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Volume 17, Number 9 September 2007 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Fiction Shelf Biography Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Native American Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Sports Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Travel Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Railroading Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Art Shelf Education Shelf Business Shelf
Military Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf International Studies Shelf
Science Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Parenting Shelf
Music Shelf True Crime Shelf Civil War Shelf
American History Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Gardening Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Poetry Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Gaming Shelf World History Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Jewelry Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Political Science Shelf Psychology Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf Economics Shelf Library Science Shelf
Crafts Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Photography Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Nautical Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Humor Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf Computer Shelf
Literary Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf  
Islamic Studies Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Ongoing Crisis Communication, 2nd Edition
W. Timothy Coombs
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412949927, $45.95 www.sagepublications.com

This new second edition of a classic updates crisis examples and case studies but retains its multi-disciplinary coverage to provide an integrated approach to crisis communication and the entire management process. The author uses three stages – precrisis, crisis, and postcrisis – to example how crisis management can prevent or reduce threats, offering practical guidelines suitable for emergency applications. An important college-level guide for both undergrad and graduate courses in public relations, management, or crisis communications.

Communicating Gender Diversity: A Critical Approach
Victoria Pruin DeFrancisco & Catherine Helen Palczewski
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412925594, $56.95 www.sagepublications.com

College-level collections strong in gender studies and psychology will find COMMUNICATING GENDER DIVERSITY an essential key to understanding how communication facilitates how people do gender. Here gender is linked to key ingredients in the communication process from both a social and cultural and a psychological standpoint, with chapters providing discussions, quotes from key sources, and backed by an accompanying cd-rom of exercises for further study.

Footsteps on the Ice
M.L. Paine, editor
Stuart D. Paine, author
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217417, $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Footsteps on the Ice: The Antarctic Diaries of Stuart D. Paine, Second Byrd Expedition is a compilation of the journal entries written by Stuart D. Paine during his participation as a dog driver, radio operator, and navigator on the fifty-six-man expedition in the Antarctic during 1933, well-known for concluding in Byrd's dramatic rescue from Bolling Advance Weather Base 115 miles inland. Paine's diaries are the only published contemporary account written by a member of the Second Expedition; his words are presented with black-and-white photographs and extensive footnotes by his daughter, M.L. Paine. A singularly amazing, up-close and personal chronicle of the quest to explore and map part of Antarctica for the first time, an effort that resulted in covering more than fourteen hundred miles of territory in eighty-eight days. A bibliography and index round out this absorbing day-by-day account.

The Richness of Life: The Essential Stephen Jay Gould
Steven Rose, Editor
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393064988, $35.00 www.wwnorton.com

Stephen Jay Gould is a leading scientist of modern times deemed a 'Living Legend' by Congress in 2000, and his THE RICHNESS OF LIFE offers up a collection of the range of his writings, from his most famous essays and selections from his many major books to speeches and articles. It's an entertaining mix of science and social observation and while its appearance is weighty, even general-interest library holdings will find it holds strong appeal, especially to patrons who like scientific reflections tailored for lay audiences.

Salt Lake Impressions
Scott T. Smith & Stephen Trimble
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
1560374594, $9.95 www.farcountrypress.com 1-800-821-3874

A superbly compiled and presented collection of captioned and full color photographic images by Scott T. Smith and Stephen Trimble, "Salt Lake Impressions" is a visual celebration of Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah, and the surrounding countryside that includes the Great Salt Lake basin and the surround Wasatch mountains. This compendium of engaging images includes elements of area's city architecture, natural landscapes, people and places. A remarkable photographic album of sights, many of which rise to the level of visual art, browsing through the pages of "Salt Lake Impressions" is the next best thing to actually being there. Also very highly recommended from Farcountry Press is another in their 'impressions' series: "Santa Fe Impressions" (978156037451, $9.95).

Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley CA 94710
www.nolo.com

Anyone paying rent, and any public library catering to renters, needs Attorney Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart's 5th updated edition of EVERY TENANT'S LEGAL GUIDE (141330625X, $29.99): it is the only book to provide legal details for handling not just landlords, but roommates and other tenants. From getting drug dealers out of the building to handling asbestos, getting a landlord to make repairs, and putting a roommate situation on a solid legal foundation, EVERY TENANT'S LEGAL GUIDE is an essential reference which should be part of any general public lending library collection. Ditto Attorney Stephen Fishman's THE COPYRIGHT HANDBOOK: WHAT EVERY WRITER NEEDS TO KNOW (1413305334, $39.99), here appearing in its 9th updated edition to reflect the latest law and copyright regulations. Internet works are covered here, as blogs: a cd-rom provides over thirty updated legal and copyright forms, while chapters handle how to avoid infringement, handle infringers, and get permission to use copyrighted work. Attorney Liz Weiman Hanks' THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO ESTATE PLANNING: 10 STEPS TO PEACE OF MIND (1413306349, $24.99) is a pick for libraries strong in family patrons and business: it covers basic estate planning for families, from choosing a guardian for children and determining how much life insurance a family needs to learning about powers of attorney and working with a lawyer. An accompanying cd-rom holds fifteen forms, including a simple will, and worksheets to track decisions and progress. The 12th edition of Attorney Joseph Matthews with Dorothy Matthews Berman's SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE & GOVERNMENT PENSIONS: GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR RETIREMENT AND MEDICAL BENEFITS (1413305768, $29.99) provides the latest instructions on getting the most from Medicare, social security and government and veterans benefits. From uncovering benefits and when and how to claim them to qualifying for programs and combining them, this provides an outstanding, basic reference suitable for any public library. Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder and Marcia Stewart's NOLO'S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME (1413306284, $24.99) is also a standard reference which combines the savvy of buying a first home with legal tips designed to clarify common obstacles to the process. From deciding between a house, condo or coop to getting inspections, insurance, and negotiating with sellers, this is a top pick blending the real-world stories of over twenty first-time home buyer with insights from a team of real estate pros including attorneys, a home inspector, a neighborhood researcher, a mortgage specialist and more. This team approach sets the Nolo guide far above most authored by real estate agents alone. Peri H. Pakroo, J.D.'s STARTING & BUILDING A NONPROFIT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE (1413305784, $29.99) appears in its second updated edition to provide business collections concerned with nonprofit status with a specific survey of how to create an overall effective nonprofit organization. From hiring and training staff and handling fundraising campaigns to obtaining insurance and marketing your organization, it's a winner. All are top public library reference picks.

Think Tank Directory
Government Research Service
PO Box 2067, Topeka, KS 66603-2067
9781879929425, $135.00 www.thinktankdirectory.com 1-800-346-6898

As the policy role of political parties and government agencies has diminished, think tanks have been created to fill the void. In today's political climate is likely to be the think tank that highlight's public policy problems and suggest solutions. Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, the "Think Tank Directory" continues to be a premiere reference guide to independent nonprofit public policy research organizations or 'think tanks'. Profiling more than 1,100 independent think tanks (of which some 500 were not in the first edition published ten years ago) "Think Tank Directory" is organized alphabetically with each entry including the organization's mission statement; website address; chief executive officer; alternate and former names; board members; the year it was established; research policy areas; titles of recent and representative studies, books or reports; types of funding sources; methods of operation; number of staff members; approximate budget size; mailing address, telephone and fax numbers; and email addresses. "Think Tank Directory" is enhanced with the inclusion of indexes for alternate names, budget categories, geographic locations, public policy areas, and subsidiary organizations. A comprehensive, informative, 'user friendly', 414-page compendium, "Think Tank Directory" is an essential, cornerstone addition to personal, professional, community, academic, and governmental library reference collections.

Intellectual Property
Aaron Schwabach
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598840452, $55.00 www.abc-clio.com 1-800-368-6868

Part of the Contemporary World Issues series, Intellectual Property is an in-depth, no-nonsense reference handbook to the politics, law, and government procedures pertaining to intellectual property. Chapters cover the history of intellectual property as a concept, worldwide perspectives, a chronology, reproductions of key documents such as different copyright and patent laws, a directory of organizations concerning intellectual property, recommended resources, and much more. A solidly written, accessible and useful guide strongly recommended for anyone considering a career in intellectual property realms from writing to inventing.

It Happened In Wisconsin
Michael Bie
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762741533, $12.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495

Known as the Badger State, Wisconsin is famous for its cheese and beer, for its settlement in the 19th century by waves of Norwegian, Swedish and German immigrants, as well as for the progressive politics of Bob Follette and the infamous politics of Joe McCarthy. But there is so much more to Wisconsin's history and author Michael Bie recounts some truly remarkable incidents in that history, many of which may come as a surprise to even life-long residents. This compendium state history begins with a chapter on the archaeological discovery in Lake Mills of a Native American culture that was flourishing around 3000 B.C., then goes on to cover the founding of Green Bay in 1634, events in Prairie du Chien in 1842, the Taliesin accomplishments and scandals of 1914, alleged events in Niccedah in 1950, the Posse Comitatus in Tigerton Falls in 1974, Milwaukee corruptions and depravity in 1991, and so very much more. Of special note is the chapter featuring 'Wisconsin Facts & Trivia'. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and an index. An essential, core addition to school and community libraries throughout the Badger State, "It Happened In Wisconsin" is as entertaining as it is informative, and especially recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in Wisconsin history and personalities.

Vietnam Style
Bertrand de Hartingh & Anna Craven-Smith-Milnes
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780794600181, $44.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Superbly enhanced throughout with the simply beautiful color photography of Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, "Vietnam Style" is a co-authored study of Vietnamese history, culture, art, and architecture by Bertrand de Hartingh (a recognized authority on the intricate and complicated cultural history of Vietnam) & Anna Craven-Smith-Milnes (whose fascination with Vietnamese architecture and design led to the founding of her own business, Mekong Merchant). With special attention to elements of interior design, "Vietnam Style" is organized into four major sections: Vernacular Styles; The French Legacy; Modern Times; and Contemporary Design & Crafts. From temples and pagodas, to residences and rooms, to furniture, baskets, lights, embroidery, lacquerware, ceramics, and propaganda art, "Vietnam Style" offers informative insights and illustrative examples that wonderfully showcase the diverse contributions that made Vietnam culture and architecture what it is today. A work of impressive detail and seminal accomplishment, "Vietnam Style" is very highly recommended for academic library International Studies, Architectural Studies, Interior Design Studies, and Vietnam History reference collections, and is especially appropriate for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Vietnamese culture.

The Bitter Man Publications
917 Lotus Vista Drive, #102, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
www.thebitterman.us

Men and women have been a constant puzzlement to each other down through the millennia. As each gender has struggled to understand and deal with the other, it has of necessity been a kind of 'trial and error' process begun in childhood, developed through adolescence, and culminating in adulthood. Perhaps the most confusion and anxiety fraught aspects of gender relations is to be found in the dating years as each gender struggles to attract, understand, evaluate, and avoid exploitation by the other. All this being further complicated by raging hormones, family expectations, the process of procreation, and the prospect of marriage. Now Antone Christopher has written two separate guides to help out. "The Bitter Woman's Guide To Dating" (9780978532307) readily identifies seventy-eight male character types commonly encountered (and endured) by women in search of a good time and/or a marriageable prospect. "The Bitter Man's Guide To Dating" (9780976484301) features apt descriptions of sixty-six female character types often encountered by men in search of a good time and/or a marriageable prospect. Enhanced with the occasional color cartoon, each of these two volumes is written with wit, humor, and brutal candor. Very highly recommended reading which is as entertaining as they are instructive, both books are confidently recommended -- especially to men and women entering, enduring, or having to return to, the dating scene!


The Fiction Shelf

Discipline
Paco Ahlgren
Greenleaf Book Group Press
c/o Booth Media Group, Inc.
2248 Lagoon View Drive, Cardiff, CA 92007
9780979084201, $24.95 www.boothmedia.com

Financial analyst and world traveler Paco Ahlgren presents Discipline, a grim and suspenseful novel about Douglas Cole, a man who is at once being hunted and protected, all without his knowledge. Terrible visions haunt him, and tragedy has driven apart his life. Locked in a battle of psyches with a merciless unknown foe, Douglas' choices will ultimately determine the past, present, and future of humanity itself. Tautly written, Discipline straddles the boundaries of reality and quantum physics. Highly recommended.

Return of the Native
Jonathan Butler
Breakwater Books Limited
PO Box 2188, 100 Water Street, St. Johns, NL A1C 6E6
9781550812305, $16.00 www.breakwaterbooks.com

Newfoundland native Jonathan Butler presents Return of the Native, a novel about a a would-be historical scholar who retires from the Toronto big city life to Newfoundland, seeking the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a hero for his people and help free "The Republic". But when he seeks to ply his trade, he discovers to his dismay the allotment of liberties, biases, and argumentative quagmires that permeate historical scholarship. Part comedic satire, part commentary on the vagaries of politics, Return of the Native is as intellectually intriguing as it is chuckle-worthy.

The Walk
William deBuys
Trinity University Press
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations, Inc.
255 West 108 Street, Suite 9D1, New York, NY 10025
9781595340276, $22.95 www.trinity.edu/tupress

Pulitzer Prize finalist William deBuys presents The Walk, a novel of the beauty of nature, and how it aids one man in the rediscovery of hope after the end of a long marriage and the death of a close friend. Set in the more secluded regions of New Mexico, The Walk particularly reflects upon the noble spirit of horses; equines literally and figuratively play a crucial role in the protagonist's long journey to healing. Written in a contemplative style reminiscent of Thoreau, The Walk is a moving expression of love of the land and its natural creatures.

The Interim
Chris Earl
Gate 8 Publishing
2212 - 8th Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703
9780978826079, $14.95 www.gate8publishing.com

"The Interim" by Wisconsin author Chris Earl is the story of Robb Markstran, a career television sportscaster in Green Bay, who finds himself being passed over for promotion. Robb leaves sportscasting to become an administrative assistant for the Wisconsin State men's basketball program. When the plane carrying the rest of the coaching staff goes down on the way back to Madison from a game on the road, Robb finds that as the only surviving staff member, he is now the head coach -- and discovers that the college basketball program he is in charge of is corrupt. Recruits and players are offered cash bribes and cars, a wealthy Wisconsin State alumnus want things done his way or the school can forget a thirty-five million dollar donation for a new on-campus arena. All this is going on while Robb is trying to prepare his players for the NCAA tournament. Set in Madison, Wisconsin, and especially commended to the attention of college basketball enthusiasts, "The Interim" is deftly written with an eye to exacting detail, and presents a fascinating, engaging read from first page to last. Also very highly recommended is Chris Earl's previous novel "Gotcha Down" which takes college football as its theme.


The Biography Shelf

I've Heard the Vultures Singing
Lucia Perillo
Trinity University Press
One Thirty Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
9781595340313, $24.95

Former park ranger and award-winning poet Lucia Perillo presents I've Heard the Vultures Singing: Field Notes on Poetry, Illness, and Nature, a memoir of the ups and downs in her life. When Lucia was in her thirties, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; I've Heard the Vultures Singing recounts the difficulty of coming to terms with losing the ability to walk. She had to give up some of her favorite outdoor activities, such as hiking and skiing, and learn to enjoy the wilderness with lowered expectations, as well as how to apply her poetry to access and experience the wilderness. A thoughtful, reflective, autobiographical narrative about adapting to severe change, highly recommended.

From Trotsky to Godel
Anita Burdman Feferman
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568811482, $24.95 www.akpeters.com

From Trotsky to Godel: The Life of Jean van Heijenoort is the true-life biography of a man in a prime position to observe twentieth-century turmoil. He served as a secretary and bodyguard to Leon Trotsky, and was intellectually and politically passionate; in his maturity, he contributed greatly to the realm of abstract philosophical logic. From Trotsky to Godel draws heavily upon interviews with van Heijenoort himself, as well as his friends, family, and colleagues. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone interested in following van Heijenoort's challenging life, and also for students of Trotsky seeking to round out their perspectives on the man and his writings.

White House Chef
Walter Scheib and Andrew Friedman
Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780471798422, , $24.95 www.wiley.com

Walter Scheib provides stories and recipes of some eleven years as White House chef under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, so anticipate a collection which is far more than your usual cookbook – and which will appeal to collections strong in culinary history and presidential trivia. Scheib was hired by Hillary Clinton in 1994 to become White House chef and faced taking an outdated kitchen focused on traditional French cuisine and making it a showcase for modern American foods. His memoir embraces some eleven years of culinary history at the White House under two different administrations and pairs original recipes with accounts of Presidential family encounters, making for both lively vignettes and fine recipes.

Peter's Story
Peter Pizzino & Tom Montag
MWPH Books
PO Box 8, Fairwater, WI 53931
9780974649931, $16.95 1-920-346-5235

"Peter's Story" is the personal memoir of Peter Pizzino who grew up in the 1920s and 1930s in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Third Ward, a strongly ethnic Italian community. Peter was abandoned by his mother when he was three and a half years old. Raised by a domineering father, Peter became delinquent and with a small group of friends began stealing to feed families in the neighborhood when he was eight years old and getting odd jobs whenever he could. As he grow older, Peter drove mob bosses to their meetings in Chicago and New York, hunted down members of organized crime families who broke mob rules, and basically experienced more in the first 18 years of his life than most of use experience in the course of our entire lifetimes. Co-authored with Tom Montag, "Peter's Story" is the fascinating and candid autobiography of an abused childhood and criminal adolescence. Of special note is a heartbreaking Epilogue in which Peter succinctly informs the reader of the ultimate fates of both his mother and his father. Also very highly recommended from MWPH Books is author and poet Tom Montag's compellingly thoughtful and articulate collection of writings about people and places, "The Idea Of The Local And Other Essays" (9780974649948, $17.95).

My Kitchen Table
Pilar Pobil
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
9780874808964, $29.95 www.uofupress.com 1-800-773-6672

A very special memoir, "My Kitchen Table: Sketches From My Life" is the autobiographical reminisces of Pilar Pobil presented to the reader as she had original told them around her kitchen table to her children. One very special difference is that in "My Kitchen Table", Pilar Pobil enhances those already engaging biographical stories with fifty full color reproductions of her paintings and sculptures. This compendium of stories about Pilar's growing up in Mallorca, of meeting the man who would marry her and take her back to Utah, of her discovery with respect to a talent for creating art, is as engaging as it is informative. Written with wit, wisdom, and occasionally flashes of insight, "My Kitchen Table" is very highly recommended reading as the personal memoir of a very special and talented artist.

The Wartime Letters of Leslie & Cecil Frost 1915-1919
R.B. Fleming, editor
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580002, $38.95 www.wlupress.wlu.ca

The Wartime Letters of Leslie & Cecil Frost 1915-1919 is an anthology of wartime correspondence by two officer brothers in World War I, Leslie and Cecil Frost. Both Frost brothers wrote frank and openly honest accounts of their experiences in the trenches, their views of the war itself, training, and some of the war's most horrific battles. The letters also comment on political concerns of the war, from the emerging role of women to that of the growing middle class, nativism, and the use of liquor overseas. Leslie Frost would go on to become the premier of Ontario (1949-1961); editor R.B. Fleming contends that Leslie's military experiences and hospitalization affected Leslie's policies, particularly with regard to Medicare and liquor control laws. A handful of black-and-white photographs, extensive appendices, and an index round out this solid primary testimony.


The Self-Help Shelf

After 50 It's Up To Us
George H. Schofield
The Clarity Group, Inc.
PO Box 470966, San Francisco, CA 94147-0966
Cate Cummings Publicity & Promotion Group
7601 East 93rd Street, Kansas City, MO 64138-4206
9780979038242, $14.95 www.clarity-group.com

By 2015 some 77 million Americans will be fifty to sixty-nine years old and represent the first (and largest) generation in history to be so long lived and have to deal with the promises and problems of such an extended live span. In "After 50 It's Up To Us: Developing The Skills And Agility We'll Need", George H. Schofield presents the results of his own researches on the subject, which include numerous in-depth interviews with Americans in the 50 to 97 age bracket. The result is an articulate presentation offering invaluable insights and an accessible wisdom to the mind-opening possibilities of what an extended life span can offer senior citizens today. "After 50 It's Up To Us" stresses that planning is essential; the pace of change is accelerating; nobody's life happens entirely according to plan; thriving beyond the age of 50 requires development and application special abilities; agility in dealing with changes is a necessity; situations and companions can change as we age -- often without prior warning; aging cannot be ignored; mastering the skills of coping with and benefiting from the aging process is an essential and life-long necessity; living successfully beyond the age of 50 must be a customized plan specific to oneself. Of special note are Schofield's ten tips when negotiating through the unchartered territory of an extended life span. Simply stated, "After 50 It's Up To Us" should be considered mandatory reading for all seniors, and an important acquisition for community library Self Help/Self Improvement reference collections.

Appearance is Everything
Steve Jeffes
Sterling House Publishers
440 Friday Road, Department T-101, Pittsburgh, PA 15209
9781563150883, $19.95 www.sterlinghousepublisher.com 1-888-542-2665

Appearance is Everything: The Hidden Truth Regarding Your Appearance & Appearance Discrimination is a tell-it-like-it-is guide to the truth about appearance discrimination. The 80/20 rule applies in full force to the dating world - at some point in their lives, the most attractive 20% of the population will be pursued as potential mates by the other 80%! Better-looking individuals will automatically be presumed to be more competent, wealthier, more enthusiastic and likeable than unattractive individuals - although time and experience will allow human beings to evaluate first impressions based on other factors such as personality or objective evidence of competence, not everyone will allot that time and experience if their first impression of appearance is too negative! Appearance is Everything not only dissects the appearance stereotypes, generalizing them into common and recurring "laws" of social behavior; it also gives valuable guidelines for improving one's appearance (from physical fitness to dressing well to remembering to smile) and therefore improving the impression one makes on others. However, Appearance is Everything is not about being shallow - far from it, author Steve Jeffes stresses that the most important factor is to respect and have confidence in oneself, and to teach self-respect and self-confidence to one's children. Of especial interest is Jeffes' warnings for the common dating traps that beset individuals who are non-average appearance-wise; highly attractive people can be so sought after they may have a hard time finding a partner who truly cares about them rather than their appearance (and also remaining in a faithful and stable relationship with such a partner), while unattractive people are more likely to "settle" for incompatible mates rather than chance being alone. Appearance is Everything is a "must-read" insight for how human society really works, and how to best adjust while retaining one's dignity and self-respect. Highly recommended.

The Little Black Book For Blue People
Ruth Theobald Probst
Lit Mark Institute for Greatness, LLC
21150 West Capitol Drive, Suite 3, Pewaukee, WI 53072
9780975342220, $16.95 www.intentionfiction.com 1-877-783-113

Depression is something that afflicts everyone from time to time. For some it becomes a chronic and crippling condition. Ruth Theobald Probst wrote and colored to help herself out of her own long-term depression. She has created "The Little Black Book for Blue People" as a reusable coloring book for all ages and is specifically designed for the therapeutic use by children and adults who are 'feeling down'. This is a unique self-help, self-improvement coloring book that features 37 illustrations that enhance an engaging text that is both informational and inspirational. Accompanied by a small box of twelve colored pencils, "The Little Black Book For Blue People" is especially recommended as a do-it-yourself activity book that can go a long way toward helping people deal with their 'blues'.

You Are Enough
David J. Walker
DeVorss & Company
553 Constitution Ave., Camarillo, CA 93012
9780875168265, $12.95 www.devorss.com

You Are Enough: Always Have Been... Always Will Be is a compendium of life-changing wisdom from David J. Walker, who has been teaching and helping people overcome their own harmful inhibitions for over 30 years. Chapters discuss how to use positive self-talk to bolster one's confidence, how to break out of the destructive cycle of self-restricting thought patterns, and much more. You Are Enough further embraces a humanistic spirituality, that does not rely upon specific religious beliefs but rather an understanding that the spark of the divine lies within every individual. "The way we think about money, for instance, determines our experience of money. If we believe that money is the root of all evil, at some level we'll be pushing money away from us. Dr. Raymond Charles Barker tells us that 'money is God in action,' which means that the amount of money we have is the 'inevitable consequence' of using the inner Life Force at the level of having that amount." An upbeat, turn-yourself-around guide especially valuable for anyone vulnerable to negative thinking.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Earth & Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet
David Rhoades, Editor
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York NY 10038
0826428282, $24.95 www.continuumbooks.com

For centuries Christians have preached a domination of the earth, but EARTH AND WORD provides a difference: sermons from the Christian community which do not condone the destruction and conquest of the environment in the name of God. The voices of environmentalists, theologians, and activists such as Wendell Berry, John Cobb, and others explore connections between thinking religiously and thinking ecologically, and make for important considerations recommended for any Christian library.

The Stories of the Old Testament
Jim Campbell
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
9780829424706, $14.95 www.LoyolaBooks.org 1-800-621-1008

Theologian Jim Campbell presents The Stories of the Old Testament: A Catholic's Guide, a guide for Catholic readers to the central texts, stories, and figures of the Old Testament. One hundred carefully chosen readings from the Old Testament are discussed at length. "When Job's friends tell Job that he is refusing to admit his wickedness, Job replies that his complaint is bitter: he has not made the violence that stalks the earth. Job's friends ask how anyone can stand in a right relationship with God. Job replies that God's ways are a mystery no one can fathom. What is fascinating about the dialogue is that Job's friends seem so sure that they know the answers to Job's dilemma. They do not for an instant consider Job's side of the story or ask questions of either Job or God. Without questioning or listening hearts, they cannot begin their own journey into the heart of God." A candid and insightful discussion, highly recommended for self-study or as a supplementary resource for bible study groups.

Introduction to the Bible
Stephen J. Binz
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814617007, $8.95 www.litpress.org 1-800-858-5450

Catholic biblical scholar, speaker, and counselor Stephen J. Binz presents Introduction to the Bible: A Catholic Guide to Studying Scripture. A brief yet solid primer covering how the Bible came to be, how to choose a Bible translation, how to interpret the Bible in accordance with the Catholic tradition, and how to grasp the most benefit from Bible study. "Whether discerning what the text meant or what it means, the constant factor in all the meaning discovered in Scripture is the community of faith. It is the community of faith from which the text was formed, it is the community of faith that accepted the text into its Sacred Scriptures, and it is the community of faith that continues to receive the text and be formed by it today. Biblical meaning is found in the way the church comes to understand the Bible more and more fully in its life, liturgy, and theology." Highly recommended for Catholics new to the enlightening labor of love that is Biblical and scriptural study.

Positively Dangerous
Frank Mercadante
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9780884897903, $9.95 www.smp.org

Positively Dangerous: Live Loud, Be Real, Change the World is a book written especially to promote the Catholic Christian faith in teenagers, by offering sound advice for youth ministers grounded in the years of wisdom and experience of author Frank Mercadante, the executive director of a not-for-profit corporation devoted to supporting Christian adult and teen leaders (Cultivation Ministries). Chapters discuss how to promote and grow love for god and one another, with authenticity and integrity, and make the most of evangelistic opportunities. The concept described as "positively dangerous" is a beneficial state for people of faith to strive for - in this circumstance, "positively dangerous" defines one who has taken being a disciple of Christ to heart, and actively applies the teachings of their faith to all aspects of their life, including the importance of spreading the Good News. "Nothing is positively dangerous about us if we are not sharing with others our relationship with Jesus. We may intrigue others by our love for God and for people. They may be drawn to us because of our authenticity, even respect us because of our integrity. But without effectively communicating the Gospel and inviting others to experience what we have, we are not positively dangerous." Questions for reflection and discussion round out this charged guidebook ideal for youth ministers of all skill and experience levels.

Wizards, Wardrobes And Wookies
Connie Neal
InterVarsity Press
430 East Plaza Drive, Westmont, IL 60559
9780830833665, $15.00 www.ivpress.com 1-800-843-9487

Author, speaker, and expert on the intersection between Christianity and popular culture Connie Neal presents Wizards, Wardrobes and Wookies: Navigating Good and Evil in Harry Potter, Narnia and Star Wars, an examination of two popular fantasy epics and one popular space opera, and what they say to Christian readers today. Harry Potter, Narnia, and Star Wars are all inspirational tales of courage and heroism, drawing the reader to imagine himself or herself in the fantastic world. Neal examines specific adventures from the three sagas, true stories from Scripture, and experiences from her own life in order to show the path toward victory - though we don't have Obi-Wan Kenobi or Dumbledore to help us, we do have a divine Everlasting Helper who is always with us. Wizards, Wardrobes, and Wookies embraces the positive aspect of uplifting popular culture stories, and how their lessons can reinforce the Christian faith, and is recommended reading especially for youth pastors seeking to better connect with their subjects through shared media.

Gifts of Self-Esteem
Dr. Mary Jane Woodger
Brigham Young University
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, UT 84663
9781599550206, $14.99 www.cedarfort.com 1-800-759-2665

Dr. Mary Jane Woodger (associate professor of Church history and doctrine, Brigham Young University) presents Gifts of Self-Esteem: Obtaining Spiritual Gifts and Strengthening Self-Perception, a guide to finding happiness through one's own spiritual gifts, especially the trinity of faith, hope, and love. Drawing upon the examples of prophets Moroni, Paul, and Joseph Smith, all of whom received revelations and taught that self-esteem comes from spiritual growth, Gifts of Self-Esteem is a deeply reverent and spiritual testimony. Though written from the perspective of a devout Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) author, Gifts of Self-Esteem offers wisdom that transcends all branches of the Christian faith.

Christ & Empire
Joerg Rieger
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9780800620387, $20.00 www.fortresspress.com

Joerg Rieger (Professor of Systematic Theology, Perkins School of Theology) presents Christ & Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times, an examination how our modern-day perception of Jesus Christ has been shaped by empires at critical turning points of history. Crusades, conquest, and commerce have spread the Christian faith for hundreds of years; Christ & Empire seeks to peel away the colonial legacy of Christology to find the true Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's own refusal to submit to empire offers an intriguing and ironic contrast to the historical legacy of Christian empires, in this thoughtful, scholarly, and extensively researched treatise. Highly recommended for Christology shelves.

Why, Oh Why, My God?
Abbe Pierre with Frederic Lenoir
World Council of Churches Publications
c/o ISBS
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9782825415078, $13.00 www.isbs.com

Why, Oh Why, My God?: Meditations on Christian Faith and the Meaning of Life is a collection of brief reflections upon Christianity by Abbe Pierre of the Emmaus (1912-2007), recipient of France's highest civilian honor, a former participant of underground resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War II, founder of the Emmaus movement, and tireless champion of the poor and the homeless. His simple, honest words reveal the life and perspective of a man who dedicated his life to serving his fellow men and women in God's name. The topics he presents his views on range from different attitudes between Buddhism and Christianity ("The Christian does not try to eliminate suffering by avoiding desire but rather tries to react to personal desire through sharing and giving.") to the question of whether Jesus Christ shared a physical relationship with Mary Magdalene, to whether gays should be allowed to marry or parent and whether women should be allowed to serve as priests, to his take on the Iraq War and much more. "Should we have responded to the terrible provocation of Al Qaeda with a new crusade? Can we cure evil with evil? I fear that all this will propel the world into a new war between Christian and Muslim civilizations - which is, of course, what Bin Laden wants." A short yet profoundly honest, faithful, and powerful testimony, highly recommended for Christian readers of all walks of life.

The IVP Introduction to the Bible
Philip S. Johnston
InterVarsity Press
430 East Plaza Drive, Westmont, IL 60559
9780830828289, $26.00 www.ivpress.com 1-800-843-9487

The IVP Introduction to the Bible is an anthology of essays by learned biblical studies teachers written to help Christian readers of all walks of life better understand both the Old and New Testaments. Offering historical and other background information for each Testament and the Bible as a whole, plus a thoughtful introduction of each biblical book in turn, The IVP Introduction to the Bible will prove especially valuable to novice to intermediate biblical students and scholars. Highly recommended as a solid religious studies reference for public and college library shelves.

Created in God's Image
Michelle A. Gonzalez
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570756979, $20.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Michelle A. Gonzalez (Religious Studies Department, University of Miami) presents Created in God's Image: An Introduction to Feminist Theological Anthropology, a sober reflection upon the biblical creation story as told in Genesis 1. The concept of women as well as men being created in the image of God has been crucial to feminist claims of equality, yet Gonzalez shows that feminist theology has long struggled against a contrary tradition in which women's claims to represent the image of God have been seen as inferior to those of men. Gonzalez puts forth a convincing argument that the time has come for a new understanding of God and the concept of being created in His image is needed for faithful men and women of the twenty-first century. A persuasive, expertly researched and thoughtfully reasoned philosophical and religious treatise.


The Native American Shelf

Ruling Pine Ridge
Akim D. Reinhardt
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726017, $34.95 www.ttup.ttu.edu 1-800-832-4042

"Ruling Pine Ridge: Oglala Lakota Politics From The IRA To Wounded Knee" by "Akim D. Reinhardt (Associate Professor of History, Towson University, Maryland) draws upon oral histories, council records, and reservation newspapers to provide an historical survey and analysis of the Oglala Lakota reservation in South Dakota during the mid-twentieth century when it was evolving from being directly run by the federal government , to indirect colonialism under the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA), to the 1973 occupation and siege of Wounded Knee as the culmination of dissatisfaction with how reservation autonomy was being hampered by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. Professor Reinhardt amply supports his thesis that the siege was not simply a political stunt of the American Indian Movement, but a genuine grassroots protest that was developing over the previous forty years. A work of impeccable and detailed scholarly research (some of which had never been previously accessed by historians), that should be a part of every university library's Native American Studies reference collection, "Ruling Pine Ridge" is a seminal study that is an academically impressive, substantively informative, and thoughtfully insightful.

Essential Song
Lynn Whidden
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9780889204591, $85.00 www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Lynn Whidden (associate professor of Native studies and music, Brandon University, Manitoba) presents Essential Song: Three Decades of Northern Cree Music, an in-depth ethnomusicology examination of subarctic Cree hunting songs, as passed down among the northern Cree of Quebec and Manitoba. Chapters scrutinize the ancient tradition of hunting songs, their meanings and origins, their important connection to the hunt, the impact of women's songs, and the effects that social change have had upon Cree music - including the introductions of hymns, gospel tunes, and country music. Profiles of individual hunters and their songs, and an accompanying music CD of more than fifty Cree hunting songs round out this invaluable and scholarly text. A welcome addition to Native American studies and musicology shelves.

A To Z Of American Indian Women
Liz Sonneborn
Facts On File, Inc.
132 West 31st Street, 17th floor, NY, NY 10001-2006
9780816066940, $60.00 www.factsonfile.com 1-800-322-8755

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "A To Z Of American Indian Women" by author and biographer Liz Sonneborn is an encyclopedic compendium of succinct biographies of 152 Native American women who have distinguished themselves in a range of professions and careers. Included are brief but informative profiles of activists, educators, potters, musicians, artists, physicians, politicians, lawyers, entertainers, and others. From Lori Arviso Alvord, who as a surgeon combined western medicine and Native American healing methods, to Molly Spotted Elk, an actress whose many roles were performed on the silver screen and the theatre stage, the "A To Z Of American Indian Women" is an impressive body of work and a welcome contribution to academic and community library Native American Studies and Women's Studies reference collections.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Secrets of the Hidden Job Market
Janet White
You' re Hired! Enterprises
6213 Monahans Court, Plano, TX 75023
9781595940520, $16.95 www.jobmarketsecrets.com

Secrets of the Hidden Job Market: Change Your Thinking to Get the Job of Your Dreams is a no-nonsense guide to getting hired. Chapters cover how to avoid the traps inherent in the traditional system of networking ("Executive recruiters are not in business to get you hired. Never forget you are there for the recruiter's benefit; they are not there for yours."), the crucial importance of properly preparing a resume ("The design of your resume is irrelevant; the only things that matter are what your resume says and how Mr. Bigg feels as he reads it."), the importance of maintaining a positive outlook ("Like everything else, your belief about your age becomes your experience. When you stop believing your age is a problem in your getting hired, it will cease to be one.") and much more. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, Secrets of the Hidden Job Market is a go-to guide for making a good impression successfully competing for opportunities.

Independent Medical Coding
Donna Avila-Weil, RHIT & Rhonda Regan, CCS, CCS-P
Rayve Productions
PO Box 726 Windsor, CA 95492
9781877810152, $44.95 www.amazon.com

Co-authors Donna Avila-Weil, RHIT and Rhonda Regan, CCS, CCS-P combine their expertise in the updated second edition of Independent Medical Coding: The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success as a Medical Coder. Independent Medical Coding is an in-depth guide to pursuing medical coding as a career - an excellent opportunity, given that demand for skilled medical coders currently outstrips supply. Chapters cover how to gain the necessary education, as well as cultivating the needed interpersonal and organizational skills; how to become credentialed; specifics on different types of coding systems; how to establish an independent coding business; alternative careers for a coding specialist; and much more. An absolute "must-have" for anyone considering the benefits of a medical coding career.

Intelligent Courage
Michael E. Fraidenburg
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
9781575242873, $32.50 www.krieger-publishing.com 1-800-724-0025

Former Executive Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Michael E. Fraidenberg presents Intelligent Courage: Natural Resource Careers That Make a Difference, a solid guide to earning success in the world of natural resource service professionals. Written especially for students about to complete their university education and search for jobs in the field, Intelligent Courage offers the insights of a plethora of different experts and stresses the importance of self-determination, commitment to the cause, passion and enthusiasm for one's work. A highly practical guide packed with true tales, learning experiences analyzed and "day-in-the-life" stories.

Next Day Salary Negotiation
Maryanne Wegerbauer
JIST Publishing
8902 Otis Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
9781593574406, $8.95 1-800-648-5478

Expert human resources consultant Maryanne Wegerbauer presents Next Day Salary Negotiation: Prepare Tonight to Get Your Best Pay Tomorrow, a fact-filled guide to negotiating one's salary or evaluating an improved job offer. Extensive, up-to-date salary tables help the reader determine how much his or her skills are worth, while text chapters cover how to do the necessary research of the organization making the offer, what to look for when evaluating an offer, how to set an effective negotiation plan and strategy, tips, tricks, techniques, and more. Next Day Salary Negotiation is especially valuable in that it is designed to be used quickly - with as little as twenty-four hours' notice that one will have to consider and respond to a salary offer. An excellent and helpful guide for any ambitious worker.


The Sports Shelf

Gold Glove Baseball
Charlie Greene, editor
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9780736062633, $19.95 www.HumanKinetics.com 1-800-747-4457

Expertly edited and organized by Charlie Greene (now retired but formerly the baseball coach for Miami-Dade Community College with a career record of 1,047-548 and a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame), "Gold Glove Baseball" is an illustrated instruction guide for aspiring ball players with an emphasis on position skills, team tactics, practice drills, and signals. In addition to Charlie Greene, the contributors include an all-star line up of college and university baseball coaches: Bob Bennet (1,302-759-4); Ed Flaherty (594-2550-3); Davey Johnson (hired as a consultant to the team general manager of the Washington nations in June 2006); Ken Knutson (461-295-2); Carroll Land (Director of Athletics at Point Loma Nazarene University); Mike Maack (Head Coach of the new Plano Blue Sox); Rich Maloney (Head Baseball Coach at the University of Michigan); Jim Penders (Head Baseball Coach for the University of Connecticut); Sam Piraro (the winningest baseball coach in the history of San Jose State University); Steve Smith (Head Coach of Baylor University's baseball program); Scott Stricklin (Head Baseball Coach at Kent State University); and Jerry Weinstein (831-208-12). A thoroughly 'user friendly' manual, "Gold Glove Baseball" will prove to be an invaluable reference for college and university athletic department reference collections. Also very highly recommended are two other titles from Human Kinetics: Vern & Gambet's "Athletic Development" (9780736051002, $19.95) and Curran's "Coaching Baseball Successfully" (9780736065207, $19.95).

Green Bay Packers
Don Gulbrandsen
Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101
9780760331392, $29.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

Simply stated at the outset, "Green Bay Packers: The Complete Illustrated History" should be considered a compulsory acquisition by every highschool and community library in the Badger State. Profusely illustrated throughout, Don Gulbrandsen's definitive history of Wisconsin's preeminent professional football team is a superbly written, informed and informative sports history that will entertain and educate readers with its many biographical vignettes of the men who played, coached and managed one of the truly great all time American football teams from its inception down to the present day. "Green Bay Packers: The Complete Illustrated History" is a 'must read' and a 'must have' for all dedicated 'Packer' fans.

A Passion for Golf
Ann Liguori
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589793040, $22.95 www.rowman.com 1-800-275-8188

Now in a newly revised edition, A Passion for Golf: Celebrity Musings About the Game collects interviews about the widely beloved pastime of golf from notable popular culture figures ranging from cartoonist Charles Schulz to Wimbledon tennis champion Pete Sampras to former vice president Dan Quayle to "Snakes on a Plane" movie star Samuel L. Jackson, and many more. Packed with wit, wisdom, and humor, A Passion for Golf is sure to inspire fellow golf lovers, though the celebrity comments often encompass far more than golf alone. Highly recommended as a giftbook, or simply as standalone read offering a wide array of celebrity perspectives contemplating upon the many vagaries of life.


The Philosophy Shelf

Aristotelian Philosophy
Kelvin Knight
Polity
c/o Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745619774, $26.95 www.blackwellpublishing.com 1-800-216-2522

Written by Kelvin Knight (senior lecturer in politics, London Metropolitan University), Aristotelian Philosophy: Ethics and Politics from Aristotle to MacIntyre is a scholarly intellectual history of Aristotelian philosophy, and its long-running importance up to the present day. Chapters explore the theoretical bases behind what Aristotle said about ethical, political and productive activity; Aristotle's practical philosophy as well as his theoretical philosophy; and applications of his ideas in settings ranging from medieval Christian times to Germany to revolutionary Aristotelianism in modern history including MacIntyre's Marxism. At times highly technical due to its depth and nuance of complex concepts, Aristotelian Philosophy is a welcome addition to college library and philosophical studies shelves.

The Idea of Comedy
Jan Walsh Hokenson
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
The Gatehouse M010C, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
9780838640968, $52.50 1-609-655-4770

Professor Jan Walsh Hokenson presents The Idea of Comedy: History, Theory, Critique, a scholarly and studious examination of one of the most nebulous, yet universally visceral human topics: comedy. What is comedy, and how does it truly work? Drawing upon sources from a wide variety of languages and eras, The Idea of Comedy explores a diversity of different theories of comedy. From classical renaissance takes on comedy, to the emergent populist theory of late modernist conception, to postmodern ideas of comedic theory, The Idea of Comedy appraises and compares perceptions of what constitutes true humor. "Comedy... has always been considered the artistic mode of error. Error has ranged from ludicrous blunder in Menander to cognitive dissonance in Glasgow. Generally speaking, the concept of error requires another concept of non-error (as accuracy, truth, decorum, and so on). It is not necessarily the case that the latter must be a 'standard' or a 'norm.'" A welcome addition to philosophical discourses about the subtleties of human socialization and entertainment.

Facing Death
F. David Martin
Bucknell University Press
c/o Associated University Press
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
9780838756416 www.bucknell.edu 1-609-655-4770

Award-winning university teacher F. David Martin presents Facing Death: Theme and Variations, a straightforward philosophical look at the harsh reality of death and the search for meaning each of us would wrest from life before, in spite of, or because of its coming end. Chapters reflect upon human loneliness, suicide and assisted suicide, and offer passing insight into the roles that religion and spirituality have in the paradox of seeking meaning amid mortality. A scholarly and erudite treatise about the most universal of common denominators. "Death for me is the most mysterious of events. When death is sung in a line that is beautiful in its sound, an aura of strangeness expresses something of the majestic mystery. And death is closure. Without that sense of impending ending, form is weakened, and without form there can be no beauty. Form evolves from form, as with Haydn to Mozart to Beethoven to Brahms."


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Listening from the Heart of Silence
John J. Pendergast & G. Kenneth Bradford, editors
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul 55113
9781557788627, $19.95 www.paragonhouse.com

Volume two in the Natural Wisdom & Psychotherapy series, Listening from the Heart of Silence is an anthology of essays by learned authors that apply the spiritual insights of Zen, Tibetan Dzogchen, Advaita Vedanta, and other sources of wisdom to modern psychotherapy. Individual essays include "Listening and Speaking from No-Mind", "Nondual Wisdom and Body-Based Therapy", "Walking the Talk: The Principles and Practices of Embodied Spirituality", and much more. A thoughtful demonstration of the positive benefits of nondual spiritual realization. "Moments of self being 'gone' often become noticeable to practitioners of certain kinds of meditation. This is the case especially in Buddhist meditative practice. The dissolution of the self then becomes the desires goal of practice. The practitioner, hoping to 'go into' nonduality, 'gets into' trying to dissolve the self instead. But the self cannot dissolve itself. It cannot really even allow itself to dissolve, for that, too, sets up a duality between the one doing the allowing and the state that is supposed to be achieved by doing it. Notice how 'allowing' can be a mental attitude that fixates the self.

The Bhagavad Gita
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
PO Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971
9781586380199, $10.95 1-800-475-2369

Expertly and accessibly translated into English by teacher Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999), The Bhagavad Gita, or "The Song of the Lord" is the classic East Indian Hindu scripture, which begins on a battlefield upon which the anguished warrior Arjuna questions his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, about the most crucial matters of life and death. Easwaran's translation of The Bhagavad Gita retains a lyrical, poetic flow, and is supplemented by a foreword, an introduction, and notes on the meanings of the original Sanskrit terms, and a glossary. An invaluable religious studies and reference text, which belongs side by side on religious studies shelves along with annotated copies of the Bible, the Koran, and other core spiritual scripture.

Ancient Gnosticism
Birger A. Pearson
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9780800632588, $25.00 www.fortresspress.com

Written by Gnosticism expert Birger A. Pearson (Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, University of California Santa Barbara), Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature is an overview of all primary literary evidence for ancient Gnosticism, offering a crystal clear introduction to each writing, including the recently published "Gospel of Judas". Chapters cover the classic schools of Christian Gnosticism, Hermetic Gnosis, Manicheism, and the Mandaeans. Chapters are keyed to standard translations of Gnostic writings, including "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The International Edition" edited by Marvin W. Meyer, for easy cross-reference. Maps and recommendations for further reading round out this comprehensive introduction to who the Gnostics were and what they believed, accessible to religious scholars and lay readers alike.

The Sovereign Soul
Phillip Gowins
New Paradigm Books
22491 Vistawood Way, Boca Raton, FL 33428
9781892138101, $16.95 www.newpara.com

Author Phillip Gowins, a teacher in the Sufi Order in the West, presents The Sovereign Soul, an homage and introduction to the mystical path of the 1,500-year-old spiritual tradition of Sufism. Blending elements of personal memoir, history, and philosophy into its presentation, The Sovereign Soul discusses how to get oneself on the path, exercise spiritual creativity, embrace love and sacrifice, prepare oneself for death, and much more. An inspirational tour de force of the wisdom inherent within Sufi teachings.

Everything You Know About God Is Wrong
Russ Kick, editor
The Disinformation Company, Ltd.
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010
9781932857597, $24.95 www.disinfo.com

Everything You Know About God Is Wrong is a crushing indictment of popular misconceptions about religious belief. Composed of a wide variety of articles, each by a different author and attacking a different "sacred cow", Everything You Know About Religion denounces hypocrisies, outright criminal behavior perpetrated in the name of religion, horrific statements from the Bible and more. While some articles are written by freethinkers or nonbelievers and reveal a decidedly atheistic perspective, others are by believers seeking reform, justice, or a better understanding of various negative aspects of different religions. Indeed, the introduction remarks that "no contributor necessarily agrees with the other contributors... inclusion is not an indication of collusion." The articles range from "Sandman" author Neil Gaiman's graphically illustrated, adults-only comic of the soul-destroying Biblical story of Judges chapter 19 (in which a host turns over his daughter and his guest's concubine to be gang raped and murdered, in order to protect the guest); to the under reported tale of Magdalene Asylums run by the Irish Catholic Church that used women for profitable slave labor, for alleged prostitution or adultery, being victims of rape, or simply looking too pretty; to the merciless feudal virtual slavery inflicted by the temple theocracy upon the serfs of Buddhist Tibet prior to the Chinese occupation (runaway serfs would often be blinded, have their noses or tongues cut off, or be amputated); the story of a man who believes in Judaism and his struggle to engage in a public dialogue about Judaism and Israel, only to be shut out by Institutional Judaism; and much more. Highly recommended

Awakening into Oneness
Arjuna Ardagh
Publicity Department
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781591795735, $24.95 www.soundstrue.com 1-800-333-9185

Founder of the Living Essence Foundation Arjuna Ardagh presents Awakening into Oneness: The Power of Blessing in the Evolution of Consciousness, an introduction to the Oneness Blessing, a movement based around the profound experience of a transfer of energy scientifically shown to alter brain states, and believed to facilitate understanding of universal consciousness. First experienced by mystical children nearly two decades ago, and now studied and explored at Oneness University, the Oneness Blessing and its life-changing effects have prompted the "fastest growing spiritual development in living memory." Chapters of Awakening into Oneness cover the most common effects of the Oneness Blessing such as reduced mental chatter, heightened mental awareness, and the cessation of bad habits; to the five greatest criticisms of the Oneness Blessing movement; to the ability of the Oneness Blessing to heal personal and professional relationships; enlightenment experienced as a form of neurological function; and much more. A life-affirming treatise of spiritual development as well as an in-depth chronicle of the Oneness Blessing movement's teachings and aspirations.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

On the Nature of Food Allergy
Paul J. Hannaway M.D.
Lighthouse Press
c/o KSB Promotions
55 Honey Creek, NE , Ada, MI 49301
9780962179938, $19.95 www.amazon.com

On the Nature of Food Allergy: A Complete Handbook on Food Allergy for Patients, Parents, Restaurant Personnel, Child-Care Providers, Educators, School Nurses, Dieticians and Health-Care Providers is an in-depth reference and resource accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters cover the lethal allergy of anaphylaxis and its treatment, and allergies to cow's milk, hen's eggs, peanuts and legumes, tree nuts, seeds and spices, seafood, fruits and vegetables, rare allergies, reactions to food additives, which restaurants are the most risky, and more. Of especial interest is the extended coverage on both sides of sensitive debates as to whether to ban peanuts and tree nuts from schools or public places, whether it's beneficial or harmful for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers to avoid common allergen foods. Highly recommended.

Changing the Course of Autism
Bryan Jepson, M.D. with Jane Johnson
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
Alice B Acheson, Publicity/Marketing Specialist
9781591810612, $18.95 www.sentientpublications.com 1-303-443-2188

Board-certified emergency medical doctor and parent of an autism spectrum child Bryan Jepson, M.D. presents Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians, a scientific scrutiny that re-examines commonly held beliefs about autism spectrum disorder, along with Jane Johnson, whose expertise lies in the field of researching and treating autism in children. Changing the Course of Autism takes the bold stance that autism is not solely caused by genetic factors, but rather a combination of genetic and environmental factors - an abundance of toxicity in the environment combined with autistic individuals' reduced ability or inability to detoxify. The sudden epidemic of autism in today's society (1 in 150 children has been diagnosed) underscores that environmental factors must be at work, since a disease that is solely genetic is not likely to produce a similar surge. Chapters further explore possible environmental causes of autism, and ways to treat autism and help children recover. Written in plain terms for parents, caretakers, and medical personnel alike, Changing the Course of Autism is an absolute must-read for new or expecting parents with a history of autism, or who wish to prepare themselves to defend their child from an onslaught of environmental toxins in today's unfortunately polluted world. Highly recommended.

Energy Tapping For Trauma
Fred P. Gallo
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
1572245018, $17.95 www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273

'Energy Psychology' is a term that refers to a set of treatment techniques that conceptualize thoughts, feelings, emotions, and other psychological phenomena as manifestations of energy working through the system of the human body. If a psychological phenomenon is causing pain, distress, or a lack of function to an individual, the somatic techniques of energy psychology can work to disrupt the flow of energy causing that phenomenon. One of the principal techniques arising from energy psychology is 'energy tapping' -- a practice similar to acupressure and involves manipulating and tapping certain points along the body's energy meridians to influence psychological events. In "Energy Tapping For Trauma", clinical psychologist Fred P. Gallo presents a concise overview of just how trauma affects people and why certain aspects of traumatic experience can linger as post traumatic stress. Gallo then goes on to apply the technique of energy tapping to alleviating and recovering from acute trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Thoughtful, reasoned, based upon sound research and exceptionally well written, "Energy Tapping For Trauma" is a strongly recommended addition to academic library Medical and Psychology reference collections, as well as being very appropriate and informative for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in treating psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress syndromes.


The Travel Shelf

The Philadelphia Inquirerer's Walking Tours of Historic Philadelphia
Edward Colimore
Camino Books
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822037, $16.95 www.caminobooks.com

Journalist Edward Colimore presents The Philadelphia Inquirerer's Walking Tours of Historic Philadelphia is a compilation of twelve walking tours through different Philadelphia city neighborhoods, ideal for history buffs and tourists, and armchair travelers alike. Black-and-white photographs and easy-to-follow maps guide the reader to historic sites, recommended restaurants, one-time homes of famous people, and much more, all listing the daily hours of each attraction. An easy-to-use, top-quality walking tour guide. highly recommended.

A Guide to North Carolina's Wineries
Joseph Mills and Danielle Tarmey
John F. Blair
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873422, $16.95 www.blairpub.com

Now in an updated second edition, A Guide to North Carolina's Wineries profiles 64 different North Carolina wineries along with wine lists, directions, contact information, schedules, and fee information. Black-and-white photographs as well as descriptive histories of the wineries convey the conviction and dedication of the winemakers who run them. An easy-to-use, enthusiastically recommended guide for wine lovers residing in on traveling to the North Carolina area.

50 Hikes In & Around Tuscany
Jeff Taylor
The Countryman Press
PO Box 478, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881507348, $16.95 www.countrymanpress.com1-800-245-4151

Ecologist, educator, and avid hiker who has traversed thousands of miles Jeff Taylor presents 50 Hikes In & Around Tuscany: Hiking the Mountains, Forests, Coast & Historic Sites of Wild Tuscany and Beyond, a combination hiking and travel guide to Italy's gorgeous Tuscan region. The fifty hikes featured cover Tuscan Hill Country, the mountains of the Alpi Apuane, the Cinque Terre and Ligurian Coast, the Northern and Central Apennines, and much more. Yet 50 Hikes In & Around Tuscany is supplemented with far more than information than simply descriptions, maps, and black-and-white photographs of hiking trails; also covered are the best times to visit, how to drive and travel around Italy, local customs, lodging establishments for overnight hikes, a list of useful English-Italian translations and navigating terms, insights into the region's natural history, flora, and fauna, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for any hiker planning to visit the Tuscan area.

Cafe Indiana
Joanne Raetz Stuttgen
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299224943, $19.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

Joanne Raetz Stuttgen is a folklorist and the author of "Cafe Wisconsin" and co-author of "Cafe Wisconsin Cookbook". "Cafe Indiana: A Guide To Indiana's Down-Home Cafes" is her latest compilation and a superbly presented guide to Indian's hometown mom-and-pop restaurants in celebration of small-town Midwest culture. A perfect travel guide for anyone seeking authentic local cuisine, "Cafe Indiana" is organized into sections showcasing home-town cafes in the North; West; East; Central; South Central; and South regions of Indiana. Each entry includes directions, address, phone numbers, hours, and a descriptive and personable anecdote. Combining recommendations with cultural insights, "Cafe Indiana" is a must for anyone traveling through the state and looking for something good to eat and an intrinsically interesting place in which to have their breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Hillside Letters A to Z
Evelyn Corning
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806
9780878425310, $20.00 www.mountain-press.com 1-800-234-5308

Profusely illustrated with color photography, "Hillside Letters A to Z: A Guide To hometown Landmarks" by Evelyn Corning is a visual travel guide and history of sixty iconic images associated with selected villages, towns, and cities across fourteen western states. From those giant letters on a mountain slope above a town, to iconic memorials honoring historical incidents in American history, the reader is treated to a tour that is as entertaining as it is informative about those curious letters that are carved and/or painted above their associated communities. Very highly recommended for curious travelers making their way through America by car or plane, and enhanced with a list of more than four hundred other known U.S. hillside letters and a map showing letter sites nationwide, "Hillside Letters A to Z" is as informative as it is entertaining as it explores the origins, customs and controversies associated with those sometimes mysterious but always fascinating community icons representing their schools and towns.

Virgin Islands
Lynn M. Sullivan
Hunter Publishing
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
9781588436290, $15.99 www.hunterpublishing.com 1-800-255-0343

One of the highly portable and information packed titles in the outstanding 'Pocket Adventure' travel guide series from Hunter Publishing, "Virgin Islands" by Lynn M. Sullivan covers the island destinations of St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, and the smaller islets. All of the usual guidebook information is compacted into a pocket size, user friendly reference including places to go, what to see, what to do, and where to stay. Enhanced with historical 'infobits', maps, information and advice, "Virgin Islands" is the ideal and recommended trip planner whether traveling on a budget or in luxury, on a day-trip or an extended vacation.


The Cookbook Shelf

Tea Cuisine
Joanna Pruess with John Harney
Lyons Press
c/o Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
1592287417, $14.95 www.lyonspress.com 1-800-836-0510

Tea has long been recognized as a restorative, soothing agent for body and mind and other books have been written about tea, but TEA CUISINE offers up something different: a move to take tea from the teapot to the frying pan, soup kettle, and more. Recipes for tea-infused stocks, smoky meat loaf spiced with lapsang souchong tea, and more are unique, fun creations.

Farms & Foods of Ohio From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate
Marilou K. Suszko
Hippocrene Books Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
0781811724, $24.95 www.hippocrenebooks.com

Marilou Suszko visits neighbors and offers 123 recipes from their tables in this fourth edition to Hippocrene's 'state' series focusing on farm produce and regional culinary traditions. From a Roasted Heritage Turkey and Grilled Beaches with Berry Coulis to Asparagus with Red Peppercorn Dip and Autumn Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, any collection strong in regional American cuisine needs this different guide.

Fish Forever
Paul Johnson
John Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780764587795, $34.95 www.wiley.com

FISH FOREVER: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING, SELECTING, AND PREPARING HEALTHY, DELICIOUS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD is for neo-pros and chiefs who would choose sustainable seafood, and is written by the owner of the Monterey Fish Market in San Francisco who has supplied such seafood to some of the nation's best chefs. His guide blends an international recipe book with in-depth profiles of both fish types and discussions of fish health issues and concerns. Access to a range of fish types is required, but any library catering to patrons who love to cook seafood must have this, with its bright centerfold of photos and detailed fish cooking insights.

Cakes and Ale
Judy Spours
National Archives
Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, UK
1905615027 L14.99 www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/bookshop www.amazon.com

CAKES AND ALE: THE GOLDEN AGE OF BRITISH FEASTING uses antique ads and writings about the Victorian and Edwardian habits of throwing elaborate dinner parties to explore the rise of home cooking and the temptations of drinking outside the home, offering spicy chapters packed with lively social history. Any library strong in culinary history will relish the detail here, which blends an overall history of changing British eating habits with a survey of what impacted these changes.

Vegetarian Cookbook For Cheese Lovers
Tonya Buell
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
1581823460, $16.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com 1-888-439-2665

An impressive culinary compendium of more than 200 meat-free, gourmet quality dishes, the "Vegetarian Cookbook For Cheese Lovers" by vegetarian and free lance author Tonya Buell is packed cover to cover with flavorful, nutritious, 'kitchen cook friendly' vegetarian recipes that have ample protein and calcium. From Calico Cheese Fingers; Golden Mandarin Salad; Pasta and Broccoli with Gorgonzola Sauce; and Easy Cheesy Asparagus; to Mediterranean Potatoes and Artichokes; Stacked Enchiladas Verde; Apple Butter Cookies; Chocolate Cheesecake; and Cherry Cheese Triangles, this is a collection of quality recipes that is a simply wonderful addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections in general, and the vegetarian reference shelf in particular.

In Praise Of Pecans
June Jackson
Bright Sky Press
340 South Second Street, Albany, TX 76430
9781933979007, $24.95 www.brightskypress.com 1-866-933-6133

Culinary expert and cookbook author June Jackson combines personal recollections with superbly presented recipes that showcase the versatility of pecans in all categories of cooking from snacks, appetizers and treats, to salads, entrees, side dishes, baked goods, and condiments. From Smoky Roasted Pecans; Festive Wild Rice-Pecan Salad; Grilled Salmon with Pecan Butter; and Gourmet Roast Duck with Pecan Dressing; to Spinach Manicotti with Smoky Pecans; Comforting Cinnamon Toast with a Pecan Twist; Made-From-Scratch Pecan Waffles; and Lemony Pecan Mayonnaise, "In Praise Of Pecans" is a compendium of more than 100 wonderfully illustrated, mouth-watering, gourmet quality pecan flavored dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friend', June Jackson's "In Praise Of Pecans" is a very highly praised and recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections!

Enlitened Kosher Cooking
Nechama Cohen
Feldheim Publishers
208 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, NY 10954
1583308881, $39.95 www.feldheim.com

Expertly compiled by Nechama Cohen (Founder and CEO of The Jewish Diabetes Association), "Enlitened Kosher Cooking" is a beautifully illustrated with full color photography this outstanding culinary compendium of more than 250 superb recipes features sugar free dishes that are characterized by 'good-carb' and 'healthy-fat', making them ideal for diabetics and those who must be concerned with their weight. These thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes are grouped into the usual categories of Soups, Salads, Vegetables & Side Dishes, Dairy, Fish, Meat & Poultry, Baking Lite, Pies & Desserts, Snacks & Beverages, and as is especially befitting the Jewish culinary traditions, Passover. From Orange and Fennel Salad; Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers; Tilapia with Vegetable Topping; and Tofu Chopped Liver; to Sweet-and-Sour Beef with Cashews; Cheese and Basil Scones; Strawberry Cream Pie; and Filled Cucumber Cups, "Enlitened Kosher Cooking" offers palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes that are appropriate as simple meal time favorites or for celebratory gourmet dining occasions. Enhanced with the addition of invaluable information about good carbs and healthy fats, realistic protio control, serving sizes, appendices to help the novice cook, and ways to avoid the 'hidden barriers' that can undermine weight loss efforts, "Enlitened Kosher Cooking" is an unqualified and enthusiastic recommendation for diabetic, family and community library cookbook collections.

Look Dude, I Can Cook!
Amy Madden
Syren Book Company
5120 Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55416
9780929636788, $16.95 1-800-901-3480

Next to their classroom textbooks, what college kids on their own for the first time need most is a good cookbook. So Amy Madden (a Atlanta travel writer with two college kids of her own) has composed "Look Dude, I Can Cook!: Four years Of College Cooking Made Easy". This compendium of easy to prepare and palate pleasing dishes offers simple but elegant recipes for demanding students, invaluable shortcuts for the time-stressed student, money-saving tips for cash-strapped students. "Look Dude, I Can Cook!" also features lists of essential cooking utensils and pantry items, as well as a glossary of cooking terms. From Strawberry Shortcakes; Dilled Potato Salad; Decadent Chocolate Brownies; and Tofu Stir-Fry; to Easy Quiche Lorraine; Grilled Mahi-Mahi with Lemon Cream and Chives; Grilled Pork Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce; and Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes, the recipes comprising this outstanding, thoroughly 'user friendly', and thoroughly nutritious cookbook, is guaranteed to enhance the culinary quality of college life.

New England Summertime Cooking
Sherri Eldridge
Harvest Hill Press
PO Box 55, Salisbury Cove, ME 04672
9781886862524, $19.95 www.harvesthillpress.com

In "New England Summertime Cooking", Sherri Eldridge (a veteran author of more than forty regional and topical cookbooks) showcases New England recipes and culinary traditions with its emphasis on seafood, new-world produce, and Yankee practicality. The focus is on classic menus featuring hearty-healthy recipes prepared in fresh and flavorful styles. More than 150 recipes are enhanced with nutritional analyses and adhere to American heart Association guidelines. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with color photography and featuring delicious low-fat recipes that range from Whole Grain Hotcakes; Lobster Quiche Tarts; Rainbow Pepper Pasta Salad; and Hearty Vegetable Minestrone; to Oyster Stew; Herbed Cauliflower; Blackberry Calfouti; and Lemon Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping, "New England Summertime Cooking" is a welcome and prized addition to any personal or community cookbook collection.

Gluten-Free Quick & Easy
Carol Fenster
Avery
c/o The Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781583332788, $18.95 www.us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515

The numbers of people who, because of allergies and other health considerations, must adhere to a gluten-free diet is numbered in the hundreds of thousands and growing dramatically every year. "Gluten-Free Quick & Easy: From Prep To Plate Without The Fuss -- 200 Recipes For People With Food Sensitivities" by Carol Fenster (author of five especial diet cookbooks and an acclaimed wheat-free and gluten-free culinary expert) is specifically for just such people and their families. In addition to compiling 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for gluten intolerant people, "Gluten-Free Quick & Easy" offers shortcuts, tips, and time-saving techniques for the preparation of gluten free dishes for all dining occasions including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From Chicken Pot Pie; Orange Beef Stir-Fry; Monte Cristo Sandwiches; and Pork Carnitas Slow-Cooker Style; to Smoked Salmon Quesadillas; Banana Bread; Baked Eggs in Ham Baskets; Potato-Leek Soup with Kielbasa; and Cranberry-Apple Crisp, "Gluten-Free Quick & Easy" is proof that being gluten-free doesn't mean giving up gourmet quality dining. Beginning with sage advice on living gluten free, to wonderful do-it-yourself recipes, to informed and informative information about gluten-free grains, substitutes for wheat as a thickener, baking with dairy substitutes, associations and resources, even mail order and online sources for gluten-free ingredients and products, "Gluten-Free Quick & Easy" is an essential, core, culinary reference for the kitchen cookbook shelf of everyone and anyone who must maintain a gluten free diet.

Dominique's Tropical Latitudes
Dominique Macquet & John Demers
Bright Sky Press
340 South Second Street, Albany, TX 76430
9781933979014, $29.95 www.brightskypress.com 1-866-933-6133

Co-authored by Dominique Macquet (chef-partner of Dominique's in the Hotel Maison Dupuy in the New Orleans French Quarter) and culinary authority John Demers, the focused theme of "Dominique's Tropical Latitudes" are 115 superbly crafted recipes drawn from tropical cultures and countries from around the world. Superbly illustrated with more than ninety-five color photographs of completed dishes, the step-by-step and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Salmon-Crabmeat Roses with Horseradish Creme Fraiche; Peri-Peri Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad; Oxtail and Pigeon Pea Soup; and Balinese Satay; to Beef Medallions with Rum-Butter Mushroom Sauce; Aromatic Basmati Rice; Chocolate Glazed Papaya Cake; and Nonalcoholic Tropical Punch. Of special note is the little 'info blocks' offering the latitude and longitude degrees for the various dishes. An exotic addition to any personal, professional, or community library cookbook reference collection, "Dominique's Tropical Latitudes" is particularly recommended for anyone wanting to add a 'touch of the tropics' to a particularly celebratory dining occasion.

Upper Crusts
Sheilah Kaufman
Capital Books, Inc.
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102399, $20.00 www.capital-books.com 1-800-758-3756

Bread is not only the 'Staff of Life', it is a versatile element that is a part of the daily fare millions of families all over the world. "Upper Crusts: Fabulous Ways To use Bread" is an enthusiastically recommended specialty cookbook by Sheilah Kaufman that showcases a culinary compendium of step-by-step recipes that use bread in the making of appetizers, soups, salads, main courses, desserts, and more. From Cabbage Strudel; Bread and Garlic Soup a la Taberna del Alabardero; Snappy Bread Pudding; and Mock Cheesecakes; to Pesto Bread Pudding Souffle; White Chocolate Sundried Cherry Bread Pudding with Raspberry Coulis; French Toast Sandwich Surprise; and Chickpeas with Toasted Bread and Hummus, "Upper Crust" features gourmet quality recipes suitable for all family dining occasions.

Wild Bounty Cookbook
Jim Casada & Ann Casada
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781581593167, $14.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com 1-800-805-5489

Compiled and presented by Jim and Ann Casada, "Wild Bounty Cookbook: Simple & Savory Game Cooking" will enable even the most novice kitchen cook to ably prepare delicious dishes using game animals including deer, wild turkey, upland birds, waterfowl, rabbits, and more. Step-by-step illustrated instructions are given for the proper preparation of venison, poultry, and upland game. Of special note are the chapters devoted to 'Soups, Stews & Chili' and 'Feasts & Flavors from Nature's Garden. From Mustard Fried Venison Steaks; Bacon Mushroom Swiss Meat Loaf; Basil Turkey Quesadilla; and Roasted Grouse; to Smothered Rabbit; Baked Duck Breasts; Mushroom Stuffed Goose; and Wild Berry Cobbler, "Wild Bounty Cookbook" clearly lives up to its title and is a confidently recommended addition to family and community library cookbook collections.


The Railroading Shelf

The Hiawatha Story
Jim Scribbins
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
9780816650033, $29.95 www.upress.umn.edu

Profusely illustrated with historic black-and-white photography, "The Hiawatha Story" by railroading enthusiast Jim Scribbins provides other railroading fans with an impressively informative pictorial history of the Midwestern railroad that ran from Chicago, Illinois to the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Beginning as a single experimental coach and evolving into a full fledge railroad fleet, the Hiawatha became a kind of railroading legend with its radical streamlined look and industrial design. From 1935 to 1970 the Hiawatha was an integral part of American railroading. A work of seminal scholarship and very highly recommended for academic library Railroading History reference collections, as well as engaging and entertaining reading for railroading enthusiasts, Jim Scribbin's "The Hiawatha Story" is an informed and informative account of those golden yesteryears of a truly great American fleet and system.


The Woodworking Shelf

The Woodturners FAQ Book
Fred Holder
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9780941936941, $19.95 www.lindenpub.com 1-800-345-4447

Written and designed by woodworking expert Fred Holder for the novice woodworker, "The Woodturners FAQ Book" is an illustrated instruction guide that covers all of the basic information needed for the beginning woodturner including what tools and chucks are needed, what the differences between lathes and tools are, which accessories are most useful, how to sharpen, and which wood to use. "The Woodturners FAQ Book" is presented to the aspiring woodworker in a 'user friendly' question-and-answer format. Of special note is the section devoted to beginning projects for the turner, along with helpful finishing information. No personal, school wood shop. or community library woodworking reference collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of Fred Holder's "The Woodturners FAQ Book".


The Art Shelf

The Art of Pastel Painting
Alan Flattmann
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589804074, $35.00 www.pelicanpub.com

The art and technique of modern pastel is taught in a text which revises an original 1987 version to include the latest details on new technical advancements, plus new demonstrations and new paintings from the artist author, who was indicted into the Pastel society of America hall of Fame in 2006. From surface texture and lighting to basic painting and preservation concepts, The Art of Pastel Painting thus expands expertise and options and remains a standard, highly commended pick for any art library catering to amateur painters who would learn professional techniques.

Van Gogh Paintings: The Masterpieces
Belinda Thomson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500238387, $45.00 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com 1-800-233-4830

Superbly enhanced with the inclusion of more than 170 beautifully reproduced color illustrations, "Van Gogh Paintings: The Masterpieces" by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art expert Belinda Thomson showcases what are commonly acknowledged as the best works ever created by Van Gogh during his brief but brilliant career as an artist. While many of the works represented and discussed are drawn from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, there are also some lesser known examples drawn from other sources as well. "Van Gogh Paintings: The Masterpieces" also provides the reader with background information about the master painter, his engagements with his artistic peers of the day, his frequent periods of isolation, as well as his dealings with family and friends. "Van Gogh Paintings: The Masterpieces" is a deftly written and presented work of impeccable scholarship that is enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Art History reference collections in general, and Van Gogh Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

William Christenberry's Black Belt
William Christenberry
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
9780817315672, $25.00 www.uapress.ua.edu 1-800-621-2736

William Christenberry is a popular American artist and a master of such diverse media of expression as photography, pen-and-ink drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and miniaturization. "William Christenberry's Black Belt" is a collection of his work exploring such universal themes as family, culture, nature, spirituality, memory, and aging. Here are to be found artistically rendered images of building structures (some of which no longer exist) and other physical and culturally elements of the Black Belt counties of Alabama. "William Christenberry's Black Belt" is a superbly produced and presented compendium of works by a master artist and as such is a strongly recommended addition to academic library 20th Century American Art History reference collections.

Manhood, Marriage, and Mischief
Harry Berger, Jr.
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823225576, $30.00 www.fordhampress.com 1-800-247-6553

Written by Harry Berger, Jr. (Professor Emeritus of Literature and Art History, Univ. of California Santa Cruz), Manhood, Marriage, and Mischief: Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' and Other Dutch Group Portraits is an in-depth study of the theory and practice of seventeenth-century Dutch group portraits. Illustrated with black-and-white representations of classic Dutch paintings, as well as a handful of inset color plates, Manhood, Marriage, and Mischief examines what the portraits have to say given the context of their times. In particular, since a number of the group portraits are of militia members, Manhood, Marriage, and Mischief delves into what the portraits reveal of Dutch militias - and what they conceal or fancify. Chapters discuss "Male Bondage and the Military Imperative", "Picturing Family Values", "Disaggregation as Class Conflict" and much more. Especial focus is placed upon the subtexts and subtleties of Rembrandt's enduring painting 'Night Watch', in this thoughtful and expressive critique.

Astonishing Women Artists
Heather Ball
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401, Toronto, ON, M5V 2M5
9781897187234, $10.95 www.secondstorypress.ca

Centennial College's first-ever Writer of the Year, Heather Ball presents Astonishing Women Artists, a collected profile of ten renowned women artists from the 16th century to the present day. Written for young adults and teen readers, Astonishing Women Artists covers Emily Carr, who lived among the Haida Indians of the West Coast; Georgia O'Keeffe, known for her creations that wrought beauty amid the desert; Frida Kahlo, the painter who became known as the "Soul of Mexico"; and many more. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations of classic artworks round out this engaging addition to the Women's Hall of Fame Series, especially recommended for high school and public library collections.


The Education Shelf

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy's SCHOOL COUNSELING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP: A SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS (9781412941846, $27.95) is an item of choice for both college-level education collections and practicing school counselors. Here are strategies to support school counselors in various issues of underachievement and academic issues, from underlying social and family problems affecting performance to issues of racism and sexuality that could affect learning. From small-group activities for students to individual issues, SCHOOL COUNSELING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP provides a winning set of examples and strategies. Sharon F. Rallis and Gretchen B. Rossman, et.al.'s LEADING DYNAMIC SCHOOLS: HOW TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT ETHICAL POLICIES (9781412915571, $30.95) offers a companion to PRINCIPALS OF DYNAMIC SCHOOLS AND DYNAMIC TEACHERS, reviewing the educational policy and helping decision-makers evaluate and analyze the policies that govern not just structure but functions of schools. Educators and collections catering to them receive a survey arranged by key issues which blends vignettes and research with policy reviews and more. From implementation of political principles and legal changes to confronting and debating over policies, LEADING DYNAMIC SCHOOLS is a key to designing successful school and community interactions. Susan R. Easterbrooks and Ellen L. Estes' HELPING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS TO USE SPOKEN LANGUAGE (9781412927321, $71.66) focuses on young children who are learning spoken language and NOT sign language: this focus lends particular value to educators working with both hard of hearing and everyday students in classroom settings, with chapters providing models based on how infants and children learn spoken language. Real-world examples reinforcing teachings accompany analytical and framework viewpoints and conclude with chapter summaries, making this a valuable library reference and text recommended for student teaching classrooms and college-level educator's libraries alike. Robin Fogarty's TEN THINGS NEW TEACHERS NEED TO SUCCEED, 2ND EDITION (9781412936936, $18.95) comes from an international educator who explores ten high-impact strategies to help novice instructors succeed. From lesson design and assessment to classroom discipline and parent/teacher meetings, ten common challenges are surveyed in depth, making for a specific set of strategies teachers will appreciate. Donna Ogle's COMING TOGETHER AS READERS: BUILDING LITERACY TEAMS, 2ND EDITION (9781412954204, $32.95) is based on the idea that student growth in literacy is strengthened when all supportive factors are integrated into the effort. The author holds background as not only a teacher and professor but former president of the International Reading Association, and provides creative ideas for using university partnerships and family involvement alike to shape reading habits at all levels of education. Robert J. Sternberg and Elena L. Grigorenko's TEACHING FOR SUCCESSFUL INTELLIGENCE, 2ND EDITION (9781412955829, $32.95) is written by two internationally renowned educators and helps teachers with their classroom practice, offering lessons that promote successful intelligence. From sample unit plans and forty ready-to-use lessons backed with classroom examples to activities for teachers and students alike, this guide will find a place on the shelves of any serious educator.

Be a Teacher: You Can Make a Difference
Philip Bigler and Stephanie Bishop, Editors
Vandamere Press
PO Box 149, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
0918339707, $19.95 www.vandamere.com

Thirteen national award-winning teachers have contributed to BE A TEACHER, a guide for novices and prior educators alike. From special education needs and maximizing classroom impact to understanding what separates good teachers from mediocre, and understanding the joys of teaching, BE A TEACHER is the item of choice for educator libraries and especially for novices seeking expert advice from practitioners in the field.

Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom
Judy Willis M.D.
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416605393, $25.95 www.ascd.org 1-800-933-2723

Board-certified neurologist and middle school teacher Judy Willis presents Brain-Friendly Strategies for the Inclusion Classroom: Insights From a Neurologist and Classroom Teacher, a guide to teaching strategies designed to engage and stimulate all students, and be of especial help to students with learning disabilities. Chapters cover tips, tricks, and techniques for teaching students attention disorders; review and test preparation strategies ideal for a diversity of learners; the theory of multiple intelligence brains; and much more. An invaluable reference and resource for teachers of all grades.

Super Smart Science
Colleen Kessler
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593632137, $17.95 www.prufrock.com 1-800-998-2208

Colleen Kessler, an intervention specialist for students in grades 2-3, shares her wisdom and experience in Super Smart Science: 180 Days to Warm-Ups and Challenging Activities, a compendium of activities and science experiments meant to stir students' interest and expand their scientific knowledge. Each day's suggestions opens with an inspirational "thought for the day" quote, followed by a cool fact. The rest of the recommendation can take the form of a sample activity kids can do with everyday materials, or a teaser story problem with a solution. "Teaser: Why don't you feel or see a mosquito bite until after it starts itching? Solution: The mosquito bites by inserting her lancets into the capillary beds beneath the skin, and drinks by lubricating her mouth with saliva. The saliva acts as an anesthetic and contains an anticoagulant that causes an allergic reaction in humans - hence the bump and redness." Recommended activities include making a simple compass, having students try to be "human stopwatches" to see how good they are at estimating time, to making raisins "dance" on carbonated water since the carbon dioxide in the water tends to collect on their uneven surfaces. Highly recommended as an adaptable, easy-to-use supplement to elementary school science instruction.

Building Language Throughout The Year
John Lybolt, et al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557667809, $49.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775

The Leap Learning Systems team-effort of John Lybolt (Director of Research), Catherine Gottfred (Found and President), language specialists Jennifer Armstrong and Kristin Evans Techmanski, "Building Language Throughout The Year: The Preschool Early Literacy Curriculum" is specifically designed to assist Head Start teachers in developing classroom programs for children ages 3 to 5 promoting early literacy through encouraging the development and exercise of reading skills which are an essential foundation for lifelong academic success. Teachers will learn how to deliver curriculum content effectively; engage children through structure and unstructured activities (including dramatic play, art, and music) reinforcing new words and concepts; address the needs of children from low-resource backgrounds; conform their curriculums to the Head Start Outcomes framework; utilize existing programs and inexpensive supplies already on hand; and encourage parents to continue the learning at home with reader-friendly sheets that explain what their children are learning (including easy activities for encouraging literacy development in the home as well as the classroom). With respect developing Head Start appropriate programs for teaching basic literacy skills to preschoolers, "Building Language Throughout The Year" will prove to be useful, practical, effective, effective, and time-saving.

Learning From Young Children in the Classroom
Daniel R. Meier & Barbara Henderson
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807747674, $27.95 www.tcpress.com 1-800-575-6566

Associate Professors of Elementary Education Daniel Meier and Barbara Henderson present Learning From Young Children in the Classroom: The Art and Science of Teacher Research, a thorough introduction to carrying out high-quality teacher research in early childhood settings. Chapters describe original research projects by teachers who worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary-aged children. Learning From Young Children in the Classroom covers a host of specific strategies and "how-to" instructions for getting one's own teacher research project or collaborative group off the ground; recommendations for identifying a research question and addressing issues of data collection, analysis, and dissemination; an assortment of references and an index; and much more. "Once early educators see inquiry as key to teaching, they can find ways to sharpen that process of questioning and generating new knowledge." A first-rate get-started guide for teachers ready to learn from their young subjects even while they teach.

Write Away!
Arnold Cheyney
Good Year Books
PO Box 91858, Tucson, AZ 85752-1858
9781596470873, $19.95 www.goodyearbooks.com 1-888-511-1530

Specifically written and designed for teach creative writing skills to children ages 9 to 12, "Write Away!: 140 Writing Prompts For Grades 4-6" by retired academician Arnold Cheyney (who was twice honored with the Outstanding Teacher Award) fully complies with NCTE standards for classroom curriculum. Each writing prompt can be easily incorporated into any writing program. The prompts present activities that children can readily engage with and reinforce such fundamental writing skills as punctuation, parts of speech, grammar, and usage. Of special note is the section that provides opportunities for children to explore the poetics of creative writing including such forms as the cinquain, haiku, tanka, limerick, and many other forms of poetry. The activities range from writing an advice column, to book & film reviews, to a television program script, to cartoon dialogue, and more. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Write Away!" is a very strongly recommended and consumable supplement to public school, private school, and home schooling writing instruction curriculums.

Eyewitness to the Past
Joan Brodsky Schur
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571104977, $20.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812

Written by Joan Brodsky Schur, an American History and English teacher of over twenty-five years' experience, Eyewitness to the Past: Strategies for Teaching American History in Grades 5-12 is an aid for middle, junior high, and high school history teachers. Chapters examine six types of primary sources: diaries, travelogues, letters, news articles, election speeches, and scrapbooks. Interactive strategies for teachers to help students compare and contrast the innate properties of each, as well as create their own works and written arguments, distinguish Eyewitness to the Past. Recommended rubrics and supplementary resources round out this useful supplement. "Another way to help students sort out fact from its embellishment is to carefully watch a PBS or History Channel documentary. We might be looking at a photograph of Frederick Douglass and then a slave cabin like the one he grew up in, but not his actual cabin. Documentaries rarely clarify this issue. When do these substitutions further our understanding of history, and when do they distort history? This is a question worthy of discussion as students bring creativity to their scrapbooks."

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

TEACHING LEADERSHIP: IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING FROM INSIDE THE CLASSROOM by Elaine L. Wilmore (9781412949057, $27.95) comes from an education expert who examines classroom teachers' influences as leaders of students – and the changing classroom leadership capacity. It's based on ISLLC standards and blends insights on leadership and school reform programs to provide teachers with insights on how to improve teaching, student learning, and professional stature in the community. Perfect for either practicing teachers or college-level education collections. The same audience will find a series of teaching and learning guides offers short but precise insights into different aspects of the learning process. R. Bruce Williams' COOPERATIVE LEARNING: A STANDARD FOR HIGH ACHIEVEMENT (0970166559, $18.95) comes from a leader who builds leadership groups in planning and team building, and who has mediated interactive sessions for teacher teams. COOPERATIVE LEARNING is his strategy to improve student achievement and provides a four-part scheme to refine cooperative learning in K-College classroom settings. His HIGHER ORDER THINKING SKILLS: CHALLENGING ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE (0971733252, $22.95) provides another 'Nutshell' book covering relevance, richness, relatedness, rigor and recursiveness – a framework created to illustrate instruction in criticism thinking and analytical skills. Grades K-12 teachers receive a content-oriented survey essential to improving techniques. His MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES FOR DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING (097173321x, $19.95) offers insights on key points for differentiating learning, discussing MI concepts and moving from concept to applications in classroom settings, through curriculum, instruction and assessment adjustments. Robin Fogarty and Brian M. Pete's A LOOK AT TRANSFER: SEVEN STRATEGIES THAT WORK (0971733260, $18.95) examines six different levels of the teacher question 'Can I use this in my classroom?', considering classroom content both within and outside the classroom setting and how transferring ideas and experiences into teaching affects student and teacher alike. Their THE ADULT LEARNER: SOME THINGS WE KNOW (0974741639, $19.95) covers the differing needs and methods of adult learning settings, from instructional preferences to what motivates on-going training. Any teacher who would design effective training for adults – in any kind of teaching setting, not just standard adult education – needs THE ADULT LEARNER. Professional educators and non-specialist general readers with an interest in education issues, curriculums, and guides are encouraged to visit the Corwin Press website at www.corwinpress.com for a complete listing of all of their titles.

Read! Move! Learn!
Caroly Totsky Hammet & Nick Collins Geigert
Gryphon House Books
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
087659058X, $19.95 www.ghbooks.com 1-800-638-0928

Ably co-authored by Caroly Totsky Hammet (Elementary School Principle, Bend, Oregon) and physical education specialist Nick Collins Geigert, "Read! Move! Learn!: Active Stories For Active Learning" features more than 150 active literacy learning experiences based on more than 65 popular children's books. Each selection includes two or three activities specifically support a particular book's storyline and characters, with the accompanying physical activities are designed to enhance the development of basic motor skills as jumping and skipping, as well as dramatic play skills. Each activity also includes the lesson's objective, a vocabulary list, and a concept list. Thoroughly 'kid friendly' and classroom compatible, "Read! Move! Learn!" is a unique guide and enthusiastically recommended as a supplemental addition to elementary school physical education and classroom instruction curriculum materials.

Making the Most of Small Groups Differentiation for All
Debbie Diller
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3400
9781571104311, $22.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812

Educator Debbie Diller reveals her thirty years of experience as an educator, including classroom teaching of children in grades PreK-10 as well as teaching in small groups and independent work, in Making the Most of Small Groups: Differentiation for All, a practical guide to the teacher's role in small-group instruction. An in-depth resource packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, Making the Most of Small Groups particularly focuses upon instructing small groups in the five essential reading elements: comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary. Packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for organizing one's time and space as well as the nuts and bolts of teaching, and rounded out with black-and-white photographs, sample lesson plans, reflection questions for professional conversations, references, and much more, Making the Most of Small Groups is an invaluable guide for reading teachers of young students everywhere.

Math In Minutes
Sharon MacDonald
Gryphon House
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
9780876590577, $19.95 www.ghbooks.com 1-800-638-0928

A compendium of 150 math activities specifically designed for children ages 4 to 8, "Math In Minutes" by Sharon Macdonald is a highly recommended addition to any preschool, elementary school, and home-schooling curriculum to introduce children to basic mathematical concepts and skills. MacDonald draws upon her more than fifteen years of experience and expertise training classroom teachers to create this compilation of math exercises and activities, each of which is in full compliance with the standards of The National council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Thoroughly 'kid friendly', "Math In Minutes" is an excellent tool for teaching mathematical literacy including number sense and numeration, computation and estimation; measurement, time, and money; geometry and spatial sense; sorting, classifying, graphing, data analysis, and probability; patters and number relationships; as well as problem solving and reasoning. Of special note is the final chapter 'Putting It All Together: A Pizza Unit of Study', as well as the extended glossary, appendices, and indexes.

Super Smart Science
Colleen Kessler
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593632137, $17.95 www.prufrock.com 1-800-998-2208

Written by Colleen Kessler, a gifted intervention specialist for students in grades 2 and 3, Super Smart Science: 180 Days of Warm-Ups and Challenging Activities is a compendium of educational activities to inspire students in science, home schooling, or simply while spending quality time. Activities are designed to encourage critical thinking, and range from simple story problems for discussion ("Cindy's rear-wheel drive pick-up truck is stuck in the snow. She has a few concrete blocks loaded in the back but is not sure where should she place them for maximum weight and traction the rear tires. Where should she place the blocks?") to using a glass jar, straw, and clay to demonstrate air pressure, to making a simple compass and much more. Each day's activity includes an inspirational thought for the day ("A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." -Walter Bagehot) and a cool fact ("The loud bang you hear when a balloon is popped is not due to pressure. Rather, it is because the tightly stretched ends of the torn latex snap back to their original size faster than the speed of sound.") The author's publisher's permission to reproduce student activity pages for classroom use only is included with the purchase of Super Smart Science. A valuable and enthusiastically recommended supplement for grade school science and home schooling curriculums.

Helping Students Overcome Substance Abuse
Jason J. Burrow-Sanchez & Leanne S. Hawken
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street , New York, NY 10012
9781593854546, $30.00 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006

Co-authored by academicians Jason J. Burrow-Sanchez (Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City) and Leanne S. Hawken (Assistant Professor, Department of Special Education, University of Utah, Salt Lake City), and the newest addition to 'The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools' series, "Helping Students Overcome Substance Abuse: Effective Practices For Prevention And Intervention" was specifically designed to assist teachers, counselors, and school administrators to recognize and help their students deal with addiction and abuse of a variety of commonly encountered drugs ranging from alcohol and prescription medications, to marijuana, cocaine, speed, and heroin. Of special note are the extensive sections devoted to individual and group counseling, as well as consultation and referrals. "Helping Students Overcome Substance Abuse" is an important and strongly recommended reading for anyone in a public or private school setting having to deal with substance abuse issues among their students and their student's families.


The Business Shelf

The Real Estate Developer's Handbook
Tanya Davis
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474
9781601380340, $29.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Successful real estate developers are usually rich; but for every success story there's the story of those who run out of cash and fail. So any collection catering to real estate developers or investors will relish The Real Estate Developer's Handbook, a practical guide to cash flow specific to the real estate industry. From establishing a small real estate development firm and understanding principles of cash flow as they relate specifically to real estate industry needs and changes to increasing success, an accompanying cd-rom enhances understanding and implementation of advanced real estate topics: perfect for any collection catering to real estate professionals who would strike out on their own.

Real Estate Presentations That Make Millions
Jim Remley
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814474012, $18.95 www.amacombooks.org

Real estate professionals and libraries catering to them will find plenty of specific tips applicable to industry objectives in Real Estate Presentations That Make Millions, a guide produced by a real estate expert and author who became an agent at 19 years and made himself a master of the presentation, quickly becoming one of the top one percent of Realtors in the country. His book reflects years of speaking engagements on the topic and provides the tools and approaches readers need to deliver an effective, powerful presentation which will win listings and generate sales.

Power Points!
Harry Mills
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814474691, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

POWER POINTS! HOW TO DESIGN & DELIVER PRESENTATIONS THAT SIZZLE AND SELL focuses on presentations and speeches which add drama and sizzle to business pursuits, and pairs insights on PowerPoint with overall tips on public speaking to make for much more than your typical PowerPoint presentation handbook. From using calming techniques to overcome stage fright to adding stories and humor to spice a presentation, every business manager and any involved in making presentations or lending books to business professionals needs POWER POINTS!

Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism
Patricia Aburdene
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901
9781571745392, $16.95 www.hrpub.com

Both MEGATRENDS and MEGATRENDS 2000 were top bestsellers predicting shifts key to economic and business worlds alike: now MEGATRENDS 2010 documents the rise of 'conscious capitalism' and what corporate responsibility means to business trends and activities. Any business library or businessman interested in corporate change will appreciate the data and insights documenting corporate scandals and ethics transition points being fostered by grassroots efforts and managers. A top pick any business and public lending library must have.

Riches in Niches
Susan Friedmann, CSP
Career Press
P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149307, $21.99 www.careerpress.com

Plenty of business advice guides advocate finding a niche and marketing that specialty; but not many tell how to locate the factors which differentiate specialties from general trends, services and products. RICHES IN NICHES: HOW TO MAKE IT BIG IN A SMALL MARKET surveys the idea of the Expert, examines the techniques which lend to building a professional niche, and survey marketing strategies successfully used by entrepreneurs to present and solidify their expertise. A 'must' for any library strong in business or career guides.

Successful Time Management, 2nd Edition
Patrick Forsyth
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749448342, $17.50 www.kogan-page.co.uk

From getting organized and learning how to prioritize to categorizing time categories and learning how to handle and allot both idle and busy times, SUCCESSFUL TIME MANAGEMENT comes from The Sunday Times' Creating Success' series and packs in solid specifics on the entire process. While SUCCESSFUL TIME MANAGEMENT is a top pick for business libraries at all levels, it also crosses well into the general-interest public lending library, where it will attract any who would learn better time management skills.

Ads to Icons
Paul Springer
Kogal Page US
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749449365, $47.50 www.kogan-page.co.uk

There's a growing belief among ad industry pros that the possibilities of conventional advertising media approaches has been exhausted and new media challenges point the way to a different advertising approach, yet Ads to Icons: How Advertising Succeeds in a Multimedia Age is the first specific guide to modern media advertising which analyzes in depth how the industry has developed these new approaches. 50 advertising projects from around the world are considered in case studies showing different uses of advertising in the post-digital world, making for a solid reference for any college-level business library where advertising and marketing are top subjects.

The Non-Commercial Food Service Manager's Handbook
Douglas Robert Brown & Shri Henkel
Atlantic Publishing Group
1210 SW 23rd Street, Ocala, FL 34474
9780910627818, $79.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

College-level collections strong in food service, business, and economics alike – especially those with a strong focus in the hospitality industry – will appreciate The Non-Commercial Food Service Manager's Handbook, packing over 600 pages of detail on how to set up, operate and manage a successful food service operation. The entire process is covered here, from detailed menu plans and even floor plans and kitchen layout to food safety issues, dietary concerns for special clients, and managing staff and employees. An accompanying cd-rom packs in all the forms in the book, in pdf format.

Atlantic Publishing Company
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
www.atlantic-pub.com

Two new eBay guides are top picks for a wide range of libraries: from computer and business specialty collections to general-interest lending collections. Michael P. Lujanac and Dan W. Blacharski's HOW AND WHERE TO LOCATE THE MERCHANDISE TO SELL ON EBAY (9780910627870, $24.95) provides an unusual key on not just selling items – which is what most eBay guides do – but where to locate desirable items. 'Insider' information from experts provides keys to wholesalers, discounters, auctions, closeouts, overstocks, salvage items and much more. Dan W. Blacharski's EBAY'S SECRETS REVEALED (9780910627863, $24.95) is for any who would expand their eBay business by tapping into expert advice. From watching out for spyware and understanding search engine optimization to cross-selling techniques, this is designed to help eBay sellers expand upon basics. Both are top picks any eBay seller or library needs to move ahead.

Flipping Confidential
Kirsten Kemp
Wiley Publishing
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470068359, , $19.95 www.wiley.com/business

Kristen Kemp is host of the TV show PROPERTY LADDER and here provides first-time investors with insider's tips on how to buy cheap, fix fast, and sell high – popularly known as 'flipping' properties. From beginning with little savings or free time to locating great leads, financing, good agents and contractors, and more, FLIPPING CONFIDENTIAL: THE SECRETS OF RENOVATING PROPERTY FOR PROFIT IN ANY MARKET provides a toolbox of facts couched in an easy question/answer format and segregated into chapters by topic, making it easy for novice investors to follow. Any library strong in financial planning or real estate investing should have this.

Start & Run A Consulting Business
Douglas Gray
Self-Counsel Press Inc.
1704 North State Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
9781551807379, $17.95 www.self-counsel.com 1-800-663-3007

Now in a fully updated seventh edition, "Start & Run A Consulting Business" by Douglas Gray is the perfect step-by-step instruction guide for setting up and operating a profitable consultation business. All of the relevant issues are addressed including self-assessment and skill level, identifying market opportunities, relevant governmental regulations and laws, selecting business and professional advisers, preparing a business plan, setting fees and billing clients, taking advantage of tax laws, avoiding professional liability and preventing losses, writing proposals, even how to effectively hire sub-consultants. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM that includes samples and worksheets, "Start & Run A Consulting Business" is the ideal and thoroughly user-friendly 'how to' manual for anyone contemplating starting up their own consultation service.

IT Risk
George Westerman & Richard Hunter
Publicity Department
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422106662, $35.00 www.HBSPress.org 1-800-668-6780

"IT Risk: Turning Business Threats Into Competitive Advantage" by George Westerman (Research Scientist in the Center for Information Systems Research at the MIT Sloan School of Management) and Richard Hunter (Group Vice President and Gartner Fellow in Gartner Executive Programs, a division of Gartner, Inc.) addresses the liabilities that information technology can have for a high-tech manufacturer's ability to conduct the business of buying and selling. Identifying the four categories of IT risk (Availability; Access; Accuracy; and Agility). These areas of risk are something that can only be managed and minimized, not eliminated. "IT Risk" provides business managers with the tools and disciplines necessary for successful IT risk management. Of special note are the numerous organizational examples of successful IT risk management. "IT Risk" should be on the supplemental reading list of every MBA program, and high priority reading for corporate managers charged with the responsibility of conducting business in the age of the internet.

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!
Marvin Weisbord & Sandra Janoff, Ph.D.
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781576754252, $19.95 www.bkconnection.com 1-800-929-2929

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There!: Ten Principles for Leading Meetings That Matter is a practical guide to organizing and leading productive business meetings. Rather than fruitlessly try to change someone's behavior, Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! emphasizes the importance of changing the conditions under which people interact. Packed with techniques for helping people discover common ground, apply dissent to positive and productive use, and promote responsibility through action in oneself and others, Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! is both insightful and inspirational. "Act when you hear people make statements so emotionally charged that they put themselves at risk of being isolated or labeled... Sometimes people jump in to challenge the statement, putting the speaker on the defensive. The temptation is to let the antagonists have it out while everybody watches.... You can do better. What is needed now is neither confrontation nor a search for 'truth'. Rather, you need to head off the split so that people keep working. The best way to do that is to get an informal subgroup for the risk taker... Usually we discover they have a spectrum of frustrations. Speakers see that they are not alone. Frustration is OK. Confrontation is avoided. Everyone has new information on where others stand. The group moves on." An absolute "must-read" for business leaders, human resource personnel, and group managers of all fields.

Smarter, Faster, Better
Karlin Sloan
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
C.S. Lewis & Company (publicity)
196 Van Dale Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
0787982687, $24.95 www.josseybass.com 1-800-225-5945

In "Smarter, Faster, Better: Strategies For Effective, Enduring, And Fulfilled Leadership", author Karlin Sloan draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as an executive coach and leadership consultant to reveal what she calls the 'paradoxical truths' of leadership in the 21st Century. These can be summed as: 'To be smarter you, you must ask more questions.'; 'To be faster, you must slow down.'; 'To be better, you must focus less on personal gain and more on cooperating with others.' Karlin offers the reader time-tested strategies, self-assessments, case examples, exercises, and an impressively practical variety of tips and techniques to enable anyone charged with leadership responsibilities to gain perspective and self-knowledge, to seize new opportunities, to resolve difficult issues, to boost their organization's sense of purpose and social responsibility, and to improve the quality and success of their own performance as a leader. Very strongly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Smarter, Faster, Better" will teach aspiring leaders to ask questions that will make them smarter; gain hours of spare work time by slowing way down; manage their energy and keep healthier both on and off the job; tap into multiple intelligence (their own and their employees); energize their work teams; benefit from dynamic, creative, highly charged people; 'Get better with your competition instead of getting better than your competition'; and adding to the bottom line through establishing business practices that contribute to the world in a positive way.

Doing Business With India
Roderick Millar, editor
GMB Publishing
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9781846730221, $171.00 www.globalmarketbriefings.com 1-215-928-9112

Now in a completely rewritten, updated, and expanded second edition, "Doing Business With India: A Guide to Investment Opportunities & Business Practice" under the expert editorship of Roderick Millar (a specialist in personal finance, business start-ups, development economics, and management education) continues to be the definitive instructional guide for any entrepreneur or corporate CEO wanting to do business on the Indian subcontinent. The roster of contributors is nothing short of impressive and includes KPMG, the Confederation of Indian Industry, DTZ Debenham Tie Laung, Maersk Line, the Management Development Institute, the Ministry of Commerce, the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Nasscom, Shilputsi Consultants, Synovate, Titus & Company, and Winning Communications. "Doing Business With India" is a superbly organized instructional guide to India's commercial laws, banking system, accounting practices, and the rules of business engagement in Indian markets. Of special note is the analysis of India's investment climate and the assessment of opportunities for American companies in a vigorous and growing economy. "Doing Business With India" is essential, very strongly recommended reading for anyone considering or actively engaged in outsourcing to India, setting up operations in India, and working with Indian partners to mutual commercial benefit.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South Suite 806, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

Joining others in Osprey's 'Elite' specialty military titles is Ross Cowan's ROMAN BATTLE TACTICS 109BC-AD313 (9781846031847, $17.95) a powerful history of military forces and strategies during early Roman times. Any special-interest military collection strong in ancient battle history will find this an excellent survey of one of the world's finest military machines, including evidence for military traditions, battle campaigns, and color interpretations of tactical scenarios. Michael Thompson's GRANICUS 334 BC: ALEXANDER'S FIRST PERSIAN VICTORY (9781846030994, $18.95) is also a specialty recommendation for serious military history holdings; this focusing on Alexander's first great victory over the Persians, where his force of some 5,000 men routed a force of 20,000 Persian cavalry. Battle analysis here provides excellent specifics and insights perfect for collections strong in early military history. Greg VanWyngarden's ALBATROS ACES OF WORLD WAR 1 PART 2 (9781846031793, $20.95) provides a followup to Osprey Aircraft 32, the first volume of the two-part series examining the design and production of the Albatros aircraft series, and is recommended for prior owners of the first volume and for specialty collections in aviation or World War I history. Vintage black and white photos accompany specs on the craft. David Murphy's CONDOTTIERE 1300-1500: INFAMOUS MEDIEVAL MERCENARIES (9781846030772, $17.95) is for any specialty early history library, and focuses on Medieval military organization, recruitment, and strategy. Social, political and military history blend in a recommendation for specialty holdings. Andrea Molinari's DESERT RAIDERS: AXIS AND ALLIED SPECIAL FORCES 1940-43 (9781846030062, $23.95) details the organization and tactics of famous units in the UK, France, Italy and Germany who all developed irregular units to exploit unique battle conditions during World War II. Collections strong in World War II history will find it an excellent survey. Christopher Gravett's THE CASTLES OF EDWARD I IN WALES 1277-1307 (9781846030277, $16.95) is also a pick for collections strong in either early English or early military history. It surveys the strategy of one Edward I, who gathered a huge army and marched into Wales to subdue the rebel Welsh princes. His book examines the design, development and principles of defense of these Welsh castles and documents their daily life and events, using key sites and castle designs to provide a powerful survey. G. Edmundson, D. Ned, D. Parker, D. Thompson and S. VanBeveren's MODELLING THE TIGER I (9781846031700, $18.95) contributes to the 'Osprey Modelling' series offering modelers expect advice on how to model the Riger I, the most famous tank of World War II. Discussions of kits, after market products and history feature six different projects in a survey which will appeal to military libraries and crafts collections alike.

House To House
David Bellavia
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416574712, $26.00 www.simonsays.com 1-800-223-2336

On November 10, 2004, Staff Sargent David Bellavia was one of the American infantry making a direct assault on the Iraqi town of Fallujah, engaging tens of thousands of insurgent fighters in street by street, house by house, close-quarters combat. American media coverage was somewhat misleading as it focused on aerial assaults and high tech artillery attacks. Most of the fighting that took place was direct, direct, brutal, and lethal. This was combat that tested and revealed the strength, character, courage, and training of America's fighting men and women. A nominee for the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross, Bellavia gives his readers a candidly detailed, informed and informative account of a sustained and vicious battles -- including his own ordeal of going into an explosives rigged house on a solo mission and finding himself face-to-face with six fanatical insurgents, all of whom he eventually killed, including one in a mortal, primal, hand-to-hand, personal fight to the death. "House To House" is a gripping battlefield memoir, but also provides the reader with analytical insights into the fanaticism and character of the insurgent opposition, and the hatred that enters into the heart of a soldier when fighting for his life and the lives of his comrades in arms. "House To House" is strongly recommended for academic and community library collections, and for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in what it is like to be in combat in Iraqi today.

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South Suite 806, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

Mark Stille's IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY SUBMARINES 1941-45 (9781846030901, $15.95) analyzes the Japanese submarine fleet from 1941-45 for specialty military collections strong in military equipment surveys. The Japanese force should have been effective, but failed in many ways: color plates and analysis describes the technical advances fostered by the Imperial Japanese Navy – and why they failed against all odds. Steven J. Zaloga's THE ATLANTIC WALL (1): FRANCE (9781846031298, $16.95) analyzes the German Atlantic Wall's ambitious fortification efforts during World War II, making it another strong recommendation for detailed military and World War II collections. Structures in France are the sole focus here, with illustrations and diagrams charting their effectiveness and construction. Rene Chartreand's THE CANADIAN CORPS IN WORLD WAR I (9781846031861, $15.95) describes the organization, lists its units and achievements, and charts strategies and battles alike. While it's likely to prove a specialty acquisition for U.S. collections, any military library strong in world military forces needs this. Norman Franks' SE 5/5A ACES OF WORLD WAR 1 (9781846031809, $20.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series to chart the Royal Aircraft Factory and its famous unit No. 56 during World War 1. Collections strong in either military history of the era or aviation history will find it packed with over a hundred photos, nearly forty new color art works, and detailed biographies of all pilots. Martin Marix Evans' NASEBY 1645: THE TRIUMPH OF THE NEW MODEL ARMY (9781846030789, $18.95) uses first-hand accounts to chart a 1645 battle at Naseby, exploring the origins of the battle, strategies on both sides, and the emergence of lasting tactics. Archaeological and documentary evidence pieces together the battles in a fine pick for military libraries specializing in ancient battles. Also recommended for such an audience is Timothy Dawson's BYZANTINE INFANTRYMAN: EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE C.900-1204 (9781846031052, $17.95). The Byzantine Army was built on a belief system emphasizing overwhelming force and infantrymen were trained on fighting in formation. Dawson is an expert researcher on the topic and here chronicles a typical infantryman's daily experiences and engagements.

The Battle of AP BAC Vietnam
David M. Toczek
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591148531, $19.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

"The Battle of AP BAC Vietnam" by David M. Toczek (Assistant Professor of History, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York), is aptly subtitled 'They Did Everything But Learn From It'. On January 2, 1963, the South Vietnamese Army (known by the acronym ARVN) and its American advisers were soundly defeated by Viet Cong Guerrilla forces at Ap Bac. A true military disaster, the American military and civilian leadership failed to perceive its significance and continued to pursue the ultimately unsuccessful policy of equipping and training ARVN troops. A military officer, historian, and academician, David Toczek aptly analyzes the AP BAC operation in detail, while properly placing it within the broader context of the Vietnam War. Toczck persuasively contents that American civilian and military leadership missed a vital opportunity to learn from their mistakes, that not even the structure of the American military advisory system was changed. More than just a superbly researched and written history of a battle in a war now more than 40 years ago, "The Battle of AP BAC Vietnam" needs to be read carefully by today's military and civilian leadership as we are once again engaged in combats in Iraq and Afghanistan against urban and rural guerrilla forces. Otherwise the age old axiom of those who fail to understand history are doomed to repeat it.

The Great War: Myth and Memory
Dan Todman
Hambledon Continuum
c/o The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781852855123, $19.95 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704

Former military history teacher and current lecturer in modern British history Dan Todman presents The Great War: Myth and Memory, a close examination of how perceptions of World War I have changed over the past ninety years, arguing that a distorted image of the war - one focusing too heavily upon its miseries - has dominated its understanding in present-day culture. The Great War debunks myths and reveals the astutely professional capabilities of its generals. From questioning the prevalence of mud and donkeys in popular perception of WWI, to examination of primary sources revealing differing views among veterans, The Great War: Myth and Memory is a welcome addition to history shelves for its counterbalance upon the enormous influence popular culture (from comics to war movies) has upon collective historical memory.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Blackwell Publishing
Box 570, Ames, IA 50010-0570
www.blackwellprofessional.com

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN SMALL ANIMAL MEDICINE by Alex Gough (9781405132527, $59.99) is for practicing vets and students interested in quick diagnosis strategies. It's designed to be a quick reference focusing on differential diagnosis, and lists major problems in small animal medicine and diagnoses from diverse findings from lab tests to physical examination. Color photos and protocols for selected diagnostic tests supplement technical information on the majority of presentations encountered in a vet's practice. Tables of signs and applied scores accompany charts and references. The second updated edition of Kevin Dolan's LABORATORY ANIMAL LAW: LEGAL CONTROL OF THE USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH (9781405162821, $79.99) is written by the leading expert in the field and is the only guide to offer specific insights on the legal obligations of caring for lab animals. New additions to this update include details on new welfare legislation, expanded coverage of certificates of Designation, and emphasis on the actual applications of legal controls over research animals. Debra F. Horwitz & Jacqueline C. Nielson's FIVE MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: CANINE & FELINE BEHAVIOR (9780781757355, $89.99) joins others in the 'Five-Minute' series to offer up a manual perfect for practicing vets and college-level students. An alphabetical arrangement lends to quick reference while coverage outlines common behaviors in dogs and cats, from different types of aggression and ways of expressing anxiety to destructive behaviors. A CD-ROM of client handouts accompanies differential diagnostics, therapeutic techniques reviews, and contributing risk factors. Students also learn how to take and assess histories. Melinda D. Merck, DVM's VETERINARY FORENSICS: ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS (9780813815015, $89.99) offers up a practical desk reference for vets, pathologists and investigators, integrating the resources needed to work on and investigate animal abuse cases. From crime scene investigation and forensic testing to compiling evidence that will hold up in court, VETERINARY FORENSICS offers a resource essential for animal cruelty investigators. All are top picks college-level veterinary school collections – and practicing vets – will find loaded with real-world applications and techniques.

Dreaming in Libro
Louise Bernikow
Lifelong Books/DaCapo
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
073821096X, $22.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

A woman meets an abandoned boxer in a city park and spends a year discovering the dog's methods and requirements, then offering up the funny, lively memoir Dreaming in Libro, covering her entire eight years as her boxer's friend. From pet therapy to a summer in the Hamptons, DREAMING IN LIBRO: HOW A GOOD DOG TAMED A BAD WOMAN is a blend of love story and pet saga which invites general-interest readers and libraries strong in pet biographies.

Merle's Door
Ted Kerasote
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
9780151012701, $25.00 www.harcourt.com 1-800-543-1918

Merle was a ten-month-old dog living on his own in the Utah desert, and Ted was over forty and searching for a puppy companion. The two discovered each other and the lessons learned between them about nature and humanity comprise MERLE'S DOOR: LESSONS FROM A FREETHINKING DOG. Included in the account are insights on the dog-human bond, how animals and humans communicate, and the latest wolf research explaining how sharing leadership with a dog can lead to a better companion relationships. An outstanding, heart-warming story, MERLE'S DOOR is a 'must' for any general-interest lending library where animal stories are treasured.

Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds
Carol Ekarius
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176675, $24.95 www.storey.com

From the ancient chicken breed Araucana, which appeared before Columbus, to one of the first domesticated breeds now endangered to common breeds, Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds provides a powerful guide packing in North American domestic and wild poultry and adding color photos throughout. Sidebars of detail include identifying characteristics and facts, while notes comment on how each breed was created and marketed, and its special attributes. Both casual poultry farmers to more serious breeders will find plenty of information in a book especially recommended for rural library holdings and any college-level collection strong in agriculture and farm management.

Out of the Woods
Ora E. Anderson
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, Athens, OH 45701
9780821417423, $16.95 www.ohiou.edu/oupress 1-800-621-2736

Written by journalist, conservationist, and naturalist Ora E. Anderson, Out of the Woods: A Bird Watcher's Year is a memoir reflecting upon the joys of birdwatching, the majesty of growing old, and the wondrous natural diversity of Appalachia. Wit, gentle humor, and an abiding appreciation for avian life from geese to woodpeckers to songbirds fill this appreciative guide, lovingly illustrated with beautiful black-and-white sketches of feathered friends feeding, migrating, flying, or raising their young. A treasure by a birdwatcher and bird lover, for birdwatchers and bird lovers.

Working Like Dogs
Marcie Davis & Melissa Bunnell
Alpine Publications, Inc.
PO Box 120, Crawford, CO 81415
KSB Promotions (publicity)
55 Honey Creek, NE, Ada, MI 49301
9781577790860, $24.95 www.alpinepub.com 1-800-777-7257

A service animal is not considered to be a pet under The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This is the federal law that identifies the animal companion of a disabled person to be an essential service provider to anyone with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits one or more major life functions. There is a current estimation of about 40,000 service dogs living and working with their human partners in America today. "Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook" provides basic information on everything from how and where to apply for a service dog, to the daily care and health concerns associated with having a service dog, to dealing with the death of a beloved canine companion whose services where integral in the daily life of their human partner. Profusely illustrated with full color photography and enhanced with stories from service dog recipients, "Working Like A Dog" will provide insights as well as information about what it is like to be a part of a truly amazing, effective, and essential symbiotic relationship. Simply stated, "Working Like A Dog" is essential reading for anyone contemplating a service dog for themselves or a loved one.

Homalopsid Snakes
John C. Murphy
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
9781575242590, $68.50 www.krieger-publishing.com 1-800-724-0025

Research associate of Chicago's Field Museum John C. Murphy presents Homalopsid Snakes, a field guide to the aquatic, rear-fanged snakes native to freshwater, brackish water, and marine environments ranging from Pakistan's Indus River to snake-populous Indochinese Peninsula to Queensland, Australia. Black-and-white diagrams, photographs in both black-and-white and color, and maps illustrate this excellent reference and resource for herpetologists, students, and curious lay readers alike. Chapters offer a brief overview of the ecology, reproduction, biogeography, and other aspects of homalopsids as well as the current state of conservation efforts (especially when homalopsids are sometimes harvested for protein, to be eaten by humans or farm-raised crocodiles), though the bulk of Homalopsid Snakes consists of species-by-species profiles. A top-quality addition to herpetology and college library reference shelves. Also very highly recommended for academic and community library reference collections is John C. Murphy's newly published "Herpetological History Of The Zoo And Aquarium World" (Krieger Publishing Company, 1575242850, $79.50).

The Most Important Fish in the Sea
H. Bruce Franklin
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597261241, $25.00 www.islandpress.org 1-800-828-1302

Written by H. Bruce Franklin (Professor of English and American Studies, Rutgers University-Newark), The Most Important Fish in the Sea is the true story the menhaden - a small, unappetizing fish harvested for its omega protein used in everything from animal feed and oil to linoleum and lipstick. Yet the once abundant menhaden has become increasingly threatened; as its numbers dwindle, bigger fish and birds dependent upon them starve, and seas and bays they filter becoming increasingly choked with toxic algae. Today one small company, Omega Protein, insists on its right to kill as many menhaden as it wishes, while millions of environmentalists, recreational anglers, and commercial fishermen seek to contest this unnecessary and dangerous attack upon the aquatic environment. A riveting cautionary tale about the potential catastrophe that could be unleashed should a small fish hardly anyone in America knows about go extinct.

The Butterflies And Moths Of Northern Ireland
Robert Thompson & Brian Nelson
Blackstaff Press Ltd.
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9780900761478, $64.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

The collaborative work of natural history expert Robert Thompson and entomologist Brian Nelson, "The Butterflies And Moths Of Northern Ireland" is a 440-page compendium of information that provides the reader with a complete and comprehensive description of all of the butterflies and moths that are to be found in the northern provinces of Ireland. Profusely and beautifully illustrated, "The Butterflies And Moths Of Northern Ireland" identifies the various species, describes their habitats, their distribution, their status, their flight periods, and even recommends the best way to study them in the field. Enhanced with conservation information, a thoroughly 'reader friendly' text, and an historical survey of naturalists who have built up our knowledge base of the Lepidoptera of Northern Ireland, "The Butterflies And Moths Of Northern Ireland" is an ideal reference and very highly recommended instruction guide for students and academia, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in butterflies and moths.

Fifty Uncommon Birds Of The Upper Midwest
Nancy Overcott & Dana Gardner
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587295903, $34.95 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Nancy Overcott's informed and informative text is accompanied by fifty superbly created watercolor paintings by Dana Gardner celebrating fifty extraordinary birds that are becoming increasingly rare in the states of America's Upper Midwest because of dwindling populations due to such issues as climate change, environmental degradation, and loss of habitat. From the Hooded Merganser; the White-Faced Ibis; the Whooping Crane; and the Acadian Flycatcher; to the Blue-Winged Warbler; the Yellow-Breasted Chat; the Snow Bunting; and the Evening Grosbeak, "Fifty Uncommon Birds Of The Upper Midwest" is an engaging and superbly presented compendium that is as much fun to browse through as it is educationally informative. A work of truly impressive scholarship and artistic talent, "Fifty Uncommon Birds Of The Upper Midwest" is strongly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Aviary Studies, Bird Watcher, and Pets/Wildlife reference collections.


The International Studies Shelf

Humanitarian Diplomacy
Larry Minear & Hazel Smith, editors
United Nations Publications
2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-853, Dept. CO44, New York, NY 10017
9789280811346, $37.00 1-800-253-9646

Humanitarian Diplomacy: Practitioners and Their Craft is an anthology of essays by fourteen senior humanitarian practitioners concerning humanitarian professionals who brave the front lines of internal armed conflicts to aid civilians in dire need. Spanning settings ranging from the Balkans and Nepal to Somalia, East Timor, 1970s Cambodia, 1980s Lebanon, and modern engagements in Columbia and Iraq, the essays include "Protecting Palestinian Refugees: The UNRWA Experience", "Nurturing humanitarian space in Sudan", "The Balkans: The limits of humanitarian action", and much more. A thoughtful, in-depth commentary on the response to atrocity and what can be done to improve and refine the life-saving art that is humanitarian diplomacy. Highly recommended.

Istanbul: City of a Hundred Names
Alex Webb and Orhan Pamuk
Aperture Foundation
547 West 27th St., 4th Floor, New York NY 10001
9781597110341, $50.00 www.aperture.org

Alex Webb's photographs reflect a powerful set of images revolving around Istanbul's culture and peoples, and is a top pick for any collection strong in the region's history and culture, from art libraries to general-interest collections. Both traditional and contemporary culture come to life in a volume which reveals Istanbul's attractions as a rich urban cultural center. A powerful set of full-page, full-color images goes far beyond the usual city focus to capture Istanbul's crossroads cultures.

America and Europe After 9/11 and Iraq: The Great Divide
Sarwar A. Kashmeri
Praeger Publishing
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275993019, $44.95 www.praeger.com

The alliance between Europe and America is dead, commentator Sarwar Kashmeri maintains: it can't be fixed, and it must be renegotiated: that's the message of a title which considers different foreign policy priorities between the U.S. and Europe since 9/11, and divisions which grow ever greater as the years go by. America's trouble is that it's using Cold War strategies which are outdated in trying to handle changing European Union priorities – and America and Europe After 9/11 and Iraq: The Great Divide charts these differences and offers foreign policy ideas which vastly revamp the relationships between the U.S. and the Union. Perfect for college-level libraries strong in international politics.

Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
Leo Schelbert
The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780810849310, $105.00 www.scarecrowpress.com 1-800-462-6420

Leo Schelbert (Professor of History emeritus, University of Illinois at Chicago) presents Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, a solid reference and resource packed with alphabetical entries pertaining to the history, geography, culture, and notable people of the Swiss Confederation. Entries span the gamut from Agrarian Revolution (a period in the mid-18th to late 19th century in which Swiss Mittelland agricultural production rose drastically) to Zurich (Switzerland's largest city). Entries can span multiple pages in length, and are supplemented by a thorough chronology, ten appendices, an extensive introduction concerning the proud nation of Switzerland, and much more. Highly recommended for library and international studies reference shelves.

Russia's Revolution
Leon Aron
American Enterprise Institute
1150 - 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844742427, $25.00 www.aei.org

Auther Leon Aron (resident scholar and director of Russian studies, American Enterprise Institute) presents Russia's Revolution: Essays 1989-2006, an in-depth history, examination, and critique of the transformations that have beset Russian government and society in modern history. From the birth of a new business ethic, to the tragedy of the wars in Chechnya, to the tenacity of the draft despite public's bitter opposition (and Russia's grim history of conscripting soldiers, training and equipping them poorly while subjecting them to brutal horrors and flagrant incompetence of the higher levels of command), and the darker side of the "Putin Restoration" that threatens to reverse the progress that has been made, Russia's Revolution as guarded in its outlook for the future as it is thorough in its analysis. An absolute "must-read" for students and scholars of modern Russian history, and enthusiastically recommended for public and college library shelves.

Building a New Afghanistan
Robert I. Rotberg, editor
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
9780815775690, $18.95 www.brookings.edu 1-800-275-1447

Building a New Afghanistan offers a host of essays from a diversity of learned contributors discussing the complex problem of rebuilding Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's severe occupation. Afghanistan today is riddled by security problems connected to poppy growing, opium and heroine production, and drug trafficking; Building a New Afghanistan offers creative and controversial alternatives to the current strategy of "immediate eradication", which has failed to produce satisfactory results. Individual essays include "Rebuilding a Robust Afghan Economy", "Regional Development in Greater Central Asia: The Afghan Pivot", "Responding to the Opium Dilemma", "The place of the Province in Afghanistan's Subnational Governance", and more. An absolute "must-read" for anyone seeking the latest insights, perspective, and possible solutions to Afghanistan's current quagmire. Highly recommended.

Inside Lebanon
Assaf Kfoury, editor
Monthly Review Press
122 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001
9781583671535, $14.95 www.monthlyreview.org 1-800-670-9499

Inside Lebanon: Journey to a Shattered Land with Noam and Carol Chomsky collects the gathered insights of Noam and Carol Chomsky during the course of their visit to Lebanon in May 2006 - only two months before Israel initiated a new military campaign against Lebanon and Palestine. Other experts such as Assaf Kfoury, Irene Gendzier, Hanaday Salman, Rasha Salti, and more also contribute their insights into the troubled region in separate essays. Context from both before and after the 2006 war, as well as background and framework information surround this harsh yet illuminating criticism that denounces cruelties committed by the United States and Israel as thoroughly as it condemns terrorist acts such as the September 11th attacks. "According to Bush, any state that harbors terrorists is a terrorist state and must be treated accordingly. It must be bombed and invaded. It seems to me that Bush is calling for the bombing of the United States. The United States harbors terrorists who are regarded as such by the FBI and the Justice Department. One of the worst is Orlando Bosch, the anti-Castro terrorist accused of about thirty terrorist acts by the FBI, among them the crash of a Cubana Airline plane killing seventy-three people. Bush's father, George Herbert Walker Bush, gave Bosch a presidential pardon. Bosch remained in the United States against the objections of the Justice Department, which regarded him as a national security threat." A sober, serious-minded critique, worthy as the spiritual successor to Thomas Friedman's classic "From Beirut to Jerusalem" (though the political viewpoints of the respective authors are not necessarily congruent). Highly recommended.

The First and Second Declarations of Havana
Mary-Alice Waters, editor
Pathfinder Press
PO Box 162767, Atlanta, GA 30321-2767
9780873488693, $10.00 www.pathfinderpress.com

Now in a newly updated third edition by Pathfinder Press including a new preface, a special twelve-page section of black-and-white photographic plates, glossary, chronology, and index, The First and Second Declarations of Havana reprints two classic speeches first presented by Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro to General Assemblies of Cuban People in 1960 and 1962. The First and Second Declarations of Havana spares no leniency in its ruthless indictments of "imperialist plunder" and "the exploitation of man by man", champions the power of the greater aggregate of laboring humanity, and remains as sharply focused a call to revolutionary struggle today as it was forty-five years ago. A valuable contribution to Cuban history and political rhetoric shelves.


The Science Shelf

Engineering Physics Fundamentals & Modern Applications
P. Khare & A. Swarup
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015261, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

A cd-rom of demos accompanies Engineering Physics Fundamentals & Modern Applications, a pick recommended for college-level collections and packed with a blend of physical law reviews and updated industry applications examples. Perfect for classrooms as well as college physics collections, it's designed to be used as either a text or a working engineer's reference, and includes detailed descriptions of everything from fiber optics to holograms and logic gates. Perfect for either a survey or a refresher course.

112 Mercer Street
Burton Feldman
Arcade Publishing
116 John Street, #2810, New York, NY 10038
1559707046, $26.00 www.arcadepub.com 1-800-759-0190

112 MERCER STREET: EINSTEIN, RUSSELL, GODEL, PAULI AND THE END OF INNOCENCE IN SCIENCE is edited by Katherine Williams, who offers up biographical sketches of these men and their revolutionary work. As World War II was ending Einstein invited three of his close friends to his home at 112 Mercer Street in New Jersey to discuss science, philosophy and current events: thus a series of historic meetings between Einstein, Russell, Pauli and logician Godel would change the world. This survey blends science, history and biography in a coverage perfect for college-level collections strong in science history.

The Soul in the Brain
Michael R. Trimble, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801884810, $35.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Connections between brain function, language, art and religion are considered with an emphasis on neuro-science perfect for either college-level collections strong in science, health or social science and for public lending collections alike. It was inspired by the writings of many of his patients – many of whom have epilepsy, psychosis or other affective disorders – and considers the underling science of how and why the human species has held strong religious beliefs and connections with art. An intriguing, lively survey.

How Mathematics Happened
Peter S. Rudman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591024774, $26.00 www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-421-0351

Written by Peter S. Rudman (Professor Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology), How Mathematics Happened is explores the history and prehistory of human mathematical discovery. From the different ways Egyptians and Babylonians expressed fractions so that they would almost never be nonterminating fractions, to the evolution of pattern recognition to finger counting to pebble counting, to the underappreciated Mayan mathematics system, to concepts of abstraction and rigor invented by Greek mathematicians such as Pythagoras, Eratosthenes, and Hippasus. An amazing tour of human discovery, illustrated with black-and-white diagrams and punctuated with "fun questions" (with answers) for the reader to solve as well as references and an index, How Mathematics Happened is an engaging read for students, scholars, and laypeople alike.

There Are No Electrons
Kenn Amdahl
Clearwater Publishing Company
PO Box 778, Broomfield, CO 80038-0778
9780962781599, $12.95 www.genealogical.com 1-800-296-6687

There Are No Electrons: Electronics for Earthlings is an engaging and educational introduction to the science of electronics for lay readers. Written in a narrative, storytelling style, There Are No Electrons covers basic electron theory (and why it's the "Easter Bunny" of science), voltage, current, resistance, magnetism, and much more. Written to be accessible to readers of all ages, from high school science students to the fortysomething who wonders how his computer is really powered, There Are No Electrons blends entertainment with solid information into a clear winner. Especially recommended for public and high school library shelves.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

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

Andre Norton's MASKS OF THE OUTCASTS (1416521380, $7.99) tells of two outcasts: Troy, forced to hide in the wake of his employer's murder, and Nik, who has to hide his scarred face from the world until an offer to masquerade as an heir is tied to his recovery. The two hope to escape the slum which has been their lives – and unusual connections are drawn in this classic tale. Norton's DARK COMPANION (1416521194, $7.99) is vintage Norton writing at her best. It combines two of her classics – DARK PIPER and DREAD COMPANION – under one cover and tells of two very different heroes who battle evil in alien worlds. Her FROM THE SEA TO THE STARS (1416521224, $15.00) also provides two complete classics under one cover: SEA SIEGE and STAR GATE. SEA SIEGE tells of scientists who survive nuclear war only to find a strange set of sea creatures – intelligent – have been released to threaten the remainder of Mankind; STAR GATE tells of Star Lords, parallel universes, a lost Earth and wandering souls. Harry Turtledove's BRIDGE OF THE SEPARATOR (1416521395, $7.99) tells of one Rhavas, a pious and good man set to become the patriarch of an Empire when it falls into civil war and barbarians invade. Now he is in exile, evil has devoured his world, and he must re-consider his very beliefs in good and evil in this fine fantasy of epic changes. Eric Flint and David Drake's DANCE OF TIME (1416521372, $7.99) tells of an epic battle fought in the sixth century where evil has been put down – but is still ruled by a monster from the future which is part computer, part demon. New attacks are planned – and it's up to general Belisarius to fight an impossible battle against it. John Ringo's KILDAR (141652133X, $7.99) tells of Mike, who has always wanted to be a SEAL, but who is currently hated by every terrorist on Earth and many governments. Facing danger, the Ghost decides to come out of retirement – with dangerous results. William Keith's RETIEF'S PEACE (1416521356, $7.99) presents yet another Retief story of the diplomat who returns to action to thwart invaders and dangers to Terran diplomats. Retief may even face being expelled from the Corps for his efforts – but those who would thwart him find him even more deadly operating outside the law…Chris Dolley's RESONANCE (1416521348, $7.99) tells of an obsessive-compulsive mute and a girl who hears voices, who team up across alternate realities to address the problems of their unstable worlds. RESONANCE is outstanding, creating unique, believable protagonists from two worlds and compelling readers to follow along in an outstanding adventure. John Ringo's INTO THE LOOKING GLASS (1416521054, $7.99) tells of a huge explosion which destroys the University of Central Florida and which leaves doorways into another world in its aftermath. It's up to an esteemed physicist to investigate and to ultimately confront the demons these gateways will discharge from other worlds.

A Thousand Deaths
George Alec Effinger
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846479, $24.95 www.goldengryphon.com

Eight stories represent fine Sandor Courane thrillers, with the opening novel 'The Wolves of Memory' telling of a bleak Earth ruled by intelligent, near-human computers. Here Sandor is assigned three jobs for which he lacks skills – and is exiled to Planet D, a farm world, which he comes to consider a fine alternative to Earth. Courane keeps facing death in subsequent short stories in this collection – and always has a fun, unique answer to challenges. Science fiction fans will find it a winning story and any serious collection appealing to genre readers will want this.

The Mathematics of Magic
L. Sprague DeCamp & Fletcher Pratt
NESFA Press
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
1886778655, $26.00 www.nesfa.org

Harold is a psychologist who dreams of adventure, but when his boss develops a theory which lets a person transport himself into any world he can imagine, he finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime – one in which he travels through mythology's finest gods and adventurers. DeCamp and Pratt's 'Enchanter' stories follow his fantasy encounters and makes for engrossing, fun reading especially recommended for fantasy libraries also holding DeCamp's works.

A Thousand Deaths
George Alec Effinger
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
9781930846470, $24.95 www.goldengryphon.com

A Thousand Deaths is the re-release of a selection of stories by Hugo and Nebula award finalist George Alec Effinger (1947-2002), featuring a new introduction by multiple Hugo Award-winning author Mike Resnick and an afterword by Andrew Fox, an author and one of Effinger's former writing students. The tales presented are the novel "The Wolves of Memory" and the short stories "Fatal Disk Error", "In the Wings", "From the Desk Of", "The Wicked Old Witch", "Mango Red Goes to War", "The Thing from the Slush", and "Posterity". "The Wolves of Memory" sets the tone with a dystopic Earth whose governing body, the "Representatives", have given up control to computers that are growing more and more intelligent and self-aware. The central computer assigns hero Sandor Courane three jobs, and when his lack of skill washes him out of all three, he's sentenced to live out his days on Planet D, a place fellow computer-rejected residents call "Home". But when a terrible diseases threatens Home, he must embark on a one-man odyssey to wrest the secrets of a cure from the computer's emotionless grasp. An enthusiastically recommended collection for science fiction aficionados everywhere.

Harvest of Changelings
Warren Rochelle
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
9781930846463, $24.95 www.goldengryphon.com

Harvest of Changelings is a fantastic novel about a single father's efforts to save his half-fairy son. Ben Tyson was an ordinary librarian when he met a Daoine Sidhe woman, Valeria. Valeria's untimely death left Ben ill-prepared when his son Malachi began to manifest his fey powers, but without the control a full-blooded fairy would have. Desperate to help Malachi through a gate to Faerie before these powers kill him, Ben searches for information on where such a gate can be found, but only learns that the next date a gate can be opened is Halloween. Dragon sightings and a resurgence in witchcraft mysteriously appear, even as additional descendants of changelings are also called upon to return home. Yet mysterious, shadowy evil forces in both the mortal and the fey worlds seek to prevent the return of fey kindred; Ben and Malachi are caught up amid the clash of good and evil forces in this enchanting adventure of the bridge between two realities.


The Parenting Shelf

Brain Food
Vicki Guercia Caruana & Kelly Guercia Hammer
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781590771006, $15.95 www.rlpgbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

Brain Food: Recipes for Success in School, Sports, and Life is more than a cookbook - it's a guide for parents to helping kids eat balanced diets of good nutrition. A blend of solid parenting advice and the latest nutritional science, Brain Food offers guidelines for preparing food for children of all ages, what attitudes to expect children to have toward food and how to instill healthy eating habits, recommended recipes for all three meals and sample meal plans, and much more. The suggested recipes include delicacies ranging from "Cereal Trail Mix" to "Cheese Spinach Noodles", "Barbecue Turkey Sloppy Joes", and "Peanut Ginger Pasta Salad." Each recipe also lists its prep time, and basic nutrition information concerning calories, fat calories, and percentages of fat, protein, and carbohydrates per serving. Highly recommended, especially in today's age of rampant child obesity and media glorification of unhealthy foods.

Nurturing Adoptions
Deborah D. Gray
Perspectives Press, Inc.
PO Box 90318, Indianapolis, IN 46290
9780944934333, $26.95

Clinical social worker Deborah D. Gray applies her extensive experience counseling adopted children to Nurturing Adoptions: Creating Resilience After Neglect and Trauma, an in-depth examination of both domestic and international adoptions. Written especially to aid professionals working with adoptive families in the twenty-first century, Nurturing Adoptions covers the especial difficulties involved in helping children, from infants to early teens. Chapters discuss the effects of early life neglect and trauma on brain development, how to build attachment, the role of the child welfare or social worker, how to structure careers and practices, and much more. Numerous case studies illuminate this straightforward and accessible resource. "When parents lose sight of normal childhood development, expecting much more than developmental progress allows, there is trouble ahead. The set-up for the child is that the parents will always be disappointed and displeased. The child can never feel like a wanted and accepted child." A "must-have" for social workers, counselors, psychotherapists, and other professionals involved in helping adoptive families adjust.

Baby Concerts
Childish Records
c/o Waldmania!
130 Maywood Drive, San Francisco, CA 94127
www.babyconcerts.com www.amazon.com

The creation of Kenneth Kaganovitch (a long time album producer for Capitol Records), 'Baby Concerts' is a superb series of music CDs for infants and toddlers in a 'concert' format creating a sense of beginning, middle, and conclusion complete with musical elements of contrast, unity, balance, and proportion. Flawlessly recorded, the 'Baby Concert' series includes "Prenatal and Newborn Concert" ($14.95); "Infant Concert" ($14.95); "Crawling Baby Concert" ($14.95); Toddler Concert" ($14.95); "Bedtime Concert" ($14.95); a 3-CD "New Baby Gift Box" ($39.95); a 4-CD "Deluxe Gift Box" ($49.95); and the newest addition to this outstanding series, "Baby Concerts" ($39.95) which is a 3-CD Spanish language box set that includes 'Prenatal y Recien Nacido'; 'Infantil'; and 'L Hora De Domir". Every one of the 'Baby Concert' productions is enthusiastically recommended for families, daycare centers, and preschools. It should be noted that a portion of the proceeds from 'Baby Concert' sales is donated to SOS Children's Village to help care for orphaned and abandoned children in 134 countries around the world.

Mothering Multiples
Karen Kerkhoff Gromada
La Leche League International
957 N Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
9780976896937, $18.95 www.amazon.com

Registered nurse and lactation consultant Karen Kerkhoff Gromada presents the third revised edition of Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding & Caring for Twins or More!, a thoroughly comprehensive guide for impending mothers of twins, triplets, and other multiple births. Chapters discuss the risks of a multiple pregnancy, how to reduce the risk of complications and carry multiple babies as close to full term as possible, how to cope with breastfeeding challenges, what to do when babies are born prematurely, adjusting to the physical and emotional demands of raising multiple babies, the unique challenge of caring for multiple toddlers, and much more. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this no-nonsense, plain-terms primer, packed with so much valuable information it's a "must-have" for prospective fathers of multiples as well as mothers of multiples. Highly recommended.


The Music Shelf

American Aria Encore
Sherrill Milnes
Amadeus Press/Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
157467160X, $22.95 www.amadeuspress.com

Libraries interested in opera star biographies will want to include AMERICAN ARIA ENCORE in their collections: it's been updated and revised, appears in a new paperback edition, and presents Met Opera star Sherrill Milnes' biography offering plenty of insights into not only her life, but the politics and processes of the opera world as a whole. From encounters with opera masters to behind-the-scenes politics and events, AMERICAN ARIA ENCORE is a fine, lively account.

The Rock & Roll Film Encyclopedia
John Kenneth Muir
Applause Theatre
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836930, $19.95 www.applausepub.com

Fifty years of rock n roll film history is considered in a reader perfect not just for film libraries but for general-interest collections where either film or modern music is of interest. General-interest audiences receive a reference packing in over two hundred reader-friendly A-Z entries which include synopses, cast listings, ratings, DVD availability and more. Also included are biographical entries of the stars and 'best and worst' lists. An excellent reference.

Making Music Videos
Lara M. Schwartz
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823083683, $22.95 www.watsonguptill.com

MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS comes from a veteran music director, producer and teacher whose book provides a one-stop source of information for any who would learn the behind-the-scenes methods of turning a visual concept for a song into a professional quality video. From understanding directors and key players behind music videos and how such are financed within a record label to working with production companies and compiling a cinematography team, MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS is packed with eye-opening insights perfect for any music or video production library holding.

Black Women and Music
Eileen M. Hayes & Linda F. Williams, editors
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252074264, $25.00 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

Black Women and Music: More than the Blues is an anthology of interdisciplinary essays by an eclectic selection of expert authors discussing the experiences of African-American women in a diversity of musical genres throughout history, from classical music to contemporary blues. Essays include "Hip-Hop Soul Divas and Rap Music: Critiquing the Love That Hate Produced," "Black Women Electric Guitarists and Authenticity in the Blues", "Langston Hughes and the Black Female Gospel Voice in the American Musical", "Black Women and 'Women's Music'", and much more. An astutely researched and presented collection, shedding light on the all-too-often overlooked contribution of black women to American music history and modern music performance.

Strange Brew
Christopher Hjort
Jawbone Press
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781906002008, $29.95 www.jawbonepress.com

"Strange Brew: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Bloom" by rock historian Christopher Hjort is a history of the 1960s British blues music boom in general, and Eric Clapton's stellar music career from 1965 to 1970 in particular. "Strange Brew covers hundreds of gigs, radio and television appearances, recording sessions, discographical information, trivia, contemporary reviews, and first-hand accounts and recollections from ex-band members and fans. Some of the stories will be new information for even the most dedicated Clapton fan, such as the comprehensive account of Clapton's Greek odyssey in 1965 (including the true story of The Glands and Greek band The Juniors, as well as fresh information about John Mayall's recording with Bob Dylan). Here presented in a day-by-day format laced with photographs and memorabilia, the way the musicians behind the British Blues worked together, influenced each other, and helped each other to ever greater musical accomplishments. "Strange Brew" is essential reading for Clapton fans, British Blues music enthusiasts, and academic library 20th Century Music History reference collections.

Santorella Publications, Ltd.
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
www.santorellapublication.com 1-877-600-0049

Santorella Publications is a premier publisher of inexpensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' music scores for students and professionals in every genre of music. Among their newest series is one that particularly stands out for its expert production values. Transcribed from original editions by Craig Stevens, the Santorella series 'Beethoven's Greatest Sonatas' is comprised of six simply outstanding volumes each of which focuses upon a particular sonata by Beethoven, who is universally acknowledged as one of the finest composers in the history of western music. The individual volumes comprising this very strongly recommended series include "Moonlight Sonata" (TS340, $14.95); "Appasionata Sonata" (TS342); "Les Adieux Sonata" (TS344, $14.95); "Sonata Pathetique" (TS341, $14.95); "Waldstein Sonata" (TS343, $14.95); and "Greatest Sonatas Highly Edition" (TS345, $22.95) which includes 128 pages of transcribed originals specifically composed for the piano. Each individual volume is enhanced for the benefit of dedicated music students with an accompany CD featuring an expert performance. Ideal for instruction curriculums, school music departments are well advised to visit the Santorella Publications website for a complete listing of all their available titles.


The True Crime Shelf

Murder on the White Sands
Corey Recko
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412246, $24.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Written by avid Old West historian Corey Recko, Murder on the White Sands: The Disappearance of Albert and Henry Fountain is the true story of murder and scandal that plagued the New Mexico territory in 1896, sparking outrage and delaying its advance toward statehood. When prominent attorney Col. Albert Jennings Fountain and his eight-year-old son Henry disappeared from the White Sands of New Mexico, the cattle thieves they were progressing were presumed the most likely suspects. Evidence pointed toward three sheriff's deputies who had close ties to powerful ex-judge, lawyer, and politician Albert B. Fall. Governor Thornton, desperate for results, appointed Pat Garrett - the man made famous for killing Billy the Kidd fifteen years earlier - as the new sheriff. The hunt to bring justice to Albert and Henry Fountain's alleged killers would span years, and culminate in a bloody shootout followed by a trial rife with intimidation and missing witnesses, and a "not guilty" verdict. Murder on the White Sands delves into the story of the Fountain case and its aftermath, reconstructing what happened to the Fountains and who their killers most likely were. An absorbing contribution to western and New Mexico state history shelves.


The Civil War Shelf

My Dear Friend
Alva Benjamin Spencer, author
Clyde G. Wiggins, III, editor
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881460575, $29.95 www.mupress.org 1-800-634-2378

My Dear Friend: The Civil War Letters of Alva Benjamin Spencer 3rd Georgia Regiment Company C is a collection of civil war correspondence by Alva B. Spencer, a man who accepted the Baptist faith at a young age, graduated from Mercer University in Georgia, and enlisted as a Confederate private in the American Civil War. My Dear Friend is not only an up-close and personal look at the Civil War up to the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, but also a love story - the letters are penned specifically to Alva's beloved "Maggie" at home. An entrancing, and at times heart-rending chronicle.

Politics and Culture of the Civil War Era
Daniel McDonough & Kenneth W. Noe
Susquehanna University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
9781575911014, $60.00 1-609-655-4770

Politics and Culture of the Civil War Era: Essays in Honor of Robert W. Johannsen is a compilation of scholarly essays by a diversity of learned contributors, in honor of expert Jacksonian and Civil War-era historian Robert W. Johannsen. Topics include "Putting African Americans in the Center of National Political Discourse: The Strange Fate of Popular Sovereignty", "Jackson Men in the Party of Lincoln", "Zachariah Chandler's Role in the Election of Abraham Lincoln in 1864", and much more. Each contribution is meticulously researched with references listed, and an index as well as a reference list of writings by Johannsen himself round out this welcome contribution to Civil War era studies shelves.


The American History Shelf

Ghost Empire
Philip Marchand
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275994171, $49.95 www.praeger.com

GHOST EMPIRE: HOW THE FRENCH ALMOST CONQUERED NORTH AMERICA is an outstanding survey which tells of explorer LaSalle, murdered by his own men but a key figure in claiming land for France in 1682. Had history not gone differently, a French-speaking empire might have extended a thousand miles beyond Quebec, Catholic in religion and strong in Native rights issues. In presenting the story of LaSalle's achievements and speculating on what could have been, an exciting alternative history is created which weaves past and present in a powerful account of conquest, culture and change. A top pick for both college-level American history collections and any general-interest public library strong in lively, thought-provoking American history surveys.

The Fabric of America
Andro Linklater
Walker & Company
104 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
0802715338, $25.95 www.walkerbooks.com

Today's borders and boundaries actually consist of a pattern of lines reflecting the politics of the U.S. and the values which were revealed as the U.S. grew. THE FABRIC OF AMERICA: HOW OUR BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES SHAPED THE COUNTRY AND FORGED OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY reflects these changes, offering a different kind of American history based not on dates and events so much as by laws and the desire of the people to protect place, property and rights. How early immigrants were Americanized by experiences within America's boundaries, how unity was created from diversity, and what decided lines of battle and borders is all covered in a revealing, evocative narrative perfect for any public lending library's American history section.

The Black Hawk War of 1832
Patrick J. Jung
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138114, $29.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Patrick J. Jung (Assistant Professor of History, Milwaukee School of Engineering) presents The Black Hawk War of 1832, an in-depth examination of the last Indian war that was fought in present-day Wisconsin and Illinois. Volume ten in the Campaigns and Commanders series, The Black Hawk War of 1812 covers the war from rumors preceding its inception to the major battles of the storm, and calm that settled after it. A handful of black-and-white maps and illustrations grace this chronicle, written in plain terms to be accessible to scholars and non-specialist general readers alike
.
Wish You Were Here
Steven C. Brisson
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
0911872795, $12.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Compiled and with commentary by Steven C. Brisson, "Wish Your Were Here: An Album Of Vintage Mackinac Postcards" is a superbly organized and presented collection of historic postcard color and duo-tone postcards of Mackinac Island. The images range from steamships, docks and harbor views; to main street vistas, churches and cottages, to island hotels, and so much more. Enhanced with a bibliography, a list of acknowledgments, an index, and an appendix (Publisher Information and Dates of the Cards), "Wish You Were Here" is a very highly entertaining, as well as informative and nostalgic post card collection that is especially recommended to Mackinac Island enthusiasts and amateur historians as a perfect memorial tribute to a colorful island's past grandeur.

At The Heart Of Texas
Richard B. McCaslin
Texas State Historical Association
2/306 Sid Richardson Hall, University Station, Austin TX 78712
Texas A&M University Press (distributor)
Drawer C , College Station, TX 77843-4354
9780876112168, $39.95 www.uts.cc.utexas.edu 1-800-826-8911

Featuring an informative foreword by J. P. Bryan, "At The Heart Of Texas: 100 Years Of The Texas State Historical Association, 1897-1997" by Richard B. McCaslin is a definitive history of the institution dedicated to discovering, collecting, preserving, and publishing historical material pertaining to Texas. Founded on March 2, 1897, the Texas State Historical Association has been instrumental in saving material relevant to the history of Texas that would otherwise have been lost to future generations of scholars and appreciative citizens. A professor of history at the University of North Texas and a Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association, Richard McCaslin brings a special expertise to his text that he has enhanced with the inclusion of sidebar vignettes, and an epilogue bringing the history up to date, illustrations, appendices, a bibliography, and an index. A seminal work of scholarship in its own right, "At The Heart Of Texas" is a core addition to Texas state history collections and could well serve as a template for other state historical associations in developing histories of their own.

Three Bold Ventures
Joan C. Brainard & Richard E. Leonard
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 216, Edina, MN 55439-2129
9781592981649, $39.95 www.beaverspondpress.com

A beautifully illustrated history of the community of North Oaks, Minnesota, "Three Bold Ventures" presents the business ventures of three key entrepreneurs in the town's development: Charles Gilfillan, James J. Hill, and Louis W. Hill, Jr. Co-authored by local North Oaks residents Joan Brainard and Richard Leonard, the informed and informative text is enhanced with the inclusion of more than 250 photos and maps presenting a wonderfully visual element to the historical record. Recording North Oaks economic history from 1876 down through decades of the twentieth century, "Three Bold Ventures" is a masterpiece of deftly written local history that is highly recommended reading for academic and community library Minnesota History reference collections and could well serve as a template for similar approaches to regional 19th and 20th century histories of other American villages, towns, and cities.

Reflections of a Mormon Historian
Leonard J. Arrington, author
Reid L. Neilson and Ronald W. Walker, editors
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
9780870623486, $36.95 www.ahclark.com 1-800-842-9286

Reflections of a Mormon Historian is an anthology of essays by Leonard J. Arrington, appointed in 1972 as Mormon Church Historian, the first professional historian to serve in the office. Offering a middle-of-the-road perspective rather than a polarized view of Church history either attacking or defending claims of the faith, Reflections of a Mormon Historian includes the essays "The Search for Truth and Meaning in Mormon History", "Clothe These Bones: The Reconciliation of Faith and History", "The Intellectual Tradition of the Latter-day Saints", and much more. A few black-and-white photographs, an extensive bibliography, an index, a chronology of Arrington's life, a biographical sketch of Arrington by historian Ronald W. Walker, and a tribute by Arrington's daughter round out this comprehensive collection of Arrington's perspectives and overview of Latter-day Saint history. Highly recommended for religious history shelves.

Through Deaf Eyes
Douglas C. Baynton, Jack R. Gannon, Jean Lindquist Borgey
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563683473, $40.00 http://gupress.gallaudet.edu 1-800-621-2736

The combined effort of Douglas C. Baynton (Associate Professor of History, University of Iowa), Jack R. Gannon (Curator of the History Through Deaf Eyes exhibition), and Jean Lindquist Borgey (Director of the History Through Deaf Eyes Project, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC), "Through Deaf Eyes: A Photographic History Of An American Community" is the companion volume to an acclaimed PBS television documentary based on a landmark photographic exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in 2001 celebrating almost 200 years of United States Deaf History. The deaf have been a cultural and linguistic minority in America almost from its inception. The more than 200 photographs, the many quotes, and compelling stories compiled in "Through Deaf Eyes" provides the reader with informed and informative insights into a fascinating and specialized aspect of American history with respect to deaf people in school settings, the workplace, during wartime, the development and impact of American Sign Language, and more. "Through Deaf Eyes" is a superb and appreciated contribution to personal, academic, and community American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Old Trading Posts Of The Four Corners
Richard C. Berkholz
Western Reflections Publishing Company
PO Box 1149, Lake City, CO 81235
193273841X, $16.95 www.westernreflectionspub.com 1-800-993-4490

The trading post was where whites and Native Americans came together to exchange goods, hold meetings to discuss issues of mutual concern, and often served as the origin of what would become towns and cities. Some of them survive and are still operating today. "Old Trading Posts Of The Four Corners: A Guide To Early-Day Trading Posts Established On Or Around The Navajo, Hopi, And Ute Mountain Ute Reservations" by western historian Richard C. Berkholz is the history of these posts from their founding down to the present day. Included in this historical survey is descriptive information on their condition and directions to finding them (some of which are very difficult to locate). Most of those that continue to operate are no longer located in their original quarters or do business in the same way as they did in the 19th century. But there are a few that still occupy original buildings and visitors can get a flavor of what it was like in the Old West. A seminal and informative work of original research, "Old Trading Posts Of The Four Corners" is a welcome addition to personal, academic, and community library American History and Native American Studies reference collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for academia and non-specialist general readers alike..


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Universal Fly Tying Guide
Dick Stewart
Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.
PO Box 775, Chambersburg, PA 17201-0775
9780911469318, $15.00 www.hoodbooks.com 1-888-844-9433

Originally published in 1979, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" by fly fishing expert Dick Stewart is aptly considered an essential reference for novice anglers wanting to improve their fly fishing performance. Now reprinted for a new generation of fly fishing anglers, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" once again showcases more than 150 choice, make-them-yourself, fly patterns presented with full color illustration and step-by-step instruction. Very highly recommended for the novice fly fisherman, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" continues to have much to offer even the more experienced fly fisherman and is an welcome addition to both personal and community library specialized reference collections on fishing.


The Gardening Shelf

Peonies
Pamela McGeorge
Firefly Books Limited
66 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1H1
1554071682, $24.95 www.fireflybooks.com

Russell McGeorge's PEONIES is a bright, beautiful volume for gardeners who want to focus on the flower. History blends with practical gardening tips on how to grow a variety of peonies, from herbaceous varieties to tree peonies, along with details on how they can blend into an existing landscape or garden. Care directions cover everything from planting to dividing, moving, and troubleshooting common problems. Recommended for any gardening library.

Four Seasons Of Orchids
Greg Allikas & Ned Nash
Creative Homeowner
PO Box 38, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-0038
9781580113519, $24.95 www.creativehomeowner.com 1-800-631-7795

Featuring spectacular full-color photography of each orchid showcased in "Four Seasons Of Orchids", a superbly compiled 256-page compendium of information making this an excellent guide for amateur gardeners and horticultural professionals alike. Of special note for beginning orchid gardeners are the step-by-step potting guides for all the featured orchids from 'Phalaenopsis' to 'Cattleya'. The collaborative work of commercial photographer and orchid grower Greg Allikas and botanist and orchid expert Ned Nash, "Four Seasons Of Orchids" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to academic library Horticultural Studies, and community library Home Gardening reference collections in general , as well as personal and professional reading lists for growing orchids in particular.

Setup And Care Of Garden Ponds
Terry Anne Barber
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793837786, $9.95 www.tfh.com 1-800-631-2188

Part of the superbly produced 'Animal Planet & Pet Care Library' series from T.F.H. Publications, "Setup And Care Of Garden Ponds" by Terry Anne Barber is a profusely illustrated, step-by-step instruction guide covering all aspects of creating, planting, stocking, and maintaining a garden pond of any size appropriate for the available terrain. There are many factors involved, including the benefits of garden ponds, determining the desired pond size and shape, choosing and planting garden pond compatible plants, selecting the proper fish and other aquatic animal life for the pond, keeping the water in a pond healthy and avoiding such biohazards as mosquito breeding, and what is necessary to enjoy a garden pond in every season of the year. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Setup And Care Of Garden Ponds" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone contemplating the creation or renewal of a garden pond.

Mushrooms Of The Southeastern United States
Alan E. Bessette, et al.
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
081563112X, $95.00 www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu 1-800-365-8929

"Mushrooms Of The Southeastern United States" is the combined and collaborative effort of four outstanding mycologists: Alan E. Bessette (Professor of biology, Utica College, Syracuse University); William C. Roody (Field Biologist, Wildlife Diversity Program, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources); Arleen R. Bessette (Botanical Photographer); and Dail L. Dunaway (Botanical Photographer and expert in the mushroom flora of the southeastern United States). Enhanced with color photographic plates, "Mushrooms Of The Southeastern United States" is organized according to species descriptions ranging from Chanterelles and Allies; to Gilled Mushrooms; to Fungi; and so much more. Enhanced with the inclusion of four appendices on Microscopic Examination of Mushrooms; Chemical Reagents and Mushroom Identification; Classification; and Mycophagy; "Mushrooms Of The Southeastern United States" also includes a glossary, a bibliography of recommended readings, an index to common names, and an index to scientific names. Comprehensive, informative, superbly organized and presented, "Mushrooms Of The Southeastern United States" is a work of impeccable scholarship and very strongly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Library DVD Shelf

Chancer
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
AMP-9403, $59.99 www.acornmedia.com 1-888-870-8047

Sacked from an investment bank after one dodgy deal too many, Stephen Crane is a con artist with a dark personal secret who finds himself struggling to save a family sports car company while fending off corporate takeovers by vengeful associates in the elaborate British television production of "Chancer". Award-winning actor Clive Owen stars along with a stellar cast in this totally engaging, flawlessly produced, roller-coaster of a mini-series that is enhanced with original music composed by Grammy-winner Jan Hammer. Love, sex, money, loyalty, and all the elements that make for a brilliant adult soap opera are expertly packaged into a four volume DVD boxed set comprising all thirteen episodes with a total running time of 650 minutes, as well as a production photo galley and cast filmographies. Very highly recommended, "Chancer" is certain to be a popular addition to personal and community library DVD collections.

DOG the Bounty Hunter: Best of Season 2
A & E Television Networks
PO Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284
0767098064, $19.95 www.aetv.com 1-888-646-3476

BEST OF SEASON 2 represents reality TV personality Dog's personally selected eight favorite episodes from his second season and provides more powerful stories from the chronicles of Hawaiian bail bondsman family man Dog's experiences. Duane 'Dog' Chapman and his family have more amazing adventures catching bail jumpers here, and BEST OF SEASON 2 is thus a pick not only for old fans who want to relive the highlights, but for newcomers to the reality TV show.

The Seasons of Fitness
Sue West
Synergy Video
DVD $24.99 www.synergyvideoseries.com

Intermediate-level exercisers receive a workout video which blends the conditioning features of ballet and Pilates with the stretches of yoga and classical dance, coming from a certified Pilates instructor who is also a yoga student and teacher of classical ballet. The result's a workout which is not only involving and intermediate in level, but has the added unusual advantage of being filmed in the beauty of Canyon Lands, Utah and other natural areas. An excellent, appealing pick.

The Anti-Aging Method
Carol Argo
Anti-Aging Methods
4696 Browndeer lane, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
DVD, $18.00 www.antiagingmethod.com

THE ANTI-AGING METHOD packs in three workout options, from a nearly-hour-long total workout of yoga, dance, tai chi and pilates to help improve posture, balance and more. Learn to move with the help of a trainer who travels worldwide training instructors at workouts and spas, and who blends east and west concepts for all fitness levels.

Prevention Fitness Systems DVDs
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
www.rodale.com www.preventionfitness.com

Two excellent dvds in the series offer excellent insights into fitness. Chris Freytag's FIGHT CELLULITE AST (9780766229624, $14.95) tells how to lose weight and burn fat fast, and provides a two-part routine tackling common female trouble areas like hips, butts and thighs. The workout is specifically designed to thwart cellulite and provides a high-energy cardio workout. Lara Hudson's SLIM, STRONG, AND FIRM (9780766229297, $14.95) provides a Pilates/dance based workout of two 30-minute programs designed by the experts at Prevention magazine. Ballet too is used and the instructor provides excellent step-by-step techniques. Both are top picks for any workout library or individual collection.

Pilates for Sex: Volume 1
Pilates in the City
DVD $24.95 www.pilatesforsex.com www.amazon.com

This is the first Pilates DVD to offer an exercise program specifically tailored to developing the pelvic floor muscles: as such, it offers up an excellent, solid set of exercises with a specific focus and purpose in mind, and will appeal to any library featuring either Pilates or sexual health how-to titles.

Broadway's Best At Pops
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
16027 Ventura Blvd., Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
DVD $19.95 www.ssapr.com www.amazon.com

The Boston Pops Orchestra under such legendary conductors as Arthur Fiedler, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart is an American musical icon. Now WGBH Boston Video has produced a DVD edition of "Broadway's Best At Pops" showcasing memorable moments enhanced with candid interviews with renowned conductors and Broadway personalities drawn from some 35 years of public television musical history. "Broadway's Best At Pops" features such luminaries as Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Kristin Chenoweth, Pearl Baily, Bonnie and John Raitt, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines, and dozens of others. Superbly recorded, the DVD format of "Broadway's Best At Pops" has such bonus features as an additional twenty-five minutes of interviews with John Williams, Michael Feinstein, Barbara Cook, and others; printable selections from original Boston Pops Orchestra concert programs, and extended performances not seen on the original television program because of on-air time constraints. with a complete running time of 76 minutes (plus the extra 25 minutes of additional bonus footage), "Broadway's Best At Pops" is a very highly recommended addition to community library DVD collections and a 'must' for the family collections of Boston Pops Orchestra enthusiasts and fans.

Just the Facts: Food Safety
Chef Jonathan Locke
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571754620, $49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

Just the Facts: Food Safety is a DVD intended for high-school students and adults, covering the basics of how to safely prepare food. Expert chef Jonathan Locke teaches viewers how to prevent food-borne illnesses, and engage in proper cleanup and storage, including keeping ingredients clean, separated, and thoroughly cooked or chilled. Enthusiastically recommended for high school classrooms or as a training experience for novice cooks, whether on the job or at home. Closed captioned, 16 minutes, color.

Simple Qigong Exercises
Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, Ph.D.
YMAA Publications
4354 Washington Street, Roslindale, MA 02131
$29.95 each www.ymaa.com 1-800-669-8892

Two DVDs introduce viewers to easy-to-perform Qigong exercises ideal for practitioners of all backgrounds. Simple Qigong Exercises for Arthritis Relief (9781594390890, $29.95) offers activities to improve the flow of the body's Qi (energy) for health and longevity, and include techniques for "moving meditation" that can be performed standing or sitting. Simple Qigong Exercises for Back Pain Relief (9781594390883, $29.95) includes movements designed to gradually recondition one's entire torso. Hosted by Qigong expert Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, Ph.D., Simple Qigong Exercises is an excellent introduction to reaping the benefits of a widespread Chinese exercise and health practice.

Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer
Tru Company
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $14.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.trucompany.com

Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer is a DVD offering a twenty-one day total body circuit workout in just 30 minutes a day. Hosted by Jeanette Jenkins, founder and president of The Hollywood Trainer and professional trainer to Hollywood stars including Queen Latifah, Christina Applegate, and Carmen Electra. The exercises are designed for any person capable of vigorous activity, and employ hand weights for resistance training in one circuit, as well as offering the fat burning benefits of cardio training in a separate circuit. Designed to work every major muscle group to fatigue, and offering cues to help beginners and advanced exercisers alike to work out to their full potential, Jeanette Jenkins: The Hollywood Trainer is an excellent supplement to any personal weight loss program. 60 minutes, color.

Poof! You're a Magician
Curtis Eugene Lovell II
Magic of Curtis
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.MagicofCurtis.com

Poof! You're a Magician: Learn Magic with Everyday Objects is a DVD guide to learning basic magic tricks that are easy and fun to perform. From changing the color of water to making coins disappear, appearing to read minds and more, Poof! You're a Magician reveals how anyone can teach themselves the methods and showmanship to entertain their friends. Hosted by Curtis Eugene Lovell II, who has challenged such notable figures as magician David Blaine and psychic John Edward to public duels, Poof! You're a Magician is a delight for viewers of all ages. 30 minutes, color.

The Da Vinci Code: The Church Responds...
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
DVD $24.95 www.janson.com

The Da Vinci Code: The Church Responds... is a DVD compiling two documentaries that encompass the Catholic Church's response to the wildly popular novel "The Da Vinci Code" and its movie adaptation. The documentaries are "The Da Vinci Code: A Masterful Deception" and "The Da Vinci Files"; extra features include "The Vatican vs. The Code", "The Mystery of Saint Sulpice", and "Dan Brown, A Nobody in Vinci". The Da Vinci Code: The Church Responds.... addresses directly such questions as "Did Leonardo Da Vinci use his art to reveal secrets about the Holy Grail?" "Were Jesus & Mary Magdalene lovers?" "Is Opus Dei a secret organization with assassins as members?" Vatican officials, historians, and theologians pick apart the flaws in the "Da Vinci Code phenomenon", in this sober rebuttal to popular culture's attacks on Vatican tradition. 60 minutes.

Quantum Mind of God
Philip Gardiner
Reality Films
PO Box 91, Foresthill, CA 95631
DVD $24.95 www.reality-entertainment.com

Quantum Mind of God: Our Questions Are About to be Answered is a DVD assessment of the biggest questions of all: What is the meaning of existence? Is there a god, or a Grand Architect? Does truth exist at all? Best-selling author Philip Gardiner reveals that the answers could lie within the cutting edge of modern quantum science. While the answer may not be what we expect, or reveal the god we have been taught to believe in, Quantum Mind of God is quite literally a mind-expanding viewing experience, and highly recommended for anyone grappling with the truly larger-than-life issues.

Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider
featuring Allen Ginsberg and Ned Rorem
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
DVD $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com 1-800-229-8575

Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider is a DVD documentary and biography of influential 20th century novelist Paul Bowles, perhaps best known for writing "The Sheltering Sky". Filmed in Morocco and featuring exclusive interviews with well-known cultural figures Allen Ginsberg and Ned Rorem, Paul Bowles: The Complete Outsider explores Bowles' development as a novelist and composer, his marriage to writer Jane Bowles, and his amorphous sexuality. Bowles himself speaks about his life, writing, music, his use of drugs, and his friends, including W.H. Auden, Tennessee Williams, Aaron Copland, Gertrude Stein, and Ginsberg. Rare archival footage and interviews round out The Complete Outsider as a "must-have" for readers, students, and scholars of Paul Bowles' works.

Discoveries... America: California
Bennett Watt HD Productions
13021 - 244th Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
1932978550, $24.95 www.bennett-watt.com 1-800-327-2893

Recorded in widescreen digital high definition with Dolby stereo sound, Discoveries... America: California is an amazing look at the unique wonders of a state distinguished by high and low deserts, sunshine-filled beaches, forests of redwood and giant sequoia, a diverse array of proud and colorful cities, and much more. From Sea World Adventure Park to Legoland to Hollywood and more, the dazzling attractions of California that bring in tourists from around the world are showcased. A welcome addition to the Discoveries... America DVD series and a special treat for armchair travelers and prospective California visitors alike.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great
Ringu Tulku
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
1590302869, $35.00 www.shambhala.com 1-800-733-3000

Written by Ringu Tulku, a university professor of Tibetan studies for eighteen years, The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great: A Study of the Buddhist Lineages of Tibet is a straightforward look at the life and works of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great (1813-1899), who worked tirelessly to unify and strengthen the connections between the different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The Ri-me movement, as led by Kongtrul and several other Buddhist scholars, sought to mend interscholastic divisions among Buddhism, while at the same time carefully preserving the teachings and customs of the different lineages so that they did not become confused with one another. The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great offers a meticulous survey of the Ri-me movement including its history and philosophy, a biography of meditation master Jamgon Kontrul, and the histories, practices, and views of the major Tibetan Buddhist lineages. A welcome and highly recommended addition to Buddhist studies and religious history shelves.

Chod Practice Manual and Commentary
Thekchok Dorje and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodo Taye, authors
V.V. Lama Lodu Rinpoche, translator
Snow Lion
605 West State Street, PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781559392679, $16.95 www.snowlionpub.com

Chod Practice Manual and Commentary is an in-depth guide written especially for Chod practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by the Fourteenth Karmapa, Thekchok Dorje (1798-1868) and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodo Taye (1813-1899), a pivotal figure in eastern Tibet's nonsectarian movement, Chod Practice Manual and Commentary is now expertly translated by V.V. Lama Lodu Rinpoche, and its text is presented in three formats under one cover: English translation, original Tibetan, and a phonetic rendition of the original Tibetan. The text itself covers the preliminary steps to Chod practice (such as taking refuge, accumulating merit, and making offerings); actual practice (including transference of consciousness, body mandala, and feast offering); and the concluding stage of practice (dedication, dissolving stage, and carrying on the path). A handful of black-and-white illustrations and diagrams round out this classic and essential manual for students, theologians, and practitioners of Chod.


The Poetry Shelf

My Father Says Grace
Donald Platt
The University of Arkansas Press
201 Ozark Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701
9781557288370, $16.00 www.uapress.com 1-800-626-0090

Some of the finest poetry ever written has its origin in the common human experience of coping with adversity. The poetry by Donald Platt comprising "My Father Says Grace" draws for its inspiration and subject matter struggling with such issues as a father's stroke and dementia, a mother-in-law's cancer, a brother's Down syndrome, as well as lesser matters of loss that are universal to us all. Platt's deftly crafted free verse poetry is rooted in an ultimate but clear-headed optimism as his lyrics deal with illness, loss, grief, aging, and death. "My Father Says Grace" is a remarkable body of work and strongly recommended reading -- especially for anyone struggle with similar issues of their own. 'Mirage': Because my mother's eyes have been failing from gradually progre4ssing/glaucoma, she doesn't see the dust that shrouds//all the mirrors in her house/with its fine gray veil. I look into the two hazy oval mirrors/that gaze down//over my parents' double dresser from their frames/of bird's eye/maple. Sunk deep in their silver shallows,//a woman combs her wavy auburn hair and rubs cold cream into/her smooth//cheeks, which will slowly erode to old age's arroyos, waiting/for the winter/rains to fill and flood the dry washes. A man adjusts//his loud tie,/carefully tightening its noose. He kisses her neck and hands her/from behind his back//a prink rose freaked with yellow, which she puts in a bud vase/before the mirrors, where//its wilting flame become doubled, then gutters. Two brothers sneak//into their parents'/ bedroom and jump up and down on the forbidden bed/in weightless//ecstasy. The boy I once was stands naked and holds up his mother's/hand mirror/to the larger mirrors, so that he can see what his back and buttocks//look like,/ the secret cleft, those two globes like the flesh of a flushed, silvery/peach. We are//dust on the surface of an old mirror. What hand will wipe it clean/and clear/to reveal ourselves, ripples rising from the black asphalt's heat?

Only On This Planet
John Grabper
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781893311923, $10.00, http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

Comprised of thirty poems by John Graber, "Only On This Planet" is the newest addition to the Parallel Press Chapbook series and a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library poetry collections, showcases the free verse skills of a poet of undeniable talent, originality, and ability. 'August Garden': Enough feminine licorice air/exults from a single row of basil/to canopy half the garden.//Alongside, even the heavy-handed dill/is overcome and has to rely on its flashy/star-burst flower to catch the eye/and send the tongue searching its memory/for the exact place on the lower lip where/astringency was left after teeth split the seed.//The surrounding disheveled bed of tomato vines/looks like a refuse of a broken fast/except for its galaxy of exhausted suns/remaining rich on the storm-pressed ground.//This is a good place for well-worked/love to walk, carefully placing his feet.

Through A Gate Of Trees
Susan Jackson
CarvanKerry Press
6 Horizon Road, No. 2901, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
University Press of New England (distributor)
1 Court Street, Suite 250, Lebanon, NH 03766-1358
1933880023, $16.00 1-800-421-1561 cavankerry@optonline.net

The debut collection of poetry by Susan Jackson, "Through A Gate Of Trees" is an impressive collection of poetry distinguished by an unusually keen perceptiveness, vivid word imagery, and engaging wit. Here are poems of a living intensity that will engage poetry enthusiasts of all preferences and literary backgrounds from beginning to end. 'Noctiluca for Peter': You come back with the children/for the first time since she died./New creases around your eyes,/you remember everything,/remember Contadora,/how she knelt on deck/cleaning the amberjack we caught/trawling, scales shimmering in the sun/as she flung them onto the wood;/the day we anchored off Saboga,/swimming in the shoals you found/a field of red starfish, almost too late/we saw the sharks, their triangle fins/black, circling in on us.

Doresey's Real Poetry For Seniors
Ed L. Dorsey
Noble House
c/o American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
9781561679607, $14.95 www.americanliterarypress.com 1-800-873-2003

The poetry of Ed L. Dorsey personal anthology "Doresey's Real Poetry For Seniors" is characterized by themes involving spirituality, nature, growing older, present society and the effects of change. His lyrical verse employs superb rhyming enhanced with a strong meter. Superbly crafted metrical verse is a hallmark of Dorsey's poetry and will be greatly and especially appreciated by those who enjoy poetry in a classical tradition nowadays all to often ignored in the cacophony of free verse and so called 'prose poems'. 'Looking for the Bloom': I tucked the tiny seed beneath the soil/and dreamed one day I'd see flowers sweet;/I coddled the little sprouts with care and toil/and looked for Spring's bright eye to bring the treat;//I watched them as they grew; no flower showed,/I wondered if all nurture was for naught;/Then one morn a spark from out my window glowed;/the oft-repeated miracle was wrought.//The bud to newborn blossom such joy brings,/All hope my heart had pulled now played on strings.

The Body is No Machine
Jennifer Perrine
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5331
9781930974692, $14.00 www.wmich.edu/newissues

The Body is No Machine is a collection of free-verse poetry revolving around the common questions: What do we value in a body? Who should live and who should die? At times grim in its reflection upon morbid topics, at time contemplative, at times lost in the moment, The Body is No Machine offers raw, real, and gritty emotion straight from the gut to the page. "Couvade Aubade": Again, I wake to the song / of his retching, to the bergamot // and vinegar scent of bile. / He's doubled up on the bathroom tile, // hands cupping his tumescent / belly, the slow rub of his fingers // slipping the skin back and forth / like the flesh of an overripe peach, // caressing it like a breast, / as if it would leak colostrum thick // with extravagance, spill it / onto the floor. When I bend to kiss // him, his mouth hatches a breath / luscious as envy, green with longing.

Nothing Fell Today But Rain
Evan Jones
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8
9781550417500, $12.50 www.fitzhenry.com

The debut collection of poetry by teacher Evan Jones, Nothing Fell Today But Rain is an anthology of brief, free-verse poems connected to geography, love, joy, loss, and regret. At times sensually erotic, Nothing Fell Today But Rain evokes unexpected emotions and connections from rivers to highways to city streets and mosquito-strewn lakes. Experimentations of form and meter dot this fresh and original collection. "The Example of Insomnia at 100 km/h": My commentary becomes too precise: / The driver who muttered, car flipping over and scraping along thirty feet of cement, / "That's it for me. I love you all." / And then survived with minor back pains. / As you might guess, it is easy to forget. / But a clumsy lover is a clumsy lover.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Gold of Thrace
Aileen G. Baron
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
1590584309, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

Archaeologist Tamar is drawn against her will into a modern-day murder investigation when a member of staff at a Turkish excavation is murdered and a mosaic floor vanishes overnight from her site. She follows the floor to Switzerland, where two men seem like charmers – or dangerous villains – and draw her further into a quest for the roots of theft, deceit and murder. A gripping, moving and well-done story line evolves.

Dark Angel
Raymond Haigh
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781846177088, $32.50 www.ulverscroftusa.com 1-800-955-9659

Dark Angel is a fast-paced, large-print novel of suspense. Set in the near future of England, in which the nation is driven apart by terrorists, riots, and plague, a single biochemist holds documents implicating the government in an unspeakable crime. Now the biochemist, his wife, and their child are missing. Government agent Samantha Quest searches for them, but she is trapped in a race against time, hunted by a mysterious assailant who leaves death in his wake. A gripping and fearsome tale of the modern day teetering on the edge of dystopia.

The Lady From Buenos Aires
John Lantigua
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558854963, $24.95 www.artepublicopress.com 1-800-633-2783

Award-winning journalist and novelist John Lantigua presents The Lady From Buenos Aires, a mystery novel featuring former Miami Police Department detective Willie Cuesta. Cuesta's latest missing-persons case is far from ordinary - hired by an elegant Argentine woman whose dead sister was a casualty of the ruthless Argentine government, he is told to search for a long-lost niece. The deeper he goes into the case, the more often he encounters shady individuals with ties to Argentina's murderous military dictatorship. A thrilling novel of betrayal, layered plots and horrific secrets.

The Beckoning Door
Mabel Seeley
Afton Historical Society Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
9781890434076, $24.00 www.aftonpress.com 1-800-436-8443

First published in 1950, The Beckoning Door is a reprint of Mabel Seeley's classic mystery. Small-town Midwestern woman Cathy Kingman longs to escape the sleepy dwelling of Long Meadow, and resents her cousin Sylvia who seized Cathy's inheritance and broke up her relationship. When Sylvia is murdered, suspicion immediately falls upon Cathy, and to prove her innocence she must find the real killer! Told from Cathy's first-person perspective, The Beckoning Door is at times mysterious, at times heart-pounding, and crafts a net of intrigue that withstands the test of time.


The Language Studies Shelf

100 Games and Activities for the Introductory Foreign Language Classroom
Thierry Boucquey, Ph.D, et. el
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596670433, $29.95 www.eyeoneducation.com 1-888-299-5350

100 Games and Activities for the Introductory Foreign Language Classroom offers a wealth of stimulating, enchanting and effective games and activities that students of a foreign language can engage in rather than learning by rote or performing drills. All exercises can be adapted to classes of any foreign language. Each activity lists its central topic for quick reference, the required materials (which are always inexpensive), the lesson objective, instructions, and spare notes. Individual activities range from simulating a catwalk from a fashion show to have students practice the names of articles of clothing, to a silent pantomime game for reviewing vocabulary, to a "total body ball" game for reviewing different body parts by calling out which parts of the body a student is allowed to receive the rubber playground ball with. Especially recommended as a shake-'em-up supplement for teachers of grade school and high school foreign language classes.


The Gaming Shelf

Leading Questions in Bridge
Sally Brock
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Drive, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
1897106181, $17.95 www.masterpointpress.com

The opening bid is one of the most important plays in bridge – and here to narrow the focus on this play is Leading Questions in Bridge, from a top player who addresses specifics such as whether to be an active or passive player, and how to lead trumps. Chapters are directed to intermediate players and discuss issues such as shortages, tricks, and more: perfect for any collection catering to serious bridge players.

Chess Bitch
Jennifer Shahade
Silman-James Press
3624 Shannon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
9781890085094, $24.00

Two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion Jennifer Shade presents Chess Bitch: Women in the Ultimate Intellectual Sport, a collection of true stories of expert globetrotting female chess players. Assembled from interviews, personal testimonies, and carefully researched profiles, Chess Bitch reveals what it was like for women to break into the male-dominated sport and subculture of chess, the adventure of traveling to matches worldwide, the quirks of talented individual female players, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes tell-all enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in the competitive chess scene and the women who take part in it.


The World History Shelf

The Women Incendiaries
Edith Thomas, author
James and Starr Atkinson, translators
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859462, $16.00 www.haymarketbooks.org 1-773-583-7884

Originally published in 1963 and translated into English in 1966, The Women Incendiaries: The Inspiring Story of the Women of Paris Commune Who Took Up Arms in the Fight for Liberty and Equality is now in a new paperback edition. The Women Incendiaries a historical analysis of the role women played during the Paris commune of 1871. In the spring of 1871, the workers of Paris claimed and held the city for two months. They elected a municipal council of workers and soldiers to govern in the interests of all workers; the Commune swiftly issued decrees ranging from an enforced limit on the highest salary for any employee of the Commune to an established separation of church and state. The Women Incendiaries especially focuses upon the true story of Louise Michel, who was eventually arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to exile. Yet when she returned to Paris in 1880, ten thousand workers gathered to greet her. The Women Incendiaries paints a vivid picture of turbulent era, and is a welcome classic for international history shelves.

Time, Space, and Women's Lives in Early Modern Europe
Anne Jacobson Schuttle, Thomas Kuehn, & Silvana Seidel Menchi
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9780943549903, $34.95 http://tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

Time, Space, and Women's Lives in Early Modern Europe is an anthology of essays by learned authors concerning how women's life experiences changed in early modern Europe (roughly the 1300's through the 1800's), though these changes were different according to region and social class. The writings also reveal that the private areas in women's lives were not enclosed in an isolated bubble from the public spaces in which men circulated. Individual essays include "Women's History and Social History: Are Structures Necessary?", "Daughters, Mothers, Wives, and Widows: Women as Legal Persons", "The Dimensions of the Cloister: Enclosure, Constraint, and Protection in Seventeenth-Century Italy", "Eighteenth-Century Marriage Contracts: Linking Legal and Gender History", and much more. A welcome contribution to women's studies and European history shelves alike.

Scott and Amundsen: Duel in the Ice
Rainer-K. Langner
Haus Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781905791088, $24.95 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756

Literary and theater critic Rainer-K. Langner presents Scott and Amundsen: Duel in the Ice, the amazing and tragic tale of the rivalry between the leaders of the first two Antarctic expeditions to successfully reach the South Pole. Norwegian Roald Amundsen prepared meticulously by learning Polar survival skills from the native peoples of the Arctic; British citizen Captain Robert Falcon Scott had a very different perspective, valuing courage, endurance and immediate improvisation as the lynchpin to surmounting obstacles. Yet in January of 1912, when Scott and his four companions reached the South Pole, they discovered that Amundsen had beaten them by 34 days - and worse, Scott's misjudgments, and lack of knowledge had a cumulatively fatal effect, as his team died during the return journey - only 18 kilometers short of the supply depot that could have saved them. Part history, part dual biography, Scott and Amundsen retraces the journeys of both men thoroughly, reconstructing the final days of Scott's ill fate through his recovered diary. An absorbing slice of history that pays tribute to the courage, daring, and willingness to risk life and limb of both expeditions, while simultaneously dissecting the precise reasons why one team returned alive and triumphant, while the other did not. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections.

Food in Early Modern England
Joan Thirsk
The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
185285538X, $85.00 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704

Agriculture historian Joan Thirsk presents Food in Early Modern England: Phases, Fads, Fashions 1500-1760, a close scrutiny at the dietary and culinary practices of ordinary people of England five hundred years ago, from the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution. Chapters explore how people of the era talked about the food, what caused changes in eating habits, past food fads and fashions, and how attitudes toward food mirrored cultural changes. Delving deep into printed primary sources for information, Food in Early Modern England discusses how war heightened the importance of the renewed search for food in times of war, how patterns of commerce as well as regional and social patterns affected diets, the role of different specific staples such as bread, meat from farm animals and rabbits, dairy foods, vegetables and herbs, and much more. "Mustard is said to have been used before pepper was imported, and since it thrives to this day, it can be said to have one of the longest recorded histories of any flavouring in England." A welcome and thorough addition to culinary and cultural history shelves.

The Knights of Islam
James Waterson
Greenhill Books
c/o MBI Publishing Company (dist.)
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
9781853677342, $39.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

Teacher James Waterson presents The Knights of Islam: The Wars of the Mamluks, a historical chronicle of the Mamluks - perhaps the greatest warriors of the Medieval Age. Originally slave soldiers of Islamic masters, they evolved into a fierce independent force with its own warrior caste and culture. They were the first military power to defeat the Mongols; they waged wars against the Crusaders and the Ottomans; they created a unique martial code comparable to Western chivalry or Japanese Bushido; and they ruled Egypt for hundreds of years. The story of Mamluks is one of strategy, betrayal, the long struggle between Christendom and Islam, courage, and the rise and decline of tenaciously formidable warriors. A handful of black-and-white and color plates illustrate this fascinating medieval military history, enthusiastically recommended for library shelves.


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Nora Roberts' HIGH NOON (1423337298, $39.95) receives veteran narrator Susan Ericksen's smooth and seasoned voice, spiced by years of involvement on stage and in television, as it tells of one police lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara, a top hostage negotiator who defuses dangerous situations – including her agoraphobic mother. Romance evolves when she rescues one of Duncan's employees – but Phoebe isn't looking for romance, until a special threat leads her to his help – and his arms. Alafair Burke's DEAD CONNECTION (1423343379, $36.95) receives Christopher Lane's smooth voice as it tells of a rookie detective who goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan. To catch the killer Ellie must enter a world of stolen identities and place her own life in danger in a fast-paced, vivid mystery that comes to life under audio. Daniel Silva's THE SECRET SERVANT (159600035X, $38.95) receives Phil Gigante's background as an actor and producer with over 20 years experience in theatre as it returns with another story of Gabriel Allon, a master art restorer and officer of Israeli intelligence summoned to undertake a routine assignment to purge archives of a murdered Dutch terrorism analyst. His routine job turns deadly quickly in a spellbinding cat-and-mouse listen. Public lending libraries will appreciate these vivid audios.

The New Yorkers
Cathleen Schine
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598870909, $32.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532

Nicole Roberts lends drama and interest to the story of Jody, who falls under the spell of one Everett as he's walking her dog – and Everett, who has fallen in love with Polly's puppy. Canine romance, companions, and post-divorce angst blend in a funny story even dog haters will relish.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

The party accompanying a Latin girl's coming of age or sweet fifteen celebration is one of the highlights of her life, and in ONCE UPON A QUINCEANERA (9780143142195, $39.95) author Julia Alvarez attends the 'quince' of a young Queens woman to relate the confusion and planning over this special event, including interviews with other quince girls and her own memories to trace the origins and enactment of the ceremony. A top pick for any public lending library, especially those strong in Latin culture. Kim Edwards' short stories in SECRETS OF A FIRE KING (9780143142638, $29.95) receives actress Bernadette Dunne's fine acting skills and smooth voice as they offer insights on individuals living on the edge of society, from a fire-eater and a juggler to a cleaning woman whose life is entwined with Marie Curie's. Love, enchantment and hardship blend in some outstanding surveys. Susan Vreeland's LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY (9780143142102, $39.95) receives Karen White's fine actress skills – she's worked extensively in film stage, TV and in commercials – which lend a gripping and smooth narrative style to this exploration of Renoir's masterpiece of the title's name. From issues of loyalty to changes in the art world, the story evolves from the viewpoint of Renoir and seven of the models in the painting, and reveals the social fabric of his times in a vivid, enlightening story. Tana French's IN THE WOODS (9780143142188, $39.95) receives Steven Crossley's fine stage and TV background which lends to his excellent and vivid narrative and dramatization skills in reading the story of suspense set in 1984, revolving around three missing children. One is found and has amnesia: twenty years later the boy is a murder squad detective with a secret that comes dangerously to life when a preteen girl is murdered in the same woods. Jane Green's SECOND CHANCE (9780143142171, $39.95) offers an excellent novel spiced by Rosalyn Landor's numerous credits in film TV and theatre and telling of one freelance journalist Paul, struggling to have children while wallflower Olivia finds herself single after her longtime lover walks out, and Saffron searches for love amongst the stars of L.A. The three gather when their mutual friend Tom is killed in a terrorist attack, then to discover the real powers of love and connections. All are vivid, involving audio listens.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Terri Persons' BLIND SPOT (9780739340615, $29.95) receives Coleen Marlo's excellent style, spied by years working in film, TV and theatre, as it tells of an FBI agent's gift of second sight, which makes her a special kind of investigator – and invaluable, especially when it comes to troubling cases involving quirky neighbors and dangerous alliances. Twists and turns of plot make for involving listening audio mystery fans will find delightful. Tawni O'Dell's SISTER MINE (9780739342015, $29.95) receives Renee Raudman's dramatic voice which is enhanced by her TV appearances and attention to high drama. Shae-Lynn drives a cab in a small town and has spent years carving out a career in a tiny coal mining town: now she's having nightmares, reliving the relationship with her brutal father, and trouble is emerging which may engulf her careful life. Both are excellent recommendations for avid audio listeners and lending libraries alike.

Tropical Hot Dog Night
Meatball Fulton
ZBS Foundation
174 North River Road, Fort Edward, NJ 12828
1931654352, $22.50 www.zbs.org 1-800-662-3345

"Tropical Hot Dog Night" is a brief yet rousing audiobook in superbly produced and recorded 'Fantastic Voyages of Captain Jack Flanders' series. When Jack Flanders and his crew sail to Key Milagro, an island also known as 'Key Diablo!', an inexplicable fog moves in and absorbs all cover, leaving everyone and everything in black and white. Though the local islanders appear normal by day, at night they dress up in clothes from the 40s and 50s, from slinky dresses to double-breasted suits and trench coats. Only one person knows what's really going on - the mysterious Johnny Seven, whose bookshop sells crime and mystery novels as well as offering black and white film noir for rent. Jack Flanders and his crew find themselves unexpectedly cast as main characters dressed to kill or be killed, in this wry tongue-in-cheek sleuthing adventure. Enhanced with music and sound effects, these full cast production provides the listener with a true 'theatre of the mind' experience and is especially recommended to science fiction and fantasy enthusiasts! 2 CDs, 115 minutes.

Principles of Economics
Professor Peter Navarro
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781419339325, $98.75 www.modernscholar.com 1-800-638-1304

Principles of Economics: Business, Banking, Finance, and Your Everyday Life is far more than an audiobook - it's a complete educational course taught by Professor Peter Navarro (University of California-Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business). Covering both macroeconomics and microeconomics, the course syllabus includes the basics of fiscal policy, budget deficits, and monetary policy; how supply, demand, and equilibrium set marketplace prices; the ills of unemployment and inflation; essential elements to understanding consumer behavior; why the government interferes in markets; how rents, wages, and interest rates are set; and much more. A solid grounding in general economic theory and practice as applied business and personal life as well as scholarly study. 14 lectures, 7 CDs.

The Time in Between
David Bergen, author
Michael Hogan & Tricia Collins, narrators
BTC Audio Books
c/o Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864924711, $24.95 www.gooselane.com 1-888-926-8377

Winner of the 2005 Scotiabank Giller prize, The Time in Between is an audiobook novel formerly broadcast on CBC Radio. A tale of the aftermath of the Vietnam War, The Time in Between tells of Charles Boatman as he returns to Vietnam, where he fought nearly thirty years ago as a reluctant and youthful soldier. When he disappears, his daughter Ada and her brother Jon search for him on the streets of DaNang and beyond. As one slim lead after another disappoints both siblings, Ada sinks deeper into hopelessness while Jon becomes enveloped in the urban nightlife to avoid his worst fears. It is Ada who must finally confront and bear the long-kept secret of her father, in this emotional and introspective narrative, aptly read aloud by "Battlestar Galactica" actor Michael Hogan and radio and theatre actress Tricia Collins. 3 CDs, 4 hours, abridged.

The Religion
Tim Willocks, author
Simon Vance, narrator
Audio Renaissance
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781427201003, $59.95 www.audiorenaissance.com 1-800-221-7945

Novelist and filmmaker Tim Willocks presents the first book of the Tannhauser Trilogy, The Religion, an unabridged audiobook historical novel set in 1565, amid the Holy War. Suleiman the Magnificent, emperor of the Ottomans, has declared jihad against the Knights of Saint John the Baptist, who call themselves "The Religion". Amid this clash of civilizations, French countess Carla la Penautier seeks passage to Malta to find her son, taken at birth twelve years ago. Saxon adventurer, arms dealer, and soldier of fortune Mattias Tannhauser agrees to aid her on her search - together they must find a boy whose face they have never seen, and rescue him from the raging Holy War. Evocatively narrated by Earphone award-winning speaker Simon Vance, The Religion is an epic to keep the listener at the edge of his or her seat to the very end. 21 CDs, 25.5 hours.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling, author
Jim Dale, narrator
Books On Tape, Inc.
400 Hahn, Westminister, MD 21157
9780739360415, $90.00 www.booksontape.com 1-800-541-5525

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the unabridged audiobook conclusion to J.K. Rowling's acclaimed "Harry Potter" fantasy series, about a boy wizard on the verge of manhood who must stake all he has - even his life - to defeat his murderous, virtually immortal archenemy Voldemort. Voldemort and his Death Eater minions have taken over - wizards who are not "pure blooded" are being systematically hunted down and imprisoned or executed. The Magic of Ministry has fallen. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is no longer a safe refuge. Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort ever feared, is dead. The one way to end Voldemort's menace is to find and destroy the pieces of his shattered soul - but Voldemort has hidden them well! Harry and his best friends Ron and Hermione must undertake an epic quest that will pit them against the most formidable of foes. Perhaps worse than the quest itself are the lingering secrets that Dumbledore has hidden from Harry. Three powerful magical artifacts, known as the Deathly Hallows, will have a crucial bearing on Harry's quest, but will they be his rescue - or his ruin? A monumental epic and a satisfying conclusion to the wildly popular saga, impressively narrated by Jim Dale. 17 CDs, 21 hours 39 minutes.

Eifelheim
Michael Flynn, author
Anthony Heald, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433206115, $72.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

Nominated for a Hugo award, Eifelheim is a science fiction audiobook by award-winning author Anthony Heald. As a pair of present-day scientists research the mystery of the disappearance of a small town in Germany in 1349 - just as the Black Death was raging. They uncover clues to what Father Deitrich, a priest of the 1300's village that would one day be called Eifelheim, discovered when an interstellar ship crashed in the forest near his home city. A vivid story of first contact between an advanced civilization and the people of a much more limited era, weaving tragedy, humanity, hope and despair into a tautly created epic. Narrated by Anthony Heald, an actor best known for his role in "The Silence of the Lambs", Eifelheim is a science fiction masterpiece and enthusiastically recommended. 14 CDs, 17 1/2 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Living A Balanced Financial Life
Deborah Nayrocker
AMG Publishers
6815 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
9780899572468, $14.99 www.amgpublishers.com 1-800-266-4977

A part of AMG Publishers' 'Following God' series, "Living A Balanced Financial Life" by financial planning and personal finance management expert Deborah Nayrocker is a compilation of a twelve-week program of specific lessons that approach money management from a distinctively Christian perspective. "Living A Balanced Financial Life" deftly addresses such questions and issues as why some people can go through live with minimal financial concerns, while others are enmeshed in a constant struggle to make ends meet; how we can be protected from indebtedness and enjoy a good live on even on modest incomes by adhering to God's commands as laid out in the Bible, especially the parables and teaching of Jesus. In short, how we can become better, more effective, more efficient, more successful managers of our financial resources through being more observant Christians. "Living A Balanced Financial Life" begins with lessons on our being stewards entrusted by God with what we have, to the choices we can make avoid needless debt, to establishing our life goals, our handling of money, credit, and savings; to becoming content with what we have as believing Christians and contented stewards of God's largesse. Every Christian, regardless of their denominational affiliation, who is struggling with money management issues, should give a careful and considered reading to "Living A Balanced Financial Life".


The Jewelry Shelf

Jewelry Savvy
Cynthia A. Sliwa & Caroline Stanley
Jewls on Jewels, Inc.
PO Box 184, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
9780970340757, $19.99 www.jewelrysavvybook.com

The appreciation of jewelry is a culturally influenced subjective judgment that can vary widely from individual to individual. Nevertheless there are basic principles related to art, image, and adornment. Expertly co-authored by Cynthia A. Sliwa and Caroline Stanley, "Jewelry Savvy: What Every Jewelry Wearer Should Know" combines basic product information about jewelry, about wearing jewelry, and about purchasing and maintaining jewelry that will enable the reader to acquire a discernable degree of sophistication and self-expression. Of special note is the inclusion of a number of 'Savvy Tips' about jewelry. Enhanced with more than one hundred images and illustrations germane to choosing and wearing jewelry, "Jewelry Savvy" is a unique and very highly recommended instructional guide for those who are beginning their own jewelry collections, as well as anyone wanting to get the best value for their investment in jewelry with respect to their appearance no matter their age or the occasion.

Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture
Florence Muller & Patrick Sigal
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
9780865651821, $75.00 www.amazon.com

Expertly co-authored by fashion historian and consultant Florence Muller and haute couture costume jewelry collector Patrick Sigal, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is a profusely illustrated compendium showcasing dazzling, one-of-a-kind jewelry designed by skilled artisans to complement and adorn individual couture pieces for fashion shows and photo shoots. Representing outstanding examples from Coco Chanle in the 1920s to Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s, to the creation of Lanvin today, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" highlights some of the greatest jewelry creations by some of the greatest artists the fashion industry has every known, including examples by Balenciaga, Diro, Schiaparelli, Givench, Vionnet, and so many others. Beautiful and informative, "Costume Jewelry For Haute Couture" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art
History, Fashion History, and Jewelry reference collections.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

TV Year Volume 1
John Kenneth Muir
Hal Leonard Publishing
19 West 21st Street Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836841, $19.95 www.halleonard.com

The 2005-06 prime time TV season is captured in a fine survey of favorite shows which goes far beyond the usual synopsis of plot to provide behind-the-scenes gossip, interview excerpts, cast information and details for over 200 drama, comedy, reality and game shows. This is the first volume of a projected annual series: it provides outstanding show references AND includes notes on whether the series is available on DVD. A top pick for any general interest lending collection strong in TV guides.

How to Rehearse When There's No Rehearsal
Alice Spivak with Robert Blumenfeld
Amadeus/Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
0879103426, $19.95 www.limelighteditions.com

Actors and collections catering to them will find How to Rehearse When There's No Rehearsal a winner: it assists actors in all mediums including television and film and uses over forty years experience on theatre, film and television to provide actors with a step-by-step program for developing and building a character. From developing relationships and writing a preliminary character background to planning activities and action, this provides a winning set of insights on the entire process of honing characters and actor's skills.

The Voodoo That They Did So Well
Stefan Kanfer
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
156663735X, $24.95 www.ivanrdee.com

THE VOODOO THAT THEY DID SO WELL: THE WIZARDS WHO INVENTED THE NEW YORK STAGE is a top pick for any serious Broadway or musical theatre collection: it surveys Manhattan's musical theater history, bringing to life the major names of the industry and the stars of New York's Yiddish theater and placing their lives and achievements in context of a broader survey of Manhattan theatre history. An outstanding, lively history, this will appeal to any collection strong in Broadway history and analysis.

An Introduction to The Art of Theatre
Marsh Cassady
Meriwether Publishing
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7710
1566081173, , $24.95 www.meriwether.com

Fifteen chapters are presented in three parts surveying the structure, production and history of different types of theatre, making An Introduction to The Art of Theatre an excellent guide not only for high school students new to theatre arts, but to any general-interest collection seeking an easy introductory text. From memorizing lines to understanding the business of theatre productions, this introduction provides aspiring drama students and aspiring producers with a basic foundation for understanding the theatre arts and is a key tool to understanding theatre's past, present and future.

At the Zenith of the Empire
Stewart Lemoine
NeWest Press
201-8540-109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1E6, Canada
9781897126158, $14.95 www.newestpress.com

Playwright teacher and artistic director of the Edmonton Theatre Company Stewart Lemoine has crafted a brilliant play, At the Zenith of the Empire. Set in 1913, when well-known tragedienne Sarah Bernhardt traveled to Edmonton, Alberta to perform in the final act of Alexandre Dumas' "The Lady of the Camellias", At the Zenith of the Empire is a saga inspired by "Fallen Empires", John Orrell's famous history of Edmonton's early theatre scene. Narrated by "The Divine Sarah" herself, At the Zenith of Empire imagines theatre in a time of yore with flair and color, steeped in emotion and heavy with the history of timeless landmarks such as Ada Boulevard and the Groat Ravine. A play by a theatre lover and artist, for fellow theatre lovers.

Banned in Kansas
Gerald R. Butters, Jr.
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217493, $44.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Gerald R. Butters, Jr. (Associate Professor of History at Aurora University) presents Banned in Kansas: Motion Picture Censorship 1915-1966. In 1915, Kansas was one of a handful of states that established its own film censorship board. From limiting depictions of sexuality to censoring violence in the 1932 classic "Scarface", the Kansas board controlled what the state's population saw on the silver screen for over fifty years. Banned in Kansas explores the political, social, and economic factors that led to the policy of movie censorship in Kansas, the attitudes of ordinary Kansas citizens toward the censorship, and why censorship continued for so many decades. Banned in Kansas also scrutinizes the daily operations of the film censorship board, and the complexities it encountered with regard to shifting definitions of cultural morality, as well as vagaries of political and legal systems. Black-and-white stills from censored movies illustrate this informed and informative contribution to American cinema history.

Manoel de Oliveira
Randal Johnson
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252074424, $19.95 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

Part of the Contemporary Film Directors series, Manoel de Oliveira is an in-depth examination of the cinematic works of the venerable Portuguese director Manoel de Oliveira, whose career has spanned seventy-five years and still going. Of especial interest is Oliveira's connection with literary and theatrical texts; his films have ranged the gamut of hybrid cinema from blends that capture the best of both worlds of film and theater, to meldings of fiction and documentary. A handful of black-and-white stills illustrate this revealing and advanced critique, penned by Randal Johnson (Professor of Luso-Brazilian literature, University of California). Interviews with Manoel de Oliveira, a filmography, and an index round out this thoughtful and literate analysis.


The Political Science Shelf

The Matador's Cape
Stephen Holmes, Ph.D.
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
9780521875165, $30 www.cambridge.org 1-800-872-7423

New York University School of Law research director Stephen Holmes presents The Matador's Cape: America's Reckless Response to Terror, a scholarly examination of the failures, mismanagement, and worse rampant in the Bush-Cheney administration's response to the September 11th attacks, especially the deleterious ramifications of the war in Iraq. The Matador's Cape strongly condemns acts of terror and genocide, yet examines with equal suspicion the Bush-Cheney's administration's insistence in sequestering its intelligence and decision-making process from the public - and therefore from any solid opportunity to vette or cross-check its ideologically driven conclusions, with disastrous results. Also discussed is the significant yet by no means unilateral role of religious fundamentalism in propagating terrorism, the impact of rising birthrates in the Islamic world contrasted with falling birthrates in the Western world, the harmful and psychologically twisted effects of the Bush-Cheney administrations embrace of torture, and much more. A measured, well-reasoned and deftly persuasive treatise about the need for an immediate reexamination of America's current administration and foreign policy. Highly recommended.

Pretensions to Empire
Lewis Lapham
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595581129, $24.95 www.thenewpress.com 1-800-233-4830

Award-winning essay writer and editor emeritus of "Harper's Magazine" Lewis Lapham presents Pretensions to Empire: Notes on the Criminal Folly of the Bush Administration, a stinging indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration from its first days in Washington up to the present. Chronicling the presidency's abuses of power, and drawing upon the lessons of history to provide an ominous background to current events, Pretensions to Empire dissects the government's shameful incompetence in the wake of Hurricane Katrina; the copious, unwarranted domestic spying authorized by the president; and above all, the jingoism and pretensions to empire that prompted the administration's war in Iraq on shoddy intelligence. The resounding, passionate message is that the nation can no longer afford to tolerate George W. Bush or his cronies. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the author, his reasoning is compelling, measured, and completely accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

Interventions
Noam Chomsky
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864832, $15.95 www.citylights.com

Philosophy teacher and well-known political commentator Noam Chomsky presents Interventions, a collection of his essays from 2002 to 2006 largely dealing with American foreign policy - especially criticisms of America's war in Iraq, hypocrisies in the American "war against terror", and cautionary tales of past cruelties America has inflicted, such as giving financial aid to the murderous Contras of Nicaragua. "Some observers fear that a U.S. pullout from Iraq would lead to a full-fledged civil war and the country's deterioration. As for the consequences of a withdrawal, we are entitled to our personal judgments, all of them as uninformed and dubious as those of U.S. intelligence. But these judgments do not matter. What matters is what Iraqis think. Or rather, that is what should matter." A biting and insightful account, strictly to the point and passionately argued.


The Psychology Shelf

Feeling the Words
Mauro Mancia
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780415390972, $33.95 www.routledge.com 1-800-634-7064

Mauro Mancia (Professor Emeritus of Neuropsychology, University of Milan, Italy) presents Feeling the Words: Neuropsychoanalytic Understanding of Memory and the Unconscious, an extensive review, discussion, and history of psychoanalytical concepts. From the most recent insights of neuroscience and infant development research, to the interpretation of dreams, to the nature of mental pain and the dynamics of the Oedipus complex and much more fill this distinguished evaluation of the connections between memory and the unconscious. Feeling the Words especially focuses upon how to use psychoanalytical knowledge to best tailor one's treatment of individual patients, and is especially recommended for psychologists seeking to broaden their horizons with regard to various treatment possibilities. A scholarly text geared especially to professionals and experts in the field.

Coping with Infuriating, Mean, Critical People
Nina W. Brown
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989844, $39.95 www.praeger.com

Narcissistic behaviors displayed by those in power, friends and lovers affect everyone and are prevalent throughout society, which is why Coping with Infuriating, Mean, Critical People is so important and explains a destructive mental pattern which takes hold and affects many. Methods to help victims of this behavior are provided and come from a scholar/professor in Educational Leadership and Counseling, covering everything from indifference to others and emotional intimacy challenges to projection, protection and conquering loneliness. An outstanding guide surveys both victims and survivors as well as the narcissistic personality, this book is a pick for not only college-level holdings strong in psychology and sociology, but for general-interest library collections as well.

Case Studies in Emotion-Focused Treatment of Depression
Jeanne C. Watson Ph.D., Rhonda N. Goldman Ph.D., & Leslie S. Greenberg Ph.D.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781591479291, $59.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777

Psychology experts Jeanne C. Watson, Rhonda N. Goldman, and Leslie S. Greenberg combine their wisdom in Case Studies in Emotion-Focused Treatment of Depression: A Comparison of Good and Poor Outcome is an inside look at how emotion-focused therapy, or EFT, can be used in the treatment of depression. Six in-depth case studies are featured - three with a good outcome, and three with a poor outcome. Session-by-session descriptions of the therapy process, including sample dialogue transcripts and post-session evaluations, allow for the reader to fully analyze instances in which EFT succeeded or failed. An excellent resource especially recommended for professionals in the field.

At the Heart of Matter
J. Gary Sparks
Inner City Books
Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2P4
9781894574204, $30.00 1-416-927-0355

Author J. Gary Sparks, a Jungian analyst who has studied both religion and the sciences, presents At the Heart of Matter: Synchronicity and Jung's Spiritual Testament, a tour through both the basics of physics (including classical Newtonian principles and modern quantum theory) as well as C.G. Jung's search for the mysterious connection between the physical and the spiritual, as well as selfhood and destiny. Drawing upon the wisdom of three great thinkers - Swiss psychiatrist Jung Nobel Prize-winning physicist Wolfgang Pauli, and analyst-scholar Marie-Louise von Franz - At the Heart of the Matter strives to clarify the phenomenon that is synchronicity, and uncover common ground between the scientific and the spiritual in practicing analytical psychology as part of a holistic approach to help the suffering of patients. "The reason we can know anything about the inner workings of the material world is that there is a coincidence between our own thought-forms and the processes going on in matter. 'To know' means to link up the inner archetypal patterns of the psyche with those that structure the outer world. And 'knowing' first happens in images and emotions before it becomes thoughts and concepts." Especially recommended for library shelves devoted to Jungian psychology and spirituality.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Afriki
Habib Koite & Bamada
Cumbancha
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
CD $15.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

The first studio album released by "Africa's musical ambassador" Habib Koite in six years, Afriki is a soothing album embracing traditional rhythms and themes. The Malian Bambara language lyrics touch upon themes vital to Africa today, including the value of facing challenges head-on at home. In Koite's own words, "People here in Africa are willing to risk death trying to leave for Europe or the USA, but they are not willing to take the risk staying to develop something here in Africa." The powerful, positive messages are carried through acoustic sound, including some traditional instruments as polyphonic hunter's horns, the balafon (wooden xylophone), n'goni (Malian lute), and Habib's well-known voice and guitar. A welcome contribution to international music collections.

Maggies Music
PO Box 490, Shady Side, MD 20764
www.maggiesmusic.com

Maggie Sanson is a world class hammered dulcimer player who in addition to faithfully rendering traditional music, is able to combine ancient instruments with contemporary instruments to produce music that is as engaging as it is memorable. Her latest CD album releases will be enthusiastically appreciated by her legions of fans, and will effectively introduce Maggie's musical flair to those not heretofore familiar with her work. "A Celtic Fair" (MM112) showcases the kind of music characteristic of popular Irish Renaissance Fairs. The flawless performances comprising this outstanding album include Scottish Bransle (3:07); Celtic Jigs (4:45); Breton Dro (3:58); Circle Dance (4:12); The Butterfly Slip Jig Set (3:44); Variations on Pretty Girl Milking a Cow (3:28); Highland Boat Song (2:58); Round of Loudeac/The Wren (2:58); Irish Reels (4:32); Maiden Lane (2:35); and French Renaissance Dances (3:55). Also very highly recommended from Maggie's Music is the new release of acclaimed Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout's CD music album "A Scottish Fiddle Collection" (MM306) showcasing as series of jigs, reels, and Gaelic tunes as represented in fifteen outstanding pieces that range from North Highland Tunes, to Bonny Jean O'Aberdeen, to Pipe Major William Wilson, and feature bagpipes, harps, guitars, and more. Gaelic music enthusiasts should visit Maggies Music website at www.maggiesmusic.com for a complete listing of their many superbly recorded CD albums.


The Economics Shelf

Intellectual Property And Competition Law
Gustavo Ghidini
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
1845421353, $85.00 www.e-elgar.com 1-800-390-3149

"Intellectual Property And Competition Law: The Innovation Nexua" by Gustavo Ghidini (Professor of Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Luiss Guido Carli University, Rome, Italy) provides a persuasively presented descriptive analysis of a distinctively European perspective on intellectual property law and its relationship to competition law. Professor Ghidini expertly presents the evolution of intellectual property laws and its contemporary manifestations with respect to the expansion copyright law in technological fields and the inevitably conflict with patent law, the attempt at creating monopolies (such as in biotechnology), and so much more. A seminal work of impressive and articulate scholarship, "Intellectual Property And Competition Law" should be considered mandatory reading for students and researchers in the field of intellectual property rights and a very strongly recommended addition to academic library "International Economics" and "Judicial Studies" reference collections.


The Library Science Shelf

A Day in the Life
Priscilla K. Shontz & Richard A. Murray, editors
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9781591583646, $45.00 www.lu.com

A Day in the Life: Career Options in Library and Information Science is an omnibus anthology of ninety-five essays by diverse authors. Focusing primarily upon the many different types of library science jobs available, from working for school libraries or special libraries to library vendors, positions in publishing, and nontraditional careers such as "personal librarian" or "independent information professional", A Day in the Life is a first-rate resource for library and information science students, prospective information professionals, new librarians, and anyone considering a career change. An index for quick reference rounds out this broad-ranged anthology steeped in the professional field experience of its many contributors.

Adult Learners Welcome Here
Marguerite Crowley Weibel
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555705787, $75.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

Expert educator and librarian Marguerite Crowley Weibel presents Adult Learners Welcome Here: A Handbook for Librarians and Literacy Teachers, a thoughtful guide for librarians and teachers across America to combating the current literacy crisis - both among native English speakers who have poor reading skills due to inadequacies in education, family difficulties, or learning disabilities, and among immigrants for whom English is a second language. Chapters cover what the library can offer to spread literacy, ideal books for adult literacy students in a diversity of subjects from photograph to poetry to nonfiction and electronic references, and how to build a library literacy coalition to reach out to the community at large. Sample lessons enhance this experience-based, highly practical "must-have" handbook for libraries everywhere.

Managing Your Library Construction Project
Richard C. McCarthy, AIA
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909317, List $58.00; Member $52.20 www.alastore.ala.org

Richard C. McCarthy is a principal with Burnridge Cassell Associates where he serves as a library architect and leads BCA's library design team. He has built, remodeled, and renovated numerous libraries and is a confirmed expert in this specialized field. In "Managing Your Library Construction Project: A Step-by-Step Guide", McCarthy draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to create an informed and informative guide for librarians and library board members charged with the responsibility of building, remodeling, or renovating a library for their community or school. "Managing Your Library Construction Project" clearly lays out who does what and by when; what the responsibilities are for everyone concerned; when and how the deliverables get enumerated; how to create a realistic budget for new library construction; and even how to incorporate 'green' design factors to make libraries as environmentally friendly as possible in their construction and subsequent operation. Enhanced with checklists and sample construction documents, and covering every aspect of library construction from initial plans, to working with architects, to evaluating processes and results, "Managing Your Library Construction Project" should be considered a 'must read' for library directors, staff members, administrators, board members, and trustees before undertaking a library construction project of any size.


The Crafts Shelf

Mixed Media Mosaics
Laurie Mika
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581809832, $22.99 www.fwpublications.com

MIXED MEDIA MOSAICS: TECHNIQUES & PROJECTS is an excellent pick for any working in polymer clay, whether it be producing jewelry, boxes, or mosaic tiles. Chapters discuss mica powders and how they can enhance mosaic efforts, survey techniques for creating molds and casting tiles, and provide a rich set of inspirations to delight mosaic crafters and libraries catering to crafts people and home artists.

Cool Jewels
Naomi Fujimoto
Kalmbach Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871162472, $19.95 www.kalmbach.com

COOL JEWELS: BEADING PROJECTS FOR TEENS packs in an outstanding set of step-by-step instructions paired with color photos and contributed by the author of BeadStyle Magazine. Techniques, tips and tricks pack a guide which tells how to turn beads into earrings, bracelets and more. Projects are illustrated by color photos, easy to produce, and perfect for beginners, making this a top pick for any library catering to teen crafters.

The Art of Polymer Clay: Creative Surface Effects
Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823013626, $19.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Ten years ago clay artist Donna Kato's first book ART OF POLYMER CLAY established her as an early authority on the topic: she's become a teacher and product designer since then, and her latest title The Art of Polymer Clay: Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More expands the topic to the next level, featuring dozens of techniques for exciting surface effects and art options. Chapters cover everything from inkjet transfers onto clay surfaces to texturing and toner transfers. Any library strong in clay crafts needs this.

Kalmbach Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbach.com

Irina Miech's MORE METAL CLAY FOR BEADERS (9780871162427, $21.95) offers beginners a fine set of projects for working with metal clay to create unique jewelry. With its clear step-by-step directions and color photos, the author shows how to make unique components for beaded necklaces and jewelry, teaching how to work with metal clay and offering a foundation title which builds on experience to attract intermediate metal clay artists as well. BeadStyle's BEADING INSPIRATION: HOW TO USE COLOR IN JEWELRY DESIGN (9780871162465, $19.95) uses projects to teach the basics of blending colors in jewelry designs. From new approaches to working with color to six new designs accompanied by step-by-step directions and color photos, this is a top pick for any lending library appealing to jewelry crafters. Both titles offer unique, appealing projects and easy formats to appeal to a wide audience.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Shadow of Solomon
Laurence Gardner
Red Wheel/Weiser Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1578634040, $18.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Collections strong in New Age topics in general and freemasonry history in particular will want to consider Laurence Gardner's THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON: it's a reader offering an insider's account of masonic history and the search the fraternity has conducted to locate its own lost secrets. The Masons have long been involved in world political events down to the founding of the U.S. and its constitution, which makes THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON of interest not only to new age holdings, but to any who would consider the process of American history.

Schiffer Publishing
4800 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

Three new additions to Schiffer's regional 'haunted' areas will delight any who love either reading about local hauntings or visiting places. Pamela K. Kinney's HAUNTED RICHMOND (9780764327124, $14.95) tells of various Virginia ghosts, from those who inhabit governor's mansions and theatres to a seafood tavern's ghostly resident. Fiona Broome's THE GHOSTS OF AUSTIN: WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (9780764326806, $14.95) tells of ghostly gamblers, Jack the Ripper's killing spree in Austin, and more. Thomas D'Agostine's HAUNTED RHODE ISLAND (0764323504, $12.95) charts vampires, wailing brooks, and even floating coffins. All are powerful tales not only fun to read, but including exact directions for locating each haunted area, making these perfect guides not only for libraries where patrons love a good ghost story, but for collections of travel guides, as well.

Composing Magic
Elizabeth Barrette
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149358, $14.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Bards used to heal the sick with song and verse: COMPOSING MAGIC: HOW TO CREATE MAGICAL SPELLS, RITUALS, BLESSINGS, CHANTS, AND PRAYERS uses examples to show finished compositions of each type, from chants to blessings and spells, offering magick practitioners tips on how to find topics, write a composition, and produce a polished end result key to a Pagan ritual. An outstanding guide new age holdings will find practical and specific.

Energy Work
Robert Bruce
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745408, $15.95 www.hrpub.com

Emotions help link individual psyches to primal energy sources, and ENERGY WORK: THE SECRET OF HEALING AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT uses a variety of current methods to achieve these links, offering newly revised methods for understanding and connecting with the body's energy system. Practice exercises are easy to understand and effective, while visualization techniques expand upon routines to offer more variety and insight: perfect for new age collections.

The Journey of Robert Monroe
Ronald Russell
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745330, $24.95 www.hrpub.com

Robert Monroe's name may sound familiar: he produced JOURNEYS OUT OF THE BODY in the 1970s to give New Age followers insights into the experience: her his life is revealed in a fascinating biography JOURNEY OF ROBERT MONROE: FROM OUT-OF-BODY EXPLORER TO CONSCIOUSNESS PIONEER – and it comes not from an outside researcher, but from an intimate friend. Monroe's research on alternative realities and his pioneering research in consciousness are charted in a blend of biography and new age insights, making for an excellent recommendation not just for New Age collections, but for any general-interest library catering to readers of psychology or mysticism.

Inner Traditions/Bear & Company/Destiny
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com

Michael Lamy's THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JULES VERNE: DECODING HIS MASONIC, ROSICRUCIAN AND OCCULT WRITINGS (1594771618, $19.95) reveals the science fiction writer's active participation in the occult community of his times in France – and how esoteric secrets can be found in his writings, from Rosicrucian secrets of immortality to Masonic initiation rites. An exact discussion and analysis of Verne's language choices reveals his wordplay, anagrams and even numerical combinations in a guide perfect for any interested in Verne's connections with the occult, and recommended for any library strong in Verne literary analysis as well as new age collections. Graham Phillips' THE END OF EDEN; THE COMET THAT CHANGED CIVILIZATION (1591430690, $16.00) details the shifts in social demeanor and religious thinking that helped shape the world in the wake of a massive comet which appeared in the sky in 1500 BC, when the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks' tail engulfed Earth. In the comet's wake cultures became more aggressive, abandoning prior peaceful ways and making wars – and monotheism arise. THE END OF EDEN details the comet's influences on these changes and also maintains the comet's tail held a chemical known to cause aggressive behavior. An intriguing 'must' new age collections will relish. Steven Sora's THE TRIUMPH OF THE SEA GODS: THE WAR AGAINST THE GODDESS HIDDEN IN HOMER'S TALES (159477143X, $18.95) could've been reviewed in our History Shelf section but is featured here for its concurrent attraction to New Age readers. Sora argues here that Homer's tales don't describe the commonly-held Mediterranean scenarios, but are adaptations of pre-Celtic myths detailing an Atlantic coastal war which took place off the Iberian Peninsula around 1200 BCE, and chronicled the rise of the seas as well. Ancient history collections and new age readers alike will find this alternative history description detailing the rise of sea peoples and the decline of the region's goddess-worshipping culture makes for fascinating reading. Ken Eagle Feather's TOLTEC DREAMING: DON JUAN'S TEACHINGS ON THE ENERGY BODY (1591430720, $16.00) explores different levels of the dream state, contrasting ordinary dreaming with 'dreaming awake' in which an active dreamer ascends to the Dream of Transcendence. All this is placed in context of the Toltec tradition and provides a fine, purposeful blend of history and new age 'how to' insights.

Mystic Faerie Tarot
Linda Ravenscroft
Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
9780738709215, $24.95 www.llewellyn.com 1-800-843-6666

Lovely watercolor art by fantasy artist Linda Ravenscroft pairs with a fine tarot guide by tarot author Barbara Moore to provide a fine set of cards revolving around faerie-themed spreads. Each spread comes with a 'faerie tale' for each suite, while an introduction and quick reference offers beginners easy access. It's not recommended for library lending but is a perfect set for New Age seers and any tarot user seeking a different approach.


The Photography Shelf

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com

Kevin Newsome's CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: A PHOTOJOURNALISTIC APPROACH (9781584282068, $34.95) covers the idea of creating a range of fun, age-appropriate activities to result in unique and superior group portrait opportunities with kids. From working with special-needs children and varying age groups to developing effective shots and plans for setting up, CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY goes beyond the usual advice guide to address the facets which make for superior children's photos, as opposed to snapshots, making this a top pick for any pro photographer's library. Stephen A. Dantzig's SOFTBOX LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584282020, $34.95) tells how to use the softbox tool to produce superior photography lighting results, from understanding how softboxes work to their different sizes, shapes, and range of possibilities. Techniques range from producing glamour shots and interior images to using color temperatures effectively and modifying lighting with scrims and masks. Bill Hurter's CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584282082, $34.95) covers all the basics of how to photograph children, from using studio lighting for formal and informal results to posing tips for all ages, age-specific psychological insights for talking to kids, and design techniques for making albums polished keepsakes.

Fandomania: Characters & Cosplay
Elena Dorfman & Carla McCormick
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, New York NY 10013
9781497110358, $35.00 www.aperture.org

From women strangely dressed for a futuristic ball to goth-type ornate and eye-catching displays, Elena Dorfman's photos offer up unique oddities in fashion and expression, with color pages packing in images of striking contemporary characters. Use of black backgrounds on every page allows color and images to fairly leap off the page. It's a 'must' for any college-level art library strong in modern fashion or modern fashion photography and captures a unique worldview of a goth fashion style not to be seen elsewhere.

Face of Fashion
Susan Bright & Vince Aletti
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, New York NY 10013
9781597110396, $60.00 www.aperture.org

The contemporary fashion portrait is the focus in FACE OF FASHION, which brings together paintings made for the fine arts yet embodying fashion styles, standards, and art. The array of photographers whose works appear here all have a distinct, unique style within fashion photography, making FACE OF FASHION an excellent juxtaposition of varying approaches and styles and a top pick for any college-level art or fashion library. Full-page color images blend with essays and writings about the photographer's approach and the fashion and art worlds.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jewish Idea of Ethics and Morality
Sol Roth
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881259519, $25.00 www.ktav.com

College-level and scholarly collections strong in Jewish ethics and morality issues must have The Jewish Idea of Ethics and Morality: A Covenantal Perspective: it focuses on the 'social covenant' which much of Jewish morality is based upon, drawing connections between justice and mercy and outlining the rule of basic ethical principles as it affects moral decision-making processes. From codes of conduct unique to Jewish perspectives and teachings to relationships between religion and morality, THE JEWISH IDEA OF ETHICS AND MORALITY is a 'must' for any serious Judaic studies holding.

Cooking with the Kosher Butcher's Wife
Sharon Lurie
Struik
Struik House, 80 McKenzie Street, Cape Town 8001, SA
1770072969 www.struik.co.za www.amazon.com

From 'Lemon-Kicked Lamb Shanks' to 'Whole Meal in One', with pumpkin, corn, minced met, peas and more to be eaten after a hard day out on the game preserve, COOKING WITH THE KOSHER BUTCHER'S WIFE offers up a range of unique dishes perfect for all kinds of cooks at many levels of experience. Add color photos to the mix and you have a real winner.

Turim
Michael A. Sahmidman, Editor
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9780881259599, $30.00 www.ktav.com

"Turim: Studies in Jewish History and Literature Presented to Dr. Bernard Lander, Volume One" is the first of two scholarly essays in Jewish Studies presented by academics in honor of one Dr Bernard Lander, founder and present of Touro College, and provides essays on Jewish culture, history, and religious commentary which are key to any college-level collection strong in Jewish ethics and law. Chapters are heavy in footnoted references to source materials and analyze many different aspects of Jewish culture and philosophy for academics at the college level.

The Cambridge Companion to The Talmud and Rabbinic Literature
Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert & Martin S. Jaffee, editors
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
9780521605083, $24.99 www.cambridge.org 1-800-872-7423

The Cambridge Companion to The Talmud and Rabbinic Literature is a scholarly volume of essays by an assembly of learned authors assembled especially to introduce students to historical, cultural, hermeneutical issues relevant to the study and interpretation of rabbinic literature. Individual essays include "Rabbinic Authorship as a Collective Enterprise", "Jewish Visionary Tradition in Rabbinic Literature", "Rabbinic Historiography and Representations of the Past", "Hellenism in Jewish Babylonia", and much more. A contemplative, philosophical, and methodical cross-examination highly recommended for Judaic studies shelves, college students, independent scholars, and intermediate to advanced self-study.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Every Nonprofit's Guide to Publishing
Cheryl Woodard & Lucia Hwang
Nolo Press
950 Parker, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306583, $29.99 www.nolo.com

EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING: CREATING NEWSLETTERS, MAGAZINES & WEBSITES PEOPLE WILL READ appears in its first edition to offer nonprofits – and any library who would cater to them – an excellent reference to the most visible communication device of any nonprofit group. These publications can be used to raise money, attract new members, and promote causes; but before a nonprofit creates one, read EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING – it covers both pitfalls and best practices, including creating a budget, producing consistently high-quality content, and designing the publication for both print and website.

Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657
www.quilldriverbooks.com

Sue Fagalde Lick's FREELANCING FOR NEWSPAPERS: WRITING FOR AN OVERLOOKED MARKET (1884956688, $14.95) is a winner: it shows how to locate newspapers which use freelancers (as opposed to many who only use staff), how to pitch an editor for a story idea, how to interview and gain assignments, and more. Students of media studies and journalism will find it the perfect starting point for breaking into a notoriously difficult industry. Gene Perrett's THE NEW COMEDY WRITING STEP BY STEP (1884956661, $14.95) has been revised and expanded and includes inspiration and real-world experiences from the comedy profession. From a wealth of comedy-writing exercises to reinforce efforts to keeping a comedy notebook and getting ready to write, beginners new to the field have many tips on how to get started. Both are top picks for any collection strong in writer's guides; especially introductory studies.

Faint Praise
Gail Pool
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217288, $19.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Informed and informative, "Faint Praise: The Plight Of Book Reviewing In America" by Gail Pool (a freelance journalist, reviewer, and review editor based in Cambridge, Massachusetts) is an impressively insightful, deftly written, accessibly articulate, expertly knowledgeable, and decidedly analytical survey of the multifaceted and complex world of book reviewing today. Getting a book reviewed can result in prestige for authors and their publishers, improved sales, and a raised public awareness of a particular title struggling for attention against thousands of competing books. They can also bury worthy and literate titles in a sea of inane and flawed books that are published by the tens of thousands every month. "Faint Press" provides a descriptive and comprehensive introduction to the institution of book reviewing, including such issues as why bad reviewing happens despite good intentions, why so many intelligent bibliophiles, knowledgeable readers, and gifted authors can fail at the art, craft, science, and business of writing book reviews. "Faint Praise" takes the reader behind the scenes and shows how books are chosen for review, the context in which book reviewing takes place, including a book review culture that is shows little interest in literature, a surprising antipathy toward criticism, and a vulnerability to the 'seduction of praise'. It's a sad fact of contemporary publishing that reviews so often degenerate into unmerited hype. Very highly recommended for both academic and community library Literary Studies collections, "Faint Praise" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone aspiring to become a book reviewer, and is especially valuable reading for authors, publishers, academicians, and the general reading public.

Breathe Life Into Your Life Story
Dawn and Morris Thurston
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
9781560850946, $22.95 www.signaturebooks.com

Writing teacher Dawn Thurston and award-winning ancestral biographer Morris Thurston present Breathe Life Into Your Life Story: How to Write a Story People Will Want to Read, a no-nonsense guide to crafting an engaging autobiography. memoir or personal history. Chapters cover how to write at the gut level and reveal one's feelings, what to do and not do when writing about specific places, connecting the events of one's life to history, using suspense and conflict to draw the reader further in, and much more. A wealth of "learn-by-doing" exercises round out this excellent self-improvement guide highly recommended for would-be biographers, and also packed with valuable tips, trips and techniques for aspiring writers of fields.

How To Publish Your Children's Book
Liza N. Burby
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757000362, $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com 1-877-900-2665

Books for children preschool through young adult has always been a substantial part of the publishing industry. It is also one a volatile and competitive market that can be confusing and difficult for the novice author and inexperienced publisher. "How To Publish Your Children's Book" by award-winning author and former children's book editor Liza N. Burby is a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide that will prove an invaluable reference for anyone aspiring to publish (or be published) and market a book for children regardless of its genre or the intended age category of its targeted readership. "How To Publish Your Children's Book" covers such diverse but essential issues as creating effective submission packages, how authors can identify the best publisher for their particular title, learn to avoid common problems encountered in publishing, understand and benefit from publishing contracts, accessing and utilizing publisher resources, the growing phenomena of electronic publishing such as eBooks, maximizing results while minimizing time, cost and effort, and so much more. Enhanced with the addition of a glossary, a resource list, and an index, "How To Publish Your Children's Book" is essential reading for anyone contemplating publishing a children's book whether it is through an established press, and independent publisher, or as a self-published project.

The Glimmer Train
Susan Burmeister-Brown & Linda B. Swanson-Davies, editors
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
9781582974477, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966

Adroitly co-edited by Susan Burmeister-Brown and Linda B. Swanson-Davies, "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline" is a compact, 444-page compendium of contributions by professional authors and writers on the subject of their personal and philosophical approaches to writing for a living. The second volume of the acclaimed 'Glimmer Train Guide to Writing Fiction' series from Writer's Digest Press, "Inspiration And Discipline" focuses upon the more private aspects of a writer's life including family, friends, the incorporation of autobiographical material into their literary work, the responsibilities associated with writing professionally, the artistic nature of a writer's vocation, and so much more. From dealing with writer's block, to writing as therapy, to how reading shapes writing,, "Inspiration And Discipline" is engaging and informative, as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Anyone aspiring to write professionally should take the time to read (and re-read) "The Glimmer Train: Guide To Writing Fiction - Inspiration And Discipline".

Line By Line
Claire Kehrwald Cook
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
0395393914, $12.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com 1-800-225-3362

Based upon the Modern Language Association guidelines, Claire Kehrwald Cooks' instructive 'how to' manual for aspiring authors, "Line By Line: How To Edit Your Own Writing" completely demystifies the process of self-editing, a vital aspect of honing, polishing, and otherwise preparing a manuscript for publication. All the relevant issues are addressed including basic grammar; pruning unnecessary words and phrases; balancing related sentence elements; making subjects and verbs agree; using pronouns accurately; the correct usage of punctuation marks; and avoiding the 'questionable usage' of words and phrases. A welcome and core addition to personal and professional writing reference collections, "Line By Line" is especially recommended reading for aspiring writers, published professionals, business managers and government officials needing to communicate with clarity, advertising and public relations professionals, scholars and students, as well as technical and science writers.

The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing
Sharon M. Lippincott
Lighthouse Point Press
100 First Avenue, Suite 525, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9780979299803, $16.95 www.lighthousepointpress.com

"The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing: How To Transform Memories Into Meaningful Stories" by Sharon M. Lippincott is an expertly written, 'reader friendly', specialized instruction guide that is especially recommended reading for anyone aspiring to write their memoirs and autobiographies. It is also an excellent 'how to' reference for authors who are writing biographies based upon the reminiscences and anecdotal stories of their subjects and others such as family members, friends and associates. All the proper writing tools are covered, as well as such vitally important issues as clearly identifying the overall purpose of the life-story, a personal plan of action adapted to the writer's workstyle preference and personality, stimulating the recall of memories, editing, and preparing the final manuscript for publication. A superbly written, organized, and presented instructional manual, "The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing" especially commended to the attention of anyone who would like to record their own life story for the benefit of their posterity, as well as the general reading public.

Cite It Right
Tom Fox, et al.
SourceAid
1284 'A' Main Street, Osterville, MA 02655
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com 1-800-888-4741
9780977195701, $26.99 www.sourceaid.com

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, "Cite It Right: The SourceAid Guide To Citation, Research, And Avoiding Plagiarism" is the team effort of research experts Tom Fox, Julia Mary Johnson, and Sara Jane Keller. The publisher, SourceAid LLC is a provider of citation management software and reference materials. "Cite It Right" provides practical advice and clear explanations of every stage in the research process; current citation guidelines of the four major writing styles (Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association, Chicago Manual of Style, and Council of Science Editors); citation formats (including citing from online sources); and cogent information about plagiarism and recent news stories highlighting the disastrous consequences of improper citation and outright plagiarism. An in-depth and thoroughly 'user friendly' citation guide for writing, researching, and citing sources involving all manner of disciplines, "Cite It Right" is informed, informative, and an absolutely essential addition to an author or publisher reference collection for any kind of material from simple articles and essays, to journal pieces and published books.

The New Writer's Handbook 2007
Philip Martin
Scarletta Press
10 South Fifth Street, Suite 1105, Minneapolis, MN 55402
9780976520160, $16.95 www.scarlettapress.com 1-877-687-2324

Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Philip Marin, "The New Writer's Handbook 2007: A Practical Anthology Of Best Advice For Your Craft & Career" is a compendium of sixty practical, insightful, informed and informative articles that aspiring writers of fiction and novice authors of nonfiction will find to be invaluable as they approach the craft and business of being professional authors. The contributors are experienced, successful, and range from award winners, to writing instructors, to working journalists, to editors, to literary bloggers, to best-selling authors. A critically important and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Writing/Publishing reference collections, "The New Writer's Handbook 2007" covers general writing techniques and marketing tips, as well as specific book project pitching tips and models for writing career success.

Book Marketing De-Mystified
Bruce Batchelor
Agio Publishing House
151 Howe Street, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8V 4K5
9781897435007, $14.95 www.agiopublishing.com

It often comes as a shock when newly published authors discover that they must bear most of the burden of marketing their books to the general reading public -- even if they are fortunate enough to be published by one of the major New York publishing firms like Random House, Simon & Schuster or Penguin-Putnam. For self-published authors that marketing responsibility is completely theirs. Most authors are aware of the many 'how to' books that are available to them for the purpose of helping them master the craft of writing, There are also instruction books on turning raw manuscripts into finished books. What is not so obvious is that there are a number of excellent instructional guides for authors on how to market their books after they have been published. One of the best of these marketing manuals is "Book Marketing De-Mystified" by Bruce Batchelor, the man who founded Trafford (Canadian based and one of the larger POD companies servicing North America) and is widely acknowledged as the creator of the print-on-demand (POD) publishing process that has shattered the book publishing monopoly of the traditional publishing firms by allowing anyone to easily become their own publisher. This 167-page compendium of practical advice offers an especially 'user friendly' introduction to the art and science of book marketing because of its conversational style, it comprehensive coverage of book marketing issues, and Bruce Batchelor's unique perspective. It should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is positively cited (page 120) as a resource for authors and independent publishers. "Book Marketing De-Mystified" is especially useful in terms of its discussion of where to sell books, price/value setting, personal sales, paid advertising, sales promotions, publicity and public relations. Simply stated, every author and every small press publisher needs to have a competent marketing plan -- and Bruce Batchelor's "Book Marketing De-Mystified" specifically and effectively addresses that need.

Writing For Life
John D. Bessler
Bottlecap Books
514 North Third Street, Suite 105, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780979271809, $24.95 www.bottlecapbooks.com

In "Writing For Life: The Craft Of Writing for Everyday Living", two-time Minnesota Book Award finalist John D. Bessler succinctly demystifies the writing process by breaking down and illustrating each step of the process from pre-writing preparation to final publication. "Writing For Life" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide covering all of the tools and expertise needed to improve anyone's writing skills and abilities. Informed and informative, "Writing For Life" is also engaging and even inspiring. With extensive notes and a helpful bibliography, "Writing For Life" is skillfully written, comprehensive, practical, and especially recommended for anyone who has an aversion to writing, as well as those seeking to improve the quality of their own written work.

Red Hot Internet Publicity
Penny C. Sansevieri
Morgan James Publishing
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325, Garden City, NY 1693
Author Marketing Experts (publicity)
PO Box 421156, San Diego, CA 92142
9781600370939, $18.95 www.morganjamespublishing.com 1-800-485-4943

Author, publicist, and publishing workshop instructor Penny C. Sansevieri is a book marketing specialist who draws upon her more than fifteen years of experience and expertise as a freelance publicist and marketing expert to write "Red Hot Internet Publicity: An Insider's Guide To Marketing Your Book On The Internet". Simply stated, this is the perfect introduction and resource guide for authors who find themselves having to shoulder the burden of publicizing, promoting, and marketing their book. Penny specifically focuses on the use of the internet as a multifaceted book marketing tool. She clearly lays out what needs to be done to develop a website that attracts visitors and then shows how to translate those visits into sales. Because authors are usually working under significant financial constraints, the emphasis is on those internet promotion techniques that are free for the asking. For example, Penny shows just how to develop and conduct an internet 'book tour' from the comfort of your own home. "Red Hot Internet Publicity" offers numerous and practical tips and techniques for networking effectively on the internet, including how to acquire print media as a part of your internet book marketing campaign. Aspiring authors and small press publishers will also learn how to expand their professional platforms to sell more books, while creating marketing campaigns that are long term and bottom-line productive. Of special note is the section devoted to blogging as a marketing tool, the phenomena of podcasting, the role of email newsletters, ebooks, and Amazon.com. "Red Hot Internet Publicity" is especially valuable for those new to book marketing for its bibliography, its lists of website resources, and what Penny has to say about publishing trends. While no self-published author or small press publisher should fail to give a careful reading of "Red Hot Internet Publicity", this outstanding and thoroughly 'user friend' internet book marketing reference is also an ideal and highly recommended instruction manual for aspiring freelance publicists entering the competitive and specialized field of marketing books.

Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing
Cheryl Woodard & Lucia Hwang
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306583, $29.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

A critically important aspect of every successful nonprofit organization or association is their newsletter, magazine, and/or website. Cheryl Woodard is a publishing business consultant and co-founder of 'PC Magazine', 'PC World', and 'MacWorld'. Lucia Hwang is an award-winning investigative reporter who, since 2004, has worked as the editor for the magazine of a nonprofit association. In "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing: Creating Newsletters, Magazines & Websites People Will Read" these two professional and experienced women have collaborated to create a thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual for non-specialist general readers have find themselves with the responsibility of using their nonprofit organization or association's publication in print or online to raise money, attract and retain members, and increase awareness for their cause with respect to the general public, as well as targeted groups with the populace. Offering a wealth of practical, applicable, step-by-step ideas, suggestions, techniques, and processes, "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing" (which includes an accompanying CD-Rom) covers crafting a mission statement and goals for the publication or website, establishing and adhering to a sound budget, consistently producing high-quality content, designing and printing the publication, creating a compelling website, as well as developing marketing and advertising strategies to support the publication or website. Simply stated, every local, state, regional, national, or international nonprofit organization, regardless of its cause, concerns, or focus, should have a copy of Cheryl Woodard and Lucia Hwang's "Every Nonprofit's Guide To Publishing" on their reference shelf. Also very highly recommended is Cheryl Woodard's earlier title from Nolo Press, "Starting & Running A Successful Newsletter Or Magazine".


The Nautical Shelf

Handbook of Marine Surveying
Thomas Ask
Sheridan House Inc.
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092493, $49.50 www.sheridanhouse.com 1-888-743-7425

Now in an updated second edition, Handbook of Marine Surveying is a guide for both students and professionals of marine surveying. as well as boatyard operators and boat owners with an interest in the field. Illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, Handbook of Marine Surveying covers how to inspect and judge the quality of all aspects of a boat - from discerning signs of fatigue, buckling, or corrosion to the pros and cons of the wood, plastic, or metals in a boat's composition, to overseeing hulls, propellers, engine systems, and mechanical systems, to evaluating safety equipment and much more. Recommended techniques are described in detail, and a survey checklist as well as in-depth notes round this solid guide. Human lives depend upon the marine surveyor's expert determination of a boat's seaworthiness - making Handbook of Marine Surveying literally priceless and an absolute "must-have".


The Social Issues Shelf

The Last Days of Democracy
Elliot D. Cohen & Bruce W. Fraser
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025047, $20.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

THE LAST DAYS OF DEMOCRACY: HOW BIG MEDIA AND POWER-HUNGRY GOVERNMENT ARE TURNING AMERICA INTO A DICTATORSHIP surveys how Constitutional promises and premises are being eroded by both private and federal special interests. The author is director of the Institute of Critical Thinking: his title charts events and places a call to action for any who value democratic ideals, and is perfect for both high school and college-level debates and collections strong in American political and social issues.

Impacts of Border Enforcement on Mexican Migration
Wayne A. Cornelius & Jessa M. Lewis, editors
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
9780970283870, $22.00 www.rienner.com

Impacts of Border Enforcement on Mexican Migration: The View From Sending Communities is an anthology of essays by learned authors concerning the thorny issue of illegal immigration in America along the US-Mexico border, and how American border control activities have affected the behavior of migrants and potential migrants in Mexico. Of especial interest is that America's current policy of mere deterrence through sporadic, concentrated border guarding simply isn't achieving its intended goal; instead, undocumented immigrants are increasingly braving the unguarded territory amid no-man's-land, resulting in deadly toll of lives; others pay exorbitant fees to "coyotes" or professional people-smugglers; and more illegal immigrants than ever choose to stay indefinitely once present in America rather than return home, knowing how difficult and dangerous it would be to return. Individual essays in Impacts of Border Enforcement on Mexican Migration further scrutinize details, from "U.S. Settlement Behavior and Labor Market Participation" to "Gender Differences". An up-to-date, expertly researched close study, and an absolute "must-read" for any policymaker or governmental figure dealing with this tangled and difficult issue.


The Humor Shelf

Mission Accomplished
Khalil Bendib
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566566919, $17.95 www.interlinkbooks.com

Award-winning cartoonist Khalil Bendib, whose work is seen in over 1,700 newspapers across North America, presents Mission Accomplished, a collection of his sharp-edged political cartoons lampooning greed, hypocrisy, arrogance, moral ineptitude, and worse, both in America and abroad. An American Muslim, Khalil Bendib does not shy away from tackling issues ranging from terrorism to globalization to militarism, genocide, underfunded infrastructure at home, and much more. Especially harsh criticism is leveled at the ruthless excesses of Zionism, America's ill-planned Iraq occupation and the chaos in its wake, and corporate welfare heaped upon thieving institutions such as Haliburton. Most cartoons are in black-and-white; a few are in color. One particularly telling cartoon shows an empty gasoline pump labeled "Uncle Sam Gas, $2.85 per Gallon" and cars lined up for miles to fuel at a gasoline pump labeled "Death to America Osama Gas Only, $2 a Gallon". At once both sidesplittingly funny and bitterly insightful into the paradox of human greed that keeps America stymied in failure, Mission Accomplished is highly recommended.


The Genealogy Shelf

Getting Started In Genealogy Online
William Dollarhide
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
0806317701, $12.95 www.genealogical.com 1-800-296-6687

The information technology represented by the internet has impacted every aspect of American life and that most assuredly includes genealogical research. Simply stated, "Getting Started In Genealogy Online" by genealogist William Dollarhide is the perfect introduction for the novice genealogist to utilizing the internet for their genealogical research. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Getting Started In Genealogy Online" is a succinct and deftly written 64-page compendium that will enable even the most rank beginner to quickly trace their family tree. Reducing online genealogical research to its elemental basics, "Getting Started In Genealogy Online" will prove to be an invaluable resource for the more experienced genealogist as well as it will enable them to create and/or access an online database in which to place the names and web addresses of all essential record repositories. From a seven step process for getting started, to instruction on finding book titles, genealogy websites, lineage-linked sites, utilizing the National Archives, Regional Archives, and other facilities, to genealogical software and GEDCOM Utility, "Getting Started In Genealogy Online" is an ideal instructional reference. Of special note are the sections devoted to state genealogy resource centers, 'Research Help for the Addicted', and 'Master Forms' (Family Data Sheet; Pedigree Chart; Family Group Sheet). In this day and age, "Getting Started In Genealogy Online" should be a part of the personal reference library of every aspiring and practicing genealogist.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Pesticides: A Toxic Time Bomb in Our Midst
Martin J. Levine
Praeger Publishing
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
027599127X, $49.95 www.praeger.com

Pesticide exposure has long been a danger and studies have documented dangers to all levels of society, but what makes Pesticides: A Toxic Time Bomb in Our Midst so important for any college-level collection strong in health, safety, and agriculture as well as social issues is its comprehensive examination of pesticide use, its effects, and alternatives to pesticides. Insights on applied agricultural uses of pesticides and how people are exposed – primarily in the home – accompany charts of statistics and heavily footnoted references in an invaluable guide highly recommended for any collection strong in environmental awareness, safety, and social issues.

Restoring Colorado River Ecosystems
Robert W. Adler
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597260572, $70.00 www.islandpress.org 1-800-828-1302

Professor Robert W. Adler presents Restoring Colorado River Ecosystems: A Troubled Sense of Immensity, an examination of the devastating toll humankind has inflicted upon the Colorado River and its ecosystem, and what can be done to help restore nature's balance. From the detrimental effects of dams and whether dams should be modified or removed, to problems that stem from blocking the movement of fish or sediment and concentrating pollutants, to the legal dimensions of attempts to protect the ecosystem, and much more, Restoring Colorado Ecosystems is the culmination of extensive research and thoughtful analysis, and highly recommend for environmental studies shelves.

Toxic Burn
Thomas Shevory
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
9780816648535, $19.95 www.upress.umn.edu

Thomas Shevory (Professor of Politics, Ithaca College) presents Toxic Burn: The Grassroots Struggle Against the WTI Incinerator, the environmental true story of East Liverpool, Ohio, which has suffered from a massive hazardous waste incinerator located in the eastern Ohio River Valley since 1993. The incinerator burns 60,000 tons of hazardous waste each year, has encountered dozens of accidents, and is only 100 yards away from an elementary school. Toxic Burn tells of the grass-roots movement against the incinerator. Interviews with key members of the movement, copies of official documents, and more spell out how the incinerator came to be, and the obstacles and victories that the counter-movement faced. An in-depth case study of how ordinary people are a necessary counterbalance to the power of corporations, and how new environmental models devoted to protecting the life and health of those at greatest risk is desperately needed.

Red Roots, Green Shoots
Virginia Brodine
International Publishers
239 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
9780717807314, $10.00 www.amazon.com

Red Roots, Green Shoots is written as a pro-environmental text from a Marxist perspective, yet most of the ideas it proposes for preserving the environment and therefore the health of the people who live in it are sound general principles - though author Virginia Brodine considers them unlikely to be implemented unless working-class globalism arises to counter imperialist globalism. Chapters discuss how "free trade" without sufficient environmental provisions has extremely deleterious results; how grassroots support is needed to defend nature more effectively; why the practice of sending pollution to the poorest communities has to stop; and much more. "It is time we took the 'jobs vs. environment' issue out of the bosses' hands. How? With a jobs program that would create environmentally sound jobs across this country, and specific jobs programs that would be implemented in tandem with a shift to environmentally friendly technology, plus public works jobs to cleanup the problems left behind by past assaults on nature." Those who question Marxist principles should not shy away from Red Roots, Green Shoots as the environmental questions and solutions it proposes should not be overlooked. Highly recommended.


The Architecture Shelf

The Green Braid
Kim Tanzer & Rafael Longoria, Editors
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780415415002, $43.75 www.routledge.com

THE GREEN BRAID: TOWARDS AN ARCHITECTURE OF ECOLOGY, ECONOMY AND EQUITY is a pick for any college-level arts or architectural library; It draws from over fifteen years of peer-reviewed essays and design awards published by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and provides writings that challenge and revise modern thinking on the topic. Scholarly essays come packed with design innovations, insights, and more.

The Architecture Reader
A. Krista Sykes, editor
George Braziller, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1105, New York, NY 10016
9780807615799, $35.00 www.georgebraziller.com 1-800-233-4830

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Krista Sykes (Managing Editor of the 'Journal of 'Society of Architectural Historians'), "The Architecture Reader: Essential Writings From Vitruvius to The Present" is an impressively presented anthology of commentaries encompassing two thousand years of building history. A work of seminal and articulate scholarship, forty key texts drawn from architects of international reputation address key and continuing issues with respect to architecture and design -- including the role of the architect and the relationship of architecture to nature, art, and science. A very strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists, "The Architecture Reader" combines historical and contemporary perspectives that are as informed and informative as they are thoughtful and thought-provoking.


The Computer Shelf

Implementing the IBM Rational Unified Process and Solutions
Joshua Barnes
IBM Press/Pearson
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0321369459, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Software engineers interested in improving software development capability and maturity will appreciate this detailed book which relates best practices connected to the complete implementation cycle of IBM RUP, from implementation to mentoring. Here are keys to identifying process solutions, understanding maturity level goals, mapping 'end states' for maximum quality, and more – all packaged in a series of 'stepping stone' chapters which build knowledge and techniques. College-level collections catering to advanced software engineers will appreciate the depth and focus, here.

Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.samspublishing.com 1-800-428-5331

Pair a workbook with a cd and you have a 'starter kit' package geared to new users who need both text and visual reinforcement: perfect for classroom assignment or home study. LINUX STARTER KIT (067232962X, $39.99) covers all the basics pairing its quick start guide to a complete SUSE, Linux Distribution copy on DVD which includes Foxfire, the GIMP graphics editing tool, and more. Phil Ballard's AJAX STARTERKIT (0672329603, $39.99) achieves the same for Ajax. Both include source codes and tutorial references which pair cd programs with clear interactive instructions: a 'must' for any serious learner of Linux or Ajax.

Ubuntu Unleashed, 2nd Edition
Andrew Hudson & Paul Hudson
Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0672329514, $49.99 www.samspublishing.com

The second edition of the weighty UBUNTU UNLEASHED provides detailed, in-depth coverage of the Ubuntu Linux distribution for both Windows and Mac users, covering everything from everyday software and how to make Linux run more effectively to understanding Linux programming, web server administration, and how Ubuntu interacts. This is no lightweight introduction, but any serious collection specializing in Ubuntu Linux will find it a solid reference, including a DVD of full Ubuntu 7.04 distribution and the complete OpenOffice.org suite, along with numerous utilities.

The Principles of Beautiful Web Design
Jason Beaird
Sitepoint
424 Smith Street, Collingwood, VIC Australia 3066
0975841963, $39.95 www.sitepoint.com www.amazon.com

Plenty of books focus on how to build web sites, streamline them, and enhance them – but what about fine-tuning to create great designs? The Principles of Beautiful Web Design covers this, from the basics of a solid design and its implementation to using color schemes, textures, typography, and images more effectively. Chapters cover trends, common pitfalls, and more in a top pick which is a 'must' for any collection catering to web designers.

O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472

www.oreilly.comAjax can be added to existing web applications without redoing everything – and ADDING AJAX by Shelley Powers (0596529368, $34.99) is the perfect web programmer's guide to doing so with ease. Chapters not only cover methods of adding Ajax, but how to use Ajax to enhance an application, how to work with Ajax libraries and interactive elements, and how to understand the effects Ajax has on Web applications. Any web programmer's collection should have ADDING AJAX: it discusses easy integration of Ajax into existing systems and operations. Andy Oram and Greg Wilson edit BEAUTIFUL CODE: LEADING PROGRAMMERS EXPLAIN HOW THEY THINK (0596510047, $44.99), a unique collection of master classes in software design which will prove perfect not just for computer libraries, but for classroom assignment and independent study. Nearly forty master coders reconstruct project creation and coding challenges, considering basic best practices and times when rules must be bent or broken to achieve results. Any programmer involved in software engineering or design will welcome this survey of how the best coders think. David Sawyer McFarland's DREAMWEAVER CS3: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596510438, $44.99) is a powerful all-inclusive reference which is simply a 'must' for any computer collection strong in Dreamweaver patronage. From building your first site and posting it on the Web to adding interactivity with forms and building database-driven web sites, over a hundred pages of step-by-step tutorials is accompanied by insider's tips to make for one of the best Dreamweaver tutorials we've seen. Gary A. Donahue's NETWORK WARRIOR (0596101511, $44.99) is for network systems administrators and libraries catering to these advanced users: it begins where certification exams stop and continues the work of real world instruction on real Cisco networks, from understanding firewall theory and selling network improvements to management to IP design basics and best practices, NETWORK WARRIOR offers many insights based on the author's own real-world experiences. ESSENTIAL ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0 by Colin Moock (0596526946, $54.99) is for advanced programming libraries and for ActionScript web developers who seek a detailed reference on the topic. ActionScript 3.0 is a major upgrade to Flash programming: it's faster and more sophisticated and requires a deeper level of understanding – offered up by ESSENTIAL ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0 alone, making for an invaluable reference. Brian Culp's WINDOWS VISTA ADMINISTRATION: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE (0596529597, $49.99) is a problem-solving reference which is a 'must' for any network administrator. From working with hardware and software and solving common installation and use issues to personalizing and customizing Vista, chapters pack in black and white screen shots and provide plenty of technical details making this a weighty 'must' for any in-depth library catering to the latest network admin needs. Kenneth C. Feldt's PROGRAMMING FIREFOX (0596102437, $59.99) is recommended for advanced computer libraries catering to programmers: it blends a tutorial and a programmer's reference under one cover, covering XUL's interface and capabilities and including a review of Firefox technology, applications management, and more. Any designer working on standards-based Internet projects needs PROGRAMMING FIREFOX: it covers all the basics and encourages a more in-depth understanding of Firefox's potential. Jennifer Niederst Robbins' LEARNING WEB DESIGN, 3RD EDITION (0596527527, $44.99) is subtitled 'A Beginner's Guide to XTML, Style Sheets, and Web Graphics', and herein lies its power. Chapters covering these professional ideas tell everything needed to know how Web pages work and builds a foundation of knowledge, adding applications savvy and advanced topics on top. The book's been completely revised to show how to blend modern design practices into web site design and includes exercises and quizzes, also making it a top classroom assignment pick. An excellent addition to any serious college-level computer library. Christopher Wells' SECURING AJAX APPLICATIONS (0596529317, $49.99) makes a startling comment: using Ajax can increase the risks of existing security flaws in a web site. That said, SECURING AJAX APPLICATIONS fixes many problems, showing how to locate dangerous gaps and cover them early on. Basic security techniques and known vulnerabilities are examined in an overview of not just Ajax but the evolving web platform as a whole. Recommended for any library catering to Ajax students and programmers. Libraries will find compact and affordable the fine 'pocket references' produced by O'Reilly. Michael Fitzgerald's RUBY (0596514816, $9.99) provides an excellent quick programmer's reference to Ruby which is organized for speedy consultation. From lists of methods to predefined variables, RUBY POCKET REFERENCE is not only a top pick for libraries, but for working Ruby programmers who want a pocket at-a-glance guide. George Reese's MY SQL POCKET REFERENCE 2ND EDITION (0596514263, $14.99) covers Version 5.1 and provides SQL statements, functions, and insights into its variations and utilities. Explanations are accompanied by tables and examples for maximum efficiency. Both are fine programmer's guides.

Digital Principles & Logic Design
Saha & N. Manna
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Road, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015032, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

Students and practicing engineers receive a basic introduction to the common methods used to design electrical circuits using modern logic design techniques, so will find this an unusual combination of traditional teachings updated with modern logic sequencing and computer-aided tools. It's designed as a textbook, so college-level students and practicing engineers will find it most handy – but it covers all the basics, from Boolean algebra and logic gates to Karnaugh maps. An accompanying cd-rom includes simulations and third-party software, making this highly recommended for any in-depth, practicing engineer or student.

Application Acceleration and WAN Optimization Fundamentals
Ted Grevers Jr. & Joel Christner
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
1587053160, $60.00 www.ciscopress.com

IT organizations face pressure to increase productivity and improve application performance, and the two authors here review how network professionals face special problems in delivering applications to globally distributed workforces. From how accelerators are changing application business models to using NetFlow to baseline application requirements and leveraging WAN optimization technologies to improve applications, this is a top pick to advanced WAN optimization issues and guidelines, recommended for any collection strong in the topic.

Cubase 4 Tips and Tricks
Keith Gemmell
PC Publishing
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781906005016, $18.95 www.pc-publishing.com www.oreilly.com

Cubase 4 is one of the most powerful MIDI and audio production suites around, but to realize its many options and full strengths you need a guide on hand like Cubase 4 Tips and Tricks: one which addresses shortcuts, enhancements, and optimization in the recording and arranging world. CUBASE 4 TIPS AND TRICKS uses black and white screen shots and photos throughout to enhance understanding, making this a fine choice for programming and MIDI collections alike.

Project Management Success with CMMI
James Persse
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0132333058, $44.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS WITH CMMI: SEVEN CMMI PROCESS AREAS shows how to apply CMMI Level 2 to projects, programs, or processes. It's easy to follow and provides directions for implementing and customizing CMMI for any type of product or organization, covering both business and operational needs of project management and offering up not just technical specs, but real-world case studies and examples to support what works and why.

Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition
Rickford Grant
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271527, $34.95 www.nostarch.com

Ubuntu is the Linux distribution for newbies and the item of choice for the non-computer-geek, and it's a winner for many. Now there's a handbook packed with insights on the program's tricks and methods, offering a hands-on, project-based guidebook for those who are thinking of switching to Linux, but don't know how. This edition's been updated for Feisty Fawn, the newest Ubuntu release 7.04, and offers tutorials of projects which cover all the topics related to installing and using Linux. Included is a companion cd which lets you try out Ubuntu 7.04 without making any changes to your computer, making for an outstanding method perfect for newcomers to Linux.

Continuous Integration
Paul M. Duvall with Steve Matyas, Andrew Glover
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
0321336380, $44.99 www.awprofessional.com

Any software developer who has spent days in 'integration hell' handling a complexity of software components will appreciate the invaluable information in CONTINUOUS INTEGRATION: IMPROVING SOFTWARE QUALITY AND REDUCING RISK. From the initial concept of CI and its practices to over forty CI-related practices from database integration to development, this book covers the entire cycle of CI development and surveys all kinds of events, repetitive processes, and more. An outstanding guide any serious software development library needs.

Teach Yourself Visually: Adobe Photoshop CS3
John Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0470114525, $24.99 www.wiley.com

If you're a 'visual learner' you can't go wrong with the 'Teach Yourself Visually' series, which uses color screen shots and visual clips to cover all the basics – here, of Adobe Photoshop CS3. From sidebars of information and full-color screen shot demos to step-by-step explanations, this approach is the item of choice for any who need specific visuals, and competes well and pointedly with text-oriented tutorials, making it a top pick for any library catering to beginners learning Photoshop CS3.

Murach's ADO.NET 2.0 Database Programming with VB 2005
Anne Boehm
Mike Murach & Associates
3484 West Gettysburg, #101, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774431, $52.50 www.murach.com 1-800-221-5528

Featuring twenty-five complete database applications that demonstrate best programming practices, "Murach's ADO.NET 2.0 Database Programming with VB 2005" is a superbly written, informative presented, confidently recommended introduction and instruction manual specifically designed to teach Visual Basic developers how to use Visual Studies 2005 and ADO.NET 2.0 to develop database applications according to professional standards of development and performance. Visual Basic developers will learn how to use the 2.0 data sources feature, how to build 3-layer applications that consists of presentation, business, and database classes, how to use time-saving ASP.NET 2.0 data controls, and so much more. "Murach's ADO.NET 2.0 Database Programming with VB 2005" is a thoroughly 'user friendly', 784-page compendium that is presented in accordance with the high standards associated with the distinctive Murach style of training which has consistently characterized their computer software instruction manuals for the last three decades.


The Literary Shelf

Dance Dance Revolution: Poems
Cathy Park Hong
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393064841, $23.95 www.wwnorton.com

The Dance Dance Revolution is a mythic story which takes the form of a poetic tale: here it took place in 1988 and the protagonist is a 'tour guide' of the Desert, a fictional resort city modeled after the world's finest hotels and capitals. Readers of epics like Dante's INFERNO will find this akin in structure and drama, offering up an invented language blending extinct English dialects with Latin, Spanish, Korean and other pidgins. No lightweight read, it's a pick for college-level collections specializing in modern literary poetic structure and is especially recommended for classroom assignment.

World Authors 2000-2005
Jennifer Curry, et al.
H.W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
9780824210779, $170.00 www.hwwilson.com 1-800-367-6770

Knowledgeably compiled and co-edited by the team of Jennifer Curry, David Ramm, Mari Rich, and Albert Rolls, "World Authors 2000-2005" is the newest addition to the 'Wilson Authors' series. This 800-page compendium of biographical profiles of more than 200 novelists, poets, dramatists, essayists, scientists, biographers, and other authors whose books were published between 2000 and 2005 is a core addition to academic library Literary Studies reference collections. Completely up-to-date and presented alphabetically, these professionally researched accounts include the featured writer's background and formative experience, as well as listing their literary achievements. The profiles also include critical responses to the authors' works and offers suggested reading lists and bibliographies. A photograph of the author accompanies many of the entries. A work of impressive and detailed scholarship, "World Authors 2000-2005" is an invaluable and indispensable literary reference work for academia, as well as the general reading public.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Andean Folk Knits
Macia Lewandowski
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue, New York NY 10016
1579909531, $14.95 www.larkbooks.com

Lovely bags and accessories based on Andean knitting traditions are covered in a unique guide holding over thirty knitting projects of Andean-based patterns. Experienced knitters receive both color photo examples and step-by-step instructions on creating unique Andean patterns which translate not only to these projects, but will be easily applied to any knitting endeavor. Libraries catering to experienced knitters, especially those with multicultural focus, will appreciate the many unique projects here.

Martingale & Company
20205 – 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Glorianne Cubbage's TWICE QUILTED: CONTINUOUS-LINE QUILTING DESIGNS (9781564777614, $26.95) offers up some twenty sets of patterns with over 40 designs in all for both traditional and themed motifs, and discusses the special attributes of continuous-line design. Instructions in this kit include directions on how to trace, transfer and sew the designs: while the box format lends more to personal quilter's acquisition than library lending, it does provide an outstanding instructional highly recommended for any newcomer to the continuous-line process. Jane Quinn's QUILTING IN THE COUNTRY: PROJECTS AND RECIPES TO CELEBRATE LIFE'S SPECIAL MOMENTS (9781564777256, $26.95) presents some sixteen projects from wall and lap quilts to ornaments and table decorations, and is a theme-oriented pick for any who would create unique quilts. Accompanying the quilt design suggestions are tips for parties and holiday celebrations and how to display and use the quilts for maximum advantage. Eva Wiechmann's CROCHETED PURSENALITIES: 20 GREAT FELTED BAGS (9781564777508, $19.95) offers stylish and easy felted purses which reflect both contemporary designs and simple, functional patterns. What differentiates this from the usual crochet purse book is an attention to the newer yarns and a felted appearance, which differs greatly from the usual open-holed crochet designs of competitors – and lends to modern fashion. Karen Thalacker's KNITTING WITH GIGI comes in both hardcover book (9781564777584, $16.95) and pattern box kit complete with yarns (9781564778161, $24.95) which lend well to beginners ages 8 and older who are just getting started – and for many an adult newcomers to knitting. The kit holds yarn, needles, and a softcover book with poems pictures and easy step-by-step directions, making it a perfect gift choice. The hardcover book includes 8 patterns and easy step-by-step instructions which works well for lending libraries. STORYBOOK SNUGGLERS: ONCE UPON A TIME (9781564777850, $12.95) by Cheryl Almgren Taylor is not for lending libraries so much as for quilters and those who would gift them on special occasions. A 'quilt in a packet' provides all the basics necessary for producing two quilts – a wall hanging and a lap quilt – and makes for a perfect gift. All are top picks for serious needlework collections.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

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

Definitive collections for avid collectors of fishing gear will not be complete without adding the fifth volume of Russell E. Lewis's Modern Fishing Lure Collectibles (9781574325331, $29.95), which continues Lewis' prior volumes offering identification and value guides to lures from the 1970s, 1980s and modern times. Packed with color photos of lures often in their boxes and new, paired with prices and including text descriptions and lure history, it's a top pick for any with an avid interest in fishing lures. Lar Hothem's RARE & UNUSUAL INDIAN ARTIFACTS: IDENTIFICATION AND VALUE GUIDE (9781574325416, $34.95) packs its pages with color photos of different Indian artifacts, and is a specialty item perfect for any lending library or collector where Native artifacts are researched and collected. It's difficult to find a reference as specific as this: each artifact is divided into category then analyzed for both history and collectible value. An outstanding reference for the Native American artifact collector. Don Jensen's HORSMAN DOLLS: THE VINYL ERA 1950 TO PRESENT (9781574325386, $29.95) includes a fine biographical sketch of Horsman and the dolls he created, then moves to the heart of the matter: color photos for identification and written descriptions which chart the changing styles, purposes and trends of these dolls. Any doll collector, particularly those of Horsman styles, must have this identification and value guide.

Razors: Identification and Values, 3rd Edition
Roy Ritche and Ron Stewart
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325508, $12.95 www.collectorbooks.com

It may seem too specific a subject for more general collector's reference shelves, but many collect razors and will find this specific guide to their identification and value and important reference. Black and white and color photos of selected antiques accompany charts and graphs of values packaged in a format perfect for take-along tote.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Demystifying Islam
Dr. Ali Shehata
Elysium River Press
189 Magnolia Park Trail, Sanford, FL 32773
9780979119019, $15.99 www.elysiumriver.com

DEMYSTIFYING ISLAM: YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION OF THE 21ST CENTURY introduces the basics of Islam and is a top pick for any non-Muslim seeking a foundation reference point for understanding. Chapters survey Quran scriptures, compare passages to Christian and other religious ideas, and consider everything from perspectives on Jesus to the Prophet Muhammed. Perfect for the general-interest spiritual collection seeking insights on Islamic beliefs.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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