Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / The Bookwatch

The Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 11 November 2012 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Science Shelf Psychology Shelf
Military Shelf Self-Help Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Technology Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Business Shelf Education Shelf Art Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Computer Shelf Photography Shelf
Biography Shelf Fashion Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Travel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Crafts Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Cookbook Shelf Political Science Shelf
Music Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Death of a Pirate
Adrian Johns
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393341805, $16.95, www.wwnorton.com

DEATH OF A PIRATE: BRITISH RADIO AND THE MAKING OF THE INFORMATION AGE comes from a leading authority on piracy and intellectual property and uses a killing in the English countryside to consider the stormy world of 1960s pirate radio. Britain's radio pirates changed media history as they worked to undermine the BBC radio monopoly and worked for independent broadcasting rights. This is both a history of the BBC's monopoly and stranglehold on broadcasting and a documentation of grassroots struggles against it: as such, DEATH OF A PIRATE will appeal to a range of holdings, from media studies history to British social history and general collections interested in freedom of speech and civil rights histories.

Paris: A Love Story
Kati Marton
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451691542, $24.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Paris: A Love Story comes from an award-winning journalist and author who offers a love letter to Paris, the loves of her life (newsman Peter Jennings and diplomat Richard Holbrooke), and her family, and offers insights based on her years in Paris where her personal life blends with history and culture. It begins with the sudden death of her husband Ambassador Richard Holbrooke in 2010, prompting her to return to Paris where they fell in love seventeen years earlier. Chapters offer insights into romance, recovery, and Parisian influence in a fine and romantic account recommended for any general lending library.


The Science Shelf

From Genes to Genomes, third edition
Jeremy W. Dale, Malcolm Von Schantz, Nick Plant
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780470683866, $149.95, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

The third updated edition of From Genes to Genomes: Concepts and Applications of DNA Technology provides a fine textbook recommended for college-level students of gene sequencing. It represents a major revision of an introductory text and students of intermediate molecular genetics, researchers and teachers will find it provides all the latest advancements in genome sequencing and transgenetics. The explanations are technical but clear, the illustrations supportive and precise, and the entire effect is perfect for any student of genetic research.

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com

Joe Nickell's THE SCIENCE OF GHOSTS: SEARCHING FOR SPIRITS OF THE DEAD (9781616145859, $18.00) will find a home in science and new age collections alike, and considers the actual evidence surrounding psychic contacts with 'the other side'. Numerous case studies offer serious analysis, expose common hoaxes, and considers the scientific aspects of ghosts and hauntings. The author is a paranormal investigator who blends PI work, forensic evidence, and folklore in a balanced assessment of the evidence for ghosts and hauntings. Arthur W. Staats' THE MARVELOUS LEARNING ANIMAL: WHAT MAKES HUMAN NATURE UNIQUE (9781616145972, $27.00) asks the question what makes us human - and considers the inherent tendencies and traits that explain and create human behavior. What stands out in our species is the ability to learn, and this analysis of how complex repertories lead to advancement unprecedented in the animal kingdom makes THE MARVELOUS LEARNING ANIMAL a fine survey of human evolution and learning.

W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com

David K. Randall's DREAMLAND: ADVENTURES IN THE STRANGE SCIENCE OF SLEEP (9780393080209, $25.95) probes the science and nature of sleep disorders - considering the fact that there are over seventy documented types of sleep disorders, and telling the author's own story of various disorders from sleepwalking to nightly performances of talking, laughing, singing, and more. DREAMLAND introduces a range of people experimenting with sleep, offering a survey of new scientific discoveries, common questions about slumber, and the effects of sleep conditions on all. Any science or health collection will find this a lively discussion. David R. Montgomery's THE ROCKS DON'T LIE: A GEOLOGIST INVESTIGATES NOAH'S FLOOD (9780393082395, $26.95) considers evidence surrounding the biblical story of Noah's Ark, using years of field experience to show links between folk stories and the latest geological evidence. His probe of Noah's Flood moves from Tibet to a creationist museum in Kentucky and considers how ancient stories should be read. The works of theologians, naturalists and others blend in a fine survey holding many surprises: among them the fact that the first theologians were in fact geologists. Science and religious collections alike will find this fine reading. Frances Ashcroft's THE SPARK OF LIFE: ELECTRICITY IN THE HUMAN BODY (9780393078039, $28.95) considers how electricity works in the human body, showing how electrical signals control our movements, thoughts, and even heart rates. Chapters offer a history of discoveries about electricity over the decades, then move to modern times and the latest experiments surrounding mind, body and electrical connections. From how nerve fibers carry electrical signals to how some toxins interfere with ion channels, this is a pick for health and science libraries alike.


The Psychology Shelf

Monkey Mind
Daniel Smith
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 12th floor
New York, NY 10020
9781439177303, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

MONKEY MIND: A MEMOIR OF ANXIETY belongs in any psychology or mental health collection and in any general lending library where self-help is of interest, and documents the author's struggles and experiences with anxiety. It follows the course of a condition that once severely limited Daniel Smith's life, ruining his relationships and threatening his sanity, and tells what it's like to live with ongoing anxiety. Humor blends with psychological insights to examine the roots of anxiety and how it can be tamed, making for a fine read for any concerned about the daily effects of anxiety.

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

THE RAVENOUS BRAIN: HOW THE NEW SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS EXPLAINS OUR INSATIABLE SEARCH FOR MEANING offers original research blended with personal insights to consider what it means to be conscious. Consciousness is a mental space dedicated to the combination of ideas and solutions: this study uses solid reproducible evidence across various disciplines and the latest brain research to explore a new theory of consciousness: one developed by evolution and based on tested facts. The result is a top recommendation for science, health and philosophy collections alike.


The Military Shelf

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

Mark Lardas's BONHOMME RICHARD VS. SERAPIS: FLAMBOROUGH HEAD 1779 (9781849087858, $18.95) documents the clash between the American Bonhomme Richard and the British HMS Serapis during the revolutionary war: a battle where two similar ships struggled and created naval heroes that many know to this day. Any military collection strong in maritime history will find this filled with color artwork, in-depth detail on ships and strategies, history and illustrations and analysis of action. Col. (Ret.) Gaillard R. Peck, Jr.'s AMERICA'S SECRET MIG SQUADRON: THE RED EAGLES OF PROJECT CONSTANT PEG (9781849089760, $25.95) tells the story of a group of brave military pioneers who establish a training program that would prepare the US Air Force for a potential Cold War battle with Soviet aircraft, and comes from an F-4 Phantom II pilot in Vietnam who helped develop the Constant Peg program that trained men to fly and maintain covertly obtained MiGs. Chapters pack in a history of the pilots, the missions, and the military concepts behind them, making this a fine survey of the little-known Red Eagles project recommended for any military holding. Steven J. Zaloga's US AMPHIBIOUS TANKS OF WORLD WAR II (9781849086363, $17.95) offers a fine survey of tanks developed to be deployed from further off-shore during battle. In Europe the US Army introduced the Duplex Drive tank based on the British design, used on D-Day and again during the Rhine crossings. The Marines developed their own versions of the deep-wading system. This review of US amphibious tanks covers design, deployment, amphibious strategies, and more, and makes for a powerful survey for any World War II collection strong in equipment analysis. Robert Forsyth works with Eddie J. Creek on ME 262 BOMBER AND RECONNAISSANCE UNITS (9781849087490, $22.95), a fine guide to the combat aircraft that first appeared in late 1944, representing a new era in aeronautical development. Nothing in the Allied arsenal of aerial fighters could compare, and the ME 262s conducted campaigns that proved an overwhelming success. This follows the creation, deployment, strategies and makeup of this unique bomber, and is a solid pick for any World War II collection. Pier Paolo Battistelli's ALBERT KESSELRING (9781849087353, $18.95) provides a fine biography of field marshal Albert Kesselring, a key figure during the Italian campaign of 1943-45. His efforts stalled superior Allied efforts for months: he was responsible for the killing of Italian civilians in German-occupied Italy and he led many campaigns in different countries. This survey marks him as one of the most notable German commanders of World War II, and provides a vivid biography recommended for any World War II collection. Duncan B. Campbell's SPARTAN WARRIOR 735-331 BC (9781849087001, $18.95) offers a fine survey of the Spartans, who achieved lasting recognition for their unique society and focus on warfare. Forbidden from any form of manual labor, Spartan warriors were trained in brutality, warfare and discipline and withstood all kinds of challenges and hardships: this describes a typical warrior's life and provides a fine history of the early Greek, Persian and Peloponnesian wars. Color photos of their relics compliment a fine history suitable for any ancient history library. Paul Eaglestone's A WORLD AFLAME (9781849086820, $17.95) recounts the period between 1918 and 1939, when conflicting politics and military tactics sparked conflicts that led to World War II. This provides wargamers with an interesting set of rules along with 'what if' options, using a 10-man squad as the core unit, and games can be played at company, battalion or brigade level and at any figure scale. Players interested in wargames for this period will find this a fine mix of rules and strategy. Michael & Gladys Green's PANTHER: GERMANY'S QUEST FOR COMBAT DOMINANCE (9781849088411, $24.95) recounts the German Panther, one of the most striking tanks of World War II, and is a top recommendation for any collection strong in World War II equipment. It considers how the Panther tank evolved, its encounters throughout the war, and how the German Amy's encounter with the Russians provided knowledge for designing the next generation of Panzers. Vintage images abound in a fine history of the Panther's evolution and influence. Ian Senior's HOME BEFORE THE LEAVES FALL: A NEW HISTORY OF THE GERMAN INVASION OF 1914 (9781849088435, $24.95) blends strategic analysis with diary entries, eyewitness stories, and interview transcripts from soldiers of the times to provide an unprecedented new history that focuses on the experiences of French and German troops in 1914. it documents strategic failures, changed invasion plans, and soldier strategy that rested on a rapid victory over the French, but in fact evolved to become a long session of defensive trench-based warfare. The result is a highly recommended, striking history. Robert Maze's THE WEBLEY SERVICE REVOLVER (9781849088039, $18.95) covers a gun introduced in 1887: a service revolver which was perfected in 1915 ad served for some sixty years. Its reliability and handling made it the favored firearm of classic British soldiers and this book provides a fine history that incorporates basic firearms design and the evolution of pistol use. A special pick for military or firearms collectors alike. Yuriy Rybin's SOVIET HURRICANE ACES OF WORLD WAR 2 (9781849087414, $22.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series and provides a fine comprehensive history of the Hurricanes that would be given to the Soviet Union by the British in late 1941. These planes saw action and proved easy to master, allowing them to form ne fighter regiments in the polar area and providing cover for other aircraft more equipped for different kinds of battle. The Hurricane was considered obsolete by the time it was supplied to the USSR, but despite this it performed admirably and made an immense difference in the war. Steve Blake's P-38 LIGHTNING ACES OF THE 82ND FIGHTER GROUP (9781849087438, $22.95) is another fine addition to the series and tells of one of the most successful USAAF fighter units of the war. It pairs detailed histories of the elite fighter pilots with discussions of their aircraft and first-hand accounts by the combat veterans themselves, adding specially commissioned original color artwork, new scale plans, and fine archival photos. The result is a top pick highly recommended for any military aircraft collection! FALLUJAH: IRAQ 2004 (9781849087711, $24.95) covers two operations - Vigilant Resolve and Phantom Fury - to take and hold the city of Fallujah, considered the most dangerous carried out by Coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is a fine pick for any Force on Force player. Wargamers will find the battle lines drawn and alive in a volume packed with scenarios and information perfect for re-enacting their Iraq battle wargames in a pick Force on Force players MUST have!


The Self-Help Shelf

The Nature of Risk
David X. Martin
KHP Books
9781475184396, $14.95, www.davidxmartin.com

THE NATURE OF RISK: AN EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND INTRODUCTION TO MANAGING RISK has no spine lettering, which will make shelving a challenge for this standard-sized paperback. It comes from an internationally recognized risk management expert who provides an easy primer on assessing risk management, and provides a light survey illustrating different approaches to risk management. Set in a forest with animals and natural attributes, this provides a gentle parable recommended for business and self-help readers alike.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Elements of Fiction Writing: Conflict and Suspense
James Scott Bell
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781599632735, $16.99, www.writersdigest.com

Elements of Fiction Writing: Conflict and Suspense teaches from the examples of successful novels and movies and offers keys to building tension and keeping readers involved in a plot. Writers will learn everything needed to spice a story, keep a plot vivid and engrossing, and come from a thriller author and writing instructor who teaches the basics of creating compelling scenes and characters and developing story lines that harness elements of conflict and suspense. No literary collection should be without this!

Shaping Text
Jan Middendrop
BIS Publishers
Het Sieraad, Postjesweg 1
1057 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.amazon.com
9789063692230, $39.00, www.bispublishers.nl

SHAPING TEXT is a key acquisition for any working with text in either electronic or print form: it gathers the works and approaches of an international team of designers and features work by Luca Barcellona, Blotto, Gray 318, Klaus Hesse and many more. Chapters cover the basics, from how we read and what fonts are eye-catching to type design, type modifications for the web, design strategies, and more. Designers, authors, publishers and any who use typography in their work receive in-depth surveys on how content is processed and how typeface selection affects readers in this highly recommended pick.

The Columbia Guide to Social Work Writing
Warren Green and Barbara Levy Simon
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231142953, $34.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

The Columbia Guide to Social Work Writing is a pick for social workers and writing collections alike, offering a unique narrowed guide written by top scholars and educators on the topic of social work writing requirements. From a history of social work writing from the 1880s to modern times to strategies for academic papers and social work journals and research endeavors alike, this is packed with keys geared to specific fields of practice and blends observations on real-world experiences with clear assessments of the nature and effectiveness of social work writing.


The Technology Shelf

Moving Data
Pelle Snickars and Patrick Vonderau, editors
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231157391, $29.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

MOVING DATA: THE IPHONE AND THE FUTURE OF MEDIA provides a fine pick analyzing the iPhone and how it's changed the nature of daily life, allowing people to personalize media as they move. Original essays consider the iPhone as a technological prototype and lifestyle gadget, offering media experts and scholars insights on the device's revolutionary fetures and how they are changing the idea of digital accessibility and use. Essays link the design of participatory media to the iPhone's features and sharing processes and consider how these processes are changing the nature of media and personal interactions alike!

Google for Seniors
Visual Steps
Visual Steps Publishing
9789059052369, $22.95, www.visualsteps.com

Of ongoing recommendation for any collection catering to seniors who want to get a handle on new technology is Google for Seniors: Get Acquainted with Free Google Applications: Google Earth, Maps, Reader, Docs, Sites, Chrome, a guide packed with large-size, clear screenshots in color, larger-size print, and easy step-by-step directions that assume no prior computer savvy on the part of seniors. From building a free website to web browsing, sharing albums and using various options available through Google, GOOGLE FOR SENIORS provides a specific set of introductions seniors will find easy to comprehend.

Integrated Microwave Front-Ends with Avionics Applications
Leo G. Maloratsky
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608072057, $159.00, www.artechhouse.com

Integrated Microwave Front-Ends with Avionics Applications refers to the components in the receiver that process the signal at the original incoming frequency. Engineers will find this a fine detailed survey of circuit integration covering component miniaturization, hybrid and monolithic integrated circuits, and much more, with chapters surveying different avionic systems and the integration of passive and active antenna models. Also included are new approaches for front-end design, all packed with illustrations and over 160 equations. Any engineering collection will find this a specific, key reference.

RFID Design Principles, second edition
Harvey Lehpamer
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608074709, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com

The second updated edition of RFID Design Principles continues to prove a highly recommended pick for any professional needing a thorough survey of RFID design basics and applications. It compares RFID with other technologies and comes from a recognized expert in radio-frequency identification, and provides technical communications reference collections with a completely revised edition packing in numerous updates and the latest new and expanded material on topics. The result is a survey highly recommended for any college-level and advanced communications library.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Top-Bar Beekeeping
Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584614, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Top-Bar Beekeeping: Organic Practices for Honeybee Health provides a key reference offering an innovative approach to top-bar beehives, a new hive being used to raise bees successfully without antibiotics or chemicals. It comes from an author with over thirty years experience raising bees naturally and outlines low-stress methods for hobbyist keepers who want to raise bees holistically. Chapters cover everything from combining hives and the pros and cons of feeding to honey varieties and handling bears. Any home and garden, home reference or nature holding will find this an invaluable alternative approach.

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

Linda Merrill, LVT, VTS (SAIM, CP), editor's SMALL ANIMAL INTERNAL MEDICINE FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND NURSES (9780813821641, $79.99) is the first detailed resource on internal medicine written for the veterinary technician and is arranged by body system, with each chapter covering clinical signs, testing, treatment options and more. Chapters are arranged to cover specific nursing subjects and offer a complete reference, including a companion website with videos, quizzes, and images and detailed explanations of internal medicine. From diagnostic tests and results to monitoring, clinical signs, nursing requirements, and treatments, this packs in important keys to understanding the routines and applications of small animal nursing and is especially recommended for veterinary technicians and students. Kathleen A. Cooney, et.al.'s VETERINARY EUTHANASIA TECHNIQUES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE (9780470959183, $59.99) provides detailed guidance on euthanasia procedures in a variety of species including dogs, cats, horses and production animals, and is based on the latest AVMA guidelines. Step-by-step descriptions of recommended methods of euthanasia provides all the details needed to help students, technicians and vets understand all the options and how euthanasia is administered. The book can be used as a manual covering step-by-step techniques or as a starting point for discussing options with clients. No vet's library should be without this manual! Vets and students will also find essential Christopher L. Norkus' VETERINARY TECHNICIAN'S MANUAL FOR SMALL ANIMAL EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE (9780813810577, $59.99), a comprehensive reference on emergency and critical are for vet technicians. From patient triage to stabilization and monitoring, this offers recommended best practices, techniques, case studies, and plenty of supportive illustration to provide a fine review of the most common emergencies experienced in hospitals and clinics. Mary Anna Thrall, et.al.'s VETERINARY HEMATOLOGY AND CLINICAL CHEMISTRY (9780813810270, $51.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide a clear reference to veterinary laboratory diagnostics, covering hematology and clinical chemistry for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and even fish. The basic procedures and principles of laboratory testing are covered in a title that includes new chapter on molecular diagnostics, extensively revised information to reflect the latest laboratory diagnosis processes, and more. It's a powerful reference packed with practical applications and should be considered a 'must' for any veterinary reference library.


The Needlecraft Shelf

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

Linda Lum DeBono's SEW MERRY AND BRIGHT (9781604681802, $24.99) packs in over twenty festive holiday patterns from a popular designer and provides a handmade holiday collection with a host of ideas, from bright fireplace stockings and table runners to pillows and more. Any needleworker interested in brightening the home for the holidays will find this packed with lovely and fun projects perfect for all kinds of festive decor, and will appreciate the attention to weaving holiday themes into all kinds of seasonal celebrations. A pick for any needleworker looking for seasonal decoration ideas! Eva A. Larkin's EASY AND FUN FREE-MOTION QUILTING (9781604681840, $26.99) provides a fine guide to quilting with one block or area at a time, showing how to create eye-catching free-motion quilting. Six different frame styles that can be stitched in any quilt-block size without resizing are provided in a fine survey that teaches how to use frame designs alone and how to outline the frame or filler with stitching. With its patterns and keys to combining elements, this is a stop recommendation for any collection strong in quilting explorations. KNITTING THE CHILL AWAY (9781604680836, $26.99) packs in nearly forty knitting patterns for the entire family and covers everything from ponchos and socks to cardigans, classic yarns, and more. The focus on warm clothing for cold weather for the entire family allows knitters to craft a wide array of sweaters, hats and more, all in an array of appealing styles for men, women and child alike.


The Business Shelf

Iconic Packaging: The Fruittella Roll
Marcel Verhaaf
BIS Publishing
Het Sieraad, Postjesweg 1
1057 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.amazon.com
9789063693039, $17.00, www.bispublishers.nl

Iconic Packaging: The Fruittella Roll tells the history of fruittella and provides the second installment in BIS's 'iconic packaging' series providing a history of the brand and the company. It shows how the fruittella packaging icon came about, how it was marketed, and provides a fine survey from an author with some 20 years' experience in packaging design, and is a fun and revealing pick for any business collection strong in marketing and packaging process or company histories.

Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpage.com

Elizabeth Christopher's International Management: Explorations Across Cultures (9780749465285, $60.00) is a college-level text exploring management opportunities in encounters across the world between national, political and social cultures. It uses a multidisciplinary approach to consider the major leadership styles that characterize individuals and communities, offering keys to negotiating a puzzling array of cultural encounters and providing students and business readers with ideas for cross-cultural management processes. From forming and managing international networks and alliances to handling new technology and global connectivity, this is a powerful pick for any global business collection! Steven Van Belleghem's The Conversation Company: Boost Your Business Through Culture, People and Social Media (9780749464738, $26.95) entreats organizations to adjust their structures to become business entities where people are the key drivers of growth, progress and company culture. Interviews and case studies of companies from Kodak to Zappos and Microsoft accompany chapters that tell companies how to define company values and image to make the most of a people-driven culture. Business collections catering to managers will find this of particular interest.

Usable Usability
Eric Reiss
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118185476, $39.99, www.wiley.com

USABLE USABILITY offers a fine key to making a project or service work for its user - and is a top pick for businesses, manufacturers, and any who would understand how to improve a product's usability appeal. From having clear goals for end results to learning what makes users happy and putting logical reasoning to work, this is packed with guidelines and ideas for creating useful products and services that match consumer needs. Businesses and any streamlining inventions, products or services will find this a 'must'.

The Rebel's Guide to Email Marketing
D.J. Waldow and Jason Falls
QUE
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789749697, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com

The Rebel's Guide to Email Marketing is a pick for any marketing collection interested in the specifics of email applications and mobile email opportunities. Chapters discuss how the arena of email users has changed, teach keys to understanding which email marketing rules are obsolete and which work, and provide notes on how to encourage opt-in email to best advantage. From technical to social marketing decision-making processes, this is a pick for computer and business holdings alike.

Getting More
Stuart Diamond
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307716903, $15.00, www.threeriverspress.com

GETTING MORE: HOW YOU CAN NEGOTIATE TO SUCCEED IN WORK AND LIFE shows how to locate and value the other party's emotions and perceptions, and provides a set of patterns key to gaining more value from negotiation processes. Understanding the underlying perceptions of others offers a key to getting what you want, and learning how to work with these perceptions and boundaries goes beyond pop psychology to enter the realm of personal and business strategy. From identifying and valuing the perceptions of others to understanding the role emotions play in a business transaction, this is packed with specific examples any negotiator will find essential to success. Business as well as personal collections need this!


The Education Shelf

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

Marcia L. Tate's "SIT & GET" WON'T GROW DENDRITES (9781412999342, $34.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide professional learning strategies that engage adult learners. Here are twenty proven techniques in over a hundred professional learning activities that encourage educator participation and provide new findings on learning styles and adult learning. Samples of professional designs and job-embedded practices accompany sections on movement, storytelling approaches, peer coaching and strategic teaching techniques in a compendium recommended for any adult education holding. Laura Greenstein's ASSESSING 21ST CENTURY SKILLS: A GUIDE TO EVALUATING MASTERY AND AUTHENTIC LEARNING (9781452218014, $39.95) covers the Common Core Standards and how teachers can measure student skills such as creativity, problem solving and technology usage. It shows how teachers can teach and assess these skills and mixes in case studies combined with the best practices of education experts, producing a key to developing thinking and living skills in student publications. From rubrics and checklists to models for developing classroom assessments, this is a top pick for any educator's library. Joan Franklin Smutny, et.al.'s DISCOVERING AND DEVELOPING TALENTS IN SPANISH-SPEAKING STUDENTS (9781412996365, $36.95) provides teachers and leaders with the skills needed to uncover a Spanish-speaking child's abilities. Strategies for not only identifying talents but adapting tools to meet learning needs and connecting with parents make this a fine survey that also includes case histories from students and teachers alike, examples of communications with parents, and more. A 'must' for any teacher or school concerned with educating Spanish-speaking students. John Robert Browne II's WALKING THE EQUITY TALK: A GUIDE FOR CULTURALLY COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES (9781412997812, $35.96) identifies a plan of action called Culturally Courageous Leadership and tells how it can help achieve equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students. From examples of what it takes to empower staff to tips on handling the politics when addressing issues of race, identity, poverty and more, this focus on equitable learning opportunities for all and common barriers to achieving them makes for an outstanding guide for any interested in the larger issues of the education process and community interactions. Teaching Matters Most: A School Leader's Guide to Improving Classroom Instruction by Thomas M. McCann, et.al. (9781452205106, $34.95) provides a three-step process that helps identify the elements of great teaching, provides tools for measuring instruction results against these elements, and offers further keys to achieving exceptional results in the classroom. Teachers will find this a fine tool for identifying classroom management techniques that will lead to success! Rekha S. Rajan's INTEGRATING THE PERFORMING ARTS IN GRADES K-5 (9781452203959, $34.95) provides a fine account linking classroom performance and aptitude to the performing arts, making a case for retaining the arts in an era of cost-cutting moves that would eliminate them. From how to connect the performing arts to all aspects of the curriculum to a host of activities that can be implemented immediately and easily in K-5 classrooms, this is packed with detailed lesson plans lined to the National Standards for Arts Education, and is a solid winner!


The Art Shelf

Into the Light: The Healing Art of Kalman Aron
Susan Beilby Magee
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953850, $50.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Into the Light: The Healing Art of Kalman Aron profiles the works of an artist who has been highly collected around the world, and comes from a Holocaust survivor who works in varied media to produce all kinds of images, from portraits and drawings of children to abstracts. This gathers his images and provides a powerful testimony to artistic survival in the face of catastrophe, and will prove an outstanding survey for any arts collection; especially collections strong in Holocaust survivor achievement.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Human Caring Science, second edition
Jean Watson
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9781449628109, $49.95, www.jblearning.com

The second updated edition of Human Caring Science: A Theory of Nursing comes from a renowned nurse theorist who here discusses the balance between science and caring that lies at the heart of a nurse's profession. Her Theory of Human caring uses Western and Eastern philosophy, science, and analysis of the lives of patients and the clinical processes of nursing, making this a fine recommendation for any college-level collection strong in nurse practitioner philosophy and applications.


The Computer Shelf

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

Kenneth S. Rubin's ESSENTIAL SCRUM: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE MOST POPULAR AGILE PROCESS (9780137043293, $44.99) provides a fine single-source reference and comes from a leading Scrum coach and trainer who illuminates the values and practices of Scrum. It uses Rubin's experience helping hundreds of organizations succeed with Scrum and provides managers and team members alike a working knowledge of Scrum and keys to applying it to common business pursuits. Any software engineering collection will find this a fine pick! Suzanne Robertson and James Robertson's third updated edition of MASTERING THE REQUIREMENTS PROCESS: GETTING REQUIREMENTS RIGHT (9780432815743, $64.99) offers up one of the best books on requirements in print, offering a detailed, industry-proven process for verifying requirements no matter what the project. From the Volere requirements process and a specification template that can be used for fine-tuning requirements specs to checklists to help identify stakeholders and users, this new edition also includes strategy guides for implementing requirements and outsourcing, the Brown Cow model for clarifying viewpoints, using story cards as requirements, and much more. Any software reference or business holding will find this a key acquisition!

Maintainable Javascript
Nicholas C. Zakas
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449327682, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

Maintainable Javascript: Writing Readable Code is a pick for any Javascript or web development collection and provides a strong collection of best practices from a tech leader at Yahoo! Chapters provide techniques to help teams function at a higher level by establishing specific code conversions, using tools to keep a team on track, using a range of utilities, and more, and offer an array of techniques for writing maintainable code that can be easily adapted. The result is a 'must' for any Javascript reference library looking to improve coding.

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

Steve Johnson's ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS6 ON DEMAND (9780789749352, $34.99) includes online workshops, over 500 key Illustrator CS6 tasks, full-color screenshots and demos, and step-by-step keys to using Illustrator CS6, from editing gradients and setting live paint bucket tool options to changing fonts, editing graphic styles, and creating merging paths with the brush tool. This collection of advanced processes proves relatively simple and straightforward using this handbook, which is a 'must' for any new to Adobe Illustrator CS6 who wants to make the most of the program. The same successful formula applies to Steve Johnson's ADOBE INDESIGN CS6 ON DEMAND (9780789749345, $34.99), a guide packed with online workshops, resources for the certified exam, over 500 inDesign CS6 common applications and issues, and more. Chapters pack in details designed for quick reference and offer a step-by-step reference packed with all the basics, moving to advanced functions that will prove easy to handle with the wealth of background lessons applied here. Steve Johnson's OSX MOUNTAIN LION ON DEMAND, 2ND EDITION (9780789749901, $34.99) provides a fine visual step-by-step format filled with color illustrations and easy directions, and teaches all the basics behind the OS X Mountain Lion user interface. From using the App Store and talking online to managing schedules, posting content to various popular networks, and using Windows along with Mountain Lion, this comes packed with color screen shots and step-by-step 'how to' directions and is a 'must'.


The Photography Shelf

Mastering the Nikon D800
Darrell Young
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538057, $39.95, www.rockynook.com

Mastering the Nikon D800 is a 'must have' reference for any owner of the new D800 camera, and explores its many features using color screen shots and photos on nearly every page. It uses a step-by-step process for setting adjustments, color and more, and provides keys to understanding just when these adjustments are ready. Chapters not only cover every button and option on the camera, they provide accompanying details on successful applications and things to watch out for. The result is a top-notch pick for any owner of the camera new to its many options.


The Biography Shelf

Hello Goodbye Hello
Craig Brown
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451683608, $26.95, www.simonandschuster.com

HELLO GOODBYE HELLO: A CIRCLE OF 101 REMARKABLE MEETINGS offers up the witty British writer's collection of strange yet true stories of encounters between the rich and famous in a fine collection of strange celebrity meetings; from George Bernard Shaw's encounter with Harpo Marx in the nude to the Duchess of Windsor's tea with Hitler at Berchtesgaden. Each of the 101 encounters is described in exactly 1001 words, offering biographical sketches that link handily together as two famous people meet, then the second person in each meeting becomes the first in the next encounter. A fun compendium of chance and unique associations makes this a winner!


The Fashion Shelf

Wear This Now
Michelle Madhok and Eileen Conlan
Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9780373892594, $16.95, www.eHarlequin.com

WEAR THIS NOW: YOUR STYLE SOLUTION FOR EVERY SEASON AND ANY OCCASION pairs four-color illustrations with step-by-step advice on how to put together hundreds of chic outfits in no time. From understanding a fashion formula for appropriate purchasing and strategic shopping routines to building a foolproof wardrobe and locating the best deals, this covers year-round fashion basics, what to wear on different occasions, and how to assemble a basic wardrobe filled with mix-and-match possibilities for any fashion statement. A fine pick for any basic collection where fashion is of interest.


The Philosophy Shelf

Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy
Mark Ralkowski, Editor
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697667, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy: Awaken the Social Assassin Within is for philosophy, modern culture and TV and film collections alike, and links the popular icon of Larry David to the realms of philosophy. Chapters use Larry David's dialogues as a source for ethical, psychological and philosophical insights, from Judaism and religious fervor to the perils of authenticity. Larry David can serve as a guide through social values, ethical changes, and philosophical conundrums: Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy documents these moments and employs astute psychological analysis for its considerations. Any college-level film and television or philosophy holding needs this collection!

The Greek Search for Wisdom
Michael K. Kellogg
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145750, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE GREEK SEARCH FOR WISDOM comes from an author educated in philosophy and law who considers our Greek intellectual heritage and provides ten examples of Greek wisdom, from the poets and dramatists to historians and philosophers. In each case he considers what each Greek philosopher has to say about the world and our place in it, arguing that Greek history and the classics make much more sense when viewed in the light of Greek philosophical perspective. It's a solid discussion for philosophy and ancient history holdings, offering strong connections between Greek perspectives and our times.


The Travel Shelf

Thailand
Suzanne Nam
Moon Publications
1700 - 4th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781598809695, $21.99, www.moon.com

Any independent traveler planning a sojourn to Thailand must have the Moon handbook as both a pre-trip planner and a take-along tote. It's packed with recommendations for accommodations, restaurants and attractions, offers itineraries for everything from the country-wide 'best' to local hot spots, and packs in some forty detailed, easily-used maps to round out the firsthand experiences of the author. The result is a 'must' for any traveling to the country!

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

Regis St. Louis's ECUADOR & THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (9781741798098, $24.99) covers everything from traditional arts to natural history and covers cloud forests, Andean peaks, and the Amazon rainforest as well as the Galapagos Islands. Sidebars of information on how to travel through the country's many regions accompany a fine survey highly recommended for any who plan on visiting and traveling through Ecuador. Another top pick is Brandon Presser, et.al.'s THAILAND'S ISLANDS & BEACHES (9781741799644, $22.99) packed with pages of information specific to Thailand's coastal areas. From eating, drinking and entertainment to accommodations from bungalows to resorts and specifics on island life, this is a 'must' for any interested in Thailand's beach opportunities. NEW ZEALAND (9781742200170, $26.99) by Charles Rawlings-Way, et.al. is also a fine guide packed with insights from five authors who share nearly a month's worth of firsthand research and experiences traveling the country. Over a hundred small maps and details on urban and rural delights alike make for an exceptional presentation. John Noble, et.al.'s MEXICO (9781742200163, $26.99) appears in its 30th anniversary edition to celebrate all things Mexican, from pre-Hispanic ruins and offbeat sightseeing opportunities to food and crafts markets, fairs, and more. It's a top take-along tote as well as a handy advance travel planner for any destination-oriented visitor.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Hanging
Wendy Hornsby
Perseverance Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745262, $15.95, www.danielpublishing.com

THE HANGING provides a fine Maggie MacGowen mystery and is a solid pick for any mystery library as it tells of filmmaker Maggie, on sabbatical from TV when she finds herself stuck in the middle of a power struggle that results in the hanging of the college president. The event indicts her and her friend in an investigation and so it falls to Maggie to discover the truth behind the event. Her search for justice involves her in the world of art, business, and art forgery alike in a fast-paced, gripping saga perfect for mystery readers.

The Ninth Step
Grant Jerkins
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425255988, $15.00, www.penguin.com

THE NINTH STEP is a thriller recommended for any crime fiction library and tells of Helen, involved in a twelve-step recovery program to make amends for a hit and run crime that killed Edgar's wife. When she finally meets Edgar to atone for her crime she falls into a lie that only deepens as she falls in love with him and faces a mysterious blackmailer who seems to know too much of the lie she is caught in. A fine mystery evolves.


The Woodworking Shelf

Turning Wood with Carbide Tools
John English
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781610350549, $21.95, www.woodworkerslibrary.com

Turning Wood with Carbide Tools: Techniques and Projects for Every Skill Level is the first in-depth guide to using carbide tools to handle woodturning projects at all levels and outlines the techniques that carbide tools offer and differ from traditional woodturning cutters and scrapers. Such tools don't need sharpening, for example, and are nearly catch-free. This book explains carbide tool technology, various grades of tungsten carbide and cutting tips and shafts, and explains the cutters. Color photos throughout make this a winning guide recommended for any woodworker's library.

The Village Carpenter
Walter Rose
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781610350518, $15.95, www.woodworkerslibrary.com

THE VILLAGE CARPENTER: THE CLASSIC MEMOIR OF THE LIFE OF A VICTORIAN CRAFTSMAN was first published in 1937 and became a classic survey of a time before power tools and mass-produced furniture. Its reprint of a personal and craftsman's memoir returns a classic about Victorian England master carpentry to the shelves of any woodworking or crafts library, providing one man's intimate portrait of his crafting world and describing the working conditions and typical tasks of a nineteenth-century woodworker.


The Crafts Shelf

The Spirit of Bead Embroidery
Heidi Kummli
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164384, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

The Spirit of Bead Embroidery offers techniques and insights into an approach to beaded embroidery and considers the symbolic meaning of animal totems, colors and gemstones in the process. Some thirteen lovely projects range from necklaces to earrings and rings, with a gallery of work by some 19 bead embroidery artists providing inspiration. Any collection strong in jewelry-making in general and beading in particular will find this an outstanding guide.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Acceptable Words
Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, editors
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802868794, $16.00, www.eerdmans.com

ACCEPTABLE WORDS: PRAYERS FOR THE WRITER provides a fine survey of prayers for different stages in a writer's work, and is a pick for any Christian collection interested in inspirations for authors. Writers receive ancient and contemporary poems and prayers that link writing to spiritual reflections, providing moving quotes perfect for spiritual thinkers. While this would seem a pick for literary holdings, its audience will be spiritual thinkers seeking reflections blending inspiration with religious insights.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Love Story
Nichole Nordeman
Worthy Publishing
134 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Brentwood, TN 37027
9781617950513, $16.99, www.worthypublishing.com

LOVE STORY: THE HAND THAT HOLDS US FROM THE GARDEN TO THE GATES provides a powerful story of faith and conviction and is a pick for any spirituality collection. It provides a collection of reflections based on the best-selling The Story and blends personal insights with modern explorations of the Bible's characters, with a focus on God's love and its evidence in daily lives. The result is a powerful survey filled with inspiration and insight: a top pick for any spirituality collection!


The Audiobook Shelf

Mortal (The Books of Mortals)
Ted Dekker, et.al.
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781619692411, $19.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

Mortal (The Books of Mortals) is the second novel in the saga: fans of the prior book Forbidden will find this audio bursting with life as it continues the story of Rom Sebastian, who discovered that every human on the planet has actually been long dead, stripped of their genetic humanity by benevolent aliens who have eliminated war, strife and hatred from the planet. Only Rom is human, having ingested blood to bring himself back to life, and he works with a secret faction of followers who have also taken the blood and are struggling to regain humanity. A powerful saga, this will appeal to any collection that already has the prior audio.


The Cookbook Shelf

You Won't Believe It's Salt Free!
Robyn Webb
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738215563, $17.99, www.dacapopress.com

YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT'S SALT-FREE! 125 HEALTHY, LOW-SODIUM AND NO-SODIUM RECIPES USING FLAVORFUL SPICE BLENDS uses spices, herb blends, and salt-free marinades to provide high-flavor dishes, packing details on these blends with recipes that pack in flavor and no salt. Nutritional values for dishes such as Lemon Pepper Turkey Burgers, Vidalia Onion Soup, and Champagne Mango Salsa are included along with quick and easy preparation instructions and meal ideas. If it's the flavor in salt that you crave, this cookbook is the item of choice and offers fine alternatives for any looking at a salt-free diet.

Quick Family Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen
9781933615998, $34.95, www.cookscountry.com

THE AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN QUICK FAMILY COOKBOOK comes from the hit TV show and offers a faster method of cooking: all recipes take 45 minutes or less. With this approach in mind, anticipate a fine gathering of some 750 recipes in a hard binder format complete with spine lettering for easy location on a shelf, and handy lay-flat binding. These are quick recipes that pack a punch in flavor and provide step-by-step photos for foolproof results. Not a good match for library lending, with its removable pages - but perfect for any home cook looking for tested fail-safe dishes!

Part of a Complete Breakfast
Tim Hollis
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813041490, $26.95, www.upf.com

Part of a Complete Breakfast: Cereal Characters of the Baby Boom Era focuses on early cereal advertising successes, and while it's likely to become a part of many a business library strong in advertising history, it is also strongly recommended for food history holdings. Chapters discuss cereal advertising characters and their origins and evolution, focusing on the industry's heyday from 1950-1979 when children's TV programming came into its own. Tom Hollis' personal collection of pop and cereal memorabilia lend to a fine survey which includes broadcast TV transitions as well. Film, business and food libraries will all find it a popular pick, appealing across genres and even into the general reading world.

India: A Culinary Journey
Prem Kishore
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781812634, $29.95, www.hippocrenebooks.com

INDIA: A CULINARY JOURNEY covers the extent of Indian fare, from street food to festivals, and provides a fine collection of recipes from all over India paired with culinary facts and history. Over 100 recipes are all adapted for the North American kitchen and provide a fine survey of India's regional dishes and how to make the most of them, from Punjabi cornmeal breads to the gravies of Mughlai cuisine. It's the blend of recipes with cultural background, myths and culinary lore that set this apart from other Indian cookbooks.


The Political Science Shelf

America's Unwritten Constitution
Akhil Reed Amar
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465025957, $29.99, www.basicbooks.com

America's Unwritten Constitution covers the basic principles, common practices and more that make up our unwritten Constitution, showing how written and unwritten Constitutions fit together and offering a focus on the little-covered 'unwritten' concept. America's unwritten Constitution fills in gaps and keeps it a living, changing document, and this book comes from an expert witness in Congressional hearings who is respected by politicians on all sides. From the Constitution's insights on the presidential election process to the future of the Constitution and possible amendments, this is a fine history that belongs in any American history or Political Science holding!


The Music Shelf

Punk Rock: An Oral History
John Robb
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604860054, $19.95, www.pmpress.org

Punk Rock: An Oral History provides interviews which many musicians who were at the forefront of the punk rock movement, from Chrissie Hynde and Siouxsie Sioux to Hernry Rollins, and offers a fine oral history of the UK punk rock movement of the 70s which will prove key to any modern music history collection. From discussions of the genre's 60s roots and influences to the cultural and fashion icons it created for a new generation, PUNK ROCK is packed with insights from the movement's originators and early influencers, and is a top recommendation for any rock music holding.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design