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California Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 10 October 2009 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Parenting Shelf Fiction Shelf
World History Shelf Nautical Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Computer Shelf Business Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Photography Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Reference Shelf
Education Shelf Art Shelf Music Shelf
Science Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Gaming Shelf Sports Shelf Literary Shelf
Biography Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Military Shelf Political Science Shelf Travel Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Woodworking Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf California Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Camp Cooking: A Practical Handbook
Fred Bouwman
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Ave #903, New York NY 10018
9781602396913, $12.95 www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Any involved in camping trips will welcome CAMP COOKING. It offers insights on everything from building a fire or selecting a camp stove to butchering wild game, fileting fish, gathering wild berries, and making breads and stocks outdoors. The author's years of experience in single-tent camps and on hunting trips contributes to a solid guide any camping enthusiast needs.

Peter Singer Under Fire
Jeffrey A. Schaler, Editor
Open Court
70 East Lake St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696189, $59.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Peter Singer Under Fire: The Moral Iconoclast Faces His Critics includes the philosopher's intellectual autobiography of his life, tells how he arrived at his many controversial viewpoints, and pairs this approach with fifteen essays from prominent critics of Singer. Each essay receives a reply from Singer. The blend of autobiography and careful back/forth debate makes for an outstanding survey of Singer's views on modern social issues and is a key acquisition for college-level holdings strong in either philosophical debate or social science.

Stories in Stone
David B. Williams
Walker & Co
175 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0802716229, $26.00 www.walkerbooks.com

Geological finds aren't usually made inches from sidewalks of a major city or along rural roadsides - but natural history writer David Williams sees these discoveries everywhere, and in STORIES IN STONE he offers a survey of everyday stone appearing in modern life. From brownstone and granite to slate and limestone, he travels across the country to offer important insights into geology and architectural choices alike in a fine general-interest pick for any library.

Planning for Coastal Resilience
Timothy Beatley
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009
1597265624, $30.00 www.islandpress.org

Any library located in a coastal region catering to urban planners, disaster preparedness professionals and others will welcome PLANNING FOR COASTAL RESILIENCE: BEST PRACTICES FOR CALAMITOUS TIMES. It's more than just an overview of possible disasters: it offers some key solutions based on the concept of resilience - the ability to recover quickly from disaster. Community sustainability is at the heart of this resilience planning and provides a different approach to crisis management.

PMAT: The Perfect Marriage Aptitude Test
Mary T. Carty
Glitterati Inc.
225 Central Park West #305, NY, NY 10024
www.glitteratiincoprorated.com
9780979338458, $18.95, www.amazon.com

PMAT offers a fine set of two hundred multiple-choice questions designed to prepare brides, grooms and other couples in their quest for compatible partnerships. It exists as a blend of toolkit and reference and packs in queries designed to reveal values, ethics, choices, and differences as well as similarities - and should be part of any serious library catering to couples and young adult readers.

Leisure Programming for Baby Boomers
Lynda J. Cochran, et.al.
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736073639, $29.00 www.hkusa.com

Leisure Programming for Baby Boomers will help you move beyond the usual game-oriented entertainment of the baby boomer community to explore the values, needs and interests of the boomer generation. A Cochran baby Boomer quiz tool helps assess community interests, tests staff's knowledge of boomers, and offers communities better guidelines for choosing and incorporating outdoor recreation, wellness programs, and tourism.

Mountains of Maine
Steve Pinkham
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727889, $16.95 www.downeast.com

MOUNTAINS OF MAINE: INTRIGUING STORIES BEHIND THEIR NAMES comes from an avid hiker who provides quirky and hilarious answers to questions about Maine's odd mountain names. Arranged alphabetically within regions, capsule histories highlight features, places of name origins, and local legends alike. Maine residents and hikers will love this colorful pick for any Maine-oriented collection.


The Parenting Shelf

The Whole Life Adoption Book, revised edition
Jayne E. Schooler & Thomas C. Atwood
NavPress
PO Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
9781600061653 $17.99 www.navpress.com 1-800-366-7788

Adoption can be a happy and natural process, or it can lead to untold crisis for both parent and adopted child. Now in a newly revised and thoroughly updated edition, "The Whole Life Adoption Book: Realistic Advice for Building a Healthy Adoptive Family" is a guide for parents on for what to do before, during, and after the long process of adoption. Building a healthy relationship and making that child feel like your own is the goal of adoption, and many tips are presented from everything from special needs children to dealing with a child who wants to find their birth parents. "The Whole Life Adoption Book" is a strong consideration for any adoptive family.


The Fiction Shelf

All Fall Down
Mary Caponegro
Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
www.coffeehousepress.com
9781566892261, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Experienced author Mary Caponegro presents "All Fall Down", a compilation of stories, two novellas and four shorter pieces. The stories focus on the inevitable crash that everyone eventually experiences in life, and how they ultimately try to recover from such catastrophes. Moving and with much for readers to relate to, "All Fall Down" is a solid addition to any collection of short fiction works.


The World History Shelf

On Living in an Old Country
Patrick Wright
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199541959, $19.95, www.oup.com

The country of England is an old one, filled with people who respect that age... perhaps a bit too much. "On Living in an Old Country" is a cultural analysis of Britain and the impact of its heritage and history on its people. In a unique way that Americans may not understand, as their country is relatively youthful, the British reverence for their heritage presents quite the picture of a unique people. "On Living in an Old Country" is an intriguing exploration of heritage, history, and modern society.


The Nautical Shelf

Sheridan House
145 palisade St. Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com

Ed Mapes spent over a dozen years conducting boat inspections as a delivery captain and saw first-hand how unsafe many boats were for sailing offshore, so his READY TO SAIL (9781574092714, $29.95), a guide to readying a boat for sail, offers nautical libraries an essential survey of how to assess everything from the hull to engines and rigging, and how to fix common problems. It's a comprehensive guide for any would-be sailor and this new edition has been extensively revised. Captain Joshua Slocum's ANNOTATED SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD (9781574092752, $19.95) is annotated by Rod Scher, a teacher/journalist who provides explanations, commentary and history to make Slocum's saga more accessible to modern readers. This clarification of Slocum's voyage in his wooden Spray packs in side bars of detail and enhances every page. Nautical libraries need this.


The Cookbook Shelf

Healthy Lao Cuisine
Penn Hongthong
Legwork Team Publishing
80 Davids Drive Suite 1, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780578028453, $30.49, www.legworkteam.com

There are very few Lao cookbooks on the market: this fact alone makes HEALTHY LAO CUISINE: TASTY AND EASY TO MAKE a 'must' acquisition for any serious Asian library. Add in the fact that even fewer pack their books with color photos of finished dishes, or specialize exclusively in Lao cookery, and you have an outstanding cookbook requiring only access to an Asian market for some specialty ingredients (Kaffir lime leaves, fresh lemon grass) to prove successful.

Meat Smoking and Smokehouse Design
Stanley, Adam and Robert Marianski
Book Magic
PO Box 7872, Seminole, Fl 33775
9780982426708, $19.95 www.book-magic.com

Any serious cook interested in smoking meats will find Meat Smoking and Smokehouse Design an outstanding survey of cooking and smoking meats according to US Government standards. From making brines and building barbecues to creating recipes without chemicals and designing a smokehouse, this is technical enough to satisfy even professional chefs, and is a top pick not so much for casual collections but for avid culinary neo-pro libraries.

The Cheese Chronicles
Liz Thorpe
Ecco
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061451164, $15.99 www.harpercollins.com

THE CHEESE CHRONICLES: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MAKING AND SELLING OF CHEESE IN AMERICA, FROM FIELD TO FARM TO TABLE tells of an author who has crossed the country discussing, studying and tasting cheeses. From her own life and career passion for cheese to how Liz Thorpe became the country's youngest expert on cheese, this is a lively, winning chronicle any general or culinary library will welcome.

The Golden Book of Cookies
Barron's
250 Wireless, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764161857, $29.99 www.barronseduc.com

Over 330 recipes for cookies pack a lovely book complete with gilt page edges, a built-in marker, and more. It's a lavish presentation making for a special gift-giving recommendation and is also a top pick for any discriminating library seeking a more comprehensive cookie cookbook than the usual slim volumes offer. Each cookie recipe is accompanied by a full-page color photo of the completed result.

Libation: A Bitter Alchemy
Deirdre Heekin
Chelsea Green
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580861, $25.00 www.chelseagreen.com

From the vineyards of Deirdre Heekin's adoptive Italy to old cocktail bars in modern New Orleans, Heekin draws important connections between food and wine choices and nature. Her recipes for liqueurs and wines blend with cultural and social observation to provide a tantalizing blend of wine history and personal insights: a personal selection of essays and insights perfect for any serious cookery collection.

The Perfect Fruit
Chip Brantley
Bloomsbury USA
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
1596913819, $25.00 www.bloomsburyusa.com

THE PERFECT FRUIT: GOOD BREEDING, BAD SEEDS, AND THE HUNT FOR THE ELUSIVE PLUOT offers the fine story of a fruit breeder who developed the Pluot fruit - and examines those who have pursued exotic flavors and fruits around the world. Any library strong in culinary history and culture will find this a fascinating survey of tastes, horticultural experiments, and more in an outstanding guide for any interested in the origins of fruit development.

Raw Family Signature Dishes
Victoria Boutenko
North Atlantic Books
Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556437977, $18.95, www.amazon.cm

Any interested in the blossoming raw food revolution will find this primer, Raw Family Signature Dishes: A Step-by-Step Guide to Essential Live-Food Recipes, provides an outstanding selection of dishes from soup and jams to desserts. From Russian Peroshkis to a Live Garden Burger, the food processor features prominently and provides preparation ease to these step-by-step photos of raw food preparations, perfect as an introduction for any library serious about raw food preparations.

Can-to-Pan Cookery
Lynne Orloff-Jones
Paradise Cay Publications
Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
0939837838, $9.95 www.paracay.com

CAN-TO-PAN COOKERY is a pick for boaters, campers, and students alike, offering busy cooks an easy method of making good food from nearly scratch. From a vegetarian burrito made with canned enchilada sauce to an easy stir-fry Oriental Turkey, this is packed with good ideas quick and easy to prepare and requiring only a few canned goods.

Landis Valley Cookbook, 2nd edition
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
9780811704670, $24.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

Deserving of ongoing mention for any individual or library strong in regional American cuisine is LANDIS VALLEY COOKBOOK: PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN FOODS & TRADITIONS. There are only a relative handful of cookbooks on the market covering this cuisine - and none have the easy lay-flat hard spine-lettered binding of this, which makes it perfect for shelf location and cooking. Color photos pepper recipes such as Apple Lemonade, Cucumber Cinnamon Ring Pickles, and more.

Pioneering American Wine
David S. Shields, Editor
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
082033233X, $29.95 www.ugapress.org

PIONEERING AMERICAN WINE: WRITINGS OF NICHOLAS HERBEMONT, MASTER VITICULTURALIST collects the works of Nicholas Herbemont, a Champagne France native who settled in South Carolina to become an early winemaker in the U.S. From his efforts to overcome environmental challenges to good grape-growing in his region to his fostering of early sustainable agriculture practices, PIONEERING AMERICAN WINE is a pick for both wine and agricultural libraries.

The 30-Minute Vegan
Mark Reinfeld and Jennifer Murray
DaCapo LifeLong
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213279, $18.95 www.dacapopress.com

Any who want to cook vegan food quickly will appreciate The 30-Minute Vegan, a user-friendly guide for busy cooks who don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Nearly 200 simple whole foods involve easy preparation and offer quick cooking charts, raw foods recipes, kid-friendly foods the entire family can enjoy, and extraordinary lunches and snacks. No color photos - but the easy dishes don't need them.

Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes
Bobby Flay with Stephanie Banyas and Sally Jackson
Clarkson Potter Publishers
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
www.clarksonpotter.com
9780307460639, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Bobby Flay adds condiments and flavorings to all the classics - burgers, french fries, and more - and this collection of favorites from Bobby's Burger Palace on Long Island will appeal to any interested in traditional food with a twist. Color photos on facing pages provide fun attractive serving ideas to a cookbook packed with mouth-watering American standards with a difference: perfect for any cookbook collection.

Noodles Every Day
Corinne Trang
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9780811861434, $22.95, www.amazon.com

NOODLES EVERY DAY provides a fine gathering of Asian dishes from ramen to rice sticks, pairs them with color photos throughout by Maura McEvoy, and is arranged by type of noodle (udon, buckwheat, egg, rice, cellophane) for quick and easy location of dishes. The result is a lovely presentation perfect for any general cookery collection.


The Computer Shelf

Practical Programming
Jennifer Campbell, et.al.
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
1934356271, $32.95, www.amazon.com

PRACTICAL PROGRAMMING: AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE USING PYTHON provides an invaluable guide to the basics of computer programming, allowing those with a bare-bones introduction to learn programming fundamentals, working with databases, downloading data, and more. From using functions to debugging systems and designing algorithms, this covers all the essentials and is a fine 'first timers' pick for any computer or general lending library.

Mastering Unreal Technology V. 1
Jason Busby, et.al.
Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/sams
0672329913, $49.99, www.amazon.com

Mastering Unreal Technology V. 1: Introduction to Level design with Unreal Engine 3 is a winner, offering expert tips on game development, planning projects, bringing realistic qualities to settings and characters, and more. It is packed with tutorials and all the basics for using a level design program that can create fine new games for consoles and PCs both, and is a 'must' for any library catering to game programmers seeking to use the latest, best game-creation engines. It is a weighty all-inclusive guide, not a light pop coverage - something that will satisfy serious game programmers seeking depth and detail.

Viral Data in SOA: An Enterprise Pandemic
Neal A. Fishman
IBM Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
0137001800, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Viral Data in SOA: An Enterprise Pandemic is a 'must' for any business or computer library strong in data integration or research. It tells why poor-quality SOA data can be dangerous to an organization, why data governance is critical, and why business data is key to an organization's health and structure. A 'must' for a range of IT managers and professionals at all levels of business.

The Accidental Billionaires
Ben Matrich
Doubleday & Company
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.doubleday.com
9780385529372, $25.00, www.amazon.com

THE ACCIDENTAL BILLIONAIRES: THE FOUNDING OF FACEBOOK: A TALE OF SEX, MONEY, GENIUS AND BETRAYAL is a pick for any general or computer library. It tells how two Ivy Leaguers trying to increase their chances with girls created the billion-dollar site Facebook, offering a wild adventure blending genius and invention. Any library strong in computers, entrepreneurs or social invention will find this a lively, fun read.

CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator
Wendell Odom
Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
1587202166, $149.99 www.informit.com

CCNA 640-802 NETWORK SIMULATOR provides the latest interactive simulation software to allow users to practice networking skills using over 250 structured labs. Realistic network device responses include instructions, hints, and full answers to basic problems - and the lab scenarios are complex, offering the opportunity to obtain real-world network configuration and troubleshooting skills. Very highly recommended for any studying network engineering protocol.

Python Essential Reference, 4th edition
David M. Beazley
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/devlibrary
0672329786, $44.99, www.amazon.com

PYTHON ESSENTIAL REFERENCE offers an authoritative sourcebook that explains core Python language and the Python library, and is a pick for advanced computer collections catering to practicing programmers. From new language features and coverage of Python's more advanced features to how to use version 2.5's compatibility mode to evaluate code for Python 3, this is packed with key updates reflecting the latest new features and library modules.

Mercurial: The Definitive Guide
Bryan O'Sullivan
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596800673, $39.99 www.oreilly.com

Mercurial: The Definitive Guide offers a step-by-step instructional to tracking, merging and managing open source and commercial software projects using Mercurial in conjunction with Windows, Mac, Linux or other systems. Mercurial is a collaborative system and permits a range of development methods: chapters cover all the software configurations necessary to tweak Mercurial to specific needs, telling how to manage projects on multiple fronts and fix mistakes as well as customizing the program. Software engineering collections will want this.

Real-Time Java Programming with Java RTS
Eric J. Bruno and Greg Bollella
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0137142986, $54.99 www.informit.com/ph

Java programmers and collections catering to them will relish Real-Time Java Programming with Java RTS, the definitive guide for developers and libraries catering to them. The Real-Time System has wide applications from business to manufacturing and defense: Real-Time Java Programming with Java RTS comes from two top Sun programming experts who provide code examples and keys to development concepts. A top pick for any in-depth, serious Java programmer's library.

Speaking in Styles
Jason Cranford Teague
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com
0321574168, $44.99, www.amazon.com

CSS is how the Web's visual world is described and designers need more than just technique savvy to build strong CSS sites. SPEAKING IN STYLES: FUNDAMENTALS OF CSS FOR WEB DESIGNERS provides a top pick on how to think in the colors, forms and compositions of the code and its styles. Designers and collections catering to them will learn how to 'pop' a Web page and how to learn the semantics of CSS without technical jargon in this top, recommended pick that goes beyond most CSS explanations.

JavaScript Fundamentals I and II LiveLessons Bundle
Deitel Developers
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit/com/ph
0137018258, $99.99, www.amazon.com

A set of 'live' lessons on DVD from technology experts versed in JavaScript accompanies an extensive handbook in a satisfying blend of 14 hours of visual instruction backed by a detailed book. Practicing programmers and libraries catering to them will find this packed with clear details on all aspects of JavaScript programming basics, from building clients and Ajax-enabled RIAs to controlling statements, functions, events, and learning XML and RSS. A 'must' for any studying JavaScript fundamentals.


The Business Shelf

Become a Client Magnet
Sandy Schussel
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, 1380 Face Rock Drive, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759318 $11.95 www.rdrpublishers.com

Good business requires good customers. "Become a Client Magnet: 27 Strategies to Boost Your Client-Attraction Factor" is a guide for businesses who want to attract new clients with a certain regularity. Giving a grand list of effective strategies which will lead to booming business no matter what one's industry is, "Become a Client Magnet" is an ideal tool for building a solid customer base that's necessary to succeed.

Business Ecology
Amy K. Townsend, Ph.D.
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764333026, $24.99 www.schifferbooks.com

BUSINESS ECOLOGY: WHY MOST GREEN BUSINESS PRACTICES DON'T WORK AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT tells how to become not just more ecologically sustainable, but more profitable. The prior GREEN BUSINESS provided the foundation; BUSINESS ECOLOGY continues to discussion, suggesting ways to be both green and profitable. Business libraries and ecology collections alike need this.

100 Ways to Profit in a Volatile Economy
Barry R., Schimel, CPA and Gary R. Kravitz
Capital Books
Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781933102818, $20.00 www.capital-books.com

A lifetime of the author's experience as a business consultant led to the honing of his ideas in 100 WAYS TO PROFIT IN A VOLATILE ECONOMY: BATTLE-TESTED BUSINESS STRATEGIES. It packs in proven, practical strategies for helping businesses survive in a downturn, pairing solid business strategies with insights on different profit opportunities and how to save money by using professional services wisely. A top recommendation for any business or general lending library.

Create Your Own Economy
Tyler Cowen
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780525951230, $25.95 www.penguin.com

CREATE YOUR OWN ECONOMY: THE PATH TO PROSPERITY IN A DISORDERED WORLD comes from a behavioral economist and commentator who shows how our networked world is changing - and how to tap into its new structures. We can now shape our lives to match our goals and make valuable contributions to society in the process, leading happier, fuller lives - and this book celebrates the movement. Business and general libraries will find this a winning, positive survey.

How Successful People Think
John C. Maxwell
Center Street
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781599951683, $9.99 www.centerstreet.com

Change your thinking and you change your life: that's the basic concept of HOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE THINK, offering a simple treatise on how and when to question popular thinking and how to focus thinking to tap into creativity. Eleven keys in a small book derived from material previously published in THINKING FOR A CHANGE makes for a top pick for libraries and business-minded thinkers alike.

A Survival Guide for Buying a Home, 2nd edition
Sid Davis
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814414257, $17.95 www.amacombooks.org

Any seeking a home in today's real estate market will welcome the second updated edition of A Survival Guide for Buying a Home, offering time-saving techniques to understanding mortgage rules, loans, lease options, credit and more. Also included: finding the right agent, buying homeowner's insurance, and preparing a purchase for resale. A fine pick for any general lending library.

Lift
Ryan W. Quinn and Robert E. Quinn
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576754443, $29.95 www.bkconnection.com

LIFT: BECOMING A POSITIVE FORCE IN ANY SITUATION is recommended not just for business libraries but for social science collections and any interested in organizational change. It focuses on advances in psychology and leadership research to describe four questions that, when applied to any given situation, can create a more positive outlook. Personal stories demonstrate how the authors and others have applied the concept of 'lift' to home and work challenges alike, making for a top pick for both business and general collections alike.

Online Marketing Inside Out
Brandon Eley and Shayne Tilley
Sitepoint
48 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia 3066
9780980576825, $29.95 www.sitepoint.com

Anyone who wants to market products or services on the Web will find all the basics in Online Marketing Inside Out, a survey of PR and the media that tells how to use search engines, social media, and email campaigns alike. From using online advertising resources effectively to understanding twitter, Google and more, this covers best practices and key points otherwise accessible only by the trial-and-error mode. Any business library needs this.

Leadership for a Better World
Susan R. Konmvies, Wendy Wagner and Associates
Jossey Bass
989 Market St., San Francisco CA 94103
9780470449493 $35.00 www.jossreybass.com

LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD: UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT isn't just for business libraries - although these will be the best beneficiaries of its message. It's for any collection of social issues readers where leadership aspirations are linked to social change. From schemes and models of leadership to understanding the collaborative process and its difference from cooperative skills, LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD is a wide-ranging book with lessons for business and social issues libraries alike.

Where Underpants Come From
Joe Bennett
Overlook Press
141 Wooster St., New York NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781590202289, $25.95, www.amazon.com

WHERE UNDERPANTS COME FROM is a livelier, better book discussing the new global economy. It began when the author bought a six-pack of underwear in his local supermarket for less than five dollars and wondered who could possibly profit from the price. His investigations led to China, where he traced his underwear to their makers and discovered some realities of global exchange and business that are easily absorbed here by both business students and general collections catering to world travelers or world culture fans. A highly recommended and lively, fun discussion.

IT Risk
George Westerman and Richard Hunter
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422106662, $35.00 www.hbspress.org

IT RISK: TURNING BUSINESS THREATS INTO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE reveals common failed implementation processes, data theft, errors in systems that cost money, and more, offering a range of IT systems impairments that impact business and showing how IT has become central to business success. Any business library strong in IT or business concerns needs this.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Little Black Book of Violence
Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder
YMAA Publications
Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
1594391297, $24.95 www.ymaa.com

The Little Black Book of Violence goes beyond your usual martial arts survey to chart violence in society and how violent crimes are committed. Any interested in war, fighting, and domestic violence alike will find this key to understanding: it's written primarily for men ages 15 to 35 and discusses street survival, going beyond many martial arts instructionals to discuss tactics, awareness, avoidance, and how to de-escalate violence. Urban libraries as well as military collections must have this.

The Dream of America: Immigration 1870-1920
Kevin Hillstrom
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231-1640
9780780810709, $49.00 www.omnigraphics.com

Adding to the 'Defining Moments' series on American History is The Dream of America: Immigration 1870-1920, a powerful guide providing users with an overview of immigration events, policies and history of the times. From the economic and social forces driving immigration policies to descriptions of various immigrant experiences, this provides a key acquisition for any collection strong in social issues, especially at the high school level.

The Secrets of Happy Families
Scott Haltzman, MD with Theresa Foy Digeronimo
Jossey-Bass
989 Market, San Francisco CA 94103
9780470377109, $24.95 www.josseybass.com

Living in a happy family is good for one's health, longevity and success - and SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES goes beyond health concerns to offer tips for families who wish to create such an atmosphere. A survey of some 1,200 men and women reveal their family secrets and tips for creating healthy families and here blends with research and examples from Dr. Haltzman's own clinical practice in a fine survey of values and approaches perfect for any general lending library.

Iraq in Transition
Peter J. Munson
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
9781597973007, $37.50 www.potomacbooksinc.com

IRAQ IN TRANSITION: THE LEGACY OF DICTATORSHIP AND THE PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY is a 'must' for any library strong in considering the social issues of the Middle East. It comes from an officer and Middle East specialist in the marine Corps and traces the country's history, from its invasion and the collapse of its government, to modern political and social developments, and blends information from both English and Arabic sources to provide a more well-rounded consideration than most.

Freedom from Want
Ian Smillie
Kumarian Press
22883 Quicksilver Dr., Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781565492943, $24.95, www.kpbooks.com

BRAC, the global grassroots organization actively and successfully fighting poverty, is recounted in Freedom from Want, a survey of its change from a small, little-known relief operation focused on Bangladesh to its spread in health, education and world rescue operations. BRAC's success story holds many insights for others and makes for a key acquisition for any library strong in global social issues and solutions.

Otaku Encyclopedia
Patrick W. Galbraith
Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.kodansha-intl.com
9784770031013, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Any collection interested in Japanese counter-culture will find fascinating THE OTAKU ENCYCLOPEDIA: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO THE SUBCULTURE OF COOL JAPAN. It covers anime, comics, dolls, manga, video games and all kinds of elements of Japanese pop culture and packs in color photos visuals throughout in an exciting presentation.

The Road to Woodstock
Michael Lang
Ecco Press
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061576553, $29.99 www.eccobooks.com

THE ROAD TO WOODSTOCK comes from the man behind the making of the Woodstock festival, and tells of Brooklyn-born author Michael Lang's involvement in building a music and arts festival in rural upstate New York. From idea concept to booking talent and working with bands, this provides not just an insider's view but the vision of a founding creator. Very highly recommended for any who would understand the Woodstock sensation!

The Price of Perfection
Maxwell J. Mehlman
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801892635, $25.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The many ethical debates being raised by medical technology's opportunities and challenges are covered in THE PRICE OF PERFECTION: INDIVIDUALISM AND SOCIETY IN THE ERA OF BIOMEDICAL ENHANCEMENT. Humans have engaged in biological self-improvement since before recorded history but today have unprecedented opportunities to change at the most basic of levels. What does it mean to be human under such conditions? Maxwell Mehlman finds public officials unequipped to handle the ethical, scientific and public policy challenges of such enhancements. Policy issues and options are the focus in this important college-level survey.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Enchanted Emporium
Tanya Huff
DAW Books, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dawbooks.com
9780756405557, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The Enchanted Emporium is a new modern fantasy story is set in Calgary and features Alysha Gale, part of a family who can change the world with spells. Alysha resents her talented family being run by aunts, and so when she inherits a junk shop she's happy to leave the family fold - only to find the shop is a portal to an enchanted community and its special needs. A fine tale evolves, perfect for fantasy collections.

The Light of Burning Shadows
Chris Evans
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.pocketbooks.com
9781416570530, $26.00, www.amazon.com

Book 2 of the 'Iron Elves' series, The Light of Burning Shadows provides a strong thriller and tells of magic and diplomacy in the human-dominated empire of Calahrian, which struggles against the Iron Elves' quest to defeat a power-hungry witch. Konowa is recalled to duty in the army to battle - now he must seek out these lost elves and handle magic, prophecy, and dangerous new legends in this gripping fantasy, especially recommended for prior fans of Chris Evans' world.

Chapterhouse: Dune
Frank Herbert
Ace
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780441017218, $25.95 www.penguin.com

CHAPTERHOUSE: DUNE represents the final book in the Dune story and is a 'must have' for any library where the prior books are popular lends. Here the planet Dune has been destroyed and the Old Empire has been consumed by a violent matriarchal cult - except for the Bene Gesserit. The planet Chapterhouse under their leadership is being transformed into another desert world - and the Sisterhood has wide-ranging plans in this fine absorbing conclusion to the saga.

Grantville Gazette V
Eric Flint, Editor
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781439132791, $25.00 www.baen.com

Grantville Gazette V offers sequels to the best-selling series 1632 and provides more stories revolving around Grantville, the small American town sent back from 20th century West Virginia to 18th century Europe. Prior collections that have seen positive responses to 1632 will find this short story collection builds on the theme and provides stimulating new perspectives from a host of contributors.

The Natural History of Unicorns
Chris Lavers
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
www.williammorrow.com
9780060874148, $26.99, www.amazon.com

The history of unicorn spottings spans some 2,500 years - and The Natural History of Unicorns shows how various real animals have all contributed to the myth and creation of this beast. Author Chris Lavers covers how unicorns became a part of myth and world culture, exploring the history and facts behind the legend in a powerful presentation perfect for any general lending library.


The Photography Shelf

More Than One Way to Skin a Cat
Meowza Katz
Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston MA 02210
1598634720, $34.99 www.courseptr.com

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT: CREATE EYE-POPPING EFFECTS USING AVIARY (WITHOUT PAYING FOR PHOTOSHOP!) provides a fun and fine guide to using Phoenix, the browser-based image editor from Aviary.com. All the basic tips and tricks are here - with an added, satisfying focus on humor and fun. Learn how to liquify, create lighting, swap faces and color and more using a fine set of step-by-step tutorials that cover everything about the program. Given Photoshop's expense and technical challenges, many a photography collection will find More Than One Way to Skin a Cat a popular pick to a satisfying alternative.

Digital Masters: B&W Painting
George DeWolfe
Lark Books
67 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801
9781600591655, $29.95 www.larkbooks.com

Libraries strong in digital photography often hold plenty of titles covering color, so Digital Masters: B&W Painting is an exceptional addition to any serious digital photography collection. It tells how to advance to the next level of black and white digital photography, telling how to create high-quality digital prints and coming from an author who studied with Ansel Adams and helped create Adobe Lightroom. Chapters tell how to use Lightroom to make gallery-quality prints in black and white and are packed with fine image examples and step-by-step instruction.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: Maximum Performance
Mark Galer
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521350, $39.95, www.amazon.com

The DVD/book package Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: Maximum Performance shows how to produce professional-quality image editing without the need to upgrade to the more expensive, weighty and full version of Photoshop. Real-world projects are presented in step-by-step tutorials on editing techniques and using all facets of the program, from Camera Raw to optimize photos to channels, motion blur and other image-enhancing techniques. The DVD offers over 7 hours of movie tutorials, JPEG, and plug-in photo effects, among other elements. A top pick for any Photoshop Elements 7 user!


The Needlecraft Shelf

Viva Venezia!
Christine Porter
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571205537, $24.95 www.ctpub.com

VIVA VENEZIA: TIMELESS QUILTS INSPIRED BY ITALIAN MOSAIC FLOORS packs in a lovely set of unique quilts - some 10 projects inspired by marble floor tiles. From new strip-piecing methods and sewing Y-seams to color-coded special tips for smooth results, VIVA VENEZIA packs in colorful project examples perfect for quilters seeking something different.

Knits from the North Sea
Carol Rasmussen Noble and Margaret Leask Peterson's
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564778321, $27.99 www.martingale-pub.com

KNITS FROM THE NORTH SEA: LACE IN THE SHETLAND TRADITION offers lovely lace projects from designer Carol Rasmussen Noble and Shetland Island lace expert Margaret Leask Peterson, packing in patterns, color photos, and knitter's tips that include fusing different knits together and using historical stitch patterns. Any library catering to knitters seeking something different will find KNITS FROM THE NORTH SEA an exceptional presentation of delicate, lacy projects.

Crochet: The Complete Guide
Jane Davis
Krause Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati OH 45236
0896896978, $29.99 www.fwmedia.com

Beginners new to crochet will find plenty to admire in CROCHET: THE COMPLETE GUIDE. From a lay-flat binding and over 150 illustrated stitch patterns to directions for a range of crochet styles, 7 projects, and a 'getting started' primer of tools, materials and crochet basics, this is packed with a range of options for all skill levels and offers very easy, appealing ideas.

Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts
Pam & Nicky Lintott
David & Charles
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715332082, $24.99 www.davidandcharles.co.uk

Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts offers some 17 diverse quilting projects and design options that move away from simple scrap quilts or scrap charm quilts. These are created from one layer cake or charm pack and each quilt uses pre-cut fabrics with little or no waste. The step-by-step instructions make for easy projects for all levels, and a fine photo-packed guide for any quilting collection.

Simple Serger Sewing
Julie Johnson, Editor
DRG Books
9781592172467, $24.95 www.drgbooks.com

Learn how to use a serger to create lovely hand-stitched bags, shirts, and clothing using the step-by-step patterns offered in SIMPLE SERGER SEWING. 50 such projects are provided in a complete manual packed with tips and projects designed to demonstrate the many potentials of Serger sewing. Highly recommended for any general needlework library and especially for sewers new to their Serger machine's potential!


The Audiobook Shelf

Flinx Transcendent
Alan Dean Foster
Brilliance
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1423393159, $32.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Stefan Rudnicki provides a spirited, passionate audiobook reading of FLINX TRANSCENDENT, the final volume in the adventures of Pip and Flinx and recommended for any collection offering the others in audio. It concludes the story of an evil colossus coming into the destroy the Humanx Commonwealth, telling of an ancient sentient weapons platform wandering around the galaxy and a future filled with disaster. A fine addition to any science fiction audio collection where its predecessors have been popular.

Brimstone
Robert B. Parker
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com
9780739382950, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Titus Welliver has extensive film credits to his name and his voice shines in BRIMSTONE, Robert Parker's thriller telling of Everett and Virgin, who have just made things right in the Old West town of Resolution and are moving on to other matters. Virgil has on his mind an interrupted romance with Allie and they finally locate her in a small-town brothel. The three head north - but the addition of Allie affects their relationship and purpose in this fine Western romance/thriller combination.

The Lost Prophecies
Paul Matthews
Clipper Audio
c/o Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781407431338, $92.75 www.recordedbooks.com

This fourth collaboration between six of Britain's finest mystery authors receives a powerful narration by Paul Matthews and tells of an infant washed ashore in Ireland to become a monk and scholar whose controversial Black Book of Bran brings wickedness to lives of his times. Centuries later the book is uncovered and unleashes horrors in this tense thriller, highly recommended for any mystery library.

Inherent Vice
Thomas Pynchon
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143144762, $39.95 www.penguin.com

Ron McLarty's stage skills and films holds a familiar voice for many and provides a lively narrative style to INHERENT VICE, the story of a plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer, a romance, and Doc Spotello's ex-girlfriend, who lands him in much trouble. A complex series of encounters leads to high intrigue in this audio thriller, highly recommended for any lending library.

The Secret Speech
Tom Rob Smith
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781600245763, $39.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Dennis Boutsikaris has won awards for both his films and his audio voice, which lends a powerful accent to THE SECRET SPEECH, a saga of international intrigue telling of a former state security officer who struggles with family conflicts and international intrigue alike. An epic saga evolves around the politics and secrets of Eastern Europe in this heady, moving thriller highly recommended for audio lending collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Superfoods
David Wolfe
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781556437762 $18.95 www.northatlanticbooks.com 1-800-788-3123

Some foods are far healthier than others. "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future" is David Wolfe's manual on the current state of food, and how some foods out there almost seem unfair compared to other foods, with regard to the nutrition they can provide consumers. Discussing these so called 'superfoods' with full color photographs, nutrition information and more, Wolfe he also comments on certain natural medicines which help the healing process. "Superfoods" is of interest to anyone trying to outline their diet plans and choose better natural remedies.

Skinny Bastard
Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia PA 19103-4371
9780762435401, $14.95 www.runningpress.com

SKINNY BASTARD comes from the authors of the hard-core diet book SKINNY BITCH, which has more than two million copies in print, and shows what's good for the gander is good for the goose. From the truth about how protein can make you fat to which foods can affect sexual health, SKINNY BASTARD and its companion are top picks for any general interest collection seeking an edgy diet guide.

A User's Guide to Therapy
Tamara L. Kaiser
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th, New York NY 10110
9780393705348, $18.95 www.wwnorton.com

A USER'S GUIDE TO THERAPY: WHAT TO EXPECT & HOW YOU CAN BENEFIT offers newcomers to therapy a fine approach to interviewing, selecting and working with a therapist. Even those who have been to therapy will receive a more considered, rational approach to making the most of therapy using this introduction, covering everything from the work itself to assessing its benefits and a therapist's skills. Highly recommended.

Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!
Toshio Okada
Vertical, Inc.
1185 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10036
9781934287422, $14.95 www.vertical-inc.com

SAYONARA, MR. FATTY: A GEEK'S DIET MEMOIR tells of one who would never give up a favorite dish, avoids gym, and finds weight loss programs boring and un-intellectual. How can such a person lose weight despite it all? Chapters aren't based on deprivation and tell how to create a plan that's fun, easy to follow, and actually works. Very highly recommended as an alternative for the usual dull diet plan guide.

How Shall I Tell the Dog?
Miles Kington
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th St., New York NY 10017
9781557048417, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com

When author Miles Kington was told he had only months to live, he embarked on a series of letters to his literary agent and friend Gill in which he proposed absurd ideas for a new book - this one - on cancer. His observations on everything from the dilemma of being outlived by his dog to ideas on a funny funeral video make for a fine presentation any general library will appreciate.

Breaking Free from Hepatitis C: A Personal Journey
Gregory David
iUniverse Inc.
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
9781440152030, $12.95 www.iuniverse.com

In the U.S. some 3.2 million are infected with the hepatitis C virus, a contagious liver disease that can be mild or life-threatening. The author was one of the infected - and learned his early years of occasional drug use and partying likely contributed to his condition. His discoveries about the disease and his coping methods make for a fine, inspiring 'never give up' survey key to any health collection.

The Art Therapists' Primer
Dr. Ellen G. Horovitz, ATR-BC, LCAT
Sarah L. Ekstein, MS, ATR
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First St., Springfield, IL 62704
www.ccthomas.com
9780398078409, $85.95, www.amazon.com

College-level collections strong in art therapy psychology will welcome The Art Therapists' Primer, sharing the author's 29 years of experience as she and her colleague link art therapy processes with medical terminology, offering a primer on everything from producing art therapy assessments and sessions to making translatable documentation to dovetail with medical models. A step-by-step methodology reaches across disciplines from mental health to medical models and offers detailed and in-depth analysis key to placing art therapy in the professional realm.

Cupid's Poisoned Arrow
Marina Robinson
North Atlantic Books
Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556438097, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Libraries strong in psychology, self-help or sexuality topics will welcome CUPID'S POISONED ARROW: FROM HABIT TO HARMONY IN SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. It blends personal experiences with the latest neuroscience and various cultural insights to build a survey of popular notions about human sexual interactions and their realities, blending history with cultural and social observation. A range of libraries will find this appealing, from general-interest lending collections to college-level introductory psychology and social issues holdings.

Creative Coping Skills for Children
Bonnie Thomas
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109211, $29.95, www.jkp.com

CREATIVE COPING SKILLS FOR CHILDREN: EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES is a pick for any parent, educator, or health professional and for libraries catering to them. It offers a collection of fun, flexible and tested activities to help a child find the coping skills that fit their style. From making wish fairies and dream catchers to time management and instant soothing routines such as blowing bubbles, CREATIVE COPING SKILLS is packed with practical ideas that have proven successful.

Simple Chinese Medicine
Dr. Aihan Kuhn, CMD, DIPL.Obi
YMAA
Box 480, Wolfboro, NH 03894
1594391246, $16.95 www.ymaa.com

SIMPLE CHINESE MEDICINE: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALING AND WELL-BEING explains why Chinese medicine is key to health and well-being, how it's used to help people reduce drug dependencies or needs for sleeping pills and other medications, and how a balance of food, exercise and natural medicine can improve overall life quality. From food healing and exercises for disease prevention to traditional Chinese paths to natural healing, this is a fine pick for any lending library strong in alternative medicine.

Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Mayo Clinic
Demos Health
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 301, New York NY 10016
9781932603774, $17.95 www.demoshealth.com

A complete picture of the recovery process from a spinal cord injury and how to move ahead with your life comes together for the first time in a Mayo Clinic expert's advice guide on daily living and quality of life. Illustrated and easy to consult, Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury provides the basics of challenges and how to overcome them: any serious health library needs this patient reference.

The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine, 2nd edition
Leonard A. Wisneski and Lucy Anderson
CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Pkwy NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
9781420082906, $99.95 www.crcpress.com

The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine, 2nd edition offers doctors and health practitioners details on complementary and alternative approaches to health and holds the latest research about these new mind-body connections. From how hope and faith aid healing to a unified theory that can account for body fields, immune 'miracles', and more, this provides extensive scientific and medical detail in its probe of integrative connections between Western medicine and Eastern systems.

Essential Medical Terminology, 3rd edition
Peggy Stanfield, et.al.
Jones and Bartlett
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
0763749133, $64.95, www.jbpub.com

The third updated edition of ESSENTIAL MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY offers a fine introduction perfect for either college-level classroom supplemental study or self-study. It provides the basics of medical terminology for a range of medical disciplines, surveying terms, pronunciation, definitions, and even providing puzzles and tests. A powerful presentation, very highly recommended and packed with illustrations throughout.

Drug Information Handbook for Advanced Practice Nursing, 10th edition
Beatrice Turkoski, RN,Ph.D, et.al.
Lexi-Comp
1100 Terex Road, Hudson, OH 44236
9781591952565, $47.95 www.lexi.com

The 10th updated edition of a key drug reference handbook is especially recommended for college-level health libraries catering to nurses. Its update covers 40 new drug monographs, adds new appendix updates on compatibility and diagnostic aids, surveys 4800 medications in an alphabetic arrangement by both generic and brand name, and is packed with keys and guidelines for nurse practitioners and clinical reference. Any practicing health library needs this.

Designing Care
Richard M.J. Bohmer
Harvard Business Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163
www.harvardbusiness.org/press
9781422175606, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Amidst the debate of blossoming health care costs and health care systems that don't work is a focus from a physician and business school professor who argues that energy could better be placed into understanding the basic nature of care and how to better design, manage and deliver it. Health care is a process of applying best practices to patient interests: chapters survey how business management routines can help solve many health care crisis situations. Both business and health libraries need this approach.


The Reference Shelf

The Library: An Illustrated History
Stuart A.P. Murray
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Ave, Suite 903, New York NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781602397064, $35.00, www.amazon.com

THE LIBRARY is more than a place to borrow books, and historian Stuart A.P. Murray provides a lovely illustrated book describing these libraries and the effect they are having on the developing world. From the history of book collections around the world from the 1830s heyday to modern times to printing specs and regional heroes, THE LIBRARY is a powerful presentation for any interested in history, blending vintage black and white and contemporary color illustrations throughout.

You're Accepted
Katie Malachuk
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor, New York NY 10006
9781607141242, $21.95 www.kaplan.com

College admissions guru Katie Malachuk provides an innovative new approach to college admissions in YOU'RE ACCEPTED: LOSE THE STRESS, DISCOVER YOURSELF. GET INTO THE COLLEGE THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU. Any library catering to college-bound students needs this: it offers insights into what goes on in the minds of admissions committees, and comes from an insider who tells which elements make candidates stand out from the crowd. Very highly recommended.

ACT or SAT?
Josh Bornstein with Rebecca Lessem
Princeton Review
c/o Random House
2315 Broadway, New York NY 10024
9780375429248, $15.99 www.randomhouse.com

ACT OR SAT? CHOOSING THE RIGHT EXAM FOR YOU should be in the collections of any high school library with college-bound students. It provides students with a personality quiz tied to a practice exam that includes sample ACT and SAT sections, providing students with clear options and guidance on which standardized test to take for college. Parents will also find it clearly explains what's on each test and how admissions offices view the scores: a key to college entry.

Environmental Justice, 2nd edition
David E. Newton
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598842234, $55.00 www.abc-clio.com

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE is a key pick for any library interested in modern global environmental issues and joins others in the 'Contemporary World Issues' library - yet stands well alone, for collections interested in environmental science. Chapters examine worldwide examples of environmental inequities, consider social, racial and environmental justice in the courts, and detail problems and solutions on a regional and global scale, making this a top pick for any college-level library strong in environmental science.

Preparing Witnesses, 3rd edition
Daniel I. Small
GP/Solo - ABA Publishing
321 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-7598
9781604424782, $89.95 www.ababooks.org

PREPARING WITNESSES: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR LAWYERS AND THEIR CLIENTS is a pick not just for lawyers but for any college-level collection catering to law students. It provides key, essential and specific detail on the job of a witness and how a lawyer may impart the basic rules of witnessing to laymen, discusses events on the witness stand, and surveys issues surrounding clarity and making an impact on the stand. The information will prove key to any lawyer's library - and many a witness, as well.


The Education Shelf

Intellectual Development
Dave Riley, et.al.
RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul MN 55117
9781933653631, $24.95 www.redleafpress.org

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT: CONNECTING SCIENCE AND PRACTICE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTINGS offers a key link between common activities and learning tools from science to promote a child's intellectual abilities. From how language develops and early musical awareness to why we sing throughout the day and connections between scribbling and development, any early childhood teacher needs this.

The Promise of Pre-K
Robert C. Pianta and Carollee Howes
Paul Brookes
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1598570331 $29.95 www.brookespublishing.com

Any library strong in early childhood education needs The Promise of Pre-K, a survey packed with pre-K surveys from the pros and cons of competing pre-K programs to how to make informed decisions about issues in program development. From funding to teacher preparation, five successful state-level programs in five selected states are profiled for in-depth analysis.

Making the Move
K.I. Al-Ghani and Lynda Kenward
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109341, $39.95, www.jkp.com

Deserving of ongoing mention for parents, teachers and educators at all levels is MAKING THE MOVE: A GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS AND PARENTS ON THE TRANSFER OF PUPILS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS. This transition point offers great anxiety for most children and this book tells how to prepare transfer arrangements to build positive experiences. Tips for the final years of primary school include homework diaries, mood diaries, and plenty of worksheets with pictorial symbols to help kids with ASDs. An ongoing, top recommendation.

Early Education Curriculum
Hilda L. Jackman
Delmar Cengage Learning
10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002-3098
1428322469, $138.95, www.cengage.com

EARLY EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A CHILD'S CONNECTION TO THE WORLD offers cutting-edge topics ranging from teacher tips for seasonal literacy projects to developing outdoors curriculum for challenged children and using music, movement and puppets for excitement. Packed with specific projects, options and tips, this is an early education classic no education library should be without.

Literacy Beyond Picture Books
Dorothy Dendy Smith, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412971140 $33.95 www.corwinpress.com

Literacy Beyond Picture Books tells how to teach literacy to middle and high school students, presenting a step-by-step guide to building vocabulary, blending in media and assistive technologies, and setting and meeting student goals. Teachers can build whole units around a selected text by adding hands-on activities - and LITERACY BEYOND PICTURE BOOKS tells how in a solid recommendation for any college-level education library.


The Art Shelf

The Possible Life of Christian Boltanski
Christian Boltanski and Catherine Grenier
MFA Publications (DAP, Distributor)
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467464, $35.00 www.mfa.org/publications

Christian Boltanski's installations and objects revolved around memory, identity and the modern psyche and have made him a renowned modern artist - yet his own story is little-known. Art historian Catherine Grenier is Boltanski's writer and helps him produce an oral autobiography recounting his wartime childhood, career, friendships, approaches to art and relations with dealers and the art world as a whole. Any arts library specializing in modern artists will welcome this.

Textiles Today
Chloe Colchester
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780500288030, $34.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

TEXTILES TODAY: A GLOBAL SURVEY OF TRENDS AND TRADITIONS surveys a rapidly-changing global arena of fabrics and textiles, considering collaborative projects between fabric makers and fashion designers and offering plenty of photo examples of new textiles and their applications. The history of these textiles' invention and changing use makes for a fine coverage of trends and cultural traditions in a title highly recommended for any college-level collection.

Japanese Design
Penny Sparke
Moma
11 W. 53rd St., New York NY 10019
9780870707391, $29.95 www.moma.org

Color photo plates pack this account of Japanese design, told through photo examples of works selected form the collection of New York's Museum of Modern art. From the revival of design in Japan to the early 20th century folkcraft movement, Japanese DESIGN explores how the works and artistic perspective of Japanese designers moved into the global arena, and makes for a fine survey for any library strong in either Japanese history and culture or Japanese art.

Image Transfer Workshop
Darlene Olivia McElroy
Sandra Duran Wilson
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com
1600611605, $24.99, www.mycraftivity.com

IMAGE TRANSFER WORKSHOP: MIXED-MEDIA TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSFERS provides a step-by-step guide for 35 image transfers, tips for fixing mishaps, and examples of how to blend transfers into finished pieces of mixed-media art. This approach to techniques and troubleshooting on transfer mediums makes for a key acquisition for any serious arts or crafts collection at all skills levels.

The Sweet Smell of Home
Leonard F. Chana, Susan Lobo, Barbara Chana
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Ave. Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719
9780816528196, $21.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu

THE SWEET SMELL OF HOME: THE LIFE AND ART OF LEONARD F. CHANA provides a fine survey of a self-taught artist who began his career by creating cards and was soon lending his art to posters and logos. Eight pieces of art accompany text explaining how each piece evolved and how it reflected Tohono O'odham life into his art, with black and white and color images alike exploring the author's life and art.

How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery
Edward Winkleman
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156645, $24.95 www.allworth.com

Aspiring and new art gallery owners will find much to value in the basics covered in How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery, a survey of everything from locating start-up capital and developing a business plan to growing a new business and attracting artists and clients alike. Lighting, location, build-out issues and more are specific to the art gallery world and provide a satisfying set of insights.

Ruin
Brian Vanden Brink
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727933, $65.00 www.downeast.com

RUIN: PHOTOGRAPHS OF A VANISHING AMERICA comes from a photographer who has built a reputation as one of the country's best architectural photographers. He's long been drawn to abandoned structures and has focused on architectural ruins and their relationship to land: here are his images of homes, bridges churches, storefronts, and more left to the elements. Full-page - sometimes double-page - black and white photos capture these icons of yesterday in an artistic presentation recommended for any serious arts library strong in either architecture or photography.

Show
Ralph Pucci
Glitterati Inc.
225 Central Park West, New York NY 10024
www.glitteratiincorporated.com
9780980155785, $75.00, www.amazon.com

This first collection of fifteen years of shows at the New York City gallery provides Ralph Pucci's history of a sow that began in 1954 when his parents opened a mannequin repair shop. Over 22 years the repair business grew into the production of original mannequins and its own art form - and SHOW profiles these creative works with full-page color images representing a pioneering collection of mixed-media images. SHOW is for any serious art, design or fashion collection and is a powerful survey of the art of Ralph Pucci and how it changed worlds. A 'must' for any such collection.

Contemporary Art in the Middle East
Artworld
Black Dog Publishing
10A Acton St., London WC1X 9NG UK
9781906155568, $49.95 www.blackdogonline.com

CONTEMPORARY ART IN THE MIDDLE EAST: ARTWORLD is a dynamic examination of a range of artists and styles from the region and provides a new way of looking art popular art in all styles. Some of the most popular and influential artists' works are provided along with essays that provide a satisfying contrast of works from across the region. Any library strong in either Middle East history, culture or art needs this.

American Ruins
Arthur Drooker
Merrell Publishers
740 Broadway #1202, New York NY 10003
9781858944975, $45.00 www.merrellpublishers.com

AMERICAN RUINS offers black and white photos by Arthur Drooker and an essay by Christopher Woodward and represents the first photography book to document historic ruins throughout the U.S. As such this is a pick not just for serious photography libraries, but for any collection documenting American history and architecture. A hundred lovely photos are the culmination of an intensive two-year project by Arthur Drooker, with images shot in infrared on a digital camera accompanied by historical and architectural notes in a notable, top pick.


The Music Shelf

Woodstock: Peace, Music, and Memories
Brad Littleproud and Joanne Hague
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
9780896898332, $24.99 www.krausebooks.com

40 years after Woodstock the anniversary edition WOODSTOCK: PEACE, MUSIC & MEMORIES is here to celebrate the experience for both former attendees and wannabes. Photos in both black and white and color form a scrapbook appearance in 'you are there' pages from a range of Woodstock attendees' memories. The diversity of image and experience makes for a fine, loving recollection perfect for any library seeking to represent the Woodstock experience.

Whispering Pines
Jason Schneider
ECW Press
2120 Queen St East #200, Toronto Ontario Canada ME4 1E2
9781550228748, $28.95 www.ecwpress.com

Any fan of Canadian music who would understand its roots and their link to American music will find WHISPERING PINES; THE NORTHERN ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC FROM HANK SNOW TO THE BAND an exceptional and different acquisition. Why and how did the Canadian folk sound travel outside of Canada to influence American trends, and how does Canadian music culture differ from American music? Chapters survey some of the top names in Canadian music in this engrossing survey, highly recommended for any serious American popular music collection.

It Still Moves
Amanda Petrusich
Faber & Faber
c/o Farrar Straux Giroux
18 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780865479043, $15.00 www.fsgbooks.com

IT STILL MOVES: LOST SONGS, LOST HIGHWAYS, AND THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT AMERICAN MUSIC offers a fine history of all kinds of American sounds using interviews, road stories, and music criticism to trace the roots of modern American music form present to past. The blend of country, heavy metal, rock, folk and more offers a fine survey of the roots and influences of American sound and is an excellent guide for any general lending library.

Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson
Ian Halperin
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781439177174, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Any interested in Michael Jackson's later years will find this adopts an investigative approach to sort out media distortions from truth, offering new insights on his life and legacy. From his sexual identity and genetic challenges to his multiple plastic surgeries and drug use, this examines his life, what's been written about it, and considers the insights and impact of his many entertainment supporters and enemies alike. A fine pick for any collection considering a few Michael Jackson biographies.

That Magic Feeling
John C. Winn
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
www.threeriverspress.com
9780307452399, $28.00, www.amazon.com

Any library seeking an in-depth exploration of the Beatles legacy will welcome the second volume of "That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume 2", covering 1966-1970. Details on studio session include producers, locations, and in-depth descriptions of studio events and direction and conclude with a release history of everything from newsreel footage to albums. Comments on mixes, demos, changes and more offer very specific moment-by-moment guides key to any who want more than a casual discography, making this a key reference for any serious Beatles collection.


The Science Shelf

Can Cows Walk Down Stairs?
Paul Heiney, Editor
Sutton
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0750937475, $19.95 www.suttonpublishing.co.uk www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

Scientific humor and real questions blend in Can Cows Walk Down Stairs?: The Best Brains Answer the Biggest and Smallest Scientific Questions. It's a light, trivia-oriented reading guide to how science applies to daily life and uses questions asked by the public to reveal the science behind everyday events and possibilities. A fine, fun guide evolves for any general lending library.

You Are Here
Colin Ellard
Doubleday
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780385528061, $25.00 www.doubleday.com

You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon But Get Lost in the Mall comes from a psychologist who discusses how humans have found their way traditionally and how this directional sense has changed with the advent of new technologies to assist, and wider global approaches to directions. Despite all innovations humans still get lost - even going to places very familiar. You Are Here: Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon But Get Lost in the Mall examines how people think about space, environment, and the process of mental maps used for everyday direction. Both psychology and general libraries will find it a lively, fun read.

Manga Guide to Physics
Hideo Nitta, Keita Takatsu, Trend-Pro Co, Ltd
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271961, $19.95 www.nostarch.com

This black and white cartoon guide to physics is perfect for high school to general libraries where physics is of interest - and a challenge. Megumi is an athlete who fails when it comes to physics - but when she befriends Ryota, a physics geek who uses real-world examples to help her understand the basics - her life changes. The cartoon approach makes for a lively survey.

Wind Energy - the Facts
EWEA
Earthscan
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.earthscan.co.uk
9781844077106, $97.50, www.amazon.com

WIND ENERGY - THE FATS comes from the EWEA, a European wind association promoting the use of wind power around the world. It has over 500 members from 50 countries including manufacturers largely in control of the world wind power market, suppliers, and developers alike, and offers a new book from a project coordinated by the association. The chapters discuss technology, grid integration, wind economics and environmental impacts alike and present contributions from nine leading research bodies across Europe, making this a 'must' for any serious college-level collection strong in alternative energy research and resources.

The Rise of Amphibians
Robert Carroll
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801891403, $65.00 www.press.jhu.edu

THE RISE OF AMPHIBIANS: 365 MILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION provides college-level natural history collections with a powerful synthesis of findings from the fossil record of amphibians. Robert Carroll traces their origin back 365 million years and follows the emergency of the modern amphibian group, using over two hundred illustrations of fossil amphibians and sixteen color plates to enhance the study. Any college collection strong in natural history catering to geologists, evolutionary biologists or paleontologists needs this.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Amateurs
Marcus Sakey
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780525951261, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Alex is failing as a father, Jenn seeks adventure, Mitch has a crush on Jenn, and Ian has some deadly secrets. Four friends in their twenties find themselves in very different kinds of lives than they envisioned in The Amateurs, a fine story of relentless CEOs, murders, and four friends bent upon changing their lives. General libraries strong in novels and intrigue will find this engrossing.

Inked Up
Terri Thayer
Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780425229125, $6.99 www.penguin.com

A 'stamping sisters' mystery offers another fine addition to the series and this time tells of April's new life in her hometown as a professional rubber stamper. She's joined a group of stamp-loving craftswomen who stamp cards - and stamp out murder. So when someone is stalking the citizens of the town, it's up to April and her Stamping Sisters to uncover the murderer in Inked Up, a fine mystery suitable for any serious mystery collection.

The Fitzgerald Ruse
Mark de Castrique
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590586297, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

Sam lost a leg in Iraq and became a bitter civilian without a job - until he solved a series of local murders. Now he and a partner are running their own detective agency - and facing a complex case as a new client wants him to deliver a stolen manuscript to F. Scott Fitzgerald's heirs. A complicated series of snafus involves him in more than the manuscript's return in The Fitzgerald Ruse, a tense thriller perfect for any serious mystery library.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Born to Win, Breed to Succeed
Patricia Craige Trotter
Kennel Club
40 Broad St, Freehold, NJ 07728
9781593786601, $39.95 www.bowtiepress.com

Breeder/dog owner Patricia Craige Trotter has produced one of the top lines of pur4bred dogs in the U.S. and has many accomplishments to her name over the decades, so BORN TO WIN: BREED TO SUCCEED is a top pick for any interested in dogs, dog shows, and how judging works. Any breeder needs this survey of how master breeders devise breeding programs and achieve goals.


The Gaming Shelf

Creating Games
Morgan McGuire & Odest Chadwicke Jenkins
A.K. Peters
888 Worcester St., Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568813059, $69.00 www.akpeters.com

CREATING GAMES provides avid gamers with an outstanding survey of the technology of games and is directed to computer game professionals seeking an overview of the technology, content and mechanics of game design. From comprehension tests with problems to help readers learn to resources for specialized game development, this offers a focus on the content and mechanics of game creation. Serious game programmers at advanced levels need this.

3D Game Textures, 2nd edition
Luke Ahearn
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
9780240811482, $49.95 www.focalpress.com

3D Game Textures: Create Professional Game Art Using Photoshop is a 'must' for any library catering to game developers, and gamers working with computer graphics. All the Photoshop texture options are covered in a collection of texturing techniques key to aspiring video game creators. Updated to cover shader technology and adding new chapters on shaders, world building and terrain editing, a companion DVD includes sample textures, Photoshop brushes and more. A key acquisition: very highly recommended as a foundation title for any video gaming library.

Introduction to Game Development, 2nd edition
Steve Rabin, Editor
Charles River Media
c/o Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1584506792, $69.99 www.courseptr.com

Any library serious about catering to computer game developers will find the weighty, extensive updated second edition of Introduction to Game Development to be a key acquisition. It is divided into seven independent sections, each featuring articles written by experts in their field, and covers all the basics of game design, programming languages and physics, audio visual design, and more. The editor is a software engineer at Nintendo: his professional background lends to an outstandingly well detailed survey of the entire field of game programming.

Business and Production for Games
Drew Sikora and John Hatten, Series Editors
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1598638092, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

Business and Production for Games: A GameDev.net Collection is a key acquisition for any library catering to game developers, and is first in a series of books published in collaboration with GameDev.net, the online gamer's community network. The best game business and production articles from GameDev.net appear under one cover and will delight any interested in the business of creating and marketing games.

A.K. Peters
888 Worcester St., Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
www.akpeters.com

Wendy Despain edits WRITING FOR VIDEO GAME GENRES FROM FPS TO RPG (9781568814179, $49.00), a fine pick from members of the International Game Developers Association Game Writing Special Interest Group, and offers a set of advice and best practice tips for first-person shooter games, role-playing games, and more. Sports games, horror, and others are covered along with game writing samples and supportive information online making for an excellent presentation any serious computer gamer needs. Jason Gregory's GAME ENGINE ARCHITECTURE (9781568814131, $65.00) covers the theory and applications of game engine software development and is a fine technical pick for any at the college level interested in game programming. Advanced and junior game engineers can use it as a text for amateur software engineers and hobbyists alike, offering tools and applied techniques for all aspects of game development.


The Sports Shelf

Motorsport Fitness Manual
Dr. R.S. Jutley and Andy Blow
Haynes
861 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
9781844255436 L17.99 www.haynes.co.uk www.amazon.com

Any motorsports enthusiast or library catering to them must have MOTORSPORT FITNESS MANUAL, a unique survey of peak fitness that any motorsport participant needs to know. From established, safe training techniques to circuit training, rescue procedures, weight loss and more, this packs in the latest details on physical and mental fitness and offers rare, specific keys to health for motorsport drivers.

Born to Play
Dustin Pedroia with Edward J. Delaney
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781439157756, $25.00, www.amazon.com

BORN TO PLAY: MY LIFE IN THE GAME comes from baseball great Dustin Pedroia and recounts how he became Rookie of the Year in just two years of major-league play. His life is accompanied by commentary from coaches, teammates and friends and tells of a player who had a difficult journey to fame and success: any library catering to baseball fans will relish this powerful autobiography.

The Hustler's Handbook
Bill Veeck with Ed Linn
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago IL 60642-2694
9781566638272, $15.95 www.ivanrdee.com

THE HUSTLER'S HANDBOOK offers a hilarious account from one of baseball's long-time characters and blends stories, anecdotes and theories into a book rich with lessons on how to operate as a hustler in modern baseball. The blend of memoir, insider savvy and business insight makes for an outstanding addition to any sports library strong in baseball memoirs.


The Literary Shelf

Caring for Words In a Culture of Lies
Marilyn Chander McEntyre
William B. Eerdmans Publishing
2140 Oak Industrial Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802848642, $18.00 www.eerdmans.com

Libraries strong in discussions of language literacy, and how language can be restored will find a fine acquisition in Caring for Words In a Culture of Lies, a survey of how to preserve the vibrant relevance of spoken and written language in society. Chapters provide plenty of literary references as they discuss the nature of reading and analytical thinking and draw connections between this and how the classics are written. Perfect for college-level libraries strong in language analysis.

Say What?
Gena K. Gorrell
Tundra Books
75 Sherbourne St., 5th Floor, Toronto On M5A 2P9 Canada
9780887768781, $10.95 www.tundrabooks.com

SAY WHAT? THE WEIRD AND MYSTERIOUS JOURNEY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE packs in keys to understanding where English came from, how it has changed and why, and why English can be both rich and versatile and highly confusing. Word games, puzzles and trivia facts add to the fun of a fine survey of English's evolution, perfect for lending libraries from schools to public libraries - and for all ages from middle school readers to adults.


The Biography Shelf

Zeitoun
Dave Eggers
McSweeney's Books
San Francisco, CA
press@mcsweeneys.net
9781934781630, $24.00 www.mcsweeneys.net

ZEITOUN is memoir writing at its best and tells of a couple, Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun, who go through hell after Hurricane Katrina. It reads with the power and energy of fiction but is a nonfiction survey of life before and after Katrina, packed with lively social issues and insights into survival and massive social change brought about by disaster and government support failures. Very highly recommended: hard to put down.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Navigating the Mortgage Minefield
Richard Giannamore with Barbara Bordow Osach
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814413692, $17.95 www.amacombooks.org

Any consumer interested in the changing world of home mortgages and loans will find key Navigating the Mortgage Minefield, a real estate primer offering a toolbox of invaluable observations, from self-assessments for choosing the best loan features to explanations of mortgage note obligations, borrower's rights, and more. Worksheets for homeowners provide keys to not just understanding mortgages, but locating the best.

A Survival Guide to Debt
Mitchell Allen
Greenleaf Book Group Press
c/o Booth Media Group, Inc. (publicity)
1386 Nightshade Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011
9781929774708 $14.95 www.boothmedia.com

Debt takes as much of a toll on one's nerves as it does on one's bank account. "A Survival Guide to Debt: How to Overcome Tough Times & Restore Your Financial Health" is a guide for those who are in debt over their heads and are confounded on how to survive the crisis. With plenty of tips for fighting off debt on one's own power, dealing with collections agencies, considering different types of bankruptcy, and more, "A Survival Guide to Debt" may be just what the financially challenged need to find their way out of the financial hole.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Matrix Meditations
Victor Daniels and Kooch N. Daniels
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772917, $19.95 www.destinybooks.com

MATRIX MEDITATIONS: A 16-WEEK PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING THE MIND-HEART CONNECTION provides a key guide for any new age library, synthesizing practices derived from both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions into a progressive 15-week program to heighten awareness and meditation experiences. Four key forms - concentration, mindfulness, contemplation and awareness - are applied to specific daily routines for added punch. No new age collection should be without this.

Microchakras
Sri Shyamji Bhatnagar and David Isaacs, Ph.D.
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772139, $24.95 www.innertraditions.com

Spirituality and new age collections will find popular and essential MICROCHAKRAS; INNERTUNING FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING. It covers the microchakras which enable the chakras to process information and presents the naada master's own program for InnerTuning, a technique developed from his early work with sacred sounds which began at age 12 with his Indian guru. Any library strong in consciousness research will find this packed with extensive coverage of actions that create or open blocks.

The Resonance Key
Marie D. Jones and Larry Flaxman
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630568, $15.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Those exploring the paranormal are seeking a Unified Theory to explain all elements of this realm - and THE RESONANCE KEY is a survey of the explanations that could bridge the gap between science and supernatural worlds. From the history of human knowledge about resonance to the latest brain and consciousness research's implications for paranormal studies, THE RESONANCE KEY is a top pick for new age collections but will reach into many general lending libraries.

The Earth Chronicles Handbook
Zecharia Sitchin
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
www.bearandcompanybooks.com
9781591431015, $24.00, www.amazon.com

The 'Earth Chronicles' series began with publication of THE 12TH PLANET in 1976 and is based on the author's study of Sumerian tablets and ancient texts. This latest in the series provides an encyclopedic compendium for the entire set and is a 'must' for collections already owning most of his treatises. New age libraries will find it a powerful conclusion.


The Military Shelf

Saber's Edge
Thomas A. Middleton
University Press of New England
One Court St., Lebanon NH 03766
9781584657477, $27.95 www.upne.com

SABER'S EDGE: A COMBAT MEDIC IN RAMADI, IRAQ offers a memoir of a national Guardsman called upon to fight in Iraq, documenting how a middle-aged Vermont firefighter was called to war. In a few weeks Thomas Middleton changed from a suburban father to a combat medic in the front lines of war: his story offers a unique perspective of a mature guardsman during conflict.


The Political Science Shelf

"I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican"
Harry Stein
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York NY 10003-1239
9781594032530, $25.95 www.encounterbooks.com

A lively, fun discussion of liberals and their sentiments is presented in a tour of liberals and right-wingers and the interactions between them in "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican". Here's a whimsical yet pointed view of what it means to be a conservative in a blue state and more, offering a conservative's guide to live, friendship and living in a liberal environment. A fine pick for any general collection.


The Travel Shelf

Mousejunkies!
Bill Burke
Traveler's Tales
853 Alma St., Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781932361667, $16.95 www.travelerstales.com

MOUSEJUNKIES! TIPS, TALES AND TRICKS FOR A DISNEY WORLD FIX is a top pick for any general lending library and especially for those planning a trip to Disney World. From how to beat crowds and lines to where to stay, the psychology behind Disney World, and more, this packs in details on all options and alternatives having to do with Disney attractions blending history and trivia with travel options galore.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collecting World Coins, 12th edition
Colin Bruce II, Senior Editor
Krause Publications
700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
0896897133, $40.00 www.krausebooks.com

COLLECTING WORLD COINS provides detailed listings of over a century of circulating coins, from early global issues to identifier guides focusing on dominant design characteristics. Dates, weights, and current market issues pack a weighty guide that includes a bonus DVD for easy pricing on the road. A top pick for any serious coin collector.

McCoy Pottery
Bob Hanson and Craig Nissen
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326208, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

Color photos abound in a values and identification guide perfect for any avid collector of McCoy Pottery. From wall pockets to cookie jars, planters, specialty pottery and more, "McCoy Pottery: The Ultimate Reference & Value Guide" provides a top pick for any specialty collector and for libraries catering to them, offering in-depth assessments and the latest prices.


The Woodworking Shelf

The Drawer Book
Bill Hylton
Popular Woodworking Books
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.popularwoodworking.com
9781558708426, $29.99, www.amazon.com

THE DRAWER BOOK comes with a bonus DVD and offers an encyclopedia of professional skills on how to construct all kinds of drawers, from making joins and creating slides to finishing drawers. The accompanying DVD covers installation and tips and makes for an outstanding guide for any woodworker strong in furniture making skills.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

How to Make Animated Films
Tony White
Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240810331, $49.95 www.focalpress.com

HOW TO MAKE ANIMATED FILMS offers the author's course on the basics of animation and comes from a famous animator, director, lecturer and professor who has been in the industry over 30 years and who currently teaches 2D animation. It's packed with charts, diagrams, and photos of animation principles and is a 'must' for any studying animation, and for any library catering to them. Very highly recommended as a 'cornerstone' acquisition.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Mission Dossier
Paul Ruditis
Titan Books
144 Southwark St., London SE1 0UP
9781848562448, $14.95 www.titanbooks.com

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Mission Dossier is a fine keepsake for any fan of the movie: it provides an official companion volume with exclusive cast and crew commentary and discussions of technology, weaponry, and concepts used in the G.I. Joe movie. Hundreds of color stills and visual effects shots make for an outstanding keepsake for any avid fan of the film.

Taking Woodstock
James Schamus
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th St., New York NY 10017
9781557048479, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com

TAKING WOODSTOCK: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT is packed with details from the movie and offers the shooting script book screenplay by author James Schamus, a 32-page color portfolio, a timeline and complete cast credits, and more. Any fan of TAKING WOODSTOCK will find this a 'must' keepsake accompanying the movie's strengths.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Wisdom of Bat Sheva
Ari Tuchman Barry S. Wimpfheimer, Editors
KTAV Publishing
930 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801271, $35.00 www.ktav.com

WISDOM OF BAT SHEVA; THE DR. BETH SAMUELS MEMORIAL VOLUME gathers articles in memory of a math professor and Jewish educator and offers such in both English and Hebrew by a range of scholars, appealing to a college-level Jewish library interested in thematic biblical and talmudic theology and issues. Insights on classic Jewish topics make for a fine religious study perfect for scholarly Jewish holdings.


The California Shelf

Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country, third edition
Peter I. Yanev and Andrew C.T. Thompson
Chronicle Books
680 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811861830, $19.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

Any individual or business residing anywhere in earthquake country, whether it be within California, on the Pacific Rim or elsewhere, needs Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country. Now in its third updated, expanded edition, this packs in details on earthquake risks, offering keys to making good preparations and decisions about managing earthquake risks. Graphs, recent photos, maps, and discussions of the latest insurance changes affecting earthquake country residents makes for an outstanding survey.


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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