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Volume 20, Number 3 March 2010 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library Science Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
American History Shelf Black Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Library CD Music Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Political Science Shelf Military Shelf
Native American Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Social Issues Shelf Psychology Shelf
Criminology Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Fiction Shelf
Parenting Shelf Education Shelf Economics Shelf
Science Shelf Music Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Sports Shelf Humor Shelf
Library Reference Shelf Gardening Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Travel Shelf Business Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Computer Shelf
Photography Shelf Hobbies/Crafts Shelf Art Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Agricultural Studies Shelf World History Shelf
Literary Shelf Civil War Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Gaming Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Relationship Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Real Estate Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Hatley
Verne Pickering
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781592982806, $32.00, www.amazon.com

Born and raised in Hatley, a small rural community located in central Wisconsin, Verne Pickering (with the assistance of Donald Pickering) has deftly written and superbly illustrated an informed and informative history of Hatley including the coming of the railroad in 1880, through its years as a lumber industry center, to the diary farms that replaced the forested areas. Of special note is the history of Hatley moonshine production during the Prohibition era. This fascinating local history covers the years of the Great Depression, World War II, and the eventual decline of farming, resulting in Hatley becoming something of a 'bedroom suburb' for Wausau. A superb history, "Hatley" is highly recommended for academic and community library Wisconsin History collections, and would admirably serve as a template for similar histories of other local Wisconsin communities.

Firsts
Wilson Casey
Alpha
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592579242, $12.95, www.penguin.com

There's a story behind everything, you just might not notice it. "Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things That Changed the World" is a compilation of quick facts and intriguing anecdotes about the many things in our lives that go unnoticed, despite having their origins ranging from decades to millennia ago. From breakthrough medical procedures, to the first evils of humanity, to technological innovations, Wilson Casey prevents an endlessly fascinating array of trivia. "Firsts: Origins of Everyday Things That Changed the World" is a top pick and very recommended read.

Paul Kurtz: Exuberant Skepticism
John R. Shook, editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781591027782, $19.00, www.amazon.com

Paul Kurtz (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, State University of New York, Buffalo) is a tireless advocate of rationality and an icon in the field of debunking the fantastically thinking associated with superstition and religion. He is also the driving authority behind Prometheus Books, the premier publishing of works emerging from the perspective of 'skeptical inquiry', and within the past few years a rather un-scale series of science fiction titles under the Prometheus Books imprint 'Pyr'. In "Paul Kurtz: Exuberant Skepticism", a deftly compiled and skillfully edited 230-page compendium showcasing Kurtz' thoughts, commentaries, and insights in advocating the use of science as a means of inquiry into the claims of the paranormal 'phenomena', as well as religious conceits and proffered explanations of real-world impacting belief systems, the reader will learn how to apply a skeptical inquiry mind-set to social, cultural, and political issues. Of special note is Kurtz's optimism as the future of rational discourse with respect to an ever improving understanding of the human condition. Simply stated, "Paul Kurtz: Exuberant Skepticism" is enthusiastically recommended reading and should be considered a seminal contribution to academic and community library Philosophy reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Attack Proof, second edition
John Perkins, Al Ridenhour and Matt Kovsky
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736078762, $19.95 www.hkusa.com

The second updated edition of ATTACK PROOF: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PERSONAL PROTECTION provides proven personal protection called 'guided chaos' for anticipating and warding off brutal assaults, based on the real-world experiences and forensic homicide research of a former New York cop and instructor for the FBI, U.S. marines and others. It shows how to prepare for the unexpected, featuring tactics used by police, military and security professionals alike, and is a top pick for any general library.

Angry Fat Girls
Frances Kuffel
Berkeley Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780425232187, $23.95 www.penguin.com

ANGRY FAT GIRLS: A PERSONAL JOURNEY continues a story begun in PASSING FOR THIN, telling of how the writer, who changed her life by losing 188 pounds, gained half of these back. She formed new friendships through the Internet with four women in similar situations, and ANGRY FAT GIRLS is her memoir of their struggle with diets, weight loss and gain, and search for individual freedom. Highly recommended for any general lending library.

The Ultimate Suburban Survivalist Guide
Sean Broderick
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470463161, $27.95 www.wiley.com

The Ultimate Suburban Survivalist Guide: The Smartest Money Moves to Prepare for Any Crisis encourages suburbanites to become more independent, showing how to prepare for the future before crisis happens. The focus on changing economics explores the author's personal survivalist discoveries and outlines simple things to do today to prepare for virtually any social or economic crisis.

The Way of Tea
Aaron Fisher
Turtle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804840323, $19.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

No one can chug boiling hot liquid, so it is the perfect beverage for time to think. "The Way of Tea: Reflections on a Life with Tea" is a guide from tea expert Aaron Fisher as he seeks to give readers a better understanding of tea and its role in a more serene and spiritual life. Hoping to serve as an introduction to the wonders of tea and contemplation, Fisher gives plenty of spiritual wisdom, drawing on eastern philosophy and religion to help readers gain a more through understanding. "The Way of Tea" is a must for those who are wondering what the big deal about tea really is.


The Library Science Shelf

Fundamentals of Library Supervision, second edition
Joan Giesecke & Beth McNeil
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910160, $55.00, www.alastore.ala.org

A good library starts from the top of its management. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition "Fundamentals of Library Supervision" outlines the important factors that one faces with library management and how to do it efficiently and effectively for maximum productivity in one's library. Weighing budgets, dealing with the constant legal troubles one faces, practical advice, human resources, and so much more are discussed in length. Two expert library managers in Joan Giesecke and Beth McNeil come to readers with wisdom and do much to impart their knowledge in this excellent and complete and comprehensive guide. "Fundamentals of Library Supervision" should be at hand for every library administrator.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II: Advanced Techniques
Skip Morris
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884534 $24.95 www.amatobooks.com

Spiral-bound to lay flat or fold over on its cover for easy reference, Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II: Advanced Techniques lives up to its title, offering full-color photography of each step of its methodical instructions. In addition to the advanced fly-tying techniques, Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II teaches how to craft some amazingly effective flies, such as the Anatomical Green Drake, the Copper John, and many more. Familiarity with the first book in the series is not required; Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II is thoroughly accessible to any fisherman with even a modest amount of personal experience in crafting and tying flies. A superb resource for dedicated fly fishing enthusiasts everywhere. Also highly recommended is the first volume, the widely popular Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple II: original "Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple".


The American History Shelf

Texas Ranger Biographies
Charles H. Harris III, et al.
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
www.unmpress.com
9780826347480, $50.00, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Charles H. Harris III and Louis R. Sadler (both of whom are Professor Emeritus of History at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces), and Frances E. Harris (Associate Professor Emeritus of Nursing, New Mexico State University), "Texas Ranger Biographies: Those Who Served 1910-1920" is a 432-page compendium of succinctly written biographical sketches of all those who served as Texas Rangers. In 1920 the era of Texas Rangers serving to protect the citizenry from outlaws and marauding Native Americans has come to an end with calls in the state legislature to abolish them as a no longer justifiable expense. Then the Mexican Revolution began, originally launched from Texas on November 20, 1910 and for the next decade the role of the Texas Rangers was to deal with the subsequent border problems associated with the revolutionary activity of diverse and often hostile Mexican factions attempting to raise funds and recruits on Texas soil for their on-going conflicts. The results of more than 30 years of meticulous scholarship and seminal research, "Texas Ranger Biographies" is a unique historical record and an essential addition to academic library 19th Century American History reference shelves in general, and Texas Historical Studies collections in particular.

Exploring Desert Stone
Steven K. Madsen
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
www.USUPress.org
9780874217070, $34.95, www.amazon.com

In the mid-19th century, the expansions of an American West whether by war-time acquisition or phenomena such as the California Goldrush were preceded by dedicated exploration by the U.S. government who sought to understand the geography, topography, and natural resources of what had been acquired. "Exploring Desert Stone: John N. Macomb's 1859 Expedition to the Canyonlands of the Colorado" by historian and author Steven K. Madsen focuses on the very first U.S. government expedition to explore the canyon country and the Four Corners area near what is now Moab, Utah, a region that even today is difficult to access. Following the Old Spanish Trail seeking routes into Utah (made even more urgent because of the recent 'Utah War' where federal troops occupied key parts of the newly emergent Mormon country under the control of Brigham Young whose policy of polygamy had gained the ire of the U.S. government), the exploratory groups of topographical engineers under the command of John Macomb created a documentary record of their efforts, as well as the first detailed map of the era. Their story and their achievements are now available under the deft and painstaking historical scholarship of Steven Madsen. Enhanced with an extensive Bibliography and a comprehensive Index, "Exploring Desert Stone" is a seminal and invaluable contribution, and should be a core addition to academic library 19th Century American History collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history and development of the American West.

Nexus of Empire
Gene Allen Smith and Sylvia L. Hilton, editors
University Press of Florida
University of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813033990 $69.95 www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822

Nexus of Empire: Negotiating Loyalty and Identity in the Revolutionary Borderlands, 1760s-1820s is an anthology of essays by learned authors discussing the people who inhabited the Gulf of Mexico region - a location and era when nations and empires, both political and mercantile, jockeyed fiercely for every strategic and commercial advantage they could get. Individual essays focus upon the experiences of men, women, Native Americans, European colonists, free people of color, slaves, and more. A scholarly, extensively researched and ultimately enlightening cross-examination of history through human experience, Nexus of Empire is highly recommended particularly for college library collections.

President of the Other America
Edward R. Schmitt
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558497306 $39.95 www.umass.edu/umpress

Edward R. Schmitt (associate professor of history, University of Wisconsin-Parkside) presents President of the Other America: Robert Kennedy & the Politics of Poverty, which scrutinizes a lesser-studied aspect of Robert Kennedy's run for the presidency in 1968. This issue, often overshadowed by Kennedy's outspoken stance against the Vietnam War, is Kennedy's relentless crusade against poverty. Schmitt reveals how Kennedy came to involve himself heavily in the concerns of the poor and disenfranchised, and also how he perceived poverty as a long-term threat to America's stability - a warning he made every effort to communicate to business and community leaders. Though Kennedy's vision for steps to a brighter future never came to be as he hoped during his tragically brief lifetime, his efforts left a resounding legacy - and also a hint of wonder as to what type of President Kennedy might have been, had he the opportunity. Superbly researched and presented, President of the Other America is particularly timely given America's modern-day quandary about how to best help the poor (and everybody else) in matters such as health care. A welcome addition to college library American History and Social Issues shelves.

Immigration and the Legacy of Harry S. Truman
Roger Daniels, editor
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112994 $28.95 http://tsup.truman.edu

Immigration and the Legacy of Harry S. Truman is an anthology of scholarly essays by expert authors revealing Truman's little-known contributions to America's immigration policy and reforms. He was arguably the first twentieth-century American president to become aware of the need to end discrimination in immigration laws, and the changes he wrought continue to shape the nation to the present day. Essays discuss Truman's stance on Holocaust survivors and Palestine; race and ethnic classification in the McCarran-Walter Act; how Florida changed during the Truman years; and much more. An astutely researched and presented account, Immigration and the Legacy of Harry S. Truman is highly recommended especially for college library American History shelves.

Framing the Sixties
Bernard von Bothmer
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558497320 $28.95 www.umass.edu/umpress 1-800-537-5487

Framing the Sixties: The Use and Abuse of a Decade from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush is an extraordinary survey of how left-wing and right-wing factions have framed - or failed to frame - the events and legacy of the turbulent 1960s decade to their political advantage. From Ronald Reagan's vilification of the "Great Society", characterizing it as an abandonment of personal responsibility, to Bill Clinton's use of liberal 1960s icons to promote more moderate or conservative ends than the icons themselves personally endorsed, to George W. Bush's absolute antipathy to most of the radical social change of the 1960s, to how John Kerry - a decorated Vietnam war veteran who protested the war after his honorable discharge - was absolutely vilified in comparison to George W. Bush, who never served in Vietnam at all, Framing the Sixties is a remarkably astute appraisal of how public opinion was carefully shaped by spin on both sides of the debate. Ultimately, it appears as though the Right political wing has been overall more effective in spreading their view of the 60s, but it's not impossible that this could change. "The memory of the 1960s has dominated American politics far longer than the decade itself lasted and has not yet run its course. The much-discussed national divide between Republican 'red states' and Democratic 'blue states' stems primarily from the fight over 'the sixties.' In the 2008 presidential election Republican John McCain, a decorated Vietnam-era prisoner of war, relied on the tried-and-true strategy of 'blaming the sixties' that had propelled Ronald Reagan and two presidents named George Bush into the White House, though this time, against a backdrop of urgent national crises and an opponent who hadn't been born when the 1960s began, the strategy failed." An astute examination of a critical side of America's ongoing political debate, highly recommended.

Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers
Vincent E. Feeney
Images from the Past
PO Box 137, Bennington, Vermont 05201
9781884592522 $19.95 www.ImagesfromthePast.com

Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers is a carefully researched and engagingly presented history of the Irish in Vermont, from those who came with colonial pioneers to the tidal wave of refugees from the great potato famine, through the first half of the twentieth century. A handful of historic black-and-white photographs illustrate this extraordinary tale of cultural shifts, prosperity, demographic transformations, and much more. An enjoyable tour of Irish contributions to Vermont history, accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers is an excellent addition to Vermont history collections and college library shelves.


The Black Studies Shelf

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Angela Y. Davis
City Lights Book
261 Columbis Avenue, San Franscisco, CA 94133
9780872865273, $12.95, www.citylights.com

Being an educated man of color was a true anomaly in his day. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave Written By Himself" discusses Douglass's famous autobiography as Angela Y. Davis offers much studious insight on the matters she examines Douglass's writings and how the man embraced intellectualism and spirituality to pull himself out of his subservient life in a society that thought of him as an animal. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" is a must for anyone trying to get a greater understanding of the black icon.

The War Before
Safiya Bukhari, author
Laura Whitehorn, editor
The Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781558616103 $15.95 www.feministpress.org

Featuring a preface by Safiya's daughter and an afterword by death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, The War Before: The True Life Story of Becoming a Black Panther, Keeping the Faith in Prison, & Fighting for Those Left Behind is the personal testimony of Safiya Bukhari, who has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of the oppressed. born in the Bronx, Safiya joined the Black Panther Party in 1969; she spoke out against misogyny, made a crucial life decision to convert to Islam, and served nine years in prison on charges related to the Black Liberation Army. After her release in 1983, she co-founded the New York Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition and other organizations. Her writings reveal an evolution of character and focus, from simple outrage at the corrupt law enforcers and others who abused their power to a revolutionary determined to end injustice in human society. "It begins with an anger at the forces with the immediate power to affect your life. For me, it began with an anger at the police force of New York City for abusing their authority and treating me as less than a human being. It grew into a determination to correct what is wrong with this, to make sure that it didn't continue solely because no one dared to stand up and speak up. It continued with the desire to make sure that my child would not have to endure the same kind of treatment. It was personal, but it became political. And it endures."

Malcolm X Black Liberation & the Road to Workers Power
Jack Barnes
Pathfinder Press
PO Box 162767, Atlanta, GA 30321-2767
9781604880212 $20.00 www.pathfinderpress.com

Written by Jack Barnes, the national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party, Malcolm X Black Liberation & the Road to Workers Power is an unabashedly pro-socialist treatise, discussing the past one hundred and fifty years of exploitation of workers - especially black workers - particularly from the mid-1950s onward, when black people were disproportionately claimed as an under compensated industrial work force and as cannon fodder for the America's wars. During this tumultuous time, Malcolm X emerged as a leader who called for human rights, justice, and equality. Malcolm X Black Liberation & the Road to Workers Power searches for lessons from the past, and seeks to apply those lessons to promote a future where socialism provides a framework for reducing or eliminating exploitation, violence, and racism. A powerful and persuasive political testimony, enhanced with black-and-white photographs, a glossary, and an index. "Everything new and progressive on the Negro question came from Moscow, after the revolution of 1917, and as a result of the revolution... Everybody knew that the Negro was getting the worst of it at every turn, but hardly anybody cared about it or wanted to do anything to try to moderate or change it. The 90 percent white majority of American society, including its working-class sector, North as well as South, was saturated with prejudice against the Negro; and the socialist movement reflected this prejudice to a considerable extent... The old theory of American radicalism turned out in practice to be a formula for inaction on the Negro front... The Russian intervention changed all that, and changed it dramatically, and for the better."


The Biography Shelf

Eat the Grapes
Craig R. Johnson
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Oms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439-2129
9781592983148, $14.95, www.beaverspondpress.com

Once the heart of the Ottoman empire, the bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East is a place like none other. "Eat the Grapes: Don't Fight hr Battles" is a memoir from Craig R. Johnson as he reflects on his retirement spent in Turkey. Turkey is a place of duality, as society with two sides seems to co-exist on every level, making for a truly unique cultural experience. Well written and deftly crafted, Johnson's memoir is truly an adventure to read, making "Eat the Grapes" a solid addition to any personal memoir collection.

Birth of a Psychedelic Culture
Ram Dass & Ralph Metzner
Synergetic Press
1 Blue Bird Court, Santa Fe, NM 87508
9780907791386, $9.95, www.synergeticpress.com

Science calls for experimentation, and when something new appears, scientific thinking can lead to a unique adventure. "Birth of a Psychedelic Culture: Conversations About Leary, the Harvard Experiments, Millbrook, and the Sixties" looks into a six year span where the psychedelic movement caught steam. Presented as a conversation between figures of the movement, the authors provide an enticing read into the era. "Birth of a Psychedelic Culture", is a piece of history well worth looking into, with its stories of a truly unique time.

John Jay
John M. Pafford
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
www.heritagebooks.com
9780788450099, $23.00, www.amazon.com

John Jay was one of the founding fathers of the newly announced United States of America. Although largely overshadowed today by George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton, in his day, John Jay was considered by his peers in the Continental Congress as the logical successor to George Washington as the chief executor of the fledgling nation. Among his many accomplishments were the presidency of the Continental Congress, becoming the minister plenipotentiary to Span, and a member of the peace commission which successfully negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris which had Britain acknowledge the independence of the thirteen colonies. John Jay was also Washington's secretary of foreign affairs, co-authored 'The Federalist' papers, serviced as the first chief justice of the Supreme Court, and for two terms was the governor of New York. When he retired from political life he became the president of the American Bible Society. "John Jay: The Forgotten Founder" by John M. Pafford is a 224-page biography that admirably serves to bring the man and his contributions back to the forefront of history along with the story of his life, his manifold accomplishments, and his enduring legacy as leader and founder of the American nation. Enhanced with a chronology and an extensive bibliography, "John Jay: The Forgotten Founder" is a work of meticulous scholarship and well deserving of inclusion in both academic and community library American History and American Biography reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Hitler: A Biography
Ian Kershaw
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393337617, $25.95 www.wwnorton.com

Hitler: A Biography is a weighty, definitive guide for any history collection seeking more than a light biography. From Hitler's origins as a failed artist in Vienna to his last days, this offers a view of how Hitler's power evolved, adding in historical analysis and German history to make for an outstanding presentation for any serious World War II history collection.

The Diary of Prisoner 17326
John K. Stutterheim
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823231508, $35.00, www.fordhampress.com

The militarization of Japan led to many tragedies throughout Asia. "The Diary of Prisoner 17326: A Boy's Life in a Japanese Labor Camp" is a memoir from John K. Stutterheim, reflecting on his time in Japanese labor camps during World War II, during the Empire of Japan's occupation of Java and the Dutch East Indies. A personal perspective of World War II not often heard and a chapter of history underrepresented, John Stutterheim uses his story to give quite the history of the time and the struggles of the imprisoned under Japan at its most ruthless. "The Diary of Prisoner 17326" is a top pick for any historical memoir collection.

Osama Bin Laden: A Biography
Thomas R. Mockaitis
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313353741 $35.00 www.abc-clio.com

How well does America truly know its enemy? A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate Osama Bin Laden: A Biography, a scholarly yet thoroughly accessible chronicle of the life of the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks. From his life in Saudi society, to the religious transformation that led him to denounce that society and become a jihadist leader, to the horrendous acts of terror that he orchestrated, and how different segments of the Muslim world perceive him (ranging from enemy to near-mythical hero), Osama Bin Laden: A Biography spares no detail in its efforts to accurately reveal the making of this divisive man. Osama Bin Laden: A Biography also pays note to the spread of radical Islam from Egypt to Saudi Arabia to other nations, and the evolution of al-Qaeda to its current level and abilities. A necessary addition to public and college library biography shelves.

The Uncrowned King
Kenneth Whyte
Counterpoint Press
2117 Fourth Street, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781582435541 $17.95 www.counterpointpress.com

Newspaper editor and magazine publisher Kenneth Whyte presents The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst, an engaging, lively, and aptly researched study of the life and skyrocketed career of the man whose impression and influence on the world of news overtook that of Joseph Pulitzer himself. Hearst (1863-1951) laid the foundation of one of America's biggest media empires, yet to this day his reputation remains tarred by accusations of sensationalism, self-promotion, warmongering, and even untruthfulness. The Uncrowned King is as much a pleasure to read as it is jam-packed with researched detail, bringing to life its portrait of a passionate and dedicated American of boundless ambition - not to mention a vivid glimpse of the excesses of the Gilded age. Highly recommended, particularly for both college and public library collections.

Becoming Teddy Roosevelt
Andrew Vietze
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, Maine 04843
9780892727841 $22.95 www.downeast.com

Award-winning writer and Baxter State Park ranger Andrew Vietze presents Becoming Teddy Roosevelt: How a Maine Guide Inspired America's 26th President, the extraordinary chronicle of William Wingate Sewall, the Maine woodsman who had a profound effect on young Teddy Roosevelt as his mentor and lifelong friend. Chapter chronicle the remarkable connection between these two men - a connection that almost certainly influenced Roosevelt's passionate love for America's wilderness, and his desire to protect and promote national parks. A handful of black-and-white photographs, chapter notes, and an index round out this amazing, true-life tale of lasting camaraderie between great men of strikingly different backgrounds and stations, highly recommended.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Angel of Death Row
Andrea D. Lyon
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor, New York, NY 10006
9781607144342, $24.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com

ANGEL OF DEATH ROW: MY LIFE AS A DEATH PENALTY DEFENSE LAWYER comes from a nationally recognized expert in death penalty defense and the lead attorney for the Florida mother accused of killing her young daughter, offering a true story of herself and her clients. The process of being a death row lawyer in a country where capital punishment is popular makes not just for a courtroom account, but the motivations to defend killers. Social justice libraries at the college level will welcome this.

Criminal Litigation & Legal Issues in Criminal Procedure, third edition
Brent E. Newton
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
361 Centennial Parkway, Suite 220, Louisville, CO 80027
9781601560988, $45.00, www.nita.org

The legal system of the United States is a complicated system, endlessly evolving in the pursuit of fair law. Now in a fully updated and expanded third edition, "Criminal Litigation & Legal Issues in Criminal Procedure" is a study guide on the many processes that criminal trial as it hopes to educate starting criminal justice attorneys as they gain a greater grasp of the sciences of law. Hoping to put both of the titular issues under one discussed banner, chapters cover the process of the courtroom step by step, chronologically for a highly educational read for students of law, be they amateur or professional. "Criminal Litigation & Legal Issues in Criminal Procedure" is a top pick for any law education collection a community or college library.

Olivia's Story
Jeffrey S. Copeland
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788849 $19.95 www.paragonhouse.com

Olivia's Story: The Conspiracy of Heroes Behind Shelley v. Kraemer is the true history of the Shelley v. Kramer court decision, which overturned racial housing restrictions and allowed for fair housing regulations in the United States, as told through the eyes of Olivia Merriweather Perkins. Olivia joined a daring group of people in St. Louis, Missouri who risked their collective safety and well-being to fight for their right to property and residency. The legal ramifications of Shelley v. Kramer would ultimately and fundamentally transform America as a nation, not only in housing but also in other aspects - breaking barriers and setting new norms of equality taken for granted today. Drawing heavily from exhaustive research amid archives, records centers, letters, period legal documents, and interviews with people who were there, Olivia's Story is an enthralling historical chronicle that is as captivating as it is enlightening. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Putumayo Presents: Rhythm and Blues
Putumayo World Music
411 Lafayette, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10003
B0030E5NJG, $15.98 www.putumayo.com

Libraries seeking to include accessible, classic rhythms of retro R&B will find this CD the perfect introduction to sixties-style R&B (known then as soul music). Modern interpretations - some as good as the originals - pack a CD where the big find is the Quantic Soul Orchestra featuring 'Kabir', a singer very much in the style of Bobbie 'Blue' Bland. Some folks on this CD were there in the sixties: for instance, Irma Thomas is here paired with pianist Henry Butler. Other groups made up of younger folks let us know this style of music isn't about to die yet!

Levantine Indulgence
Gaida
Palmyra Recordings
www.palmyrarecordings.com www.gaidamusic.com
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$21.49 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Syrian singer Gaida, who studied science as well as music in the U.S. and works as a trained speech therapist with both children and professional vocalists, presents Levantine Indulgence, an original album that showcases her wonderful blend of Arabic melodies and jazz-inspired arrangements. Iraqi-American jazz trumpeter and santoor player Amir ElSaffar collaborates with her on several of the inspired songs; also lending their talents to assorted melodies are Adel Hinawi, Arturo Martinez, and Sarah Silbert. A captivating blend of Middle East and West, Levantine Indulgence is an extraordinary addition to world music collections and highly recommended. The tracks are "Dream" (2:14), "Ammar" (3:43), "Illak Shi" (4:02), "Indulgence" (8:26), "Kaifa Uhibuka" (3:38), "Salam Min Dimashq" (7:00), "Almaya" (3:38), "Ghayeb" (4:54), and "Bint Elbalad" (4:59).

Behind the Smile
Antoinette Montague
In the Groove
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$16.98 www.antoinettemontague.com

Behind the Smile showcases Antoinette Montague's captivating singing voice as she performs classic jazz standards and little-known melodies, blended with elements of blues and gospel, and even adding jazz arrangements to material from other genres such as R&B, classic soul, and pop. The result is a smoothly flowing album sure to delight and entertain, featuring Mulgrew Miller on piano, Bill Easley on saxophone, reeds, and flute, Kenny Washington on the drums, and Peter Washington on bass. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys stellar jazz singing. The tracks are "Behind the Smile" (4:14), "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" (4:56), "Give Your Mama One Smile" (3:35), "Ever Since the One I Love's Been Gone" (4:46), "What's Going On" (4:33), "The Song Is You" (3:12), "I'd Rather Have A Memory Than A Dream" (4:55), "Lost In Meditation" (2:57), "Get Ready" (4:29), "Summer Song" (4:22), "Somewhere In The Night" (3:09), "Meet Me At No Special Place" (4:01), and "23rd Psalm" (2:50).

Altan: 25th Anniversary Celebration
Altan
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Altan is an acclaimed group of Irish of musicians with a rich repertoire of lilting, poetic, traditional performances, with a passionate emphasis on Celtic heritage and captivating string playing. Altan: 25th Anniversary Celebration is a new album of some of their most beloved works, recorded with the RTE concert orchestra. A quarter century's worth of brilliant, exciting, and lush cultural songs fill this wonderful album, which makes the perfect gift for anyone who loves Celtic music. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Is the Big Man Within?/Tilly Finn's Reel" (3:52), "Citi na gCumann" (4:03), "The Roseville" (2:20), "I Wish My Love Was a Red Red Rose" (3:44), "Donal agus Morag" (4:28), "Mo Ghaoil" (4:19), "Bog an Lochain/The Margaree Reel/The Humours of Westport" (3:34), "A Tune For Frankie" (3:24), "Molly na gCuach Ni Chuilleannain" (2:39), "Soilsena Nollag" (5:17), "As I Roved Out" (4:02), "The Sunset" (3:47), "Gleanntain Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair" (3:37), "Comb Your Hair and Curl It/Gweebarra Bridge" (3:37), and "Dun Do Shuil" 3:32.


The Library DVD Shelf

Wild Ocean
Nokia
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff St. Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
014381362220, $19.98 www.image-entertainment.com

WILD OCEAN is created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, the creators of STOMP, and presented in Nokia in IMAX 2-D and 3-D. It comes alive here in an enthralling survey of South Africa's wild coastline, following animals and sea life alike. Any library strong in nature or science DVDs will find this a unique, eye-catching and popular lend.

What's the Economy For, Anyway?
John de Graaf and Dave Batker
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, and suitable for viewers in grade 10-12 as well as adults, What's the Economy For, Anyway? is an educational, humorous and user-friendly DVD primer of basic economic facts - what exactly is the GDP? What does our nation's GDP tell us about our economy, and what does it fail to tell us? How does our current economic situation affect our daily lives in terms of health, happiness, security, and amount of free time? (If a credit card company makes a mistake on your bill, you must spend your time doing unpaid work contacting them - often through a hassling series of automated messages - and try to get it fixed, if you can!) How do all these factors in America compare to those of other nations? How did America's current financial morass come to be, and what might be coming next? Ultimately a sharp indictment of the flaws in America's current economic models - underscoring how measurable indicators of quality of life in America pale in comparison to more successful models in other nations - What's the Economy For, Anyway? is thought-provoking, informed and informative, and strongly recommended especially for high school and public library collections. 40 minutes.

The Human Spark with Alan Alda
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831364 $29.99 www.shopPBS.org

What is it that distinguishes humans from the rest of animal kingdom? Why can only humans communicate through auditory and written symbols that can be recombined into virtually infinite meanings, hypothesize what the future may bring, or imagine the unknown? The Human Spark with Alan Alda explores the differences between modern homo sapiens, our extinct Neanderthal cousins, and modern-day chimpanzees. An extraordinary documentary about what modern-day science has to say about the quintessential distinguishing features of humanity, The Human Spark with Alan Alda is enlightening and intriguing, highly recommended especially for public library collections. 3 hours, widescreen, closed captioned.

The Best of Lidia
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
PBS Distribution
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831456 $19.99 www.shopPBS.org

The Best of Lidia is a DVD collection some of the most beloved recipes by public television chef Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, best known for her sumptuous Italian cooking that the whole family can enjoy. The Best of Lidia features recipes from Lidia's travels across Italy, from zesty starters to quick pastas, main courses, and desserts fit for a prince! A wonderful addition to culinary DVD libraries, The Best of Lidia lives up to its title with easy-to-follow instructions for preparing delicious recipes, and is highly recommended for aspiring chefs of all skill and experience levels. 85 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned.

Becoming Human
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831258 $29.99 www.shopPBS.org

Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestors collects thee episodes of the acclaimed documentary series NOVA exploring what the latest scientific discoveries tell us about the earliest human ancestors - and what makes us human today. The first episode, "Selam", shows how clues from the remains of a 3 million year-old child suggest why and how humanity first came down from the trees and started walking upright. The second episode applies forensics to the mystery of "Turkana Boy", a fossil of Home erectus, the first human ancestor to leave Africa and begin colonization of the globe. What caused this African exodus? The final episode, "Becoming Human", examines how human capacities for art, invention, and survival developed, and the mystery of humanity's interaction with the early Neanderthals. Did humans interbreed with Neanderthals, or cause their extermination? Why did "we" survive when other ancestral cousins died out? An extraordinary collection, and a choice pick especially for public library DVD collections and the libraries of anyone curious about the origins of humanity in prehistoric times. 3 hours, widescreen, closed captioned. Also highly recommended is the NOVA documentary "What Are Dreams? Inside the Sleeping Brain" (9781608831616, $24.99, 56 min., widescreen, closed captioned).

6 Steps to a Successful Acting Career
Aaron Seals
For a Better World Films
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.6StepstoActing.com

Written and directed by the founder of a New York casting company with a ten-year track record, 6 Steps to a Successful Acting Career lives up to its title and is an excellent from-the-ground-up primer for anyone interested in getting started as an actor. The major topics covered include First Steps, Types of work, Skills Needed, Promotion, Day to day life of an actor, and Levels and goals of a career. A special chapter focuses on issues particular to child actors and their parents, including work permits and the value of the kid/parent team. 6 Steps to a Successful Acting Career is an excellent pick for anyone curious to learn more about the acting world as well as aspiring actors seeking to break into the business. 150 minutes.

Stomperobics Version One: "The Nutkracker"
Tony Victory
Tony Victory Fitness, LLC
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.TonyVictory.com

Fitness expert Tony Victory hosts Stomperobics Version One: "The Nutkracker", a cardio workout on DVD based on the college fraternity and sorority dance tradition known as Stomping. Set to an original musical soundtrack, "The Nutkracker" includes an easy-to-follow tutorial, choreographic steps that can be modified for viewers of different skill and intensity levels, and menu chapters that allow one to customize the separate workout programs to one's needs. A great way to liven up one's exercise routine, "The Nutkracker" is an excellent enhancement to personal DVD fitness libraries. 50 minutes.

Dance Off the Inches: Cardio Striptease
Megan Armand
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Dance Off the Inches: Cardio Striptease adds spice to a cardio workout on DVD, with striptease moves that anyone can learn. A flirtatious way to get into good health, Cardio Striptease makes pretending to remove one's clothes while working out a fun way to blend ten active steps into one's routine. The overall workout consists of three dances, "Work It", "Too Hot to Handle", and "Total Tease", plus a warm up and cool down. Fitness enthusiasts of all skill and experience levels, from beginner to expert, can get into and enjoy Dance Off the Inches: Cardio Striptease for a sexy change of pace! 43 minutes.

Step-by-Step Strength Training with Petra Kolber
Petra Kolber
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$16.99 acacialifestyle.com

Step-by-Step Strength Training with Petra Kolber is a mix-and-match toning workout on DVD, requiring no more equipment than simple hand weights and a chair. Fitness expert and motivational speaker Petra Kolber gives practical tips for an efficient strength training workout ideal for all skill and experience levels. Two ten-minutes segments focus on the lower and upper body, while two twenty-minute segments build strength in the body overall. A bonus 5 minute ab blast section rounds out this excellent and easy-to-follow choice for DVD fitness libraries. 60 minutes, widescreen. Also highly recommended is "Core Fusion Lean & Toned with Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito" ($16.99, 55 minutes, widescreen).

David Goodis ...To A Pulp
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
$19.95 www.onairvideo.com

David Goodis ...To A Pulp is the DVD biography of noir writer David Goodis, whose distinctively gritty and realistic prose distinguishes him. He was a screenwriter for the Warner Brothers movie Dark Passage, which was based on one of his novels. Yet shortly after this brush with fame he divorced, left Hollywood, and returned to living in his parents' home in Philadelphia, where he continued to write dark paperback novels for the rest of this life. Just who was Goodis? What caused him to break with Hollywood? What was the end result of his lawsuit against ABC Television over the series "The Fugitive"? David Goodis ...To A Pulp answers all these questions and more, revealing the reclusive life of an isolated yet gifted author. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD collections. 76 minutes.

Grow Your Own Vegetables
Cam Mather
Aztext Press
Box 214, Tamworth, Ontario, Canada K0K 3G0
9780973323399 $19.95 www.aztext.com

Hosted by Cam Mather, who has grown organic vegetables for thirty years; Grow Your Own Vegetables is a straightforward instructional DVD to economically producing one's own food. From soil preparation to planting, weeding and watering, and dealing with insects and pests, to harvesting, storage, and more, Grow Your Own Vegetables emphasizes low-energy, earth-friendly approaches with step-by-step, easy-to-follow guidance. A superb how-to guide, enthusiastically for organic gardeners of all skill and experience levels. 2 hours.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Burning Land
Bernard Cornwell, author
Stephen Perring, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440767319 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Stirringly performed by Stephen Perring, The Burning Land is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's historical novel set in the ninth century, when the land that would eventually become England was wracked by the horrors of war. The health of King Alfred of Wessex is failing, and the Vikings seize the opportunity to attack. Alfred's brilliant warlord Uhtred stands fast against the invaders, but a tragedy sets him at against the king. Joining with his former foes, Uhtred seeks to overwhelm Wessex - but the tides of fate and time have one more card to play. An enthralling saga of violence, political intrigue, heroic deeds and more, The Burning Land is captivating to the very end and highly recommended. 10 CDs, 11.25 hours.

The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso 1821-1900
Mike Cox, author
Jonathan Hogan, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440757617 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Journalist and Texas Ranger grand master Mike Cox presents The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso 1821-1900, an extraordinary anthology of true stories about the men who wore the silver Lone Star in the line of duty. Originally a band of volunteers assembled to counter attacks from the Kamikawa, the Texas Rangers grew in size and required better training as Indian violence escalated. The Texas Rangers confronted Indians, banditos, Yankees, and more in their mission as lawmen. Jonathan Hogan's narration brings to life this unabridged audiobook adaptation, highly recommended for adding a dose of real-life, historical excitement to long car or plane trips. 14 CDs, 17 hours.

Nowhere to Belong: Tales of an Extravagant Stranger
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Merit Publishing International
1095 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 7, Jupiter, FL 33458
9781873413784 $13.95 meritpi@aol.com

Nowhere to Belong: Tales of an Extravagant Stranger is the audiobook memoir of journalist and political commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. Growing up in 1960 Uganda, Yasmin dearly wanted to be an actor, and played Juliet in a multi-racial school play - an action that shocked and surprised her family. As she matured, her love of Shakespeare blossomed into an emotional passion for learning more about politics and the world at large. The extraordinary life journey of an outgoing and dedicated woman, Nowhere to Belong is highly recommended.

Poor Little Bitch Girl
Jackie Collins, author
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427208682 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Poor Little Bitch Girl is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of popular author Jackie Collins' novel of murder, high society, and chickens coming home to roost. Five people - the hotshot attorney Denver Jones, the mistress of a married senator Carolyn Henderson, the madam to the famous Annabelle Maestro, Annabelle's cocaine-addicted boyfriend Frankie, and wealthy heir Bobby Santangelo Stanislopolous find their lots cast together when Annabelle's mother is discovered murdered in her Beverly Hills mansion. Hidden incidents in the group's past come to light in this enthralling deconstruction of the glamorous(?) lives of the rich and famous, skillfully read aloud by the author along with Allison Daugherty, Lara Hirner, and John Bedford Lloyd. 9 CDs, 11.5 hours.

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had
Kristin Levine, author
Kirby Heyborne, narrator
Listening Library, Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780307710567 $34.00 1-800-726-0600

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had is the captivating, unabridged audiobook adaptation of friendship and misguided small-town justice in 1917 Moundville, Alabama. Emma Walker is the educated twelve-year-old daughter of Moundville's new postmaster - both of whom happen to be colored, to the town's surprise. Harry "Dit" Simms was hoping to meet a boy his age, but his mother impresses upon him the importance of being nice to everyone, regardless of race or gender. In time Dit and Emma become fast friends, and their bond makes Dit wonder about why white kids and colored kids can't go to school together. When the town barber (who happens to be black) is accused of a horrendous crime, Dit and Emma know he doesn't deserve the punishment that the town plans to exact upon him. Together they hatch a plan to deliver him from the worst possible fate, in this absorbing and highly recommended story. 6 CDs, 7 hours 9 minutes.

Let the Great World Spin
Colum McCann, author
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440762338 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com

Let the Great World Spin is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Colum McCann's National Book Award finalist novel about a diverse group of fictional New Yorkers during the course of a fateful day in 1974. French acrobat Philippe Petit surprised and amazed onlookers everywhere as he performed on a tightrope between the newly constructed Twin Towers, over 1,300 feet in the air - an act dubbed the artistic crime of the century. Individuals who watched him defy death itself reflected on what this meant for their own lives, their confrontations with tragedy and their struggles to survive and build a better future. An emotional, introspective, and ultimately life-affirming experience, Let the Great World Spin is highly recommended. 13 CDs, 15.5 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

The Northern Clemency
Philip Hensher, author
Carole Boyd, narrator
Clipper Audio
c/o Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440727498 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com

The Northern Clemency is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Philip Hensher's Great English Novel, a portrait of the lives of ordinary people in Sheffield as the wheels of history turn from 1974 to the close of Thatcher's government in 1996. As England transforms from a manufacturing and industrial economy into one of shops, restaurants, and service industries, the families must adapt to the change; a dramatic point of this shift is revealed in the miners' strike of 1984. Skillfully read by Carole Boyd, with tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking, The Northern Clemency is an unforgettably picturesque and revealing novel bringing the years of the last generation to life, highly recommended. 22 CDs, 25.5 hours.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Everything's over for Simon, a 60-something stage actor who has lost his talent and magic. But the story doesn't end here: add erotic desire and a series of darker encounters for our hero and you have an ironic, haunting window into aging and change in THE HUMBLING (1441800999, $24.99), perfect for prior Philip Roth fans. Alan Deutschman's WALK THE WALK; THE #1 RULE FOR REAL LEADERS (144180465X, $24.99) receives Jim Bond's seasoned voice with nearly 25 years of experience as an arts radio talk show producer, and discusses cases of leaders in business, education, the military and nonprofits who always 'walked the walk'. Their actions gave them credibility and inspired many changes. Any library offering leadership titles will consider this a fine survey. J.D. Robb's MISSING IN DEATH (1423383613, $19.99) offers a fine performance by Susan Ericksen and tells of danger on the Staten Island Ferry that draws Lieutenant Eve Dallas to New York to investigate a strange disappearance. Her probe will question whether a death even happens in this outstanding thriller. Arthur C. Clarke's RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA (1423394984, $29.99) receives a fine performance by Peter Ganim and tells of mankind's first encounter with an alien intelligence. Nobody knows who the Ramans are - but they do know it will change their world. Dan Simmons' ENDYMION (1423381629, $49.99) tells of a universe in chaos and receives Victor Bevine's smooth, seasoned voice spiced by decades of acting experience. It's 274 years after the Fall and the universe is in chaos. Raul Endymion, convicted murder, becomes a pawn in a dangerous cosmic game what till determine the future of humanity's reality itself in this fine thriller. Victor Bevine also spices THE RISE OF ENDYMION (142338167X, $49.99), a survey telling of a genocidal Crusade that threatens to enslave humanity, and new messiah Aenea's protector Raul, who must deliver her message to her growing army - and undertake a journey to discovery the nature of the universe. Together this is a powerful science fiction set. Arthur C. Clarke's CHILDHOOD'S END (1423395034, $29.99) is performed by Michael Summerer, a voice actor and producer whose voice has been in countless commercials, and provides a classic science fiction tale in audio. The Overlords suddenly preside over humanity - a benevolent race that brings peace to humans and wants little in return. But that's the cost? A powerful saga is made even more inspiring in audio. Dean Koontz's BREATHLESS (1423357035, $39.99) receives Jeff Cummings' stage acting background and warm voice as it tells of Grady, who lives a solitary life in the Colorado mountains until he comes across some strange creatures in the wild. His discovery will place him under quarantine by Homeland Security, and bring him to unwelcome world attention in this riveting thriller. Joe K. Lansdale's RUMBLE TUMBLE (142338444X, $29.99) receives a fine, seasoned performance by Phil Gigante as it tells of Hap and Leonard, who become involved with a Pentecostal preacher, a midget, and a gang of bikers. What begins as a midlife crisis turns into a different kind of adventure in this fast-paced winner. Amy Bloom's WHERE THE GOD OF LOVE HANGS OUT (1441831185, $24.99) receives Susan Ericksen's smooth and experienced Audie award-winning voice as it tells of love, loss, and more. Stories of passion and change make for a riveting audio listen. John Lescroart's GUILT (1423386876, $38.99) receives a fine narration by veteran reader David Colacci as it provides a legal thriller telling of a prosperous San Francisco attorney suspected of a brutal crime and about to be indicted for murder of his wife. His battle is about to spark a trial that will draw in some famous legal names and tarnish some sterling reputations in this legal thriller.

Deeper Than the Dead
Tami Hoag
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
9780739365809, $40.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

Deeper Than the Dead enjoys a fine narration by actress Kirsten Potter, whose dramatic voice lends to the tense thriller set in 1985 California and telling of four children who stumble on a body and lose their innocence. But it's not only the children who are affected: the entire community finds its people and beliefs challenged in this story of an FBI investigator who uses profiling to develop a murder theory that winds up further affecting the lives of the children.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Elizabeth Gilbert's COMMITTED: A SKEPTIC MAKES PEACE WITH MARRIAGE (9780143145752, $29.95) is narrated by the author and tells of Gilbert's efforts to make peace with marriage when she unexpectedly falls in love and swears with her partner to never get married. Her dilemma evolves when marriage proves the only way she and her Australian partner can ever enter America together. Tracy Chevalier's REMARKABLE CREATURES (9780143145301, $39.95) tells of Mary Anning, who is struck by lightning as a baby and discovers she has a unique gift to spot fossils no one else can see. Charlotte Parry adds a passionate voice backed by her Broadway and West End credits to the moving story of a young woman's power and confrontation with religion. Lauren Willig's THE BETRAYAL OF THE BLOOD LILY (9780143145332, $39.95) receives stage actress Kate Reading's warm, moving voice as it provides another Pink Carnation story - this one revolving around Miss Penelope Deveraux, who flees scandal in India where a dangerous spy leaves cobras as his calling card and where she faces dangers and strangers alike. Danger from local warlords and treacherous court officials and spies involve her and Captain Alex Reid in this charged story. Beth Hoffman's SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT (9780143145547, $39.95) tells of a twelve-year-old in trouble: she's been the caretaker of her psychotic mother but is now left alone - until an unknown great-aunt comes to her rescue. Humor and fine insights mark an audio brought to life under the voice of Jenna Lamia, an accomplished actress with many series and films to her name.


The Political Science Shelf

Shifting Super Powers
Martin Sieff
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308218, $26.00, www.nbnbooks.com

They are three of the most powerful countries in the world. The relationship between the United States, China, and India is certainly one to watch with a close eye. "Shifting Superpowers: The New and Emerging Relationship Between the United States, China, and India" is a scholarly investigation into the modern world as it is, where the United States is no longer the sole dominant super power. India and China have taken massive strides of importance to grow into quite the powerhouses, and the United States must now treat the two nations as an political, military, and economic equals on the world stage for a more harmonious existence in the long run. "Shifting Superpowers" is a top pick modern political science collections, very highly recommended.

Reappraising the Right
George H. Nash
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
PO Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
9781935191650, $27.95, www.isibooks.org

There have always been conservatives, but they have had quite the ups and downs throughout history. "Reappraising the Right: The Past & Future of American Conservatism" discusses this history, and discusses the future of the general conservative viewpoint, and how it will favor in a future where so many conservatives have failed in the recent public stage. Author George Nash analyzes conservative history and tries to figure out where the conservative movement has faltered, looking at figures such as Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover. "Reappraising the Right" is an intriguing look at the right end of the political spectrum, highly intriguing reading.

Entering the Fray
Jonathan Daniel Wells and Sheila R. Phipps
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218636 $44.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Entering the Fray: Gender, Politics, and Culture in the New South is an anthology of essays by learned authors discussing the intersection of gender, race, culture, and the transformation of politics in the New South (from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and onward). From a children's challenge to segregated recreational spaces in New Orleans, to black women's participation in the 1959 volunteer ticket campaign in Memphis Tennessee, to how white women's organizations in Georgia debated suffrage, each essay focuses upon a pivotal moment illuminating the drastic changes rippling through society. An index for easy reference enhances this informed and informative anthology, highly recommended especially for college library collections.


The Military Shelf

Crimean Memories
Will Hutchison, et al.
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764332289, $89.99, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Will Hutchison, Michael Vice, and B.J. Small, "Crimean Memories: Artifacts Of The Crimean War" is a deftly assembled and superbly presented 272-page compendium of color photographs showcasing the uniforms, camp equipment, weaponry, accouterments, and miscellany of the British military engaged in the battlefields of the Crimean War. The informed and informative accompanying text provides context along with notating the history and origins of the items referenced and illustrated. Of special note is that several angles are offered providing an unusual visual depth for highlighted items, making "Crimean Memories" an impressive and reliable reference resource of military scholarship and novelists seeking historical accuracy for stories set with the context of the Crimean War. A work of impeccable scholarship, "Crimean Memories" is a seminal work of impressive merit and very strongly commended for both academic and community library Military History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

AMARG
Nicholas A. Veronico & Ron Strong
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
www.spibooks.com
9781580071390, $24.95, www.amazon.com

In the southwestern desert country outside Tucson, Arizona, is the largest military aircraft storage center in the country. Begun with the need to securely store no longer needed aircraft at the end of World War II, and continuing to expand as technology produced newer fighter aircraft making older models obsolete, the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) operation continued to expand to the point where it currently holds more than 4,000 military aircraft of all types and categories. Aircraft experts and historians Ron Strong and Nicholas A. Ceronico have collaborated in "AMARG: America's Military Aircraft Boneyard - A Photo Scrapbook" to provide an informed and informative photographic survey providing an impressive perspective on the variety and range of aircraft held in this facility. Profusely illustrated with full color photography, each image is captioned, providing an accurate historical context. A superbly produced and presented 144-page compendium, "AMARG: America's Military Aircraft Boneyard - A Photo Scrapbook" is a core addition to personal, academic, and community library reference Military Aircraft and Aviation reference collections. Also very highly recommended from Specialty Press for Aviation History collections is "Cold War Peacemaker: The Story Of Cowton And The Convair B-36" (9781580071277, $32.95) by Dennis R. Jenkins and Don Pyeatt.

"Cool Deliberate Courage"
Jim Piecuch and John Beakes
The Nautical & Aviation Publishing Company
2055 Middleburg Lane, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
9781877853715 $28.95 www.nauticalaviation.com 1-843-856-0561

"Cool Deliberate Courage: John Eager Howard in The American Revolution" is a scholarly military biography of Lieutenant Colonel John Eager Howard of the Maryland Line, who served in the American Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1781. His skill and distinction on the battlefield were notable; he was awarded a Silver Medal by Congress for his efforts in the Battle of Cowpens in 1781, and there remains written testimony to his shrewdness and valor as observed by his contemporaries, including George Washington and Nathaniel Greene. "Cool Deliberate Courage" is a solidly researched, expertly presented and thoroughly detailed account, and a worthy addition to public and college library military biography shelves.


The Native American Shelf

People of the Wind River
Henry E. Stamm IV
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141244 $19.95 www.oupress.com

Henry E. Stamm IV (adjunct professor of American Indian History, Idaho State University in Pocatello) presents People of the Wind River: The Eastern Shoshones 1825-1900, a historical chronicle of the Eastern Shoshones from 1825, when they came to mutual accommodations with the first permanent white American settlers in the their land, to 1900, when the passing of Chief Washakie heralded the end of their traditional lifestyle as Plains Indians. Primary documents, interviews with descendants of early Shoshone leaders, and more form the core research for this careful analysis of how the tribe accepted, adapted and endured the coming of miners, trappers, traders, and settlers. For decades they sought to maintain a culture that hunted buffalo on Wind River Reservation, in spite of misguided reservation management and repeated attempts to "civilize" them. As cattle herds grew and buffalo dwindled, the Eastern Shoshone lost their former economic power, and could no longer sustain their physical lives through buffalo hunting alone, but held fast to their spiritual traditions. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this superbly researched and presented account, highly recommended especially for college library collections and Native American history shelves.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Nancy J. Holland, Jack S. Burks, & Diana M. Schneider
DiaMedica
150 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065
9780982321904, $14.95, www.diamedica.com

Multiple sclerosis is a disorder that plagues many seniors, but some have it worse than others. "Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: What You Need to Know" analyzes this more advanced version of multiple sclerosis, which does not let up and offers a more constant loss of function. Outlining treatment and care options for the disorder, the book provides many tips for maintaining a higher quality of life in spite of the advanced version of multiple sclerosis. "Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis" is a choice pick for any with a relative facing the disorder, or faced with it themselves.

Structure and Function of the Musculoskeletal System, second edition
James Watkins
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736078900, $79.00 www.humankinetics.com

This unique reference should be in any serious sports medicine or health library. It explores the biomechanical characteristics of musculoskeletal components and the response of these components to physical stress. From the effects of aging on muscles to functional anatomy of the entire system, this blends nearly 700 color illustrations showing key structures and biomechanical properties with new tables covering the actions of individual muscles. Several new case studies illustrate the latest research and how they apply to sports and general living.

Bioethics in a Liberal Society
Thomas May
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801892821, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Any college-level library strong in medical ethics will find this a key overview discussing patients' rights and bioethics. From how politics affects the rights and obligations of patients and health care professionals to how individual rights have an impact on relational facets of health care, this provides a strong introduction to the politics of bioethics and the important roles of ethics committees and consultants. No medical library should be without this.

W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
www.wwnorton.com

Babette Rothschild's 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery (9780393706055, $19.95) provides psychology and self-help libraries with a survey of keys to successful recovery. From stopping flashbacks and determining how best to remember and handle trauma to creating an individual approach to recovery based on individual needs, this self-help title offers many keys to understanding and handling trauma. Ruth Cohn Bolletino's HOW TO TALK WITH FAMILY CAREGIVERS ABOUT CANCER (9780393705768, $21.95) comes from a psychotherapist who describes years of clinical experience with cancer patients and their families, covering interactions and offering insights into their health care issues. From ethical and spiritual aspects to how cancer erodes a patient's world, this is packed with important insights.

You on a Diet
Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C. Oz, MD
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439164969, $26.99 www.simonandschuster.com

YOU ON A DIET: THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR WAIST MANAGEMENT has been completely revised and updated with over 100 new recipes. First published in 2006, this bestseller has sold over 3 million copies - this remake pairs biology insights with blueprints for weight control and a FAQ section of the most popular facts culled from over 100,000 the doctor authors received since the book's original publication. Any general lending library will find this a top, popular pick.

Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.hkusa.com

Debra J. Rose's FALLPROOF! A COMPREHENSIVE BALANCE AND MOBILITY TRAINING PROGRAM (0736067477, $59.95) includes a DVD video featuring testing procedures, training strategies and a sample class and provides a fine survey of a successful mobility training program no health collection should be without. There are very few specific classes on mobility, making this a key acquisition for any adult health-oriented library, especially libraries catering to senior patrons. Brad Schoenfeld, CSCS, CPT's WOMEN'S HOME WORKOUT BIBLE (0736078282, $19.95) offers a personal trainer's secrets for creating the perfect at-home workout. From creating a home gym setup and workouts suitable for individual fitness goals for as little as $100, to expanding options and learning over 160 exercises, this is packed with specifics and color photos throughout and is perfect for women putting together a home gym.

Basic ICD-9-CM Coding: 2010 Edition
Lou Ann Schraffenberger
AHIMA
2024 Hawthorne Ave, Saint Joseph, MI 49085
9781584262459, $92.95 www.ahima.org

Any college-level reference collection strong in medical coding for students and professionals must have the 2010 edition of Basic ICD-9-CM Coding. It provides instructional paired with applied exercises to build a foundation for applying ICD-9-CM coding rules to everyday diagnosis. From PowerPoint slides for the classroom to key points highlighted in chapters packed with terms and new categories, this is a 'must' reference for any serious medical and health library.

Fat Chance
Julie Hadden
Guideposts
16 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016
Planned Television Arts (publicity)
1110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022
9780824947880, $22.00, www.plannedvarts.com

Self confidence is worth more than any bit of physical health, but that's nice as well. "Fat Chance: Losing the Weight, Gaining My Worth" is a health memoir from Julie Hadden, who tells her own tale of losing weight and the countless benefits it brought her, not just in general health, but her own self-confidence. Earning her own piece of fame on NBC's hit show 'The Biggest Loser', she states how she drove herself to lose the weight to become a better person for herself, her friends and family, and for God. "Fat Chance" is an uplifting read any trying to lose weight should embrace.

Gluten-Free, Hassle Free
Marlisa Brown
Demos Health
11 W. 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036
9781932603798, $19.98, www.demoshealth.com

Gluten has many qualities that one seeking to improve their health would hope to avoid. "Gluten-Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back to Health" is a guide to those who want to cut gluten out of their diet, a task that often proves easier said than done. Marlisa Brown comes to readers with gluten free recipes and tips and tricks to avoiding gluten in one's diet, which can be in countless foods one encounters in everyday life. "Gluten-Free, Hassle-Free" is a top pick for those trying to revise their dietary habits.

Busting Loose
Cheryle Swanson
Zumaya Publications
3209 S. 1H35 #1086, Austin, TX 78741-6905
9781934841747, $17.99, www.zumayapublications.comn

The biggest weapon against the threat of cancer is the spirit. "Busting Loose: Cancer Survivors Tell You What Your Doctor Won't" is an inspirational guide as cancer survivors impart their own wisdom for conquering their disease and defeating it, with unconventional wisdom one wouldn't normally hear from a doctor. With endless positivity, "Busting Loose" is an ideal gift to anyone who is fearing or has received the unfortunate news.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Death Without Tenure
Joanne Dobson
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E First Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590585856, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

DEATH WITHOUT TENURE provides a fine Karen Pelletier mystery telling of a professor's tenured position shadowed by a rival's murder. Now Karen is a suspect, involving her lieutenant love in departmental politics and wrapping her in a cloak of suspicion that creates havoc for all around her in this engrossing mystery.

Dying Gasp
Leighton Gage
SOHO
853 Broaday, New York, NY 10003
9781569476130, $24.00, www.sohopress.com

When searching for heaven, it's all too easy to find Hell. "Dying Gasp" is a mystery following Mario Silva, Chief Inspector of the Brazilian Federal Police, as he tries to find the granddaughter of a political big wig in the deepest darkest cracks of the Amazon jungle. Maria, the granddaughter, is kidnapped and forced to serve as a prostitute in the deepest ends of the jungle. An ornery prisoner, "Dying Gasp" is a tale of detective's race against time.

Secrets to Die For
L. J. Sellers
Echelon Press
9735 Country Meadows Lane 1-D, Laurel, MD 20723
9781590806548, $13.99, www.echelonpress.com

Nothing is ever so simple, no matter how obvious it seems. "Secrets to Die For: A Detective Jackson Mystery" follows Detective Wade Jackson as he investigates the death of a social worker in Raina Hughes. Believing it to be an ex-con related to one of Hughes cases, when Hughes boyfriend comes into the scene, the omission of the truth seems more annoying than a lie. "Secrets to Die For" is a fascinating mystery that genre fans will relish.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Conversations with Scripture
Frederick W. Schmidt
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
9780819223616, $16.00, www.morehousepublishing.org

The life of Christ is told as a stream of lessons for the world to follow. "The Gospel of Luke" is an entry into the Conversations with Scripture series as Episcopal priest Frederick W. Schmidt offers a scholarly delve into the gospel of Luke, one of the most central books of the New Testament. With much wisdom and scholarly insight on the volume, Schmidt makes "The Gospel of Luke" a highly educational read for Bible readers trying to understand a deeper meaning in their texts.

So Long, Insecurity
Beth Moore
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414334721, $24.99, www.solonginsecuirty.com

Being insecure about one's life does no one any favors. "So Long, Insecurity" is a motivational guide from Beth Moore urging women to rise up and shake off their insecurities. The advocated goal is to gain more control over one's life instead of wreaking havoc upon it. With a healthy dose of inspirational faith, "So Long, Insecurity" is a strongly recommended read for Christian women who want to stop feeling bad about themselves and live their lives.

Galatian Re-Imagined
Brigitte Kahl
Fortress Press
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440
9780800638641, $29.00, www.fortresspress.com

No empire ever rose to power without crushing people under its heel. "Galatian Re-Imagined: Reading with the Eyes of the Vanquished" delves into the history of the Galatians, better known as the Gauls. Brigitte Kahl offers a different interpretation of history as Kahl analyzes biblical and historical texts to provide a different image of a people mostly lost to history. Focusing heavily on the spiritual connections, "Galatian Re-Imagined" is a worthy read for any history readier, be they Christian or secular.

Thin Places
Mary E. DeMuth
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310284185, $14.95, www.zondervan.com

God is everywhere, you just need to know where to find him. "Thin Places" is a memoir of Mary E. DeMuth, focusing on her own quest to find God in her life. Hoping to encourage others to find their own way to connecting with God in their lives. Uplifting and candid, DeMuth's tales are stories many Christians will relate to and embrace. "Thin Places" is a choice and solidly recommended addition to inspirational Christian memoir collections.

The Dictionary of Bible Names
Pamela McQuade
Barbour Books
PO Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781602604803, $9.97, barbourbooks.com

A name is something that sticks with someone for the rest of their life. "The Dictionary of Bible Names" is a guide for Christian parents of countless biblical characters so parents who want to give a bit of spirituality to stay with their child. Stating the biography of figures with said names, its prominence in the Bible, and the overall meaning of said name. "The Dictionary of Bible Names" is a top pick for those who want plenty of ideas for original, but sensible, biblical names.

Reading to Live
Raymond Studzinski
Cistercian Publications
c/o Liturgical Press
3642 Monks road, Trappist, KY 40051
9780879072315, $24.95, www.cistercianpublications.org

A prayer is a truly spiritual medium. "Reading to Live: The Evolving Practice of Lectio Divina" dives into the art of prayer reading, and the discussion of God's living word. Speaking of the art's spiritual benefits to its practitioner, Raymond Studzinski offers much insight into Lectio Divina and gives a very highly recommended look into its historical origins and modern practice. "Reading to Live" is a top pick for religious collections, very highly recommended.

God on Campus
Trent Sheppard
IVP Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830836314, $16.00, www.ivpress.com

There is still a place for God in higher education. "God on Campus: Sacred Causes & Global Effects" is a study of religion and campuses, analyzing the fading and re-emergence of faith in higher education. Faith has always had a strong presence in education, and Trent Sheppard analyzes past movements of how students have kept faith strong in institutions of higher learning across the country. "God on Campus" is a top pick, highly recommended.

Marriage Rocks
Harold L. Arnold
Judson Press
c/o American Baptist Churches
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817015664, $16.00, www.judsonpress.com

Marriage is a partnership that should be nourished for decades. "Marriage Rocks: For Christian Couples" analyzes modern Christian couples with a special focus on African American marriages. Author Harold L. Arnold places forth a fine assortment of thoughts and ideas to keeping a marriage strong and keeping the enemies away while keeping that new car smell strong. "Marriage Rocks" is a top pick for any who want to keep their marriage strong for countless years to come.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

2012 and the Shift of Ages
Alexander Price
Adventures Unlimited
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60949
9781935487012, $18.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

Two years away, the mythology of 2012 has spiked interest higher than ever. "2012 and the Shift of Ages: A Guide to the End of the World" looks at the idea of cyclical history, saying that history, much like nature moves in cycles and that 2012 may be a changing of a said cycle With plenty to intrigue followers of the 2012 phenomena, "2012 and the Shift of Ages" is a top pick for metaphysical studies collections.

Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants
David Hatcher Childress
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
9781931882989, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Indiana Jones may be fictional, but David Hatcher Childress is most definitely not. An author and adventurer, Childress' latest contribution to metaphysical literature is "Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants", a 400-page compendium accounting his decades-long search for yeti in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, and the Himalayas, as well as his considerable research into sightings and evidences of North America's fabled Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and 'Skunk Apes'. Profusely illustrated (including a special color photo section), "Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants" is from first page to last, as informative a read as it is engaging. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography, "Yetis, Sasquatch & Hairy Giants" is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the subject, and would make a popular and thoroughly 'reader friendly' addition to academic and community library collections.

Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series
Gregor Maehle
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316695, $26.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series: Mythology, Anatomy, and Practice offers the first book on the Intermediate Series for both practitioners and teachers, blending yoga basics with anatomy and spirituality in a top pick recommended for any student. All 27 postures of the Intermediate series are covered through photos, anatomical line drawings, and sidebars of information.

Deciphering the Lost Symbol
Christopher L. Hodapp
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703-3440
9781569757734, $12.95, www.ulyssespress.com

Symbolism is everywhere; it's their real meaning which is the question. "Deciphering the Lost Symbol: Freemasons, Myths, and the Mysteries of Washington, D. C." dives into the symbolism all throughout the capital of the United States as expert on the Freemasons, Christopher L. Hodapp seeks to explain the deeper meaning in much of the cities design. Alchemy, temples, restricted areas, hidden codes, and more, "Deciphering the Lost Symbol" is a must for those who search for hidden meanings in what seems to be plain sight.


The Poetry Shelf

Questions of Fire
Gregg Mosson
Plain View Press
PO Box 42255, Austin, TX 78704
9780981973173, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.net

World peace seems oh so far away. "Questions of Fire" is a collection of poems from Gregg Mosson, as he offers his own views on the state of the world today, hoping for a more peaceful tomorrow when today is conflict and violence. "Questions of Fire" is uplifting and hopeful, although realistic. "Childhood from a Car": Finding my first home,/I slow as red-yellow leaves/swirl around the door./Revving off, in the rear-view/a strong dog bounds into view.

Southern Comfort
Nin Andrews
CavanKerry Press
6 Horizon Rd, Ft. Lee, NJ 07024
9781933880143, $16.00, www.cavankerrypress.com

The simple life that people all too often forget. "Southern Comfort" is a collection of poetry from Nin Andrews as she draws on the simple and relaxing aspects of southern life. Drawing on a philosophy that values common sense above all else and allows for some insightful reading. "Southern Comfort" is a collection of verse that should not be missed. "Why Abortion Doesn't Make Sense": Catholics don't believe in abortion, Miss De Angelo said./Even if it's true they multiply like rodents./No matter what folks say about conception,/everyone knows./If a woman gets pregnant,/it's not bunnies or snakes she's having or vice versa./You don't need the pope to tell you that.

Voyager
Dawnell Harrison
Adastra Press
16 Reservation Road, Easthampton, MA 01027
9780982249536, $14.00

Widely published poet and prolific poet Dawnell Harrison comes to readers with a fine chapbook in "Voyager". Focusing on a woman's life and the staunch resilience as well as the compromises one makes in their everyday life, "Voyager" is a fine collection and worth adding to any poetry collection. "Happy": I thought moving/to a new house/to a new house/would make me happy./I had temporarily forgotten/that I'd be bringing myself along.

Bright Wings
Billy Collins, editor
David Allen Sibley, artist
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd St., NY, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231150842, $22.98, www.amazon.com

Rarely have poetry and art been so deftly partnered as it is in "Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds ", a 288-page compendium of poetry knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Billy Collins, and superbly enhanced with the aviary painting of David Allen Sibley. The them of both the poetry and the imagery are an impressive variety of birdlife. The dozens and dozens of poems ranges from Robert Creeley's 'The Birds'; to Henry Carlile's 'The Cardinal'; to Wallace Stevens' 'Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird'; to Thomas Hardy's 'The Caged Goldfinch'. The art is museum quality, the poetry superbly memorable. A truly impressive anthology of word and art, "Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, academic, and community library poetry collections and supplemental reading lists.

Tocqueville
Khaled Mattawa
New Issues Poetry & Prose
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
www.wmich.edu/newissues
9781930974906, $15.00, www.amazon.com

A 71-page collection of wry poetry drawn for keen observation of American society, "Tocqueville" is Khaled Mattawa's fourth anthology and continues to document him as an exceptionally skilled wordsmith who combines the lyric qualities of written expression with a remarkable perception of an American dominated global culture especially afforded to someone born in Benghazi, Libya, in 1964 and only immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager. "Tocqueville" is especially commended to the attention of those who appreciate a political astuteness combined with a genuine talent for a well crafted composition and scripting layout on paper provides a visual composition that works smoothly to enhance the ideas and word images in the mind's eye of the reader. Also highly very recommended reading are Khaled Mattawa three previous poetry anthologies: Ismailia Eclipse: Poems (Sheep Meadow, 9781878818447, $12.95), Zodiac of Echoes (Ausable, 9781931337045, $24.00), and Amorisco (Ausable, 9781931337441, $14.00).

Other Signs, Other Circles
Annamaria Ferramosca
Chelsea Editions
PO Box 125, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276-0125
9780982384923, $20.00, www.chelseaeditionsbooks.org

Experienced and skilled Italian poet Annamaria Ferramosca's work is now available to English speaking readers with "Other Signs, Other Circles". Her poems show no culture, and her message stays true for readers to be easily understood and translated. Deftly translated by Annamaria Crowe Serrano, "Other Signs, Other Circles" is a choice pick for world poetry collections. "Your Life is An Orange": The arc of your life is a blaze, girl./Hug the world tight/with your singing hair!/Your infinite/voice/colors the mini-apartment of the world.//Your life is an orange./Each segment is pulled out./Takes flight.

Shaking the Tree
Jeanne Lohmann
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744937, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

Nature surrounds humanity and therefore plays a huge role in everyday life. "Shaking the Tree" is an anthology from Jeanne Lohmann, a widely published and prolific poet as she speaks on a wide assortment of aspects in life. With frank and simple wisdom, "Shaking the Tree" is a collection that will educate as well as entertain. "The Making of Revolutions": This terror will not yield;/it cannot be transformed,/the anguish at the heart of things/apostasy to mourn.//Tears are first, the futile words,/then insurrection comes/relentless as refusal/to be powerless and dumb.

Persistent Voices
Philip Clark & David Groff, editors
Alyson Books
245 West 17th Street, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10011
9781593501532, $15.95, www.alyson.com

Death to AIDS is not a swift one. "Persistent Voices" is a collection of poems from forty five individuals who expressed their thoughts and emotions through poetry, only to later lose their lives to AIDS. These poems focus on the loss, the tragedy of a slow death, and trying to overcome and live life when you know the time limit seems so close. "Persistent Voices" is a choice pick for collections focusing on life with AIDS. "Gauleiter" by James S. Holmes: The wind lays into the leaves/broadfisted:/his power's been tested/and he foresees/he shall have a claim to days/long after/all leaves are buried:/hear then his laughter,/iron, unhurried,/over their lime-white graves.

Sum of Every Lost Ship
Allison Titus
Cleveland State University Poetry Center
2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214
9781880834886, $15.95, www.csuohio.edu/poetrycenter

Everything has a beginning and everything has an end. "Sum of Every Lost Ship" is an anthology of poetry from Allison Titus, looking at the end of things and the lessons learned from these tragic and not so tragic ends. Poignant and with plenty of topics to think about, "Sum of Every Lost Ship" is a fine addition to any poetry collection. "Motel": Aspirin, radiator, one week for a modest rate./Thin drawers, thin shower, local calls only/phone./Your funeral jacket./My handmade lace./We have made a confederacy of meanwhile,/tender by tender./Evidence of how we were/faithful won't valentine the century so rived./So fevered, so inconsolable with mistake. Silos/ of dusk marry n and marry the room.

Uttering Her Name
Gabriel Rosenstock
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056192, $22.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

The traditions of other cultures are ones that inspire new generations. "Uttering Her Name" is a collection of poetry from Gabriel Rosenstock, using the style of neo-bhakti, devotional poems in a style innovated in India, composed of sudden exclamations. "Uttering Her Name" is fine and unique reading, solidly recommended. A sample: Dar Oma/a barefoot gypsy boy/with outstretched hand/repeats his begging mantra/softly/to the air/to You.

Passion Maps
Adrianne Kalfopoulou
Red Hen Press
PO Box 3537, Granada Hills, CA 91394
9781597091589, $17.95, www.redhen.org

As you experience the world, you get to mapping it in your head to understanding how the world is. "Passion Maps" is a collection of poetry from Adrianne Kalfopoulou as she reflects on the world as she has learned it to be, both from direct experience and how she has determined what she has not seen to be. Creative and insightful verse, "Passion Maps" is a treasure of poetry, sure to please. "Cut Tomatoes": Red/on a black canvas/background./My life, seeded/in this/opened violence/of the vegetable/in halves/bleeding color/through black.

The Book of Mirrors
Frieda Hughes
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248512, $20.95, www.dufoureditons.com

The answers are within, but it doesn't within isn't a hard to manage mess. "The Book of Mirrors" is a collection of poetry from Frieda Hughes, focusing on the subject of self reflection. Her poems ask the reader many questions of how to find the truth and come to terms with it. Insightful and entertaining reading, "The Book of Mirrors" is not to be missed. "Letters": There's no justice I can do/To the memory of you./Your letters read as clearly to me now/As they did when written./Book-bound they might illuminate/The father that you were, so other see/The loss you are to me.


The Self-Help Shelf

Digging Out
Michael A. Tompkins
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572245945, $17.95, www.newharbinger.com

You might need it at a later date. "Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, & Compulsive Acquiring" is a guide for those who want to help their friends and family stop their endless collecting of seemingly useless stuff which leads to more problems than that hoard is worth. With tips on convincing them to give up the hoard and living a life with less weight in the house and on their shoulders, "Digging Out" is a highly recommended advice guide with an important message.

The Hero's Journey
Stephen Gilligan & Robert Dilts
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845902865, $34.95, www.crownhousepublishing.com

The journey of the hero, so often used as a literary device, provides much for anyone to learn about themselves. "The Hero's Journey: A Voyage of Self-Discovery" is an inspirational book looking into the personal journey of the hero and how realizing one's own journey can make one realize the aspects of their life and develop into a better person and embrace healthy self-image and love for the characters in one's own story. "The Hero's Journey" is a transcript of a self-help workshop, and the format proves effective for readers trying to understand the story of their life.

The Forgiveness Solution
Philip H. Friedman
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel, Weiser, Conari Book Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573244626, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

Grudges do no favors for anyone. "The Forgiveness Solution: The Whole-Body Rx for Finding True Happiness, Abundant Love, and Inner Peace" is a guide for those who want to fully embrace the healing power of forgiveness. Author Philip Friedman believes forgiveness and the lack of fuels many problems and as soon as people come to terms with that, forgiveness will do wonders for them. "The Forgiveness Solution" is a top pick and very highly recommended read for those who have trouble letting go.

The Fifth Agreement
Don Miguel Ruiz & Don Jose Ruiz
Amber-Allen Publishing
PO Box 6657, San Rafael, CA 94903
9781878424686, $19.95, www.amberallen.com

Could conventional education be killing our innate wisdom? "The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery" looks into the many agreements hat people make throughout like that makes them suffer and puts them through much pain in their life. The Ruiz father and son team discuss these agreements and offer original spiritual thought to help people gain a better grasp of their emotions and regain the knowledge they lose through their normal lives. "The Fifth Agreement" is well worth considering for spirituality readers.


The Social Issues Shelf

Comeback America
David M. Walker
Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9781400068609, $26.00 www.randomhouse.com

COMEBACK AMERICA: TURNING THE COUNTRY AROUND AND RESTORING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY comes from a President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and former comptroller general of this country, and offers an alarm about our nation's growing deficits and mounting debt. Ideas incorporate the Obama administration's current efforts to date and consider the reforms needed to change America's course. Business, political and social issues collections will find this stimulating reading.

The Harvard Psychedelic Club
Don Lattin
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061655937, $24.99 www.harperone.com

The Harvard Psychedelic Club tells how three brilliance scholars and one freshman crossed paths in the early sixties at a Harvard psychedelic-drug research project - and changed American lives and culture. The four explored expanded consciousness and their actions set the stage for the 1960s social and spiritual revolution, with Timothy Leary as the proponent of LSD, Richard Alpert the spiritual seeker, Huston Smith the teacher of world religions, and Andrew Weil the proponent of alternative healing. Any collection strong in American social history and issues needs this.

Race and Reality
Guy P. Harrison
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027676, $20.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

RACE AND REALITY: WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY draws on research from diverse sources and interviews with key scientists as it explores studies of racial attitude and discusses biological reality and whether the idea of race is a cultural invention. High school to college-level libraries will find this an outstanding pick.

Power and Love
Adam Kahane
Berett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605093048, $16.95, www.bkcurrents.com

What's the difference between the successful and not so successful? "Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change" delves into problem solving and the secrets to their success - the combination of the forces of power and love. Adam Kahane seeks to apply these ideas, the drive of purpose and the desire to work with others and how the secret to solving the world's problems lies in combining these forces. "Power and Love" is a top pick and very highly recommended read for those who ponder the problems of the world at any level.


The Psychology Shelf

The Basics Of Psychotherapy
Bruce E. Wampold
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433807503, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Psychotherapy can be an intimidating concept. That's why "The Basics of Psychotherapy: An Introduction to Theory and Practice", by academician and psychologist Bruce E. Wampold is such an invaluable and informative introduction helping to demystify the theory and practice of psychotherapy. Part of the outstanding "Theories of Psychotherapy Series" published by the American Psychological Association, "The Basics Of Psychotherapy" provides an overview of the history of psychotherapy theories, how theory relates to practice, how theoretical orientations are selected by practitioners, and what can be expected in a psychotherapy sessions. For students and non-specialist readers with an interest or involvement with psychotherapy, "The Basics Of Psychotherapy" is an ideal introductory and highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Psychology reference collections. Also especially commended are two other titles in this same series: George Stricker's "Psychotherapy Integration" (9781433807190, $24.95) and David J. Cain's "Person-Centered Psychotherapies" (9781433807213, $24.95).

The Mindful Path Through Shyness
Steve Flowers, MFT
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246508, $17.95 www.newharbinger.com

The Mindful Path Through Shyness: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You From Social Anxiety, Fear & Avoidance provides a fine survey of shyness and how to let go of this for better connections with others. Techniques from mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy offer a survey of how to turn shyness into an outward-focused awareness of others. Health and psychology libraries will find this involving.

Hidden Impact
Frederick Stoddard Jr. et.al., Editor
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Dr, Sudbury, MA 01776-9848
9780763768751, $39.95 www.jbpub.com

HIDDEN IMPACT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE NEXT DISASTER is a mental health guide for clinicians preparing them for future challenges. Disasters beget the need for more and different psychiatric care: HIDDEN IMPACT discusses mental health care and its place in the emergency response systems in place in the U.S., considering individual, family and mental health patient care in times of crisis.

Valley of Diamonds
J. Gary Sparks
Inner City Books
PO Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, ON M4T 2P4, Canada
9781894574280, $30.00, www.innercitybooks.net

The mind is one of the great frontiers humanity has not fully explained. "Valley of Diamonds: Adventures in Number and Time with Marie-Louise Von Franz" is a discussion of Jungian psychology through one of his greatest disciples, Marie-Louise Von Franz, exploring the thoughts and theories of the human psyche from C. G. Jung. Another intriguing perspective onto the complexities and depths of the human mind, "Valley of Diamonds" is a fascinating and very highly recommended read that should not be ignored by those interested by psychotherapy.


The Criminology Shelf

Key Readings In Criminology
Tim Newburn, editor
Willan Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781843924029, $55.00, www.amazon.com

An impressive 908-page compendium, "Key Readings in Criminology" truly lives up to its title by providing more than 140 entries drawn from criminological studies, texts, and articles, making it ideal as a curriculum textbook, as well as supplemental reading for the creation of papers and articles on criminology. Superbly organized into sections ranging from 'Understanding Crime and Criminology'; 'Crime and Punishment in History'; 'Crime Data and Crime Trends'; and 'Crime and the Media'; to 'Radical and Critical Criminology'; 'Feminist Criminology'; Victims, Victimization and Victimology'; 'White-Collar and Corporate Crime'; 'Organized Crime'; 'Understanding Criminology', under the deft and expert editorship of Tim Newborn, "Key Readings in Criminology" surveys all aspects and facets of the psychology of criminal behavior. Of special note is the concluding section on 'Doing Criminological Research'. Enhanced for students with a comprehensive Index, "Key Readings in Criminology" is not only appropriate for academic library Criminology reference collections, but for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the study of crime, its causes, formats, and consequences.

Hardboiled Hollywood
Max Decharne
Pegasus Books
c/o W.W. Norton
80 Broad Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980836, $14.95, www.pegasusbooks.us

Behind every story there is its inspiration. "Hardboiled Hollywood: The True Crime Stories Behind the Classic Noir Films" investigates the roots of many noir films that captivated the imaginations of many movie goers. Serial killers, the rampage of Bonnie and Clyde, the events within the famous Godfather series, and more, all of these noir films have their ideas founded in reality. Max Decharne tells the these true tales, making "Hardboiled Hollywood" a must for any fan of noir.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Your Money Milestones
Moshe A. Milevsky
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137029105, $19.99, www.ftpress.com

Everyone is out to get money and everyone is out to take it. "Your Money Milestones: A Guide to Making the 9 Most Important Financial Decisions of Your Life" is a guide to money management, how to make wise financial decisions so the cash flow of one's life goes upwards instead of down. With ideas on everything from saving money to the good kind of debt, Moshe Milevsky gives readers a fine assortment of ideas and thoughts on good money management. "Your Money Milestones" is a top pick for economically cautious readers.


The Fiction Shelf

Going Through Ghosts
Mary Sojourner
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874178098, $25.00, www.unpress.nevada.edu

A cocktail waitress at 54, Maggie Foltz works at the Crystal Casino in Creosote. That's where she meets Sarah, a member of the Willow tribe of Bone Lake. An unlikely friendship begins which makes Sarah's murder all the more jarring for Maggie. Then with the help of Minnie Siyala, a Willow band healer, the spirit of Sarah guides Maggie to Bone Lake and an ultimate resolution. "Going Through Ghosts" is a deftly written page-turner of a novel with author Mary Sojourner bringing even her peripheral and supporting characters to life in the mind's eye of the reader. Of special note is Sojourner's inclusion of Native American elements into her riveting story making "Going Through Ghosts" a strongly endorsed addition to community library contemporary fiction collections and personal reading lists.

My Sweet Wild Dance
Mikaya Heart
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608440702, $16.95, www.dogearpublishing.net

When the norm doesn't cut it, you try a bit of everything. "My Sweet Wild Dance" is the story of a young woman named Chris and her endless voyage of self-discovery. Experimenting with everything from professions to sex to politics to even different personalities, her journey to find herself is truly inspiring and this fictional adventure will help other young women rise up to find who they truly are when society's glove doesn't fit. "My Sweet Wild Dance" is a fun and uplifting read, recommended.

Plain Jayne
Hillary Manton Lodge
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736926980, $13.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

A little bit of simplicity never hurt anyone. "Plain Jayne" tells the tale of Jayne Tate, as she finds herself pulled away from her big city life and into Oregon's Amish country. In a simple land, she finds it's not as simple as she thought and finds that love knows nothing about technology. A unique Christian romance tale, "Plain Jayne" is a read that many a romance reader will relish for hours upon hours.

The Changed
BJ Burrow
Apex Publications
PO Box 24323, Lexington, KY 40524
9780982159675, $15.95, www.apexdigest.com

A world without death seems like a wonderful place, but the reality is much more disconcerting. "The Changed" tells the story of a world where people no longer die, just simply change. These changed people are the targets of fear and prejudice, and Christian finds himself delved into a world where zombies walk the earth and among everyone else. An interesting twist on the living dead, "The Changed" is a fascinating read that should not be missed for fans of zombie tales with original twists.

The Exclusion Principle
Leona Gom
Sumach Press
1415 Bathurst Street #202, Toronto, Canada M5R 3H8
9781894549790, $14.59, www.sumachpress.com

Award winning author Leona Gom brings readers into a world many all know too much with "The Exclusion Principle" is a story of marriage and astronomy as Gom presents a tale of the typical marriage, one that seems to work but not much more than that. With unique ideas on the subjects, Gom presents a story that is intriguing and will give laughter and introspection to many a reader. "The Exclusion Principle" is one well worth considering.

The Big Nasty
Rocky Lang
Cable Publishing
14090 E. Keinenen Road, Brule, WI 54820
9781934980170, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Every now and then along comes a novel that once you pick it up, you simply can't set it back down until you've finished it. The kind of novel that so thoroughly engages your attention and imagination that time passes without notice, and interruptions like being called to dinner are seen as pure annoyance! That's the category of quality writing that Rocky Lang demonstrates in all 327-pages of "The Big Nasty", the story of a passionate romance between Lacey Cartright and Congressman Cale Wingate. Unfortunately the lovers find themselves embroiled in a possible murder. In a tale that ranges from Palms Springs, to Las Vegas, to Washington DC, "The Big Nasty" is pure, face-paced entertainment from first page to last, making it enthusiastically recommended for personal reading lists and community library contemporary fiction collections.

Freedom
Daniel Suarez
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780525951575, $26.95 www.penguin.com

FREEDOM examines advancing technology and its threats to humanity, especially social networking and surveillance technologies. This companion to DAMEON continue the story of threat in considering how technology rips apart the modern world and creates unusual associations - and war. A former detective finds himself leading the battle to protect a new world order in this thriller examining the roots of freedom in a technologically-advanced world.

Museum of Human Beings
Colin Sargent
McBooks Press
50 North Meadow Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781590133491, $16.95, www.mcbookspress.com

In the face of racism, you may very well embrace what you are mocked for. "Museum of Human Beings" is a tale of the son of Sacagawea and Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. An intelligent young man, he finds himself on a journey through Europe, exhibited as a half-gentleman half animal, playing upon his mixed native American and European ancestry. Sicked with how he's presented, he returns home and looks deeper into his mother's culture. "Museum of Human Beings" is a riveting story of historical fiction.

Meet Me on the Paisley Roof
Murray Tillman
Bascom Hill Books
212 N 3rd Avenue, Suite 750, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780982093832, $14.95, www.bascomhillpublishing.com

The pursuit of love will take one far and wide through life. "Meet Me on the Paisley Roof" is tale of Trussell Jones, a boy in love with no way to declare it. Oppressed under a nutty stepmother, Trussell's pursuit of Ellen is a truly unique tale with no shortage of zany and offbeat happenings. Original, fresh, and highly entertaining, "Meet Me on the Paisley Roof" is a choice addition to fiction collections.

Perfect Agreement
Michael Downing
Counterpoint
2117 Fourth Street, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781582435381, $15.95, www.counterpointpress.com

There is serenity in order, but when that order is violated, one's life can fall apart. "Perfect Agreement" tells the story of Mark Sternum, a man with an idealistic life. Accused of racism, he loses his job as a college professor and soon finds the course of life he was planning to be impossible. What follows is something that will change his life, but not everything is bad. "Perfect Agreement" is a top notch read that is a fine addition to literary fiction collections.

Anything But Normal
Melody Carlson
Revell
c/o Baker
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800732585, $9.99, www.revellbooks.com

The worst of the past has a way of ruining one's present. "Anything But Normal" the story of Sophie Ramsay, who has everything going right for her high school life. Nothing seems to be able to stop her until a foul ghoul of a summer past comes out to ruin her life. "Anything But Normal" is a fine read that younger readers will relish and relate to.


The Parenting Shelf

Eating for Pregnancy
Catherine Jones & Rose Ann Hudson
Da Copo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213521, $16.95, www.dacapopress.com

As appetizing as the peanut butter cheeseburgers sound, it may not be the best route to a healthy maternity. "Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today's Mothers-to-Be" is a guide to the special diet that many mothers fail to consider during their pregnancy. Offering 150 recipes designed for optimum maternity health, aiming to help expectant mothers avoid unnecessary weight gain, tips for post-natal diets, and for when out on the town, "Eating for Pregnancy" is a complete and comprehensive guide of what to put in until the baby comes out, and beyond.


The Education Shelf

The Forgotten Room
Mary Hollowell
Lexington Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
4501 Forbes Bouelevard, Suite 200, Lanham MD 20706
9780739134955, $65.00, www.lexingtonbooks.com

Assigned to teach the worst of the worst is something that few teachers ever want. "The Forgotten Room: Inside a Public Alternative School for At-Risk Youth" is the story of a the final year of Peachtree Alternative School, and how the teachers faced day to day challenges dealing with students who seemed to be on the quick path to a self-destructive life. Through the hell of these students, some teachers still tried to change their lives and break that course, with varying success. "The Forgotten Room" is a must read for those trying to understand why a good future starts in the classroom.

New Teacher Mentoring
Ellen Moir, Dara Barlin, Janet Gless, and Jan Miles
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
9781934742365, $29.95, www.harvardeducationpress.org

The finer aspects of teaching are not picked up in a college classroom. "New Teacher Mentoring: Hopes and Promise for Improving Teacher Effectiveness" is a guide aimed at educational administrators who want to try to form solid mentoring programs that pairs rookie teachers with seasoned veterans so that the new teacher can meet their potential much quicker. Stating that mentoring programs have an endless list of positives, the staff and writers of "New Teacher Mentoring" have created a guide that simply should be in every educational sciences collection.

Use of Education
Stephen Bygrave
Bucknell University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd, Cranbury, NJ 08512
9780838757253, $53.00, www.bucknell.edu/universitypress

In a modern society, people need to be educated... but why? "Uses of Education: Readings in Enlightenment in England" of an analysis of education during the enlightenment and the many thoughts and ideas that were tossed around during the period. Despite being centuries old, the thinkers of this time were renown for their forward thinking on education and what the new ideas they brought, many which are still in play today. With chapters on the very point of education, a history of the period and schools, and the education of women, "Uses for Education" is a cornerstone of any educational history collection.

Mixed Signals
Mary Lashno
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627591, $19.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Not everyone is wired the same when it comes to their senses. "Mixed Signals: Understanding and Treating Your Child's Sensory Processing Issues" is book studying sensory differences children may face and the problems that can arise from these problems. These differences can prove to be evidence to things such as autism and other sensory disorders, and Mary Lasno provides a complete and comprehensive guide to understanding and possible treatment options. "Mixed Signals" is well worth reading for parents concerned about potential problems their children are facing.

As Far as Words Go, revised edition
Cecile Cyrul Spector
Paul Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1598570560, $39.95 www.brookespublishing.com

As Far as Words Go: Activities for Understanding Ambiguous Language and Humor appears in a revised edition packing a seven-unit activity book with ready-to-use activities based on jokes and puns. Students learn how to interpret multiple-meaning words and phrases in a title designed for a variety of students showing how to understand language complexities and humor cues.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Gera Jacobs and Kathy Crowley's REACHING STANDARDS AND BEYOND IN KINDERGARTEN (9781412957250, $29.95) offers keys to helping kindergarten students meet natural standards in developmentally appropriate ways. From understanding how creative play activities can help kids across all disciplines to promoting healthy socio-emotional development, this is a 'must' for any early education collection. Dan W. Butin's THE EDUCATION DISSERTATION: A GUIDE FOR PRACTITIONER SCHOLARS (9781412960441, $33.95) offers a series of focused guidelines to help readers through all stages of the dissertation process, offering a step-by-step survey for completing a rigorous dissertation. Doctoral students of education working in the field will find the specific guidelines key to success, providing tips and covering quantitative and qualitative research alike. Elaine Makas' FROM MANDATE TO ACHIEVEMENT: 5 STEPS TO A CURRICULUM SYSTEM THAT WORKS! (9781412963794, $35.95) tells how to use a teacher-driven approach to curriculum development by devising purposeful designs to attain consistent results. From analyzing data and identifying expectations to understanding the process needed to create accurate assessments, this is packed with key insights. Vickie Gill's THE ELEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOOD TEACHING (9781412970365, $22.95) offers practical advice from a veteran teacher in an updated edition of her best-selling title, which contains new material on new technologies, social climates, standardized testing, and more. From reaching difficult students to being flexible, THE ELEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOOD TEACHING is a fine choice for any education library. 55 TACTICS FOR IMPLEMENTING RTI IN INCLUSIVE SETTINGS by Pam Campbell, Adam Wang and Bob Algozzine (9781412942409, $35.95) offers a fine, practical resource on how to implement RTI principles in general education settings. From modifications to adapt tactics to meet individual instructional needs to examples from teachers and three-tier RTI framework explanations, this is packed with real-world scenarios.


The Economics Shelf

Globalization And Free Trade
Philip Booth & Richard Wellings, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848445758, $360.00, www.amazon.com

Deftly co-edited by Philip Booth and Richard Wellings, "Globalization And Free Trade" is a 713-page compendium consisting of informed and informative essays focused on free trade and the process of economic globalization drawn from past publications of the IEA over the past five decades. Of special note is the succinct yet detailed introduction by Booth and Wellings providing the reader with a superbly crafted and presented overview of the pro and con arguments regarding economic globalization. Of enduring value is the extensive list of references and comprehensive index, making "Globalization And Free Trade" an indispensable contribution to academic library Economics reference collections in general, and supplemental reading lists on the issues of economic globalization in particular.

Prosperity Without Growth
Tim Jackson
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr., Sterling, VA 20194
9781844078943, $22.50 www.styluspub.com

Prosperity Without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet raises basic questions about the economics necessary to handle climate change issues, arguing that continued economic growth does not offer a solution but in fact represents a problem. This book calls for a new economic system and has substantially updates and revises a report for the Sustainable Development Commission. Business and environmental collections must have this.

The Economic Point of View
Israel M. Kirzner
Liberty Fund
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865977341, $24.00, www.libertyfund.org

Certain thinkers in a field rise far and above all others in their field to grant new ideas. "The Economic Point of View: The Collected Works of Israel M. Kirzner" is the collected essays of Kirzner, an Austrian economist who is highly revered in scholarly circles that discuss economics. Here, his writings lay out his beliefs and ideas with much evidence on how he believes the world of money works in the modern era. Drawing on debates Kirzner engaged in and other sources, "The Economic Point of View" is an intellectual and educational read that belongs on any economics research shelf.

Self-Enforcing Trade
Chad P. Bown
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815703235, $28.95, www.brookings.edu

Trade is a vital part of a harmonious and prosperous world. "Self-Enforcing Trade: Developing Countries and WTO Dispute Settlement" discusses developing countries, trying to break into the world economic market and the common problems they face transitioning to the international stage. The chapters throughout the book explain the World Trade Organization, international trade law, and the challenges and benefits these laws present to the small countries emerging to the world as a whole. "Self-Enforcing Trade: Developing Countries and WTO Dispute Settlement" is a must for anyone looking to understand emerging economies and how they are bridging the gaps.


The Science Shelf

Defining Darwin
Michael Ruse
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027256, $26.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

DEFINING DARWIN: ESSAYS ON THE HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY comes from one of the foremost Darwin scholars of our time who for forty years has written extensively on Darwin and his works. This survey re-evaluates Darwin's impact and offers new and recent essays showing historic and current challenges to his theories and the metaphor of natural selection. Science libraries - particularly at the college level - will find its discussions perfect for classroom debate.

The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book, second edition
Patricia Barnes-Svarney & Thomas E. Svarney
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578592180, $21.95, www.visibleink.com

The time before humanity's dominance is a topic that intrigues many a reader. Now in an expanded second edition, "The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book, Second Edition" is a question and answer book discussing dinosaurs and the many questions surrounding these legendary beasts. Ancestry, dinosaur habits, and more, Visible Ink Press has expanded on the previous edition and offers even more information that is sure to keep the interest of any dinosaur lover, young or old. "The Handy Dinosaur Answer Book" is a fine addition to any community library science collection.

What's So Great About Granite?
Jennifer H. Carey
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425631, $18.00, www.mountain-press.com

Just because it's everywhere doesn't mean it's not a valuable resource. "What's So Great About Granite?" discusses the origins of granite, a common stone with an extraordinary past. Discussing the rock, how it forms, and how it gets its crystals, Jennifer Carey forms a read aimed at young rock lovers who want to feed their never ending curiosity about their natural world. "What's So Great About Granite?" is a choice pick for addition to science collections.


The Music Shelf

Flatpicking Guitar For The Complete Ignoramus!
Wayne Erbsen
Native Ground Books & Music
109 Bell Road, Asheville, NC 28805-1521
www.nativeground.com
9781883206581, $19.95, www.amazon.com

In "Flatpicking Guitar For The Complete Ignoramus!", musician, music historian, and guitar instructor Wayne Erbsen draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to provide students of the acoustic guitar with forty 'old-time' and bluegrass guitar tunes with profusely illustrated instructions that will enable even the most novice of beginners to quickly gain proficiency in their performance of them. Enhanced with an accompanying CD that provides 91 tracks and the lyrics to all forty of the selected guitar tunes, "Flatpicking Guitar For The Complete Ignoramus!" is an 80 page compendium of material ideal for both self-instruction and as a music school curriculum instructional reference and resource. From holding the pick, to back-up chords, to tuning the guitar, and so much more, "Flatpicking Guitar For The Complete Ignoramus!" is a welcome addition to the growing library of music books from Native Ground Books & Music. Students, teachers, and anyone else with an interest in musical traditions would be well advised to visit www.nativeground.com for a complete listing of all of their outstanding and thoroughly 'user friendly' titles.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

G.W. Childs IV's Using Reason Onstage Skill Pack (1598635638, $29.99) is a pick for any musician who has a home studio and wants to use Reason's tracks for the stage. It shows Reason users how to use Reason 4 for onstage performances, providing key commands important during live performance and learning song layouts, controllers, and handy templates. A 'must' for any user of Reason who wants stage-oriented tips perfect for performances. Jackie Kajzer and Roger Lotring's FULL METAL JACKIE CERTIFIED (1435454413, $29.99) reviews 50 of the most influential heavy metal songs of the 80s and their stories, and is a 'must' for any library strong in modern music. The interviews with favorite rock stars on how they wrote their music blend well with lyrics and track references in this outstanding guide.

Full Metal Jackie Certified
Jackie Kajzer
Cengage Learning
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
9781435454415, $29.99, www.courseptr.com

Some songs are so iconic, that they influence their genre for years to come. "Full Metal Jackie Certified: The 50 Most Influential Heavy Metal Songs of the 80s and the True Stories Behind Their Lyrics" delves into the history surrounding legendary metal and the stories behind them. From Ace of Spades deeper meaning not truly being there when Lemmy was winging it, to the Cult of Personality gaining a personality bigger than the band, "Full Metal Jackie" looks at rock through hard rock through metal and how the eighties proved powerful for music. "Full Metal Jackie Certified" is a top pick for anyone who wants to know the deeper meaning behind the music, written by famed metal writer, Jackie Kajzer.


The Philosophy Shelf

Reinhold Niebuhr Revisited
Daniel F. Rice
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
240 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802862570, $26.00, www.eerdmans.com

The work of the best resonates for years after the person themselves is gone. "Reinhold Niebuhr Revisited" is a collection of essays from many writers reflecting on the work of Reinhold Niebuhr, a renown American philosopher who has earned much acclaim and influences many writers on philosophy today. These writers offer new insights on insights, interpreting how Niebuhr's writings have shaped their own viewpoints. "Reinhold Niebuhr Revisited" is a must for any community library philosophy collection, highly recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Foundations of Ecological Resilience
Lance H. Gunderson, Craig R. Allen, & C. S. Holling
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597265119, $35.00, www.islandpress.org

Nature is not a force that embraces change without resistance. "Foundations of Ecological Resilience" looks at nature and its resilience. Many authors and writers converge on these topics and provide scholarly thought and insight on the environment and its status against humanity's abuses. Drawing on historical examples, the concept of ecological resilience, and plans for the future, "Foundations of Ecological Resilience" is a choice and core addition to any environmental studies collection.

Crossing the Energy Divide
Robert U. Ayres & Edward H. Ayres
Wharton School Publishing
c/o Pearson Book Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780137015443, $29.99, www.whartonsp.com

Transitioning from fossil fuel use will happen, but whether it will be an early choice or last minute necessity is the question. "Crossing the Energy Divide: Moving From Fuel Dependence to a Clean-Energy Future" examines the harsh reality that there needs to be a transition period where the world begins to phase out fossil fuels and that switching to a more clean and abundant resource will not be an instant and over night change. "Crossing the Energy Divide" comes to readers with harsh truths and many hopes and ideas for a better future, a fine addition to modern environmental studies shelves.


The Sports Shelf

Managing Sport Facilities, second edition
Gil Fried
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9780736082907, $69.00, www.amazon.com

As an associate professor at the University of New Haven in Connecticut and having has taught sport facility management for more than 10 years, Gil B. Fried draws upon his experience and expertise to provide a completely updated and significantly expanded second edition of "Managing Sport Facilities", which is justifiably considered to be an essential reference for anyone charged with sports facilities management from local community centers to large commercial stadiums. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' and superbly organized, this new edition of "Managing Sport Facilities" includes an expanded section on risk management, timely information on security issues, and is enhanced as an ideal tutorial for anyone seeking a career in sports facilities management. Of special note in this 368-page compendium is the concluding section on 'Event and Activity Management'. Enhanced with an extensive glossary, reference list, and a comprehensive index, "Management Sport Facilities" is ideal as a curriculum textbook and is an essential addition to academic library reference collections.

Game Vision in Soccer
Mick Critchell, Jark Bosma, & Keith Granger
Reedswain Publishing
c/o Cardinal Publishers
2402 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9781591641155, $24.95, www.reedswain.com

Sports are not only about who is faster and who is stronger. "Game Vision in Soccer: Theory and Practice to Improve Game Sense" is a guide to teaching the more technical aspects of the game of soccer. The coaches in this volume come together to give readers a book packed cover to cover with exercises to help players gain mastery of the mental aspects of the game, to help them strategize on the fly to overcome the other team. With plenty of exercises for every aspect of the game, "Game Vision in Soccer" is a must for any dedicated soccer coach.


The Humor Shelf

The Customer is Not Always Right
A. J. Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740785788, $12.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Some people simply don't know what they want. "The Customer is NOT Always Right: Hilarious and Horrific Tales of Customers Gone Wrong" is a collection of short tales, collected from various sources as A. J. Adams presents stories of employees dealing with the customers that driven them insane, and in some cases, just intriguing interactions of employee and customer. From canceling Disney World trips to muffin stealing nudists, "The Customer is NOT Always Right" is a top pick for anyone who has worked with the unwashed masses and wants to find kindred spirits.

A Knickerbocker's History of New York
Washington Irving
Pelican Publishers
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
978158906986, $9.99, www.pelicanpub.com

There are pioneers for everything, including mocking the world. "A Knickerbocker's History of New York" is a reissue of Washington Irving's classic work of literature that earned him quite the place in early American Literature. His story, offering a satirical view of New York and its history, holds strong centuries later as it was published in the early nineteenth century. "A Knickerbocker's History of New York" is a fine pick for those who want to see why Washington Irving has the acclaim he has as a literary legend.


The Library Reference Shelf

ESRI
380 New York St, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
www.esri.com

Maps form nine countries and 57 organizations show the versatility and style of geographic information system technology as applied to different infrastructure projects in GIS for Building and Managing Infrastructure (9781589482524, $24.95), a pick for any college-level reference library strong in GIS mapping capabilities. From the North American natural gas system to a mapping of the potential for wind-generated power in France, this covers major GIS worldwide mapping projects and offers private-sector companies keys to planning projects and citizens visual keys to how GIS can offer planners clear information. Also a top reference is Ian Williamson, Stig Enemark, Jude Wallace and Abbas Rajabifard's LAND ADMINISTRATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (9781589480414, $49.95), a survey of keys to designing, building and managing land administration systems for better sustainable development policies. College-level collections strong in resource allocation, economic development and environmental design will find this a key to urban planning, making choices and implementing controls, and more. Packed with color illustration and in-depth, real-world scenarios, it's a winner.


The Gardening Shelf

Succulent Container Gardens
Debra Lee Baldwin
Timber Press
133 SW 2nd Ave, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
9780881929591, $29.95 www.timberpress.com

Succulent Container Gardens: Design Eye-Catching Displays with 350 Easy-Care Plants offers a fine guide to combining, planting and nurturing succulents in containers ranging from hanging baskets to topiaries and miniature landscapes, floral arrangements and more. From overwintering to pot selection, this provides all the basics needed and pairs photos from top designers and florists in a presentation perfect for any general library strong in gardening guides.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Starship: Flagship
Mike Resnick
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027881, $26.00 www.pyrsf.com

Starship: Flagship is Book 5 of Mike Resnick's 'Starship' series and is set in 1970 of the Galactic Era, almost three thousand years from now, when the rebel starship Theodore Roosevelt prepares to lead Cole's armada into the Republic even though outnumbered. New threats bring the crew their greatest challenge yet in a military science fiction encounter highly recommended for prior fans of Resnick's Starship encounters.

The Good, the Bad and the Uncanny
Simon R. Green
Ace
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780441018161, $24.95 www.penguin.com

In the Nightside where time stands still and the sun doesn't rise, nightmares inhuman are posing as human - and PI John Taylor has a knack for finding things and handling the Nightside. When he accepts some unusual jobs - including from the Dead Detective - he runs up against an agent who runs the Nightside on behalf of the Authorities - and who wants John 6to take over his job. A fine dark thriller evolves.

Darkship Thieves
Sarah A. Hoyt
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781439133170, $16.00 www.baen.com

DARKSHIP THIEVES is space opera at its best and tells of Athena, who wakes up in her father's space cruiser with a stranger looming over her bed. Facing mutiny in her night clothes, Athena is forced to confront invaders from space with few weapons but her wits. Fast action and drama marks a story line hard to put down.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Everything Pressure Cooker Cookbook
Pamela Rice Hahn
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
www.adamsmedia.com
9781440500176, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Pamela Rice Hahn draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to write still another outstanding and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium of recipes. This time she focuses on dishes suitable for the pressure cooker as an instrument specifically designed to speed up meal preparation time for today's busy housewife. Beginning with a chapter that aptly serves as a primer in how to safely use and utilize a pressure cooker in the kitchen, the recipes are nicely organized and presented showcasing everything from chutneys, preserves, jams, and condiments; to appetizers and party snacks; sauces; to breakfast and brunch cuisines; to soups, stews and chowders, and so much more! Of special note is the chapter devoted to vegetarian fare. From Stuffed Green Peppers; Sweet and Sour Pork; and Chicken Chili; to Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon Sauce; Summer Sausage Casserole; and Molten Fudge Pudding Cake, "The Everything Pressure Cooker Cookbook" truly lives up to its title and is enthusiastically endorsed for family and community library cookbook collections!

Pies, Pies, & More Pies!
Viola Goren
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, New York, NY 10016
www.imaginebks.com
9781936140046, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Viola Goren's "Pies, Pies, & More Pies!" is a 144-page, beautifully illustrated, 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium of recipes for pies that will provide gourmet quality dining experiences suitable for any and all culinary occasions. Beginning with 'Pie Essentials' and a chapter dedicated to 'Basic Recipes" for pie making, "Pies, Pies, & More Pies!" goes on to provide step-by-step instructions for making pies with fruits and berries, chocolate and nuts, sweet cheese and apples, as well as meats, chicken and fish. From a Raspberry Tart with Lemon Creme Brulee; to Pear and Chocolate Truffle Tartlets; to a Double-Crust Ricotta Pie with Pine Nuts and Dried Fruit; to a Mediterranean Focaccia Pie, these are dishes that embrace a wide range of dishes from the relatively simple to the exceedingly elegant. Enhanced with Conversion Charts and a very useful Index, "Pies, Pies, & More Pies!" will prove a welcome and popular addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections.

New Mexico Cuisine
Clyde Casey
Clear Light Publishing
823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, NM 87505
www.clearlightbooks.com
9781574160963, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Among the cuisines of the American Southwest, that of New Mexico is unique with its fusion of culinary influences that include Spanish, Mexican, Pueblo Indian, French, Tex-Mex, Mediterranean, and 'cowboy chuck wagon'. "New Mexico Cuisine: Recipes from the Land of Enchantment", a 232-page compendium of authentic recipes compiled by Wester art historian Clyde Casey, presented a wide range of thoroughly kitchen cook friendly dishes that fully represent the variety and quality of genuine New Mexico cuisine. From Caramelized Carnitasw Burritos; Tortilla Soup; Sopapillas; and Indian Tacos; to Cowpoke Chili; Picante Salsa; Pinon Brittle; Zucchini, Corn & Pinto Bean Quesadillas; and Enchiladas Verdes, "New Mexico Cuisine: Recipes from the Land of Enchantment" offers an amazing variety of dishes suitable for all dining occasions. Enhanced with a glossary, and index, and appendices on Altitude Adjustments for High-Altitude Baking; where to buy chiles and New Mexico wines, "New Mexico Cuisine: Recipes from the Land of Enchantment" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and recommended for personal, family, and community library ethnic and regional cookbook collections.

Two Dishes
Linda Haynes & Devin Connell
McClelland & Stewart
75 Sherbourne Street, 5th floor, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5A 2P9
www.mcclelland.com
9780771038167, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Just as in any other aspect of our modern culture where there are generational differences in music, fashion, and technological adaptation, so there are such differences in the culinary arts as well. No other cookbook provides this kind of unique insight as does "Two Dishes: Mother and Daughter: Two Cooks, Two Lifestyles, Two Takes", the collaborative, 224-page, beautifully illustrated compendium of recipes and commentary. Of special note are the occasional 'Kitchen Hints'. With dishes ranging from Crispy Potato Crostini with Taleggio, Apple and Prosciutto; Watercress with Red Grapes and Pecorino Shards; Comforting Egg Drop Parmesan Soup; and Sesame Chicken with Mango, Green Onion, and Ginger Salsa; to Slow-Cooked Cabbage with Sweet Apple; Hazelnut Meringue Millefeuilles with Whipped Cream and Summer Berries; and Mile-High Zebra Cake with Fluffy Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, "Two Dishes: Mother and Daughter: Two Cooks, Two Lifestyles, Two Takes" is an outstanding culinary reference for palate pleasing, gourmet quality, 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes suitable for any and all dining occasions!

The Foodie Handbook
Pim Techamuanvivit
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811868532, $24.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

The Foodie Handbook: The (Almost) Definitive Guide to Gastronomy comes from a food blogger who offers insights into world food and what's happening right now. Advice, anecdotes, and recipes blend with social insights to create an involving, different set of dishes from the world's top chefs, accompanied by notes on how to get the most intense flavor from foods.

The Gorgeously Green Diet
Sophie Uliano
Plume
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780452295919, $16.00 www.penguin.com

Diet and health libraries alike will find THE GORGEOUSLY GREEN DIET packs in easy recipes that follow up on the popular GORGEOUSLY GREEN and tell how to save the planet while eating better. Mindful eating promotes eating local, minimally processed and package foods and making healthy organic choices. Cookbook collections will find this a fine lend.


The Travel Shelf

Budapest
Adrian Phillips & Jo Scotchmer
Globe Pequot
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781841621852, $13.99, www.bradtguides.com

The Hungarian culture is one that goes criminally unnoticed by the rest of the world compared to other European cultures. "Budapest: City Guide" is a complete and comprehensive travel guide to the rich culture, night life, and countless other attractions that lie in the heart of Hungary, a nation that bridges the gap between western and eastern Europe. A highly romantic city, and displayed with vivid photography, "Budapest" should be more than enough to make one yearn for a vacation to the city.

Ireland Step By Step
Insight Guides
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
www.langenscheidt.com
9789812821065, $16.99, www.amazon.com

One of the major joys of traveling abroad is going on walks to observe the sights, sounds, and people up close and personal. That's why travelers to Ireland will especially value "Ireland Step By Step" which is a handy 128-page compendium showcasing sixteen walks and tours complete with thoroughly 'user friendly' maps. Of special note is the profusion of tips and advice on where to eat and drink, shopping, the nightlife, and the culture. Enhanced with themed tours, a free pullout map with street index, and practical information on a variety of hotel accommodations suitable for diverse budgets, "Ireland Step By Step" is a practical and invaluable resource for getting the most out of a visit to the Emerald Isle.

Best in Travel 2010
Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland Ca 94607
9781741792706, $14.99 www.lonelyplanet.com

Best in Travel 2010 surveys the best places to go and things to do around the world and uses the knowledge of Lonely Planet Publisher's own staff and authors to survey the top 10 countries, regions and cities. Over 30 adventures organized month-by-month accompany keys to obtaining the best travel experiences around the world, and make for a fine general-interest travel library's collection.


The Business Shelf

Amazon Income
Sharon L. Cohen
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601382993, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Amazon was formed out of the aspiring dreams of an entrepreneur, and people can use Amazon to blossom their own aspiring dreams. "Amazon Income: How Anyone of Any Age, Location, and/or Background Can Build a Highly Profitable Online Business with Amazon" " is a guide to starting one's own business through Amazon.com, the internet market place which has taken to being a place where trade happens. Amazon has reached its size and success by embracing any agreement that can be mutually exclusive, and Sharon L. Cohen hopes to help readers link in with this philosophy. "Amazon Income" is a top pick for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Get Seen
Steve Garfield
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9780470525463, $24.95 www.wiley.com

Get Seen: Online Video Secrets to Building Your Business adds to the 'New Rules of Social Media' series and examine success stories of companies using online video. It provides a series of plans and tools businesses can use to successfully market to their customers on the social web, teaching readers how to record, edit and export videos as well as where to post them. Any business interested in video blogging applications and potentials needs this.

Presentation Zen Design
Garr Reynolds
New Riders
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321668790, $34.99 www.newriders.com

Presentation Zen Design offers a range of design tricks and tips to enhance a presentation, with guidelines and basic principles for achieving overall harmony and balance using Zen simplicity. From preparing a talk to simplifying data and making your own images 'pop', PRESENTATION ZEN DESIGN: SIMPLE DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE YOUR PRESENTATIONS will reach a wide audience, from students to business and computer professionals and managers alike.

Hip & Sage
Lisa Haneberg
Davies-Black
20 Park Plaza Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9780891062455, $19.95 www.nicholasbrealey.com

HIP & SAGE: STAYING SMART, COOL AND COMPETITIVE IN THE WORKPLACE is for any career library and offers keys to using the new technologies that are changing how business gets done. Professionals seeking to learn these new strategies will receive keys to the knowledge younger workers have, and how to place new practices into the goals of communicating, connecting and collaborating. Business libraries will find this outstanding.

Friends With Benefits
Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
9781593271992, $24.95 www.nostarch.com

Friends With Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook packs in keys to marketing, blending real-world case studies with insights on how to use websites and social media marketing campaigns to reach customers. From monitoring discussions to using viral videos and Twitter, this offers a review of social media overall and how to fit a business objective into its progression.

The Art of Strategy
Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393337174, $17.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE ART OF STRATEGY: A GAME THEORIST'S GUIDE TO SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AND LIFE shows how to apply the basics of game theory to everyday situations, using real-life examples and case studies to show how game theory can inform business and personal interactions alike. Ten scenarios highlight strategic interactions and offer keys tying games to business, from changing a game to your advantage to manipulating information in a strategic interaction. Business libraries need this.

201 Tips to Start and Build Your Own Business
Jay Miletsky
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
1435455487, $14.99 www.courseptr.com

201 Tips to Start and Build Your Own Business comes from a career entrepreneur who tells how to handle finances, market a company, acquire and work with business partners - everything needed to know when starting and building a business, from the author's own personal experiences as a successful entrepreneur. These are solid discussions of major issues affecting running a business and make for a fine pick for all kinds of collections, from business to general-interest.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Sys Fredens's DRESS YOUR DOG: NIFTY KNITS FOR CLASSY CANINES (9781564779281, $14.99) offers some 30 designer doggy outfits and accessories from sweaters and pillows to leashes and carrying bags, offering several projects for crochet as well. All sizes and types of dogs are considered with patterns offering various stylish options and ideas. Any knitter's collection needs this - and many a pet owner's library will find it a different, popular pick! Mary Lou Weidman's OUT OF THE BOX: UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY THROUGH QUILTS (9781564779137, $29.99) tells of a quiltmaker whose quilts tell lovely stories - and shows how to achieve similar success and designs. From harvesting unusual fabric from thrift shop finds to creating themes from fabrics or using novelty fabrics to spark a theme, this is packed with creative ideas and different approaches.

American Quilters Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com

Donna Poster's BLOCK BEAUTY QUILTS (9781574329933, $26.95) offers five easy blocks for making 20 quilts, offering patterns presented in four different quilt designs and including yardages for seven sizes of each quilt. Quilt makers will find this packed with specific directions and plenty of color photos to inspire, making this a lovely pick for any quilter's library. Gwen Marston's LIBERATED QUILTMAKING II (9781574326536, $28.95) represents an update on her Liberated Quiltmaking technique and provides step-by-step instructions, pieces samples, and examples without the usual pattern and template approach. The result is packed with color, and a very different kind of quilting guide! Kimberly Einmo's JELLY ROLL QUILTS & MORE (9781574326529, $26.95) tells how to use precut strips, squares and triangles, and pairs stories, design suggestions and more with its instructions. 10 quilts plus four one-block wonders are outstanding presentations. Teri Henderson Tope's APPLIQUE IN REVERSE (9781574326574, $24.95) tells how to make detailed hand applique using large pieces of background fabric underneath applique designs. It's a technique that does away with small seams and sewing challenges, offering a range of designs for creating unique dimensional results.

Landauer Publishing
3100 NW 10th St., Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
www.landauercorp.com

Lynette Jensen's Thimbleberries Block by Block to Beautiful Quilts (9780981804064, $27.95) offers a fine new series of quilt blocks and projects in coordinating colors and patterns and is a lovely inspirational guide pairing over 50 blocks and 20 projects. The result is a lovely quilter's guide, perfect for any quilting library seeking more block-oriented projects. Edyta Sitar's FRIENDSHIP TRIANGLES (9780981804095, $24.95) offers an introduction to creating Half Square Triangle Block Quilts through Block Exchange Programs. More than a dozen projects pack a title that tells how to share half-square triangles to create lovely quilts, offering some 80 pages packed with hundreds of photos and illustrations and 15 half-square triangle projects.

Vogue Knitting: Shawls & Wraps
Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine
Sixth&Spring Books
233 Spring St., New York NY 10013
9781933027845, $24.95 www.sixthandspringbooks.com

40 of Vogue Magazine's finest creations offer a range of wraps by top knitwear designers from delicate laces to colorful shawls and cozy wraps. Knitters will relish the variety, color, and different design choices that take the latest styles and trends into account, and will find this a fine survey recommended for any general needlework or knitting collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Manson Publishing
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley-blackwell.com

Patrick J. McKeever, Tim Nuttall, Richard G. Harvey's A Color Handbook of Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat (9781840761313, $79.99) appears in its second updated edition and has been completely revised and edited, adding over twenty new presentations and conditions, over a hundred thirty new photos, and keeping the problem-oriented approach of the first edition. Any college-level vet library or practicing professional's reference collection MUST have this key handbook. Also key is David J. Mellor, et.al.'s THE SCIENCES OF ANIMAL WELFARE (9781405134958, $59.99), recommended for college-level pet libraries discussing the development and future of Animal Welfare Science. From how we obtain fresh insights and improve animal welfare by operating within diverse disciplines to questioning assumptions about animals, this considers the social contexts of animal welfare and is a fine addition to any library strong in animal rights and welfare. The second edition of Michael Schaer's CLINICAL MEDICINE OF THE DOG AND CAT (9781840761115, $149.99) is a 'must' reference for any college-level collection. It covers all major areas of internal medicine of the dog and cat's common disorders, is organized by body system for quick reference, and provides definitions of disorders, diagnoses, and over 1,500 color photos, imaging and diagrams. Nearly 450 illustrations are new to this edition, making for a powerful reference for vet practitioners and students alike.


The Computer Shelf

Python Programming, third edition
Michael Dawson
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1435455002, $34.99 www.courseptr.com

Newcomers to Python seeking a comprehensive introduction to the program will find the third updated edition of PYTHON PROGRAMMING is a winner. It tells how to define functions, manipulate text files and sprites, create a GUI and more, with code sample illustrating concepts throughout. Any programming library catering to Python programmers needs this.

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

Mary and Tom Poppendieck's Leading Lean Software Development (0321620704, $49.99) builds on prior best-selling titles LEAN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT and IMPLEMENTING LEAN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT to show how to drive high-value change throughout a software organization. From focusing on customers and implementing low-dependency architectures to managing big risks and optimizing workflow and schedules, this is a top pick for any software programming collection. The second edition of Mark Summerfield's PROGRAMMING IN PYTHON 3 (0321680561, $44.99) has been fully revised to include new material on debugging, testing, string formatting and more, and is a 'must' for any programmer's library strong in Python programming. From creating custom packages to writing and reading binary, text and XML files, this comes packed with keys to successful Python programming. Foy Savas' THE MERB WAY (0321606388, $39.99) provides Ruby programmers with an expert guide to building Merb applications in the fist comprehensive guide to using and deploying Merb. From innovations blended into Rails 3 to understanding Merb development processes, this pairs best practices with refactor codes and Merb insights. Steve Freeman and Nat Pryce's GROWING OBJECT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE, GUIDED BY TESTS (0321503627, $44.99) provides tips to TDD that goes beyond basics to build upon real-world experience. Two TDD pioneers show how to use the tests to develop new software that is reliable and maintainable, from creating cleaner code to using tests to focus on quality and using Mock Objects to guide object-oriented designs. Developer collections need this. They also need Carl L. Hoover, Mel Rosso-Llopart and Gil Taran's EVALUATING PROJECT DECISIONS (0321544560, $49.99), a powerful survey of software project managers introducing an innovative design model to help evaluate decisions. From project stages and objectives to proper product definition and business decision impacts on stakeholders and global development, this is a key for both software and business libraries alike. Also a pick is Martin L. Abbott and Michael T. Fisher's THE ART OF SCALABILITY: SCALABLE WEB ARCHITECTURE, PROCESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE MODERN ENTERPRISE (0137030428, $39.99) is a pick for any library catering to web programmers. It tells how to build processes for scale, optimizing performance and planning for rapid data growth and new data centers. It isn't just about technology - it's about processes, people, and the entire issue of scalability at all levels.

Pomodoro Technique Illustrated
Staffan Noteberg
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356500, $24.95 www.pragprog.com

Pomodoro Technique Illustrated: The Easy Way to do More in Less Time tells how to organize work to accomplish more - without software planners or more. Proven techniques from software engineering are used to identify and prioritize tasks in this fine survey to 'boxing' time - key to the Pomodoro Technique presented herein.

SAMS
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/sams

Andrew Hudson, et.al.'s Ubuntu Unleashed, 2010 Edition (0672331098, $49.99) covers 9.10 and 10.4 of the Ubuntu Linux distribution and offers Mac and Windows users alike keys to using Ubuntu for an easy Linux environment. From installing and customizing Ubuntu to running a printer server, connecting to a local network and the Internet, and playing games on Linux, this comes with Ubuntu on DVD and an upgrade to 10.4, and is a winning presentation for any computer library. Also recommended is Tris Hussey's CREATE YOUR OWN BLOG: 6 EASY PROJECTS TO START BLOGGING LIKE A PRO (0672330652, $21.99) tells how to build a great personal or business blog with no experience. From setting up in minutes to writing compelling blog entries and handling comments, this is a 'must' for any would-be blogger.


The Photography Shelf

The Changing Range Of Light
Elizabeth Carmel
Hawks Peak Publishing
c/o Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
www.HawksPeakPublishing.com
9780977687718, $49.95, www.amazon.com

The phrase 'Range of Light' was coined by the legendary conversationist John Muir in the late 1800s in reference to the every evolving beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountain country. Elizabeth Carmel is a Sierra-based photographer whose artistic flair with a camera is especially noted for being able to successfully capture in vivid color particularly memorable and impressive images of the natural world. "The Changing Range Of Light: Portraits Of The Sierra Nevada" is a 120-page compendium of her photographic images underscoring and superbly illustrating what John Muir was trying to convey in his writings and in the 19th century period photography of his friend Ansel Adams. Each superbly presented image is accompanied by a succinct but highly informative caption providing context for the reader. "The Changing Range Of Light" is especially recommended for academic and community library American Photography reference collections, as well as the supplemental reading lists of today's conservationists with an appreciation of the wild natural beauty and celestial majesty of the Sierra Nevada.

Gaza Photo Album
Kent Klich & Jaber Wishah
Umbrage Editions
111 Front Street, Suite 208, Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.umbragebooks.com
9781884167867, $40.00, www.amazon.com

The story of the Palestinians devastated by the Gaza attacks as Israelis reacted to Hamas rocket attacks against Jewish communities is the photographic subject of the "Gaza Photo Album". An 88-page compendium of full color photographs by Kent Klich, the images comprising the "Gaza Photo Album" is provided with context by an informed and informative essay by Human Rights activist Jaber Wishah (Deputy Director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights). The result is a movingly presented 'other side of the story' which has been all to often neglected by mainstream western media.

Creative Photoshop CS4
Derek Lea
Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521343, $39.95 www.focalpress.com

Creative Photoshop CS4: Digital Illustration and Art Techniques offers tips on digital imaging pairing stunning images form an award-winning digital artist author with keys to using all versions of Photoshop to achieve them. Learn how to create antique effects, stencil art, and more in a guide updated throughout for CS4 and which packs in new chapters on projects with photo images in accessible galleries. A 'must' for any serious Photoshop library.

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide
Charlotte K. Lowrie
Wiley Publishing Co.
c/o John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470521298, $19.99 www.wiley.com

Canon EOS 7D Digital Field Guide teaches how to get the most from this complicated camera, exploring key technologies and teaching what each control does and how to set up a camera for a range of exposures, focusing, and more. Learn how to customize the 7D to suit individual shooting patterns with this exceptional camera guide.

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com

Stan Turkel's PHOTOGRAPHING BAR AND BAT MITZVAHS (9781584282709, $39.95) offers mitzvah-specific insights, from understanding timelines for the typical mitzvah photography effort from family portraits to special ceremonies to understanding the latest trends in bar/bat mitzvahs. Keys to capturing rituals and receptions make for specific recommendations essential to any event photographer. Michelle Perkins' 500 POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPHING BRIDES (9781584282723, $34.95) offer ideas for studio and location portraits alike and is packed with images by accomplished photographers throughout showing how to spice bridal portraits. It's a visual sourcebook packed with ideas for unique results, and presents images that draw and maintain viewer interest. Also recommended is Norman Phillips' MOTHER AND CHILD PORTRAITS: TECHNIQUES FOR PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584282624, $34.95), a powerful survey of images that highlight mother/child bonds. From tips for pregnancy portraits and working with kids of all ages to posing and lighting, this is packed with eye-catching examples throughout.


The Hobbies/Crafts Shelf

The Complete Book Of Polymer Clay
Lisa Pavelka
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781600851285, $24.95, www.amazon.com

In "The Complete Book Of Polymer Clay", Lisa Pavelka draws upon her considerable experience and undeniable expertise to provide a 228-page compendium of fifty original polymer clay projects, each with thoroughly 'user friendly' step-by-step illustrated instructions for making everything from bracelets and buttons, to pendants and pins. Of special note is the concluding chapter offering a 'Gallery of Polymer Clay Art'. Enhanced with two appendices ('Troubleshooting for Polymer Clay' and 'Glossary of Polymer Clay Terms'), "The Complete Book Of Polymer Clay" is usefully includes an extended Resource Guide and a comprehensive Index making it ideal for the novice and a very highly recommended addition for community library reference collections.

The Model Railroader's Guide to Diesel Locomotives
Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Publishing
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890247617, $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

The Model Railroader's Guide to Diesel Locomotives is for any hobbyist who wants to find a diesel locomotive for a layout. It offers keys to how diesel locomotives work, histories of major builders, keys to identifying and spotting diesels, and more. From charts of service dates to discussions of history, this is a 'must' for any model railroader.


The Art Shelf

Lemuel Maynard Wiles
Geoffrey K. Fleming
Hudson Hills Press
74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953539, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Lemuel Maynard Wiles was born in West Perry, Wyoming County, New York State, in 1826. When he died in 1905 his reputation and position in American art history was secure by some forty years of artistic compositions. His legacy as a teacher would endure for decades more in the form of his appreciative students, some of whom in 1922 raised the then magnificent sum of $2,500 for the commission of a bust of 'The Professor' which resides today in front of the Woodward Memorial Library in Le Roy, New York. In "Lemuel Maynard Wiles: A Record Of His Works, 1864-1904", Geoffrey K. Fleming (art historian and Director of the Southold Historical Society) presents an informed and informative overview of Professor Wiles accomplishments as a successful painter in the Hudson River School tradition of American art. Along with a profusion of beautifully reproduced images, "Lemuel Maynard Wiles" provides detailed commentary on Professor Wiles techniques and other aspects of his work including canvas sizes, subject matter, and the patrons that financed and commissioned his paintings. Of special note is the inclusion of a section of extensive notations, a bibliography, and a comprehensive index. A deftly written and engaging 150-page biography showcasing the artist and his art, "Lemuel Maynard Wiles" is especially recommended for both academic and community library American Art History reference collections.

Masterpieces Of Classical Art
Dyfri Williams
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292721470, $45.00, www.amazon.com

The British Museum's legendary collection of ancient Greek and Roman art and artifacts is second only to those outside Greece and Italy themselves. As the 'Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities' at the British Museum, Dyfri Williams is in an ideal position to compile and author commentary on 180 of the museum's most important items of that collection and make them available to scholarship as well as the general reading public in "Masterpieces Of Classical Art", a 360-page superbly presented and beautifully illustrated overview of the classical art of Hellenic and Roman antiquity. Each individual object is represented by a large color photograph (a number of which were taken specifically for the pages of this work), along with expert commentary providing historical contexts for them. Of special note are the sections providing informed and informative background briefings for each distinctive period of Hellenic and Roman classical art. Ideal for both scholarship and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in ancient art and artifacts, "Masterpieces Of Classical Art" is especially recommended for both academic and community library Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Follow The Sun: Robert Lougheed
Don Hedgpeth
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780578039701, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Robert Lougheed was a successful commercial artist who created popular magazine covers, was responsible for the Flying Pegasus symbol of the Mobil Oil company, as well as a newspaper illustrator for the Toronto Star, . He was also a western artist of considerable merit, an award winning member of the Cowboy Artists of America and a founder of the National Academy of Western Art. Knowledgeably compiled by art historian and author Don Hedgpeth, "Follow The Sun: Robert Lougheed" is a beautifully produced, 360-page compendium of Lougheed's art, enhanced with expert commentary providing context and background for the flawlessly reproduced paintings and sketches -- totaling more than 400 examples of his best work. A coffee-table art book of memorable and seminal scholarship, "Follow The Sun: Robert Lougheed" is an enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Drawing: A Complete Guide
Giovanni Civardi
Search Press USA
1388 Ross St., Petaluma, CA 94954
9781844485086, $19.95 www.searchpress.com

Drawing: A Complete Guide offers a key for any beginner wanting to learn how to draw as well as those who want to improve upon technique. The basics of drawing portraits, clothed figures, hands and feet and the nude offer tips accompanied by the author's own drawings to make for a fine resource packed with black and white examples throughout. Any arts or general collection will find this a positive pick!


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Heritage of Light
Janet A. Khan
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2844
9781931847735, $17.00, www.books.bahai.us

America is a melting pot, culturally and religiously. "Heritage of Light: The Spiritual Destiny of America" looks at the history of the Baha'i faith in America, looking at its early roots and how its roots follow strongly back to the early days of the faith in Iran, where early practitioners of the faith faced constant persecution before reaching America. Stating that Baha'i faith has a greater role in America than it does to its nation of origin, "Heritage of Light" is an intriguing read, well worth adding to religion and spirituality collections.


The Agricultural Studies Shelf

Seed Trade in Rural Markets
Leslie Lipper, C. Leigh Anderson, Timothy J. Dalton, editors
Eathscan
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781844077854, $47.95, www.eathscan.co.uk

A varied assortment of crops is a key success for the modern farmer. "Seed Trade in Rural Markets: Implications for Crop Diversity and Agricultural Development" is an analysis of the evolution of rural seed trading around the world in developing nations around the world and on many continents. Showing many case studies and what can be learned from them, these roots are the foundation which can change these nations for the better in the future, stating the power of agricultural development in these societies. "Seed Trade in Rural Markets" is a choice pick for any agricultural studies collection.


The World History Shelf

The Occasional Meditations Of Mary Rich, Countess Of Warwick
Raymond A. Anselment
Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies
Arizona State University
PO Box 872508, Tempe, AZ 85287-2508
www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs/publications/mrts/catalo.html
9780866984119, $48.00, www.amazon.com

A fascinating woman of her times, Mary Rich was born in Youghal, Ireland on November 11, 1624 the youngest among fifteen children. She was taught to read and write as became a woman of the aristocracy. Around 1663 she began to write a diary in which she recorded her observations and thoughts. She maintained her diary until a year before her death on April 12, 1678 at the age of 54. Annotated with extensive notations by Raymond A. Anselment, "The Occasional Meditations Of Mary Rich, Countess Of Warwick" is a seminal work of meticulous scholarship providing researchers and historians with a wealth of eye-witness information by an articulate observer of her surroundings, the people and events of her time. The primary motivation for Mary Rich to begin and keep her diary were her religious convictions. The benefit for current and future scholarship are cornucopia of little details of her life and times as embodied in her meditations. In addition to extensive historical notations, "The Occasional Meditations Of Mary Rich, Countess Of Warwick" has been enhanced with a comprehensive index making it an ideal and valued addition to academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Chronicle Of The Russian Tsars
David Warnes
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500288283, $24.95, www.amazon.com

For more than a thousand years, Russian history was an uninterrupted story of both internal and external political violence from which occasionally emerged rules of legend. In "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial Russia" by historian and author David Warnes provides a comprehensive 224-page history that draws upon original source materials (including personal letters, contemporary historical documents, and maps of major battles) to provide a detailed, chronologically organized history of the reign of each of the twenty-six tsars who held the throne of the Russian empire. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" provides succinct biographies of the tsars, time lines, genealogical information. Of special note are the more than ninety 'sidebars' and special features providing social, cultural, and technological contextual information. Ideal for students researching Russian history, "Chronicle of the Russian Tsars" is also highly recommended as informed and informative reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the tsars of Russia.


The Literary Shelf

Sophocles
Adrian Kelly
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780715637135, $24.00, www.ducknet.co.uk

Like modern authors, ancient playwrights used characters again and again as their tales continued to tell a story. "Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus" is the final play of Sophocles, as Adrian Kelly provides another Duckworth Companion to the tragedies of Ancient Greece and Rome. Offering an in-depth study of the play and its meanings for society, "Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus" is a choice pick for any literary studies collections focusing on the classical word of theatre and stories.

The Medieval British Literature Handbook
Daniel T. Kline
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9780826494092, $29.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Literature has always proved a powerful force and mirror of history. "The Medieval British Literature Handbook" looks back into history at the literature of thirteenth to sixteenth century Britain and the major works of the period which offer insight into the culture of the period. Daniel T. Kline offers scholarly insight into the literature of the period and how the roots of this era ring true into literature of the years afterwards. A complete and comprehensive study guide, "The Medieval British Literature Handbook" is a treasure trove of information, and a very highly recommended read.

Watchmen As Literature
Sara J. Van Ness
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786444755, $35.00, www.amazon.com

An acclaimed graphic novel which has recently been turned into a big budget Hollywood film, 'Watchmen' was the creation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. Originally published in 1986, it set the standard for graphic novel science fiction for originality, complexity, and artistry. Almost immediately 'Watchmen' also became the subject for serious literary analysis. The most recent of which is "Watchmen as Literature: A Critical Study of the Graphic Novel" by Sara J. Van Ness. This 219-page compendium is a serious and meticulous scholarly study that will be especially appreciated by dedicated 'Watchmen' fans as well as academia wanting to incorporate the graphic novel as a distinctive literary form in their curriculums. Enhanced with a wealth of notations and an extensive bibliography, "Watchmen as Literature: A Critical Study of the Graphic Novel" is especially recommended for academic library reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists of 'Watchmen' fans in particular.


The Civil War Shelf

Crimson Confederates
Helen P. Trimpi
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
www.utpress.org
9781572336827, $59.00, www.amazon.com

Although Harvard University is a northern institution, a very large number of its students were to side with the Confederacy against the Union in a civil war that was to see brother against brother and fathers against sons in the most divisive conflict the American nation was ever to experience. "Crimson Confederates: Harvard Men Who Fought for the South" is an impressive 408-page compendium in which academician and American Civil War scholar Helen P. Trimpi has provided succinct biographical entries fro the 357 Harvard alumni who fought for the South against the North. This number not only included men whose homes were in the southern states, but a great many whose families were settled in the northern states. Two of these Harvard men became Confederate generals: W. H. F. "Rooney" Lee (who was a son of Robert E. Lee), and John Sappington Marmaduke. Thirteen others achieved the rank of brigadiers. The entries are alphabetically arranged. Of special note are two appendices, and a 'Register of Harvard Alumni Who Served in Confederate Military Organizations'. A seminal work of painstaking and detailed scholarship, "Crimson Confederates: Harvard Men Who Fought for the South" is strongly recommended as a core addition to academic library Civil War reference collections.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Olympians, Zeus: King Of The Gods
George O'Connor
First Second Books
c/o Roaring Brook Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.roaringbrookpress.com
9781596434318, $9.99, www.amazon.com

Greek mythology has long been a fertile ground for characters employed by comic book authors and contemporary writers of fantasy novels. So much so that their personal stories as detailed by those ancient Hellenic bards has been obscured for all but academics. Now the tale of the origins of the Greek pantheon and the creation of the earth and the heavens has been re-told in the form of a superbly illustrated graphic novel by artist and storyteller George O'Connor, who accurately draws from primary sources to reveal the same kind of riveting tale that engaged the total attention of appreciative audiences some four millennia past. The first title in what promises to be a four-volume series (subsequent titles will include the background stories of Zeus' wife Hera; his brother Hades, and his daughter Athena), "Olympians, Zeus: King Of The Gods" is enthusiastically recommended reading for its entertainment value alone. The fact that the mythology is so accurate and makes it ideal for community libraries and school (including home schooling) curriculums is a bonus!


The Gaming Shelf

The Rifter
James M. G. Cannon, et al.
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571844, $11.95, Cat. # 149

Vampires, magic, and high adventure in the Palladium Books' Megaverse for gamers is the focus of this 49th issue of "The Rifter", a 96-page compendium news and useful information for the players. Included by a list of impressive contributors is additional information on and about the mystical city of Lazo; detailed notes about vampires; secrets of stage magic; a Heros Unlimited short story; and so much more. Of Special note is the news updates regarding coming attractions from Palladium Books. An absolute 'must' for all dedicated Megaverse gamers, "The Rifter" is enthusiastically recommended reading and an enduringly valued addition to gamer libraries everywhere.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Hammer Glamour
Marcus Hearn
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
www.titanbooks.com
9781848562295, $29.95, www.amazon.com

An icon of B movie productions, Britain's Hammer Studios turned out some of the best horror genre flicks the 1950s and early 1960s had to offer. Especially their vampire films which continue to be popular late night television fare. A mainstay of their enduring entertainment value was the veritable bevy of beautiful (and often scantily clad) actresses. Now Marcus Hearn has gone into the Hammer archives and assembled a 160-page compendium of photographs showcasing these women whose contributions on screen gave Hammer Studios its global popularity. Of special note is the informed and informative accompanying text providing background information on each of the featured actresses -- some of whom went on to extensive film careers beyond the Hammer era. Beautifully presented and superbly organized, "Hammer Glamour" truly lives up to its title and is a welcome and strongly endorsed addition to academic library Film History reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists of those legions of Hammer movie fans in particular.


The Relationship Shelf

Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man
Sally B. Watkins
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
9781605501420, $14.95, www.adamsmedia.com

Negativity will make everything seem sour. "Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man: Learn to Love What's Right Instead of Trying to Fix What's Wrong" is a guide to approaching life with a much more positive attitude about one's relationships. Warning that many women live in the past, fearing their current squeeze may end up like a bad ex, Sally Watkins urges women to see what's right and remember that whenever complaining about past transgressions. "Change Your Mindset, Not Your Man" is a cautionary tale about not losing a good thing for the wrong reasons.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Feminine Faith
Shmuel Schneersohn
Kehot Publication Society
770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213
9780286607492, $14.95, www.kehot.com

Like many faiths, the faith of Jewish women is ever so slightly different than that of the men's. "Feminine Faith" delves into the relationship with women and the Judaic faith and how women played a role in traditional Judaic folklore and Torah tales. Quoting plenty from the original Hebrew in its text, "Feminine Faith" is a top pick for Jewish women who want to gain a greater appreciation for the place of womankind in Judaism.

What Happens After I Die?
Rifat Sonsino & Daniel B. Syme
UAHC Press
PO Box 933364, Atlanta, GA 31193-3364
0807403563, $12.95

What is the Jewish view of the afterlife, anyway? "What Happens After I Die?: Jewish Views of Life After Death" looks into the Jewish views of the afterlife as two rabbis converge and offer a series of essays from numerous Jewish writers who offer their own insight on the after life which should prove an intriguing read for both Jewish readers and simply curious readers of other faiths. "What Happens After I Die?" is an enlightening read, well worth considering.


The Real Estate Shelf

Homebuying
Michael Lerner
Capital Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102870, $15.95, www.capital-books.com

Buying a place you're going to call a home is no fleeting decision. "Homebuying: Tough Times, First Time, Any Time" is a homebuyer's guide who want to make their multi-thousand dollar investment one that is wise and won't come back to bite them in the behind. Buying and renting, real estate agents, good neighborhoods, the slew of legal nonsense that could fill a book itself, Michael Lerner seeks to educate readers on it all. "Homebuying" is a must read before one makes that serious purchase.


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


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