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California Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 11 November 2012 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Science Shelf Psychology Shelf
Military Shelf Self-Help Shelf Gun Shelf
Aviation Shelf Library Science Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Business Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Education Shelf
Art Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Computer Shelf
Photography Shelf Biography Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Automotive Shelf Philosophy Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Native American Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Travel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf
Crafts Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Cookbook Shelf Political Science Shelf
International Studies Shelf Sports Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Music Shelf DVD Shelf
Architecture Shelf Relationship Shelf California Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Home is a Roof Over a Pig
Aminta Arrington
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590208991, $26.95, www.overlookpress.com

HOME IS A ROOF OVER A PIG: AN AMERICAN FAMILY'S JOURNEY IN CHINA provides general lending libraries with a vivid, fun memoir of an American family that moved their young children to China in search of an adopted daughter's birthright. Three years after adopting the Chinese-born orphan Grace they moved from suburban Georgia to rural China, there to encounter the language, traditions, and culture of the country. Any interested in China's culture will find this an easy, appealing memoir with fresh new perspectives on China.

The Ultimate Survival Guide
Rich Johnson and Editors of Outdoor Life
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616284312, $39.95, www.weldonowen.com

The Ultimate Survival Guide packs in over three hundred wilderness, disaster and urban skills that will get you out alive, and covers everything from navigating with a compass to handling open oceans and a tsunami, or a mugger. Chapters focus on case histories and what people did right - and wrong - during their survival process, offering up many practical assessments better read before than after disaster strikes. With these specifics in hand, studied before they are needed, readers receive all the keys to personal safety under one cover. Packed with sidebars of detail and color photos, this is a winner!

Forgotten Civilization
Robert M. Schoch, PhD
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774973, $18.95, www.innertraditions.com

FORGOTTEN CIVILIZATION: THE ROLE OF SOLAR OUTBURSTS IN OUR PAST AND FUTURE provides new evidence of how ancient civilizations were destroyed by solar outbursts, why it might happen to our world, and what can be done. It comes from a geologist who reveals scientific evidence of an advanced civilization predating ancient Egypt and Greece, the solar catastrophe that destroyed it, and gathers works from different scientific disciplines to document how the last ice age ended suddenly in 9700 BC due to solar flares. This and other discussions document a looming threat in a powerful account backed by scientific and historical record, recommended for new age, science and history collections alike.


The Science Shelf

All Lab, No Lecture: Illustrated Guide to Home Forensic Science Experiments
Robert Bruce Thompson and Barbara Fritchman Thompson
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449334512, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

Science and forensics join in a powerful collection geared to home experiments in a DYI guide recommended for general and science holdings alike. The forensic science procedures here aren't just educational: they are procedures real forensic analysts use daily and provide keys to analyzing soil and fibers, conducting drug tests, analyzing explosives residues, detecting forgeries, and a range of other common forensic practices. Color illustrations throughout contribute to a fine guide recommended for any collection where science experiments are a key part of learning, from college-level holdings to general interest science libraries.

The Drinking Water Handbook, second edition
Frank R. Spellman and Joanne E., Drinan
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, #300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com
9781439866900, $129.95, www.amazon.com

The second updated edition of The Drinking Water Handbook explains the processes used to make water safe to drink and covers everything from evaluation of sources and treatment options to distribution methods from source to home. It also covers regulations and the latest problems with water supplies, considering pollutants and their makeup, challenges faced by drinking water providers, technological advances in water treatment, and more. College students, practitioners and any concerned with drinking water quality and management will consider this reference a solid resource.

A Framework for Geodesign
Carl Steinitz
ESRI Press
380 New York Street
Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589483330, $79.95, www.esri.com

A Framework for Geodesign: Changing Geography by Design details the procedures developed for the implementation of geodesign, which provides a design framework to leverage geographic information resulting in designs that follow natural systems. It offers discussion paired with examples on such areas as how study areas function, how they are altered and changed, and how to assess if a study area is working well. Maps, charts, and illustrations in both black and white and color accompany discussions of the applications of geographic sciences and information technologies together, and make for fine discussions of reliably predictable models suitable for any geodesign collection. It's the cutting edge of geography and information presentation, and a 'must' for college-level audiences.

Wonderful Life with the Elements
Bunpei Yorifuji
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274238, $17.95, www.nostarch.com

Wonderful Life with the Elements: The Periodic Table Personified provides a fun method of learning the elements and uses whimsical cartoon drawings to embellish on the nature of each element and its presence in our daily lives. Chapters follow the table and include serious science, but adopt a chatty, playful tone that makes it easy to understand both the elements and their nature. Any general-interest or high school science holding will find this particularly fun and accessible!

This Book is From the Future
Marie D. Jones & Larry Flaxman
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631503, $15.99, www.newpagerbooks.com

New age and science holdings alike will appreciate This Book is From the Future: A Journey Through Portals, Relativity, Worm Holes, and Other Adventures in Time Travel. It presents new research and evidence about past, present and future time travel, covering everything from time travel theories and other dimensions with time travel potential to time slips, shifts, and the possibilities of co-existing timelines. Metaphysics, science and paranormal possibilities blend in an exciting, vivid discussion perfect for science and new age collections alike.

The Big Disconnect
Giles Slade
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145958, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE BIG DISCONNECT: THE STORY OF TECHNOLOGY AND LONELINESS draws important connections between consumer technologies and the changing psyche, offering an analysis that considers how technology has changed from creating devices that soothe loneliness to creating interface structures that serve as extensions of the human psyche - and substitutes for actual companionship. This blends insights on changing consumer technologies with psychology, considering the rise of artificial and artificially-enhanced relationships and how science is driving the trend away from community. It's a powerful social and science survey recommended for consumer, psychology and science holdings alike!


The Psychology Shelf

The ACOA Trauma Syndrome
Tian Dayton, PhD
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757316449, $16.95, www.hcibooks.com

The ACOA Trauma Syndrome: The Impact of Childhood Pain on Adult Relationships is a key reader on ACOA and how its lasting trauma lives in the mind and body and shapes our neurobiology and our adult choices. It's for any who have lived with dysfunction and trauma related to addiction, abuse, prejudice or more, and it provides a solid assessment of childhood traumas and pain and how they affect adult partnerships and parenting choices, mirroring dynamics. Its chapters on how to overcome these negative experiences are invaluable, making this a top pick for any methal health library.

Facing Your Fears
Judy Reaven, PhD, et.al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598571783, $89.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Facing Your Fears: Group Therapy for Managing Anxiety in Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders provides a fine package with workbooks for parents, facilitators and children alike, and provides a ready-use program for mental health professionals working with either small groups or individual autistic children. Those working with children with high-functioning ASD and Asperger syndrome will find a guide specific to particular fears or reactions that serve as barriers to home or school interactions. The exercises involve parents in every session, represent applied research backed by 7 years of funded results, and include two clinical trials with positive outcomes. Professionals can run an entire program using the facilitator workbook, parents' workbook and children's workbook set, making this a powerful program for education and health professionals alike.


The Military Shelf

The Great Bicycle Experiment
Kay Moore
Mountain Press Publishing
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425938, $12.00, www.mountain-press.com

The Great Bicycle Experiment: The Army's Historic Black Bicycle Corps 1896-97 provides a fine true adventure story about an elite company of twenty African American soldiers who in 1897 went on a 1,900-mile trek across the country on bicycles from Fort Missoula Montana to Saint Louis, Missouri. It was an attempt to test the idea that bicycles could be employed by the
military to replace cavalry horses for some operations - and it resulted in a journey across mountains for hundreds of miles. Any fan of bicycling, cycling history or military history will find this a lively, absorbing read.

Blue Moon Over Cuba
Capt William B. Ecker USN (ret.) & Kenneth V. Jack
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781780960715, $25.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

BLUE MOON OVER CUBA: AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE DURING THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS offers a different perspective on the subject, recounting the story of the men who risked their lives to provide Kennedy with the evidence that he needed to make his decision to stand firm. It's packed with material and comes from the commanding officer of the US navy Light Photographic Squadron 62 during the Crisis, which flew numerous photo-reconnaissance missions over Cuba under enemy fire to photograph the missile launch sites and provide the world with solid proof of what was going on. The result is an entirely new perspective on the crisis and is a 'must' for any collection strong in either military topics or American history.

Boots on the Ground
Dick Camp
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760341117, $30.00, www.zenithpress.com

BOOTS ON THE GROUND: THE FIGHT TO LIBERATE AFGHANISTAN FROM AL-QAEDA AND THE TALIBAN 2001-2002 offers a close inspection of U.S. actions following 9/11, targeting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and telling of the command choices that led to the decision to combine aerial attacks with American ground forces. Initially these forces involved the CIA and U.S. Army Special Forces teams: later the CIA was ordered to engage al-Qaeda and terrorist groups around the world, and to assassinate those identified as terrorists. BOOTS ON THE GROUND comes from a military historian who details the Afghanistan campaign, and provides affine history of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Red Army's unsuccessful occupation of the country. It's a powerful pick, highly recommended for any military history collection in general and al-Qaeda history analysis in particular.

A Man and His Ship
Steven Ujifusa
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451645071, $29.99, www.simonandschuster.com

A MAN AND HIS SHIP: AMERICA'S GREATEST NAVAL ARCHITECT AND HIS QUEST TO BUILD THE S.S. UNITED STATES tells of one William Francis Gibbs, considered America's best naval architect who strove to build the finest ocean liner of his times during the 1940s and 50s. A Harvard dropout due to his family's financial ruin, Gibbs spent some forty years conceiving the dream of the ship that became the S.S. United States. This book examines the man, his dream, and how he made it a reality in a pick for military, biography and nautical collections alike.

Gentlemen Bastards
Kevin Maurer
Berkeley Caliber
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425252697, $26.95, www.penguin.com

GENTLEMEN BASTARDS: ON THE GROUND IN AFGHANISTAN WITH AMERICA'S ELITE SPECIAL FORCES provides a powerful account of the Green Berets - a corps of soldiers who made military history and who were the military's counterinsurgency experts, trained in working behind enemy lines. In Afghanistan they helped turn the Northern Alliance fighters into effective units to win the battle - but since then they've focused on offensive raids and in Afghanistan are concentrating on training Afghan security forces and rebuilding villages. Journalist Kevin Maurer traveled with such a team in Afghanistan observing their operations, documented in vivid detail in GENTLEMAN BASTARDS and highly recommended for military and general lending libraries alike.

The Invisible Wounds of War
Marguerite Guzman Bouvard
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781616145538, $18.00, www.amazon.com

The Invisible Wounds of War: Coming Home from Iraq and Afghanistan considers the extreme pressures of life in combat zones with no clear frontlines and how a typical soldier's survival mechanism kicks in, then works to his detriment at home. Such a soldier's focus on unrecognizable enemies in civilian populations and the constant threat of attacks from hidden weapon translates to a difficult evolution from soldier back to civilian. Chapters consider the roots of post-traumatic stress disorders in this population, offering a focus on the military experience of Iraq and Afghanistan and considering everything from treatment to the issue of differences between civilian and military life that lead to further complications for soldiers returning home. The result is a powerful presentation key to any military library and any general collection dealing with soldier adjustments to civilian life.


The Self-Help Shelf

You're Stronger Than You Think
Dr. Les Parrott
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414348537, $15.99, www.tyndale.com

You're Stronger Than You Think: The Power to Do What You Feel You Can't comes from a psychologist who offers keys to positive advancement, and goes beyond books that advocate positive thinking to show how changing how you think and understanding what you feel leads to positive paths in life. It includes religious reflection but also provides an in valuable message filled with keys on how to move foreword in life, and is a pick for spirituality and self-help collections alike.

Date Your Wife
Justin Buzzard
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433531354, $10.99, www.crossway.org

DATE YOUR WIFE: A HUSBAND'S GUIDE provides an easy, practical manual of some 100 ideas for how to date your wife, offering married men the opportunity to get back in touch with wooing habits long lost in marriage. From action steps to personal stories, this covers all kinds of marriages, and offers a compendium of religious insights and advice on how marriages go right. Suitable for spirituality and self-help collections alike, this is an inspiring read.

Practice Perfect
Doug Lemov, et.al.
Jossey Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118216583, $26.95, www.josseybass.com

Practice Perfect: 42 Rules for Getting Better at Getting Better offers a fine survey of the concept of 'better' and improvement, and is a pick for a range of collections, from sports to business. Here the authors engage the dream of 'better' and packs in examples from athletes, lawyers, teachers and more to consider how carefully designed practice can change the nature and results of activities across the board. Here are over forty 'how to' rules designed to improve performance in all endeavors, offering ideas that are easy and make sense - such as narrowing one's focus to what one is good at. The result is a highly recommended, top survey for any general self-help, sports or business library.


The Gun Shelf

The Ammo Encyclopedia, fourth edition
Michael Bussard
Blue Book Publications, Inc.
8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55425
1936120224, $34.95, www.bluebookinc.com

Any library strong in guns, sporting, and ballistic references will find the fourth updated edition of The Ammo Encyclopedia a key acquisition: especially as the previous edition sold out quickly. This new edition has expanded to 972 pages and holds detailed ballistic charts for most popular rimfire and centerfire cartridges, along with the ammo industry's latest cartridges. Hunters and ammo collectors will find this provides the latest facts important for making the right ammo choices for any need, and will find it a reference that lends to repeated consultation.

2012 Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices, seventh edition
Jerry Lee, Editor
Gun Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.fwmedia.com/catalog
9781440229275, $24.99, www.gundigeststore.com

The 2012 Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices appears in its seventh updated edition to pack in some 15,000 values and descriptions for rifles, pistols and shotguns from 1935 to the present, and is a solid and invaluable reference for any gun collector. Over 1,300 pages pack in keys to internet auctions, gun shows, and retail shows, listing over 15,000 firearms arranged by manufacturer, A to Z, and including hundreds of new models and updated values. The result is a top reference for any collector's library and especially for those where gun history and valuation are of interest!


The Aviation Shelf

Boeing 747 Owner's Workshop Manual
Chris Wood
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760342930, $28.00, www.zenithpress.com

BOING 747 OWNER'S MANUAL WORKSHOP COVERS all marks of 1970 onward and comes from a Boeing 747 pilot and author who covers the 747-400 version and its anatomy. From how it is flown and operated to how it stays in the air, this provides a fine history and technical manual on the plane and its design specs, covering its commercial aviation history and its constant evolution. From its various internal systems to its operating procedures, this provides a fine technical reference for any aviation collection.


The Library Science Shelf

The Embedded Librarian
David Shumaker
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike
Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874526, $49.50, www.infotoday.com

The Embedded Librarian provides library science professionals with the first collection to survey the growing practice of 'embedded librarianship' which places librarians in partnership with individuals and groups that rely on them. It considers implementations across all kinds of organizations, identifying qualities that make an embedded librarian successful and exploring how specialized collections are using the concept of an embedded librarian to further special needs and library science careers alike. Any involved in team-building efforts will find this account key to expanding the librarian role, with case history examples and templates documenting and clarifying the entire process.


The Language Studies Shelf

Homeric Greek, fourth edition
Clyde Pharr, et.al.
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141640, $34.95, www.oupress.com

HOMERIC GREEK: A BOOK FOR BEGINNERS appears in its fourth updated edition offering students an opportunity to read a Homeric poem in the original language while covering the basics of ancient Greek. This fourth revised edition expands upon the other materials, defining grammatical terms, offering charts of grammatical paradigms, providing a new reference of the Aegean region, and providing a better overall format. The result is a highly recommended 'must' for any high school or college-level study of ancient Greek.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Black Rhinos of Namibia
Rick Bass
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547055213, $25.00, www.hmhbooks.com

The Black Rhinos of Namibia: Searching for Survivors in the African Desert provides another Rick Bass wildlife adventure: this time following his search for the rare endangered black rhino on the desert of Namib in southwest Africa. The notorious black rhino is 3,000 pounds, nearly blind, and has three-foot-long horns: human intervention has saved these rhinos from extinction but they remain threatened. Bass examines the experiences of the Namib world and provides a moving, engrossing story highly recommended for any collection strong in African wildlife sagas.

Mammals of Montana
Kerry R. Foresman
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425907, $32.00, www.mountain-press.com

MAMMALS OF MONTANA pairs lovely color photos by Alexander V. Badyaev with an outstanding survey of Montana's mammals, packing in the 500 color photos with facts about the squirrel, bat, pygmy shrew, bison and much more indigenous to Montana. The natural history is peppered with important observations such as how the different species survive winter rigors, and also includes details on reintroduction efforts to save Montana species from extinction. Any collection strong in either natural history in general or Montana topics in particular will find this a lively, lovely guide.

Snake in the Grass
Larry Perez
Pineapple Press
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230-3889
9781561645138, $16.95, www.pineapplepress.com

Snake in the Grass: An Everglades Invasion identifies a plague affecting the Florida Everglades: the invasion of the nonnative Burmese python, one of the largest snakes on the planet. Over the past ten years thousands of them have made their home in the Everglades, reproducing at a fast rate. Methods of control remain unknown. How far north will they travel, and how will they affect birds and mammals in south Florida? Snake in the Grass is a powerful account of a powerful invasion in the works right now, and is a 'must' for any nature and science holding. It documents the quick progress of the problem and is a highly recommended read for lay readers, Florida residents, and any concerned about non-native species in the U.S.

Advanced Monitoring and Procedures for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
Jamie M. Burkitt Creedon and Harold Davis, Editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780813813370, $129.99, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Advanced Monitoring and Procedures for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care offers a comprehensive reference key to vets and veterinary technicians involved in emergency and critical care, and comes from a team of veterinarians who provide step-by-step protocols for performing advanced emergency and critical care procedures. It's organized by body system and offers general topics and referenced tools for improving care, offering articles on everything from monitoring and resuscitation methods to cauterization, dialysis management, medical charting, evaluations and much more. Charts and diagrams accompany an essential compendium of key advanced monitoring and procedures in a reference that should be in any vet's office and offered to any veterinary student or technician.

Bird Watcher's Bible
Jonathan Alderfer, Editor
National Geographic Books
c/o National Geographic Society
1145 - 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036-4688
9781426209642, $40.00, www.ngs.org

Bird Watcher's Bible: A Complete Treasury is a general reference for all levels of bird-watching interest and provides lovely photos and illustrations throughout to accompany facts, science, history, folklore and fun bird ideas. From insights on habitats and species to migration, building birdhouses, how birds have been represented in mythology, and more, this provides a satisfying pairing of art and nature for a general audience and will prove the perfect pick for collections looking to appeal to bird fans who aren't necessarily avid semi-professional spotters.

Squirrels of the World
Richard W. Thorington, Jr., et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421404691, $75.00, www.press.jhu.edu

SQUIRRELS OF THE WORLD comes from a group of scientists with years of collective experience studying squirrels and represents the first detailed examination of nearly three hundred species of squirrels around the world. From tree and flying squirrels to prairie dogs and chipmunks, this offers in-depth descriptions of habits, habitats and characteristics, discusses their natural history, and provides lovely color photos of most common and unusual squirrels. Maps show species distributions, while extensive references provide depth for further research, making this a 'must' for any serious natural history holding.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Improvsewing
Nicole Blum & Debra Immergut
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427401, $19.95, www.storey.com

Improvsewing: A Freeform Approach to Creative Techniques covers dresses, scarves, skirts, pillows, and other personal garments and home decor accessories and is a fine pick to creating a customized wardrobe. Creativity is emphasized in chapters that tell how to create project folders, how to use applique and fusion, and much more. These little projects are designed to illustrate embellishments and alternative decoration options, and create a fine idea book for any needleworker seeking creative inspiration.

Precut Bonanza!
Kimberly Einmo
American Quilters Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600261, $21.95, www.AmericanQuilter.com

Precut Bonanza! 200 Pieced Blocks from Cut Strips & Shapes offers a fine survey that includes instructions for three sampler quilts that show off precut strips and shapes. It teaches her method of using simple units to create more complex units and blocks using precuts from a stash, and it packs in a range of color blocks displaying these units and their larger quilt results. Any quilter's collection will find this a specific tool for using pieced blocks more effectively.

Cast On, Bind Off
Cap Sease
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604680850, $27.99, www.shopmartingale.com

CAST ON, BIND OFF comes in a hardcover-with-lay-flat binding and packs in a fine reference to over a hundred ways to cast on and more than 80 ways to bind off. Each technique is presented with step-by-step written instructions and illustrations and is packed with details and close-up photos of the finished edge. Discussions of the pros and cons of each method, when to use it and when not, and how to use specialty cast ons and bind offs for colorwork and more make this a highly recommended pick for any needlework reference collection - and a choice any knitter must have.

Totally Simple Crochet
Tove Fevang
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road
North Pomfret, VT 05033
9781570764745, $21.95, www.trafalgarbooks.com

Over thirty crochet projects perfect for gift-giving include shawls, scarves, afghans, placemats and more and pair step-by-step photos with instructions for a range of crochet tips for beginners and experienced crocheters alike. This book will appeal to relative beginners who know some crochet stitches but want to expand their skills, and offers a fine collection of polished and easy projects designed to make the most of these skills. Any who want some easy project ideas for home or clothing will find this a winner!


The Literary Studies Shelf

Phantoms on the Bookshelves
Jacques Bonnet
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590207598, $17.95, www.overlookpress.com

PHANTOMS ON THE BOOKSHELVES provides a lovely read and is written by a French art historian who considers the art of living with books and literary collections. It operates as part memoir, exploring how the author collected, organized and read all forty thousand diverse books in his personal collection from world history to literature, and it discusses books of all genres and their collection and enjoyment. Personal insight and anecdotes blend with book collecting lore to make for a fine survey!


The Business Shelf

The Transforming Leader
Carol S. Pearson, Editor
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609941208, $39.95, www.bkconnection.com

The Transforming Leader: New Approaches to Leadership for the 21st Century provides a blend of psychology, sociology, business theory and neuroscience to explore how leaders can achieve transformational results, and provides a basic overview of the concept of transformational leadership. Chapters consider its history, compare its processes to traditional leadership approaches, and analyze how it is evolving in this survey of new leadership basics that pairs real-world case history examples with insights on the transformative process. Any business holding appealing to entrepreneurs and managers will find this a fine addition.

Implementing Strategic Change
Tom Bevington and Danny Samson
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749465544, $55.00, www.koganpage.com

Implementing Strategic Change: Managing Processes and Interfaces to Develop a Highly Productive Organization offers a key to understanding conflict in business change, focusing on interfacing activities that make up some 80 percent of many employee workloads. Change implementation uses a deeper process kind of knowledge and can develop a different perspective on managing and improving these activities, and this book is dedicated to fostering change needs, creating successful paths, and developing change principles in an organizational structure. Any business collection should have this guide!

Cloudonomics
Joe Weinman
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118229965, $60.00, www.wiley.com

CLOUDONOMICS: THE BUSINESS VALUE OF CLOUD COMPUTING is written by a cloud computing leader who applies business concepts and economics to the cloud, offering insights to business executives and IT managers in all aspects of the industry. From behavioral economics and statistics to system dynamics, Joe Weinman applies theory to the analysis of on-demand service businesses such as coffee shops, hotels and more, explaining Cloud economics through case histories and examples. Chapters also discuss when and when to not use the cloud, and how to consider the economics and psychology of cloud adaptation. A 'must' for any interested in the cloud's application to business pursuits.

Is Your Company Ready for Cloud?
Pamela K. Isom and Kerrie Holley
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132599849, $29.99, www.ibmpressbooks.com

Is Your Company Ready for Cloud is a pick for business and computer collections alike, and offers keys to understanding cloud adoption and deployment processes. It's the first complete guide to cloud decision making for senior executives in either technology or non-technology roles, and pairs business case histories with keys to understanding the cloud and when it makes sense or not. From assessing the business value of adopting a cloud strategy to selecting components of a cloud portfolio, this is packed with specifics essential to any decision-making process about cloud adaptation or applications.

Expanding the Pie
Susan Rae Ross
Kumarian Press
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781565494664, $24.95 www.wkpbooks.com

EXPANDING THE PIE: FOSTERING EFFECTIVE NON-PROFIT AND CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS supports managers in designing, implementing and rating partnerships between nonprofits and businesses, and offers a close survey of three types of such partnerships and their pros and cons. Nearly fifty partnership cases identify factors that made them successful and offers lessons applicable to future partnership ventures, providing key tools to help managers forge their own successful partnership structures. A 'must' for any business holding.

I'd Rather Be in Charge
Charlotte Beers
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9781593156824, $25.99, www.vanguardpressbooks.com

I'D RATHER BE IN CHARGE: A LEGENDARY BUSINESS LEADER'S ROADMAP FOR ACHIEVING PRIDE, POWER, AND JOY AT WORK comes from the first female to head two giant multinational advertising agencies, building some of the most notable name brands in the world, and here provide a blend of autobiography and business survey charting women's challenges and leadership issues. It charts her experiences in the business world and lessons she's learned from Martha Stewart and other successful peers, and also follows her students' successful changes as she travels around the U.S. and Europe educating women on how to recognize and capitalize upon their strengths. The result is a powerful business guide for women who would advance in a male-dominated business environment: a pick for women's and business holdings alike.

Rock Your Business
David Fishof
BenBella Books Inc.
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781936661459, $14.95, www.benbellabooks.com

ROCK YOUR BUSINESS: WHAT YOU AND YOUR COMPANY CAN LEARN FROM THE BUSINESS OF ROCK AND ROLL helps entrepreneurs in all businesses and comes from a producer of music tours and a promoter of some of the top acts and athletes in the world. He's also the creator of the Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp and here applies basics from all his endeavors as they apply across the board to other business pursuits. Chapters cover everything from evaluating business partnerships to pitching a sale and come with stories from his 25 years in the music business. Any business collection will benefit from his insights.

In the Shadow of the Dragon
Winter Nie, William Dowell and Abraham Lu
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814431702, $27.95, www.amacombooks.org

In the Shadow of the Dragon: The Global Expansion of Chinese Companies comes from an international business scholar and a reporter who offer insights into how China's rise to international market dominance beyond its initial low-cost manufacturing phase will affect American and Western business interests. It uses research combined with firsthand interviews to examine several young Chinese companies just beginning to create a presence outside China, considering their different evolutionary processes and potential for global impact. Any business collection strong in surveys about Chinese business interests will find this a powerful acquisition.

Freedom Manifesto
Steve Forbes and Elizabeth Ames
Crown Business
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307951571, $26.00, www.crownbusiness.com

FREEDOM MANIFESTO: WHY FREE MARKETS ARE MORAL AND BIG GOVERNMENT ISN'T comes from the chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media who works with co-author Elizabeth Ames to consider the debate over free markets and government involvement. Chapters use a range of historical perspectives and analyzes the moral differences between freedom and Big Government, offering readers contrasts and insights between images of a creative innovation economy versus one stagnated and overly rigid. The result considers issues of business, government involvement, morality and democratic principles alike, and is a 'must' for business and American political debates alike.

Presentation Patterns
Neal Ford, et.al.
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321820808, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Presentation Patterns: Techniques for Crafting Better Presentations is for any business interested in improving their presentation process and provides the first book on the subject to categorize and organize the patterns needed to communicate effectively with various tools, from PowerPoint to live demos. Patterns are like recipes: techniques that are common to master presenters. This book's patterns allow business readers to construct their own recipes for business meetings, technical demos, keynotes and more, and introduces each pattern with a definition, explanation of motivation, and more. Plan any kind of talk given the successful strategies here, in a top pick for any business collection.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Electric Dreamland
Lauren Rabinovitz
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231156615, $27.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

ELECTRIC DREAMLAND: AMUSEMENT PARKS, MOVIES AND AMERICAN MODERNITY provides a fine college-level analysis of amusement parks and how their presence helped temper social change and cultural conflicts, and is a fine pick for any sociology collection. It offers illustrations from private collections, accounts from archives, and considers the rise of American parks from 1896 to 1918. The combination of historical and social review makes for a fine analysis of the twin attractions of amusement parks and motion pictures. An excellent pick for any collection strong in entertainment and social analysis.

The Location Sound Bible
Ric Viers
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931200, $24.95, www.mwp.com

The Location Sound Bible: How to Record Professional Dialog for Film and TV is a solid reference for any film and video collection and explains how to achieve Hollywood-quality sound to make a production stand out. From audio basics and microphone selection to recorder options, understanding signal flow basics, building a sound package and handling location set challenges, this packs chapters with clear insights on getting the most from a sound package. A 'must' reference for any film collection.

2013 Movie Guide
Leonard Maltin
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452298545, $22.00, www.penguin.com

Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide has become an annually-updated best-selling guide for a reason: the 2013 edition hold over 16,000 entries, including over three hundred new ones and over 13,000 DVD entries. Each entry pairs a plot synopsis with at-a-glance details on major actors and cast, codes for video and DVD availability, and billing orders, subtitles, and other special notes. The result is a fine compendium of detail highly recommended for general lending libraries and film collections alike, packed with at-a-glance detail and quick references for any movie-goer or DVD buyer.

The Ethics of Reality TV
Wendy Wyatt and Kristie Bunton, Editors
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781441189033, $29.95, www.continuumbooks.com

The Ethics of Reality TV: A Philosophical Examination discusses the ethical component of reality television and offers chapters considering issues ranging from deception and privacy breaches to democracy. Leading scholars in media ethics provide articles that consider how reality TV harms and benefits society alike, making for a powerful collection as suitable for media and television collections as for philosophy holdings.


The Education Shelf

Creating Culturally Considerate Schools
Kim L. Anderson and Bonnie M. Davis
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781412996242, $29.71, www.corwin.com

A psychotherapist and an educator get together to consider what kinds of instructors are most effective in teaching diverse student populations - and provide an original model of their results for others who would become more effective educators. Chapters outline specific techniques for creating a more positive school environment, offering case studies, vignettes and worksheets addressing common issues, conflict resolution, better communication processes, and more. It's not specific to content or population, and will be warmly received by any education collection looking for better approaches to cultural and social integration in the school.

Assessing Spanish/English Bilingual Preschoolers
Sandra Barrueco, et.al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572193, $39.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Assessing Spanish/English Bilingual Preschoolers offers a narrowed focus on the challenges of bilingual early education and is a 'must' for any education collection concerned about linguistically appropriate evaluations for Spanish English bilingual preschoolers. Chapters provide nearly forty developmental assessments in Spanish and English, discuss the basics of scoring, standardization and reliability, consider the relevant studies that used the measure, and more. The result is a fine key to early childhood evaluations in a strong pick for any bilingual Spanish/English collection.

International Practices in Special Education
Margaret A. Winzer and Kas Mazurek, Editors
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563685095, $85.00, www.gupress.galludet.edu

International Practices in Special Education: Debates and Challenges combines two disciplines for college-level audiences: comparative international studies and special education, and considers how various countries handle special education needs. Contributors consider the changing perception and objectives of special education, analyzing social and educational trends and examining everything from inclusive reform movements in Canada to conflicts regarding educational welfare in South Korea. This book's all-embracing international focus places it in a category by itself in special education collections, highly recommended for international and special education collections alike.

Show Me a Story
Emily K. Neuburger
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429887, $16.95, www.storey.com

SHOW ME A STORY comes from a teacher who pairs some forty craft projects and activities with keys to imaginative play, and is a pick for any parent or educator who would wean their child from TV and digital attractions. Storytelling helps kids foster creativity and develop language and listening skills: chapters show how to build storytelling skills in the young, covering everything from visual prompts for the young to journaling exercises for the older child. A 'must' for any who would encourage kids to create stories.


The Art Shelf

Martin Kline: Romantic Nature
Barbara Rose, et.al.
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953485, $50.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Martin Kline: Romantic Nature accompanies a survey exhibition of Martin Kline's work from 1993 to 2011 and provides a satisfying catalog of the exhibition that gathers images from some seventy works outlining Kline's techniques and art. It's a fine monograph packed with an array of techniques and approaches, and is a 'must' for any modern arts holding.

Long Island Modernism 1930-1980
Caroline Rob Zaleski
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393733150, $80.00, www.wwnorton.com

Long Island Modernism 1930-1980 offers a rare history of the modernist art movement on Long Island from 1930-1980, profiling the works of over twenty-five notable architects and considering not only their artistic flair and production, but their relationships with clients. Some three hundred archival photos compliments the history of the Long Island Modernist movement, offering a dual social and artistic history that explains why and how modernism was embraced by Long Island's leaders during an era when open space was truly open for development ideas. A fine recommendation for any New York or architectural arts holding.

Masterclass: Arnold Newman
William A. Ewing
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500544150, $60.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Masterclass: Arnold Newman tells of one of the most productive, successful portrait photographers of the 20th century who spent over sixty years applying himself to his art. Surprisingly, this compendium represents the first monograph to be published after his death in 2006, and accompanies a touring show that opened in Berlin in March 2012. Over 200 black and white photos - including dozens never before published in book form, compliment a powerful account packed with images of famous sitters, from Marilyn Monroe and Picasso to Andy Warhol. Very highly recommended: a must for photography and arts holdings alike!

Elegantissima
Louise Fili
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
9781616890971, $40.00, www.papress.com

ELEGANTISSIMA: THE DESIGN AND TYPOGRAPHY OF LOUISE FILI comes from a woman who founded her own graphic design studio, using her typography skills to expand from book cover designs to food packaging. Her designs have appeared on many well-known brands and offers a fresh perspective on vintage sources, and ELEGANTISSIMA is the first monograph on her work, covering nearly forty years as a designer. Any arts holding strong in graphic design history and culture will find this a solid addition.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Leadership in Nursing Practice
Tim Porter-O'Grady and Kathy Malloch
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9781449673581, $76.95, www.jblearning.com

Leadership in Nursing Practice: Changing the Landscape of Health Care considers the value of leadership over management processes and offers college-level healthcare students an opportunity to contribute to an evolving healthcare system only beginning to recognize this difference. Chapters consider leadership qualities, how they apply to modern nursing environments and challenges, and consider conflict management, collective bargaining, career trajectories, performance and relationship management, and much more. A 'must' for any college-level healthcare collection.

Detox Your World
Shazzie
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583944509, $19.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Detox Your World: Quick and Lasting Results for a more Beautiful Mind, Body, and Spirit provides a positive survey on removing toxins from your diet and life, and pairs the author's own success story with step-by-step detox plans and over a hundred raw food recipes. From recipes that are packed with flavor to steps to achieving total health, this covers everything from handling colds and stress to achieving optimum energy and benefit from a detox regimen, and is packed with all the keys necessary to achieve this total health.

Detailing Trauma
Arianne Zwartjes
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1609381289, $18.00, www.uiowapress.org

DETAILING TRAUMA: A POETIC ANATOMY provides an unusual format in a series of linked lyric essays that describe the many types of wounds from which body and spirit suffer. The use of poetic prose adds understanding and emotion to the different medical conditions or traumas usually detailed in dry nonfiction accounts, humanizing the process of disease, injury and recovery and adding an emotional and literary edge to the experience. The result is a fine exploration of physiology, injury, and recovery and is a special pick for literary and health collections alike.

Hypertension and You
Samual J. Mann, MD
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781442215177, $16.95, www.rowman.com

Hypertension and You: Old Drugs, New Drugs, and the Right Drugs for Your High Blood Pressure offers clear information outlining new drugs, old choices, and their differences, and is for any collection looking to update its information on hypertension. Keys to minimizing drug side effects and selecting the right drug identify common past problems in hypertension medication and cover all the basic questions for those both newly diagnosed and those who have lived with hypertension for decades. Any collection whose hypertension books are years old needs this powerful new assessment.

The Food is My Friend Diet
Ruth Frechman, MA, RD CPT
Gales Publishing
9780984597918, $21.95, www.RuthFrechman.com

The Food is My Friend Diet provides a fine 30-day plan for not only losing weight, but keeping it off, and shows how to adjust eating habits so as to conquer emotional eating patterns. From the five best secrets to losing weight and keeping it off to halting stress eating, yo-yo dieting, and more, this covers everything from how to enjoy a vacation without gaining weight to adopting a plan that has its roots in lasting attitude adjustments. A highly recommended pick for any who would do more than just jump on another fad diet plan.


The Computer Shelf

NoSQL Distilled
Pramod J. Sadalage and Martin Fowler
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321826626, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

NoSQL Distilled is a concise introduction to the new technology of nonrelational databases, offering an analysis of basic concepts involved in NoSQL, how to assess if such a database is right for your needs, and which technologies should be explored further. It offers basic concepts including new distribution models and map-reduce, explores design issues raised by NoSQL approaches, and uses case studies to show how such databases work. Keys to implementation round out the topics, which are packed with diagrams and illustrations throughout. Any database-oriented computer programmer needs this.

O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com

The second updated edition of Randal L. Schwartz, Brian D. Foy & Tom Phoeniz's INTERMEDIATE PERL (9781449393090, $39.99) picks up where Learning Perl left off and provides intermediate learners with everything from longer programs to understanding advanced topics such as namespaces, object-oriented programming, writing and using modules, strategies and techniques for testing Perl code, and much more. With so many advanced topics offering a logical and easy segue from beginning to advanced learner status, this is the item of choice for any who would move to the next step in Perl programming. Jon Loeliger and Matthew McCullough's VERSION CONTROL WITH GIT, 2ND EDITION (9781449316389, $34.99) is a pick for programming collections interested in an in-depth book on the basics of using GIT for tracking, merging and managing code revisions, and offers a completely revised edition packing in tips for manipulating trees and extended coverage of reflog, stash and more. It covers code development in many ways and offers common-use cases, a review of both basic and advanced functions, and keys to navigating and contributing to open-source projects through GitHub, and is the perfect item of choice for any programmer who would learn GIT's applications. Robin Nixon's LEARNING PHP, MySQL, JAVASCRIPT & CSS (9781449319267, $39.99) packs in four related web programming studies under one cover and teaches the basics of how to build interactive, data-driven websites. Readers can explore each technology separately, learn how to combine them, and learn about basic web programming concepts and best practices along the way. From the basics of object-oriented programming to creating web pages by blending forms and creating dynamic product results, this is a pick web programming collections won't want to miss. Mobile JavaScript Application Development: Bringing Web Programming to Mobile Devices by Adrian Kosmaczewski (9781449327859, $24.99) is recommended for web developers already versed in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, who want a guide to accurately choosing among options for programming mobile devices for web applications. From deciding how many platforms to accommodate to using jQuery Mobile for building cross-browser applications and creating, testing and debugging a mobile application, this is packed with a survey of various competing JavaScript frameworks and is a pick for any who would understand their differences and applications.

My MacBook Mountain Lion Edition
John Ray
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789749895, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com

My MacBook Mountain Lion Edition provides instructions with callouts to MacBook photos that show, step-by-step, how to accomplish tasks using MacBook's Mountain Lion. From arranging a desktop and using Notification Center effectively to navigating virtual workplaces in Mission Control and using iCloud services, this is packed with keys to sharing files and printers, recording video and sharing it, troubleshooting system problems and more, and is a top recommendation for any new to MacBook's Mountain Lion environment. The wealth of color throughout and the easy directions make this a winning pick!

Learning Android Application Programming for the Kindle Fire
Lauren Darcey and Shane Conder
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321833976, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Learning Android Application Programming for the Kindle Fire comes from an Android programming author team who teach all the basic skills needed to write production-quality apps for Kindle Fire. It accomplishes this by showing how to build a sample app from start to finish, with chapters serving as 'classrooms' by teaching basic skills, then building upon them. From fully tested, reusable sample code to blending in templates and system resources, displaying dialogs and integrating user input, and more, this teaches how to not only build an app, but manage application resources and build networking support. A 'must' for any who would market a Droid app - even those with no prior experience!

Ubuntu Made Easy
Rickford Grant with Phil Bull
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274252, $34.95, www.nostarch.com

UBUNTU MADE EASY: A PROJECT-BASED INTRODUCTION TO LINUX covers Ubuntu 12.04 and is intended for newcomers to Linux who wants to make the move easy. The book's packed with hands-on projects that move from basics to advanced functions, offering step-by-step details to cover common applications such as accessing social networks and Windows installations. From working with printers and cameras to editing and sharing digital photos and creating customized documents and Ubuntu systems, this is a 'must' for any who would move quickly beyond the basics.

The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 3
Andy Mitchell
ESRI Press
380 New York Street
Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589483057, $44.95, www.esri.com

The ESRI Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 3: Modeling Suitability, Movement, and Interaction describes practical applications of modeling concepts in a GIS setting, showing readers how to handle site selection, routing, and how to interpret analysis results. Color maps and illustrations compliment sample applications in a focus that includes step-by-step discussions of cost measures, evaluating source layers, creating and manipulating models with different analytical features, and much more. A 'must' for any computer or geography collection concerned with GIS applications.

Programming 2D Games
Charles Kelly
A K Peters
c/o CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, #300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466508682, $59.95, www.akpeters.com

Programming 2D Games provides a basic course in game programming and enables students to create 2D games using DirectX applications, networks, and C++ codes. All the code in the book was created using C++: students receive a methodical survey of incorporating such code into game structures and also receive working code examples and instructions on how to use a game engine and incorporate design changes into it. Any student learning 2D game programming must have this!

Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century
Stephen Lucci and Danny Kopec
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781936420230, $99.95, www.merclearning.com

Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century provides a comprehensive, in-depth survey of the blossoming field of AI in the computer world, offering newcomers and those with some background a fine assessment blending theoretical foundations and applied AI basics. Students entering the field will find this college-level volume packed with examples, theory, color images, and details on AI systems ranging from gaming and neural nets to machine learning. A DVD with resources and simulations, instructor support, and exercises and problems relating to AI systems makes this a fine acquisition for any college-level collection strong in AI applications and development.

The dRuby Book
Masatoshi Seki
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356937, $35.00, www.pragmaticprogrammer.com

The dRuby Book: Distributed and Parallel Computing with Ruby comes from a famous Japanese Ruby expert who here provides a focus on distributed computing and advanced Ruby applications. Programmers and collections catering to them receive a book completely updated and expanded from its original Japanese version to include three new chapters and extensive revision, with step-by-step tutorial examples accompanying keys to building various distributed Ruby applications. It's a solid learning course for any would-be Ruby expert.


The Photography Shelf

She
Lise Sarfati
Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
9781936611003, $75.00, www.twinpalms.com

SHE represents the family photo idea with a new twist: an oversized collection of single individual portraits that seek to capture isolated moments and people; not group activities or poses. Over a hundred images pack SHE, with the models displayed in poses that could even be called 'candid' rather than assembled. The 11 x 14 inch format allows for landscapes and backgrounds to be a liberal part of the photo, capturing the place and feel as much as the person. The result is a powerful collection filled with captivating moments in time, and very highly recommended for photography and arts collections alike.

The Hidden Power of Blend Modes in Adobe Photoshop
Scott Valentine
Adobe Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321823762, $39.99, www.adobepress.com

Any Photoshop user who seeks a narrowed, in-depth approach to using blend modes will find this a 'must': it's packed with dozens of examples from commercial, personal and technical projects, it teaches the basics of how blend modes work, and it provides advanced technical keys to usage. The explanations focus on how and why techniques work and come packed with color photo and illustration examples on every page, contributing to a rich gathering of blend mode basics.

Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 4
Stephen Laskevitch
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538033, $44.95, www.rockynook.com

Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 4: A Photographer's Handbook is an outstanding survey that doesn't attempt to cover every bell and whistle of the program, but is intended to highlight the most significant parts of the complicated program and teach their general usage. By offering a clear workbook for editing photos in Photoshop CS6 and its companions Bridge, Camera Raw and Lightroom 4 and by focusing on critical elements rather than every possible tweak and feature, this succeeds in providing newcomers to tools to get them up and running in the most efficient way possible. From recomposing or retouching photos to noise reduction and understanding histogram representations to identify problems at a glance, this is packed with clear steps perfect for general photographers!

Nikon D3200 Digital SLR Photography
David D. Busch
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781285171302, $29.99, www.courseptr.com

Nikon D3200 Digital SLR Photography teaches the basics of how to handle a Nikon D3200 model, covering advanced shooting techniques, troubleshooting, how and when to use its many features and controls, and more. From the basics of the camera's operations to advanced topics ranging from resolution and file formats to exposure, this packs in lovely color images throughout to enhance the discussion of one of the most advanced entry-level cameras Nikon has created yet. Clear directions make this a winner for any Nikon D3200 owner and for general-interest photography collections alike.

Canon 5D Mark III
Ibarionex Perello
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321856852, $29.99, www.peachpit.com

Canon 5D Mark III: From Snapshots to Great Shots includes access to video training by the author and packs in color shots throughout as it explores and explains the basics of the camera's features and how they can be used to produce great photos. It pairs photography instruction with a camera reference designed to move readers from the basics to advanced levels, teaching the top methods for shooting exceptional photos with the 5D Mark III and how to take well exposed, sharp photos under any conditions. Tricks and techniques of the trade blend with a review of camera basics in a top pick for any owner of the new camera.

The Digital Native
Jeff Schewe
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321839572, $49.99, www.peachpit.com

The Digital Native: Raw Image Processing in Lightroom, Camera Raw, and Photoshop discusses raw image processing technology and the pros and cons of using Lightroom or Camera raw to produce exceptional images. It covers basic Photoshop techniques for the master image, converting color to black and white, handling digital negatives and much more, covering the basics of processing for panoramic and HDR images alike. Color and black and white photos accompany the basics on what is a process version and how to handle them, making this a specific and useful reference for any photographer working in the digital world and seeking specific approaches to Camera Raw and Lightroom in particular.


The Biography Shelf

The Sinatra Club
Sal Polishi and Steve Dougherty
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451642872, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE SINATRA CLUB: MY LIFE INSIDE THE NEW YORK MAFIA comes from an author who was born in Brooklyn and raised on a family legacy that led him to the life he loved as a member of the Colombos, one of the New York Mob's Five Families. He came of age when the Mob was at the height of its powers, and ran an illegal after-hours gambling den, The Sinatra Club, that was a magnet for big crime. This first-persona chronicle of his crimes and encounters is filled with thrilling moments and Mob insights, and will prove a 'must' for any general-interest collection's 'true crime' section.

Visiting Tom
Michael Perry
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061894442, $24.99, www.harpercollins.com

VISITING TOM: A MAN, A HIGHWAY, AND THE ROAD TO ROUGHNECK GRACE blends author Michael Perry's autobiography into a profile of Tom Hartwig, who works in a shop making gag shovel handles, parts for quarter-million-dollar farm equipment, and the occasional explosive. Readers might recognize the name of Michael Perry from his prior titles Population: 485 (in which he returned to his small Wisconsin hometown as a firefighter) and Truck: A Love Story (in which he struggled to fix his 1951 pickup): VISITING TOM offers an entertaining story of a colorful small town personality and is replete with humor and heart-warming stories: perfect for any general lending collection and especially for the kind of holding that sees popularity in Lake Woebegon-style writings.

The Distance Between Us
Reyna Grande
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451661774, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US: A MEMOIR documents the author's journey from Mexico to the United States, and tells how her parents left her in Mexico for eight years while they worked in the U.S. - an event which left her scarred for life. Her story about her childhood, growing up in the U.S., and being left behind makes for a powerful documentation of the many parents who have to leave their children when they come to America, considering the effects this distance has upon the entire family structure. Any collection strong in immigrant or Mexican experiences must have this powerful memoir.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Romeo Spikes
Joanne Reay
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451674446, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

ROMEO SPIKES provides a satisfying supernatural thriller and the spectre of one Alexis Bianco, who works on the homicide squad and encounters Tormenta, a type of predator with a unique method of murder and the ability to entrap victims with the thing they desire the most. The victims look to be suicides - but Tormenta feeds off their deaths, building a demonic power structure that challenges a cop to see beyond her reality-based perception of good, bad, and world crime. It's a fine, engrossing and different pick for any interested in supernatural stories.

Baen Books
PO Box 1188
Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com

Michael Z. Williamson's WHEN DIPLOMACY FAILS (9781451637908, $24.00) returns Alex Marlow and Ripple Creek Security to action. This time they are in conflict with their principal, a bureaucrat who wants to be elected, and Highland's assistant wants to publicize her boss's pending campaign. The result is that some body wants her dead - a whole lot of somebodies. Politics, interstellar intrigue, and action permeate a blend of political and military science fiction in a fast-paced story especially recommended for science fiction collections seeing popularity with the prior Alex Marlow figure. Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's DRAGON SHIP (9781451637984, $22.00) provides a new Liaden Universe novel and tells of a first class courier pilot Theo, who inherits a captaincy and finds herself running a trade route while convincing a mythic ghost ship that she wants to be the human side to a symbiosis. She's charged with rescuing stranded pilots, handling a hostile situation, and helping her former lover all in a fast-paced, politically charged title perfect for any interested in political and military science fiction.

Libriomancer
Jim C. Hines
DAW Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780756407391, $24.95, www.dawbooks.com

Libriomancer: Magic Ex Libris: Book One is a top recommendation for any fantasy collection and begins a new series telling of one Isaac Vainio, a Libriomancer gifted with the ability to magically reach into books and draw out objects. When Isaac is attacked by vampires that are moving from books into our world, he barely escapes only to find the vampire invasion has been attacking other magic-users. The result is a search for the dark power behind the vampire invasion - a search that probes the history of magic and Gutenberg alike. Any vampire or fantasy holding will relish this!

24 Frames into the Future
John Scalzi
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781610373012, $28.00, www.nesfa.org

24 Frames gathers weekly essays on science fiction film, and represents some three years of Scalzi's writing for AMC.com on-line. He was a film critic from early on, producing thoughts on science fiction film, how it's produced, and how the themes of science fiction change from print to film. From an assessment of the Oscars and Hugos to differences between art and show, these are critical writings packed with history and insights, perfect for film and science fiction libraries alike.

The Dirty Streets of Heaven
Tad Williams
DAW Books Inc.
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780756407681, $26.95, www.dawbooks.com

THE DIRTY STREETS OF HEAVEN isn't your usual Williams epic fantasy - instead it provides an urban fantasy novel and introduces one Bobby Dollar, an earthbound angel who mediates for souls caught between heaven and hell. Facing his own inner and outer demons, Bobby harbors a host of secrets and finds himself in over his head when he begins to investigate a large number of missing souls. Add a vengeful demon into the plot and you have a fast-paced and vivid urban fantasy highly recommended for genre fans.

Report from Planet Midnight
Nalo Hopkinson
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864977, $12.00, www.pmpress.org

Report from Planet Midnight is packed with highly charged insights on race, racism, and social issues and infuses science fiction fantasy and science fiction writings with strong moral and ethical messages. It points out the underlying racist messages in the genre while providing stories that use fantasy to point out these instances of racism and sexism. The result is a strong set of tales linked to the darker side of the human experience, highly recommended for any literary science fiction short story collection.

Slow Apocalypse
John Varley
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780441017577, $25.95, www.penguin.com

SLOW APOCALYPSE is a near-future story perfect for any interested in end-of-world scenarios and revolves around a scientist who has developed a cure for America's addiction to oil: a slow-acting virus that feeds on petroleum and turns it unusable. But his invention goes viral and threatens the world's entire oil supply - and in Los Angeles a screenwriter hears about the deeply hidden fact and strives to protect his family against the coming apocalypse. Powerful tension and a riveting plot keep this a top pick.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Lenore: Swirlies
Roman Dirge
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781848563902, $17.95, www.titanbooks.com

The character of Lenore celebrates her 20th anniversary - and is here presented in a fourth collection recommended for graphic novel collection and prior fans. Lenore is a ten-year-old undead girl who lives in a mansion with a group of odd friends: SWIRLIES gathers more of her exploits in a collection of comic strips highly recommended for any fan of Lenore or Tim Burton-style dark adventures. Lenore is classic dark fantasy at its best, with a touch of the undead's world added for good measure.

Modern Masters V. 28: Eric Powell
Eric Nolen-Weathington and George Khoury
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490410, $15.95, www.twomorrows.com

MODERN MASTERS V. 28: ERIC POWELL uses an in-depth interview and artwork from Powell's published and unpublished files to provide a fine review of the comic artist and his dark humor. His insights into his life, experiences and work supplement both published works and a selection of commissioned pieces in full color, providing comic collections with a fine overview of Eric Powell's life and works. Any collection strong in the top masters of comic art will this overview a key addition.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise V. 1
John Barber and Andrew Griffith
IDW Publishing
5080 Santa Fe, San Diego, CA, 92109
9781613772911, $19.99, www.idwpublishing.com

Transformers: Robots in Disguise V. 1 continues the saga of Bumblebee and his fellow autobots after the war for Cybertron. Here is the ongoing challenge: to control a world devoid of the leader Optimus Prime. Bumblebee's government is facing some of its great challenges both from Decepticons and others in this riveting graphic novel packed with colorful twists and turns of plot. A top pick for any followers of the Transformers saga, this is a recommendation for science fiction and graphic novel holdings alike!


The American History Shelf

When America First Met China
Eric Jay Dolin
Liveright
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780871404336, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

When America First Met China: An Exotic History of Tea, Drugs, and Money in the Age of Sail offers a fine survey of the competition between the United States and China but goes beyond modern times to prove on exactly how the U.S. first engaged China. The story actually begins hundreds of years ago when the desire for trade brought America to China - and this book traces how China's trade helped change the U.S. to a global force, and how it began a powerful social change that can be felt in modern times. No world history or business holding should be without this pointed survey.


The World History Shelf

Restless Empire
Odd Arne Westad
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465019335, $32.00, www.basicbooks.com

RESTLESS EMPIRE: CHINA AND THE WORLD SINCE 1750 comes from one of the world's experts on East Asian history who is fluent in Chinese and has worked on and in China for some thirty years, witnessing how the Chinese government and people have reacted to change. The last 250 years of Chinese history are considered in a key survey that moves from the early Qing empire in the 18th century to the People's Republic in the 21st century, considering China's foreign relations and interactions with the world. It highlights parts of China's history that helped it evolve into a modern society, and explains its different perspectives on change: the result is a highly recommended survey for any world history holding in general or Chinese history collection in particular.


The Automotive Shelf

Junior Stock
Doug Boyce
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709917, $34.95, www.cartechbooks.com

JUNIOR STOCK: DRAG RACING THE FAMILY SEDAN covers stock-class drag racing from 1964-1971 and covers the early days of drag racing and the Junior Stock classes in particular. These classes evolved during the 1960s and stopped in 1971 when the NHRA implemented a "10-year" rule stating that cars more than ten years old were no longer able to compete. Pages packed with color photos offer views of cars and drivers, while technical discussions of specifications, classifications and more accompany vintage black and white and color photos. Any collection strong in auto racing and history will find this a powerful survey!


The Philosophy Shelf

Meaning and Value in a Secular Age
Nathan Bupp, Editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616142315, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Meaning and Value in a Secular Age: Why Eupraxsophy Matters provides a survey of the writings of philosopher Paul Kurtz, providing his works which identify and promote a new approach to secular explanations of the universe. It describes the nature and philosophy of eupraxsophy, a term from 1988 which blends philosophy, science, and ethics to provide a secular moral vision of the world. This volume gathers Kurtz's key writings on the matter under one cover and emphasizes how these essays and their concept continue to hold relevance today. Philosophy and spirituality collections at the college level will find this involving.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Essentials of Economic Sustainability
John Ikerd
Kumarian Press, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781565495166, $21.95, www.kpbooks.com

The Essentials of Economic Sustainability offers a fine alternative to the prevailing economic paradigms suggested for sustainability and provides a core set of basic concepts key to fostering economic sustainability. Some concepts are capitalist, some socialist, and others are general principles grounded in philosophy and basic common sense. The wide-ranging inclusion of various platforms for sustainability makes for a more versatile and less 'fixed' set of ideas, emphasizing the role of markets in sustainability and analyzing the influence on economics on society and nature alike. A fine, highly recommended guide for a new breed of international economic processes makes this a fine pick for any college-level holding.


The Native American Studies Shelf

Telling Stories in the Face of Danger
Paul V. Kroskrity, Editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142272, $24.95, www.oupress.com

Telling Stories in the Face of Danger: Language Renewal in Native American Communities is a pick for linguistics and Native American holdings alike, and provides a fine survey of the revitalization of indigenous languages, with essays showing how traditional stories and their nontraditional written descendants help maintain Native cultures. Case studies from various North American communities provide a fine collection of connections between tribal stories and tribal and moral development. Efforts to maintain and revitalize narrative traditions are recounted in a recommendation for any college-level Native collection.


The Social Issues Shelf

Better Off Without 'Em
Chuck Thompson
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451616651, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Succession comes from a liberal who presents a fun yet pointed case for splitting the American South away from the rest of the U.S., offering fiery charges combined with meticulously researched detail into a proposition secretly entertained by many. Chapters go beyond humor to provide astute and pointed social and political analysis of what would happen if the U.S. let the South secede, with its 566,466 square miles and some 78,385.623 people that generate the repressive attitudes that keep the rest of the nation from moving in a different direction. No matter what side of the line you're on, Better Off Without 'Em makes for a thought-provoking, winning analysis.

Fair Trade: A Human Journey
Eric St.-Pierre
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864926739, $35.00, www.gooselane.com

Fair Trade: A Human Journey packs in over three hundred photos to cover the artisans and workers who produce commodities that are part of our daily lives. It provides some fourteen fair trade sectors ranging from handicrafts and coffee to quinoa, and provides a history of growers, producers, and the processing and distribution of each product. Any interested in the concept and applications of fair trade around the world should consider this a key acquisition.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Miller's Collectibles Handbook 2012-2013
Judith Miller & Mark Hill
Mitchell Beazley
9781845336370, $27.99, www.millersguides.com

Miller's Collectibles Handbook 2012-2013 deserves ongoing mention as a fine general reference appearing in its 22nd updated edition to provide a price guide and identification guide to a range of collectibles. Sections on books, ceramics, dolls, TV memorabilia, plastics, posters, toys, vintage fashion and more are packed with color photos on every page, historical notes, and more. The color lends to this title's appeal as either a collector's reference or as a browser's guide, making it a pick for general and collector collections alike.

Grading Coins By Photographs
Q. David Bowers
Whitman Publishing
4001 Helton Drive, Florence, Alabama, 35630
9780794836870, $19.95, www.whitmanbooks.com

Grading Coins By Photographs is offered in a spiral-bound, lay-flat binding format perfect for those who would closely consult the enlarged, high-resolution photos available for each grade of coins. Collectors will find this updated second edition offers new photos and guidelines for understanding the latest grading standards for coins, and will find this an important reference holding repeat consultation value. Grading coins properly is key to a collector's entire endeavor, so this title is essential to any who would accurately and quickly confirm to grading standards and professional collection assessment.

Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2013 Price Guide
Eric Bradley
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440232060, $22.99, www.krausebooks.com

Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2013 Price Guide is a top recommendation for any collector and for any general collection seeking an all-in-one price guide. It's packed with 4,500 color photos and provides a fine survey of all kinds of descriptions and vetted values for everything from fine art to postcards, glassware, dolls, Christmas items and more. While specialty collectors in any of these fields might need a more dedicated reference, this is of particular worth and note to any who visit garage sales and buy items in a wide range of genres, and is a highly recommended pick for general lending collections looking for a wide-ranging, authoritative collectibles reference.


The Travel Shelf

No Worries Paris
Jerry Sprout
Diamond Valley Company
9780978637163, $18.95, www.trailblazerhawaii.com

Over three hundred color photos packs a guide to Paris covered in ten walking tours, highly recommended for any travel or outdoors collection. Nearly all of the city is covered, with each tour receiving its own map and providing walking opportunities of half a day to a full day, starting at one Metro stop and ending at another. The organization, appealing color embellishment, and details on Parisian history and culture make this a fine guide packed with practical details on traveling through the city and appreciating its many attractions.

Argentina
Sandra Bao, et.al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781742200156, $26.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

ARGENTINA packs in keys to travel throughout the country, from enjoying the steak restaurants and meat quality Argentina's famous for to travel throughout its many parks and reserves. A pull-out map of Buenos Aires compliments smaller maps and coverages of accompanying areas - Uruguay and Patagonia - that are popular stop-off points for travelers to Argentina make this a comprehensive and thoughtful coverage. From train travel and obtaining local bus cards to cultural celebrations and local religious events, this covers it all, and is a pick for any independent traveler to South America who wants to cover Argentina in depth.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Basement Quilt
Ann Hazelwood
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
97816046700450, $14.00, www.americanquilter.com

Anne Brown is a florist who decides to learn to quilt to help her aunt - only to discover her new quilting talents open the door to family secrets. The story introduces the Colebridge community, a mysterious presence in the basement, and more as Anne finds her new knowledge will lead to some life-changing decisions. This novel could have been reviewed in our Needlework section for its many vivid quilting references, but is featured here for its wider appeal to audiences who appreciate a good mystery. General collections will find it packed with satisfying twists of plot and strong characterization.

Face of the Enemy
Joanne Dobson & Beverle Graves Myers
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464200311, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

FACE OF THE ENEMY provides a fine New York mystery set in December 1941 and telling of a city mobilizing for war after Pearl Harbor. Nurse Louise Hunter is outraged when a Japanese patient's wife is arrested, but when the murdered body of her friend's art dealer is discovered in the gallery where he'd been closing down her controversial art show, trouble begins in earnest. Louise hires a radical lawyer to help, and finds her troubles multiplying as the plot thickens amidst wartime paranoia. A fine mystery packed with World War II flavors will keep this a top pick for any general lending library's mystery collection.

The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose
Susan Wittig Albert
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425247761, $24.95, www.penguin.com

The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose returns with another story of a gardening club in Darling, Alabama that is also involved in sleuthing on the side. Here the annual Confederate Day celebration is involving the town and the ladies face the usual array of mysteries: one of their members is suspected of stealing county funds, there's a puzzle in a family heirloom, and a local resident's odd behavior may soon become dangerous. Tie all these in with a Southern flavor and gardening fun and you have a wonderful mystery perfect for any mystery library.


The Fiction Shelf

Trust Your Eyes
Linwood Barclay
New American Library
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
www.newamericanlibrary.com
9780451237903, $25.95, www.penguin.com

TRUST YOUR EYES provides a powerful thriller that tells of Thomas Kilbride, a map-obsessed schizophrenic who rarely leaves his bedroom but who travels the world via computer memorizing streets around the world in anticipation of a terrorist virus. His involvement with the CIA helps them when the computers go down - but his brother Ray soon finds Thomas involved in even more deadly games when he discovers a conspiracy with powerful people behind it is seeking his brother. There's nothing predictable about Trust Your Eyes - and that's what makes it so riveting! Any fiction library strong in thrillers will find this filled with compelling appeal.

The Other Half of Me
Morgan McCarthy
The Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451668230, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

The Other Half of Me is set in the Welsh town of Evendon and provides a haunting debut novel surrounding a father's disappearance, a family's loss, and a son's ability to lie about his past to his beloved until the past catches up to him. The rural Welsh countryside comes alive in the course of a dark and complex story, revealed in a series of emotional encounters that prove hard to put down. Family secrets from the past come to envelope even an outsider in this moving saga, recommended for any fiction and literary fiction library.

What You Wish For
Janet Dawson
Perseverance Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745187, $15.95, www.danielpublishing.com

WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a fine novel of suspense centered around history professor Lindsey Page, whose quiet life is interrupted when her daughter shows up on her doorstep and she discovers three of her most trusted friends are harboring secrets that will change her life. From family conflict and interactions to ethical challenges and survival amidst some forty years of political conflict, WHAT YOU WISH FOR provides a powerful focus on survival methods and is a pick for any suspense fiction collection.

The Yellow Birds
Kevin Powers
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316219365, $24.99, www.littlebrown.com

THE YELLOW BIRDS comes from a poet and Iraq veteran who weaves a story of military battle with considerations of ethics, compassion, and how wartime experiences can circumvent the good in people. It tells of two privates immersed in a bloody struggle for control of an Iraq city, of how they face constant dangers and struggle to protect themselves and each other, and considers their choices and actions in the face of an impossible war. This vivid account is passionate, moving and immediate and is a novel recommended for fiction and military collections alike.

Spartacus: Morituri
Mark Morris
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857681782, $7.99, www.titanbooks.com

Spartacus: Morituri provides the second novel inspired by the hit TV show on STARZ network, Spartacus, and is a pick for fans of the series and of novels with Roman history roots. Here Batiatus and Solonius fight for the favor of Marcus Crassus, who has decided to set up his own gladiatorial school where the Batiati are struck down by injury and death while his own people always win. Conflict, action and powerful personalities make this novel a riveting read.


The Crafts Shelf

The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds
John Muir Laws
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597141956, $24.95, www.heydaybooks.com

The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds is a fine recommendation for any involved in drawing, birds, or birdwatching and any crafts or arts collection will want it. It's devoted not to the art but to the natural history and postures of birds, blending techniques with keys to observing birds and capturing them using field sketches which then can be developed further off field. From using colored pencils to avoiding common problems in bird drawing, this is packed with step-by-step color illustrations throughout.

Great Designs for Shaped Beads
Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164957, $19.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Great Designs for Shaped Beads packs in some fifty ideas for stitching Tila beads, peanuts and more into various kinds of bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, and is a pick for any who would learn techniques for working with shaped beads. Projects offer supplies lists, stitching specifications, and come packed with full color step-by-step photos and completed images, while the narrowed focus on three common shaped beads assures quick and easy understanding of basic beading approaches. Any jewelry-making library needs this.

Star Wars Origami
Chris Alexander
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9780761169437, $16.95, www.workman.com

STAR WARS ORIGAMI packs in nearly forty paper-piecing projects and is a fine pick for Star Wars fans and crafting collections strong in origami. The classic characters and starships from Star Wars are re-created in a kit which includes some seventy sheets of specially designed paper featuring original art that can be folded into origami. Every model is accompanied by full color step-by-step folding directions in this fine kit for science fiction fans and origami crafters seeking something different! A 'must' gift for any Star Wars crafter and fan!


The Christian Studies Shelf

After Vatican II
James L. Heft, Editor with John O'Malley
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802867315, $40.00, www.eerdmans.com

AFTER VATICAN II considers the lasting implications of Vatican II and gathers articles exploring its effects nearly fifty years later. These scholarly, college-level essays explore the historical and cultural context of the Second Vatican Council and considers both the spirit and the letter of Vatican II. With its blend of history, religious analysis and social insight, it provides hard-hitting analysis perfect for Catholic scholars and other seeking insights into Vatican II's concepts and revolutionary ideas.

Charity and Its Fruits
Jonathan Edwards, author
Kyle Strobel, editor
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
143352970X, $22.99, www.crossway.org

Charity and Its Fruits: Living in the Light of God's Love provides an updated, unabridged version of a classic study on Christian love, and is a top recommendation for any scholarly Christian spirituality holding. This edition holds definitions of arcane terminology, a detailed introduction, quotes from Edwards' other writings, and the fine doctrine and studies of Jonathan Edwards - all edited by Kyle Strobel in a top recommendation for any scholarly holding.

The One Year Devotions for Women
Ann Spangler
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414336022, $15.99, www.tyndale.com

The One Year Devotions for Women: Becoming a Woman at Peace provides a fine devotional for women seeking peace, and helps women embrace God and find the peace in doing so. Chapters provide a devotion for each day that includes a key Scripture verse, a devotional reading, and a suggested prayer. The focus on daily inspirations tied to daily life and women's experiences is specific and satisfying. Any spiritual woman seeking comfort and insights will find this an inspirational pick.

Center Church
Timothy Keller
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310494188, $29.99, www.zondervan.com

CENTER CHURCH outlines a broad theological vision of a ministry that connects evangelical doctrine to the new realities of modern times, and is a pick for any pastor or church leader who would more effectively bring the words of the Gospel to all. The author has been the senior pastor of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York and has mentored young urban church pastors in other cities as well: his title is packed with keys to the planning process for such churches. Chapters cross denominations, cultures, and discuss how his vision creates diverse expressions of the church with the idea of reaching young urban people with God's message. A fine pick for any spirituality collection catering to church leaders.

The Power of the Prophetic Blessing
John Hagee
Worthy Publishing
134 Franklin Road, Suite 200, Brentwood, TN 37027
9781617950773, $22.99, www.worthypublishing.com

The Power of the Prophetic Blessing holds a powerful message the Jewish people have known for centuries and Christians have neglected: the transformational power of the "Prophetic Blessing". Pastor John Hagee provides a powerful focus on what it is, how it's presented through the Scripture, and how it can permeate all life. It's an inspirational focus on the nature and power of blessing, and draws important connections between the principles of scripture and the concurrent strength and presence of this blessing evident in everyday life. Christian and Jewish holdings will find this a powerful pick!

Jesus Through Pagan Eyes
Reverend Mark Townsend
Llewellyn
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738721910, $19.95, www.llewellyn.com

Jesus Through Pagan Eyes: Bridging Neopagan Perspectives with a Progressive Vision of Christ provides a different vision of Jesus apart from the modern Christian church, and provides a collection of stories, essays, and interviews about Jesus from some of the most respected neo-Christian leaders of our times. From discussions of the historical figure of Christ to his role as a mystic and how he serves as an inspiration to those who follow non-traditional spiritual paths, this is a fine work by a former clergyman in the Church of England, and a pick for Christian and general spirituality holdings alike.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

And Live Rejoicing
Huston Smith with Phil Cousineau
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608680719, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Author Huston Smith is ninety-two, a spiritual pioneer, and here documents nearly a century of religious insights in a fine account considering his unique life and his world travels, as well as his encounters with Pete Seeger, Martin Luther King Jr., Joseph Campbell, and many more. From a writing career to meeting and interviewing religious mavericks from all walks of life, AND LIVE REJOICING: CHAPTERS FROM A CHARMED LIFE is a spiritual autobiography highly recommended for any collection.

The Complete Life of Krishna
Mata Devi Vanamali
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774751, $24.95, www.innertraditions.com

THE COMPLETE LIFE OF KRISHNA comes from a leading Krishna expert from a long line of Krishna devotees, and provides the first book in English or Sanskrit to cover Krishna's entire life. Recommended for new age and spirituality collections alike, this draws from a range of sources, from India's oral tradition to the Bhagavata Purana, Gita, Mahabharata and more, exploring Krishna's life, how he became the greatest of all yogis, and how he evolved to the position of a divine ruler. Any collection strong in Indian spirituality needs this in-depth coverage.


The Audiobook Shelf

True Believers
Kurt Andersen
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449011805, $50.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

TRUE BELIEVERS is narrated by Vanessa Hart in an unabridged presentation that tells of attorney one Karen Hollander, an attorney who removed herself from consideration for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her reasons lie in a dark secret set in the 1960s: as the audio moves to explore past friendships and volatile political beliefs, they also explore a woman's evolution, friendships, and the fervor of late-sixties America that would change lives and continues to affect the present. A vivid narrative comes to life in a powerful listen!

Nevermore
James Patterson
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781611134797, $22.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure provides a fine reading by Rebecca Soler, a New York actress whose vivid and engrossing voice lends drama to the last in James Patterson's 'Maximum Ride' story about a superhuman girl who is a leader and fighter seeking her place in the world. It's the ultimate flight and the ultimate confrontation in a gripping fantasy that is both vivid and powerful. Fans of the prior Maximum Ride audios will find this a winning story that comes to life in audio!

The Receptionist
Janet Groth
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611747812, $29.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

THE RECEPTIONIST: AN EDUCATION AT THE NEW YORKER provides the gripping saga of a young Midwestern woman who landed a reception job at The New Yorker - and who stayed for over twenty years. Her encounters with jealous wives, hot new authors, eccentrics and more comes to life in a witty memoir brought to life by Judith West and filled with memorable moments about a book-loving girl who discovers a new world in New York literary circles. A vivid, fun listen, this will attract any book-loving listener interested in either the New York literary scene or how new young talents break into the publishing world.

A Sunless Sea
Anne Perry
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781423372608, $29.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Ralph Lister provides a vivid and smooth voice accenting the drama and mystery in A SUNLESS SEA, a powerful William Monk Victorian mystery. When the mutilated body of a prostitute washes up on shore, even the hardened investigator Monk is moved to pity - and becomes determined to uncover both her killer and her story. The only problem is that the government keeps interfering in his investigation of her death - and the trail leads dangerously from London's poorest quarters to its richest echelons. The result is a powerful drama that comes alive in audio, and is highly recommended especially for prior fans of Perry and her Monk investigative series.


The Cookbook Shelf

Home Baked
Hanne Risgaard
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584302, $39.95, www.chelseagreen.com

HOME BAKED: NORDIC RECIPES AND TECHNIQUES FOR ORGANIC BREAD AND PASTRY provides unique details on working with organic yeast and stone-milled flours and centers on Nordic baked goods. Any collection interested in European baking will find this an unusual and fine addition: chapters pair color photos of Nordic scenes and baked goods with recipes such as Lavender Bread, Spelt Rye Bread, Crisp Bread, and more. One might think these recipes could be found in competing bread or Nordic cookbooks; but actually they are scattered far and wide; so it's a special pleasure to see them all under one cover, accompanying appealing details on Nordic baking history and culture for any international cookbook collection.

The Red Hot Chile Cookbook
Dan May
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York NY 10012
9781849752244, $24.95, www.rylandpeters.com

The Red Hot Chile Cookbook packs in fire-filled dishes for chile fans and is a powerful collection of hot recipes made with a range of different chiles. The author developed his own sauces made with his own homegrown chiles: chapters share these dishes, discuss chile varieties, and include color photos and such dishes as Jerk Chicken with Lime & Carmelized Pineapple, Baked Chilli Eggs, Peruvian-Style Chilli and Garlic Chicken, and much more. Any cookbook where patrons favor fiery or strongly seasoned dishes will find this a winner.

You Be Sweet
Patsy Caldwell and Amy Lyles Wilson
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781401601737, $24.99, www.thomasnelson.com

YOU BE SWEET: SHARING YOUR HEART ONE DOWN-HOME DESSERT AT A TIME follows the authors as they explore the South's sweets cooking and best confections, and is a pick for any collection strong in either Southern cookery or dessert cookery. Color photos accompany recipes such as Sugar-Free Peach Ice Cream or Fig Muffins or Southern Glazed Doughnuts, gathered from the recipe files of Southern home cooks. The result is a visually pleasing, easy collection of different delights.

Rhubarb: More than Just Pies
Sandi Vitt and Michael Hickman
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888643483, $14.00, www.uap.alberta.ca

Rhubarb: More than Just Pies packs in recipes for rhubarb - over a hundred of them - that include everything from the usual desserts and breads to more unusual beverages and main courses, making this a fine alternative to cookbooks that limit rhubarb cookery to desserts alone. Rhubarb gardening and culinary facts blend with these dishes to provide cooks a wider range of uses and folklore than the traditional rhubarb cookbook offers, making this the item of choice for any holding seeking a rhubarb cookbook.

Maine Home Cooking
Sandra L. Oliver
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9781608931804, $29.95, www.downeast.com

MAINE HOME COOKING: 175 RECIPES FROM DOWN EAST KITCHENS comes from a food historian and freelance writer who publishes a weekly food column in the Bangor Daily News. Her she celebrates the traditions of Maine cooks and gardeners with a collection that supplements recipes with stories and insights on New England cooking and eating. From Pumpkin Waffles to Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Potato Parsley Soup, this is packed with flavor and peppered with color photos throughout - and a perfect pick for any interested in New England cooking.

My Berlin Kitchen
Luisa Weiss
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670025381, $26.95, www.penguin.com

MY BERLIN KITCHEN: A LOVE STORY (WITH RECIPES) provides a fine memoir from a German-born chef and writer who recounts a childhood torn by divorce and spent commuting back and forth between Boston and Berlin. The one place which felt like 'home' to her was the kitchen - and her love of food carried her throughout her adult involvements as a cookbook editor and food blogger. MY BERLIN KITCHEN tells of her journey toward self-discovery, and how food became a part of her transition mid-adulthood, when she moved back to Berlin and rediscovered her roots. Collections strong in either memoirs or cookery will find this a winning combination.

Salumi
Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393068597, $39.95, www.norton.com

SALUMI: THE CRAFT OF ITALIAN DRY CURING is the first cookbook to provide general-interest meat cooks with a specific guide to Salumi, or Italian Dry Curing, and is a pick for any collection strong in meat curing and meat cookery. From the basic concepts of salumi-making to the tools needed and recipes for achievement, chapters come from a chef and charcuterie teacher who provides step-by-step illustrated instructions that are virtually foolproof. Start with the eight basic pork products of Italy's classic salumi cooking, then enjoy over a hundred variations on the basic theme with a powerful collection any aspiring meat cook will find key to learning the craft. Home cooks and professionals alike will find SALUMI a winning and unique 'must have' reference.

The Sweet Magnolias Cookbook
Sherryl Woods and Teddi Wohlford
Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9780373892600, $21.95, www.harlequin.com

THE SWEET MAGNOLIAS COOKBOOK: 1200 FAVORITE SOUTHERN RECIPES offers dishes from the fictional world of Serenity, South Carolina, using the fun characters of childhood friends The Sweet Magnolias to present Southern fare to audiences. Each chapter uses places and themes from the popular series to capture Southern dishes such as Sullivan's Sunday Brunch, Corner Spa healthy dishes, and classic foods such as grits and gravy, Southern fried chicken, and peach cobbler. The result is packed with series references and colorful foods and fare perfect for any with a special affection for the series in general and Southern fare in particular. Color photos throughout add appeal and embellishment to these updated Southern favorites.

The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen
9781936493005, $26.95, www.cookscountry.com

The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook is published to coincide with the 5th season of the TV show and packs in every recipe and test from all five seasons under one cover. Fans of the show as well as newcomers receive a guide that focuses on foolproof recipes for American home cooks, from Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie that takes the uncertainty away from often-finicky meringue construction to a local Baltimore Pit Beef, with its crusty exterior and rare interior meat. Over 200 regional American dishes are packed into some 400 pages packed with color photos in a strong pick for any cookbook collection.

Suffering Succotash
Stephanie Lucianovic
Perigee Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780399537509, $15.00, www.penguin.com

SUFFERING SUCCOTASH: A PICKY EATER'S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE HATE THE FOODS WE HATE comes from a picky food fan who examines the choices and reflexes involved in picky eating, from genetics to learned habits. Chapters use a blend of humor, autobiography and science as they follow the author's quest to discover what's behind picky eating and how to work around it. From hosting a dinner party to ordering at a restaurant, this provides picky eaters with keys to successfully integrating their food needs with those of others. It's the first book written for picky eaters, and is a pick for any general or food-oriented collection.

Twisted Cakes
Debbie Goard
HarperDesign
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062134042, $19.99, www.harperdesignbooks.com

TWISTED CAKES comes from a California cake maker who has appeared on The Food Network and teaches classes on baking and cake decorating. Her designs offer a dark and delicious sense of humor and provide a host of ideas for home bakers who want to achieve eye-popping results, offering easily-followed step-by-step instructions and some 20 cake designs and recipes accompanied by color photos throughout. The blend of macabre humor and decorating savvy makes this a fine addition to any dessert or baking collection.

Home Baked Comfort
Kim Laidlaw
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616282004, $34.95, www.weldonowen.com

Any serious baking collection will Home Baked Comfort (Williams-Sonoma): Featuring Mouthwatering Recipes and Tales of the Sweet Life with Favorites from Bakers Across the Country a fine gathering of winning dishes from bakers across the country, recommended for any who would expand their collection of traditional and original creations. It compiles recipes from food bloggers, bakeries and bakers across the country, packs in color photos throughout, and provides many variations on traditional themes, from a creme broulee with caramelized blood oranges to maple pumpkin pie and caramel whoopee pies. A fine gathering for any would-be baker.

Weelicious
Catherine McCord
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062078445, $27.50, www.harpercollins.com

WEELICIOUS: 140 FAST, FRESH AND EASY RECIPES comes from an author who looked for resources to teach her how to make fresh and appealing meals for young kids. Unable to locate enough in one place, she started Weelicious.com, a site that moved from baby food purees to kid-friendly meals for the entire family, and her book here is packed with color photos, tips, feeding plans, and other advice not seen on her website. Over 90 recipes are new and exclusive to this book, which is packed with tips on how to get kids to become great eaters. A fun kid-oriented cookbook the entire family can enjoy, this is a top pick for general collections appealing to parents.

Burma: Rivers of Flavor
Noami Duguid
Artisan Books
c/o Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9781579654139, $35.00, www.artisanbooks.com

Burma: Rivers of Flavor packs in over 150 color photos and over a hundred original recipes to provide a blend of cookbook and travel guide introducing home cooks to the foods of Burma. Packed with ideas for traditional dishes and customizing the flavors, this provides a fine and colorful introduction from an author who has traveled in Burma for thirty years, and provides a solid grounding in Burma's cuisine and culture. There have been other Burmese cookbooks over the years - but none with both the color photos and depth of coverage of this, which pairs recipes and culinary notes with cultural and travel observation! Any collection strong in ethnic cuisine will find this a welcome, absorbing addition.

The Chew: Food. Life. Fun.
Mario Batali and Michael Symon, et.al.
Hyperion Voice
c/o Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401311063, $19.99, www.hyperionvoice.com

The Chew: Food. Life. Fun is divided into four seasons and packs in over a hundred recipes along with entertaining tips, making this a fine survey of cooking and entertaining with friends and family. Fans of the TV show of the same name who are looking for more seasonal dishes and insights on the show will find this a fine gathering ranging from adding innovations to traditional holiday fare to entertaining with new and easy recipe creations. Fans of ABC's The Chew will find this packed with dishes both inspiring and relatively easy to make, making for a fine pick for any general lending library.

Afield
Jesse Griffiths and Judy Horton
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, NY, NY, 10011
9781599621142, $40.00, www.welcomebooks.com

AFIELD: A CHEF'S GUIDE TO PREPARING AND COOKING WILD GAME AND FISH offers stories of hunting, fishing and cooking pairing recipes with details on capturing wild fare. But this isn't just another hunting book or a cookbook for locating and preparing game: it teaches how to scale, clean, skin, fillet and use wild seafood, poultry and game, and shares rustic recipes novices can learn from. Any committed to wild game capture and preparation will find AFIELD the perfect starting point, packed with color photos and easy tips.


The Political Science Shelf

First Cameraman
Arun Chaudhary
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, NY, NY 10010-7725
9780805095722, $30.00, www.henryholt.com

FIRST CAMERAMAN: DOCUMENTING THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY IN REAL TIME provides a fine memoir by the first official White House videographer who considers his career, what he saw at the White House, and the art of political image-making. Chapters document what Chaudhary saw while covering the candidate and new president, considering a position that gave him access to every presidential moment from official meetings to diplomatic encounters and encounters with politicians and the public. It's an eye-opening survey highly recommended for a range of holdings, from political to photography and video shelves alike.


The International Studies Shelf

The Oslo Idea: The Euphoria of Failure
Raphael Israeli
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412846110, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Oslo Idea: The Euphoria of Failure offers an intricate political examination of Israel and its failure to attain lasting peace, considering the involvement of Palestinian campaigns and Israel's own contribution to the illusion of the Oslo peace accords. In fact, Raphael Israeli shows, the promises of Oslo lured a naive Israeli leadership into a trap and perpetuated an impossible ideal, with Oslo's supporters threatening Israel behind the scenes and working against an actual compromise. This book collects and analyzes the major points of contention over water, borders, settlements and more, and points out the detrimental makeup of Oslo. Any collection strong in Israeli politics needs this.

Fuel on the Fire
Greg Muttitt
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595588050, $28.95, www.thenewpress.com

FUEL ON THE FIRE: OIL AND POLITICS IN OCCUPIED IRAQ comes from an investigative journalist who considers the secret history of the war in Iraq, using hundreds of unreleased government documents and interviews with senior officials around the world to go beyond media reporting on the politics of oil in the country. From preparations made to create policies in favor of American and British energy interests to abuses of power within and outside the Iraqi oil industry, this provides a powerful treatment key to understanding not only Iraq, but the Middle East as a whole, and should be in any collection strong in Middle Eastern politics.


The Sports Shelf

Stillpower
Garret Kramer
Atria Books/Beyond Words
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781582703886, $22.00, www.beyondword.com

Stillpower: Excellence with Ease in Sports and Life offers a solid explanation as to why the ongoing search for mental prowess in sports has remained elusive. It probes the foundations of consistent achievement, considering the strategies of performers and the coaches trying to help them go further, and it uses plenty of real-world case histories to probe 'the zone', goal-setting challenges, why willpower alone often fails, and how athletes and non-athletes alike are striving to unlock the power of positive thinking. While the focus here is towards aspiring athletes and their coaches, STILLPOWER offers plenty of insights for all interested in self-improvement.

Sports Injuries Information for Teens, third edition
Zachary Klimecki and Elizabeth Bellenir, editors
Omnigraphics
PO Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780812659, $69.00, www.omnigraphics.com

The third updated edition of Sports Injuries Information for Teens provides a comprehensive, factual guide to being a healthy athlete and is directed to teens participating in sports, and to coaches and parents working with them. Chapters outline common sports injuries, how to handle them, how to prevent them, and diagnostic and treatment procedures, including rehabilitation and long-term prognosis for both sports activities and daily living. With the latest health tips and research, this is a powerful guide joining others in the Teen Health Series, recommended overall for any athletic sports holding for any age.

Meat Eater
Steven Rinella
Spiegel & Grau
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780385529815, $26.00, www.spiegelandgrau.com

MEAT EATER: ADVENTURES FROM THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN HUNTER explores the art of hunting through the eye of the author's experience, who at age ten was captivated by stories of the wilderness and as an adult found his life centered around hunting, fishing and outdoors adventures. Rinella has a life-long relationship with hunting and here considers the role of the hunter in shaping conservation, considering the ethics of killing, responsibilities human hunters have towards their prey, and the changes hunting has experienced over the decades. It's a lively, involving read from an author who lives to hunt - and is a pick for any sporting collection.

Floyd Patterson
W.K. Stratton
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780151014309, $25.00, www.hmhpub.com

FLOYD PATTERSON: THE FIGHTING LIFE OF BOXING'S INVISIBLE CHAMPION comes from a sports writer who provides the first major biography of a misunderstood public figure and civil rights activist. Floyd Patterson left an impovished childhood to work his way to the top ranks of heavyweight boxing, becoming a world champion and pioneering new boxing techniques. He also became the first black heavyweight champ to use his title to speak out against bigotry, demanding that seats at his fights not be segregated. This account is packed with primary research and even rare films and print interviews, making it a 'must' for boxing history and civil rights collections alike.

When Saturday Mattered Most
Mark Beech
Thomas Dunne
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780312548186, $25.99, www.thomasdunnebooks.com

WHEN SATURDAY MATTERED MOST: THE LAST GOLDEN SEASON OF ARMY FOOTBALL belongs in military and sports holdings alike and provides a powerful survey from the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated, covering the heyday of football in 1958 just before the NFL Championship Game marked the entry of big money into the sport. Coach Blaik entered in the 1958 season as the longest-tenured coach in college football, and built a team around outstanding players in an effort to return Army football to fame. Author Mark Beech is a second-generation West Pointer and provides a powerful history of Blaik's efforts, chronicling how they would forever change the modern game. Any football fan or sports history holding will find this lively and delightful.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Tarot in Reverse
Janet Boyer
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764341014, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Tarot in Reverse: Making Sense of the Upside Down Cards in a Tarot Spread is written in a fun and informative style provides a definitive book on Tarot reversals and is the item of reference for the meanings of Tarot cards falling upside down in a spread. Beginning and experienced Tarot readers will find this holds a keyword list, anecdotes for each card, and descriptions of hundreds of reversed keywords and phrases. Quotes, advice and affirmations compliment full-color images in a top pick for any new age collection.

Seed Sounds for Tuning the Chakras
James D'Angelo, PhD
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594774607, $14.95, www.DestinyBooks.com

Seed Sounds for Tuning the Chakras: Vowels, Consonants, and Syllables for Spiritual Transformation pairs a 66-minute CD with a practical guide to using the Sacred Alphabet and comes from a sound-healing teacher who considers connections between the 7 chakras and vowel, consonant and syllable combinations. His descriptions embrace psychological and spiritual insights as well, showing how to harness the power of sound in the healing process and how to use them in deep meditation. A 'must' for any music, new age and alternative healing collection!


The Music Shelf

Free Your Voice
Silvia Nakkach and Valerie Carpenter
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781604078008, $18.95, www.soundstrue.com

FREE YOUR VOICE: AWAKEN TO LIFE THROUGH SINGING offers readers many fine insights and personal ideas on the healing aspects of singing from sound healing legend Silvia Nakkach, who has spent forty years studying and using voice as a tool for growth, healing and change. She shows how to use a voice to reclaim this potential, providing over 100 exercises packed with spiritual insights and classical vocal technique. Science-based insights keep this a logical progression of ideas and techniques, making it a top pick for new age and general music collections alike.

How Music Works
David Byrne
McSweeney's Books
849 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94110
9781936365531, $32.00, www.mcsweeneys.net

HOW MUSIC WORKS comes from a musician who has spent his lifetime thinking about and creating music, and blends history and anthropology with descriptions of his work with Brian Eno and other collaborators, from African villages to opera houses and beyond. It celebrates music's liberating and positive draws, discussing trends in popular and classical music and considering everything from sound mixing in movies to 'found texts', the collaborative process, digital distribution challenges, and much more. A 'must' for any interested in the music world in general and David Byrne's contributions and experiences in particular.


The DVD Shelf

Kung Fu Body Conditioning 2
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480,Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392290, $39.95, www.ymaa.com

Kung Fu Body Conditioning 2: Traditional Training for Endurance and Power comes from a martial arts master who here discusses and demonstrates body conditioning principles and methods. In the first DVD exercises were presented by students from the YMAA Retreat Center from their first year of training: this sequel follows the second year of training and is especially powerful when used as a continuation of studies from its predecessor. Lessons cover everything from arm-conditioning techniques to leg instructions and working with weight vests in a total body workout recommended for any martial arts video collection.


The Architecture Shelf

New York City Landmarks
Jake Rajs Text by Francis Morrone
Antique Collector's Club
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, NY, NY 10011
9781851496693, $19.95, www.antiquecollectorsclub.com

New York City Landmarks packs in small and page-sized color photos of over seventy of the City's most celebrated landmarks; each accompanied by a short text by Francis Morrone, an architecture writer who offers guided walking tours of the city. A street map identifies the sites while ten gate-folds feature panoramic vistas in an overall survey of New York City's best architecture. This is a special recommendation for any collection strong in urban architecture history in general or New York City history in particular. Packed with photos not seen elsewhere, it's a fine presentation highly recommended for any interested in New York City travel or architectural heritage.


The Relationship Shelf

The Prospective Spouse Checklist
Isabelle Fox, PhD and Robert M. Fox, JD
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823751, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

The Prospective Spouse Checklist is a pick for any general-interest library strong in marriage and family relationships, and provides couples with common sense tips and some thirty five-point checklists that will help them evaluate and compare their psyches, goals, ethics, and objectives to assure if not a compatible match, at least prior knowledge about personality traits, behaviors and ideals on family and friendships. It's a top, highly recommended pick for any contemplating marriage.


The California Shelf

Hetch Hetchy
Beverly Hennessey
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
9780738593227, $21.99, www.arcadiapublishing.com

HETCH HETCHY joins others in the 'Images of America' series to provide an eye-opening guide to California's biggest water project, and considers the fiery politics involved in the long search for a reliable source of water for San Francisco after the 1906 Earthquake. Some fourteen different sources were identified before the giant system of tunnels, reservoirs, dams, pipelines and power plants that became the Hetch Hetchy Project were built. The author worked for 12 years at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and this uses archival photos to pair with powerful stories about the Hetch Hetchy's design and evolution - a key acquisition for any California history holding!

Divinely Guided
Valerie Sherer Mathes
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727458, $39.95, www.ttupress.org

DIVINELY GUIDED: THE CALIFORNIA WORK OF THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL INDIAN ASSOCIATION belongs in not only California history holdings, but any collection strong in Native American regional experiences and women's issues. It documents a group founded in Philadelphia in 1879 with some seventy years devoted to working among Native women, narrowing the focus to the California experience. The group founded schools, worked with Native mission populations, and fostered unique cooperation between Natives and others. The result is an impressive overview of a group that has received relatively little in-depth study, with special emphasis on the California chapter's experiences.

Baja California Plant Field Guide, third edition
Jon P. Rebman and Norman C. Roberts
San Diego Natural History Museum
c/o Sunbelt Publishers
1256 Fayette Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
9780916251185, $34.95, www.sunbeltpub.com

The third updated edition of Baja California Plant Field Guide is a 'must' reference for any interested in the plants of Baja California, Mexico - an extension of the California peninsula. Over 715 different plants in over a hundred families are identified, with color photos on every page accompanying plant descriptions which discuss habitat, plant descriptions, range, elevation, pollination and more. Summaries of their climate and geology requirements come from experts in these fields and provide solid details for lay readers or botanists alike. Very highly recommended: a 'must' for any interested in California or Mexico plant life.

California Glaciers
Tim Palmer
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597141741, $29.95, www.heydaybooks.com

CALIFORNIA GLACIERS provides photos and text from an award-winning photographer and nature writer who views the remaining glaciers in California up close: glaciers almost certain to vanish within the next few decades. The backcountry areas of California, home to these last few glaciers, are captured in photos and written celebration of the nature and beauty of these regions, making this a top recommendation for any library strong in California environmental history and nature photography alike.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
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

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


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