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The Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 3 March 2007 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Pets/Wildlife Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Computer Shelf American History Shelf Business Shelf
Self-Help Shelf International Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Architecture Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Travel Shelf Real Estate Shelf Science Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Military Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Literary Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Fiction Shelf World History Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf Political Science Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Music Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Sports Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Photography Shelf
Art Shelf Humor Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

What Are the Animals to Us?
Dave Aftandilian, Editor
University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
157233472X $45.00 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

What Are the Animals to Us?: Approaches from Science, Religion, Folklore, Literature, and Art could also have been featured in our Pets & Wildlife section but is showcased as a 'Reviewer's Choice' selection for meticulous and scholarship as well as for its special interest to New Age collections, including college-level libraries strong in science and nature. The contributors to essays here examine cultural insights gained from animals, from totems and folklore to literary and historical representations of animals. Add in a healthy dose of ethical analysis and you have a wonderful guide which promises to reach beyond its intended college-level readership and into the holdings of many a New Age literary reader and non-specialist general reader with an interest in the conceptual relationships between humans and animals.

In the Name of Heaven
Mary Jane Engh
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024544 $25.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN: 3,000 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION defines repressive actions used by authorities on their own people on religious grounds, and provides a history of ancient civilizations right up to modern times, moving around the world to cover Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. Varying methods, purposes, and objectives are contrasted in a focus perfect for any collection strong in general religious history.

Africa: In the Footsteps of the Great Explorers
Kingsley Holgate
Striuk House
80 McKenzie, Cape Town 8001, SA
1770071474 $31.95 www.amazon.com www.struik.co.za

Kingsley Holgate is a self-proclaimed 'romantic adventurer' inspired by African explorers of the past: he's traveled the African continent with his family in the past decade and here blends his travelogue with history, following the paths of early African explorers. Color photos pack chapters filled with adventure, from 'A Journey Down the Congo' to 'Chuma and Susi: Two Unsung Heroes of African Exploration'. While this could also have been featured in our History or Travel shelves, it's reviewed here as a 'Reviewer's Choice' selection for the widest possible audience: both public libraries with general lending audiences and collections strong in African history and culture will find it a riveting read, packed with color photos unusual to this subject.

Wild: An Elemental Journey
Jay Griffiths
Tarcher
c/o Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
158542403X $25.95 www.penguin.com

You might think WILD would be about wildlife, but it's not – it's a blend of true adventure and travelogue which follows the author's journeys into the world's wildest places and his encounters with the peoples who inhabit them, from the Amazon to the Arctic. It's also a personal journey as Griffiths struggles with his own depression and loss – and as such comes from a visitor who is not your typical adventure traveler, but a cultural investigator. Fascinating, dramatic, moving - and packed with insights on the changing wild places of the Earth.

To the Ends of the Earth
Jeremy Harwood
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1582974640 $35.00 www.fwpublications.com

How can maps change the world? TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: 100 MAPS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD reviews cartography's impact on world perceptions, considering how maps have influenced propaganda, borders, and history itself. From how mapping territories can lead to control and profiteering to how maps help in furthering civilization, TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH is filled with insights and geographical connections, all connected by lovely maps and color illustration throughout – perfect for general-interest public and school libraries.

Confederate States of America: What Might Have Been
Roger L. Ransom
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393329119 $15.95 www.wwnorton.com

What if the South had won the Civil War, and what would the world be like today? Many historians have considered this scenario and plenty of science fiction collections have been constructed around stories of such – but THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA uses real facts and analysis to blend historical plausibility and realistic scenarios to show how a Confederate-run America would change not only this country, but the world. Even economics are explored, along with international relationships changed by such events. An intriguing survey any collection strong in Civil War history will want: it offers more scholarship and seasoned, rational reasoning than most approaches.

Firefly Books Limited
155 East 34th Street Suite 5B, New York NY 10016
www.fireflybooks.com

The first edition of Terence Dickinson's night-viewer's guide Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe (155407147X $35.00) first appeared in 1983 and has sold over 600,000 copies, gaining numerous fans: this fourth updated edition includes all the basics on planetary positions, alignments, and conjunctions updated to reflect the current sky through 2018. Its extensive updated information includes an entire revamping of the stargazing equipment section with new recommendations and new photos. A 'must' for any avid night-time observer. Richard Sale's A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ARCTIC WILDLIFE (155407178X, $49.95) pairs gorgeous photos by Per Michelsen and Richard Sale with sections which cover dozens of species, from birds to plants and animals, and which blend a field guide to Arctic birds and mammals with a mini-travel guide to the Arctic. Notes are quite specific, from size and confusion species to diet, breeding, and geographical variation, making this the perfect specific reference for any library strong on Arctic wildlife identification and natural history. Jimie Wilkins and Robert Dunn's 300 ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE UNIVERSE (1554071755, $29.95) packs in some amazing astronomical photos usually seen in much larger titles, providing an excellent introduction to each object and specific examples accompanied by one or more large photos. From a close-up of the Great Red Spot to guides to the solar system, Milky Way and more, amateur astronomers will find this an outstanding visual and factual treat which offers the convenience of a smaller format lending to take-along totes. It completes well with larger guides intended for coffee-table display. The same format graces Greg Jennings' 500 FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISH: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE MOST POPULAR SPECIES (1554071674, $29.95). Over 500 species and varieties are covered with basic facts on size, behavior, diet, aquarium and breeding conditions accompanying a full-color, full-page facing photo. Any home or library collection strong in aquarium references – and many a fish store – will find this packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures
Roger Tory Peterson
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
0618758623 $30.00 www.hmco.com

All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures is an excellent pick for any who have long known of and used Roger Tory Peterson's birding guides, which have become leading industry references in the fine art of bird identification. A decade after his death comes a personal collection which blends color photos and line drawings with a passionate survey of the bird world, selected by the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest which ran his column 'All Things Reconsidered' during the last twelve years of his life. His adventures traveling the world are captured in a set of vivid vignettes perfect for that avid birder.


The Library DVD Shelf

Prevention Fitness Systems DVDs
GT Media
c/o Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
www.rodalestore.com

Two outstanding workout DVDs are excellent additions to any home or lending fitness library. Chris Freytag's WALK YOURSELF FIT (0766227766, $19.98) is for home use and combines stomps, power walks, side taps and dance to create a fun and challenging routine. Even more challenging is DROP IT IN 30! (0766228800, $14.98), which provides two of her cardio workouts to burn fat and calories. Together the two provide an outstanding routine for any determined to workout at home.


The Computer Shelf

Windows Vista in a Nutshell
Preston Gralla
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527071 $34.99 www.oreilly.com

Every important setting and feature in Microsoft's new operating system is covered in a guide which packs in listings for hundreds of commands, windows, menus, and other Windows Vista elements. From the new operating system's basic user interface and differences between Vista and other operating systems to tips in installation, keyboard shortcuts and more, this should be a basic reference for quite some time, offering essential keys to understanding and streamlining Vista's capabilities. Libraries will find it an increasingly valuable reference as Vista products permeate the stores and replace older systems in the next year or two.

Windows Vista Secrets
Brian Livingston & Paul Thurrott
Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ
0764577042 $39.99 www.wiley.com

Windows Vista is the latest operating system and users serious about tweaking their system will thus wish to go beyond the usual Microsoft Help guide to consult WINDOWS VISTA SECRETS, a guide to installing Vista and using some of its new features – including undocumented ones – to streamline a system. From creating movies and DVDs to new security features and system pros and cons, WINDOWS VISTA SECRETS is the item of choice for any who would get the most from their system.

Understanding DB2 9 Security
Rebecca Bond, et.al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Education
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131345907 $49.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Understanding DB2 9 Security isn't for the light programmer's library: it's an in-depth, comprehensive guide – the only one – to securing DB2 and harnessing the new features of 9, and comes from a security deployment expert and the IBM DB2 development team itself. As such, college-level holdings strong in advanced computer database and security holdings will find it a top pick, covering everything from security processes and plans to implementing design in the DB2 environment.

Cryptography for Developers
Tom St Denis
Syngress
800 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370
1597491047 $59.95 www.syngress.com

Cryptography for Developers deserves ongoing recommendation as a basic text – the only one written for software developers – probing the foundations of cryptography. Here are details covering message authentication codes, encryption models, public key cryptography, and more that discuss and provide examples of cryptographic goals and security measures. Any software developer serious about security must have this.


The American History Shelf

Ledyard
Bill Gifford
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
0151012180 $25.00 www.harcourtbooks.com

Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer tells of a celebrated American explorer who participated in some of the greatest expeditions of his times. He was not only present on Captain Cook's final voyage and helped pioneer the fruit trade, but joined Thomas Jefferson in planning for an expedition across North America – and made the journey nearly to Russia in Alaska before he was arrested as a spy. It's a wonder his story isn't better known – and LEDYARD follows all his journeys, providing a blend of history and true-life adventure to make it a fine pick for both school libraries at the high school to college level, and for general-interest public library collections.

Born in the Country
David B. Danbom
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801884594 $20.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The second updated edition of BORN IN THE COUNTRY: A HISTORY OF RURAL AMERICA remains the only general history of rural America in print, covering changes from pre-Columbian to modern times and blending both agricultural, technological and economic themes with ethnic, cultural and social analysis. This second edition expands the coverage on the late 20th and early 21st centuries and traces changes in country living: any college-level holding strong in American or rural history must have this.

Amarillo: Story of a Western Town
Paul H. Carlson
Texas Tech University Press
Box 51037, Lubbock, TX 79407-1037
0896725871 $28.95 www.ttup.ttu.edu

Amarillo, Texas is known for many things: its famous musical tributes to the state, its Texas flavor, and its regional uniqueness – yet AMARILLO: STORY OF A WESTERN TOWN represents the first book to provide a comprehensive history of the city, from its earliest explorers to its rise as a hub of Texas. Any collection strong in Texas history must have it: no study of Texas is complete without a thorough understanding of the roots and influences of Amarillo.


The Business Shelf

Leadership and Motivation
John Adair
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749447982 $25.00 www.kogan-page.co.uk

John Adair's pioneering NOT BOSSES BUT LEADERS helped change the way leadership roles are viewed in business: in LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION: THE FIFTY-FIFTY RULE AND THE EIGHT KEY PRINCIPLES OFM OTIVATING OTHERS he extends his analysis to review the foundations of leadership ability and its role in both business and personal life. Chapters tell how to create framework for such motivation by selecting the right people and creating the atmosphere that enables them to shine. From moral issues to key points in 'action centered' leadership, business readers receive a well-rounded analysis which lends particularly well to college-level classroom use.

Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadephia, PA 19147
www.kogan-page.co.uk

The relationship between top management consultancy teams and their clients is reviewed through a series of case studies from large organizations working in both the public and private sectors to analyze the best consulting practices in management in Fiona Czerniawska & Paul May's MEASURING CONSULTING IN PRACTICE (0749448180 $39.95). Each case study is used as a foundation for analysis by a leading consulting industry commentator and a business technology author and consultant, making this a hard-hitting pick recommended for any serious business library collection. Jonathan Reuvid consults and edits THE SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE: PROFITING FROM BEST PRACTICE, 2ND EDITION (0749446439, $79.95), a pick for college-level collections strong in advanced business studies. Issues relating to the ideas of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility are reviewed by leading industry pros and regulatory authorities who review various aspects of sustainability in the workplace. It's a special pick indeed with a well-rounded worldview on the topic.


Public Relations Online
Tom Kelleher
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412914175 $32.95 www.sagepublications.com

From hands-on Internet resource exercises to discussions on the social and technological influences changing the field of public relations, Public Relations Online: Lasting Concepts for Changing Media holds a wealth of easily discussions blending theory, research and practice to identify the elements of effective public relations. College-level students of public relations will find it an important guide to the online media environment, and college-level courses in both public relations and media studies will find it suitable for assignment and classroom discussion.

The Power of Principles
William J. Byron
Orbis Books
P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756783 $16.00 www.maryknoll.org

What are the ethical and spiritual principles businesses should embrace and incorporate to prevent the problems that affected Enron and others? Examples from a range of corporate scenarios narrow the ideas down to ten 'old' principles and review them with an eye to surveying how business decisions may be tempered by ethical and spiritual considerations. Business owners will find this an essential key to maintaining ethics in a blossoming business structure, and business libraries will find students of business will choose this for classroom debate and discussion.

Global Diversity
Ernest Gundling, Anita Zanchettin, Alperian Global
Nicholas Brealey International
100 City Hall Plaza #501, Boston, MA 02108
190483809X $35.00 www.nicholasbrealey.com

The fine art of mastering operations in a global environment challenges the best of leaders and managers to understand the differences both within and between countries – and that's where GLOBAL DIVERSITY: WINNING CUSTOMERS AND ENGAGING EMPLOYEES WITHIN WORLD MARKETS comes in. Years of the authors' hands-on experience contribute to a synthesis of key cultural variables in eight major markets around the world, from China and India to Russia and the UK. Each country receives in-depth analysis for its external and internal business challenges. Any college-level business student of international business and many a domestic manager will find GLOBAL DIVERSITY holds essential keys to understanding international motivation.

In Focus: Strategies for Business Writers
Myra Shulman
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
0472030744 $24.95 www.press.umich.edu

Both native and non-native English speakers will find IN FOCUS packed with important tips for more effective business writing, using real-world assignments on resumes, cover letters, memos, short reports and business plans to emphasize proper practice. The range of business issues and solutions covered here differentiates IN FOCUS from resume-oriented or language-oriented guides and makes it an important text suitable both for classroom assignment at the ESL or business English levels, or for high school to college-level library reference.

Strategic Ambiguities
Eric M. Eisenberg
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412926882 $39.95 www.sagepub.com

STRATEGIC AMBIGUITIES: ESSAYS ON COMMUNICATION, ORGANIZATION, AND IDENTITY is a collection of essays perfect for college-level courses in either linguistics or business. It details the historical development of communications theories and comes from an internationally recognized leader in the theory and applications of organization communication. Chapters consider the basics of communication perspectives within business and the community environments alike, drawing many important links between the two. An important college-level discourse perfect for holdings strong in linguistics and business.


The Self-Help Shelf

Unlock Your Creative Genius
Bernard Golden, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024560 $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Any who seek to unlock creativity either for personal or business pursuits needs Unlock Your Creative Genius. It comes from a noted psychologist whose program teaches how to probe individual creative choices and how to pursue a creative path. From analysis of different fears that hold us back to handling failure and others' expectations, this is an inspirational guide to making the most of underlying creativity.

The New Think and Grow Rich
Red Ciuba and Napoleon Hill
Morgan James Publishing
1225 Franklin Suite 32, Garden City, NY 11530-1693
097585707X $19.95 www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

For the 'next generation' in personal achievement, turn to a new version of Napoleon Hill's long-time best-selling 'Think and Grow Rich'. This is more than just a revamp with modern examples – it radically transforms the vision by adding new gender, cross-cultural and international issues to the mix, including new material to include both science and genetics, as in the Quantum reality of accelerating income and wealth. An excellent re-do of a classic financial inspirational guide, any library where Hill's been a popular patron pick must have this latest version.

You Can Be Happy No Matter What
Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315685 $12.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Key Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective isn't a new age admonition with pop phrasing – it tells how to maintain an equilibrium in a world fraught with uncertainties and setbacks, and should be required reading for any interested in mental health. Both public library lending collections and new age and health holdings will find Dr. Carlson offers much detail on how the human mind functions, addressing the 'five principles' of Thought Moods, Separate Realities, Feelings and Present Moment and explaining how to apply these ideas to everyday life: relationships, stress, and habits. A checklist further emphasizes self-help assessments.


The International Studies Shelf

Conflict Across Cultures
Michelle Lebaron & Venashri Pillay
Intercultural Press
100 City Hall Plaza #501, Boston, MA 02108
1931930228 $29.95 www.interculturalpress.com

CONFLICT ACROSS CULTURES: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF BRIDGING DIFFERENCES comes from modern conflict resolution scholars from Canada, South Africa, Japan and the U.S. who describe the latest concepts and framework for successful conflict resolution. With these new techniques in hand comes new understanding of the roots of cultural conflicts, exposed in a series of stories which come from a range of groups and locales. College-level students of international studies will find this perfect for classroom debate and study.


The Social Issues Shelf

A Bee in the Mouth
Peter Wood
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594030537 $25.95 www.encounterbooks.com

A BEE IN THE MOUTH: ANGER IN AMERICA NOW considers issues of 'social anger', or how the anger in American society has become not only excessive but glorified. College-level collections strong in social sciences in particular will find here a unique survey of evidence of the 'new anger' dominating American culture, from politics to music. Chapters analyze how this anger has manifested itself throughout society, how it affects relationships, ideals and goals, and how it differs from 'anger' of the past. An intriguing title, perfect for classroom discussion.

New Orleans After the Promises
Kent B. Germany
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820329002 $24.95 www.ugapress.org

In the 1960s and 70s New Orleans was transformed by a people who replaced poverty and prejudice with new architecture, a professional football team, and the Superdome. The city's mixed racial groups participated in a golden age of construction at time when liberalism was waning – only to face destruction with Hurricane Katrina. NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE PROMISES details the influences and success story of the last reconstruction period and draws important connections between this and the city's post-Katrina landscape. It's a 'must' for any collection strong in both racial issues in America and histories of either Louisiana or the South as a whole.

Fueling Our Fears
Brigitte L. Nacos and Oscar Torres-Reyna
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
4501 Forbes Boulevard #200, Lanham, MD 20706
0742539849 $23.95 www.rowmanlittlefield.com

FUELING OUR FEARS: STEREOTYPING, MEDIA COVERAGE, AND PUBLIC OPINION OF MUSLIM AMERICANS considers the media coverage and focus on Muslim-Americans after 9/11, considering Muslim civil rights, stories about everyday Muslim life in this country, and showing that press reports don't just foster stereotypes but can promote cultural understanding. Both positive and negative points come to light in a study perfect for students of Middle East issues, media studies, or ethnic American cultures.

Total Chaos
Jeff Chang, Editor
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
0465009093 $18.95 www.basiccivitasbooks.com

Most books on hip hop fall into the music category: not so TOTAL CHAOS: THE ART AND AESTHETICS OF HIP-HOP, compiled and edited by Jeff Chang whose contributors informatively and thoughtful consider the evolution, presence, and impact of hip-hop as a cultural expression and social commentary. From its commercial world to its cultural and artistic roots, TOTAL CHAOS offers students of sociology an excellent survey that runs the gamut from gender issues to artistic conflicts within the hiphop environment. The anthology includes interviews, first-person experience and analysis yet is lively enough for the general-interest library, as well.

Ethnic Bargaining
Erin K. Jenne
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
0801444985 $45.00 www.cornellpress.cornell.edu

ETHIC BARGAINING: THE PARADOX OF MINORITY EMPOWERMENT offers college-level students of minority politic and issues a fine survey of bargaining power and the history of minority rights issues since 1945. Chapters consider international cycles of ethnic bargaining powers, use case histories to display analysis of power-sharing strategies, and provides college-level students with a basic rationalist theory of bargaining. As a basic text for students of world-wide cultural concerns it will provoke much discussion and debate.

Global Justice
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275992977 $49.95 www.praeger.com

Anyone interested in the issues of humanitarian law in general, and war crimes prosecution in particular, will want to consider GLOBAL JUSTICE: THE POLITICS OF WAR CRIMES TRIALS, which examines underlying motivations of war crimes trials and considers the social and political forces which influence justice and decision-making processes. Students of international law, in particular, will find GLOBAL JUSTICE packed with illustrative examples and thoughtful reflections on the international legal processes with respect to war crime prosecutions and the development of an internationally sanctioned judicial system to try them.

The Humane Metropolis
Rutherford H. Platt, Editor
Lincoln Institute
c/o University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
1558495541 $27.95 www.lincolninst.edu www.umpress.usmass.edu 1-800-537-5487

Essays and case studies consider why and how urban places can be made greener for those who live there, packing in a 22-minute film on DVD to accompany text examples of how more humane metropolises are built. College-level collections strong in urban studies will find this perfect for classroom discussion, assignment, and for college-level contemporary social issues reference libraries.


The Architecture Shelf

The Modern American House
Sandy Isenstadt
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
0521770130 $85.00 www.cambridge.org

College-level students of architecture, design, and social issues will find a fine study in THE MODERN AMERICAN HOUSE, which considers how home designers worked to enhance spatial perception in middle-class houses. The idea and enactment of spaciousness has been linked to financial limitations and the evolutionary structure of domestic architectural standards as a whole: chapters consider real estate, architecture, law, and economics in a wide-ranging survey of how visual space became entwined with cultural values.


The Christian Studies Shelf

On the Move
Moises Sandoval
Orbis Books
P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756767 $16.00 www.maryknoll.org

ON THE MOVE: A HISTORY OF THE HISPANIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES was published fifteen years ago – today it still remains the foundation title telling of the Hispanic church in this country, so this reissue remains essential for any collection strong in either Hispanic studies or church history. It tells how Hispanic Catholics emerged to claim their own power and identity in the church structure, and traces the rise of Hispanic Christianity in this country as well.


The Cookbook Shelf

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Judi Kingry and Lauren Devine
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario MP4 1E2 Canada
0778801314 $19.95 www.robertroseinc.com

Four hundred recipes for modern canners and preservers are packed into a book branded with the Ball canning label for added impact: Ball made much of the home canning equipment for decades and this book packs in user-friendly recipes for novices and experienced canners, pairing a problem solver directory with tips on canning salsas, condiments, fruits, spreads and pickles. If there's only one book to obtain on the topic, the general-interest collection will find Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving the item of choice.

Mystic Seafood
Jean Kerr with Spencer Smith
Three Forks
c/o Globe Pequot Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
0762741376 $16.95 www.globepequot.com

Pair great seafood dishes with anecdotes about the industry and the history of American seafood and add a regional touch with Mystic photos and you have an appealing guide which will easily reach beyond Mystic or New England residents to any seafood fan. Chapters celebrate the history and bounty of Mystic Seaport with gourmet recipes from the region, from Smoky BBQed Bluefish to Grilled Lobster with Avocado-Lime Mayonnaise. An outstanding guide.

Sugar Solution Cookbook
Prevention Magazine Editors & Anne Fittante, MS, RD
Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594865191 $26.95 www.rodalestore.com

Over 200 recipes pack a guide which is designed to help control blood sugars through better eating – without sacrificing taste. SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK will appeal to diabetics and any who just wish to lose weight: from Curried Couscous Salad and Asian Noodle and Mushroom soup to a spicy Breakfast Fruit Crisp, SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK peppers appealing color photos throughout and is filled with fine, appealing dishes. Perfect for general public library holdings.

Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2007
Oz Clarke
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
015101180X $14.00 www.harcourtbooks.com 1-800-543-1918

Oz Clarke's a noted authority in the field and his POCKET WINE GUIDE is updated annual with the latest information: POCKET WINE GUIDE 2007 offers up an A-Z organization packing over 1,600 entries and over 7,000 wines into a handy 'best of' reference. From best years for grape-growing in regions from Africa to Australia to assessments of price and quality, here's the 'one stop shopper' place to consult an authority – in a compact take-along tote which lends to consumer consultation in a wine shop as well as library reference.

The Sonoma Diet Cookbook
Dr. Connie Guttersen, RD, Ph.D.
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
0696231859 $24.95 www.meredithbooks.com

THE SONOMA DIET COOKBOOK is a companion volume to the Sonoma Diet idea, and here's where you'll find a host of delicious recipes backing up the diet's healthy lifestyle. Meals are ready in 30 meals or less in the Sonoma Express section, with side dishes embracing healthy foods and snacks and desserts geared to the diet's plan. From Pork with Apples in Cider to Pesto Chicken and Squash, meatless meal choices and more, THE SONOMA DIET COOKBOOK includes color photo displays of finished dishes and plenty of culinary tips, making it a top recommendation for any consumer's diet cookbook collection – especially those who already have a grasp of the Sonoma Diet idea and want a cookbook backing up the concept.

Test Kitchen Favorites
America's Test Kitchen
7 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
1933615044 $34.95 www.americastestkitchen.com

Published to coincide with the January 2007 launch of the series is TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES by the editors of America's Test Kitchen, which provides some of the best tested recipes from a popular TV show. More than just another recipe collection, TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES opens each recipe with an article discussing the best attributes of each dish and how the kitchen testers overcame obstacles to produce the perfect recipe. From BBQ and meat and potatoes to company dishes and ethnic meals, TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES is far more than another cookbook, detailing the testing requirements and recipe adjustments which led to formulating the perfect dish.


The Travel Shelf

Bend to Baja
Jeff Johnson
Stellar Transmedia
1209 Pearl Street, Suite 11, Boulder, CO 80302
097234229X $29.95 www.stellartransmedia.com

BEND TO BAJA: A BIOFUEL POWERED SURFING AND CLIMBING ROAD TRIP is like no other travel/adventure guide you've read in the past. It's a new action sports book and embraces elements of both sports and adventure travel within the story of a surf-inspired road trip which makes Kerouac's classic 'On the Road' odyssey pale in comparison. Both sports libraries and general-interest lending collections should find this quite a popular read: a captivating cover is accompanied by photos and words by Jeff Johnson and a story which tells of a road trip from California to Oregon and back to Baja on biodiesel and veggie oil. Uplifting, inspirational, and just plain fun!

Vancouver in Focus
Mike Chadwick
Granville Island Publishing
c/o Greenleaf Book Group LP
4425 Mopac South, Suite 600, Austin TX 78735
1894694449 $39.95 www.GranvilleIslandPublishing.com

Modern Vancouver comes to life in a lovely gathering of black and white photos of the downtown's most striking buildings and landmarks. While VANCOUVER IN FOCUS could have been included in our 'Arts' section for college-level architectural students, it's reviewed here because no general-interest holding strong in Canadian travel should miss it. Accompanying text makes it much more than an architectural guide: tourists will relish ideas on which buildings to view in the city's downtown neighborhoods.


The Real Estate Shelf

The Complete Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Explained Simply
Jeff Haden
Atlantic Publishing Group
1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474
0910627010 $21.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Real estate terms can be quite confusion and while other references weave definitions into the mix, for a fine A-Z coverage with simpler explanations than most, choose The Complete Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Explained Simply. Subjects range from debts, escheat, recital, devisee and more specialty terms but definitions are geared to consumers, investors and others both within and outside the industry, making it a perfect pick for both specialty college-level courses in real estate and the general-interest library.


The Science Shelf

The Comprehensible Cosmos
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024242 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Professor Victor J. Stenger provides a fine survey of the status and science of physics in THE COMPREHENSIBLE COSMOS: WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICS COME FROM? Where exactly do the 'laws' revealed by math come from, and do they represent religious constraints on behavior built in by God or a governing body? These and other intriguing questions provide students of physics with challenging food for thought in a survey essential to college-level collections. Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion and debate extending the realm of scientific observation and discovery into the world of philosophical meaning.

Measurement Uncertainty: Methods & Applications
Ronald H. Dieck
ISA
Box 12277, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
1556179154 $69.00 www.isa.org

MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY: METHODS AND APPLICATIONS appears in its fourth edition to provide an entire course to engineering students: a tutorial of measurement uncertainty methods categorized and ready to go. The new uncertainty technologies in US and international standards are included here, serving as both a desk reference to practicing engineers and as a basic text for college-level students in engineering and industry. An excellent survey recommended for specialty college-level Science & Technology collections, and for supplemental curriculum classroom text assignment.

Science in Latin America: A History
Juan Jose Saldana, Editor
University of Texas Press
Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
0292712715 $45.00 www.utexas.edu/utpress

Science in Latin America isn't just about modern science: indeed the region's science has its roots in its oldest cultures, from the Mayas to the Incas – and Science in Latin America: A History traces all these connections and more. College-level students of Latin American history and culture will find here a detailed survey of scientific beliefs, traditions, and development which draws many important connections between Latin science development and social issues. Any college-level student of Latin American history and culture needs this background to thoroughly understand the nation's background.

Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street, #200, St. Paul MN 55101-3885
$26.95 Each www.voyageurpress.com

Three state-wide Voyageur press starwatch guides by Mike Lynch offers specifics few other books accomplish, come from a master stargazer instructor and juxtapose full-page color photos of regional night skies with astronomy facts, legends and lore, and star chart maps to aid the local astronomy's observations. FLORIDA STARWATCH (0760328463), CAROLINA STARWATCH (0760328455) and TEXAS STARWATCH (0760328439) each provide a fine blend of mythology, step-by-step location directions, and tips on stargazing equipment and methods. Each book will appeal to library collections of each state, which will relish the specific details unique to each region.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Firstlight
Sue Monk Kidd
Guide Post Books
16 East 34th Street, New York NY 10016
0824947061 $19.95 www.guidepostsbooks.com

Stories and essays filling FIRSTLIGHT with inspiration come from the author's early writings for Guideposts and other publications and are centered around spiritual insights and 'firsts', following her early years as a spiritual thinker. Anyone with an interest in the life and thought of Sue Monk Kidd in particular will find FIRSTLIGHT filled with both autobiographical insights and spiritual inspiration, making it a pick both for religious collections and for the general-interest public lending library.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

CHATEAU THIERRY & BELLEAU WOOD 1918: AMERICA'S BAPTISM OF FIRE ON THE MARNE (184603034X, $18.95) by David Bonk joins others in Osprey's specialized 'Campaign' series to cover the actions of a 1918 American Expeditionary Force, which helped defeat the last German offensive of World War I. Included in the recount are first-hand accounts, photos and maps – in both black and white and full color – lending to an outstanding survey for specialized, in-depth collections where World War I history is a focus. David Murphy's IRISH REGIMENTS IN THE WORLD WARS (1846030153, $17.95) joins others in the 'Elite' series focusing on military forces and techniques. This focus on Irish regiments of the two wars includes a healthy dose of Irish history and culture in addition to military history: as such it offers a smooth survey of Irish heroes and participation. Chris Bucholtz's 332ND FIGHTER GROUP – TUSKEGEE AIRMEN (1846030447, $22.95) adds to the 'Aviation Elite Units' series and covers a Tuskegee Experiment designed to prove that Afro-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft: an experiment which created one of aviation's top units. The group proved victorious, sink a German naval vessel, and was feared and respected by the Germans. Their saga comes to life, here.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, 8th Edition
Attorney Stephen Elias & Robin Leonard
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305083 $39.99 www.nolo.com

If you're behind on your bills and creditors are threatening, you can consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection – and the 8th updated edition of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will save you a fortune in attorney fees and confusion. Learn how to determine qualifications, understanding the law's protections, fill out and file forms, pay off debts and represent yourself in court: it's been completely rewritten to reflect the latest changes to federal bankruptcy law and includes all the latest facts, making this a top reference both for filers and for public library reference sections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Alphanauts
J. Brian Clarke
Edge
c/o Hades Publications Inc.
Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta T2P 217, Canada
1894063147 $14.95 www.edgewebsite.com

A small band of colonists on Genser's World, an earth-like planet of Alpha Centauri, meets up with other space-traveling species and tackles a dangerous computer intelligence as well as refugees from a ruined Earth in ALPHANAUTS, a fast-paced science fiction story of survival and new world achievement. Fans of science fiction on general and those with a special interest in new world adventures will find ALPHANAUTS a satisfying read.

Baen Publishing
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

John Ringo's GHOST (1416520872, $7.99) appears in paperback to tell of a former SEAL team member who is having troubles fitting into civilian life on a liberal college campus. His observation of a coed's kidnaping unleashes a highly trained fury which leads to an involvement in terrorism in this gripping sci fi drama perfect for fans of military fiction. Ringo's UNTO THE BREACH (1416509402, $26.00) continues the saga in a new series: again Michael's looking to kick back from intrigue, espionage and violence – but a visit with the President leads to an unexpected assignment deep into Islamic terrorist strongholds, again on a mission to thwart Armageddon. Joel Rosenberg's PALADINS II: KNIGHT MOVES (074349914X, $25.00) tells of a world ruled by the Pendragon flag, which flies over much of Europe, Asia and the New World, and of magical swords which work in service of good or evil. Add an old force in form of a witch and the undead that are infesting Europe and you have a hard-hitting fantasy packed with action. Cordwainer Smith's WE THE UNDERPEOPLE (1416520953, $15.00) is set in the future and tells of planoforming ships in which the Underpeople, humanlike beings created from animals to do human work, have no rights -–and have become more than workers. When Rod joins forces with the cat woman C'Mell, rebellion is sparked. Robert Heinlein's FARNHAM'S FREEHOLD (1416520937, $15.00) is an old classic brought to new life in a new Baen paperback edition. Hugh Farnham is a self-made man who builds a bomb shelter under his house, only to find nuclear war sends him back in time to a world with no sign of other humans. A controversial epic evolves. James P. Hogan's MISSION TO MINERVA (1416520902, $7.99) provides a fine timeslip epic in which Victor Hunt and his colleagues are investigating the strange physics of alternate universes in conjunction with Thurien's alien scientists. Add military action and you have a fast-paced adventure. A.E. Van Vogt's TRANSGALACTIC (1416520899, $15.00) tells of the aftermath of a global war which has ended civilization, leaving 'scientists' to repair and operate their old machines. A brilliant mutant recovers the lost science behind these machines, uncovering in the process the truth about humanity's decline. Margaret Ball's DISAPPEARING ACT (1416520910, $7.99) tells of a woman who borrows a rich stranger's identity – only to find the woman is supposed to be bionically enhanced with abilities and weapons she can't possess. Intrigue and action follow. Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis' ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT (1416520961, $7.99) is for avid fans of fantasy and tells of an aging king and a struggle for a throne. Elfland becomes involved in human endeavors in this thriller. All are excellent picks, especially recommended for library collections strong in science fiction and fantasy lending.

PYR
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.pyrsf.com

Joel Shepherd's CROSSOVER (1591024439, $15.00) tells of one Cassandra Kresnov, a soldier and synthetic person created by the League to fight in an interstellar war against the conservative Federation. Cassandra is way above her peers as an experimental design – but with intelligence comes human-like qualities and Cassandra deserts the League and heads out in search of a new life, finding herself battling social mores for a place in the universe. Martin Sketchley's THE LIBERTY GUN (1591024927, $15.00) represents Book 3 of the 'Structure' series and as such as a recommended pick for prior fans who will enjoy a smooth transition to his latest adventure. Delgado and Ashala are sent to a future Seriatt occupied by a three-species race and search for a way back: ideals thwarted by an arrest and the Sinz's military needs. Perfect for fans of military sci fi. All are fine picks any science fiction library will find popular.


The Literary Shelf

John Calvin and the Printed Book
Jean-Francois Gilmont
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112568 $36.95 www.tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

John Calvin and the Printed Book comes from one of the foremost experts in the field of studying John Calvin, and thus deserves a place on any serious college-level library shelf as an essential reference studying John Calvin's interactions with books and the literary world of the 16th century. Chapters use extensive archival materials and add both biographical and historical elements to the story of John Calvin. Karin Maag translates this classic from the original French.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

A Writer's Coach
Jack Hart
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0375423273 $24.95 www.pantheonbooks.com 1-800-726-0600

Author Jack Hart is a managing editor at The Oregonian and here shares his advice on how writers can get ideas, make theme outlines and add variety to their writing style. From provocative lead sentences and composition ideas to common ways writers fail, A WRITER'S COACH acts like a writer's personal editor, uses excerpts from major literary figures as examples, and teaches by example of both exemplary and inadequate writing. Any student of writing must have this guide: college-level libraries in particular will find it a popular read.


The Fiction Shelf

Twenty-Three Pages
Barbara Clark
Rosedog Books
701 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
0805999485 $37.00 www.rosedogbookstore.com

When freshman college student Carol entered a hated math teacher's class, her life would change as they debated and confronted each other over the course of some twenty-three months. A striking novel of confrontation, ideals and change makes for evocative and smooth reading and will enhance any public library fiction collection.

A Rogue's Life
Wilkie Collins
Hesperus Press
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1843911329 $15.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com 1-800-423-4525

Frank Softly is introduced to a range of professions by a father hoping he'll make a fortune – but Frank finds work a challenge and by age 25 he has many failed careers to his name. He's lost and wandering – until he meets one Alicia and her rich father. An entertaining story of personal transformation emerges in a pick especially recommended for college-level literary holdings already containing his better-known novels, who want to add depth to their treatment of Wilkie Collins.


The World History Shelf

City of Laughter
Vic Gatrell
Walker & Company
175 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0802716024 $45.00 www.walkerbooks.com

CITY OF LAUGHTER: SEX AND SATIRE IN 18TH-CENTURY LONDON considers the presence and meaning of lewd graphic prints in early 18th century London society, and comes from a little-known treasure trove of such prints long held by the British Library. These prints held satire, observational pieces, and represented a changing sexual and social climate in the country: they are key to any in-depth, college-level understanding of 18th century London. Thousands of such prints of the era explore Georgian worldviews and habits in a book highly recommended for any in-depth college-level collection.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles
Albert Jackson & David Day
Smithsonian
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0061137324 $16.95 www.harpercollins.com

If you buy antiques whether for resale or home use, you must also own or look at Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles: it's packed with over four hundred color illustrations and photos and provides hints from professional restorers and conservators on how to handle antiques, how to repair them, and how to maintain them. From repainting repaired ceramics and stripping and cleaning wooden collectibles from jewelry to furniture to cleaning textiles, this is a 'bible' of preservation for any owner, curator or dealer in antiques of all kinds – and a book many a general public lending library will also find useful.

Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com

Margaret White's COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO HOUSEKEEPING TOYS 1870-1970 (157432540X, $16.95) organizes its chapters by type of housekeeping activity – cooking, wash day, tableware, cleaning and more – and adds color photos of each item, along with values. The photos, organization and latest values make this a winner. The sixteenth edition of FLEA MARKET TRADER (1574325345, $15.95) is also a top pick for any serious collector or libraries catering to collectors: it offers an all-in-one volume packed with thousands of items with current values, from cookie jars and comic books to depression glass and flashlights. Virtually any popular flea market item is displayed in a handy take-along tote.

Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2007
Alan Greenwood & Gil Hembree
Vintage Guitar Inc.
P.O. Box 7301, Bismarck, ND 58507
1884883184 $24.95 www.vintageguitar.com

This music collector's reference represents the only volume covering all the collectible guitars of the industry, and sets industry standards when it comes to determining market values of collectible guitars. Both musicians and collectors will want to keep this guide at hand: it blends quick-find page headings and an index and dealer directory for the entire country with an examination of what makes a guitar collectible. Add black and white photos and paragraphs of maker and model history and you have a price guide which can't be beat: a must for music collectors and guitar players alike.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Walking Your Blues Away
Thom Hartmann
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771448 $12.95 www.parkstreetpress.com

It's a simple concept: our bodies usually heal rapidly from injury but our minds can suffer for years from upset. Now there's a method for combining the healing powers of the body with the mind: walking, a therapy which actives both sides of the brain to remove 'stuck' emotions. Case studies supplement the author's tips on how to use movement and mind awareness of the stress to mitigate its effects. New age and general-interest health collections alike will find this inspirational.

Unstrange Minds
Roy Richard Grinker
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
0465027636 $26.95 www.basicbooks.com

UNSTRANGE MINDS: REMAPPING THE WORLD OF AUTISM is a powerful survey of the parents of autistic children in South Africa, South Korea and India and how their societies view the disorder – and is written by an anthropologist and father of a daughter with autism. Contrary to popular belief there is no evidence for an 'autism epidemic' – just better diagnosis of the condition – and Grinker's focus on diagnosis processes, public awareness, social programs, and his own personal story blends into an unusual anthropological investigation hard to put down. Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing.

Celiac Disease
Sylvia Llewelyn Bower, Mary Kay Sharrett, Steve Plogsted
Demos Publishing
386 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
1932603255 $16.95 www.demosmedpub.com

CELIAC DISEASE: A GUIDE TO LIVING WITH GLUTEN INTOLERANCE is the only book on the topic co-authored by a nurse, dietitian and clinical pharmacist, and provides an excellent guide to living a wheat-free, gluten-free lifestyle. From symptoms and diagnosis to managing daily life and complications, Celiac Disease comes complete with recipes and nutritional ideas and also includes management tips for all ages, adult to child. An excellent health library addition; especially for collections emphasizing allergies and dietary control.

After Cancer Treatment
Julie K. Silver, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801884381 $16.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Plenty of books discuss how to handle a diagnosis of cancer and how to consider and handle treatment – but very few survey what happens next. AFTER CANCER TREATMENT: HEAL FAST, BETTER, STRONGER comes from a doctor who is a cancer rehabilitation specialist and a breast cancer survivor: her guide blends personal experience and professional insights to offer up a plan for healing. From how to recognize withdrawal signs for medications to understanding the beneficial effects of proper nutrition, AFTER CANCER TREATMENT belongs in any serious health library or collection focusing on cancer recovery.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes
Neal D. Barnard, MD
Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594865280 $25.95 www.rodalestore.com

A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes often leads to heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening complications – but it needn't be a death sentence, with Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes in hand. Dr. Barnard uses clinical research results to describe a new low-fat vegan diet which can help patients cut blood sugars and often eliminate the need for medication entirely. And it involves eating regular meals, using the body's natural insulation to alter what goes on at the cellular level. Add recipes and menus and Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs becomes an excellent key to positive change and the kinds of quick results Type 2 diabetics need.

Restoring Your Eyesight: A Taoist Approach
Doug Marsh
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
P.O. Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771502 $14.95 www.healingartspress.com

RESTORING YOUR EYESIGHT could also have been featured in our New Age section but is reviewed here for its interest to any who would overcome blurred vision. Here's a natural alternative to improving eyesight which blends Taoism with an eye doctor's exercises and insights, discussing reflexes, concentration, and re-training the eye. An intriguing approach for a long-standing problem.


The Psychology Shelf

Howard Gardner Under Fire
Jeffrey A. Schaler, Editor
Open Court Publishing
Box 300, Peru, IL 61354-0300
0812696042 $36.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

HOWARD GARDNER UNDER FIRE: THE REBEL PSYCHOLOGIST FACES HIS CRITICS is for any college-level reader in either psychology or education who already have some gasp of Gardner'' contributions in these areas. Before Gardner's FRAMES OF MIND there was little opposition to the paradigm of IQ: his works changed how intelligence was perceived and measured, and generated much criticism – here refuted.


The Political Science Shelf

Seeing the Elephant: The U.S. Role in Global Security
Hans Binnendijk and Richard L. Kugler
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1597971006 $30.00 www.potomacbooksinc.com

Fifty analysts provide important essays on aspects of the post-Cold War political environment, analyzing the U.S. role in global security, tracing changes, and providing insights perfect for college-level students of political science. Even working politicians will find SEEING THE ELEPHANT as a major work providing an important intellectual history of U.S. national security thinking since the fall of the Soviet Union: such an analysis provides a foundation work central to any thorough understanding of U.S. foreign relations today.

Leviathan on the Right
Michael D. Tanner
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
1933995009 $22.95 www.cato.org

Conservatives in the Republican Party have lots to debate these days: they've lost control of Congress and their platforms are being called into question. Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution analyzes the concept and origins of big-government conservatism and its growth over the decades, offering a critique of its foundations and policies and gathering evidence to support the convention that conservatives need to return to their small-government roots. Essential for any college-level political science discussion of modern American trends.

The National Security Legacy Of Harry S. Truman
Robert P. Watson, et.al., Editors
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112460 $24.95 www.tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

Volume 1 of this analysis combines the scholarly reflections of political leaders and others who consider Truman's national security legacy on the 50th anniversary of his Presidency. Truman was credited with bring post-WW II order: both former aides to the President and seasoned national security experts blend memories with analysis in a coverage recommended for any college-level library strong in political science and American history.

The Meaning of Marxism
Paul D'Amaro
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
1931859299 $12.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

There are plenty of philosophical and political guides to the ideals of Marx, but few which draw the connections between ideals, politics and social issues as does The Meaning of Marxism. It's a blend of explanation of philosophy and politics with links to contemporary issues, and provides a survey of just how Marxism was to transform the world. Chapters provide the perfect introduction for students from high school to college levels who are new to Marxist thinking and who wish to relate Marxism with contemporary social and political perspectives.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

American Theatres
David Naylor & Joan Dillon
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Route 372, Atglen, PA 19310
0764324918 $39.95 www.schifferbooks.com

American theatres are marvels of design and content and here to celebrate their history is AMERICAN THEATRES, a top pick for any serious college-level holding strong in film and stage history. The book profiles some forty of the finest theatres in operation around the country, covering a range of structures and styles and blending original photos by David Naylor – many published here for the first time – to contrast histories of different venues, from playhouses and opera houses to concert halls. The state-by-state listing of over 200 surviving 19th century theatres assures any serious buff will easily locate venues.

Mr. Confidential
Samuel Bernstein
Walford Press
1133 Broadway Suite 708, New York NY 10010-7903
0978767128 $22.95 www.walfordpress.com

Hollywood sex, scandal and ironies comes to life in MR. CONFIDENTIAL: THE MAN, HIS MAGAZINE & THE MOVIELAND MASSACRE THAT CHANGED HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, which tells of publisher Robert Harrison and his magazine Confidential, which changed the face of entertainment writing. From the impact of different kinds of stories and dramas to changing Hollywood personalities, MR. CONFIDENTIAL offers up an inside look into the industry that is required reading for any who would understand Hollywood's underlying influences.

The Show I'll Never Forget
Sean Manning, Editor
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306815087 $16.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

Unforgettable concert memories have been revealed in numerous sources, from magazine articles to biographies and the works of literary writers: here they're gathered under one cover to prove a powerful collection of insights from those who observed Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Rush, and more in concert. The musical genres are diverse here and range from rock to classical, but these insightful, sometimes funny, thought-provoking essays have all been written especially for THE SHOW I'LL NEVER FORGET and are vivid recollections for both general-interest public libraries and specialty music collections alike.


The Music Shelf

Start-Up At the New Met
Paul Jackson
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671472 $49.95 www.amadeuspress.com 1-800-637-2852

Music professor and critic Paul Jackson's last two books on the Metropolitan Opera were published to much acclaim, and here he expands his survey by examining the period from 1966-76 when the opera house moved from its old locale to modern housing at Lincoln Center. Any involved in opera on more than a casual level, and with Met history in particular, will relish this in-depth survey of this transitional period along with analysis of performances and legendary opera stars. A hundred photos of performers and performances lends excitement and depth to a survey any college-level collection strong in opera history will want.

How to Have Your Hit Song Published
Jay Warner
Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1423411994 $18.95 www.halleonard.com

Author Jay Warner is a Grammy award-winning music publisher and the revised, updated version of his winning How to Have Your Hit Song Published provides a chart of how to be a successful music songwriter. Charts, graphs and sample contracts are included in the extensive revision of the 1988 best-selling guide, which covers everything from performing rights societies and the latest copyright law to understanding differing types of publishing deals. Also included are specific contacts for companies ranging from music publishers and songwriters to licensing societies and record companies. Simply invaluable: no music or general-interest library should be without it!

Motown in Love: Lyrics from the Golden Era
Herb Jordan, Editor
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0375422005 $23.00 www.pantheonbooks.com 1-800-726-0600

If you're a Motown music fan you must have MOTOWN IN LOVE: it packs in under one cover all the words to all the love songs of Motown's 'golden era', from 'My Girl' and 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' to 'Bernadette' and 'Let's Get It Own'. Perfect for sing-alongs, MOTOWN IN LOVE gathers classics under one cover and makes it easy for singers to gather a group of like-minded music together. Any popular music library and many a public library will find it popular.

Guitar Man
Will Hodgkinson
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306815141 $16.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

GUITAR MAN: A SIX-STRING ODYSSEY, OR, YOU LOVE THAT GUITAR MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME comes from a 34-year-old who decides to play guitar even though he's tone deaf and has no rhythm. His quest to become a musician at a later age involves instruction from friends and guitar 'greats' alike, in the process revealing much about the music world's finest figures from PJ Harvey to the eccentric old bluesman T. Model Ford. His odyssey is more than autobiography: it charts the evolution of guitar, methods of playing, and more and takes readers along on a rollicking journey through the music world in the process. General-interest collections will love it; music libraries will find it a fine leisure reader's choice.

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen
Rob Kirkpatrick
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989380 $44.95 www.praeger.com

Other books have covered the life and works of popular musician Bruce Springsteen, but few offer the depth of analysis and critical assessment of The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen, which opens with a brief biography before it turns to the heart of the matter: all of his significant albums, in chronological order, which provide a musical analysis of themes, motifs, and underlying ideas. College-level students of popular music will appreciate the attention to detail and the insights which lend to a far greater appreciation for Bruce Springsteen's works.

Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-4794
1592236510 $29.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com

"Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts" is one of those glitzy titles that makes the perfect eye-catching, impressive gift or public library display. It's presented in a thick, oversized format but requires a British pop focus to fully appreciate – and also an affection for singles which have provided the sound tracks for memorable moments. Individual single hits are the focus here, using plenty of colorful photos, blending in an overall history of popular music, and profiling and impact of radio and TV on single hits. With its coverage of such hits, "Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts" is simply not to be missed.

Getting Into Classic Guitar
Ben Bolt
Mel Bay Publications Inc.
#4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069
0786666862 $17.95 www.melbay.com

Ben Bolt's GETTING INTO CLASSIC GUITAR pairs and book and cd combo to provide an overview of the fundamentals for those who have some basic guitar experience but want to get their feet wet in classic guitar styles. The black and white photos help illustrate technique and options in playing. Personal, professional, and academic music libraries strong in how-to references and home guitar players seeking an easy manual on classic guitar will find GETTING INTO CLASSIC GUITAR both useful, 'user friendly', and important.


The Audiobook Shelf

Skylight Confessions
Alice Hoffman
Hachette Audio
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 01020
1594836132 $29.98 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Actress Mare Winningham has appeared in over fifty film and television projects, and lends her familiar and seasoned voice and dramatic skills here to SKYLIGHT CONFESSIONS, a choice for audio fans who enjoy literary romances. Arlyn Singer believes in love and destiny – but John is anything other than what she imagines, and their marriage is fragile and rough. An excellent story of change and connections emerges.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio

Carl Hiaasen's NATURE GIRL (0739342665, $39.95) receives the smooth voice of Lee Adams, familiar from her work on the Educational TV Network, and tells of one Honey, a willful girl who is leading a telemarketer and his mistress into the Florida wilderness to teach them about civility. But Honey's plans are being thwarted by her former employer – and that man's being followed by Honey's ex-husband. A hilarious set of events evolves. Scott Turow's LIMITATIONS (0739341553, $29.95) receives Stephen Lang's Broadway acting strengths as it provides a new legal mystery revolving around George Mason, who returns to life in a new story of a dangerous rape case. Mireille Guiliano's FRENCH WOMEN FOR ALL SEASONS (073934059X, $22.00) receives the author's own vivid narration as it tells of simple secrets to enjoying wine, chocolate and other pleasures – without weight gain. These are picks general-interest libraries strong in audio for leisure listeners will want.

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

Laurel K. Hamilton's MISTRAL'S KISS (1423322290, $29.95) receives veteran Laurel Merlington's warm and passionate voice which pairs well with the story of Meredith, a princess heir to a fairy throne. She once was a private detective and is now a full-time princess – trapped in the realm and defying faerie powers for love. A fine multi-faceted thriller evolves. Robert Crais' INDIGO SLAM (1423314085, $34.95) provides an involving Elvis Cole novel which receives David Stuart's winning voice and tells of a teen who entices Elvis to search for her missing father. The case should be easy – but the father is involved in the criminal underworld and soon Elvis is in over his head in this fun, involving mystery. It deserves ongoing recommendation as a powerful leisure listen. P.T. Deutermann's SPIDER MOUNTAIN (1423306511, $39.95) receives veteran Dick Hill's smooth, seamless narrative style which perfectly captures and matches the story of an ex-cop who pursues a vicious gang through the Smoky Mountain wilderness area. His journey will take him deep into Appalachia culture to a standoff with a local matriarch known to destroy people. Jill Conner Browne's THE SWEET POTATO QUEENS' FIRST BIG-ASS NOVEL: STUFF WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO, BUT COULD HAVE, AND MAY YET (1423311205, $29.95) receives the author's own smooth narrative style as it tells of Mississippi high school classmates whose daily routines are interrupted by the arrival of a fiery red-headed newcomer in their midst. An unusual friendship evolves in this fine saga of change and fun. Fern Michaels' LETHAL JUSTICE (1597375829, $29.95) receives Laural Merlington's professional performance and tells of women of the Sisterhood who face a new challenge trying to right a wrong. Alexis has spent a year behind bars for a crime she never committed: she dreams of getting even – and comes up with an unusual way of doing so. W.E.B. Griffith's THE HUNTERS (1423323513, $42.95) also benefits from veteran Dick Hill's smooth voice as it picks up where THE HOSTAGE left off. Two murders and millions of missing dollars lead Castillo and his team to Uruguay, murder and scandal in this riveting thriller, a top recommendation for listeners of espionage fiction. Stephen Coonts' DEEP BLACK: JIHAD (1423306422, $36.95) is written by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice and narrated by J. Charles, who brings to life a gripping thriller of international terrorism and agents who try to stop them. Al Qaeda is launching a series of new attacks against the West and a new war is emerging from it in this gripping narrative. Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori's THE BOOK OF NAMES (1423330781, $34.95) enjoys Christopher Graybill's vast experience narrating audiobooks and bringing their adventures to life. Here a childhood tragedy affects the uncovering of the Book of Names – an ancient religious text offering up the names of each generation's righteous souls. All are powerful listens, recommended for both personal acquisition and public lending libraries alike.

Audio Editions
Auburn, CA 95604
www.audiopartners.com

Agatha Christie's HICKORY DICKORY DOCK (1572705647, $27.95) enjoys Hugh Fraser's warm voice as it tells of an outbreak of thefts at a student hostel, an odd series of missing or vandalized items, and eventually, murder. The usual Christie attention to details and twists and turns gives a satisfying twist to this audio. Rex Stout's THE FINAL DEDUCTION (1572705663, $27.95) receives Michael Prichard's warm recording – indeed, Prichard's narrated all the title by Stout featuring the Nero Wolfe protagonist, which lends a wonderful uniformity to this mystery revolving around a high-society kidnapping and murder. These are both especially recommended for public lending libraries strong in audio mysteries.

Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

Steve Wozniak's IWOZ (1400103282, $34.99) comes to life in an excellent audio narrated by winning audio narrator Patrick Lawlor, who spices up the 9 hours of unabridged cd action. Thirty years after Wozniak's dream of a personal computer, the world's been transformed – and his company Apple has risen to become an industry giant. IWOZ documents the sources of his inspiration and in audio provides even more impact than the written word. Dr. Daniel T. Drubin's LETTING GO OF YOUR BANANAS: HOW TO BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL BY GETTING RID OF EVERYTHING ROTTEN IN YOUR LIFE (1400103223, $19.99) enjoys the winning audio narrative voice of Stephen Hoye, who brings to life a step-by-step program consisting of twelve keys to liberating potential, telling how to live in the 'now' while creating a vision for the future. From confronting and moving beyond old fears to developing strategies for success, this is inspirational listening at its best – and both will find places in lending libraries strong in inspirational nonfiction.


The Sports Shelf

Yoga on Horseback
Nicole C. Cuomo & Marty Whittle
Alpine Publications
225 S. Madison Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537
1577790804 $15.95 www.alpinepub.com

Interest in yoga is growing nearly as fast as interest in horses: the melding of the two is logical culmination of two interests and YOGA ON HORSEBACK is a guide nearly alone in its survey of how to bring elements of balance and body awareness to the equestrian arena. The author is a yoga practitioner and owner of Saldare Therapy who has been riding with Marty Whittle for several years: YOGA ON HORSEBACK illustrates the basics of yoga exercises designed for horseback riders.

Hockey Play-By-Play
Jason Farris
Granville Island Publishing
212-1656 Duranleau, Vancouver BC V6H 3S4, Canada
0973901616 $37.95 www.granvilleislandpublishing.com

Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Robson delivered blow-by-blow NHL hockey reports over the airwaves for nearly thirty years, and HOCKEY PLAY-BY-PLAY captures these moments of fame, blending visuals such as tickets, programs, and Robson's handwritten game notes with 'you are there' surveys of hockey cities, events, and broadcasts from the 1970s to modern times. It's a keepsake hockey fans – and libraries strong in hockey books – will relish.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

A Whitetail Retrospective
Boone & Crockett Club
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
0940864568 $34.95 www.booneandcrockettclub.com

Other hunting guides offer up essays on whitetail hunting – but none offer 100 years of records keeping and memorabilia combined in the gorgeous A WHITETAIL RETROSPECTIVE, the item of choice for any avid whitetail hunter. More than another essay collection, it surveys the whitetail deer records and memorabilia involved in Boone and Crockett Club archives, using plenty of vintage charts, black and white photos and more to spice an excellent history. A 'must' for any collection which has more than a casual interest in hunting; and particularly for holdings strong in literary representations.

Jig Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon
Dave Vedder
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883916, $24.95 www.amatobooks.com

Salmon fishing is an art unto itself and something very special for those dedicated anglers in search of high adventure. "Jig Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon" by veteran angler Dave Vedder covers every aspect of how to find and catch steelhead, coho, chinook, pink an chum salmon in the coastal waters and inland rivers of North America. Of special note are the informed and informative chapters on how to make your own jigs and on fishing lead jigs in the ocean for salmon. The profusely illustrated and "user friendly" information in this 96-page instruction manual is an absolute must for anyone wanting to experience for themselves the thrill of successfully matching their skills and equipment against a wiley steelhead or feisty salmon.


The Photography Shelf

A Couple of Ways of Doing Something
Chuck Close & Bob Holman
Aperture
574 West 27th Street, New York NY 10001
1597110183 www.aperture.org

Full-page black and white close-up portrait photos of notable personalities by Chuck Close pair with poems by Bob Holman in an artistic venture which concludes with a revealing interview with the two collaborators in A Couple of Ways of Doing Something. This piece represents the best in the world of text/photo interplays: artistic, striking, and revealing, it both visually and via written word offers some starting portraits and displays the power of collaborative art. A fine pick for any serious art library holding.

Master Lighting Guide for Commercial Photographers
Robert Morrissey
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
1584281987 $34.95 www.amherstmedia.com

What skills produce top images and big sales? Lighting has a lot to do with a photo's success or failure, and the basics of commercial lighting are here revealed in a guide covering how to use and capture light. From selecting commercial equipment to creating setups and shooting using panels, grids, umbrellas and more to soften or accent lighting, Master Lighting Guide for Commercial Photographers is filled with both photo how-tos and business tips for neo-professionals. Perfect for the college-level collection strong in photography studies.

Photography in Japan 1853-1912
Terry Bennett
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
0804836337 $65.00 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Japan's change from a feudal society to a modern state is captured here in photos that cover its pivotal transitions between 1853-1912, when Commodore Perry compelled the reclusive nation to open its doors to the world. Some 400 old and vintage images from the period have been culled from museums, libraries and private holdings around the world – over half appear here for the first time – and thus no collection, even the most extensive Japan historical holding – will be duplicating by purchasing the 'must have' Photography in Japan 1853-1912. It will reach both specialty art libraries and college-level collections on Japanese history and culture alike.


The Art Shelf

Phaidon Press Inc.
180 Varick Street, 14th Floor, New York NY 10014
www.phaidon.com

If you're a regular New Yorker reader you already know the works of Jean-Jacques Sempe, but having them all together under one cover is a treat, and these new reprint collections cover the extent of his best-loved works. EVERYTHING IS COMPLICATED (0714845426, $24.95) excels in irony and pointed observations here: cartoons cover everything from tourism to unruly kids and represent the second Sempe volume published in France. His NOTHING IS SIMPLE (0714844837, $24.95) was the first book of his drawings, originally published in 1962: it offers engaging drawings, watercolors, and hilarious insights, all in black and white.

Factory Records
Matthew Robertson
Chronicle Books
85 Second Street, San Francisco CA 94105
0811856429 $35.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

FACTORY RECORDS: THE COMPLETE GRAPHIC ALBUM could have been featured in our Music Shelf area but is profiled here for its artistic visual inspection of one British music label's eye-catching covers and productions. Notes for each production outline the varying graphic design choices which made the albums notable and different, making this a fine choice not just for contemporary music libraries but for art library holdings strong in graphic arts representations.


The Humor Shelf

Try Rebooting Yourself
Scott Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
0740761900 $10.95 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Fans of the Dilbert comic strip will relish this new collection featuring black and white strips from some of the latest office antics. It will take an office worker to truly understand the organizational structures and business politics Dilbert is mocking – but there's a wide audience out there for his humor and TRY REBOOTING YOURSELF is packed with fun and ironies not to be missed. General-interest libraries and prior Dilbert fans alike will love it.


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


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