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Home / California Bookwatch

California Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 11 November 2013 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Genealogy Shelf International Studies Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Social Issues Shelf Education Shelf
Military Shelf Photography Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Library Science Shelf Technology Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Biography Shelf
Travel Shelf Homeowner's Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Computer Shelf Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Art Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Crafts Shelf
Business Shelf Cookbook Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Music Shelf Audiobook Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Sports Shelf Political Science Shelf
DVD Shelf Self-Help Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Jewelry Shelf Beer/Wine Shelf Terrorism Studies Shelf
California Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Green Wizardry
John Michael Greer
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717473, $18.95, www.newsociety.com

Green Wizardry provides a fine survey of sustainable living techniques for any interested in modern ecology and skills gleaned from tech and organic gardening roots alike. From green manure and low-tech food preservation to solar water heating, alternative energy for the home, and reviving technologies from pre-industrial times, this approach will appeal to a variety of collections, from those of interest to homeowners to new age and sustainable living libraries. Resources and perspectives contrast research with real-world applications.

Arming for the Apocalypse
James Ballou
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781610047616, $20.00, www.paladin-press.com

Arming for the Apocalypse considers the possibility of widespread natural disaster, the absence of technology in a coming Dark Age, and how individuals committed to assembling an arsenal will survive such a future. From selecting handguns, rifles or shotguns to caring for firearms, adding support gear, considering what ammunition will be available in quantity when resources evaporate, and how firearms can play key roles in survival, this is a different sort of weaponry guide that assumes no supporting technology will be available to the gun user. Any collection strong in either survivalist writings or gun acquisition will find the different approach to be practical, specific, and important.

Macroanalysis: Digital Methods and Literary History
Matthew L. Jockers
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street
Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252079078, $30.00, www.press.uillinois.edu

Macroanalysis: Digital Methods and Literary History is a pick for college-level reference collections strong in the humanities and digital literary pursuits, and provides a new approach for studying the literary record as it exists in a digital format. Researchers can use computational analysis to retrieve key words and linguistic patterns in thousands of texts in digital libraries, gathering trends on literary patterns and using data from large collections to consider how better to understand both individual contributions and the collection as a whole. Any interested in computer analysis and literary history will find this fascinating.

Let It Shine, revised edition
John Perlin
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681327, $29.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

LET IT SHINE: THE 6,000-YEAR STORY OF SOLAR ENERGY appears in a revised edition to gather stories surrounding the history of humanity's use of solar energy, and pairs the successes and failures of solar pioneers with discussions of how early and modern peoples made use of the sun. Discussions gathered by a solar expert pair a history of mankind's achievements with documentation of the solar industry's hallmarks of change. The result is an excellent, extensive, yet lively survey of solar energy ideas through the centuries that synthesizes human history and its use of the sun, and which is a recommendation for readers ranging from homeowners and science readers to those concerned with alternative energy options.

Constellation of Genius
Kevin Jackson
Farrar Straus Giroux
18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780374128982, $30.00, www.fsgbooks.com

CONSTELLATION OF GENIUS 1922: MODERNISM YEAR ONE will reach across genres in providing a powerful history of the cultural milieu of 1922, providing an analysis of the year's cultural and political events and the modernist movement that helped reinvent art and politics in the world arena. This isn't just about American culture either: it spans the world as it documents the rise of modernist thinking in other countries, pairing biography, anecdotes and social insights alike. This is a lively survey of the works of T.S. Eliot and James Joyce and the other literary achievers of their times, and is a solid and detailed recommendation for both college-level and general-interest collections documenting literature, cultural changes, and the modernist movement in particular.

What W.H. Auden Can Do For You
Alexander McCall Smith
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
9780691144733, $19.95, www.press.princeton.edu

What W.H. Auden Can Do For You is part biography and part literary memoir and offers insights on how reading Auden changed his life. He saw Auden read just once but the impact of the poet provided lasting influence and inspiration on his personal journey that continues to this day. From using Auden's poems to find meaning in everyday life to the verses which guided Smith in romance, life's ironies and challenges, and more, this draws a link between Auden's writings and world experience, offering a guide to the author's finest works and showing how they related to his life. Any interested in literature and poetry will find this a memorable, insightful analysis!


The Genealogy Shelf

Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques
George G. Morgan and Drew Smith
McGraw-Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
NY, NY 10020
9780071816502, $30.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Advanced Genealogy Research Techniques is a 'must' for any genealogy collection or amateurs who have mastered the basics and want to learn more specialized tools and software programs, and provides a set of proven best practices for making the most of genealogy strategies. Case studies support a set of systematic procedures to enhance research while keys to obtaining exact copies of original documents, researching 'brick wall' ancestors that have defied progress, and using professional resources genealogical researchers enjoy make for a specific guide that makes the most of advanced resources. Any collection appealing to genealogy researchers will find this loaded with specifics, not generalities.


The International Studies Shelf

Poverty Development in Latin America
Henry Veltmeyer and Darcy Tetreault, Editors
Kumarian Press
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781565495081, $29.95, www.styluspub.com

Poverty and Development in Latin America: Public Policies and Development Pathways considers the central causes of poverty throughout Latin America, discussing how it can be overcome and the approaches of the 'war on poverty' around the world as they apply to Latin America scenarios. Public policies receive close inspection in the process of analyzing pathways away from poverty and towards positive change, offering college-level students of Latin American studies the opportunity to consider systems-wide applications of political and social science theory. The conclusion - that key changes remain to be made in the very structure dictating equality and inequality in Latin America - offers plenty of insight supported by research and empirical facts.

Blocked on Weibo
Jason Q. Ng
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595588852, $15.95, www.thenewpress.com

BLOCKED ON WEIBO: WHAT GETS SUPPRESSED ON CHINA'S VERSION OF TWITTER (AND WHY) is a powerful account of censorship in China and tells how Chinese websites are required by law to monitor themselves and remove any offensive material. Weibo is allowed in China because it complies with these requirements - and author Jason Ng devised a script to uncover as many blocked words as he could. This gathers words and concepts from his Blocked on Weibo blog and explores the process of international censorship, presenting an index of terms blocked on one of China's largest social media sites and exploring the history of social issues in today's Chinese society. Collections strong in China history and culture and freedom of information and censorship issues will find this a powerful discussion.

Startup Rising
Christopher Schroeder
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
9780230342224, $27.00, www.pslgravemacmillan.com

STARTUP RISING: THE ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION REMAKING THE MIDDLE EAST comes from a business investor who delivers a startling analysis of the social and business changes taking place in the region, and is a pick for business and Middle East collections alike. The West typically reports on political and social upheavals in the region so it's refreshing and startling to see a different approach that analyzes changes spearheaded by a new generation in possession of new technologies and desires to make money from them sooner than later. What seems like barriers to this business movement are in fact posing new opportunities for advancement, and chapters share interviews conducted by the author during his travels throughout the region. Entrepreneurs of both sexes comment on their approaches and visions of opportunity in a title that documents a hidden revolution in the Middle East that promise to re-invent countries as they become centers of innovation and business growth. Highly recommended for business and social issues holdings alike.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Moneyless Manifesto
Mark Boyle
Permanent Press
The Sustainability Centre, Droxford Road
East Meon, Hampshire, GU32 1HR, England
9781856231015, $24.95, www.permaculture.co.uk

The Moneyless Manifesto uses nearly three years of experience and comes from an ex-businessman who demystifies money and its system and shows - and advocates - how to live with less of it. His own decision to go 'moneyless' and the philosophy he developed because of it is reflected in 'how to' chapters that consider how to live more with less, and how to even live rich and free in the process. Chapters cover everything from obtaining labor and materials to handling hygiene without specialty products, using land more efficiently, and meeting protein needs without money. A 'must' for any who would live better on less!


The Social Issues Shelf

The True Cost of Low Prices, second edition
Jeffrey Odell Korgen and Vincent A. Gallagher
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980020, $22.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The True Cost of Low Prices: The Violence of Globalization appears in its second updated edition to appeal to Christian and social issues collections alike, and offers a powerful survey of living a Christian-based life of faith in a world of global poverty. It examines the effects of globalization on the world's poor peoples and blends scripture and church teachings with stories of the women, men and children living in poverty. Connections between what the church teaches and how it supports its peoples make for invaluable discussions that shouldn't be limited to Christian libraries alone, but is a powerful pick for any social issues collection strong in global perspectives.

Racism without Racists, fourth edition
Eduardo Bonilla-Silva
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781442220553, $29.95, www.rowman.com

RACISM WITHOUT RACISTS: COLOR-BLIND RACISM AND THE PERSISTENCE OF RACIAL INEQUALITY IN AMERICA appears in its fourth updated edition to provide college-level sociology courses with a fine probe of how racial inequalities are justified by whites. Yes, we're talking about the widespread prevalence of racism in today's 'enlightened' society - and this book documents these circumstances, gathering and analyzing the arguments, phrases and stories whites use to justify inequalities and adding a new chapter on the 'new racism'. Any college-level discussion of racism and its discontents will find this book is packed with analysis of the incidences and face of modern racism today.

Jobs With Justice
Eric Larson, Rditor
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604867468, $15.95, www.pmpress.org

JOBS WITH JUSTICE: 25 YEARS, 25 VOICES is a pick for any college-level labor studies or political science collection and packs in interviews and essays that provides insights on all kinds of labor issues. Students, workers, activists, immigrants and more have built up Jobs with Justice to create a new movement of modern organized labor. Their voices draw important connections between social justice and organized labor efforts and provide a fine survey of solidarity and change.

The Poverty of Nations
Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433539114, $30.00, www.crossway.org

Any college-level social sciences collection will relish the ideas in The Poverty of nations: A Sustainable Solution. It follows the ongoing battle against global poverty and comes from an economist and a theologian who work together to outline solutions to national and global social issues revolving around wealth. Biblical values are incorporated into this formula as it provides sustainable ideas for addressing poverty and spiritual failures. Chapters blend Christian ethics with economics and provide important connections between the two. Any Christian or social issues collection will find this an enlightening, revealing discussion.

Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls
Katherine Larson & Lynn S. Zubernis
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381981, $19.95, www.uiowapress.org

Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls tells of a psychologist and a literary scholar who both fell in love with the TV show Supernatural and thus entered the world of fans and fandom. This book documents popular culture and fans and provides academic analysis into the process of what it is to be such a fan, examining the community of fans, internet promotions and fandom, film writing and promotion, and more. It's hard to neatly peg FANGASM: at once social commentary, film industry analysis, and interviews of celebrity's fans, this is a lively and readable account that delves into the hearts and minds of media fans. Any social issues or film studies library will find this a lively and winning pick.

For Discrimination
Randall Kennedy
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307907370, $25.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

FOR DISCRIMINATION: RACE, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, AND THE LAW considers the definition and boundaries of affirmative action and why it is both championed and denounced in society, and is a fine pick for social issues and legal collections alike. It considers its benefits, costs, its impact on different racial groups, and provides a personal review of the policy and its many issues impacting American race relations. The result is a powerful assessment and history of affirmative action processes and perfect for classroom debate and discussion at both the high school and college levels.

Underminers
Keith Farnish
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717541, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

UNDERMINERS: A GUIDE TO SUBVERTING THE MACHINE provides a radical guide advocating dismantling the industrial machine, and considers the methods by which people in a society are manipulated into an artificial separation from other people and the natural world, whether it be through consumer behaviors to media indoctrination programs and compulsory schooling. Chapters identify 'tools of disconnection' and offer assessments of alternatives to a consumer-based attitude, and outline a range of responses to social, political and environmental challenges that should be considered by any social issues reader.


The Education Shelf

Flywheel
Elle Allison-Napolitano
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452260914, $30.00, www.corwin.com

FLYWHEEL: TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP COACHING FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE provides a fine survey of how leaders coach peers and colleagues in leadership, and provides a view of leadership coaching tools, exercises and protocols that lend particularly well to educators and any involved in training and coaching services. It shows how to take the process and develop better coaching relationships and results, moving leadership from an organizational structure to one which permeates society as a whole. From a 'flywheel system' to considering the greater good, charts and discussions blend with inspiration for a powerful series of coaching guidelines no education collection should be without.

Word Nerds
Brenda J. Overtruf, et.al.
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571109545, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com

Word Nerds: Teaching All Students to Learn and Love Vocabulary is more than another teacher's guide: it comes from a literary specialist and a team who have developed a specific five-part plan for introducing new words and engaging students in active learning, and offers an approach designed to teach not just vocabulary, but a love of language. Step-by-step chapters show how to plan, teach and assess and offer a much more exciting, challenging lesson plan than rote memorization and dictionary research. Teachers of grades K-6 will thus find this a powerful reference!

Real Teachers
Stuart Grauer
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909
NY, NY 10003
9781590799543, $16.95, www.selectbooks.com

REAL TEACHERS; TRUE STORIES OF RENEGADE EDUCATORS provides education collections with a set of stories covering teaching revitalization effort, and is a pick for any who look for real-world lessons that hold positive courses of action for educators. Chapters focus on a larger vision of what teachers can do - and tells exactly how they can do so. These are inspired, true short stories and are a 'must' for any education collection.

Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions: The Attention Fix
Paula Moraine, M.Ed.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849058841, $26.95, www.jkp.com

Any who would develop executive function skills in any student - including those with learning disabilities - will find this a powerful guide to encouraging self-advocacy and executive skills. It offers case histories of conversations between student and teacher, analyzes a child's thinking process, covers goals and organization of thoughts and ideas, and shows teachers how to both control behaviors and motivate students. Through a combination of time management skills, planning, and initiative, teachers are given formulas for success relating specifically to executive function skills, and will find this a powerful teaching tool.

Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams
David S. Kahn
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307946188, $19.99, www.princetonreview.com

Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams provides five full-length practice tests along with proven techniques designed to help students score higher, and is a fine prep guide for any who will undertake the calculus AB and BC exams. Detailed answer explanations accompany step-by-step reviews of techniques for all exam sections, a sheet of key formulas, tips on handling challenging questions and much more. Students looking for a combination of practice from real-world tests and clear explanations will find this packed with practice problems and insights on their solutions. Highly recommended for any education collection!

Reign of Error
Diane Ravitch
Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780385350884, $27.95, www.aaknopf.com

REIGN OF ERROR: THE HOAX OF THE PRIVATIZATION MOVEMENT AND THE DANGER TO AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS should be read by any social issues reader involved in the education process, and is a hard-hitting analysis arguing that the crisis affecting American education is not one of academics, but one of a deliberate effort to destroy public schooling. Contrary to popular public belief, public school test scores and graduation rates are the highest ever - and Diane Ravitch points out that federal programs created by presidents have in fact resulted in unreasonable goals impossible for students, teachers or schools to achieve. Big money is encouraging the privatization of public education for either profit or idealistic goals: this book points out this direction and provides a hard-hitting argument against this process. No education or social issues library should be without this passionate analysis.

Teaching Twos and Threes
Deborah Falasco
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605541327, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org

Teaching Twos and Threes: A Comprehensive Curriculum is for any teacher of this age group looking for hands-on projects from art to science, cooking and play, and is a fine pick for early learning teaching collections. Chapters written by lead teacher for the two- and three-year-old program at Wimpfheimer Nursery School and goes beyond the usual coverage of educational pursuits to explore how teachers can better engage this age group in a classroom setting. Childcare providers, educators and even parents will find it filled with strategies and planning ideas both new and old.


The Military Shelf

Shenandoah Valley 1862
Clayton & James Donnell
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780963785, $21.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

Shenandoah Valley 1862: Stonewall Jackson Outmaneuvers the Union receives fine color illustrations by Adam Hook to compliment black and white accounts of the campaign that lead Jackson to march his army over 600 miles in 48 days, winning five major battles in the process and overcoming a Union force of some 50,000 men. The narrowed focus on his Shenandoah Valley campaign offers close inspection of battle strategies, the techniques of Jackson which led to decisive battle wins, and more. Any collection strong in military strategy and American history needs this in-depth survey!


The Photography Shelf

She Who Tells a Story
Kristen Gresh
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878468041, $40.00, www.mfa.org/publications

She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World selects 12 leading female photographers from the Middle East and focuses on their work, exploring themes of gender relations, war and peace, and women's issues alike. 100 reproductions enhanced by biographical and interpretive essays make this more than a photography collection: it's a visual and written documentary of female perspectives and issues and it uses the works of these 12 acclaimed female photographers to provide insights into a range of issues. A 'must' for any photography, Middle East or women's issues collection.

Hotel Chelsea
Victoria Cohen
Pointed Leaf Press
1100 Madison Avenue, Suite #A
New York, NY 10028
9781938461040, $95.00, www.pointedleafpress.com

Photography and arts collections will find HOTEL CHELSEA a vivid collection of color photos by Victoria Cohen, packaged in an oversized oblong presentation and packed with history and images documenting the building's original interior before its demise. Cohen shot the hallways, lobbies and rooms of an iconic hotel that housed some of the greatest musicians and writers of our times, from Bob Dylan to Allen Ginsburg. It was sold and closed for renovations in 2011 and American photographer Victoria Cohen was invited to capture its original appearance. The fine interiors captured herein make for a powerful testimony to a bygone historic structure.

Photographing the Child
Jennifer George
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608955909, $27.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Photographing the Child: Natural Light Techniques for Beautiful, Profitable Portraits packs in over 200 color images as it surveys the modern market demands for portraits, details on how to pose children, and techniques for creating outstanding child photography that meet a parent's high expectations. The chapters cover kids of all ages, include directions specific to studio, outdoor or indoor sessions, and also cover editing and polishing techniques. Images and tips from both the author's successful business and other professionals provide specific keys to working with all kinds of children. From lifestyle photography to handling special challenges, this is a 'must' for any taking photos of kids.

The Sony Alpha NEX-6
Brian Matsumoto and Carol F. Roullard
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538231, $34.95, www.rockynook.com

The Sony Alpha NEX-6: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide provides a treasure trove of insights on using the new Sony camera and is a specific handbook recommended for any newcomer to this model. It offers an easy walk-through of the camera's special features and uses step-by-step directions for everything form setting menu commands to handling all its different configurations and options. Screenshots and example images throughout accompany a progressive discussion of the camera's basic to advanced features and how they relate to shooting under different conditions. The result is a thorough and in-depth study packed with color photo examples throughout and perfect for newcomers to the Sony Alpha NEX-6 model with all its advanced capabilities.

The Edge of Vision
Lyle Rexer
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001
9781597112420, $35.00, www.aperture.org

The Edge of Vision: The Rise of Abstraction in Photography was the first book in English to document the presence, history and effects of the use of abstraction in photography, and its appearance here in a new, affordable paperback is a powerful addition to any photography library, offering a review of key moments where abstraction changed photographic art. Various movements through the decades are traced in a survey that uses primary texts to provide a rich and wide-ranging history paired with photo examples throughout. Add interviews with key photographers and critics alike and you have an account which will prove essential to any serious photography holding.

The Design Aglow Posing Guide for Family Portrait Photography
Lena Hyde
Amphoto Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
9780385344807, $21.99, www.amphotobooks.com

The Design Aglow Posing Guide for Family Portrait Photography: Photographing Newborns, Babies, Children and Families provides a fine collection of some 100 ideas for posing children and infants individually and with families and siblings, and is a pick for any aspiring professional's collection. It blends compelling color images with a reference on taking and tweaking family photos, and comes from a professional portrait photographer who founded Design Aglow, an online resource for professionals. Plenty of tips accompany each photo, offering clear advice on everything from unusual posing opportunities to camera settings.

A President in Yellowstone
Frank H. Goodyear III
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143552, $36.95, www.oupress.com

A PRESIDENT IN YELLOWSTONE: THE F. JAY HAYNES PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUM OF CHESTER ARTHUR'S 1883 EXPEDITION belongs in American history and photography shelves alike, and covers a historic trip by a President who toured a national park only eleven years old. Not only was it a 'first' for the park, but no president had traveled that far west before - and furthermore, his guide was General Sheridan of Union fame. Accompanied by young photographer Frank Jay Haynes, this volume captures their historic six-week journey - and as only six copies of his original album are known to exist, the publication of this is in itself an historic event. Over a hundred images are accompanied by captions written by Sheridan's brother, who wrote daily dispatches covering the journey. A fine survey, this is a remarkable achievement suitable for any photographic history collection.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Republic of Nature
Mark Fiege
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295993294, $24.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress

The Republic of Nature: An Environmental History of the United States deserves ongoing recommendation as a powerful college-level addition that considers important links between American history and environment, and is a pick for any collection looking to draw connections between historical icons and events and underlying social and environmental concerns. From the concept and value of natural rights to change environment and society alike to economic development and the concept of natural law, this packs in specific events and icons of American history and offers a new perspective. The result is a powerful recommendation for any history or environmental science collection.

Water & Wastewater Infrastructure
Frank R. Spellman
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466517851, $129.95, www.crcpress.com

Frank R. Spellman's Water & Wastewater Infrastructure: Energy Efficiency And Sustainability is a recommendation for any environmental engineering collection and offers descriptions of the methods and applications of the water and wastewater industries. It then proceeds to discuss changing energy needs and provides case studies to show how some facilities have used new equipment and technology to save money by becoming more energy efficient. Any involved in the water or wastewater industries will find this addresses many basic issues and details processes that help facilities improve their sustainability. Analysis of results and payback accompany charts, descriptions of service areas and treatment methods, discussions of different treatment options and their pros and cons, and much more. A 'must' for environmental engineers and any involved in wastewater management processes.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Research Handbook on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Robert Kolb and Gloria Gaggioli, Editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781849800358, $280.00, www.e-elgar.com

Research Handbook on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law examines the interplay between international human rights laws and humanitarian laws, and considers issues involved in their application to armed conflicts around the world. Contributors here provide an in-depth survey of the relationship and differences between human rights and humanitarian law, covering the history and evolution of these two types of law and the issues surrounding both. This isn't for light study: college-level students of law and international rights will find it packed with original research and examples from some of the best researchers and thinkers in the field. Chapters consider conflict resolution, universal human rights themes, how laws evolved and changed, and much more. The result is a powerful survey especially recommended for any college-level law library strong in international human rights issues.

American Constitutional Law V. I and II, ninth edition
Ralph A. Rossum and G. Alan Tarr
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com
V. 1: 9780813347455, $95.00
V. II: 9780813347479, $105.00

The ninth updated edition of the two-volume AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW provides a fine survey including several new cases and expanding coverage for classic and recent rulings. It should be noted that this is the only casebook with an entire chapter on Native American Tribal relations to federal and state government, including close inspection on Indian gaming, and it should also be noted that Volume I is subtitled The Structure of Government while Volume II is subtitled The Bill of Rights and Subsequent Amendments. The result is a fine collection of legal and political analysis suitable for any college-level collection strong in American government processes, and is a top recommendation for students who want not just explanations of processes, but cases supporting discussions.


The Library Science Shelf

Developing and Managing Electronic Collections
Peggy Johnson
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838911907, $65.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Developing and Managing Electronic Collections: The Essentials covers the issues associated with developing and managing electronic collections and comes from a library collection authority who covers key issues involved in all kinds of libraries. A bibliography and glossary of terms accompany discussions of resources, applications, and the basics of electronic resource planning and evaluation. From budgeting to handling vendors and publishers, this covers everything a librarian needs to know about the entire process, and is a pick for any professional's collection.


The Technology Shelf

Chipless RFID Reader Architecture
Nemai Chandra Karmakar, et.al.
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781608075614, $149.00, www.artechhouse.com

Chipless RFID Reader Architecture focuses on the field of chipless RFID technology for radio frequencies and considers its fast-changing development. RFID can replace barcodes and holds much potential; but until relatively recently its cost has outweighed its potential. The development of low-cost chipless tags and low-powered integrated circuits has moved RFID technology into the forefront of change and provides engineers and students with an explanation of the technology, its applications in the reader system world, and its specifications. With chapters delving into specifics about its development and wide-ranging uses, Chipless RFID Reader Architecture provides engineers with an advanced reference that will prove indispensible.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Blue Book of Tactical Firearms Values, fourth edition
S.P. Fjestad
Blue Book Publications
8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55425
9781936120383, $29.95, www.bluebookofgunvalues.com

The fourth updated edition of Blue Book of Tactical Firearms Values packs in references to nearly two hundred manufacturers and trademarks, and is a top pick for any interested in the latest pricing for both current and discontinued models. Information covers manufacturers, imports, and detailed trademark indexes providing contact information for manufacturers of firearms and accessories. John B. Allen and David Kosowski provide fine editing of a reference that includes locations of current manufacturers, detailed descriptions of their products, and the latest updated values. An excellent pick for any reference collection on guns and their values!


The Christian Studies Shelf

Common Sense Faith
Patrick J. Brennan
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759772, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Common Sense Faith blends modern issues, scripture analysis, and reflections stemming from scholarship and reflection alike on how to lead a faith-driven life. It's a fine recommendation for any who struggle from self-esteem issues, the process of conversion, and the future of priests and church leaders in a changing world, and it addresses issues of concern to many Christian leaders struggling with relationships and faith. The result is a powerful account consider faith's applications to many situations, and is a top pick for any Christian spirituality collection.

Fashioned to Reign
Kris Vallotton
Chosen
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780800795603, $19.99, www.bakerpublishing.com

Fashioned to Reign considers the ever-lasting deception Christians face regarding women's role and purpose: a deception fostered by evil and which is not of God's plan. The disempowerment of women was the devil's idea - and God's true plan for women is very different. Woman was in fact designed to stand by man's side and reign with him, not under him - and FASHIONED TO REIGN: EMPOWERING WOMEN TO FULFILL THEIR DIVINE DESTINY covers God's ultimate intention for women. Packed with scripture and information throughout, FASHIONED TO REIGN is a powerful analysis perfect for any Christian collection.

Imitating God in Christ
Jason Hood
IVP Academic
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830827107, $22.99, www.ivpress.com/academic

Imitating God in Christ examines what it means to follow after Christ's image, and offers a scholarly assessment of the imitation process as it is represented in Christian thinking. Such imitation needs to play a prominent role in everyday lives, and this book considers the challenges and special requirements of Christian imitation, charting successes and failures and how the process is an intrinsic part of God's design. The result is a scholarly, in-depth account perfect for any theological collection considering the word of God and its presence in everyday life.

Under the Mantle
Donald H. Calloway, MIC
Marian Press
9781596142732, $19.95, www.fathercallowway.com

UNDER THE MANTLE: MARIAN THOUGHTS FROM A 21ST CENTURY PRIEST is a pick for any Catholic collection interested in modern thinking about their faith, and blends personal reflection with insights into the modern challenges to Catholic thinking. From reasons for re-assessing and re-appreciating Catholicism to considering of Mary as the 'ultimate example of how to pray' and discussions of Marian saints and their lasting meaning and impact, this tackles some of the historic thinking of Catholicism and is a powerful spiritual and academic analysis highly recommended for any Catholic spirituality collection or reader.

Against the Gods
John D. Currio
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433531835, $17.99, www.crossway.org

AGAINST THE GODS; THE POLEMICAL THEOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT is a pick for any scholarly Christian collection and provides a fine introduction to scriptural ideas of the Bible. It comes from a scholar and archaeologist who considers whether the writings in the Old Testament come from pagan roots, and it provides referenced analysis of stories, styles of writing, and connections between scripture and other writings of the times. The result is a powerful survey of Biblical spiritual and literary origins recommended for any scholarly Christian library.

Wounded by God's People
Anne Graham Lotz
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
978031026893, $19.99, www.zondervan.com

Wounded by God's People: Discovering How God's Love Heals Our Hearts comes from a renowned evangelical leader who here explores ways that Christians wound one another, leading many to stop attending church, and it explores how to stop the cycle. It uses the biblical story of Hagar, who was emotionally and spiritually wounded, to examine methods of behavior and belief which actually result in wounds to others, and it considers cycles of wounding and how God can help heal all. Any Christian concerned with interpersonal relations will find this a fine analysis linking belief with social action.

Take Charge of Your Emotions
Dr. Linda J. Solie
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764211133, $14.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

Take Charge of Your Emotions comes from a Christian psychologist who provides seven steps to emotional wellness and blends psychology with a faith-oriented approach to change. It will serve as a reference for lay readers and pastors alike, providing keys to understanding painful feelings, undesirable conduct, and emotional wellness, and it differs from most self-help titles by including Christian teachings and perspective along with these psychological insights and the seven-step program. The result is a pick for Christian and psychology readers alike.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Polishing the Mirror
Ram Dass with Rameshwar Das
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781604079678, $21.95, www.soundstrue.com

Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart comes from a spiritual leader who for five decades has explored connections between spirituality, consciousness and love, and who here gathers together his essential teachings for living in the here and now. Stories of experiences blend with spiritual guidelines to consider unconditional love, different yoga lifestyle links, cultural attitudes, and how to realize that "here and now is it" - and choose an appropriate lifestyle and spiritual path to making the most of it. The result is an outstanding survey recommended for new age and general spirituality collections alike.


The Fiction Shelf

Under a Texas Sky
Dorothy Garlock
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017
97804466540230, $30.00, www.hachettebookgroup.com

UNDER A TEXAS SKY tells of Anna Finnegan, who has grown up poor in 1920s Chicago and has struggled her whole life, until she enters theater and makes a name for herself. It's years later, she's about to begin her first movie, and Anna encounters romance in the unexpected form of a 1932 Texan who hates outsiders to his small town. Adding to the romance is the specter of failure as the movie is plagued by one trouble after another, leading Anna to investigate who is sabotaging the film. A powerful blend of mystery and romance evolves.

Amy and George - A Novel
Ann L. McLaughlin
John Daniel & Company
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745460, $14.95, www.danielpublishing.com

Amy and George - A Novel takes place in 1937-38, when Europe is about to fall to the Third Reich. George, the new Dean of the Harvard law School, is involved in Roosevelt's New Deal while his nine-year-old daughter Amy faces unhappiness at her new school and problems with her family; especially her father. As political problems rise and a distant father faces his own crisis, the differences between Amy and George's perceptions of their changing world grow ever greater until a crisis threatens both - and brings positive changes. A fine novel creates a powerful personal saga against the backdrop of social and political change in a recommendation for any fiction collection strong in father/daughter relationships.

Brave Hearts
Carolyn Hart
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
9781616147976, $13.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

Catherine is in a loveless marriage playing the role of a dutiful American wife of a British diplomat during wartime in London when she encounters an American war correspondent and unexpectedly falls in love. The only problems are a war and prior commitments - and soon both conspire to tear them apart. But Jack is determined not to lose her and follows her even into captivity when a Japanese attack turns them into refugees. Romance, heartbreak, and high drama set against the backdrop of war for an engrossing read recommended for any fiction collection.

Sight Reading
Daphne Kaloytay
HarperCollins
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062246936, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

"Sight reading" refers to a skill musicians hold that allows them to read a musical composition and instantly hear music - but in this novel it also refers to the lives of three classically trained musicians who find their lives changed through their meetings and encounters over the years. Here the changing tempos and moods of music are compared to life as talented, close friends interact and are changed by their twenty-year association. Shifting viewpoints and voices bring these changes to life with the thread of music always joining stories and protagonists in a lovely story recommended for any fiction reader.

Blood of the Lamb
Sam Cabot
Blue Rider Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399162954, $27.95, www.penguin.com

Centuries ago a pope signed a controversial agreement in a desperate attempt to save his church, rocking the highest levels of the Vatican at the time. Over the centuries the contract was nearly forgotten - but now it's resurfaced to threaten not just the Church, but the future of mankind. Its message reveals the reality of vampires in the world - and conspiracies and murders have long worked together to keep this fact a deep secret. With the revelation comes danger, intrigue, and the involvement of an art historian and a Jesuit priest who find themselves in a desperate race to piece together clues from human and vampire worlds that will reveal an even greater secret central to all worlds. Part fantasy, part novel and packed with elements of a thriller, this is an unforgettable read recommended for any fiction collection.

The Quest
Nelson DeMille
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455576425, $26.00, www.centerstreet.com

THE QUEST, more than most thrillers, does a fine job of juxtaposing the thriller portion with romance, and traverses the world with an adventure that centers on a Catholic priest, the Ethiopian Civil War, and an escape that involves Westerners and a lovely photographer who are trying to escape the violence. In the course of interacting the group becomes immersed in a search for the Grail - a quest that will change all their lives. With a vividly exciting plot and characters who are created with depth and complexity, THE QUEST is a solid thriller recommended for any general reader.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Downtown Strut
Ed Ifkovic
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464201554, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

DOWNTOWN STRUT provides a new Edna Ferber mystery and is set in 1927 Manhattan, here Edna is preparing for a Broadway musical centered around her writings. But Edna hasn't just immersed in show time - she's absorbed by a murder that affects her mentoring of young writers and actors when one of charges is murdered. Who murdered Roddy? Neither writers nor actors are exempt from the investigations that follow in this absorbing account of murder and motives, recommended for any mystery collection.

Japantown: A Thriller
Barry Lancet
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781451691696, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Japantown: A Thriller blends elements of mystery and good P.I. fiction with that of a novel of international espionage as it tells of an antique dealer/investigator who must use his knowledge of Japanese culture to solve a major murder in San Francisco's Japantown even as he and his daughter are targeted next. Nine months after Jim Brodie recovers a Japanese national treasure, he's back home in San Francisco struggling to make an income from his antique shop. When an entire family is gunned down, his background lends to expertise the police can't duplicate - and proves the only route for solving clues. San Francisco culture and scenes permeate a fine thriller filled with satisfying mystery, solid characterization and high drama.

Deadly Heat
Richard Castle
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023-6298
www.hyperionbooks.com
9781401324803, $26.99, www.amazon.com

Deadly Heat provides a fine story of a NYPD homicide detective, Nikki Heat, who is still on the trail of a former CIA chief who ordered her execution over a decade ago. Together with her partner, investigative journalist Jameson Rook, their search for a clever old spy leads to a new terror plot which is just about ready to go - and to top it all off, a new serial killer hits the streets. Trapped between personal goals and threats to society, Nikki finds herself in the line of fire on more than one level in this gripping saga, perfect for fans of mysteries and thrillers.

Dick Francis's Refusal
Felix Francis
Putnam
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399160813, $26.95, www.penguin.com

For more than four decades Felix Francis has been researching and co-writing his father's horseracing mysteries, blending his father's signature and famous writing style with his own inventiveness. When the elder Francis died in 2012, he provided solo novels that thus stepped neatly into his father's shoes. This novel reintroduces one of his father's beloved characters, Sid Halley, in a new mystery revolving around - what else - the horse racing world. Here a British jockey has given up investigating to retire to the peaceful countryside. The only problem is: trouble follows him in the form of a scandal that could destroy the sport of horse racing. Sid is quickly involved in a series of racing dilemmas, suicides, and murder in this engrossing saga, recommended for any collection seeing popularity with Francis' writings.

Killing Custer
Margaret Coel
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425264638, $25.95, www.penguin.com

KILLING CUSTER: A WIND RIVER MYSTERY tells of the town of Lander, which is participating in a big parade celebrating the new rodeo season. At the head of the parade is an impersonator of General Custer - until he's murdered. Father John O'Malley and Vickey Holden must find a killer who is after more than historical accuracy in this excellent thriller, packed with fine details and insights with a healthy dose of local town color and twists of plot. Mystery readers will find it absorbing.


The Biography Shelf

Restless Fires
James B. Hunt
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881463934, $20.00, www.mupress.org

Restless Fires: Young John Muir's Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf in 1867-68 tells of Muir's journey and is based on his writings and published accounts, and examines what turns out to be the roots of Muir's environmental thinking. Muir witnessed the effect of the Civil war on communities and the environment through this journey - yet this is one of the first books to examine his travels in light of these wartime encounters. His journal pinpoints a young man's evolution into an environmental thinker, documents the importance of mind-broadening travel, and places the origins of Muir's concern with the environment in his early explorations. No Muir or environmental history collection would be complete without adding these insights.

Rebecca Dickinson
Marla R. Miller
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813347653, $20.00, www.westviewpress.com

REBECCA DICKINSON: INDEPENDENCE FOR A NEW ENGLAND WOMAN joins other in the 'Lives of American Women' series and provides a fine biography of Dickinson's struggles to remain single as she faced the social and economic challenges of doing so in the late 1700s in America. Her own journal writings serve as the foundation for an analysis of early New England women's rights issues, documenting experiences of living in colonial times as an independent and influential woman. Her story belongs in biography and women's issues collections alike!

Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias
Jane Velez-Mitchell
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062303998, $25.99, www.amazon.com

Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias comes from an award-winning journalist who has covered some of the biggest court cases in modern times, and who here considers the Jodi Arias murder trial. It uses insider accounts from those who knew Jodi and Travis and offers the author's experience covering such cases to provide a different, professional perspective on events. Any who have heard pieces of the story will find the facts gathered together under one cover, and will especially appreciate the depth of insight into the case and its major participants. Recommended for any general-interest collection where true crime sagas are of interest.

Daniel's Music
Jerome Preisler with the Trush Family
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10018
9781620876947, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

DANIEL'S MUSIC: ONE FAMILY'S JOURNEY FROM TRAGEDY TO EMPOWERMENT THROUGH FAITH, MEDICINE, AND THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC is a powerful saga that deserves a place not just in biography sections, but for health collections and those concerned with spirituality and faith. In 2011 Daniel Trush sang the national anthem at a Yankees game. What made his such an amazing accomplishment was that it was preceded by a medical condition that had confined him to a wheelchair years earlier and left him unable to speak. At the age of twelve Daniel entered a month-long coma that left him incapacitated from several strokes; yet music brought him back to the world and ten years later he completed the New York Marathon after being confined to a wheelchair. His family founded Daniel's Music Foundation, which provides free music instruction to disabled people in the New York area. Any who would read an uplifting saga of achievement will find this a thrilling, lovely story!

Kate: The Future Queen
Katie Nicholl
Weinstein Books
345 Hudson Street, 13th floor, NY, NY 10014
9781602662265, $26.00, www.weinsteinbooks.com

Kate: The Future Queen provides a fine survey of Kate Middleton, a style icon and modern princess who despite the efforts of paparazzi, has presented a casual and shallow face to the world - until now. This biography comes from the Royal Editor for the Mail on Sunday publication as well as an editor for Vanity Fair and considers the entire story of Kate Middleton, blending exclusive photos and interviews with new stories about Kate's childhood, coming of age, and relationship with price William. From her academics to her career, this covers all aspects of her life and is a 'must' for any collection strong in the British royalty.


The Travel Shelf

Montenegro
Peter Dragicevic
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741796025, $24.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

MONTENEGRO is more than your usual traveler's overview of better-known destinations: it holds a treasure trove of insider's information and local secrets and has been researched and updated to reflect the latest trends and offerings of Montenegro, from beaches to mountains and small villages. Small line maps, tips on sights and getting away and around the country, and outdoors activities will appeal to independent travelers who want to make the most of a Montenegro visit. Packaged in a neat take-along tote size format, this is a 'must' for any independent traveler!

A Suitcase and a Spatula
Tori Hascheka
Ryland Peters & Small - CICO Books
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781849753494, $24.95, www.rylandpeters.com

A Suitcase and a Spatula: Recipes and Stories from Around the World combines a culinary with a travel guide and is a fun read for any interested in the combination of food, drink, and travel. Isobel Wield's illustrations accompany a lovely pictorial and recipe collection that combines a travelogue with humor and fun dishes. There are unusual blog/chapter headings: for example, 'How to Get the Best Out of a Breakfast Buffet', which begins with the instruction "Don't falter on the edge of the forest like Bambi". More than a cookbook (though recipes pack it) and more than a travelogue (though dishes are based on the author's travel experiences), this is quite simply a delicious addition to any cookery or travel library!

Roadside History of Illinois
Stan Banash
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425990, $20.00, www.mountain-press.com

ROADSIDE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS comes from a native of the state who describes its diverse history and byways, accompanying routes and maps with local color and even a hundred historical and modern photos to round out the presentation. Any either visiting the state or who have an interest in regional events will find this engrossing, blending a travelogue with local tips on places that hold much historical background. Without this book in hand, it'd be all too easy to drive by some of the state's lesser-known wonders; but by planning a route with history in mind, Illinois's past comes to life. Travel and regional American history holdings will find this a fine addition.

Headhunters on my Doorstep
J. Maarten Troost
Gotham Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592407897, $17.95, www.penguin.com

HEADHUNTERS ON MY DOORSTEP: A TRUE TREASURE ISLAND GHOST STORY provides the final installment to the author's trilogy of South Pacific encounters, and is a recommendation for any who have enjoyed his other travel and recovery memoirs. Newly sober and searching for new experiences, the author decided to follow Robert Louis Stevenson's journeys through the South Seas. His latest - and final - contribution following these journeys offers a healthy dose of island history, native culture and customs, and the process of re-discovery that marks Troost's own encounters in the islands. Add humor and fun anecdotes and you have a lovely travel story perfect for any general lending library - especially those that have seen interest
in the prior travelogue books.

On the Trail of Genghis Khan
Tim Cope
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, NY, NY 10010
9781608190720, $30.00, www.bloomsbury.com

On the Trail of Genghis Khan: An Epic Journey Through the Land of the Nomads details the author's three-year journey at the age of 24, riding from Mongolia to Hungary on horseback - some 6,000 miles - following the trail of the nomadic Mongols under Genghis Khan. When he set out on his journey, Tim could barely ride a horse - and was facing some of the most isolated, challenging regions in the world from mountains to steppes. His experiences and encounters with nomads, local families, and other cultures who embraced him and taught him survival blends history, political and travel insights in an engrossing saga that will appeal to history and travel readers alike: any who look for more than a casual experiential account.

Kin to the Wind
Moro Buddy Bohn
Traveler's Tales
2320 Bowdoin Street, Palo Alto CA 94306
9781609520557, $19.95, www.travelerstales.com

What musician hasn't dreamed of setting out on a world tour? Kin to the Wind: A Troubadour's Magical Journey Around the World With No Money is an inspirational travel memoir that tells of the adventures of a young self-taught musician in the 1960s who set out to travel the world with no money and only his guitar in hand. In the course of his journeys he was to play for soldiers, kings, terrorists, and the common man - and his story provides a fine series of vignettes on other cultures, peoples, and encounters which will make for perfect inspirational reading for armchair travelers.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Color Recipes for Painted Furniture
Annie Sloan
Ryland Peters & Small - CICO Books
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
9781908862778, $24.95, www.rylandpeters.com

Color Recipes for Painted Furniture and More 40 Step-by-Step Projects to Transform Your Home provides a fine new collection of some 40 projects that range from painting furniture to floors, doors and ceilings, and will make a lovely idea source for homeowners looking for specifics on how to paint, guild, wax, dye and stencil color embellishments for their homes. Full-page color photos of both completed projects and step-by-step processes leave nothing to guess and provide outstanding specifics suitable for any homeowner/crafter seeking fun ideas.


The Interior Design Shelf

Compact Living
Michael Guerra
Permanent Publications
The Sustainability Centre
East Meon, GU32 1HR, England
www.permanentpublications.co.uk
9781856231053, $14.95, www.amazon.com

COMPACT LIVING: HOW TO DESIGN SMALL INTERIOR SPACE promotes living a sustainable, low impact life with less debt and narrows the focus to design solutions for small spaces that show how to make best most efficient use of a small house and garden. From hanging everyday-use objects for maximum efficiency to making the most of a small kitchen and arranging cupboards, this is packed with design, decorating and home arrangement ideas that make the most of a small space. Colorful photos accompany clear directions for anyone interested in living in a small - even tiny - space.

Tom Scheerer Decorates
Mimi Red
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (dist.)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.vendomepress.com, www.abramsbooks.com
9780865653054, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Tom Scheerer Decorates provides lovely color photos by Francesco Lagnese, an internationally acclaimed travel and interior photographer whose work has appeared in many magazines and architectural publications across the country, and discusses a unique style that blends cheerful decorator approaches with practical applications. He's renovated urban homes and country houses alike, and here blends classic decorating approaches with modern artistry to create interiors that focus on natural materials, lovely colors, and simple inexpensive accents. Where similar books focus on lavish embellishments, this focuses more on a lavish look on a budget, and is a powerful pick for any arts, interior design, and architecture collection as well as general-interest home and garden libraries.


The Computer Shelf

Facebook for Dummies, fifth edition
Carolyn Abram
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118633120, $21.99, www.dummies.com

Facebook is much more than friends keeping in touch: you can use its system to share photos, plan and promote events, read news feeds tailored to your specific interests, and much more. There's no better place for bare-bones newcomers to begin this process than with FACEBOOK FOR DUMMIES, a handbook that covers all the things one can (and cannot) do on Facebook. From managing the new Timeline features and tweaking privacy settings to enjoying games and creating community and fan pages, this fifth updated edition provides a thorough review of all of Facebook's features and offers specific, easy advice suitable for quick reference or leisure browsing alike.

Redis in Action
Josiah L. Carlson
Manning Publications Company
c/o O'Reilly Media, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781617290855, $44.99, www.manning.com

Any computer reference collection strong in databases and NOSQL will find Redis in Action an important acquisition. It introduces programmers to Redis and uses real-world applications to demonstrate caching, distributed ad targeting, searching capabilities, and more. From using counters and statistics to streaming API, programming code and special insights on Redis transactions pack a powerful coverage that explores the different ways Redis can improve business operations. Programmers looking to blend Redis processes into their systems will find this a winner!

Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012, fifth edition
Mary Delamater and Anne Boehm
Mike Murach & Associates
9781890774752, $57.50, www.murach.com

Murach's ASP.NET 4.5 Web Programming with C# 2012 appears in its fifth updated edition to provide a key training and reference guide perfect for any interested in ASP.NET basics and advanced applications, and covers everything from web applications using database data and formatting to using SQL along with ASP.NET data controls to maximum benefit. It teaches programmers how to write good web applications and how to handle advanced database processing needs, showing professionals how to add to their skill sets and create custom websites with an in-depth knowledge of ASP.NET web forms and capabilities. Any neo-professional web programmer will want this in-depth guide to building web applications.

Programming Groovy 2
Venkat Subramaniam
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381
Frisco, TX 75033-7438
9781937785307, $35.00, www.pragprog.com

PROGRAMMING GROOVY 2: DYNAMIC PRODUCTIVITY FOR THE JAVA DEVELOPER helps Java programmers work within the platform to incorporate Groovy's features into routines, and updates the first edition to reflect the many and vast changes represented by Groovy 2. It covers all the basics of the language and how to use its metaprogramming operations, using real-world examples to explore both basics and advanced concepts. From quick side-bars of information to pages packed with code, charts, and explanations, this is a 'must' for any working Java programmer who would learn more bout the Groovy framework.

Hacking Exposed: Mobile Security Secrets & Solutions
Neil Bergman, et.al.
McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
NY, NY 10020
9780071817011, $50.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Hacking Exposed: Mobile Security Secrets & Solutions is a solid reference for any working in network security as it applies to mobile applications and networks, and shows how to identify and avoid key threats in an expanding mobile world. Chapters delve into how attackers compromise networks and devices and subvert mobile apps, and teach the basics of better encryption approaches for mobile data and platforms. From how cellular network attacks use air systems to compromise device security measures to handling the code of malware and developing better authentication routines, this holds charts and black and white illustrations to support and enhance all references, and is a pick for any network security manager.

The GIS 20: Essential Skills, second edition
Gina Clemmer
ESRI Press
380 New York Street
Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589483224, $49.95, www.esri.com

The GIS 20: Essential Skills provides a fine workbook in its second updated edition to help readers work with the top 20 skills needed to become an effective user of ArcGIS software. It provides step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and applied tips on how to use GIS for everything from editing data and querying maps to creating reports and images, and it provides nine new topics to help GIS users test and apply their newfound skills, with an accompanying DVD and ArcGis 10.1 supplementing exercises. Any GIS learner will find this workbook a fine approach to mastering the program.

Jump Start Sinatra
Darren Jones
Sitepoint
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
9780987332141, $24.95, www.sitepoint/com

Jump Start Sinatra tells how to get up to speed, literally, in a weekend using the Sinatra program for building fast Ruby applications sans Rails, and is a recommendation for any Ruby programmer's reference collection. It offers keys to using the Sinatra codebase, which holds less than 2,000 lines (unlike rails) and offers a range of tools to blend with the effort. Greater flexibility, less cumbersome code, and a freedom to incorporate other programs into protocols are all top reasons for considering Sinatra - and the basic guidelines to building a website and using Sinatra's apps makes this a winner!

Honoring the Code
Matt Barton
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466567535, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Honoring the Code: Conversations with Great Game Designers is a pick for any computer science collection strong in game development and here provides the insights and experiences of sixteen groundbreaking game developers who share their stories and experiences. From their successes and failures to the evolving gaming industry, this provides in-depth interviews that emphasize the creators of adventure and role-playing games and real-time strategies. Interview questions are specific and lend to in-depth and unique answers ("...you might be frustrated as a designer, but old-school guys like more are even ore frustrated as gamers. I'm so tired of seeing the same old first-person shooter come out year after year.") From games designers play to insights on audiences, markets, and more, this is a fine pick for any game designer and computer collections catering to them.

Software Requirements, third edition
Karl Wiegers and Joy Beatty
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9780735679665, $44.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

The third updated edition of Software Requirements provides proven techniques for requirements engineering processes and has been completely updated and expanded to reflect the latest engineering protocols and examples. Two leaders in this field provide a set of best practices and tools covering all requirements development and management techniques, with chapters surveying documentation, validation processes, handling change requests, applying practices to agile projects, and moving from requirements to success. With plenty of black and white charts and insights, this is the perfect item of choice for any computer reference collection!

Ace the Programming Interview
Edward Guiness
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118518564, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Ace the Programming Interview: 160 Questions and Answers for Success is a recommendation for business and education as well as computer holdings, and offers programmers basic information on the process of acing a programming interview to get the best job. From what resume should include and interview strategies one can anticipate to preparing a phone interview cheat sheet and writing superior code examples, this covers all the basics of how to prepare for an interview, how to field social questions, and how to master common problems in an interview. This comes from a programmer who has both been an applicant and an interviewer, so it offers perspectives from both sides. With its pointers and basic education on acing programming tests, this is a 'must' for any aspiring programmer.

Git Pocket Guide
Richard E. Silverman
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449325862, $14.99, www.oreilly.com

Git Pocket Guide provides a fine pocket-book-sized reference for software engineers working with Git, a distributed version control system, and provides both a quick introduction for newcomers and a quick reference for those who want refresher points while in the field. It's written for Git 1.8.2 and is arranged around basic tasks common to Git users. From making changes to a repository to handling partial undos, merging sequences, and imports from history, this is a 'must' for any Git user.

HTML5 Pocket Primer
Oswald Campesato
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781938549106, $27.95, www.merclearning.com

HTML5 Pocket Primer comes with a DVD and joins other Pocket Primer titles to review the major aspects of applying HTML5. From CSS3 and WebSockets to hybrid applications using jQuery, this provides source code, tutorial supporting videos, and instruction of some of the most important, latest HTML5 applications. Any who have basic programmer's knowledge but who want more depth on applications will find this a top pick for any learner already familiar with the basics who want more applications and tips. Black and white illustrations throughout support code and programming specifics, making this a perfect pick for any programmer looking to move to the next level.


The Psychology Shelf

How People With Autism Grieve, and How to Help
Deborah Lipsky
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059541, $18.95, www.jkp.com

How People With Autism Grieve, and How to Help: An Insider Handbook provides a fine survey on how people with autism handle loss of people in their lives, and explores how they come to terms with grief. From various coping behaviors such as turning to solitude over sharing feelings to their ability to show no emotional turmoil and to turn their focus to other things, this explains the different reactions of autistic people to their environment and experiences, and comes from a high-functioning autistic individual with a basic background in emergency services and education alike. Any collection strong in autism will find this a solid reference.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Art of Healing
Bernie S. Siegel, MD
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681853, $16.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

The Art of Healing: Uncovering Your Inner Wisdom and Potential for Self-Healing provides a fine follow-up to Love, Medicine & Miracles and comes form a medical doctor and spiritual teacher who shows how to connect both disciplines to tap the body's innate ability to heal. His efforts to promote self-induced healing patterns, once called miracles, are detailed in a title that shows how unconventional approaches, including drawing and visualization as well as laughter, lead to making treatment decisions that promote healing. Case histories and suggestions for healing contribute to a powerful survey.

Get Inside Your Doctor's Head
Phillip K. Peterson, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421410692, $15.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Get Inside Your Doctor's Head; 10 Commonsense Rules for Making Better Decisions About Medical Care provides a short, simple coverage explaining the Ten Rules of Internal Medicine and uses case examples illustrating these rules, providing plenty of insights on treatment, second opinions, and much more. The Ten Rules can be used to make decisions in the medical world on health issues, based on doctor recommendations - and can help patients make better decisions by asking better questions. The result is a powerful discussion highly recommended as a basic primer to medical professional thought processes, and will appeal to any general-interest health collection.

Heart Disease and Health
Dr. G. Gadkari and Jeffrey R. Larsen
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781937585907, $24.95, www.merclearning.com

Heart Disease and Health provides answers to terms and subjects relating to heart disease and provides a companion DVD with videos and resources to accompany health studies, information, and case studies. From basic physiology of the heart and its systems to blood pressure, exercise, diabetes and more, this covers everything from heart attack symptoms to treatment options and is a solid reference for general collections looking for a basic introduction using a Q&A format.

Conversations with a Pedophile
Dr. Amy Zabin
Barricade Books
2037 Lemoine Ave., Suite 362, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781568904414, $15.95, www.barricadebooks.com

Conversations with a Pedophile: In the Interest of Our Children is a top pick for health, social science, legal and general collections; it's for anyone seeking to learn about sexual abuse. It's the first time that an uncensored voice of a pedophile has been heard and comes from a doctor who met "Alan" while working as a therapist in the prison where he was incarcerated. He confessed he had sexually abused over 1,000 boys - and this reveals his inner thought process in a coverage designed to help parents protect their children. From fantasy and a self-image as victim to how pedophiles evolve, this provides many important insights not seen elsewhere, and is a 'must' for any collection concerned about child protection.

Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients, second edition
Ingrid Kohlstadt, Editor
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439887721, $149.95, www.crcpress.com

Any health collection strong in professional nutrition references will find Advancing Medicine with Food and Nutrients a 'must have' addition to a collection. While this appears in a second edition, this is actually Volume II - packed with new chapters, topics, extensive revamps and updates, and discussions applicable to clinical and consumer interests alike. Chapters cover everything from chronic inflammation and kidney stones to fibromyalgia and other conditions affected by diet choices. Scientific research, mathematical formulas, charts, diagrams, and chemistry discussions mark a survey packed with insights into prevention, repair, and how the medical profession is enhanced by nutritional research. The result is an extensive reference and discussion recommended for any professional's health library.

Power Eating, fourth edition
Susan Kleiner, PhD, RD
Maggie Greenwood-Robinson
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450430173, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

Power Eating appears in its fourth updated edition to provide the basics of how to add muscle, lose fat and eat with sport competition in mind, and is a powerful survey for any health or sports holding. It gathers years of scientific research into athletic diet and synthesizes it under one cover, offering paths to achieving goals in performance. Nutrition advice, charts, and approaches to better eating for demanding power sports make for a survey highly recommended for any nutrition or sports enthusiast.


The Art Shelf

Women and Ledger Art
Richard Pearce
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816521043, $24.95, www.uapress.arizona.edu

Women and Ledger Art: Four Contemporary Native American Artists offers a powerful narrowed focus on the contributions of four modern women, and is much more than just a catalog of some of their works. The author spent six years in continual communication with the women, learning about their work, lives and involvement in Plains Indian legacy. It's this in-depth background that makes Women and Ledger Art an invaluable contribution, offering in-depth analysis that goes beyond artistic insights and delves into the lives and history of Native American experience. Highly recommended for women's history, arts, and Native American history holdings alike!

Cornelia Parker
Iwona Blazwick
Thames & Hudson Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500093733, $65.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

CORNELIA PARKER provides a catalog of the artistic and poetic works of British artist Parker, who works primarily in sculpture and installation. Her projects aren't static creations but include blowing up a shed, steamrolling musical instruments, and other explosive approaches to art. Here is a monograph of her works from the late 1970s to modern times, arranged chronologically to cover the evolution of her pieces and perspective and adding insights into her approaches to various mediums, including video, photos and drawings. Nearly two hundred works are featured and accompanied by insights form the artist, while five thematic essays by curator Iwona Blazwick provide background and artistic history. A 'must' for any modern art collection!

More Than a Likeness: The Enduring Art of Mary Whyte
Mary Whyte & Martha R. Severens
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781611172768, $75.00, www.uscpress.com

More Than a Likeness: The Enduring Art of Mary Whyte is, surprisingly, the first book to delve into the life and art of a key watercolorist and provides both a catalog and analysis of her earliest rural paintings to her latest works. Over two hundred color images of her paintings and sketches accompany comparisons of these works to major contemporaries such as Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent, demonstrating how her art has both been influenced and shaped by her approaches. From her use of neutral colors for more detail to points which are enlarged for viewer focus on her techniques, this provides a fine and in-depth survey any arts library will welcome.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Cat Sense
John Bradshaw
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465031016, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com

CAT SENSE: HOW THE NEW FELINE SCIENCE CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER FRIEND TO YOUR PET comes from an anthrozoologist who uses his own research and the work of fellow scientists to consider the nature and needs of the cat. From the house cat's evolutionary history and nature to its geographic origins in an Arabian wildcat and its long-standing associations with mankind, this considers the often-stormy history of man and cats, how cats came to be domesticated, and how cat senses interpret the world. The result is a lively blend of science and history recommended for leisure readers, general collections and science libraries alike.

Bird Homes and Habitats
Bill Thompson III
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780618904464, $14.95, www.hmhbooks.com

Bird Homes and Habitats joins other books in Peterson's field guide series and comes from the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest and the author of the Peterson Field Guides. The focus here is on understanding backyard bird habits and needs - and here Bill Thompson III answers a wealth of questions on all aspects of attracting birds to one's garden, from feeders and the right foods to providing a safe nesting place. Color photos throughout accompany descriptions of the habits and requirements of different backyard birds, along with sections of frequently asked questions and tips. From understanding swallows and building a nest box for them to how fellow birders created unique environments, this is a fine pick for any collection featuring birding guides for general-interest readers.

American Alligator
Kelby Ouchley
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813049137, $19.95, www.upf.com

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR: ANCIENT PREDATOR IN THE MODERN WORLD details the evolution of the alligator from its early ancestors to modern times, with a focus on its role in America's southern swamps and marshes. In the course of charting the alligator's history and ecology, this book considers the entire ecosystem that supports it, looking at research in various reserves and parks and considering its place in American society and culture. The result is a powerful survey that is a strong pick for both Florida collections and more general holdings strong in natural history.

Frogs of the United States and Canada
C. Kenneth Dodd Jr.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421406336, $180.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The definitive, weighty and authoritative 2-volume reference Frogs of the United States and Canada packs in color photos and full references throughout, along with range maps and natural history for over a hundred native and nonindigenous species, and covers everything from conservation to natural history and threats. Some species have special and limited habitat requirements, others are liberally populated from arid regions to humid forests to mountains. Many frog populations are declining: this provides the latest information for any working with amphibians, and for researchers and students of biodiversity. Libraries strong in natural history references will find this assembles authoritative and recent research from a variety of sources, providing a powerful and unparalleled study invaluable to any frog researcher. The result is a 'must' definitive 'bible' resource for any with more than a casual interest in frogs.

The Birds of America
John James Audubon
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393088656, $350.00, www.wwnorton.com

THE BIRDS OF AMERICA: THE BIEN CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC EDITION is an oversized reproduction of a rare 'double elephant' folio edition never published before and representing the chromolithographic works of printer Julian Bien, originally slated to be the largest and most valuable book ever published in America, until the Civil War stymied the process. Only 150 plates were produced and all have been reproduced here with their corresponding offsets from the original printing opposite each plate. This edition comes from Joel Oppenheimer, whose efforts as one of the nation's top Audubon experts lend to an extraordinary facsimile of interest to definitive Audubon collections and printers alike. It measures 13 3/4 by 20 1/2 inches, is bound in cloth with a full slipcase, and includes an introduction by Oppenheimer covering the history and life of Audubon. It also documents the efforts of family, friends and professionals in producing this reissue, which was originally spearheaded by his son John Woodhouse. Add original research by Oppenheimer which answers specific long-standing questions about the Bein edition and you have a solid reference especially recommended as a definitive and unparalleled acquisition by any collection strong in Audubon, ornithology, or printmaking history.

Veterinary Microbiology, third edition
D. Scott McVey, et.al.
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780470959497, $99.99, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

The third updated edition of Veterinary Microbiology provides a comprehensive reference on the bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens that cause animal disease and now appears in full color with better images in this new updated edition. The latest research and diagnostic insights are included in a coverage that expands sections, updates information, and provides in-depth details on infectious disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Veterinary students and practitioners alike will welcome a reference that reviews the latest in microbiology and disease management, and includes access to a companion website of review questions and PowerPoint presentations. A 'must' for any serious veterinary science collection.


The Crafts Shelf

Inside Acrylics
Phil Garrett
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440317033, $29.99, www.artistsnetwork.com

Inside Acrylics: Studio Secrets from Today's Top Artists provides a fine survey of acrylic art and gathers advice from nine top acrylic artists who provide visual and verbal enlightenment through 18 step-by-step demonstrations of fine techniques. From using acrylic paints and mediums to achieve the feel of oils to working with mixed media and using and caring for materials and finished pieces, this is packed with a range of insights into the use of acrylics. The lay-flat binder format with hard cover spine lettering makes for easy shelving location and practical use in the art studio, also. A 'must' for any who would delve into the world of acrylics!

Basic Metal Jewelry Techniques
Carles Codina
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764343674, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Basic Metal Jewelry Techniques provides a fine introduction to the art of metal jewelry crafting and is a pick for any who would understand the basics of metallurgy and formulas involved in the metal jewelry-making process. Crafts collections will find this provides the latest insights on tested techniques covering all points of basic jewelry making, from soldering to making clasps. Photos and drawings leave nothing to guesswork as they document step-by-step processes from initial casting to polishing the finished result. Jewelers will find these basics form a foundation of tools that can be readily applied to any future metal jewelry projects. The color illustration throughout is exceptional and adds to documentation of processes that leave nothing to guesswork. Highly recommended!


The Business Shelf

How to Make Partner and Still Have a Life
Heather Townsend and Jo Larbie
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749466558, $44.95, www.koganpage.com

How to Make Partner and Still Have a Life provides a fine guide to moving to the top of the professional services world while maintaining a personal life outside the office, and offers many practical keys to success at both levels. It comes from experts who outline all the specifics of what it takes to climb the career ladder, offering highlighted tips for quick reference, considering partnership potentials and how to overcome common obstacles, and everything from firm finances and fees to making a relationship plan. No stone is left unturned in this process, making this an invaluable and unique assessment of the pros, cons and realities involved in making partner in a firm. No business reference library should be without!

The Manager's Guide to HR, second edition
Max Muller
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814410769, $24.95, www.amacombooks.org

The Manager's Guide to HR covers all the basics of hiring, firing, documentation, benefits and more, and is a 'must' for any manager who would understand the functions and processes of a business HR department. This second edition has been extensively revised to reflect the latest legal and labor standards affecting HR routines and management, and covers everything from social media to new rights laws and labor relations boards. From workplace violence to new recordkeeping standards, this is a 'must' for any business collection catering to managers or business owners.

Data Science for Business
Foster Provost & Tom Fawcett
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449361327, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

Data Science for Business: What You Need to Know About Data Mining and Data-Analytic Thinking is a pick for computer and business collections alike, and provides a broad guide to the basics of data science and the information needed to gain useful, applied business value from any data collected from any source. It teaches core data science principles but moves neatly beyond these basics to apply data mining techniques and results to business objectives. With chapters coming from two long-time experts in data science and covering such topics as issues with multiple comparisons, targeting customers with ads, and avoiding overfitting issues, this is a strong pick for any business collection.

Cold Cash, Cool Climate
Jonathan Koomey, PhD
Analytics Press
PO Box 1545, Burlingame, CA 94011-1545
9780970601933, $24.95, www.analyticspress.com

Cold Cash, Cool Climate: Science-Based Advice for Ecological Entrepreneurs is written for business people and investors interested in making a profit from climate change trends, and is a fine survey analyzing the business effects of world-wide changes. The author holds decades of experience in business analysis and his applications of this expertise tackle rapid transitions and points of change affecting economics and business approaches. A motivated entrepreneur can profit from these climate changes and this book tells exactly how, blending science with a pragmatic approach to change. Business and science libraries will find it involving.

The Firm
Duff McDonald
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781439190975, $30.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE FIRM: THE STORY OF MCKINSEY AND ITS SECRET INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN BUSINESS comes from one of the few journalists to receive inside information on the culture and methods of McKinsey, a corporation founded in 1926 which can claim influence on some of the nation's best organizations. McKinsey changed the power structure in the White House, revolutionized business school processes, and changed the course of American capitalism pursuits. Financial journalist McDonald probes the 'how' of this consulting firm, providing fascinating insider facts that business readers will find specific and enlightening. A 'must' for any business collection.

The Solution Revolution
William D. Eggers & Paul Macmillan
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422192191, $26.00, www.hbr.org/books

The Solution Revolution: How Business, Government, and Social Enterprises are Teaming Up to Solve Society's Toughest Problems provides a fine survey of social issues, government, and business connections requiring more collaborative economic support systems, and is a pick for social issues and business collections alike. It advocates a 'solution economy' erasing public and private sector boundaries and promotes linking economic pursuits with social benefit value. Discussions of new problem solvers that create business interest and value survey everything from low-cost health care to renewable energy and health promotion, showing how markets can be created for social good but fueled by interest in profit. Business collections will find this a specific, inspirational guide!


The Cookbook Shelf

Balanced Raw
Tina Leigh, C.H.H.C., C.P.C.
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592335510, $21.99, www.fairwindspress.com

Balanced Raw: Combine Raw and Cooked Foods for Optimal Health, Weight Loss, and Vitality provides a four-week program packed with keys to creating a healthy, balanced raw diet plan and is a pick for any interested in blending the benefits of raw food with the logic of nutrition, which shows that an entirely raw diet may not be the healthiest choice. This offers a 30-day plan for blending raw foods into a diet, provides a range of flavorful recipes from Pumpkin Spice Morning Chia Porridge to Spiced Watermelon Tonic, and addresses issues of toxic diets and the benefits of a raw food program. The result is a top pick for any raw food enthusiast who seeks a more balanced approach to the subject.

Slow Cooker Revolution V. 2
America's Test Kitchen
9781936493579, $26.95, www.americastestkitchen.com

Slow Cooker Revolution V. 2: The Easy-Prep Edition provides some 200 recipes for all the basics using the slow cooker, from barbecue and poaching to stews, roasts, and even making desserts. From smarter approaches to prep work and recipe classics to new techniques that expand the slow cooker's abilities, designed by master chefs, this takes the attributes of the slow cooker and moves them a notch up the scale for useful everyday kitchen tasks. Any who would learn a new set of unique tricks that go beyond the usual recipe-only focus of most slow cooker cookbooks will find this an exceptional addition, loaded with color photos of completed dishes and formulas for success.

The Soupmaker's Kitchen
Aliza Green
Quarry Books
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
18705 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592538447, $24.99, www.quarrybooks.com

The Soupmaker's Kitchen is more than just another soup-making cookbook: its purpose is to teach the basic techniques involved in making your own stock and in the process it covers organizing a kitchen, choosing ingredients, and getting the most flavor and nutrition from them. It covers all kinds of soups, from borscht and broths to chowders, bisque and stock, and covers basics ranging from how to save scraps for stock to freezing soups and understanding different soup varieties. This emphasis on maximizing flavor sets this apart from general soup-making recipe collections and makes for a 'must' for novices and experienced soup cooks alike.

Fermented Foods for Health
Deirdre Rawlings
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592335527, $21.95, www.fairwindspress.com

FERMENTED FOODS FOR HEALTH covers the basics of fermenting foods at home and comes from a holistic practitioner who lends her nutrition background to discussions of how to use the medicinal properties of fermented foods. The basics of the process are explained in chapters that discuss basic fermentation processes, how they apply to different foods, and how to then use fermented results in recipes ranging from chutneys and relishes to meats, dairy products and drinks. A 'must' for any collection looking for a basic primer on making and cooking with fermented foods!

Plancha: 150 Great Recipes for Spanish-Style Grilling
Liliane Otel
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841185, $21.00, www.agatepublishing.com

Plancha: 150 Great Recipes for Spanish-Style Grilling presents dishes centered around a Spanish style of cooking involving a metal slab heated over a gas flame, and provides the basics of how to buy, maintain and use a plancha in the home. Over 150 simple recipes accompany tips for incorporating a plancha into any meal, illustrating how the griddle can be used with a barbecue or in a cook's regular kitchen. The inspirational dishes are designed for use with a plancha - but with the Internet as a department store, one is no longer limited to local supply houses to obtain such a specialty item. And the focus of Plancha: 150 Great Recipes for Spanish-Style Grilling provides a wealth of easy, traditional Spanish dishes home cooks will find perfect.

Jamie Deen's Good Food
Jamie Deen
Kyle Books
67 - 69 Whitfield Street, London W1T 4HF, England
9781906868970, $29.95, www.kylecathie.co.uk

Jamie Deen's Good Food offers up a fine cookbook that pairs family-friendly recipes with notes on kid-appealing dishes and their preparation. Color photos throughout provide full-page embellishment of such fare as Oven Roasted Ribs, Hamburger with Carrots, Potatoes and Onions, and Autumn Lasagna with Sage and Squash Puree. Personal notes precede each recipe, cooking tips and ingredient notes appeal to those who lack experience, and many dishes are one-dish creations that blend meat, vegetables and potatoes. With all these notes back with color embellishment, what's not to love? Any culinary collection looking for titles friendly to the entire family will find this a winner!

The Heart of the Plate
Mollie Katzen
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547571591, $34.99, www.hmhco.com

THE HEART OF THE PLATE: VEGETARIAN RECIPES FOR A NEW GENERATION packs in over two hundred vegetarian dishes from the author of the classic Moosewood Cookbook, published in the 1970s and widely credited with bringing vegetarian cuisine into homes across the country. This new survey focuses on lighter, spicier and easier vegetarian fare with international influences. The added focus on seasonal vegetables makes for a cookbook packed with unusual and creative dishes, from a Coconut-Mango Rice Noodle Salad to small salads, relishes, and main dishes appropriate for dinner or lunch alike. Color photos and illustrations pack the presentation in a 'must' for any vegetarian cookbook collection.

Nosh on This
Lisa Stander-Horel and Tim Horel
The Experiment
260 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3 South, NY, NY 10001-6408
9781615190867, $19.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com

Nosh on This: Gluten-Free Baking from a Jewish-American Kitchen focuses on the heart of what makes a gluten-free diet so difficult - baking - and recreates over 100 gluten-free recipes based on classics the author grew up with. From home baked family cookies, cakes and bars to holiday treats such as Sufganiyah Jelly Donuts, this provides redone dessert recipes, an entire section on cake mix-based baking enhanced by gluten-free ingredients, and tips on how to use gluten-free flours to best advantage. Color photos and tips throughout help the baker avoid common problems associated with gluten-free baking. Any cookbook collection interested in gluten-free dishes must have this!

Mango & Mint
Nicky Garratt
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604863239, $17.95, www.pmpress.org

MANGO & MINT: ARABIAN, INDIAN, AND NORTH AFRICAN INSPIRED VEGAN CUISINE deserves ongoing recommendation as a fine gathering of favorite vegan dishes inspired by Arab foods, and provides recipes designed for either entertaining or family dining, along with tips on presentation. From Red Pepper Bulgur Salad to Harissa and Apple Soup, this is packed with Arabic and North African dishes that lend well to vegan cuisine, focusing on dishes which are quick and easy. There's even a section, 'Recycled', for normally discarded matter, from leftovers to watermelon rinds. A top pick for any vegan cookbook collection looking for international influences!

The Southern Pie Book
Jan Moon
Southern Living
c/o Oxmoor House
PO Box 11095, Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
9780848739638, $22.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

The Southern Pie Book shares over a hundred pie receives from a former Southern Living Test Kitchen expert and owner of an Alabama bakery, and provides a fine collection of pies, cobbers and all kinds of creations with a crust. Color photos pack a pie cookbook that assumes no prior expertise in baking, and offers a step-by-step guide to everything from creating different crusts - including specialty crusts for savory pies - to reproducing Southern pie classics such as a Maple Chess Pie with Brown Sugar Bacon or a Latticed Cherry Cobbler. The result is an appealing an exciting pie cookbook recommended for newcomers to those with some pie baking experience.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Easy Knitting for Baby
Doreen L. Marquart
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604682298, $18.99, www.shopmartingale.com

Easy Knitting for Baby: More Favorites from Grammy is a fine guide to knitting for infants and provides the author's new collection of patterns for stylish creations. From hats and jackets to christening gowns and mittens, this features 14 designs in sizes from newborn to 24 months, and offers color photos and instructions for small, quickly-produced knitting projects that are perfect for baby showers. The colorful projects blend colors and patterns and are perfect choices for any interested in easy knitting and styles that 'pop'.

Skirt-A-Day Sewing
Nicole Smith
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429470, $19.95, www.storey.com

Skirt-A-Day Sewing: Create 28 Skirts for a Unique Look Every Day offers four classic skirts - wrap, straight, flared and high-wasted - and seven variations on each skirt, to create some 28 skirts that feature all kinds of techniques and fashion approaches. Step-by-step instructions help sewers create each skirt and impart all the basics needed to embellish any skirt design. A range of fabrics also expand the needle worker's repertoire in a fine pick for any general sewing collection.

50 Knitted Gifts for Year-Round Giving
Editorial Staff
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301, NY, NY 10013
9781936095454, $19.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

50 Knitted Gifts for Year-Round Giving: Designs for Every Season and Occasion Featuring Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted provides a wide range of projects for knitters, from shawls and dresses to hats and gifts for holidays year-round, and is a fine collection for any who would tackle holiday themes and individual gift ideas alike. Chapters offer such lovely and unique projects as a Fall holiday two-color scarf and golf club covers: projects you won't find in competing knitting guides. The full-page color photos accompany details on patterns, knitted measurements, materials, and everything a knitter needs to know to
make the most of gift-giving opportunities.

Nature's Journey Applique
Jane Zillmer
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600544, $21.95, www.americanquilter.com

Nature's Journey Applique uses the author's own raw-edge machine technique to produce award-winning quilting results, and uses seven selected projects to explore this technique. From the basics that led to one of her most famous gallery quilts to using applique and documentation to produce an exceptional, polished result, this is a quilt applique guide beginners to intermediate quilters will find inspirational and revealing.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Heaven's Fall
David S. Goyer & Michael Cassutt
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780441020935, $25.95, www.penguin.com

HEAVEN'S FALL is the concluding volume in a trilogy and blends hard science fiction with philosophy as it concludes the story of mankind's first contact with aliens. Twenty years have passed since the mysterious object has appeared in the skies and transported a selection of humans off planet. In this future most humans are enslaved and only a few freedom fighters remain. It seems up to Rachel, who has grown up in the object, to lead the survivors in a desperate attack against the Reivers in a bid for not only the survival of mankind, but the survival of the galaxy. A powerful saga emerges!

The Omega Project
Steve Alten
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765336323, $25.99, www.tor-forge.com

The Omega Project provides the gripping saga of a supercomputer that is supposed to mine helium-3 for fusion energy from its moon base, but which results in a dilemma when the computer determines its mined isotope is unstable and begins its own new mining mission. The computer selects six men and six women for its Omega Project to Jupiter - and it's up to Ike, creator of GOLEM, to determine if the computer's indeed gone rogue and is a danger to mankind. The only way to do this is by joining the Omega crew on its training mission - and Ike finds his hands more than full, as a result. Highly recommended for any fan of science fiction, this is filled with satisfying twists and turns of plot throughout!

The Given Sacrifice
S.M. Stirling
Roc
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451417312, $27.95, www.penguin.com

The Given Sacrifice represents the seventh (and last) volume in the 'Change' series in which people master skills from the past to survive in a world without technology. Military sci fi blends with disaster writing to create a fantasy revolving around a king's challenge. Here Rudi has won a battle but still must struggle to free the people of Boise from occupation by a domineering church. His struggles against the church and its kingdom places him in direct conflict with higher malevolent powers that threaten the whole world. Any who have enjoyed the prior six books in the series - and libraries who have seen patron excitement over these holdings - will find this a powerful conclusion to a vivid story of survival and politics.

Under a Graveyard Sky
John Ringo
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451639193, $25.00, www.baen.com

Under a Graveyard Sky provides a gripping saga that ties into the current fascination with zombies in recounting an airborne 'zombie' plague that brings humanity to its knees. The Smith family buy a sailboat and plan on sailing away to a safe haven of their own - but what they discover is a new world filled with hope, sorrow, and a boating community that continues to battle a man-made apocalypse. Add powerful characters, a plot that is based on survival but offers a few twists, and a story line that is anything but predictable and you have a science fiction/horror thriller that a wide audience will find absorbing and gripping.


The Music Shelf

Recombo DNA
Kevin C. Smith
Jawbone Press
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781908279392, $19.95, www.jawbonepress.com

Recombo DNA: The Story of Devo or How the 60s Became the 80s is the first book to consider the innovations and achievements of a radically different band whose motivations came not just from commercial interests but from the art world. More than just a singular examination of band members and perspectives, this surveys the surrounding milieu of the 1980s in general and the evolution of Devo in particular, considering the ideas Devo presented and how their sound transformed not just the music world, but spread into general society. From live concerts and albums to Dada artists' influences, this is a vivid and lively coverage of not just a musical form, but a generation experiencing change.

The Language of Music
Tom Brooks
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458402943, $24.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

The Language of Music provides practical music theory for the worshipping musician, exploring the basics of how worship music builds faith and offer practical approaches blending basic music theory concepts with tips on how to produce more effective worship music. With a unique focus on modern praise and worship, this succeeds in blending traditional music theory approaches with the specifics worship musicians need to learn to approach and win congregations and believers. An accompanying DVD-ROM features a step-by-step video guide of all the concepts explained in the book. Spirituality and music collections alike will find this a winner!

Love, Peace, and Soul
Ericka Blount Danois
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781480341012, $24.99, www.backbeatbooks.com

Love, Peace, and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America's Favorite Dance Show Soul Train: Classic Moments tells of the evolution of a television show that represented the rise of black power and the changing interests of the Baby Boomer generation, and details the owner of the show, his competition with the then-popular American Bandstand, and his rise to fame. It goes beyond the history of Soul Train to examine the evolution of music television shows as a whole, linking show owner and host Don Cornelius with the evolution of the genre of soul music and music shows in general. The result belongs in any popular music history collection and is packed with details on shows, bands, individual musicians, and Don Cornelius in particular.

Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir
Linda Ronstadt
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781451668728, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir covers the forty-five year career of Linda Ronstadt and is a fitting tribute to the rock musician considering her recent diagnosis of Parkinson's with the resulting caveat that she may be unable to sing and perform. Ronstadt was born into a musical family and had wide exposure to all forms of music at a very early age. She arrived in Los Angeles just as the folk-rock movement was taking off, and in her autobiography she reveals the ups and downs of a life filled with success and achievement. Any who have had experience enjoying her music over the decades will find this a powerful examination of her world and evolution - and a 'must' for understanding her background and many musical influences.

Reinventing Metal
Neil Daniels
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
www.halleonardbooks.com
9781480341036, $22.99, www.backbeatbooks.com

Reinventing Metal: The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell is an unauthorized biography that belongs in the music collections of any library strong in metal music history and culture. It tells of the evolution of the band Pantera, their contribution to American metal, and the changes they brought to an era where metal music was part of an underground music culture and not part of mainstream listening. It's the first biography of the band, it comes from many interviews of those who knew the band members well, and it provides insider perspectives not readily available in other books covering metal music history. A 'must'!


The Audiobook Shelf

Laughter Therapy
NPR
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781622310388, $22.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

LAUGHTER THERAPY is for any fan of NPR and provides a fine collection of comedy for listeners who look for outstanding comedians and routines. Here are some of the top names in the field, from Mel Books and Drew Carey to Stephen Colbert, Martin Mull and Paula Poundstone - all providing hysterical routines that are diverse and fun. Any audio or book collection strong in humor or NPR productions will find this a wonderful addition!

The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan
Ben Foss
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780804120524, $40.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child's Confidence and Love of Learning provides a satisfying survey on how to understand a child's rights and build upon a child's strengths, and is a top pick for any considering the social, political, and learning challenges of dyslexia. There are plenty of books that identify dyslexia's health and science concerns: this audio is for dyslexics themselves and shares the author's own triumphs and failures over the condition. A 'must' for any collection strong in 'how to' and self-help!

Grain Brain
David Perlmutter, MD & Kristin Loberg
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781619698468, $30.00, www.hachetteaudio.com

GRAIN BRAIN: THE SURPRISING TRUTH ABOUT WHEAT, CARBS, AND SUGAR - YOUR BRAIN'S SILENT KILLERS is read by Peter Ganim, who lends his experience in film, television and acting to a voice capturing the hard-hitting revelations of a neurologist who considers how carbs can destroy the brain - even healthy carbs. The rise of dementia, ADHD, epilepsy and depression can be traced to the food you choose - and after making the case for change, Dr. Perlmutter provides a supportive 4-week plan for a better diet. Recipes and weekly goals help implement the plan, while a .pdf file of recipes accompanies a fine audio listen especially recommended for health collections.


The American History Shelf

The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, eighth edition
William A. DeGregorio
Barricade Books
2037 Lemoine Ave., Suite 362, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781569804766, $29.95, www.barricadebooks.com

The eighth updated edition of The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents includes the 2012 election and provides updates by Sandra Lee Stuart as it uses some 300,000 words to provide in-depth information on every president. From their lives and loves to their administration, politics, success and failures, this is a one-stop selection of biographical coverages packing in at-a-glance information presented by bold topics (mother, father, education, recreation, marriage) and accompanied by sometimes-long descriptions as needed. The result is a powerful gathering of details perfect for any American history reference collection!

Hog's Exit
Gayle L. Morrison
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727923, $39.95, www.ttupress.org

HOG'S EXIT: JERRY DANIELS, THE HMONG, AND THE CIA provides a key oral history portrait of the life and mysterious death of a former CIA officer - but it's more than a biography of Jerry "Hog" Daniels. In the course of narrating facts about his life, first-person accounts from Americans and Hmong (his former comrades-in-arms) serve to re-create incidents of the CIA and its actions in Asia, offering a history of one of the greatest CIA field operatives in history. Author Gayle L. Morrison has worked with the Hmong community since 1977 in education and various services: her oral history is unparalleled and is a 'must' for any interested in Asian affairs in general and American CIA history and work in particular.

Constitutionalism in the Approach and Aftermath of the Civil War
Paul D. Moreno and Jonathan O'Neill
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823251940, $40.00, www.fordhampress.com

Constitutionalism in the Approach and Aftermath of the Civil War comes from contributors who consider key constitutional developments leading up to the Civil War, and provides nine essays by political theorists and historians who analyze the constitutional aspects of the war and subsequent lasting ramifications of Reconstruction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From Washington's conception of the Union to Wilson's attempt to appropriate Lincoln for his Progressivism goals, this provides college-level American history readers with essays that examine how constitutional ideals shape political choice. Any collection strong in Civil War analysis needs this!

What the Yankees Did to Us
Stephen Davis
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881463989, $35.00, www.mupress.org

WHAT THE YANKEES DID TO US: SHERMAN'S BOMBARDMENT AND WRECKING OF ATLANTA uses original sources and new documents to reconsider the legendary "Burning of Atlanta". Author Stephen Davis is also a longtime Atlantan and documents both past history and its lasting impact on the city and the South, showing that the historic 'wrecking' didn't end with the city's takeover, but continued long into its occupation. The city's railroad complex was demolished, its infrastructure gutted, and deliberate arson took place against orders by Northern soldiers. Military and Southern history collections alike receive a weighty, in-depth re-examination that tells the truth of what really happened in Atlanta in a top pick for any who want further insights not presented in wider-reaching, older accounts.

The Speech
Gary Younge
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781608463220, $19.95, www.haymarketbooks.org

THE SPEECH: THE STORY BEHIND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S DREAM offers a narrowed focus on King's speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, and offers a close analysis of the social, political and spiritual forces that fueled civil rights movements across the country. It's a consideration of all the people and influences at work in creating King's historic speech, it provides keys to understanding the alternative approaches that resulted in the creation of a ground-breaking message that captivated thousands, and it provides information essential to civil rights history and linguistics alike. Any who would understand the speech that drove King and his causes to fame should have The Speech as part of their basic reading.


The World History Shelf

China's Sent-Down Generation
Helena K. Rene
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589019874, $32.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

China's Sent-Down Generation: Public Administration and the Legacies of Mao's Rustication Program is a pick for Chinese history and social issues collections alike, and provides a fine analysis of the public administration involved in China's sent-down program of the late 1960s and 70s, the hallmark of the Cultural Revolution. It focuses on Mao's 'rustication program' which resettled some 17 million urban youths to the countryside for socialist education, and it provides an in-depth story of the program which assesses its origins and implementation and its lasting effect on Chinese society and culture. Any social issues collection strong in Chinese experience will find this an important revealing analysis - the best in print to date.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Mining for Wisdom Within Delusion
Karl Brunnholzl
Snow Lion Publications
c/o Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781559393959, $39.95, www.shambhala.com

Mining for Wisdom Within Delusion: Maitreya's Distinction Between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenonema and Its Indian and Tibetan Commentaries is not for your casual new age shelf reader, but for any interested in scholarly surveys of Samsara and the reality that comprises the mind's true nature. The transition from Samsara's illusions to 'reality' based worlds is the process of 'mining for wisdom within delusion' that is this book's title and subject, and refers to the vanishing of delusions through practicing the path. Scholarly discussions explain non-conceptual wisdom and Buddhist literature and make for a fine collection of three translated commentaries and an in-depth discussion of the two topics and their meaning in Buddhist scriptures. New age collections and those strong in Buddhist spiritual thought will find this a fine discourse.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Inside the Real Area 51
Thomas J. Carey and Donald R. Schmitt
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632364, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com

INSIDE THE REAL AREA 51: THE SECRET HISTORY OF WRIGHT-PATTERSON considers the physical evidence of the alien crash site at Roswell and comes from UFO investigators and journalists who here reveal research pointing to Hanger 18 as the storage site for alien ship fragments and even alien bodies. The others have written other titles on the topic of Roswell, but this is their most specific to date, focusing on Hanger 18 events, the reasons behind alien evidence cover-up, and why investigators are pressured to give up their research efforts. Any UFO collection will find this a fine survey.


The Sports Shelf

Running Science
Owen Anderson, PhD
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9780736074186, $27.95, www.humankinetics.com

RUNNING SCIENCE: THE ULTIMATE NEXUS OF KNOWLEDGE AND PERFORMANCE provides a unique resource that covers running science basics and comes from leading sport and exercise coaches, researchers, and runners themselves. The latest techniques and tactics cover basic and recommended training principles and programs for runners, offering insights into the programs and strategies that make the most of running. From the lack of scientific support for altitude training and its uncertain results for endurance running efforts to early studies on endurance training and the health risks of running injuries, this is a solid reference highly recommended for any sports collection.

The World in the Curl
Peter Westwick & Peter Neushul
Crown
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307719485, $26.00, www.crownpublishing.com

THE WORLD IN THE CURL: AN UNCONVENTIONAL HISTORY OF SURFING comes from two historians who teach a popular class on surf history and culture at UC Santa Barbara, and who provide diverse backgrounds in science, technology and the environment to provide a survey of the sport's expansion and globalization. From key moments of surfing in the U.S. To the aerospace industry's influence on the sport, its origins in World War II warfare strategies, and its depiction in world cultures today, this is an evolutionary history that considers specific elements of the sport's culture and social expansion. The result is a lively coverage recommended for sports and sociology collections alike, which delves into topics most surfing histories don't begin to probe.

The Ghosts of NASCAR
John Havick
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381974, $19.95, www.uiowapress.org

The Ghosts of NASCAR: The Harlan Boys and the First Daytona 500 is a pick for any sports collection where race car history is of interest, and covers the first Daytona 500's controversies and history. Author John Havick interviewed scores of people who observed the controversial race, analyzed film of the race, and researched commentary to determine how Johnny Beauchamp came to be declared a winner in 1959. Chapters provide a powerful survey of pre-television race car history in an engrossing account recommended for any race car fan.


The Political Science Shelf

Global Environmental Politics, sixth edition
Pamela S. Chasek, et.al.
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348964, $45.00, www.westviewpress.com

Global Environmental Politics provides a fine collection of writings providing the latest thinking on the world's environmental issues and is here updated in its sixth edition to provide new material on the latest developments in global environmental policy and the global economic crisis. Author review modern international environmental politics and consider challenges of regime implementation, resource depletion, regulating nongovernmental organizations, and much more. A 'must' for any collection strong in global politics and environmental strategies.

Rendezvous with Destiny
Craig Shirley
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
1935191934, $22.00, www.isibooks.org

Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America is a pick for American history and political studies libraries alike and offers a solid analysis of the 1980 presidential campaign and how an election initially thought too close to call became a Reagan landslide. Chapters delve into campaign strategy and campaign trail specifics, offer a point-by-point examination of polls, politics, and changed strategies during the election, and provide important points about the political campaign process unique to Reagan's approach. Any political studies collection will find this an important analysis.

Common Credo
John E. Schwarz
Liveright Publishing
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780871403391, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

COMMON CREDO: THE PATH BACK TO AMERICAN SUCCESS goes beyond the usual discussions of American divisions and partisan beliefs to consider ten basic principles Americans hold close: a philosophy which defines who we are as Americans, and is a pick for any collection strong in American principles and heritage. It's a blend of philosophy, political and social analysis that considers the history and evolution of these principles, how issues of accountability and divisions have come to affect American politics, and how basic values surrounding freedoms are being re-defined. From false ideas of freedom to real solutions to modern dilemmas, this is especially recommended as material for classroom discussion and debate.

In the Balance
Mark Tushnet
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393073447, $28.95, www.wwnorton.com

In the Balance: Law and Politics on the Roberts Court comes from a Harvard Law School professor who looks at how politics influences the deliberations of our modern Supreme Court. In his confirmation hearings Roberts compared Supreme Court justices to umpires who don't influence the game: Tushnet's consideration of the politics underlying how these judges are appointed and how they conduct their work identifies a more complex state of affairs in which justice politics inevitably enter into controversial cases. Such cases are identified in the process of examining constitutional law and process, providing an insider's perspective on the democratic process as a whole. No political studies reader should be without this close inspection of the Roberts Court process.


The DVD Shelf

10 Minute Solution: High Intensity Interval Training
Lisa Kinder
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
013132607498, $14.98, www.anchorbayentertainment.com

10 Minute Solution: High Intensity Interval Training promotes short workout routines that consist of 20 seconds of extreme effort and 10 seconds of rest, repeated in a four-minute cycle. The 20/20 format is used for all workouts on this DVD, providing five mini-workouts designed for 10-minute increments. The theory of working hard but not long has been tested and proven successful, and fitness expert Lisa Kinder's five workouts here are based on proven research by Michele Olson, PhD, FACSM, CSCS. HIIT options are meltdowns and vigorous routines presented by a certified fitness trainer, and will appeal to any looking for a rigorous home workout program easy to fit into a busy schedule.

Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series
BBC America
7475 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite #1100
Bethesda, MD 20814
www.press.bbcdvd.com
No ISBN $79.98 www.bbcamerica.com

Fans of the Doctor Who TV series who enjoy the Matt Smith episodes with him playing Doctor Who will relish this set containing all 13 episodes from the seventh series. Also included are the 2011 and 2013 Christmas specials and many bonus features, from featurettes to BBC America specials covering the Doctor's companions and the experiences of Doctor Who in the U.S. Matt Smith is the eleventh Doctor in the series and this adventure set includes closure on the episodes with Amy Pond and her new husband, introduces the mysterious ever-appearing Clara, and provides fine holiday specials. With a wealth of bonus features from specials to prequels to episodes and interviews with Matt Smith and Jenna-Louse Coleman, this is a treasure trove any fan will want to own.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Declaration of You!
Michelle Ward & Jessica Swift
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440324666, $24.99, www.northlightshop.com

The Declaration of You!: How to Find It, Own It and Shout It From the Rooftops blends the finer art of affirmations with exercises and keys to unlocking inner potential, and is a recommended pick for any self-help collection looking for an overall set of exercises for achieving life goals. Worksheets, activities, inspirational interviews, and lovely artwork promote different self-coaching tools and methods for uncovering inner beliefs and new paths for enlightenment. The structure is designed to evoke a playful, artistic attitude in the reader and it succeeds in providing inspirational self-inspection for audiences who want to move past dry reading to more playful approaches to self-discovery. New age and self-help collections will find this a fine addition.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Onward & Upward
Michael Wiese
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931392, $26.95, www.mwp.com

ONWARD & UPWARD: REFLECTIONS OF A JOYFUL LIFE provides readers with a fine autobiography from a publisher who came to publish more books on film than anyone else in the world. His title deserves ongoing recommendation as a 'must' for film and autobiography holdings alike, documenting both his rising influence in the film industry and his travels around the world in search of meaning. While the autobiography pieces cover his personal revelations and insights, it's the insider perspectives on the moviemaking and film industry that will captivate any audience interested in the movie and book worlds. Add a sense of joy and discovery to the process and you have a vigorous, captivating autobiography sure to attract a wide audience.

Scenes and Monologues
Bruce Burgun, Editor
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781476868783, $19.99, www.applausebooks.com

SCENES AND MONOLOGUES FROM THE STEINBERG/ATCA NEW PLAY AWARD gathers scenes and monologues from the award finalists of 2008-12, presenting scripts that represent groundbreaking modern work by new playwrights. The purpose was to provide actors, directors and any involved in stage with a collection of outstanding material. Here actors and directors will find a range of approaches, from scenes for various mixes of the sexes to multiple character scenes and monologues. Any learning drama will here find an outstanding collection of material suitable for a range of stage pursuits.


The Jewelry Shelf

Gem Identification Made Easy, fifth edition
Antoinette Matlina, PG, FGA
Antonio C. Bonnano, FGA, ASA, MGA
Gemstone Press
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091 USA
9780943763903, $38.99, www.gemstonepress.com

The fifth updated edition of Gem Identification Made Easy belongs in the collections of any gemstone collector, jeweler, or layman who would learn the basics of gem identification from experts who tell how to use uncomplicated instruments and techniques to identify stones. Readers who expect complicated and expensive equipment and procedures will be amazed to learn only three instruments - inexpensive and portable - are involved in most gem identification processes. Keys to avoiding common mistakes in mixing up real gems with fakes makes for a set of specific insights into the process and provides even beginners with solid analytical tools. Learn how to spot imitations and get the most from a gem identification session using a guide that comes from an expert, recommended for any library frequented by collectors.


The Beer/Wine Shelf

Beyond the Pale
Ken Grossman
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118007365, $24.95, www.wiley.com

BEYOND THE PALE: THE STORY OF SIERRA NEVADA BREWING COMPANY follows author Ken Grossman's start from learning homebrewing as a teen to building a small brewery in California's college town Chico: a business which evolved to a world-wide sensation. His autobiography details a lifetime's fascination with beer-making and brewing, and covers the obstacles to success which, when overcome, led to an unprecedented success story. Any interested in beer-making and the history of American brewing must have this title: it documents the evolution of craft beer in America and provides a powerful story that's lively and specific.


The Terrorism Studies Shelf

Enemies Within
Matt Apuzzo & Adam Goldman
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
9781476727936, $27.99, www.simonandschuster.com

ENEMIES WITHIN: INSIDE THE NYPD'S SECRET SPYING UNIT AND BIN LADEN'S FINAL PLOT AGAINST AMERICA follows the pursuit of one Najibullah Zazi, a case often used as proof that government surveillance programs work, and considers the NYPD Intelligence Division's security tactics as it considers measures taken to protect America from threats in the big city. While counterterrorism methods have long been applauded, in fact many of the NYPD's programs actually failed - and hundreds of previously unpublished secret internal memos and documents support these failures. Any interested in spying, surveillance systems, and NYPD actions in particular will find this a solid and astute analysis.


The California Shelf

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, third edition
Jane Huber
Menasha Ridge Press
2204 - 1st Avenue South, Suite 102
Birmingham, AL 35233
9780897325080, $18.95, www.menasharidge.com

The third updated edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles includes the North Bay, East Bay, Peninsula and South Bay: that's a lot of area and a lot of park opportunities; especially important in this edition since new walking areas and opportunities are being added within the Bay Area at all times! From beaches to redwood canyons, woods and flat surfaces, this provides GPS-based maps, elevation information, directions to trailheads, line maps, detailed descriptions that include local history and what to expect during the hike, and more. Difficulty ratings make it easy to locate an appropriate hike, while hiking times, seasonal notes, and facilities include everything one needs to know about the park or area. Any Bay Area outdoors collection must include this specific, important reference!

Upton Sinclair
Lauren Coodley
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803243828, $28.95, www.nebraskapress.unl.edu

Upton Sinclair: California Socialist, Celebrity Intellectual follows Sinclair's life and his writings, which spanned some sixty-five years during which time he wrote over eighty books and won a Pulitzer Prize for fiction - even as he worked for labor rights, women's rights, and more. This new biography goes beyond the usual focus on Sinclair's literary prowess to examine the extent of his entire life and his influence on California and American civil and social rights, and fills in gaps narrower focuses have created in the past. The result is a definitive biography highly recommended for any college-level collection where Upton Sinclair is studied, and especially for California holdings.


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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