly matters of empire, the Cold War, foreign policy, and neoliberalism. They show, too, how evangelicals' international activism redefined the content and the boundaries of the movement itself.

As evangelical voices from Africa, Asia, and Latin America became more vocal and assertive, U.S. evangelicals took on more pluralistic, multidirectional identities not only abroad but also back home. Applying this international perspective to the history of American evangelicalism radically changes how we understand the development and influence of evangelicalism, and of globalizing religion more broadly.

In addition to a critical introduction and essays by editors John Corrigan, Melani McAlister, and Axel R. Schafer are essays by Lydia Boyd, Emily Conroy-Krutz, Christina Cecelia Davidson, Helen Jin Kim, David C. Kirkpatrick, Candace Lukasik, Sarah Miller-Davenport, Dana L. Robert, Tom Smith, Lauren F. Turek, and Gene Zubovich.

Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by John Corrigan (Lucius Moody Bristol Distinguished Professor of Religion, Professor of History, and Distinguished Research Professor at Florida State University), Melani McAlister Professor of American Studies and International Affairs at George Washington University), and Axel R. Schafer (Professor of U.S. History at the Obama Institute for Transnational American Studies at the University of Mainz, Germany), "Global Faith, Worldly Power: Evangelical Internationalism and U.S. Empire" is especially commended to the attention of readers with an interest in Religion & Politics. While highly recommended for community and academic library Church & State collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of students, academia, political advocates, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Global Faith, Worldly Power: Evangelical Internationalism and U.S. Empire" is also available in a paperback edition (9781469670591, $29.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.39).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Witches Almanac
Charles Christian
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Rd., #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578598137, $49.95, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Almanac-Sorcerers-Ancient-Digital/dp/1578598133

Synopsis: For thousands of years in every corner of the globe there has been a fascination and a fear of people possibly wielding magical powers and a stigma surrounding practitioners of ancient rituals and practices. Yet, in the last 70 years, witchcraft, as well as Wicca, have gone from taboo and suppressed beliefs pursued by a handful of eccentrics and misfits to major global, spiritual movements.

With the publication of "The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches, and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age", Charles Christian introduces the history, persecutions, conjurings, and magic of some of history's most consequential witches, sorcerers, wizards, and mavericks.

These legendary figures range from Circe, Medea, Hermes Trismegistus, the Chaldean Magi, and other Ancient Roman and Classical Greek witches; to Merlin, Morgana le Fey, Nimue, the 10 Queens of Avalon, and sorcery and witchcraft in the Arthurian legends; to San Cipriano (the obscure 4th century bishop whose influence today still plays an important role in folk magic and Hoodoo practices); Baba Yaga, Joan of Arc, Gilles de Rais, Alice Kyteller, Lord Soulis, Michael Scott, the Golem of Prague, and medieval witchcraft; King Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII, Catherine de Medici, John Dee, Queen Elizabeth, and witchcraft in the British royal court; to Isobel Gowdie, illusive Scottish witch whose voluntary confessions provided the template for traditional witchcraft beliefs; to Isaac Newton, Friar Roger Bacon, Nicholas Flamel, Paracelsus, Cornelius Agrippa, Robert Boyle, and other alchemists.

Of special note are the informative entries for Aleister Crowley, W. B. Yeats, MacGregor Mathers, Eliphas Levi, the Golden Dawn, Thelema and ritual magic, and the rise of esoteric movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries -- and so many more in this new digital age of the 21st Century.

Critique: "The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age" provides a deeper, more sophisticated, and historically accurate understanding of the obscure history of witches with this enchanting and bewitching tome! "The Witches Almanac" showcases rich metaphysical histories and extraordinary biographies, plus it includes a helpful bibliography, an extensive index, and numerous photos, adding to its usefulness. While a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Paganism, Wicca, and New Age Metaphysics collections, it should be noted for students, academia, Wiccans, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Witches Almanac: Sorcerers, Witches and Magic from Ancient Rome to the Digital Age" is also available in a paperback edition (9781578597604, $24.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Charles Christian (https://www.coasttocoastam.com/guest/charles-christian) is an English lawyer and a Reuters correspondent. writer, editor, and tech journalist. Of special note is that an English newspaper once really did commission Charles to take part in a werewolf hunt on the night of a full moon. Spoiler alert: he didn't find one. He currently resides in Waveney Valley, England.

Initiation into Dream Mysteries
Sarah Janes
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781644115145, $18.99, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Initiation-into-Dream-Mysteries-Mnemosyne/dp/164411514X

Synopsis: Invoking Mnemosyne (the Greek goddess of memory and eloquence, daughter of Heaven and Earth, mother of the Muses, and archetypal deity of the Asklepion dream temple tradition), with the publication of "Initiation into Dream Mysteries: Drinking from the Pool of Mnemosyne", Sarah Janes initiates you into full dream consciousness, offering a lucid-dreaming ritual experience in the spirit of the Mystery Schools of antiquity.

Sharing her more than a decade of research on Sleep Temples and Mystery Schools of the Esoteric Tradition, lucid-dreaming instructor Sarah explores the evolution of imagination, memory, and consciousness throughout the ages and proposes that dreams have been fundamental in the creation and development of culture. Dreams play an important role in ancestor worship, afterlife beliefs, animism, religion, and wisdom traditions.

Explaining how a conscious dream life is essential for self-discovery, deep integration, and healing, Sarah presents exercises, techniques, initiations, and seven guided audio meditations to help you explore the inner depths of your psyche. Sarah reveals how dreams offer us an opportunity to remember and directly experience our divinity, to transcend the limitations of our mortality and enter timeless imaginal realms. These realms, accessible through dreams, can help you to form a better understanding of who you are.

Employing the power of story to affect the mind and lay down new neural pathways (as if one were really living the story) Sarah connects each initiatory chapter with a psychodramatic narrative as well as a guided audio meditation. Using symbolism and powerful imagery, these stories, combined with her meditations, help you generate the perfect dreams for each stage in the initiation. And by becoming a better dreamer, you can make better, more aware decisions in your waking life.

Critique: Offering a unique and inherently fascinating approach to self-transformation, "Initiation into Dream Mysteries: Drinking from the Pool of Mnemosyne" also includes four pages of Meditations, five pages of Notes, a twelve page Bibliography, and a page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Initiation into Dream Mysteries: Drinking from the Pool of Mnemosyne" is highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies and Dream Studies/Interpretation collections. It should be noted that "Initiation into Dream Mysteries: Drinking from the Pool of Mnemosyne" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: Sarah Janes (https://themysteries.org/about) has been an enthusiastic lucid dreamer since childhood. Currently residing in Hastings, England, she is a writer, public speaker, and sleep hypnosis workshop facilitator. She runs Explorers Egyptology, an online lecture series, and with Carl Hayden Smith operates the Seventh Ray, a mixed reality Mystery School. She is also producer and co-host for the Anthony Peake Consciousness Hour podcast. Sarah is currently working with Dr. Mervat Nasser at New Hermopolis in Egypt and with Rupert Sheldrake and the British Pilgrimage Trust to reinvigorate the practice of dream incubation at sacred sites.

Mastering Magick
Mat Auryn
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738766041, $18.99, PB, 296pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Magick-Course-Spellcasting-Psychic/dp/0738766046

Synopsis: With the publication of "Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch", Mat Auryn shows how to boost your psychic ability and incorporate the greater mysteries of magick into your practice.

A companion to the Auryn's "Psychic Witch", this edition "Mastering Magick" from Llewellyn Publications, is groundbreaking study that features more than sixty spells and is the first of its kind to focus on casting magick to bridge the divide between the seen and unseen worlds.

"Masterng Magick" also teaches how to enchant yourself as a powerful psychic witch by connecting with the witch's tools, the elements, the moon, the seasons, and the planets. You'll learn the mechanics of spell work and how to make your magick as effective as possible.

In addition to Mat's own tried-and-true castings, "Mastering Magick" features more than a dozen spells from well-known witches and practitioners, including Christopher Penczak, Judika Illes, Juliet Diaz, Storm Faerywolf, Laura Tempest Zakroff, Devin Hunter, Madame Pamita, and others.

Critique: Inherently fascinating, impressively informative, expertly written, organized, and presented, "Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch" is especially commended to the attention of the novice magick user and has a great deal of value for even the more experienced spell caster. While highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mastering Magick" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Editorial Note: Mat Auryn (https://auryn.net/about) is a witch, professional psychic, and occult teacher. He is also the multi-award-winning author of "Psychic Witch" and a High Priest in the Sacred Fires Tradition of Witchcraft. He runs the blog For Puck's Sake on Patheos Pagan, is a teacher at Modern Witch University, and has a column in Witches & Pagans magazine entitled "Extra-Sensory Witchcraft." He has been featured in various magazines, radio shows, podcasts, books, anthologies, and other periodicals. He can be followed on Instagram @matauryn


The Sports Shelf

The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains
Jeremy Jones
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680513301, $29.95, PB, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Shralpinism-Lessons-Mountains/dp/1680513303

Synopsis: Not a technical guide on snowboarding but, rather, a very personal approach to how to think about mountains, snow, and adventure, With the publication of "The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains", snowboarding superstar Jeremy Jones draws on the hundreds of journals he has kept over the years, and offers intriguing snapshots of time and place that include his own on-the-slope stories and white-out moments, as well as those of other prominent adventurers such as Jimmy Chin, Zahan Billimoria, and Christina Lusti.

"The Art of Shralpinism" is a compendium of lessons hard won: along with quick tips, sound advice, and impactful stories. Readers will learn which aspects of avalanche training are most crucial to absorb, ways to anticipate slope behavior or recognize clean lines, how to cut a cornice or develop safety protocols, how to build a fitness routine, the art of the turn, and keys to developing terrain and skills progression. Jones also discusses the importance of mentors, the necessity and intensity of practice, the nature of risk, and the shape of failure.

But at its heart, "The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains" revels in the power of experience, the impact of stoke, and the beauty that underscores all outdoor sports and adventures.

Critique: Of special appeal to readers with an interest in snowboarding, mountain climbing, and outdoors exploration, "The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains" is also nicely illustrated by author Jeremy Jones and should be considers a 'must read' for his legions of snowboarding fans. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Sports collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Art of Shralpinism: Lessons from the Mountains" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Jeremy Jones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Jones_(freerider)) is an award-winning snowboarder, the owner of Jones Snowboards, and the founder of Protect Our Winters, a global nonprofit that unites passionate outdoor people to protect the places they love from climate change. The recipient of eleven "Big Mountain Rider of the Year" awards from Snowboarder Magazine and a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jones has starred in dozens of snowboard films including his highly acclaimed trilogy, Deeper, Further, and Higher.


The Travel Shelf

Best Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695668, $12.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Trips-Midwest-Great-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695664

Synopsis: "Best Road Trips: Midwest & the Great Lakes" is an ideal source of up-to-date travel guide information with which to develop itineraries for classic road trips, plus other lesser-known drives with its expert advice on picking the routes that suit the travelers particular interests and needs.

Featuring full-color route maps with easy-to-read, detailed directions and delightful diversions to see the Midwest & Great Lakes' highlights along the way, of special note is the Link Your Trip feature allowing the travel to easily cruise from one driving route to the next.

Replete with true insider tips ranging from getting around like a local, avoiding trouble spots and be safe on the road, to local driving rules, parking, toll roads -- and the best things to do outside the car! Of special note is the inclusion of essential information that includes hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, prices, honest reviews for all budgets, as well as eating, sleeping, sightseeing, and a wealth of hidden gems that most guidebooks miss.

"Best Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes" by Lonely Planet Publicatons includes Michigan's Gold Coast, the Great River Road, Highway 61, Chicago, Oklahoma's Tribal Trails, the Pioneer Trails, the Black Hills, St Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and more.

Critique: Enhanced with lavish color photography and perfect for planning short range and long range car trips for memorable adventures on the open road with respect to traveling the American Midwest and the Great Lakes, "Best Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes" also includes a fold out map and is strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library American Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is a trusted source for any traveler. Since their inception in 1973, they have inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultures and become agents of positive change.

The Islands Book
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695033, $40.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Islands-Book-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695036

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Islands Book", armchair travels will fully enjoy exploring 150 of the world's most enchanting islands in this inspirational coffee table style (9.4 x 1.13 x 12.1 inches, 3.9 pounds) that features beautiful photography, illustrations and maps.

The reader will 'Island Hop' across cosmopolitan archipelagos and secret tropical paradises, learning fascinating stories about each destination, meeting the locals, encountering wildlife, and finding amazing island experiences.

Sink into the silken sands of Tobago or step foot in the abandoned prison cells of Alcatraz; unearth Burgh Island's mysterious pirate tales or twirl forkfuls of sumptuous seafood pasta in Sicily; relax with a locally brewed craft beer on Waiheke Island or see the infamous red crabs of Christmas Island march into the ocean. Within the pages of "The Islands Book", each individual island has its own distinctive story to tell and offers travelers (on-site or armchair) a memorable round-up of exciting activities to pursue to help make trip planning a total breeze.

Critique: An elegant, informative, beautiful book to simply browse through one informative page at a time, "The Islands Book" has a very special appeal to readers with an interest in the diversity of islands to be found within the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania -- making it a very strongly recommended an unique addition to personal, community, and academic library Travel Guide collections.

Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir
William & Anne Frej, authors
George F Thompson Publishing
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781938086939, $55.00, HC, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Travels-across-Roof-World-Himalayan/dp/1938086937

Synopsis: "Travels across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir" by William and Anne Frej provides a sweeping yet intimate view of the breathtaking peaks, splendid valleys, and extraordinary people of this vast region, from the Pamir Mountains in Kyrgyzstan through Afghanistan's fabled Hindu Kush, the Karakoram in Pakistan, and the Great Himalaya Range that stretches across northern India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

Unique in scope among photo books on the Himalaya, "Travels across the Roof of the World" chronicles the authors more than twenty pilgrimages throughout the area spanning forty years and 3,000 miles through some of the world's most remote and difficult-to-reach country. Inspired by the devotion to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism they encountered in the villagers they met on their first trek to Nepal in 1981, they set out on a quest to document Asia's highest peaks as well as the lives of the resilient people living in these remote mountain communities.

When they began, trekkers from the West through these regions were few. Even now, trips are demanding -- but not nearly as harsh as the daily lives of the residents, who continue to exist in a kind of stunning isolation that has allowed them to maintain the rich cultural traditions and spiritual practices that have sustained them over many centuries.

Of special note is Edwin Bernbaum's essay adding to the depth of the pictures, with his focus on the symbolism, religious importance, and associated legends of these sacred places. The authors also share extensive vignettes about the places they saw and how they have changed over time.

Critique: A simply gorgeous coffee-table style (12.25 x 1.25 x 10.25 inches, 4.7 pounds) volume, "Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir" is a stunningly beautiful series of full color photographs graced with occasional commentaries by the husband and wife team of William and Anne Frej. An armchair traveler's delight, "Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir" is a strikingly memorable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Tibet/Pakistan Travel Guide and Landscape Photography collections.

Editorial Note #1: William Frej (https://williamfrejphotography.com/bio) has been photographing Indigenous people for more than forty years while living in Indonesia, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan as a career diplomat with the United States Agency for International Development and traveling in other remote, mountainous regions of Asia. His book of black-and-white photographs, Maya Ruins Revisited: In the Footsteps of Teobert Maler (2020), has won fourteen awards. His second book, Seasons of Ceremonies: Rites and Rituals in Guatemala and Mexico (2021), has won eight awards including four "photography book of the year" awards. Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir (2022) features color photographs by William Frej and text by Anne Frej.

Editorial Note #2: Anne Frej (https://lamalaquitamerida.com/shop/photography/anne-frej) is an urban planner who has focused on feasibility studies and design concepts for real estate projects in the United States, Indonesia, Central Europe, and Central Asia. At the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C., she directed books on real estate development, and at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, she served as a cultural resources planner.

Editorial Note #3: Edwin Bernbaum, Ph.D., (https://www.weforum.org/people/edwin-bernbaum) is a lecturer, author, and scholar of comparative religion and mythology whose work focuses on the relationship between culture and the environment. He is the author of The Way to Shambhala (1989), a study of Tibetan myths and legends of hidden valleys and their symbolism. His acclaimed book, Sacred Mountains of the World, was originally published in 1990; the second edition was published by Cambridge University Press in 2022.

Day Trips from Calgary, fourth edition
Bill Corbett
Whitecap Books Ltd.
https://www.whitecap.ca
9781770503717, $34.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Trips-Calgary-Bill-Corbett/dp/1770503714

Synopsis: The Canadian city of Calgary lies at the heart of southern Alberta's most spectacular landscape, a landscape that includes the fantastically shaped hoodoos of Drumheller and the mountains of Kananaskis country.

Now in full color, "Day Trips from Calgary" is completely updated and expanded fourth edition of the regional bestseller by Bill Corbett and offers an insider's handbook to discovering the best routes and destinations within a two-hour drive of the city.

Locals and tourists alike will only need a tank of gas, a road map, and perhaps a picnic lunch and a pair of hiking shoes to make the most of Bill Corbett's insightful guide. Written to entice Calgary residents and visitors into considering all directions of the compass when embarking on a day trip from the city, this new fourth edition of "Day Trips from Calgary" covers all the territory travelers will find useful.

Critique: Nicely illustrated, impressively informative, thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this newly updated and expanded fourth edition of "Day Trips from Calgary" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal and community library Canadian Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: Bill Corbett (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15201283.Bill_Corbett) is a Calgary writer with interests in the outdoors, history, and the environment. His articles have been published in such magazines as Canadian Geographic, Explore, Western Living, Canadian Business, and Maclean's. He is the author of Best of Alberta: Outdoor Activities in Alberta's Heartland and The 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies. An avid mountaineer and backcountry skier, he can often be found exploring the diverse landscapes of his native Alberta.


The Business Shelf

Win When They Say You Won't
Daphne E. Jones
McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10020
www.mhprofessional.com
9781264277995, $27.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Win-When-They-Say-Wont/dp/1264277997

Synopsis: As a businesswoman: Have you ever met the requirements for a promotion, but still didn't feel qualified enough to take on the new role? Has a male colleague ever repeated what you just said in a meeting, and received positive feedback as if he said it first? Has anyone every implied that you should be less confident and direct, and more "likeable"?

Innovation thought leader and former Fortune 50 executive, Daphne E. Jones has experienced her share of dog whistle disempowerment throughout her career -- but she didn't let it stop her. Instead, she developed an actionable system for overcoming imposter syndrome, negativity and building the career of her dreams -- and now with the publication of "Win When They Say You Won't: Break Through Barriers and Keep Leveling Up Your Success" she shares her winning approach with you.

"Win When They Say You Won't" shows how to: Envision what success looks like to you; Prioritize your objectives and mapping out how to achieve them; Work your plan, soliciting constructive feedback from other stakeholders, and altering your strategy as needed; Reflect on your accomplishments and lessons learned, while defining your next win.

"Win When They Say You Won't" provides the inspiration, insights, and tools a woman in business needs to deconstruct any momentum that has been set against her and take her career to the next level -- starting now.

Critique: As inspired and inspiring as it is 'real world' practical, "Win When They Say You Won't: Break Through Barriers and Keep Leveling Up Your Success" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented. An essential and insightful 'how to' guide, "Win When They Say You Won't: Break Through Barriers and Keep Leveling Up Your Success" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, and academic library Business Leadership & Motivational Management collections. It should be noted for MBA students and women in positions of corporate responsibility that "Win When They Say You Won't: Break Through Barriers and Keep Leveling Up Your Success" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.49).

Editorial Note: Daphne E. Jones (https://www.daphneejones.com) has 30+ years of experience in general management and executive level roles at IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Hospira, and General Electric. At GE, she served as SVP for Future of Work, SVP & CIO for Product Engineering, Imaging, and Ultrasound, and Senior Executive & CIO for Global Services, all of which composed a $13 billion segment of GE Healthcare. The recipient of numerous domestic and international awards, Jones serves on the board of directors for AMN Healthcare, Inc., Barnes Group Inc., and Masonite International Corp.

The Artisan Brand
Jan Mulholland, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781839106125, $140.00 HC / $TBA ebook, 264pp

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/the-artisan-brand-9781839106125.html

Synopsis: Investigating the changing forms, dynamics and trajectories of the artisan and craft sector, "The Artisan Brand: Entrepreneurship and Marketing in Contemporary Craft Economies" is a timely consideration of the opportunities, challenges, and uncertainties associated with artisanal businesses in these new economic times.

Exploring how artisanal and craft products remain vibrant embodiments of tradition, heritage, authenticity and creativity, "The Artisan Brand: Entrepreneurship and Marketing in Contemporary Craft Economies" explores how these qualities are being harnessed and transformed to enable artisanal businesses to exploit the opportunities presented by technological innovation and evolving consumption patterns for their future viability and vitality.

Revolutionary advancement in digital technologies offer 'game-changing' possibilities for artisanship and craft, across a spectrum ranging from production practices to e-commerce. But such technological advancements also present challenges to how artisanship sustains its important 'traditional' associations, and how it builds on its relationship with the ethical, the sustainable and the local.

Featuring an international range of case studies, chapters exemplify how artisanal organisations can revitalise their business models, using innovative branding and marketing strategies, and entrepreneurship, to utilise the best of both the past and the future.

"The Artisan Brand: Entrepreneurship and Marketing in Contemporary Craft Economies" will prove invaluable to students and scholars of marketing, business studies and sociology who are interested in contemporary innovation in artisanship and craft. With practical advice from industry experts, it also serves as a useful resource for practitioners and stakeholders within the artisanal and craft sector who might be concerned with the impact of digitalisation on the field.

Critique: Exceptionally well organized, impressively informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "The Artisan Brand: Entrepreneurship and Marketing in Contemporary Craft Economies" is a seminal and timely compendium of thirteen erudite, insightful, and thought-provoking contributions that will be of particular and special interest to entrepreneurs and corporate administrators interested in the bourgeoning popularity of 'artisan' brands. A seminal work, "The Artisan Brand: Entrepreneurship and Marketing in Contemporary Craft Economies" is an important and recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and academic library Business Management & Entrepreneurship collections and as a textbook form supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Jon Mulholland (https://people.uwe.ac.uk/Person/JonMulholland) is an Associate Professor, University of the West of England, UK,

Editorial Note #2: Alessandra Ricci is a Post Doctoral research fellow, Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior, IULM University, Milan, Italy.

Editorial Note #3: Marta Massi is an Assistant Professor, Trent University, Canada

Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship
Mohammad Keyhani, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781800373624, $255.00 HC / $TBA ebook, 340pp

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/handbook-of-digital-entrepreneurship-9781800373624.html

Synopsis: "Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship" compiles a diverse set of contributions on digital entrepreneurship, and provides an in-depth study of how digital entrepreneurship research has evolved over the years, and where it stands today.

Offering a snapshot of the major themes in digital entrepreneurship research, the "Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship" highlights a wide range of both practice-engaged and practice-relevant works and explores the fundamental concepts and common themes in the field. Individual chapters examine key topics including the digital platform economy, the digitalization of work, the blockchain economy, and the rural - urban digital divide.

Furthermore, the "Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship" analyzes the history and theory of digital entrepreneurship, while also sparking ideas for future research through a consideration of emerging phenomena and new ways to approach research in this broad area of study.

Discussing a diverse set of questions, contexts, theories, and methods, the "Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship" will be a key resource for researchers and advanced students with a particular interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology management, and digital business models. Managers and entrepreneurs will also find the discussion of digital entrepreneurship in relation to financing, social issues, and technology beneficial.

Critique: A seminal compilation of sixteen informative studies by thirty-six knowledgeable contributors which are deftly organized into seven thematic sections (Introduction; Digital Entrepreneurship and Definitions; Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystems; Digital Entrepreneurship Technologies; Digital Entrepreneurship Adoption and Outcomes; Digital Entrepreneurship and Financing; Digital Entrepreneurship and Social Issues), "Handbook of Digital Entrepreneurship" is a seminal work of outstanding scholarship and unreservedly recommended for inclusion in personal, professional, corporate, college, and university library Business Management & Entrepreneurship collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists.

Editorial Note #1: Mohammad Keyhani is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Canada,

Editorial Note #2: Tobias Kollmann is the Professor of Digital Business and Digital Entrepreneurship, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.

Editorial Note #3: Andishe Ashjari, Doctoral Candidate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Canada,

Editorial Note #4: Alina Sorgner is an Assistant Professor of Applied Data Analytics, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy, Research Affiliate, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) and Research Fellow, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).

Editorial Note #5: Clyde Eirikur Hull is Professor, Department of Management, Saunders College of Business, Rochester Institute of Technology, US

Choosing Leadership, revised and expanded edition
Dr. Linda Ginzel
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
www.hcibooks.com
9780757324376, $17.95, PB, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Leadership-Expanded-Building-Capacity/dp/0757324371

Synopsis: With the publication of this newly revised and expanded edition of "Choosing Leadership: How to Create a Better Future by Building Your Courage, Capacity, and Wisdom", Dr. Linda Ginzel gives her readers the tools to sharpen their leadership skills, putting the responsibility for personal growth and professional development in their own hands.

"Choosing Leadership" effectively counters stereotypes that lead us to believe it takes a fancy title, big budget, impressive credentials, charisma, or innate leadership traits to be a "leader." Rather, leadership is a choice; you choose when to manage and when to lead. It provides an opportunity to answer tough questions of yourself, process your own life lessons, reflect on your unique experiences, and create your best future self. This process of self-discovery will help you develop individualized, customized wisdom and be your lifelong companion on the road to being wiser, younger.

With the addition of Learning Modules for each chapter, "Choosing Leadership" provides step-by-step guidance to create group experiences designed to enable reflection, explore ideas, and enhance self-understanding. These group experiences create collective wisdom and encourage learners to make better and more thoughtful choices. Through peer discussions, readers learn how to coach themselves. While gaining self-understanding, they also gain confidence. They realize they know how to lead and are wiser, younger.

Critique: Informatively inspiring, "Choosing Leadership: How to Create a Better Future by Building Your Courage, Capacity, and Wisdom" is impressively well written, organized and presented, making it an ideal addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Business Management & Leadership collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, business managers, corporate executives, non- profit administrators, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Choosing Leadership" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. Linda Ginzel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_E._Ginzel) is a clinical professor of managerial psychology at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and the founder of its customized executive education program. For three decades, she has developed and taught MBA and executive education courses in negotiation, leadership capital, managerial psychology, and more. She has also taught MBA and PhD students at Northwestern and Stanford, as well as designed customized educational programs for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Ginzel has received numerous teaching awards for excellence in MBA education, as well as the President's Service Award for her work with the nonprofit Kids In Danger.

The Ecosystem Economy
Venkat Atluri, author
Miklos Dietz, author
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781119984788, $29.95, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ecosystem-Economy-Sectors-Without-Borders/dp/1119984785

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders", two McKinsey & Company senior partners, Venkat Atluri and Miklos Dietz, offer an incisive and eye-opening look at the emerging ecosystem economy and what it means for companies used to familiar sector siloes. "The Ecosystem Economy" reveals how the most successful companies in the new economy aren't the ones that have applied old-school best practices but, instead, have adopted entirely new mindsets and approaches for a fundamentally transforming market.

"The Ecosystem Economy" explains: Why it's so important for companies to adopt a new approach in the face of a foundationally changing economy (and what they stand to gain); How the new ecosystem economy will continue to evolve and change, dissolving the borders between the traditional sectors of the economy. "The Ecosystem Economy" is a comprehensive ecosystem playbook that can be applied to firms of any size and in any sector.

As the barriers between sectors and disciplines come down, organizations everywhere will need to reshape their thinking about value propositions, competition, partnership, organizational and operating models, and performance management. "The Ecosystem Economy" offers a personal roadmap to navigating the new digital world making it ideal for managers, executives, and other business leaders seeking fresh new strategies and practical approaches for markets that bear little resemblance to the ones that came before.

Critique: Seminal, groundbreaking, timely, 'real world' practical, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders" is an essential and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, college, and university library Business & Entrepreneurship collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of MBA students, academia, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, business managers, economists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Ecosystem Economy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.00).

Editorial Note #1: Venkat Atluri (https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/venkat-atluri) is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, where he leads the firm's global Technology & Telecommunications Practice. In addition he serves clients in the high-tech, media and telecommunications, advanced industries, and consumer sectors by partnering with management teams and boards to create value through performance transformation, programmatic M&A and new business building. Prior to joining McKinsey, Atluri held leadership roles at General Electric and 3M.

Editorial Note #2: Mikos Dietz (https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/miklos-dietz) is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company. He leads McKinsey's banking strategy and innovation work globally and is the managing partner of the Vancouver office. He is the founder/chair of the Panorama research group and the Ecosystem Hub, and has served over 450 clients in 40+ countries across multiple industries. Prior to joining McKinsey, he worked at Merrill Lynch and Reuters.


The Cookbook Shelf

Body on Fire Anti-inflammatory Cookbook
Monica Aggarwal, MD
Jyothis Rao, MD
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.BookPubCo.com
9781570674075, $24.95, PB, 192pp

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Fire-Anti-inflammatory-Cookbook-Disease/dp/1570674078

Synopsis: "Body on Fire Anti-inflammatory Cookbook: Your Guide to Eating Plant Foods That Fight Disease" is a companion volume to "Body on Fire" and reiterates essential concepts about the nature of inflammation and its relationship to chronic illness, while offering insights into why certain foods are health-supporting, and provides a how-to-start manual that features an abundance of easy-to-make recipes.

The main goal is to calm inflammation and reduce the risk of illness. While there are multiple steps involved with healing, nutrition should be the first one to turn to. Combined with a renewed focus on sleep, movement, and an unstressed mind, Drs. Aggarwal and Rao provide natural solutions for regaining health. Guidance, encouragement, and sound advice are offered on everything from the best times to eat and which foods affect sleep, exercise, and outlook to rediscovering the joys of cooking and budget-friendly options.

The recipes use minimum amounts of salt and oil, are nutrient-dense as well as universally appealing, and deliver a boost to your health with each flavorful bite.

Critique: Beautifully illustrated, "Body on Fire Anti-inflammatory Cookbook: Your Guide to Eating Plant Foods That Fight Disease" is an ideal compendium of recipes for dishes that will significantly aid in dealing with chronic inflammatory issues of the human body. Each palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipe results in a quality dish that would please the epicurean appetites of even the most sophisticated of gourmets. Absolutely recommended for anyone one having to deal with chronic inflamation, "Body on Fire Anti-inflammatory Cookbook: Your Guide to Eating Plant Foods That Fight Disease" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note #1: Monica Aggarwal, MD, (https://www.drmonicaaggarwal.com) is board certified in cardiology, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology. She is focused on educating people about the importance of plant-based nutrition and its benefits in treating and potentially reversing chronic illness.

Editorial Note #2: Jyothi Rao, MD, has worked in clinical practice since 1997. Board certified in internal medicine as well as in anti-aging and regenerative medicine, she is the medical director of Shakthi Health & Wellness Center in Maryland. For more information visit her websites at www.drmonicaaggarwal.com and www.raowellness.com

The Food Allergy Baking Book
Kelly Woyhan
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572843158, $21.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Food-Allergy-Baking-Book-Nut-Free/dp/1572843152

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Food Allergy Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family", Kelly Woyan offers more than 90 timeless, foolproof recipes that are easy to prepare, even for the most novice kitchen bakers. It is an invaluable and delicious resource for home bakers (and their families) who love sweets and treats -- but have egg, nut, and dairy allergies.

These beautifully illustrated recipes are more than delicious enough to be enjoyed by everyone who craves great baked treats, whether they have food allergies or not, but they fill a particular need for families who find baking at home to be the smartest and safest option to avoid exposure to allergens.

All the traditional baking favorites are included, with chapters devoted to the best and tastiest muffins and quick breads, cookies and bars, and all manner of cakes, pies, crisps, and cobblers. The book also provides practical advice about dealing with classroom and birthday parties, as well as easy ingredient substitution ideas.

Critique: The go-to guide for food-allergy conscious bakers everywhere, "The Food Allergy Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should also be noted that it is available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99) as well.

Jazzy Vegetarian
Laura Theodore
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.BookPubCo.com
9780996547536, $26.95, PB, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jazzy-Vegetarian-Lively-Cuisine-Delicious/dp/0996547533

Synopsis: This newly released 10th-anniversary edition of "Jazzy Vegetarian: Lively Vegan Cuisine That's Easy and Delicious" is comprised of more than 120 recipes, features 200 full-color photos, as well as a number of brand-new recipes and many updated originals. Family cooks will be able to make outstanding vegetarian dishes that are easy to prepare. Additionally there is a full range of vegetarian menu ideas for family meals and holiday celebrations, with sumptuous photographs of finished dishes and the preparatory steps to make them. Culinary author Laura Theodore's distinctive style infuses each page and every recipe. The result is a perfect vegetarian oriented cookbook for anyone starting a plant-based diet, as well as for omnivores who are on the lookout for exciting new vegan options.

Critique: With a special appeal for those with an interest in gluten free recipes, vegan/vegetarian cooking and menu planning, "Jazzy Vegetarian: Lively Vegan Cuisine That's Easy and Delicious" is a very highly recommended choice for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Laura Theodore, (https://www.pbs.org/food/chefs/laura-theodore), is a PBS celebrity vegan chef, recognized television personality, podcast host, and vegan cookbook author. She is co-creator of Jazzy Vegetarian and author of six vegan cookbooks including: Easy Vegan Home Cooking, Vegan For Everyone, Laura Theodore's Vegan-Ease, Jazzy Vegetarian's Deliciously Vegan, Jazzy Vegetarian Classics, and Jazzy Vegetarian. Laura is presently the on-camera host and co-producer of the TASTE award-winning television show, Jazzy Vegetarian, seen on national Public Television, and she is host of Jazzy Vegetarian Radio and The Laura Theodore Podcast.

Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic
Good Housekeeping, editor
Hearst Home
300 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
https://www.hearst.com/magazines/hearst-books
9781950785797, $30.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Housekeeping-One-Pot-Magic-Wonderful/dp/1950785793

Synopsis: With the publication of "Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic: 180 Warm & Wonderful Recipes", even the most novice of kitchen cooks can create fast and delicious one-pot meals that take full advantage of all their favorite appliances and everyday cookware. Good Housekeeping's tested-til-perfect recipes plus appliance and equipment testing notes and care instructions makes "Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic" the ultimate one-pot recipe collection.

With "Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic" anyone can transform their weeknight cooking routine with satisfying recipes utilizing their: AIR FRYER (Mediterranean Chicken Bowls, Roasted Cauliflower Tacos); CASSEROLE AND SHEET PAN (Fish Chowder Bake, Stuffed Shells); DUTCH OVEN (Guinness Beef Stew, Coq Au Vin Ros, Chicken Curry); INSTANT POT (Brisket with Roasted Red Onions, Pho with Chicken); SKILLET (Chicken with Sauteed Apples, Beef and Broccoli); SLOW COOKER (BBQ Brisket Sandwiches, Curried Butternut Stew).

Each individual recipe comes with variations, meal prep ideas, cooking shortcuts, and other useful time-saving tips. Plus the recipes are labeled as vegan, quick and easy (ready in under 30 minutes!) and family friendly.

Whether you're craving satisfying soups and stews, speedy sheet pan and skillet suppers, cozy casseroles or time-saving air fryer and Instant Pot favorite, these all-star one-pot wonder recipes will inspire you to serve something exciting every night that the whole family will love -- and with fewer dishes to wash up afterwards!

Critique: With its beautiful full page color photos of finished dishes and informative foreward by Kate Merke, "Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic: 180 Warm & Wonderful Recipes" will prove to be an especially prized addition to personal, professional, and community library American cookbook collections of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly dishes for all dining occasions. It should be noted that "Good Housekeeping One-Pot Magic: 180 Warm & Wonderful Recipes" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note #1: Good Housekeeping is a leading lifestyle media brand inspiring a monthly audience of 58M readers.

Editorial Note #2: Kate Merker (https://katemarkerhome.com) is the Chief Food Director and oversees the food content appearing in several of Hearst's top titles, including Good Housekeeping. After attending Yale University, she graduated first in her class at the Culinary Institute of America.

The Shared Kitchen
Claire Scrine
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922417893, $35.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shared-Kitchen-Beautiful-Meals-Basics/dp/1922417890

Synopsis: We spend so much of our lives in our kitchens: cooking, cleaning, eating. These tasks can be a source of immense joy and satisfaction, especially when shared with others.

With the publication of "The Shared Kitchen: Beautiful Meals Made From the Basics" food writer and culinary expert Clare Scrine showcases more than 80 flavorful and creative vegetarian and vegan recipes, photographed across share houses in Meanjin (Brisbane, Australia). In these spaces, housemates navigate sharing kitchens, food, and life together.

The food represented in "The Shared Kitchen" is unfussy and flexible, inspired by the simple joy of cooking something delicious with what you already have -- whether it was grown in your garden, bought in bulk at the market, or simply discovered at the bottom of the crisper drawer.

Each of the 16 chapters features a common fruit or vegetable ranging from apples to zucchinis, showcases new ways to put these staples in the spotlight, and save them ending up in the compost when you have too much to know what to do with.

Critique: An elegant coffee-table style volume (8.75 x 1.28 x 11.26 inches, 3.4 pounds), "The Shared Kitchen: Beautiful Meals Made From the Basics" is beautifully and profusely illustrated with full color photography throughout. An inspirational pleasure to plan menus with dishes ranging from Charred Broccoli Carbonara; Cauliflower, Pickes & Rice Salad with Creamy Herb Sauce; Curried Egg & Crisphy Kale Ciabattas; and Cheat's Preserved Lemon & Chickpea Tagine; to Mushroom Meatballs with Harissa Sugo; Smoky Potato & Rosemary Bread; Roast Pumpkin with Crunchy Chickpeas, Peanuts & Coconut Cream; and Silky Strawberry Cheesecake, "The Shared Kitchen: Beautiful Meals Made From the Basics" will be a prized and favored addition to personal, professional, and community library Vegan/Vegetarian/Vegetable cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Clare Scrine (https://www.clarescrine.com) is a Brisbane-based food writer who has been creating recipes for over ten years. Her first book, "The Shared Table" (which started as a crowdfunded cookbook project) is the culmination of many years of feeding a crowd her delicious food. :The Shared Kitchen" is her second published cookbook.

The Golden Girls Cookbook
Christopher Styler, author
Andrew Scrivani, photographer
Hyperion Avenue
https://books.disney.com/imprint/hyperion-avenue
9781368077675, $22.99, HC, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Girls-Cookbook-Cheesecakes-Cocktails/dp/1368077676

Synopsis: Fans demanded more Golden Girls cheesecake recipes, and the Fab Four deliver with the publication of "The Golden Girls Cookbook: Cheesecakes and Cocktails!"

Rose's The Fall of St. Olaf Pumpkin Cheesecake and Dorothy's Vodka and Black Underwear drink vie against Sophia's Double Fudge Amaretto Ricotta Cheesecake and Blanche's Big Daddy Mint Julep. With easy-to-follow tips, Golden Girl fans will learn how to make a cheesecake the star of any kitchen table and the drinks as something facilitate discussions about anything and everything.

And if that's not enough, there is also Sophia's guide to Caffe Corretto! Welcome to 6151 Richmond Street, circa 1985, where joy and friendship abound, and the cheesecake is always ready for a late-night therapy session.

Critique: Packed from cover to cover with innovative recipes by renowned chef Christopher Styler, and beautiful photos by New York Times food photographer Andrew Scrivani (plus fun quotes, jokes, and photographs from the show) "The Golden Girls Cookbook: Cheesecakes and Cocktails!" is unreserved recommended for the legions of dedicated Golden Girls fans and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Golden Girls Cookbook: Cheesecakes and Cocktails!" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note #1: Christopher Styler (https://readitandeatstore.com/pages/christopher-styler), is the head of Freelance Food, LLC, and a cookbook author, R&D chef, teacher, and culinary producer. Trained as a restaurant chef, he has worked in kitchens from Italy to Martha's Vineyard, from Manhattan to Bogota, Colombia. Chris is the author or co-author of several books including Primi Piatti, Mom's Secret Recipe File, The Desperate Housewives Cookbook, Sylvia's Soul Food, and The Golden Girls Cookbook. On the video front, Chris has served as culinary producer for nine PBS and Food Network television series, including: Lidia's Italian Table, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, and America's Test Kitchen. Chris worked with MasterClass.com on classes featuring Thomas Keller, Dominique Ansel, Madhur Jaffrey, and Massimo Bottura.

Editorial Note #2: Andrew Scrivani (https://www.andrewscrivani.com/bio) is a photographer, director, and producer, as well as an internationally recognized workshop instructor, author, and columnist on the subject of visuals. Author of his own book, That Photo Makes Me Hungry, Scrivani also currently is the co-host of The Chef John Podcast and is a community mentor for Adobe Stock.

Kolkata: Recipes from the Heart of Bengal
Rinku Dutt
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922417923, $35.00, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Kolkata-Recipes-Bengal-Rinku-Dutt/dp/1922417920

Synopsis: Kolkata is an exhilarating city in West Bengal with a vibrant reputation for its distinctive cuisine. Considered the cultural capital of India and nicknamed 'City of Joy', Kolkata is an amalgam of old and new India, and its cuisine draws influences from far afield, combining historic Mughal, Chinese, Tibetan, and British colonial elements to form a unique food landscape that begs to be explored. Famous for their love of fish, vegetables, and desserts, Bengalis place great emphasis on eating well and their delicious regional specialties are justly revered.

With the publication of "Kolkata: Recipes from the Heart of Bengal", Rinku Dutt showcases the best food the city has to offer, with more than 70 simple recipes that can be easily recreated in home kitchens. The unique atmosphere of the city is brought alive with arresting food and travel photography, telling the story of a city bursting with energy and diversity, of numerous cultures and traditions, with ever-popular street food, a thriving restaurant and cafe scene, and the legacy of family favorites handed down through generations.

From sustaining breakfasts, simple lunches or favorite street-food bites, to rich and fragrant dinners, and delectable sweets, there is so much to discover in Kolkata.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with full color photographs of finished dishes and striking images of the people and places of Kolkata, India, "Kolkata: Recipes from the Heart of Bengal" is a simply outstanding compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for authentic dishes that are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying. Simply stated, "Kolkata: Recipes from the Heart of Bengal" is an elegant and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Ethnic Cook collections.

Giuseppe's Italian Bakes
Giuseppe Dell'Anno
Hardie Grant
c/o Quadrille Publishing
https://www.hardiegrant.com/uk/quadrille
9781787139282, $29.99, HC, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Giuseppes-Italian-Bakes-Classic-Desserts/dp/178713928X

Synopsis: Giuseppe Dell'Anno won hearts the world over when he was crowned winner of the Great British Baking Show in 2021. With the publication of "Giuseppe's Italian Bakes: Over 60 Classic Cakes, Desserts and Savory Bakes" (his first cookbook), Giuseppe shares his skill, knowledge and love of baking through over 60 new sweet and savory recipes.

Growing up in Italy and learning to cook at the side of his beloved chef-father, Giuseppe has mastered everything from focaccia to florentines, each with his own signature twist on the classics of Italian baking.

Through his step-by-step recipes, Giuseppe deftly guides even the most novice of kitchen cooks through making focaccia, pannacotta, tiramisu, rum baba, piadine, Sicilian cannoli and, of course, pizza, among many other delectable treats.

Critique: Enhanced throughout with gorgeous color photos of finished dishes, along with a culinary wealth of tips and tricks from the master of the technical challenge, "Giuseppe's Italian Bakes: Over 60 Classic Cakes, Desserts and Savory Bakes" effectively enables anyone to bring a taste of an authentic Italian bakery to any meal. Impressively organized and presented, "Giuseppe's Italian Bakes: Over 60 Classic Cakes, Desserts and Savory Bakes" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Giuseppe's Italian Bakes: Over 60 Classic Cakes, Desserts and Savory Bakes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Giuseppe Dell'Anno (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Dell%27Anno) was crowned champion of the Great British Baking Show 2021. In his professional life he is an engineer; he grew up in Italy and now lives in Bristol, UK, with his wife and three children.

Spanish at Home
Emma Warren
Smith Street Books
c/o Rizzoli
300 Park Avenue South, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10010
www.rizzoliusa.com
9781922417909, $35.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Home-sharing-Iberian-kitchens/dp/1922417904

Synopsis: Away from the tapas bars and eateries of Spain's bustling cities, you'll find another world of Spanish cuisine. From the inland mountainous regions and fiercely independent provinces of Basque Country and Catalonia, to the glittering coastlines of the Mediterranean and across to the Balearic Islands, with the publication of "Spanish at Home: Feasts & sharing plates from Iberian kitchens", cookbook author Emma Warren invites you into the heart of Spanish kitchens, to celebrate the dishes that the locals love to cook.

In "Spanish At Home" you will discover about the stories behind some of Spain's most loved food and cook according to your mood, whether you are after a summer fiesta, an Iberian brunch, winter comforts, or sweet dulces. With "Spanish At Home" you can put together share plates of stuffed mussels and patatas bravas; gather around a roast chicken with chorizo stuffing or duck with roasted cherries; prepare a tomato or a pan-fried goat's cheese salad for a balmy night; or fire up the barbecue and cook sardines over an open flame or wrap baby leeks in newspaper for a true Spanish experience.

Whether you are looking to learn new and little-known recipes rarely seen outside of Spain, or you're a seasoned Mediterranean cook, "Spanish at Home" shares the best of what this unique cuisine has to offer.

Critique: Featuring full page, full color photographs of finished dishes, "Spanish at Home: Feasts & sharing plates from Iberian kitchens" is a pure culinary delight to simply page through and inspiring to plan menus for memorable meals with. A welcome compendium of 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, "Spanish at Home" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections.

Editorial Note: Emma Warren (https://emmasnutrition.com/cookbooks) studied horticultural science before transferring her love of the veggie patch to the kitchen. She moved to Spain in 2001 and immersed herself in the world of Spanish cuisine. Emma soon became head chef of Kasparo, the popular cafe, which she ran for three years before returning home to Melbourne, Australia, to set up the kitchen Hogar Espanol at the iconic Spanish Club - a cult institution and live-music venue. Returning to Barcelona, Emma ended up at Hotel Rey Don Jaime in the coastal town of Castelldefels, which became a major training ground for learning traditional Spanish cooking. Today in Melbourne, she works with some of Australia's most-respected chefs. Emma is also the author of "The Catalan Kitchen" and "Islas: Food of the Spanish Islands".

Viva Desserts!
Nicole Presley
Familius
www.familius.com
9781641707350, $19.99, HC, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/%C2%A1Viva-Desserts-Traditional-Reinvented-Mexican-American/dp/1641707356

Synopsis: From Atole de Canela and Bunuelos de Viento to Oreo Horchata Cheesecake and Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Pie, "Viva Desserts!: Traditional and Reinvented Sweets from a Mexican-American Kitchen" is an impressive and beautifully illustrated collection of traditional Mexican desserts -- and American desserts Mexicanized.

With dessert items like conchas, churros, empanadas, and flan, all your favorite traditional Mexican treats are to be found in Viva Desserts!. Then add in classic American cakes and pies with a Mexican twist and other Mexican treats with an American twist, and all your sweet dessert cravings will be satisfied!

With the publication of "Viva Desserts!", recipe developer and Mexican postres baker Nicole Presley, delves into the craft of baking and offers tips and tricks with every recipe, giving dessert lovers everywhere the tools they need to play in their own kitchens. With full-color photography for every dessert and baking secrets that Nicole has learned through her own kitchen evolution, from kitchens in Los Angeles and Mexico, even the most novice of kitchen cooks will be able to bring the joy of Mexican and Mexican-American desserts into their own home in a beautiful and tasty celebration of Mexican- American culinary culture!

Critique: A simple pleasure to simply browse through one inspiring page at a time, "Viva Desserts!: Traditional and Reinvented Sweets from a Mexican-American Kitchen" will prove a welcome and enduringly appreciated addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that " "Viva Desserts!: Traditional and Reinvented Sweets from a Mexican-American Kitchen" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Nicole Presley (https://presleyspantry.com) is a culinary enthusiast and recipe developer passionate about culture and food. Her childhood and life experiences drove her to create Presley's Pantry, a platform from her East LA kitchen that celebrates family, food, and original recipes.

The Art and Science of Sushi
Jun Takahashi, author
Hidemi Sato, author
Mitose Tsuchida, author
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805317136, $29.99, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Art-Science-Sushi-Comprehensive-Ingredients/dp/4805317132

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Art and Science of Sushi: A Comprehensive Guide to Ingredients, Techniques and Equipment". the brilliant young Tokyo-based sushi chef Jun Takahashi wants to share his love and scientific knowledge of sushi-making with American kitchen cooks and seafood connoisseurs! His mastery of all things sushi is unparalleled and will appeal to professional chefs and sushi amateurs alike.

With the help of stunning color photos and informative charts and diagrams, Takahashi and his two co-authors, Hidemi Sato and Mitose Tsuchida, cover the full range of sushi-making topics--from the biology and scientific composition of the ingredients, to the techniques sushi chefs learn over years of difficult training, to basic recipes for Tokyo-style sushi rice, sauces, condiments, and side dishes.

The sections comprising "The Art and Science of Sushi" include lessons on how to: Find all types of seafood, such as eel, sea urchins, tuna, etc.; Marinate fish with kombu seaweed; Cure fish with vinegar and sugar; Use and maintain high-quality Japanese sushi knives and an Ohitsu (a wooden rice container); Recognize the anatomy of a fish, different ways to cut a fish, and where to find the best meat; Shuck and prepare clams, such as the Mirugai Clam; Identify vinegar varieties and soy sauces; Prepare wasabi as well as grate, boil, and pickle ginger; Cook with heat and the differences between simmering (grilling) and dry-cooking (pan frying); Perfect traditional Japanese dishes, such as the tamago-yaki, Japanese Omelet.

Critique: Of special note is the inclusion of recipes for 23 different types of sushi. "The Art and Science of Sushi: A Comprehensive Guide to Ingredients, Techniques and Equipment" is a simply beautiful culinary volume that will provide fascinating insights into the world of Japan's iconic national dish. Simply stated, "The Art and Science of Sushi: A Comprehensive Guide to Ingredients, Techniques and Equipment" is a pleasure to browse through, prepare menus with, and is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Editorial Note #1: Jun Takahashi has been fascinated with cooking since childhood. While only 30 years old, he has been described as a "phenomenon" by Conde Nast Traveler. After graduating at the top of his class from a culinary academy, he decided to perfect his craft in a single area and to become a leading sushi chef. After training at Sushi Saito Academy, in 2014 he opened Sushi Takahashi in the Ginza district in Tokyo. The restaurant has a casual, accessible vibe and its inventive appetizers and delicately flavored sushi make it extremely popular. Takahashi lives in Japan.

Editorial Note #2: Hidemi Sato is a trained dietician and holds a doctorate in food science. After graduating from Yokohama International University, she worked in the culinary equipment industry for nine years. She then completed her Masters and PhD at Ochanomizu University and has written several books on the topic of food science. Sato currently resides in Japan.

Editorial Note #3: Mitose Tsuchida graduated from Hiroshima University and then received her PhD from Ochanomizu University. She worked as an editor at the Japanese food magazines Speciality Cooking and Culinary Kingdom before becoming a freelancer. She writes and edits books on a wide variety of food subjects.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Retro Crochet
Ashlee Elle
Rocky Nook
1010 B Street, Ste 350, San Rafael, CA 94901
https://rockynook.com
9781681987989, $22.95, PB, 112pp

https://www.amazon.com/Retro-Crochet-Vibrant-Vintage-Inspired-Looks/dp/1681987988

Synopsis: "Retro Crochet" by Ashlee Elle showcases colorful, fun outfits inspired by the best looks from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s!

Styles from the 1970s through the late '90s are hot, and crocheting vintage-inspired designs. That's why designer, model, and photographer Ashlee Elle has built up a passionate fan base through her Dream Crochet shop and Instagram where she shares her colorful, one-of-a-kind throwback outfits.

Now, with the publication of "Retro Crochet" Ashlee deftly guides the reader in learning how to create their own fun pieces. A comprehensive instructional guide and 'how to' manual, "Retro Crochet" features designs that will even the most novice of crochet enthusiasts on a crafty journey from 1970s to the '90s. Bringing original and timeless crochet designs forward with a fashionable modern twist, this thoroughly 'user friendly' guide will show how to create handmade accessories and clothing that'll make you stand out in the crowd.

Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, "Retro Crochet: Vibrant Vintage-Inspired Looks from the 70s, 80s, and 90s" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be note for personal use that "Retro Crochet" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Ashlee Elle is a crochet designer and creator, model, and photographer. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including, Simply Crochet Magazine, WeCrochet, and CrochetNow. Her creative work strives to push the boundaries within the fiber art world by introducing whimsical photos to feature the designs as well as celebrating experimental one-of-kind creations. Her unique and original crochet patterns that can be found in her Etsy Shoppe: The Dream Crochet Shoppe. Ashlee Elle can be followed on Instagram @thedreamcrochet

No-Sew Knitting
Christine Boggis
GMC Publications
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946340, $27.99, PB, 152pp

https://www.amazon.com/No-Sew-Knitting-stylish-designs-seam-free/dp/1784946346

Synopsis: With the publication of "No-Sew Knitting: 20 stylish designs for seam-free knits", needlecrafter Christine Boggis showcases 20 DIY projects for clothing, accessories and homeware for both adults and children -- each of which do not require any sewing up.

Each individual project is difficulty rated, making it easy to select based on time and/or ability and there are a wide range of yarns and sizing options to choose from. Each technique is clearly explained with easy-to-follow illustrations. Alongside the patterns there are useful measurement diagrams and tips to help the reader. It is also packed with beautiful and helpful photographs.

Critique: A thoroughly 'user friendly' combination of instruction guide and 'how to' manual, "No-Sew Knitting: 20 stylish designs for seam-free knits" is an ideal and popular addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft collections.

Editorial Note: Christine Boggis is the editor of Knitting magazine and author of JOMO Knits: 21 Projects to Celebrate the Joy of Missing Out. She worked as a journalist in Sussex, Vienna and London before joining Knitting, where she writes about knitting all day long then rushes home to spend the evening -- knitting!

10,000 Knitted Hats
Jo Allport
GMC Publications
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946319, $29.99, Spiral Bound, 80pp

https://www.amazon.com/10-000-Knitted-Hats-combinations/dp/1784946311

Synopsis: "10,000 Knitted Hats: Discover your own unique design combinations" by knitting expert Jo Allport is an interactive knitting book that contains photographs of different hat brims, bodies and crowns that can be combined in a total of 10,626 ways to create unique hat patterns.

Once you've chosen your design, turn over the pages of this hardcover/spiral bound book for the correct written pattern for that combination of parts. You can then use the handy embellishments section to add any extra features to the basic design.

The hat brims, bodies and crowns use many stitches, some familiar and others new. Find color work, both easy and more challenging, along with slipped-stitch patterns, cables, lace and texture, all explained clearly in the handy techniques section. Aimed at all ability levels, there is something for everyone.

Critique: Impressively organized and presented for maximum 'user friendliness' in a special 'mix & match' format, it is no exaggeration for knitting expert Jo Allport to claim that when you have "10,000 Knitted Hats: Discover your own unique design combinations" you will never need another knitted hat design book! As much fun to explore hat styles and fabrics as it inspiring to planning knitting projects with, "10,000 Knitted Hats: Discover your own unique design combinations" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Editorial Note: From UK knitting magazines to big international yarn brands, you can find knitwear designs by Jo Allport (http://www.joallportdesigns.com) in many places. She also teaches knitting face to face, online and via tutorials. A lover of all crafts and a prolific writer on the subject, she is a regular contributor to Knitting magazine and Let's Knit. Jo has been designing knitwear for over 12 years, but this has not been her only career. Starting in the oil industry and then moving into IT after that, she brings many other disciplines to her work. Her love of working with people, attention to detail and, most of all, her creativity, have all led her to her current passion, knitting. She can be followed on Instagram and find her designs on Ravelry.

Crocheted Houseplants
Emma Varnam
GMC Publications
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946418, $27.99, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Houseplants-Beautiful-flora-make/dp/1784946419

Synopsis: With the publication of "Crocheted Houseplants" by needlecraft expert Emma Varnam is comprised of 25 stylish crocheting projects to revive your home or office decor and create a lush indoor garden. Flip through the gallery pages, pick your favourite plants and then just get started. Everything you will need to know is included in "Crocheted Houseplants", from tools and materials to explanations of the basic crochet stitches. You will also find out how to pot up and display your fabulous, crocheted creations!

Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photography, "Crocheted Houseplants" is an impressively 'user friendly' instructional DIY guide that will enable even the most novice of crochet enthusiasts to create unique and memorial 'house plant' themed creations. Exceptional, unusual, and fun, "Crocheted Houseplants" is especially recommended as a prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft collections.

Editorial Note: Emma Varnam (https://emmavarnam.co.uk) likes to make items that bring a smile. She has written a number of popular crochet books -- including Granny Squares Home, Crocheted Keyrings & Charms, Cute Crocheted Animals and How to Crochet, all published by GMC Publications.


The Crafts Shelf

A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers
Motoko Maggie Nakatani
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9780804855716, $16.99, HC, 80pp

https://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Quilling-Paper-Flowers/dp/0804855714

Synopsis: With the publication of "A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers: Beautiful Japanese-Style Paper Art", Japanese quilling expert Motoko Maggie Nakatani demonstrates how to create breathtaking quilled flowers with just a few inexpensive tools and paper quilling strips. Her simple roll-shape-and-paste method is perfect for beginners -- allowing them to quickly and successfully create dozens of different flowers.

"A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers" has all the information needed to engage with this fascinating hobby using easy-to-follow, step-by-step photographic instructions.

The 32 different varieties of quilled flowers include: Roses (with frilly petals and ornate leaves for sweet and romantic gift decorations); Gerbera (with a graduated 3-level "wedding cake" effect that makes it the highlight of any display); Japanese Wisteria (whose contrasting colors and cascading blossoms make a memorable impression); Black-Eyed Susans (with clever arrangement of the petals creating a unique 3D effect); Dogwood Blossoms (whose intricate harp-shaped petals really showcase your skill as a quillist) -- and dozens of others!

This complete how-to guide has templates and detailed step-by-step instructions as well as information on how to use and display your beautiful paper flowers -- as gift toppers, framed displays, handmade cards, photo frames and in shadow box displays.

Critique: The perfect combination of instruction guide and how-to manual, "A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers: Beautiful Japanese-Style Paper Art" is an ideal introduction to Japanese style paper art. Exceptionally well illustrated, organized, and presented, "A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Paper Art Making collections. It should be noted that "A Beginner's Guide to Quilling Paper Flowers" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.14).

Editorial Note: Motoko Maggie Nakatani (https://www.facebook.com/motoko.nakatani) discovered her love for quilling when she owned a toy and candy shop in Kobe, Japan. She taught herself to quill and began importing quilling tools and materials to sell in her shop beginning in 2003. After attending her first North American Quilling Guild convention, she was inspired to offer quilling classes to pass along the techniques that she'd developed herself and learned from other quillers. Maggie is also the lead instructor for Botanical Quilling Japan, a group that focuses on work expressing the seasonal beauty of plants and flowers. She is a founding member of the Japan Quilling Guild and the Japanese representative to the North American Quilling Guild.


The Woodworking Shelf

Woodworking Joinery by Hand
Toyohisa Sugita
The GMC Group
https://www.guildmcgroup.com
9781784946524, $34.99, PB, 296pp

https://www.amazon.com/Woodworking-Joinery-Hand-Innovative-Techniques/dp/1784946524

Synopsis: With the publication of "Woodworking Joinery by Hand: Innovative Techniques Using Japanese Saws and Jigs", expert craftsman Yoyohisa Sugita provides the aspiring woodworker with a truly ground-breaking woodworking instruction book that introduces a new twist on the traditional hand-cut methods of joint making.

With Sugita's unique method of guiding and controlling the saw blade using jigs and magnetic sheets, even a complete beginner can learn advanced joint-making techniques with hand tools alone. Making it easy to produce straight and square cuts, "Woodworking Joinery by Hand" is an impressive and pioneering technique that will prove to be a genuine game-changer for producing high-precision, beautifully made wooden joints.

Critique: Featuring profusely and informatively illustrated step-by-step instructions throughout, "Woodworking Joinery by Hand: Innovative Techniques Using Japanese Saws and Jigs" is an ideal instruction manual and how-to guide that will be of special and particular interest to both amateur and professional woodworkers alike. Simply stated, "Woodworking Joinery by Hand" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and highschool woodworking shop class Woodworking collections.

Editorial Note: At the age of 28, Toyohisa Sugita began building his own 28ft cruising yacht. It took five and a half years to complete and launch. This experience was the starting point for his woodworking career. Since then, he has developed, manufactured and sold woodworking products; produced and sold woodworking videos and is currently a Lie-Nielsen distributor. He is the author of Super Epoch-making Woodworking Techniques (Studio Tuck Creative) and All About Sugita-Style Sawing Wood (Ohm-sha), which advocates 'Sugita-style' sawing, meaning a precision woodworking technique that requires almost no power tools. Toyohisa currently lives in Tokyo, Japan. (https://patents.justia.com/inventor/toyohisa-sugita)


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Roots of Film Noir
Kevin Grant
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476687483, $39.95, PB, 252pp

https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Film-Noir-Precursors-Silent/dp/147668748X

Synopsis: Film Noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations.

Comprised of individual reviews for 90+ films created and released before 1941, "Roots of Film Noir: Precursors from the Silent Era to the 1940s" by Kevin Grant (a film historian and periodical journalist living in London) is the first title-by-title reference guide to the forerunners of film noir. Silent Hitchcock thrillers and German expressionist masterpieces, French poetic realist dramas and forgotten Hollywood B-movies, pseudo-Freudian gangster films and costume melodramas are among the works covered.

Illustrated with black/white period photos, this collection spans subgenres and cultures of filmmaking, aiming to demonstrate that the roots of noir were sown far and wide, long before the lasting and mysterious genre flowered in America during the war years.

Critique: Fascinating, informative, detailed, and a genuine treat for Film Noir movie buffs, "Roots of Film Noir: Precursors from the Silent Era to the 1940s" is a welcome and unreserved recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic librry Cinematic History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of film buffs, film students, and academia, that "Roots of Film Noir: Precursors from the Silent Era to the 1940s" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).

Try Not to Hold It Against Me
Julian Schlossberg
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
www.beaufortbooks.com
9780825310256, $26.95, HC, 374pp

https://www.amazon.com/Try-Not-Hold-Against-Me/dp/0825310253

Synopsis: Veteran motion picture, television, and Broadway producer Julian Schlossberg grew up in New York City with an early love of entertainment. As a child, he was an avid fan of radio, film, and the new art of television, and harbored ambitions of meeting his favorite stars one day. Little did he know that in the course of his career, he would not only meet many of them, but also become their producer, representative, and friend.

During his nearly 60 years in show business, Schlossberg has worked as a producer, director, distributor, exhibitor, radio and television host, and record executive. At 27 he was the youngest head film buyer of a national theater chain; after working at the ABC network, the Walter Reade Organization, and Paramount Pictures, he would start his own motion-picture company, Castle Hill Productions, which would become one of the largest independent film-distribution companies in the world with a library of over 500 films. Not willing to restrict his efforts to film and television, he has also produced award-winning plays and musicals for Broadway and off-Broadway, working closely with brilliant writers and directors like Mike Nichols, Larry Gelbart, Susan Stroman, Woody Allen, and David Mamet.

With the publication of his memoir "Try Not to Hold It Against Me", Schlossberg shares stories from a lifetime in entertainment, from his childhood in the Bronx to his years as a producer for screen and stage. Schlossberg takes us through the trials and triumphs of work and play in every avenue of the business: negotiating with Al Pacino, Burt Reynolds, and Lillian Hellman; hosting the syndicated radio and television production Movie Talk, which introduced him to hundreds of stars; experiencing the paranormal with Shirley MacLaine and Betty Hill; running the Orson Welles estate and restoring Welles' masterly film adaptation of Othello; partying with Barbra Streisand and Liza Minelli; testifying in a lawsuit against The Beatles; and interviewing over 120 of the most influential figures of the 20th century for his series Witnesses to the 20th Century.

Written with engaging humor and self-deprecation (and featuring a foreword by Academy Award winner Elaine May), "Try Not to Hold It Against Me" gives readers a behind-the-scenes pass to Cannes and Las Vegas, the lives and homes of the stars, and the rarely seen but crucial work of the producer in the midst of it all. It's a compelling read for film, television, and theater enthusiasts alike -- and a one-of-a-kind autobiography by one of entertainment's true insiders.

Critique: An inherently fascinating and impressively informative insider's account of a successful and substantial Hollywood career behind the camera, "Try Not to Hold It Against Me" has a very special appeal to readers with an interest in cinematic history in general, and film industry biographies/memoirs in particular. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Try Not to Hold It Against Me" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library American Cinema, Theatre, and Television History, as well as Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Try Not to Hold It Against Me" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note #1: Julian Schlossberg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Schlossberg) has produced more than 60 works in film, theater, and television. During his career, he has established himself as a producer's representative for such prominent figures as Elia Kazan, John Cassavetes, Elaine May, and George C. Scott. Schlossberg is also the co-founder of Merlian News, an online magazine, and (with partner Danny Goldberg) Gold Castle Records. He is currently producing Witnesses to the 20th Century, a TV series examining the century's major events through the experiences of its most prominent people.

The Good, the Bad and the Ancient
Sue Matheson, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476667645, $55.00, PB, 227pp

https://www.amazon.com/Good-Bad-Ancient-Greco-Roman-Influence/dp/1476667640

Synopsis: Although Americans are no longer compelled to learn Greek and Latin, classical Greco/Roman ideals remain embedded in American law and politics, philosophy, oratory, history and especially popular culture.

In the Western genre, many film and television directors (such as John Ford, Raoul Walsh, Howard Hawks, Anthony Mann and Sam Peckinpah) have drawn inspiration from antiquity, and the classical values and influences in their work have shaped our conceptions of the West for years.

Compiled and edited by Sue Matheson, "The Good, the Bad and the Ancient: Essays on the Greco-Roman Influence in Westerns" is a thought-provoking, first-of-its-kind collection of essays that celebrate, affirm and critique the cinematic Westerns relationship with the classical world. Explored are films like Cheyenne Autumn, The Wild Bunch, The Track of the Cat, Trooper Hook, The Furies, Heaven's Gate, and Slow West, as well as serials like Gunsmoke and Lonesome Dove.

Critique: Comprised of fifteen impressively informative and deftly crafted essays, as well as a complete listing of the contributors and their credentials, "The Good, the Bad and the Ancient: Essays on the Greco-Roman Influence in Westerns" is a singularly unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Movie/TV History & Criticism collections. It should be noted for dedicated western movie and television fans that "The Good, the Bad and the Ancient: Essays on the Greco-Roman Influence in Westerns" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $32.99).

General Note: Sue Matheson (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sue-Matheson) is a Professor of English at the University College of the North in Manitoba, Canada.

Do the Right Thing
Karla R. Fuller
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615933402, $26.95, PB, 132pp

https://www.amazon.com/Right-Thing-Storytelling-Screenplays-Diversity/dp/1615933409

Synopsis: With the publication of "Do the Right Thing: Five Screenplays that Embrace Diversity", Professor Karla R. Fuller offers screenwriting strategies that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. These are the five film that are discussed: Moonlight, Get Out, Mudbound, Roma, and Always be My Maybe. The goal is to teach an already challenging writing mode that requires screenwriters to create complex human experiences through visual storytelling.

We are in a critical historical moment where the importance of screenwriting can be of the utmost usefulness in the observation of racism, inequity and inclusion in all media. The screen representations of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or class are not often explicitly addressed at the "front end" of the film production process, specifically, during the creation of the screenplay (whether original or adapted from outside source material). The idea is to introduce and reinforce the importance of accountability for what you write for the screen.

This is not to limit the screenwriter's creative impulses, but rather to create and engage them in consistent ways that reveal unconscious biases and instances of systemic racism. We will use five case studies of commercially successful and award-winning screenplays that resist stereotypes to present multidimensional depictions of historically underrepresented groups, such as LGBTQ, African American, Latino and Asian American.

In the discussions of each individual screenplay issues such as the adaptation process, plot structure and devices, characterization, setting, symbolism, and genre conventions are introduced and analyzed in depth.

Critique: Simply stated, "Do the Right Thing: Five Screenplays that Embrace Diversity" should be required reading for anyone who aspires to be a successful screen writer. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, insightful and informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Do the Right Thing: Five Screenplays that Embrace Diversity" is essential and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Screen Writing instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Do the Right Thing: Five Screenplays that Embrace Diversity" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.13).

Editorial Note: Karla Rae Fuller (http://www.karlaraefuller.com) is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago. She teaches in the Cinema Studies and Screenwriting areas in the undergraduate and MFA graduate programs. She received her PhD from Northwestern University, MFA from Columbia University in New York City and BA from Amherst College. Prior to teaching at Columbia College, Ms. Fuller held the position of Director of Feature Film Evaluation at Vestron Inc. which produced the hit movie Dirty Dancing among others. She was also a freelance script reader for New Line Cinema, Miramax and various other production companies.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Vanko, 1848
Jean Van Hamme, author
Philippe Berthet, illustrator
Cinebook
https://www.cinebook.co.uk
c/o NBN Books (distribution)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781800440609, $13.95, PB, 56pp

https://www.amazon.com/Vanko-1848-Fortune-Winczlavs-Hamme/dp/180044060X

Synopsis: 1848. In Ottoman-occupied Montenegro, young doctor Vanko Winczlav is one of the leaders of a popular uprising. Betrayed, wanted by the authorities, he flees the Balkans for the United States in the company of a Bulgarian refugee, Veska, whom he marries to allow her to enter New York legally. So begins the history of a family closely entwined with that of a still new country going through many transformations.

Critique: An inherently interesting and entertaining 19th Century immigrant story told in a graphic novel format by the team of author/storyteller Jean Van hamme and artist/illustrator Philippe Berthet, "Vanko, 1848" from NBM Publishing is a highly recommended addition to both personal and community library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted that "Vanko, 1848" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle/Comixology, $4.61).

Editorial Note #1: Jean Van Hamme (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Van_Hamme) is one of the most acclaimed writers of European comics. Among his many successes, let's mention Thorgal with Rosinski, XIII with Vance and Largo Winch with Francq, but also Lady S., Wayne Shelton, Authorised Happiness, and several volumes of Blake & Mortimer - all published by Cinebook.

Editorial Note #2: Philippe Berthet (https://www.europecomics.com/author/philippe-berthet) is a French 'ligne claire' artist. After a remarkable entrance onto the comics scene in Spirou Magazine with Couleur Cafe in 1980, he created, among others, Le Prive d'Hollywood, Les Exploits de Poison Ivy as well as Pin-up with Yann.


The Audiobook Shelf

Inspired, Not Retired
Dr. Burl Randolph Jr., DM
MyWingman, LLC
https://mywingmanllc.com
9781087904665, $21.00 Paper/$17.46 Audio/$3.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Not-Retired-Leadership-Lessons/dp/B09RQ6DC3D

The audio version of Inspired, Not Retired provides a flavor the written word misses: the sound of emphasis and clarity which embeds written word with its own drama for an inspirational listening experience. "Retirement is in the eyes of the beholder." Narrator Jerome Ware opens this survey on leadership and life meaning with Dr. Randolph's admonition that the traditional view of what constitutes retirement may be skewed. It's not so much about quitting as about re-envisioning the type of work and life purpose that serves as an inspiration to one's remaining years and influences those around us. Few have embraced this idea more heartily than retired colonel Dr. Randolph, whose vision of retirement as putting his feet up and turning off his cell phone proved quite different, in reality. His experiences involved a foray into leadership that would pass from father to son and between not one, but several generations.

Dr. Randolph realized he was "...just not built to relax. Nor was I ready for retirement." The reality was that, married to a working wife with two teenage sons to raise, he was merely entering into another phase of life where he would have the freedom to more readily choose and direct his path and life work. Thankfully for listeners interested in leadership subjects, he chose the motivational guide route. Thus, this audio (which also appears in paperback and ebook formats), which considers the challenges of retirement, leadership, a father's influences on his son, and lessons learned "in the oddest ways."

Part memoir, part examination of leadership, and thoroughly backed by Dr. Randolph's changing experience and vision of retirement years, this audio would be the perfect retirement gift for that hard-to-please retiree who enters into this new phase of life with little vision of what his future will look like. Between selflessness, preparedness, and hard work (which feels like a startling contrast in a retirement guide; but which actually reflects part of the preparedness component when it comes to recreating one's later years), Dr. Randolph pursues a revised vision of retirement and injects his father's life lessons into his discourse. Subjects of respect, pride, obedience and responsibility may seem reflective of military training (indeed, they are), but they apply in surprising ways to views of retirement and life choices.

Motivational listeners who look for listening that enlightens, pushes, and admits readers into the wellsprings of the author's own life influences will find Inspired, Not Retired a compelling lesson in contrasts between leadership assets and becoming a role model in a child's life. While it might initially be chosen by those looking to retire, Inspired, Not Retired is not so much about how to relax, as how to become an effective leader and mentor in life. This message will reach motivational listeners in all walks of life; from business people to those who would be positive role models for others. The audio version lends emphasis and quiet power to Dr. Randolph's story, making Inspired, Not Retired a top recommendation for libraries interested in motivational listening for a broad audience.


The Library CD Shelf

Voices: A Musical Heritage
Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra
www.winnipegjazzorchestra.com
Independently Published
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMZPZ3VN

The sixth album by Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Voices: A Musical Heritage collects commissions from eight jazz composers intended to reflect the richness of Manitoba's musical heritage. Individual songs trace their roots to the First Nations, Metis, Ukrainian, Jewish, Chilean, Brazilian, Nigerian, and Icelandic cultures. A world-spanning treasury, superbly performed, Voices: A Musical Heritage is a "must-have" for adventurous jazz connoisseurs and highly recommended for public library music collections. The tracks are The Parallel Steppes: Keeyn, Ochka, Yaseni (John Stetch), Homenaje (Rodrigo Munoz), The Living Mind (Jeff Presslaff), Oriri (Henry Onwuchekwa; arr. Richard Gillis), Shadows (Richard Gillis), Choro para Amazonia (Marco Castillo), Ishpiming (Andrew Balfour; arr. Richard Gillis), and The Bison Hunt (Michelle Gregoire).

Dreamride
Composed by Holly Burke & Bill Runge
Linda Lee Thomas, piano
www.hollyburke.com
www.billrunge.com
Canada Council for the Arts
$TBA CD / $TBA digital

https://billrunge.com/music

Composed by Holly Burke and Bill Runge, and performed by Linda Lee Thomas (principal pianist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 1972 and a member of the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame), Dreamride is an extraordinary, original piano album of twenty beautiful, inspirational songs. Dreamride is a joy for piano connoisseurs, a welcome addition to public library music collections, and also makes an excellent gift! Highly recommended. The tracks are New, Butterfly, The Briny Deep, Minerva's Owl, Lindo, Shapeshifter, Lily Pond, Exegesis, Daphne, Manny's Arms, Amoroso, Bill & Bob's Big Adventure, Two Eagles, Valentina, First Snow on Cypress, Elysium, Fall, Monkey Puzzle Blues, O Catalpa, and Music for Maple.

Let There Be Love
Carmen McRae
Hindsight Records
$10.98 CD / $9.49 MP3

Let There Be Love collects timeless performances of classic songs by beloved jazz singer Carmen McRae (1920-1994). A treasury showcasing McRae's dulcet voice, Let There Be Love is a choice pick for both personal and public library jazz collections, and also makes an excellent gift. Highly recommended! The tracks are If You Never Fall In Love With Me, Fly Me To The Moon, Let There Be Love, It Could Happen To You, I've Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good), Make Someone Happy, The Right To Love (Reflections), Watch What Happens, I Left My Heart In San Francisco, Alfie, I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away The Key), Miss Brown To You, Stardust, and Too Close For Comfort.

9 to 5
3D Jazz Trio
3djazztrio.com
Independently Published
$14.64 CD / $8.91 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMKX83NH

9 to 5 is the latest music album by 3D Jazz Trio (Jackie Warren on piano, Amy Shook on acoustic bass, and Sherrie Maricle on drums). An upbeat, lively swinging collection in the trio's signature style, 9 to 5 is an energetic collection featuring both arrangements of beloved popular songs and original compositions. 9 to 5 is a welcome addition to jazz collections and also makes an excellent celebration gift when a friend or family member lands a new job or a promotion! The tracks are Only Have Eyes for You, Tin Tin Deo, Sing, 9 to 5, Some Other Time, Lagrimas Negras, Blues for G-C, and Theme for B.T.

An Enchanted Noel
Dan Kennedy
www.dankennedy.us
Independently Published
$14.05 CD / $9.49 MP3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHXXQ7PR

An Enchanted Noel is a solo piano recording featuring classical carols, a couple popular favorites, and two original songs ("For Those Not Here" and "Of Snow and Stars"). An Enchanted Noel beautifully captures the joyful spirit of the holiday season, and is a choice pick for uplifting one's mood year-round! Highly recommended. The tracks are Angels We Have Heard on High, In the Bleak Midwinter, Carol of the Bells, For Those Not Here, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Holiday Medley (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Little Drummer Boy, What Child Is This?), For Unto Us a Child Is Born, Away in a Manger, Sussex Carol, The First Noel, Of Snow and Stars, and White Christmas.


The DVD Shelf

My Life Is Murder: Series 2
Lucy Lawless
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
www.acornonline.com
B0BJYV4L13, $TBA, DVD, 3 Discs, 12 Episodes

https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Murder-Lucy-Lawless/dp/B0BJYV4L13

Synopsis: Retired detective Alexa Crowe moved back to her hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, to bake amazing sourdough and reconnect with her ex-con brother. But this irrepressible investigator can't help poking her nose into bizarre murder cases.

Critique: The third season of the hit television mystery series "My Life Is Murder" is a fun series of original mystery solving shows starring Lucy Lawless and a superb supporting cast (including the villains!). This superbly produced three disc DVD is certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

Editorial Note: Lucy Lawless (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Lawless) is a New Zealand actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Xena in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, as D'Anna Biers on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series, and as Lucretia in the television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand -- and associated series.


The Automotive Shelf

America's Fire Engine
Walter M. P. McCall, author
Alan M. Craig, author
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476689203, $49.95, PB, 390pp

https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Fire-Engine-American-LaFrance-1947-1959/dp/1476689202

Synopsis: As World War II drew to a close, America's premier fire apparatus builder (the American-LaFrance Foamite Corp. of Elmira, N.Y.) bet the company's future on its radical new cab-ahead-of-engine 700 Series fire engines. In a spectacular gamble to capture the superheated postwar market, all of the company's existing products were discontinued and its customers were essentially told to "take it or leave it".

This bold gamble paid off and 700 Series rigs soon filled firehouses across the nation, sweeping aside all competitors and ultimately defining the breakthrough 700 as "America's Fire Engine."

"America's Fire Engine: The American-LaFrance 700 Series, 1947-1959" by Walter M. P. McCall and Alan M. Craig is the first comprehensive history of the game-changing 700. Individual chapters detail not only each of the eight major vehicle types but also the origins, design controversies, manufacturing, and marketing of the 700 and short-lived transitional 800 Series.

"America's Fire Engine: The American-LaFrance 700 Series, 1947-1959" also includes a meticulously researched registry of every 700/800 series apparatus delivered, supported by many interpretive tables detailing production, specifications and major fire department fleets.

Critique: An absolute 'must' for readers with a dedicated interest in fire fighting equipment in general, and fire trucks in particular, "America's Fire Engine: The American-LaFrance 700 Series, 1947-1959" is an informatively and profusely illustrated history that is highly recommended as a unique and invaluable addition to personal, community, and academic library American Automotive History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "America's Fire Engine: The American-LaFrance 700 Series, 1947-1959" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $22.49).

Editorial Note #1: Walter M.P. McCall (https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/walter-mccall/362323) is an internationally known fire apparatus historian who has written 22 automotive history books -- 12 of them on fire apparatus. His two encyclopedias on the subject are considered the "bible" of the field. He has also written numerous articles and features for national and regional fire apparatus and emergency vehicle hobby publications.

Editorial Note #2: Growing up a short distance from the Toronto Fire Department's Yorkville Avenue station made Alan M. Craig an early fan of the American-LaFrance 700 Series and launched a half century of fire apparatus photography and his 35-year career in emergency services. As a fire service historian, he has spent four decades documenting not only American-LaFrance but also the Toronto Fire Department's motorized fire apparatus, and the Department's Fire Alarm Telegraph system.

How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars
Patrick Krook
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613255469, $34.95, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/How-Buy-Sell-Collector-Cars/dp/1613255462

Synopsis: With the publication of "How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars", Patrick Krook shows how to maximize your profits and savings when buying and selling collector cars!

The dealership model is an American institution, and auction houses can trace their roots back to the days of dusty cattle sales. Both have remained unchanged. Since the early 2000s, the internet has shaken up these legacy methods of finding, buying, and selling vintage cars, becoming a global online marketplace open to anyone.

CarTech, in conjunction with Patrick Krook (of REV! Muscle Cars), now introduces a proven process drawn from 20 years of experience building some of the world's most significant classic car collections. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an established collector, this book shows you how to locate and buy your dream collector car stress free. Get the car you are expecting every time, creating positive cash flow and keeping the hobby fun for years to come.

"How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars" offers an easy-to-follow, heavily illustrated step-by-step method to find, evaluate, negotiate, close, fund, and take delivery of a collector car safely over the internet without leaving your living room. It also includes how to avoid costly purchase mistakes, such as overpaying, fakes, or buying someone else's headache. Better yet, it delves into details about how to always sell out of advantage, minimizing the overall amount you invest as you build your collection over time. Lastly, it provides all the tools you need for buying and selling when you have that person-to-person driveway transaction.

Why spend tens of thousands of dollars on dealership retail markup, auction fees, and failed purchases when you can obtain your dream car, keep more money in your pocket, and spend more quality time enjoying your cars? "How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars: takes you from being a novice to a seasoned buyer/seller while you enjoy the adventure of car collecting.

Critique: Informatively and effectively illustrated throughout, "How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Automotive instructional reference collections. Simply stated, "How to Buy and Sell Collector Cars" is essential reading in order to obtain the very best deal possible when buying or selling a car.

Editorial Note: Patrick Krook began his obsession in all things automotive as a toddler, handing wrenches to his father to fix the family truckster, a 1973 Ford Custom 500 Ranch Wagon. That experience spurred a career traveling the world and building some of the most storied and exclusive private car collections. He has also helped transform personal collections into public museums, most notably the Wellborn Muscle Car Museum. Patrick also has been a freelance journalist, photographer, and market analyst since 2007 for publications such as Mopar Collector's Guide and the Motor Trend family of magazine titles. In 2003, he began his first online auto brokerage and still runs REV! Muscle Cars (revmusclecars.com) today in partnership with his wife, Laurie. Together they have located, bought, and sold hundreds of investment-quality vintage automobiles for private collectors.


The Photography Shelf

Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow
Michael Freeman
Ilex Press
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781781578544, $27.99, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Freeman-Light-Shadow/dp/1781578540

Synopsis: With the publication of "Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass", and drawing upon more than 40 years of practical experience, author and photographer Michael Freeman examines the most fundamental building-blocks of photography (light and shadow) bringing this key element of the picture-making process into the 21st century.

In this combination of instruction guide and 'how to' manual, Freeman takes a new and different view of photography's prime commodity, arguing that for the photographer, the rich and evocative world of shadows is the full equal of the actual light that casts them and bathes scenes. He defines the varied qualities of both light and shadows (of which there are at least ten distinct types), and shows how they have particular meaning and purpose. He also argues for integrating exposure and processing with an appreciation of light and shadow quality so as to have full and subtle control. Armed with this understanding and these techniques, the creative photographer can work with light and shadow to add depth and quality to imagery.

"Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass" includes: All new content from the master of photography guides; Concise and easy-to-follow format clearly explains the fundamentals of light and shadow; A light and shadow discussion of photographic image-making; Real-life examples, clearly illustrated, cut through the jargon and show the theory of light and shadow in practice.

Critique: Informatively and beautifully illustrated in full color throughout, "Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass" is an ideal DIY instruction guide that will prove to be an invaluable resource for aspiring and experienced photographers alike. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Michael Freeman On... Light & Shadow: The Ultimate Photography Masterclass" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Photographic Lighting and Reference collections.

Editorial Note: Michael Freeman (http://www.michaelfreemanphoto.com) was born in England in 1945, took a Masters in Geography at Brasenose College, Oxford University, and then worked in advertising in London for six years. In 1971 he made the life-changing decision to travel up the Amazon with two secondhand cameras, and when Time-Life used many of the pictures he came back with, he embarked on a full-time photographic career. Since then, working for clients that include all the world's major magazines, most notably the Smithsonian Magazine (for which he has shot more than 40 stories over 30 years), Freeman's reputation as one of the world's leading reportage photographers has been consolidated. Of his many books, which have sold over 4 million copies worldwide, more than 60 titles are on the practice of photography. For this photographic educational work he was awarded the Prix Louis Philippe Clerc by the French Ministry of Culture.

Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle
Hassan Sarbakhshian, author
Lior B. Sternfeld, author
Parvaneh Vahidmanesh, author
Penn State University Press
820 North University Drive, University Park, PA 16802-1003
www.psupress.org
9780271092645, $29.95, HC, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Jews-Iran-Photographic-Chronicle-Imagination/dp/0271092645

Synopsis: Westerners often imagine Jews in Iran as a captive and oppressed community, alienated within their home nation yet restricted from leaving it. The reality is much more complex. "Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle" is a photographic journey through twenty-first-century Iran, providing a unique view of the country's Jewish community in situations typically unknown to the Western world.

Photojournalist Hassan Sarbakhshian spent two years living among Iran's Jewish communities, joining them for holidays, family gatherings, and travels, and (with the help of fellow journalist Parvaneh Vahidmanesh) documenting how they lived. Moving beyond the well-known state and regional confrontations, the photos that Sarbakhshian took tell a broader story about a community of people who live in the figurative and literal middle. They are Iranian nationals by birth and by choice, and they are Jews by religious affiliation. Full loyalty to their country is expected, even as their ancestral homeland is at odds with their political homeland. This photographic chronicle illuminates the grey zone that they inhabit.

Featuring over one hundred full-color photos which are contextualized with extensive annotations, and accompanied by a substantive introduction written by historian Lior B. Sternfeld, "Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle" calls into question Western views of this religious community.

Critique: Given the current political unrest in Iran today, "Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle" is a timely reveal of one of the most beautiful and complicated untold stories of contemporary Iran. A visual documentation of an Iranian story that is obscured by a political and cultural unrest that dominates the news headlines of today. An inherently fascinating photojournalism volume, "Jews of Iran: A Photographic Chronicle" is a highly recommended and unique addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Judaic History, Photojournalism, and Contemporary Iranian History collections.

Editorial Note #1: Hassan Sarbakhshian has thirty years of experience in journalism, television production, and photojournalism. He began his journalism career at Voice of America in Washington, DC. His photographs have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, The Economist, and other international newspapers and magazines.

Editorial Note #2: Lior B. Sternfeld is Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at The Pennsylvania State University and the author of Between Iran and Zion: Jewish Histories of Twentieth-Century Iran.

Editorial Note #3: Parvaneh Vahidmanesh has seventeen years of experience in journalism inside and outside of Iran. She is currently a broadcast journalist at Radio Free Europe's Persian service in Prague.

Eye Dreaming: Photographs by Anthony Barboza
Anthony Barboza, et al.
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
www.getty.edu/publications
9781606067833, $40.00, HC, 184pp

https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Dreaming-Photographs-Anthony-Barboza/dp/1606067834

Synopsis: Anthony Barboza (b. 1944) is a celebrated artist, photographer, and writer who has made thousands of photographs in the studio and on the street since 1963. A member of the Kamoinge collective of photographers in New York, Barboza is largely self-taught and has an inimitable, highly intuitive vision that he refers to as "eye dreaming," or "a state of mind that's almost like meditation".

Throughout the years he has made countless commercial images, including celebrity portraits, advertisements, and album covers. His personal photographic projects illuminate his deep investment in the art and concerns of Black communities, not only in the United States but also around the globe.

"Eye Dreaming: Photographs by Anthony Barboza" is a lavishly illustrated, coffee-table style (9.75 x 0.8 x 12 inches, 3.22 pounds) volume that showcases Barboza's prolific career from his youth in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to his formative years in New York in the 1960s, to the present day.

An introduction by renowned author and critic Hilton Als underscores Barboza's importance and impact. An essay by curator Aaron Bryant contextualizes Barboza's life and career as they map against major civil rights events in the United States. In an intimate interview between the artist and curator Mazie M. Harris, Barboza offers astute, humorous, and intimate musings on his long career, foundational influences, and artistic legacy.

Critique: "Eye Dreaming: Photographs by Anthony Barboza" is impressive, informative, and beautifully published monograph from the J. Paul Getty Museum is the first on the artist, will have a very special appeal to anyone with an interest in contemporary photography, as well visual depictions of Black art and culture. While unreservedly recommended as an addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Photography/Photographers collections, it should be noted for photography students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Eye Dreaming: Photographs by Anthony Barboza" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.00).

Editorial Note #1: Anthony Barboza (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Barboza) is an artist, historian, and writer. He has been making photographs in the studio and on the street since 1963.

Editorial Note #2: Aaron Bryant (https://www.arts.gov/stories/podcast/aaron-bryant) is curator of photography and visual culture at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Smithsonian Institution.

Editorial Note #3: Mazie M. Harris (https://www.photoculture.la/blog/2018/5/21/mazie-harris) is assistant curator in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Her research focuses on American photography. She is the author of Paper Promises: Early American Photography (Getty, 2018).

Kali: Artographer
Len Prince, et al.
powerHouse Books
https://powerhousebooks.com
9781648230219, $50.00, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Kali-Artographer-Len-Prince/dp/1648230210

Synopsis: Joan Archibald (https://www.kaliartography.com) left her Long Island home and family in 1966, and ran away to the West Coast to reinvent herself as Kali and take up photography at the College of the Desert in Palm Springs. After palling around with the likes of Richard Chamberlain in Malibu, she moved to a house in Palm Springs once owned by Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee, and began creating "Artography" in earnest as Kali: haunting portraits and double-exposed landscapes made with film, developed in her large bathtub, and finished by hand coloring with dyes, spray paint, and even dirt and bugs, in her swimming pool. Trippy, painterly, intensely colorful prints and later Polaroids were made and seldom seen outside a tight circle (one muse was a teenage Cindy Sherman). She published a few pieces in photo magazines, but by the late 70s locked the work away in suitcases inside a locked shed, never to be seen again for over 40 years.

Kali's daughter, when cleaning out the house after her death, discovered the work and something more: journals and journals of photos from closed circuit TV monitors, copied and illustrated with diagrams, drawings and coded notes: she had been housebound for years, convinced that aliens and supernatural beings were visiting, spooking, and tormenting her, perhaps trying to make contact.

The discovery of the work by Kali's daughter Susan Archibald and her ex Len Prince is being heralded as a west coast version of the Vivian Maier discovery, and a limited edition release of a four-volume set of the work (Matt Tyrnauer essay monograph, Portraits and Landscapes, Polaroids, and Outer Space) was published to wild acclaim in the fall of 2021 (Kali Ltd. Ed., powerHouse Books).

The first major museum exhibition to show Kali's work will open at the Columbus Museum of Art September 10, 2022 and run through March 12, 2023, and travel thereafter.

Critique: Showcasing the use of photography as a media for creating art, "Kali: Artographer" is an inherently fascinating compendium of images and will prove to be of special appeal to readers with an interest in contemporary and avant garde photography. Unique, fascinating, thought-provoking, "Kali: Artographer" is highly recommended as an usual addition to personal, professional, community, and academic American Photography/Photographer collections.

Persona Non Grata
Booghie
powerHouse Books
https://powerhousebooks.com
9781648230011, $45.00, HC, 81pp

https://www.amazon.com/PERSONA-NON-GRATA-Boogie/dp/1648230016

Synopsis: "Persona Non Grata", a coffee-table style (8.25 x 0.7 x 11 inches, 2.1 pounds) compendium of both color and b/w candid, gritty, edgy, stunning photographs by Booghie that reveal, illustrate and document the darker side of Bangkok, Thailand.

Critique: Informatively enhanced with a Foreword by TracyQuan, "Personal Non Grata" is an inherently fascinating photographic study that will have a special appeal to readers with an interest in street photography and individual photographic portraiture -- making it unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Photojournalism collections.

Editorial Note #1: Serbia, Boogie (https://boogiephotographer.com) was born and raised in Belgrade, and began photographing rebellion and unrest during the civil war that ravaged his country during the 1990s. Growing up in a war-torn country defined Boogie's style and attraction to the darker side of human existence. He moved to New York City in 1998. He has shot campaigns for high-profile clients and has been published in top fashion publications around the world, and has exhibited widely in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Boogie lives and works between Brooklyn and Belgrade, and is the author of some nine influential photo books, among them is It's All Good (2006, updated 2016), Boogie - the Limited Edition (2007), Belgrade Belongs to Me (2008), and Moscow (2019), all with powerHouse Books.

Editorial Note #2: Tracy Quan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Quan) is the author of "Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl", and "Diary of a Jetsetting Call Girl".


The Wine Shelf

Anyone Can Taste Wine
Cees van Casteren
Open Universe
c/o Carus Books
www.carusbooks.com
9781637700341, $39.95, HC, 300pp

https://www.amazon.com/Anyone-Can-Taste-Wine-Just/dp/1637700342

Synopsis: With the publication of "Anyone Can Taste Wine", international wine expert Cees van Casteren provides all the knowledge and self-confidence required to become a world-class wine taster. Revealed in methodical steps just exactly how to acquire essential wine-tasting skills. Cees (it's pronounced 'Case') van Casteren (who is also an international wine competition judge, as well as one of the global super-elite -- less than 500 top experts worldwide).

Critique: Effectively illustrated throughout, informative, and thoroughly 'wine student friendly' in organization and presentation, "Anyone Can Taste Wine" is especially commended to the attention of anyone aspiring to earn the supreme title, Master of Wine -- or just to pick out the perfect vintage for each and every dining occasion. While highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library collections, it should be noted that "Anyone Can Taste Wine" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Cornelius (Cees) van Casteren MW (http://www.ceesvancasteren.com) is a Dutch writer and educator. He has won numerous awards for wine tasting since 2000 and became a Master of Wine in 2012. Cees is a Rioja Educator, Ambassadeur du Champagne and WSET Educator. Since 2004, Cees has written 12 books and more than 600 articles on wine and food. He publishes weekly in three newspapers of the Associated Press, is correspondent for Meininger's Wine Business International and writes for several other magazines. Cees is also partner of wine blog thestoryofmywine.com with approximately 100,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook, and he runs his own independent wine consultancy and training business. He currently is Chairman of the Association of Vinologists, the main trade association for wine professionals in the Netherlands.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Wealth Habits
Candy Valentino
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394152292, $28.00, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Habits-Ordinary-Extraordinary-Financial/dp/1394152299

Synopsis: The underlying message of "Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to Achieve Extraordinary Financial Freedom" by entrepreneur Candy Valentino is that you don't have to be educated or connected to be wealthy. How do wealthy people do it? Are they geniuses? Lucky? We tend to think something special must be going on because it looks like magic. But nothing could be further from the truth. Wealthy people have simply adopted six ordinary habits -- and they do them extraordinarily well.

Valentino opened her first brick-and-mortar store at 19 (no college, no connections, no money) and built it into a seven-figure business before most of her friends graduated college. Over two decades of success as a serial entrepreneur and real estate investor, she has labored relentlessly to crack the code of the super-wealthy, and in doing so, has unearthed six simple habits that directly contribute to those who become part of the self-made millionaire class.

With the publication of "Wealth Habits", Valentino reveals all six habits, and shows how to put them to work including: Long-term investing strategies; Recession-proofing your business; Keeping money out of the hands of the IRS; Teach your children about money; Establishing financial protection and security; plus the secrets to keeping more of the money you make (so that you can invest even more).

"Think and get rich" will only get you so far. It's time to do and become wealthy and set yourself up for a lifetime of true financial freedom beginning with a copy of "Wealth Habits".

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject, "Wealth Habits: Six Ordinary Steps to Achieve Extraordinary Financial Freedom" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Business & Finance collections in general, and Budgeting/Money Management reading lists in particular. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, business managers/financiers, and entrepreneurs that "Wealth Habits" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.00).

Editorial Note: Candy Valentino (https://www.candyvalentino.com) is a successful founder, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. She started her first business at 19 years old with no degree, no corporate background, and no money. She has gone on to build, scale, and exit businesses in a variety of industries in addition to investing in real estate for more than two decades. Leveraging 25 years of actual business and investing experience, Candy is sought after to consult, speak, and train on the topics of wealth creation, business growth, and investing.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Digital Dentistry: A Step-by-Step Guide and Case Atlas
Arthur R.G. Coretes, editor
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119851998, $190.00, HC, 400pp

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Dentistry-Step-Step-Guide/dp/1119851998

Synopsis: An informative introduction to using digital technology in dentistry, "Digital Dentistry: A Step-by-Step Guide and Case Atlas" compiled and edited by Arthur R.G. Cortes provides basic information on the use of digital resources to find a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, and execute that strategy within different dental specialisms.

This instructive and comprehensive manual includes the science behind all procedures that use digital technology and provides a clinical step-by-step guide toward the use of these developments for every dental specialty area. Users will find a wide range of areas covered, from prosthodontics, restorative dentistry, and endodontics to oral and maxillofacial surgery and public health.

"Digital Dentistry" also includes: A guide to all current basic digital imaging and CAD-CAM procedures, with an emphasis on the most popular systems and software programs; An atlas of multidisciplinary cases that were treated with digital dentistry, from diagnosis and treatment planning to execution and follow-up, in order of complexity; Assessment of the scientific basis for using digital dentistry in each category; A presentation of clinical cases to support the use of digital methodologies in all relevant scenarios; An exploration of the role of digital dentistry in dental public health, preventive dentistry, and dental education.

Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Digital Dentistry" is unreservedly recommended for dental clinicians (general practitioners and specialists) as well as all other dental professionals, such as dental technologists, dental hygienists, and dental students, As a textbook and reference, "Digital Dentistry: A Step-by-Step Guide and Case Atlas" is an essential tool and reference work to help dental practitioners streamline and update their practice with the most up-to-date technologies. Unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Dentistry Medicine collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Digital Dentistry is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $152.00).

Editorial Note: Arthur R.G. Cortes, DDS, MSc, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Acting Head of Department, Department of Dental Surgery, Faculty of Dental Surgery, University of Malta. He has a PhD in Oral Diagnosis after completing a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, Boston, USA. He is also an Oral Implantologist, fellow and speaker of the International Team of Implantologists (ITI) and co-founder of the European Academy of Digital Dentistry.

Adult Orthodontics, second edition
Birte Melsen, editor
Cesare Luzi, editor
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119775775, $150.00, HC, 480pp

https://www.amazon.com/Adult-Orthodontics-Birte-Melsen/dp/1119775779

Synopsis: Drawing from renowned contributors from the orthodontic community and collaboratively compiled and co- edited by orthodontist Birte Melsen and Cesare Luzi, this newly updated and expanded edition of "Adult Orthodontics" is an authoritative resource on the subject of adult orthodontics, blending together clinical guidance with a thorough evaluation of the evidence base.

"Adult Orthodontics" include: Context for adult orthodontics, including patient demographics and aetiology; Treatment planning considerations, including patient case profiles, initial outcomes and longer-term expectations; Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, including the links between adult orthodontics and periodontics, prosthetics, and temporomandibular disorders.

Critique: An invaluable and comprehensive instructional and informational resource for professionals providing orthodontic treatment to adults and those dealing with orthodontics as part of the interdisciplinary management of the adult dentition, "Adult Orthodontics" is especially recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, and academic library Dentistry/Orthodontics collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of orthodontist students and practitioners that this new second edition of "Adult Orthodontics" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $120.00).

Editorial Note #1: Birte Melsen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birte_Melsen) is the past President of European Orthodontic Society in 2004 and has made significant contributions to the field of orthodontics with her research, publishing around 350 papers in scientific journals on topics related to anchorage (orthodontics) and adult orthodontics. She is currently an orthodontist from Denmark.

Editorial Note #2: Cesare Luzi (https://www.eos2023.com/speakers/cesare-luzi) is Founder and first President of the European Postgraduate Students Orthodontic Society (EPSOS). Past President of the Italian Society of Biomechanics (SIBOS) and of the Italian Association of Specialists in Orthodontics (ASIO). President AIDOR (Italian Academy of Orthodontics) 2022. Visiting Professor University of Ferrara and Rome Cattolica (Italy). He is currently in private orthodontics practice in Rome, Italy.

Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child
Marc Saadia, author
Roberto Valencia, author
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119720188, $235.00, HC, 896pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dentofacial-Orthopedics-Growing-Child-Understanding/dp/11197201 84

Synopsis: "Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child: Understanding Craniofacial Growth and the Management of Malocclusion" by the orthodontic team of doctors Marc Saadia and Roberto Valencia provides step-by-step guidance on diagnosing and treating malocclusions in young patients.

"Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child" addresses both class I, II and III malocclusions, and more complicated cases such as facial asymmetries and temporomandibular problems that develop in the primary dentition. Concise, highly illustrated chapters describe normal and abnormal craniofacial development, and how and why environmental factors can affect the growth pattern. Early diagnosis and treatment planning, long-term case resolution, complementary methods of diagnosis such as occlusion and cephalometric, and more are discussed.

"Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child": Provides clinicians with visual guidance on how to rapidly diagnose malocclusions; Contains over 1,300 high-quality images of different Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions, including temporomandibular problems, both before and after correction, and long-term follow-ups; Helps clinicians correct different malocclusions using the fewest number of appliances and in the least amount of time; Includes tables of different cephalometric of before and after corrections for most clinical cases presented in the book. Of special note is the chapter on how to communicate and bond with children as patients to help them understand the importance of wearing their appliances

Children are not young adults so diagnostic methods which are regularly used can often misguide the clinician. "Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child" is an invaluable reference that guides pediatric dentists, orthodontists, general dentists, and maxillofacial and craniofacial surgeons with treating children.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child: Understanding Craniofacial Growth in the Management of Malocclusions" is an ideal textbook for orthodontics curriculums. While an essential and core addition to professional and academic library Dentistry/Orthodontics collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Dentofacial Orthopedics in the Growing Child" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $188.00).

Editorial Note #1: Dr Marc Saadia (https://iccpd.org/dr-marc-saadia) is a pediatric dentist in private practice. Previously, he was Director of Postgraduate and Graduate studies in Pediatric Dentistry at the Technological University of Mexico. Dr Saadia is a Diplomat of the American and Mexican Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.

Editorial Note #2: Dr Roberto Valencia (https://valenciafamilydental.com) is a pediatric dentist, Professor of the Specialty in Pediatric Dentistry at the Technological University of Mexico, past President of the Mexican Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr Valencia is Editor of the Dental and Biomaterial Journal.

Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines
Hany M. A. Ahmed, editor
Paul M. H. Dummer, editor
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119553885, $100.00, HC, 832pp

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Endodontic+Advances+and+Evidence+Based+Clinical+Guideline s-p-9781119553892

Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Hany M. A. Ahmed and Paul M. H. Dummer, "Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines" provides a comprehensive and up-to-date description of recent research findings and their impact on clinical practice. Using an innovative approach to the field, this comprehensive textbook enables dental students and practitioners to translate the current body of knowledge on endodontic diseases and treatment into guidelines for enhancing patient care.

Divided into four parts, "Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines" first addresses new research findings and advances in technology, techniques, materials, and clinical management. In addition, it provides revised clinical guidelines for a variety of areas within the specialty, such as endodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, management of endodontic emergencies, regenerative endodontic procedures, three-dimensional imaging, and the use of systemic antibiotics. Each individual chapter contains numerous high-quality illustrations and clinical cases highlighting current research directions, key concepts, and new trends in clinical techniques and education.

Critique: Effectively illustrated throughout, "Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines" is impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well organized, and 'user friendly' in presentation -- making it a vitally important and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Dentistry & Endodontics collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for dental students and practitioners that "Endodontic Advances and Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines" is also avalable in a digital book format (Kindle, $100.00).

Editorial Note #1: Hany M. A. Ahmed, BDS, HDD, PhD, FICD, MDTFEd (RCSEd), FPFA, FADI, (https://umexpert.um.edu.my/hanyendodontist.html) is the Senior Lecturer of Endodontics, Department of Restorative Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the European Endodontic Journal.

Editorial Note #2: Paul M. H. Dummer, BDS, MScD, PhD, DDSc, FDS (RCSEd), (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul-Dummer) is an Emeritus Professor, School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, as well as a Past President of the European Society of Endodontology and a former Editor-in-Chief of the International Endodontic Journal

Leadership Skills for Dental Professionals: Begin Well to Finish Well
Raman Bedi, Andrew Munro, Mark Keane
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119870098, $50.00, PB, 144pp

https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Skills-Dental-Professionals-Finish/dp/1119870097

Synopsis: "Leadership Skills for Dental Practitioners: Begin Well to Finish Well" by the team of Rman Beci, Andrew Munro, and Mark Keane is an authoritative guide to better leadership in dentistry. Designed to prepare every member of the dental team for the leadership tasks and challenges they will face in general practice, this comprehensive resource helps the reader to develop skills not explicitly taught in traditional dental education.

The content of "Leadership Skills for Dental Professionals: Begin Well to Finish Well" has been drawn from the Senior Dental Leadership programme, which is a public/private partnership between the Global Child Dental Fund charity, King's College London, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Henry Schein and Colgate Palmolive.

Throughout "Leadership Skills for Dental Professionals: Begin Well to Finish Well", practical advice is provided on fourteen capabilities for a balanced and credible leadership approach to application within a clinical context.

The topics addressed include: How to influence to have impact; Teamwork and collaboration; Credibility: how to gain it and lose it; Values for leadership practice and business ethics; Dealing with difficult people and managing conflict; Body language: fiction and facts.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Leadership Skills for Dental Practitioners: Begin Well to Finish Well" is a comprehensive and much-needed 'real world practical' guide for every member of the dental team. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $40.00), "Leadership Skills for Dental Professionals: Begin Well to Finish Well" is highly recommended as an essential, core addition to personal, professional, and dental school library collections and supplemental dentistry curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Raman Bedi, BDS, MSc, DDS, hon DSc, DHL, FDSRCS (Edin), FDRCS (Eng), FFGDP, hon FDSRCS (Glas), hon FFPH is Emeritus Professor at King's College London in England, UK and Honorary Chair at University of Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. He was also the former Chief Dental Officer of England, UK.

Editorial Note #2: Andrew Munro, MA, C Psychol, AFBPS is Director at Envisia Learning in Cambourne, England, UK.

Editorial Note #3: Mark Keane, MA, PPABP is Director at Favorly in Scotland, UK.


The Interior Design Shelf

Extraordinary Interiors
Suzanne Tucker
Mitchel Owens, contributor
Monacelli Studio
c/o The Monacelli Press
www.monacellipress.com
9781580935968, $60.00, HC, 288pp

https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Interiors-Suzanne-Tucker/dp/1580935966

Synopsis: "Extraordinary Interiors" is the latest monograph of award-winning interior designer Suzanne Tucker (https://suzannetuckerhome.com), who is widely respected for her personal approach, enduring style, mastery of detail, and passion for architecture and the decorative arts. Over the course of her illustrious career, designer Suzanne Tucker has perfected a unique approach to creating elegant, sumptuously appointed residences eminently suited to their owners and their architectural and geographic context. Tucker describes her process as part anthropology, part archaeology, part psychology: she uncovers her clients' dreams and desires for their home, and the nuances of their lifestyle, and applies her vast knowledge of decorative arts and antiques to compose splendid spaces perfectly tailored for each life.

"Extraordinary Interiors" (Tucker's third monograph), presents a selection of the designer's recent work, including a mountain retreat featuring a symphony of natural tones and textures; a Bay Area pied-a-terre exhibiting international flair; a Manhattan apartment whose muted hues showcase an exceptional art collection; a beach house that marries high sophistication with leisurely living; a magnificent San Francisco townhouse whose intarsia floors, coffered ceilings, and natatorium are inspired by historic Italian palazzos; and Tucker's own oasis-like home in Montecito, California.

Across the varied styles and locations of these remarkable residences, "Extraordinary Interiors" heralds Tucker's passion for architecture and the decorative arts, and consummate skill for creating timeless, luxurious, exquisitely detailed, and art- and antique-filled rooms.

Critique: A coffee-table style (9.45 x 1.3 x 12.35 inches, 4.4 pounds) volume, "Extraordinary Interiors" is a showcase of interior design ideas, concepts and examples that is a simple pleasure to simply browse through one beautiful and informative page at a time. As thoughtful and thought-provoking as it is inspired and inspiring, "Extraordinary Interiors" will have a special appeal for student and professional interior designers, as well as of immense value and interest for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject. Also available in a paperback edition (9781580936217, $60.00), "Extraordinary Interiors" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Interior Design collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.


The Architecture Shelf

Shingle and Stone: Thomas Kligerman Houses
Thomas Kligerman, author
Mitchel Owens, contributor
Monacelli Studio
c/o The Monacelli Press
www.monacellipress.com
9781580936040, $75.00, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Shingle-Stone-Thomas-Kligerman-Houses/dp/1580936040

Synopsis: Over the past forty years, Thomas Kligerman has been immersed in the history of residential architecture, weaving together sources from English and European traditions with the American vernacular, particularly the puebloan style of the Southwest and the shingle style that has prevailed along the East Coast since the late nineteenth century. A staple on the AD100 list, Kligerman has woven together these strands of domestic architecture to create his own American aesthetic.

"Shingle and Stone: Thomas Kligerman Houses" is a full-career monograph that features a selection of inspiring residences that highlight the evolution of his architectural thinking. Shingle and Stone presents thirteen major highlights from Kligerman's portfolio, including three projects currently in design. The featured projects are all set in extraordinarily beautiful natural landscapes, from the coasts of Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons, to the forests of South Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, showcasing the depth and breadth of the architect's oeuvre. Illustrated with more than 200 spectacular photographs of interiors and exteriors alongside plans, renderings, and sketches that reveal the design process, this new book will immerse readers in the powerfully nuanced language of Kligerman's architectural vision.

Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout and of particular interest to students of architecture and design, this coffee-table style (10.5 x 1.4 x 12.8 inches, 5.07 pounds) edition of "Shingle and Stone: Thomas Kligerman Houses" is an informative and highly valued addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Architectural Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Thomas Kligerman (https://execed.gsd.harvard.edu/people/thomas-kligerman) has a lifetime interest in the rich history of domestic architecture, gardens, and landscapes. Before co-founding Ike Kligerman Barkley, he worked at Robert A.M. Stern Architects. He holds a BA from Columbia University and a Master of Architecture from Yale School of Architecture. Kligerman is active in professional organizations, including the Institute for Classical Architecture and Art, the Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation, where he served as board chair for many years, the Design Leadership Foundation, and the Billion Oyster Project. A dedicated student of the history of residential architecture internationally, Kligerman is a sought-after speaker and tour guide for the work of McKim, Mead & White, Bernard Maybeck, and other iconic figures.

Editorial Note #2: Mitchell Owens (https://www.architecturaldigest.com/topic/mitchell-owens) is a celebrated design editor and the newly appointed US editor of World of Interiors. Previously, Owens was the Decorative Arts Editor for Architectural Digest and Editor at Large for ELLE Decor. He is also currently the host of Indagare Travel and co-founder of Irwin & Lane.


The Computer Shelf

Murach's PHP and MySQL, fourth edition
Joel Murach, author
Ray Harris, author
Mike Murach & Associates
www.murach.com
9781943873005, $59.50, PB, 848pp

https://www.amazon.com/Murachs-PHP-MySQL-Joel-Murach/dp/1943873003

Synopsis: Simply stated, the fully updated and expanded fourth edition of "Murach's PHP and MySQL" teaches in a methodical, comprehensive, step-by-step instruction manaul coverying everything on using PHP and MySQL for web apps - - exactly the way the pros do. In fact, it will enable even the most novice of computer programmers how to effectively create a database-driven website that implements the MVC pattern in just the first 6 chapters. Then, the rest of the chapters comprising this exhaustive 'how to' manual shows how to build out your PHP and MySQL skills to a professional level of expertise using today's best practices.

Critique: Exceptionally 'user friendly' in organized and presentation, this new fourth edition of "Murach's PHP and MySQL" by the team of Joel Murach and Ray Harris is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Computer Science instructional reference collections, and would make an ideal textbook for computer programming and website designing curriculums.

Editorial Note: Joel Murach is the oldest son of computer programming publishing pioneer Mike Murach. Joel has been writing and editing books about computer programming for over 30 years now. During that time, he has written extensively on a wide range of Java, .NET, web, and database technologies. He has had best-selling books in all of those categories! In his books, you can see his clear approach to teaching any subject.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Venomous Animals of the United States and Canada
Lawrence L. C. Jones
Rio Nuevo Publishers
www.rionuevo.com
9781940322087 $45.00

https://www.amazon.com/Venomous-Animals-United-States-Canada/dp/1940322081

Synopsis: Venomous animals are everywhere. There could even be one crawling toward you right now. (Indeed, the editor received some fire ant bites at his desk while working on this book!) But despite our fears of potential danger from these animals, they still fascinate and delight us too.

Venomous Animals is intended for anyone interested in, and wanting to safely view, some of our most awe-inspiring animals in nature. It should prove useful to hikers, bird-watchers, and homeowners as well as professionals in poison control centers and the medical field.

Highlights:

More than 80 sections on species that can cause harm to humans - from the familiar European Honey Bee, Portuguese Man-of-War, and Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake to the less familiar biting worms, box jellyfishes, octopuses, and shrews.

Basic information on identification, natural history, habitats, taxonomy, and attributes of venom composition and effects

Envenomation stories. Vicariously live the experiences of people bitten or stung without their pain and hospital bill!

A venom and envenomation primer, along with a chapter on first aid

500+ color photographs of animals and the results of their envenomations

Critique: Studiously detailed, yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Venomous Animals of the United States and Canada: A Guide to Vertebrates and Invertebrates of Land and Sea is a comprehensive reference and resource, featuring full-color photographs of venomous animals that are potentially dangerous to humans. From poisonous snakes to biting worms, box jellyfishes, octopuses, shrews, spiders, scorpions, and more, Venomous Animals of the United States and Canada discusses each species' classification, identification, natural history, how they are encountered, their venom apparatus and symptoms of poisoned victims, and offers insightful advice for safely coexisting with these species. Venomous Animals of the United States and Canada is a "must-have" especially for American and Canadian public and university library collections, and a fascinating, educational browse for lay readers.

Cats: A Celebration of Our Feline Friends
Julianna Photopoulos
Amber Books
https://www.amberbooks.co.uk
9781838861629, $29.99, HC, 224pp

https://www.amazon.com/Cats-Celebration-Our-Feline-Friends/dp/1838861629

Synopsis: Why do cats purr? How much can you learn about a cat's mood from the direction it flicks its tail? How do cats show trust with their eyes? Why do cats rub against their owners' legs?

Arranged in chapters covering physical characteristics, senses, life cycle, and behavior, "Cats: A Celebration of Our Feline Friends" by Julianna Photopoulos features a huge range of breeds from all around the world.

Ranging from Siamese to Russian Blue, from Manx to American Bobtail, from Burmese to Bombay, "Cats: A Celebration of Our Feline Friends" expertly explores and celebrates this most beloved pet. With fascinating captions on every page, even experienced and dedicated cat lovers will learn something new.

Critique: A coffee-table style volume (9.5 x 0.8 x 11.4 inches, 3 pounds), "Cats: A Celebration of Our Feline Friends" is a impressively informative compendium of succinct informative commentaries accompanying simply stunning color photographs that will have a very special appeal for anyone who has ever had a feline companion of their own. An original and inherently fascinating compendium, "Cats: A Celebration of Our Feline Friends" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Cat Breeds collections.

Editorial Note: Julianna Photopoulos (is a science writer and filmmaker. She has written for various print and online publications including New Scientist, BBC Focus magazine, and Nature, and has been involved in several natural-history documentaries for the BBC and National Geographic. As a biology graduate, she has worked in genetics and in dolphin and whale research. (https://www.progress.org.uk/about-us/people/julianna-photopoulos)


The Veterinary Shelf

Large Animal Neurology, third edition
Rob MacKay, author
Joe Mayhew, author
Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119477037, $145.00, HC, 608pp

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Animal-Neurology-Rob-MacKay/dp/1119477034

Synopsis: A comprehensive and authoritative guide to neurologic disease in large domestic animals world-wide, this newly revised third edition of "Large Animal Neurology" by Joe Mayhew (Professor of Equine Studies at Massey University, New Zealand) and Rob MacKay (Professor of Large Animal Medicine at the University of Florida, USA) delivers a practical and complete reference for veterinarians, veterinary trainees and scientists dealing with large animal neurology.

Vividly illustrated in full color and containing many clinical photographs and detailed line drawings to highlight the concepts discussed within, "Large Animal Neurology" is deftly organized into three parts, offers practitioners and students straightforward guides on how to perform neurologic examinations for domestic large animal species, including neonates. It also discusses the presenting clinical syndromes caused by common nervous system diseases, as well as giving details of the specific neurologic diseases of large domestic animals.

"Large Animal Neurology" includes: A thorough introduction to the evaluation of large animal neurologic patients, including discussions of neuroanatomy, neurologic evaluation, ancillary diagnostic aids, and the important pathologic responses of the nervous system; Comprehensive exploration of 26 presenting clinical problems, including behaviour disorders, seizures, epilepsy, sleep disorders, blindness, strabismus, monoplegia, wobblers, tetraplegia, pruritus and cauda equina syndrome; Detailed coverage of the specific diseases, including those of genetic, infectious, nutritional, toxic and metabolic cause, and the many diseases with multifactorial and with unknown cause.

Critique: An ideal and comprehensive reference for all equine and farm animal veterinarians, veterinary neurologists, as well as trainees in the field, this newly updated and revised edition of "Large Animal Neurology" is also an indispensable resource for undergraduate veterinary students, animal pathologists, and neuroscience researchers. While unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, academic library Veterinary Medicine collections and curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Large Animal Neurology" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $116.00).


The Native American Studies Shelf

Codex Taawa: Exploring the Cosmos of the Hopi
Gerald Dawavendewa
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
https://www.fourthworlddesign.com/pages/gerald-a-a-dawavendewa
9781940322452, $19.95, HC, 104pp

https://www.amazon.com/Codex-Taawa-Exploring-Cosmos-Hopi/dp/B0B2BN98WW

Synopsis: With the publication of "Codex Taawa: Exploring the Cosmos of the Hopi", Native American artist Gerald Dawavendewa presents a series of illustrations inspired by ancient imagery that explores the cosmos of the Hopi people. Each piece highlights a part of the Hopi tradition, stories, or knowledge. The original artworks reproduced here were black and copper ink on handmade Nepalese Lhakpa paper and were inspired by the Codices of Mesoamericans. For the Hopi, the night sky is an astronomical calendar with all of its elements used to set ceremonies, rituals, seasons, events, and measures of time. The Hopi people have observed and measured the movements in the sky to create a complex guide to assist them with existing in this world, which we know as Tuuwaqatsi -- the Fourth World.

Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated and with a succinctly informative commentary for the Hopi images portrayed, "Codex Taawa: Exploring the Cosmos of the Hopi" is an inherently fascinating, impressive, and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Native American Culture collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Gerald Dawavendewa (https://artofwhere.com/artists/gerald-dawavendewa) grew up in the Hopi village of Munqapi, located in the desert of Northern Arizona, and with Cherokee relatives in the deep woods of Oklahoma. With little outdoor lighting at Munqapi and none at his Cherokee grandparent's home, the night sky was overwhelming, with every space filled with stars, planets, meteors, the milky way, and the moon. In 1994, in partnership with NASA and the University of Arizona, Gerald was honored to be asked to create artwork depicting the Hopi cosmos, which was sent into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-59). Through his artwork, Gerald hopes to share his cultures, educate the public about the rich heritage of native nations, and promote a greater understanding of the indigenous world.


The Gaming Shelf

Chess for Schools
Richard James
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785835971, $23.95, PB, 200pp

https://www.amazon.com/Forthcoming-Picture-Chess-Schools-competitions/dp/1785835971

Synopsis: Chess is a game of extraordinary excitement and beauty and all children should have the opportunity to experience it. Indeed, many claim that playing abstract strategy games such as chess provides a wide range of cognitive and social benefits -- such as improvements in problem-solving ability and communication skills.

However, with the publication of "Chess for Schools: From Simple Strategy Games to Clubs and Competitions", chess expert and educator Richard James argues that, because of the complexity of chess, most younger children would gain more benefit from simpler chess-based strategy games and incremental learning. With this practical handbook, Richard provides a wide range of games and puzzles based on these principles which are appropriate for primary schools and explains how teachers can identify children who would benefit from starting young.

Richard also sets out how this approach can engage the whole community, including working with children with special needs, getting parents involved in learning and playing, and developing partnerships between primary and secondary schools.

"Chess for Schools" also shares the latest research into how children process information, combined with insights into international best practice in teaching chess to young children. Furthermore, "Chess for Schools" demonstrates the transforming effect chess can have on older children, and how this can be promoted in secondary schools. Of special note are James valuable insights into the greater context of chess-playing, expressing how and why chess is a joy to so many worldwide and shares a series of resources and minigames for teachers to use with their learners.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of four Appendices (The Rules of Chess; Terminology; Competitive Chess; Chess Ratings) and a four page Bibliography, is an ideal resource to help classroom teachers and school counselors encourage preteens, teens, and young adults to enjoy the benefits and challenges of the chess game. While highly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Educational Gaming collections, it should be noted that "Chess for Schools: From Simple Strategy Games to Clubs and Competitions" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.80).

Editorial Note: Richard James (https://chessimprover.com/contributors/richard-james) has been teaching and organising chess for children since 1972. Between 1975 and 2006, Richard ran the highly successful Richmond Junior Chess Club, whose members included Luke McShane, Jonathan Rowson and other future grandmasters. He is also the author of Chess for Kids and The Right Way to Teach Chess to Kids, and has written extensively on chess history and trivia.


The Folktale/Fairytale Shelf

Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands
Michael S. Newton
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476690025, $39.95, PB, 276pp

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Fairy-Hill-Folktales-Highlands/dp/1476690022

Synopsis: Headstrong heroines and hot-tempered chieftains, loch monsters and hill fairies, cattle raids and clan feuds, wise animals and foolish saints: the Scottish Highlands' folktales date back centuries and preserve the history and beliefs of a people deeply rooted in their land and culture.

Oral traditions connect the modern world with the hearts and minds of Scottish Highlanders across the ages, bringing their world to life in vivid detail. With the publication of "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" Professor Michael S. Newton is an anthology that includes new and approachable translations of folk tales from the Scottish Highlands and Nova Scotia, providing extensive commentary on this rich storytelling tradition.

Of special note is that each story is annotated with information about its origins and any insights into its meaning. The original Scottish Gaelic texts, collected from a wide variety of rare and obscure sources, are provided in an appendix.

Critique: An impressive work of original scholarship that is informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusions of anAppendix of Original Gaelic Stories, four pages of Notes, a four page Bibliography, and a two page Index, "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" is an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Scottish Folklore/Mythology collections and as a textbook for supplemental curriculum Folklore/Fairytale, Mythology studies lists. It should be noted that "Into the Fairy Hill: Classic Folktales of the Scottish Highlands" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).

Editorial Note: Michael S. Newton (https://independent.academia.edu/MichaelNewton" was an Assistant Professor in the Celtic Studies department of St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia from 2008 to 2013. He has written a multitude of books and articles about Gaelic culture and history and is a leading authority on Scottish Gaelic heritage in North America.


The Archaeology Shelf

The Complete Tutankhamun: 100 Years of Discovery, revised edition
Nicolas Reeves
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500052167, $50.00, HC, 464pp

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Tutankhamun-100-Years-Discovery/dp/0500052166

Synopsis: On November 4, 1922, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter's long search in Egypt's Valley of the Kings drew to a triumphant close: Tutankhamun's tomb had been found. As news of the discovery spread, and as images of the breathtaking treasures began to circulate, this once obscure pharaoh would capture the imagination of the entire world.

One hundred years later, both the fascination and the drama continue. Scientific research has moved on, and the results have been impressive:the tomb's ground-plan and setting are now fully remapped; CT-scanning and aDNA (ancient DNA) have begun to shed their unique light on Tutankhamun in life and in death; super-accurate recordings have been secured of the Burial Chamber's decorated walls; and we possess at last high-quality photography of Pharaoh's possessions. Access to Carnarvon and Carter's extraordinary find is greater today than it has ever been, and from this fuller evidence comes one new realization among many -- that both the tomb and its treasures had been intended for someone else.

In the new, revised and expanded edition of his landmark book, "The Complete Tutankhamun: 100 Years of Discover" Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves revisits Tutankhamun in the context of his time, the excavators in the context of theirs, and every aspect (old and new) of the tomb's discovery, archaeology, architecture and art. If what was found in 1922 would amaze, then what has been revealed over the last 100 years will simply astonish.

Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of 500 color illustrations and photographs, "The Complete Tutankhamun: 100 Years of Discover" is a fascinating, comprehensive, and informative study that will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in Archaeology, Egyptology, and the Tutankhamun legacy. This definitive, newly revised and expanded guide to Tutankhamun and his tomb (what it contained, why, and what it means today) is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Ancient Egypt collections and supplemental Archaeology curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Nicholas Reeves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Reeves) is an Egyptologist specializing in the history and material culture of the Amarna period and its immediate aftermath. He has held curatorial positions at the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and worked extensively as an archaeologist both in and around the tomb of Tutankhamun. He is the author of several books, including Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet and The Complete Valley of the Kings, both published by Thames & Hudson.


The Library Science Shelf

Creating a School Library with Impact
Caroline Roche, Barbara Band, Nick Cavender, Lucy Chambers, Annie Everall, Ellen Krajewski, and Sarah Pavey
Facet Publishing
https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783305537 $40.94 pbk / $30.49 Kindle

Synopsis: School libraries are facing numerous challenges in the 21st century. The number of professionally qualified staff working in schools has fallen in recent years and, increasingly, new appointments to library positions are sorely lacking the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their roles. While there are a number of resources available detailing how to improve your school library once it is up and running there is a dearth of books that deal with the absolute basics in a practical manner, looking at the role from the first day.

Creating a School Library with Impact: A Beginners Guide is an introductory manual for anyone entering or looking to enter the exciting world of school librarianship in primary or secondary school settings. It provides readers with everything they need to know and understand from day one from author visits, social media, reading schemes, information literacy, evaluating your library, the physical layout of your room and much more, providing an invaluable guide to those first few years in the role.

Critique: Featuring contributions from a wide array of expert authors, Creating a School Library with Impact is an excellent reference and resource especially for professional librarians and educators in primary and secondary schools. Individual chapters discuss "Creating a Reading Rich Environment", "Information Literacy and Digital Literacy", "Using Technology to Enhance the Library Experience", "Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the School Library", and much more. Creating a School Library with Impact is highly recommended as a practical-minded, "must-have" for school librarians and Library Science collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Creating a School Library with Impact is also available in a Kindle edition ($30.49).

Academic Librarian Faculty Status: CLIPP #47
Edgar Bailey, compiler
Melissa Becher, compiler
Association of College & Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601-7616
https://www.ala.org
9780838936641, $52.00, PB, 172pp

https://www.amazon.com/Academic-Librarian-Faculty-Status-Information/dp/0838936644

Synopsis: The College Library Information on Policy and Practice (CLIPP) publishing program, under the auspices of the College Libraries Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, provides college and small university libraries analysis and examples of library practices and procedures.

Collaboratively compiled by Edgar Bailey and Melissa Becher, "Academic Librarian Faculty Status: CLIPP #47" contains a thorough literature review and bibliography, analysis and discussion of survey results, and sample criteria, policies, and guidelines for appointment, promotion, and tenure for librarians with and without faculty status.

No other group of employees in higher education has occupied quite the same ambivalent status on campus as librarians. The debate over granting librarians the same rights and responsibilities as faculty has generated a substantial body of literature over the years. Most of this research has tended to focus on either a mix of institutional sizes or on large universities, with a surprising dearth of studies of smaller institutions. The results of the survey reported in CLIPP #47 fills this gap, as well as offering practical information and sample tenure and promotion documents and policies.

Critique: Exceptionally well organized and impressively presented, "Academic Librarian Faculty Status: CLIPP #47" (which is Volume 47 of the College Library Information on Policy and Practice series) is unreservedly recommended as an essential, core addition to the Library Science collections of college and university libraries, library systems, as well as an important resource for Library Science curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Edgar Bailey (https://alastore.ala.org/content/edgar-bailey) has a 35 year career that includes five years at Eastern Connecticut State University and thirty years at Providence College where he served as reference and instruction librarian and, for ten years, as library director. He also served on the committee that established the Center for Teaching and Learning. He has published on a variety of library and non-library topics including help-seeking behavior, library anxiety, government publications, library school curricula, and Ursula K. LeGuin. He currently teaches a course in academic librarianship at the University of Rhode Island library school.

Editorial Note #2: The Associate Director of Research, Teaching and Learning at American University Library, Melissa Becher's job responsibilities include management and supervision, as well as administering platforms that support research assistance such as LibGuides, the Library's FAQ, and a 24/7 chat service. Over the years she has conducted user testing for the Library, other campus offices, the local consortium, and a professional association. Melissa's research agenda focuses on how the academic library intersects with broader trends in higher education. She has published on instruction coordinators' use of higher education accreditation documentation, the library's visibility on college and university websites, and the experiences of full-time nontenured library faculty. She maintains a WordPress site on librarian status. Melissa is also a member of ALA's Reference & User Services Association and recently chaired the RUSA Emerging Technologies Section.

The Data Literacy Cookbook
Kelly Getz, editor
Meryl Brodsky, editor
ACRL Books Association of College & Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601-7616
https://www.ala.org
9780838939253, $82.00, PB, 264pp

https://www.amazon.com/Data-Literacy-Cookbook-Kelly-Getz/dp/0838939252

Synopsis: Today's students and library patrons create and are confronted with many kinds of data in multiple formats. Data literacy enables students and researchers to access, interpret, critically assess, manage, handle, and ethically use data.

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Kelly Getz and Meryl Brodsky, "The Data Literacy Cookbook" includes a variety of approaches to and lesson plans for teaching data literacy, from simple activities to self-paced learning modules to for-credit and discipline-specific courses.

Sixty-five recipes are organized into nine sections based on learning outcomes: Interpreting Polls and Surveys; Finding and Evaluating Data; Data Manipulation and Transformation; Data Visualization; Data Management and Sharing; Geospatial Data; Data in the Disciplines; Data Literacy Outreach and Engagement; Data Literacy Programs and Curricula.

Many sections have overlapping learning outcomes, so you can combine recipes from multiple sections to whip up a scaffolded curriculum. "The Data Literacy Cookbook" provides librarians with lesson plans, strategies, and activities to help guide students as both consumers and producers in the data life cycle.

Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Data Literacy Cookbook" is an ideal and highly recommended textbook for in-service and/or academic library science curriculum training programs -- as well as a core and essential addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Library Management/Information Science collections.

Editorial Note #1: Kelly Getz (https://guides.emich.edu/prf.php?account_id=111877) is an Associate Professor and S.T.E.M. Librarian at Eastern Michigan University. She holds a BA in Chemistry from Michigan State University, and both a Master of Science of Information and a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from the University of Michigan. Prior to becoming an academic librarian in 2013, she was a high school chemistry and environmental science teacher. Her teaching philosophy, in brief, is: do things to foster curiosity and no things to harm it. Kelly's research interests include information and data literacy in secondary and post-secondary education, inclusive design in libraries, and many other sciencey rabbit holes.

Editorial Note #2: Meryl Brodsky (https://www.lib.utexas.edu/about/directory/meryl-brodsky) is the liaison librarian for the School of Information and the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas - Austin. She has a Master of Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University and an MBA from Cornell University. Her research interests include data literacy, data management, and data curation. She has spent half her career working as a corporate librarian and half as an academic librarian. It was her work in the corporate sector that sparked her interest in data literacy. She witnessed her co-workers doing terrible things to data and returned to the academic sector to become involved in data literacy education.

Designing Libraries for the 21st Century
H. Thomas Hickerson, editor
Joan K. Lippincott, editor
Leonora Crema, editor
ACRL Books Association of College & Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601-7616
https://www.ala.org
9780838939222, $150.00, PB, 462pp

https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Libraries-Century-Thomas-Hickerson/dp/0838939228

Synopsis: The 21st century has seen a transformational shift in the design of college and research libraries, one focused more on user experience and engagement than on collections. Dramatic changes in library design have been driven by changes in the core functions of universities and colleges: the reliance on digital tools and content, integration of technologies into pedagogy and research, and emphasis on the active and social aspects of learning, inclusion, and community engagement. Planning for these vibrant spaces needs to incorporate new program and staffing strategies, robust technical infrastructure, human-centered design, and flexibility to enable ongoing change.

The collaborative work of co-editors H. Thomas Hickerson, Joan K. Lippincott, and Leonora Crema, "Designing Libraries for the 21st Century" explores these trends and identifies promising strategies for new or renovated library space. This outstanding volume features an impressive array of contributions by authors drawn largely from the conference of the same name, providing guidance, principles, and a wealth of creative ideas for spaces, technology, programs, and partnerships.

Twenty-nine chapters packed with full color images and illustrations explore the themes of: 21st-Century Academic Libraries in an Evolving Environment; Aligning with the Institutional Vision; Working with Architects, Designers, and Planners; Key Issues in Planning; Collaborations and Convergence; Leadership, Organizational Change, and New Staff Roles; Programming for Research, Learning, and Community; and Looking Ahead.

Often major building projects focus primarily on the physical facility, but "Designing Libraries for the 21st Century" makes the case for designing libraries in a much more holistic fashion. Today all types of libraries are engaged in reimagining their roles and the spatial design through which this new vision will be realized.

Critique: Exceptional in organization and presentation that is inspirational, asperationaly, and yet 'real world' practical, "Designing Libraries for the 21st Century" is essential reading for librarians, architects, planners, academic leaders, and anyone interested in the future of libraries. Unreservedly recommended as a textbook for Library Science curriculum studies lists, it should be noted that "Designing Libraries for the 21st Century" is also available as an open access edition at https://bit.ly/DesigningLibraries

Editorial Note #1: H. Thomas Hickerson (https://alastore.ala.org/content/h-thomas-hickerson) guided the Cornell University Library's archives and rare book programs, serving as President of the Society of American Archivists (SAA) and on the International Council on Archives Executive Board. In 2006, Tom became Vice Provost at the University of Calgary with a mandate to lead the design of a new model for university libraries. The $205M project to build the Taylor Family Digital Library led to broad recognition and to his founding role in the Designing Libraries for the 21st Century Conference series. His professional leadership includes serving on the Board of the Association of Research Libraries and as President of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries. He is also a Cornell University Librarian Emeritus whose recognitions include being named an SAA Fellow and Computerworld Honors Program Laureate for "the use of information technologies for the benefit of society".

Editorial Note #2: Joan K. Lippincott (https://www.cni.org/about-cni/staff/joan-k-lippincott) is Associate Executive Director Emerita of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), a joint program of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and EDUCAUSE. At CNI, Joan provided leadership for programs in learning spaces, teaching and learning, digital scholarship, ETDs, and assessment. She also served on the boards of the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), the New Media Consortium (NMC) and on the advisory board for the Horizon Report and served as a member of the ACRL task force that produced the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Joan has consulted with many academic libraries on their space renovation projects and has been on the planning committee for the Designing Libraries for the 21st Century conference since its inception.

Editorial Note #3: Leonora Crema (BA, MA, MLS) is a Librarian Emerita at the University of British Columbia. She has exercised a leading role in the design of two new buildings on the UBC campus, the Walter C. Koerner Library and Library PARC, as well as numerous space renovations. Leonora's roles at UBC have included serving as Associate University Librarian for Client Services, AUL for Planning and Community Relations, and Director of External Relations for the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre. Active in professional associations, including as a past President of the British Columbia Library Association, she speaks regularly on topics such as service innovation and library space design. Her career recognitions include a national award for innovation from the Canadian Association of University Business Officers, and a Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries award for outstanding contributions to the consortium. (https://scholcomm.ubc.ca/professional-profile-leonora-crema)

The Academic Library in the United States: Historical Perspectives
Mark L. McCallon, editor
John Mark Tucker, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9780786495870, $75.00, PB, 294pp

https://www.amazon.com/Academic-Library-United-States-Perspectives/dp/0786495871

Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Mark L. McCallon and John Mark Tucker, the articles comprising "The Academic Library in the United States: Historical Perspectives" collectively advance the belief that the library (more than any other cultural institution) collects, curates and distributes the results of human thought.

This collection of essays broaden the debate about academic libraries beyond only professional circles, promoting the library as a vital resource for the whole of higher education. Topics range from library histories to explorations of changing media. Essayists connect modern libraries to the remarkable dream of Alexandria's ancient library -- facilitating groundbreaking research in every imaginable field of human interest, past, present and future.

Academic librarians who are most familiar with historical traditions are best qualified to promote the library as an important aspect of teaching and learning, as well as to develop resources that will enlighten future generations of readers. The intellectual tools for compelling, constructive conversation come from the narrative of the library in its many iterations, from the largest research university to the smallest liberal arts or community college.

Critique: An impressively informative compendium of an Introduction followed by fifteen erudite and thought-provoking essays, "The Academic Library in the United States: Historical Perspectives" is unreservedly recommended for the personal, professional, college, and university Library Science & History collections. Exceptional in organization and presentation, it should be noted that "The Academic Library in the United States: Historical Perspectives" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $33.99).

Editorial Note #1: Mark L. McCallon (https://acu.edu/faculty/mark-mccallon) is a professor and associate dean for library information services at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. His interests include electronic resources management, the history and biography of reading and librarianship.

Editorial Note #2: John Mark Tucker (https://prabook.com/web/john_mark.tucker/49998) is Professor Emeritus from Purdue University, served as Humanities, Social Science, and Education Librarian at Purdue and, later, as dean of library and information resources at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.


The Art Shelf

The Oil Painter's Color Handbook
Todd M. Casey
Monacelli Studio
c/o The Monacelli Press
www.monacellipress.com
9781580935883, $45.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Oil-Painters-Color-Handbook-Contemporary/dp/1580935885

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Oil Painter's Color Handbook: A Contemporary Guide to Color Mixing, Pigments, Palettes, and Harmony", artist Todd M. Casey provides informative instruction, including step-by-step demonstrations, and challenging exercises, with which even the most novice of aspiring artists will be able to learn how to apply these techniques and concepts to their own painting. Once educated with this fundamental knowledge, as an artist, anyone can begin to find the balance between the science and emotional intuition in creating art.

Critique: A coffee-table style volume (11.25 x 2 x 9.25 inches, 3.62 pounds), this edition of "The Oil Painter's Color Handbook: A Contemporary Guide to Color Mixing, Pigments, Palettes, and Harmony" is an impressively informative, visually dynamic combination of instruction manual and 'how to' guide book that will be of particular interest and value to artists, art students, and art instructors, as well as serious amateurs and dedicated hobbyists. Beautifully and effectively illustrated throughout, "The Oil Painter's Color Handbook: A Contemporary Guide to Color Mixing, Pigments, Palettes, and Harmony" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Oil Painting/Graphic Art Design collections and supplemental art studies curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: Todd M. Casey (https://www.toddmcasey.com), drawing inspiration from classical art, historical literature, and personal experience, imbues each piece of his artwork with a love of both pragmatic, corporeal form, and storied, intentional function. That is to say, every painting has a tale to tell; whether emergent from the viewer's own perception, or brewed from the very deep well of introspective thought, the artist inculcates with each brush stroke. Subtlety, refined grace, meditation, and honesty are the hallmarks of Todd Casey's artistic aesthetic. His paintings have been honored with awards, several times in recent years. Most recently, he won first place 3 years in a row in the Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, and first place in oil painting from the Allied Artists of America, in 2015. His work can be found in collections throughout the United States; and exclusively on the East Coast, at Rehs Contemporary Gallery, in Midtown New York City.

Reimagining History from an Indigenous Perspective
Joyce M. Szabo
University of New Mexico Press
www.unmpress.com
9780826364098, $29.95, PB, 120pp

https://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-History-Indigenous-Perspective-Graphic/dp/0826364098

Synopsis: Few contemporary artists before the 1990s explored the culturally negative impact of the Spanish in the Southwest. Unreflective celebrations of the Columbus Quincentennial brought about portrayals of a more complicated legacy of Columbus's arrival in the Americas -- especially by Indigenous artists.

Through a series of etchings, Floyd Solomon of Laguna and Zuni heritage undertook a visual recounting of Pueblo history using Indigenous knowledge positioned to reimagine a history that is known largely from non-Native records. While Solomon originally envisioned more than forty etchings, he ultimately completed just twenty.

From nightmarish visions of the Spanish that preceded their arrival to the subsequent return of the Spanish and their continuing effects on the Pueblo people, Solomon provides a powerful visual record. These insightful, probing etchings are included in this important full-color volume showcasing Solomon's work and legacy.

With the publication of "Reimagining History from an Indigenous Perspective: The Graphic Work of Floyd Solomon", Professor Joyce M. Szabo positions Solomon among his contemporaries, making this vibrant artist and his remarkable vision broadly available to audiences both familiar with his work and those seeing it for the first time.

Critique: Impressively and informatively illustrated, "Reimagining History from an Indigenous Perspective: The Graphic Work of Floyd Solomon" is a meticulous and exceptionally well written study that will be of special appeal to readers with an interest in the impact that the Spanish had upon Native American Art and Culture. While highly recommended as an invaluable contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library Native American Studies and Art History collections, it should be noted that "Reimagining History from an Indigenous Perspective: The Graphic Work of Floyd Solomon" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.95).

Editorial Note: Joyce M. Szabo (https://art.unm.edu/profile/joyce-m-szabo) is the Regents' Professor of Art History Emerita at the University of New Mexico. She is also a specialist in Native American art and museum studies and the author and editor of several books, including Howling Wolf and the History of Ledger Art (UNM Press).

The Portraitist: Frans Hals and His World
Steven Nadler
University of Chicago Press
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
www.press.uchicago.edu
9780226698366, $35.00, HC, 360pp

https://www.amazon.com/Portraitist-Frans-Hals-His-World/dp/022669836X

Synopsis: Frans Hals (c. 1582 - 26 August 1666) was one of the greatest portrait painters in history, and his style transformed ideas and expectations about what portraiture can do and what a painting should look like.

Hals was a member of the great trifecta of Dutch Baroque painters alongside Rembrandt and Vermeer, and he was the portraitist of choice for entrepreneurs, merchants, professionals, theologians, intellectuals, militiamen, and even his fellow artists in the Dutch Golden Age. His works, with their visible brush strokes and bold execution, lacked the fine detail and smooth finish common among his peers, and some dismissed his works as sloppy and unfinished. But for others, they were fresh and exciting, filled with a sense of the sitter's animated presence captured with energy and immediacy.

With the publication of "The Portraitist: Frans Hals and His World", Professor Steven Nadler gives us the first full-length biography of Hals in many years and offers a view into seventeenth-century Haarlem and this culturally rich era of the Dutch Republic. He tells the story not only of Hals's life, but also of the artistic, social, political, and religious worlds in which he lived and worked.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a two page listing of Acknowledgments, thirty-two pages of Notes, twenty-two pages of References, and an eighteen page Index, "The Portraitist: Frans Hals and His World" is an impressively work of meticulous research and scholarship, making it a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Artist Biography and History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Portraitist: Frans Hals and His World" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $26.49).

Editorial Note: Steven Nadler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Nadler) is a professor of philosophy and director of the George L. Mosse/Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is the author, most recently, of Spinoza: A Life, which won the 2000 Koret Jewish Book Award for biography, and Spinoza's Heresy: Immortality and the Jewish Mind.


The Mathematics Shelf

Galois Theory, fifth edition
Ian Stewart
CRC Press
www.routledge.com
9781032101583 $66.95 pbk / $49.30 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/Galois-Theory-Ian-Stewart/dp/103210158X

Synopsis: Since 1973, Galois theory has been educating undergraduate students on Galois groups and classical Galois theory. In Galois Theory, Fifth Edition, mathematician and popular science author Ian Stewart updates this well-established textbook for today's algebra students.

This bestseller continues to deliver a rigorous, yet engaging, treatment of the subject while keeping pace with current educational requirements. More than 200 exercises and a wealth of historical notes augment the proofs, formulas, and theorems. Digital resources are available for mathematics instructors at

https://www.routledge.com/Galois-Theory/Stewart/p/book/9781032101590

New to the Fifth Edition:

Reorganised and revised Chapters 7 and 13

New exercises and examples

Expanded, updated references

Further historical material on figures besides Galois: Omar Khayyam, Vandermonde, Ruffini, and Abel

A new final chapter discussing other directions in which Galois theory has developed: the inverse Galois problem, differential Galois theory, and a (very) brief introduction to p-adic Galois representations

Critique: In mathematics, the fundamental theorem of Galois theory connects field theory and group theory, enabling certain mathematical problems in field theory to be reduced to group theory, making the problems simpler and easier to understand. The fifth updated edition of the textbook Galois Theory is an invaluable teaching text and resource for instructors of undergraduate mathematics students. Featuring more than 200 exercises and historical notes to enhance understanding of the proofs, formulas, and theorems, the fifth edition of Galois Theory is a "must-have" for university library mathematics collections, and highly recommended for instructors or for self-study (provided that the self-motivated student already possesses the foundational mathematical knowledge of algebra and polynomial factorization). Highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that the fifth edition of Galois Theory is also available on Kindle ($49.30).


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust
Laura Hilton, editor
Avinoam Patt, editor
University of Wisconsin Press
728 State Street, Suite 443, Madison, WI 53706-1418
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299328603, $34.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Teaching-Holocaust-Goldberg-History/dp/0299328600

Synopsis: Few topics in modern history draw the attention that the Holocaust does. The Shoah has become synonymous with unspeakable atrocity and unbearable suffering. Yet it has also been used to teach tolerance, empathy, resistance, and hope.

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by academicians Laura Hilton and Avinoam Patt, "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" provides a starting point for classroom teachers in many disciplines to illuminate this crucial event in world history for students. Using a vast array of source materials ranging from literature and film to survivor testimonies and interviews, the contributors to "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" effectively demonstrate how to guide students through these sensitive and painful subjects within their specific historical and social contexts.

Each individual chapter comprising "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" provides pedagogical case studies for teaching content such as antisemitism, resistance and rescue, and the postwar lives of displaced persons. Simply stated, "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" will transform how students learn about the Holocaust and the circumstances surrounding it.

Critique: A part of The Harvey Goldberg Series for Understanding and Teaching History from the University of Wisconsin Press, "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" features an informative Introduction (The Challenges and Necessity of Teaching the Holocaust in the Twenty-First Century), twenty erudite essays deftly organized into two major sections (Teaching Specific Content; Sources, Methods and Media for Teaching the Holocaust), a six page listing of the contributors and their credentials, and a twenty-five page Index. "Understanding and Teaching the Holocaust" is a timely and highly recommended contribution (given the current rise in Anti-Semitism at home and abroad) to personal, professional, college, and university library Holocaust Education collections.

Editorial Note #1: Laura Hilton (https://www.muskingum.edu/directory/hilton-laura) is a Professor of History at Muskingum University, where she has taught courses on the Holocaust for sixteen years.

Editorial Note #2: Avinoam Patt (https://languages.uconn.edu/person/avinoam-patt) is the Doris and Simon Konover Chair of Judaic Studies and Director of the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut. He is the author of Finding Home and Homeland: Jewish Youth and Zionism in the Aftermath of the Holocaust.


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