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The Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 11 November 2013 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Islamic Studies Shelf Education Shelf
Military Shelf Photography Shelf Mathematics Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Library Science Shelf Technology Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Science Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Biography Shelf
Travel Shelf Computer Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Crafts Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Business Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Music Shelf
Audiobook Shelf American History Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf DVD Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Railroading Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Automotive Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan
Hal Wright, CFP
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059145, $29.95, www.jkp.com

The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan provides a fine approach to blending legal, financial, and life decisions into a unified plan for a person with a disability, and is a pick for any community or academic library reference collection. It starts with the purpose of providing a meaningful life to a special needs child and blends in discussion of support systems beyond parents, from government programs to employment, residential options, and more. Any parent of a child with physical or mental impairments needs this specific resource on how to create a unique person-centered life plan, keeping in mind the unique requirements of the individual.

The Nature and Value of Happiness
Christine Vitrano
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813347271, $24.00, www.westviewpress.com

The Nature and Value of Happiness is a recommendation for philosophy and self-help holdings alike, and provides a concise discussion of aspects relating to happiness. It's not written for the avid philosophy reader but for general audiences open to philosophical thought, and blends history with modern concerns as it assesses the value and nature of happiness in contemporary life. From how the modern idea of happiness has evolved from ancient times to the present to whether happiness can be considered the ultimate goal in life, this is a powerful survey highly recommended for any general or philosophy holding.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here
Karima Bennoune
W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393081589, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories from the Fight Against Muslim Fundamentalism documents both the author's struggles against fundamentalist violence and the experiences of others, telling of her involvement in a movement to protect fellow Muslims from intolerance both within and outside their societies. Bennoune's determination to put an end to intolerance resulted in her becoming an international human rights lawyer and activist, and her analysis of extremists and religious persecution makes for gripping reading providing case studies of human experience as well as analysis of social conflicts. Any collection strong in Muslim human rights issues around the world will find this a powerful study.


The Education Shelf

Why Teach?
Mark Edmundson
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, NY, NY 10010
9781620401071, $24.00, www.bloomsbury.com

WHY TEACH? IN DEFENSE OF A REAL EDUCATION comes from a Yale grad who wanted others to have the great education he did - and who discovered, as a professor, that he faced forces of corporate interests, high tuitions, and career-oriented interests over the love of learning itself. His essays remind readers that there's more to teaching and learning than careers and money - and they provide inspiring insights into the process of teaching to broaden the mind, not just the pocketbook. Higher learning is needed to resolve modern issues in troubled times: WHY TEACH addresses these and other issues in higher education in a pick for any education or social issues collection.

Teaching Theory of Mind
Kristina Ordetx
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849058971, $34.95, www.jkp.com

Teaching Theory of Mind provides teachers with an easy curriculum for teaching children with high functioning autism and Asperger's and focuses on interacting with others successfully using Theory of Mind. It reviews key concepts of the practice, shows how to assess a child's curriculum abilities, and provides twelve 60-90 minute lesson plans to use with small or large groups ages 7-16, along with suggested activities and methods of interacting with parents and caregivers. The result is more than a set of lesson plans: it's packed with a different approach and all the supplementary materials needed to teach the curriculum, from flash cards to cut out to a social skills poster.

Becoming Scientists
Rusty Bresser and Sharon Fargason
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571109781, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com

Becoming Scientists: Inquiry-Based Teaching in Diverse Classrooms, Grades 3-5 provides a fine survey of good science and using inquiry science to help children discover their own answers to questions. Examples come from real-world classroom applications where teachers practice inquiry science and engage students in practices as outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, with this workbook showing how teachers can build on student backgrounds and knowledge. From enhancing science discussions to covering content, this is a solid reference for any elementary-level science teacher!

The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.princetonreview.com

Two new 2014 editions of classic student study guides for AP exam topics add to the series and provide would-be exam takers with specific, useful information suitable for study and success. Tom Meltzer and Paul Levy's CRACKING THE AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS EXAM (9780804124317, $18.99) pairs two full-length practice tests with a comprehensive glossary of terms, reviews of various government institutions, and detailed answers for tests, drills, and exercises. Step-by-step strategies for success aid in the study process. CRACKING THE AP WORLD HISTORY EXAM (9780307946263, $19.99) by The Princeton Review Staff adopts the same successful format, pairing two full-length practice tests with techniques to assure high scores and explanations that delve into each practice question. The result are references that college-bound students can consult to get the most out of their study habits before the AP exams are undertaken.

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

Zak Kukoff's THE AUTISM AMBASSADORS HANDBOOK: PEER SUPPORT FOR LEARNING, GROWTH, AND SUCCESS (9781452235257, $36.95) provides an inspirational handbook that describes how to set up a peer-mentoring organization in a school to help autistic children understand socially appropriate behaviors and coach them through school demands. From starting an Autism Ambassadors program and guidelines for student ambassador responsibilities to specific interventions students can use with ASD peers, this uses Applied Behavior Analysis in a curriculum addition created and led by students, and comes packed with sample dialogues and blocked notes of why it's important for Ambassadors to interact on a particular level with students. From fire drills to riding the bus, this covers all areas of concern and is a top pick for any who want to implement a specific peer program for easing autistic children into the school environment. Thomas Del Prete's TEACHER ROUNDS: A GUIDE TO COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN AND FROM PRACTICE (9781452268156, $31.95) considers peer-to-peer teacher professional development and covers all aspects of this kind of approach to professional learning, from step-by-step tools for implementing 'teacher rounds' to creating a positive environment with maximum benefit. Examples from schools at all grade levels and in all disciplines considers how classroom instruction may be moved to peer-to-peer models, and provide excellent, constructive insights to the entire process. Gretchen Bernabei and Judi Reimer's FUN-SIZE ACADEMIC WRITING FOR SERIOUS LEARNING (9781452268613, $34.95) provides a fine guide to adolescent writing from educators who have seen success using mentor texts by students to teach all kinds of writing approaches. Over a hundred essays written by students provide one-page lessons that address grammar, text, imagery, dialogue - all the basics key to any academic writing project. Three major sections align with the Common Core, STAAR and other state assessment programs, making this a powerful collection to essay examples paired with powerful lessons. Toby J. Karten's INCLUSION COACHING FOR COLLABORATIVE SCHOOLS (9781452268217, $31.95) is for any school interested in inclusion and coaching, and provides keys to using instructional coaches to guide school teams in implementing the best inclusion strategies. From establishing baselines for performance assessment and success to engaging staff in new practices and handling co-teaching challenges, this is packed with specific exercises, approaches and insights perfect for education collections! The third updated edition of Gayle H. Gregory's DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES PROFESSIONAL LEARNING GUIDE (9781452291642, $32.95) offers an updated third edition to a classic discussion on differentiated instruction developments. This companion to DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES: ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL is a workbook of exercises that provides step-by-step training activities for professional development. It's been revised to include new strategies, a Common Core lesson planning template, and plenty of new research on coaching, evaluation, and DI practices. A 'must' for any collection strong in differentiated instruction. The second updated edition of Alfred S. Posamentier, et.al.'s WHAT SUCCESSFUL MATH TEACHERS DO, GRADES 6-12 (9781452259130, $36.95) provides a fine resource for math teachers updated for Common Core standards, and tells what works in math and how to implement it. Eleven chapters feature strategies centered around one aspect of an instruction program - some 80 strategies in all - and include short descriptions of the strategy, a summary of research, discussion of Common Core Standards, and examples from classroom applications. The result is a fine collection that includes discussion of common problems and how to overcome them. William N. Bender's DIFFERENTIATING MATH INSTRUCTION K-8: COMMON CORE MATHEMATICS IN THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM (9781452255453, $31.95) provides real-time strategies for solid results and gives teachers a good lesson plan for blending the best technologies with Common Core standards in math. From project-based learning to using Khan Academy in the classroom and new techniques for differentiating math classes, this is packed with approaches to handling students with website research projects, games, and instructional ideas that include using Wikis in classroom settings. This third updated edition provide an excellent survey and should be required reading for any K-8 math teacher. THE COMMON CORE COMPANION: THE STANDARDS DECODED GRADES 9-12 by Jim Burke (9781452276588, $30.95) is a recommendation for any teacher interested in understanding the basics of the Common Core standard system, and focuses on how to teach these standards. Spiral binding for lay-flat use accompanies a companion designed to provide teachers and departments with a set of common reference points for schoolwide implementation. Grades 9-10 standards thus appear alongside 11-12 standards to help teachers cross-compare teaching standards for different grades, content areas are arranged for quick reference, and explanations are written in nontechnical language any can understand. Instructional approaches for teaching each standard are based on the author's own classroom experience, and provides specifics based on real-world applications. Teachers and principals will find this a solid reference that any educator should have.


The Military Shelf

Military Finances
Cheryl Lawthorne-Scott and Don Philpott
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
www.rlpgbooks.com
9781442222144, $34.95, www.rowman.com

MILITARY FINANCES: PERSONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES offers a fine collection of strategies for handling finances while serving and when returning to civilian life. Many military members are young with little or no experience in financial management, and many face frequent deployments and relocations which interfere with any financial plan. This handbook covers everything from basic banking and investment to retirement planning, home ownership or rental, creating a family budget, and paying taxes, and is specific to any military situation. A 'must' for any military family looking to gain more control over their money and choices.

Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com

Philip Haythornthwaite's NAPOLEONIC HEAVY CAVALRY & DRAGOON TACTICS (9781849087100, $18.95) receives Adam Hook's excellent color drawings to accompany diagrams, vintage black and white illustrations, and detailed analysis of the military strategies of Napoleonic battles. Heavy cavalry acted as a weapon on such a battlefield, and much depended on morale, timing and strategy laid out in instruction manuals. Period sources from official and personal records lend to an illustrated explanation of how heavy cavalry forces were deployed and equipped, surveying how they fought. Military history readers will find this an exceptional survey. The same audience will also relish Nicholas Millman's KI-27 'NATE' ACES (9781849086622, $22.95), which joins others in Osprey's aircraft series to analyze the successes and evolution of a plane that led the Japanese to successful campaigns in China in 1938. From there its pilots discovered its exceptional qualities during combat aerobatics, and flew the fighter from 1938 to 1941 in the front lines of the Pacific War. Vintage black and white photos and color illustrations throughout document the plane's evolution and encounters in battle in a recommendation for military history and aviation collections alike. Steven J. Zaloga's M10 TANK DESTROYER VS STUG III ASSAULT GUN (9781780960999, $18.95) provides an outstanding survey of the turretless vehicle which served as background support for infantry formations, then evolved to an gunned fighter with formidable firepower during the second world war. Collections strong in this era will find this an in-depth survey of the equipment used during the 11-month campaign surrounding Normandy events, and will welcome the close inspection of a tank destroyer that held its own during the war. Specially commissioned artwork accompanies vintage black and white photos documenting action. Edward M. Young's F4F WILDCAT VS. A6M ZERO-SEN (9781780963228, $18.95) follows the battles that book place between the two crafts in the Pacific arena during 1942, and considers the dogfights, tactics, equipment and battles between the two. Vintage black and white photos blend with some color illustrations to provide a fine survey of the aircraft and their encounters. David Nicolle's MANZIKERT 1071: THE BREAKING OF BYZANTIUM (9781780965031, $21.95) is a pick for any military library strong in ancient history and tells of a large Byzantine army whose particular choice of attack strategy ultimately led to its defeat. The battles at Manzikert are regarded as a turning point in Middle Eastern and world history, and are documented in depth here in a book that includes full color battle scenes, maps, and illustrations throughout. Any military library strong in ancient history and strategy will find this a winner! Robert Kirchubel's OPERATION BARBAROSSA: THE GERMAN INVASION OF SOVIET RUSSIA (9781782004080, $40.00) coves the campaigns and battles of Germany's surprise assault on Russia in 1941, and is a definitive survey of the largest invasion in not just that battle, but in the entire history of warfare. Its objective was to destroy the Soviet Union, and a quick campaign was designed to remove all obstacles to Hitler's regime. Instead Operation Barbarossa failed - but not without exacting an unprecedented toll. Osprey artwork, new maps, and modern photos accompanies in-depth coverage of one of the most definitive battles in World War II history in a reference that should be a 'must' for any military reference collection. Mark Galeotti's RUSSIAN SECURITY AND PARAMILITARY FORCES SINCE 1991 (9781780961057, $18.95) provides a fine history of military forces, artifacts, and techniques of Russian security and paramilitary forces since 1991, and comes from an international authority who considers all kinds of troop units and approaches. Color artwork and photographs throughout document uniforms and equipment alike, and provide a fine survey recommended for military and Russian history collections alike. Leroy Thompson and Peter Dennis' US COMBAT SHOTGUN (9781780960142, $18.95) covers gun manufacturers who produced combat shotguns for U.S. armed forces for various wars, and surveys the evolution of shotguns from early combat weapons to modern times. Color artwork accompanies a fine history of the guns and their development and service, lending to a vivid and well-researched pick recommended for any military or weaponry history collection. Another fine addition for this audience, joining this and others in the 'Weapon' series, is THE FN FAL BATTLE RIFLE (9781780969039, $18.95), which covers the history and development of an assault weapon created in response to the innovative German StG 44 Sturmgewehr, a compact, lightweight weapon which could fire a cartridge much further than its competitors. The Fusil Automatique Leger (or FAL) was developed by Belgium forces for NATO use but was soon adopted by police forces around the globe, and remains in production to this day. A fine survey of the weapon's capabilities makes for an excellent historical review.


The Photography Shelf

Their Fate Is Our Fate
Peter Doherty
The Experiment
260 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3 South
NY, NY 10001 - 6408
www.theexperimentpublishing.com
9781615190911, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Their Fate Is Our Fate: How Birds Foretell threats to Our Health and Our World comes from an immunologist and a professor who points out that birds detect environmental dangers long before humans do. He provides accounts of birds around the world and how they have sensed dangers, showing how birds can be an early warning system for all kinds of threats and offering a call to action by lay readers who can gather data that depends on the birds around them. Recommended for science and health collections alike, this examines how birds are important links between human affairs and environmental health.

Create Erotic Photography
Richard Young
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200
Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608956180, $27.95, www.amherstmedia.com

CREATE EROTIC PHOTOGRAPHY: FIND MODELS, CHOOSE LOCATIONS, DESIGN GREAT LIGHTING, AND SELL YOUR IMAGES tells how to use simple gear and special effects to create erotica on a budget, and packs in over 250 image examples in both color and black and white. All the basic photographer needs is a model, a camera and some light to achieve superior results capturing the human form: well, that and this guide, which offers ideas and specific tips for all skill levels. From booking models for a shoot to low-cost post-production strategies and working at home or in a studio location, CREATE EROTIC PHOTOGRAPHY is packed with ideas and custom tips perfect for any photographer's collection.

The Art of iPhone Photography
Bob Weil & Nicki Fitzgerald
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538187, $44.95, www.rockynook.com

The Art of iPhone Photography: Creating Great Photos and Art on Your iPhone explores how over forty acclaimed iPhone photographer created some of their most famous, best-known images - and uses their own words to explore the process of producing superior iPhone photography. From landscapes to street scenes, portraits to collages and beyond, this tackles the basics of using the iPhone as an artistic instrument, explores nearly 100 apps that can be used in the process, and pairs detailed step-by-step tutorials with a gallery of stunning images. The result is a recommendation for any who would use their iPhone as a tool for achieving better photographic results.


The Mathematics Shelf

Magnificent Mistakes in Mathematics
Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616147471, $24.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

MAGNIFICENT MISTAKES IN MATHEMATICS provides a lively discussion about whimsical, ironic, and intriguing mathematical mistakes and is a fine recommendation for leisure readers and any science and math collection. It comes from seasoned math educators who go beyond documenting and gathering historical math snafus to consider how these errors in calculation and thinking went on to affect science, math and education's basic concepts. From misuse of the concept of infinity to how proof violates the basic concept of 'betweenness', chapters consider mathematical calculations, concepts, and how errors in calculation translate to errors in logic and perception. High school to college-level collections need this survey, which will be perfect for classroom discussion.

Love & Math
Edward Frenkel
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465050741, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com

LOVE & MATH: THE HEART OF HIDDEN REALITY pairs an autobiography with fascinating insights into the world of math, and comes from a young professor of mathematics who creates a case for viewing math as not a singular discipline, but a unifying approach describing and uniting all of matter. It's about his own discovery of the wonders of math - and how he became involved in the Langlands Program, which enables researchers to translate findings from one field to another to solve problems that seemed impossible. His love of math and his fascination for its methods and applications translate to a celebratory read recommended for general-interest, mathematics, and science collections alike.

Numbersense
Kaiser Fung
McGraw-Hill Professional
The McGraw Hill Companies
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
New York, NY 10020
9780071799669, $24.00, www.mhprofessional.com

NUMBERSENSE: HOW TO USE BIG DATA TO YOUR ADVANTAGE comes from a professional statistician who considers big data numbers and how to understand and use them, and promotes the use of Numbersense - the ability to grasp the basics of numbers, statistics and analyses. It contends that bigger and bigger amounts of data require a different approach to its analysis, and uses anecdotes and conclusions pointing out the common fallacies in number processing. The result is a powerful guide, highly recommended for any involved in business, science, information processing or any discipline where numbers and technology meet.

Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
Victor Henner, et.al.
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466515000, $89.95, www.amazon.com

Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations provides college-level readers with a comprehensive textbook covering both ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations, offering a complete course on both under one cover which makes this a unique contribution to the field. Examples and exercises accompany software supporting these and a text that covers all the basics any undergraduate or beginning graduate course will cover in differential equations. This doesn't require programmer knowledge nor any special computer software outside the disc provided here, and provides in-depth detail for students in the physical, engineering, biological and math sciences using examples throughout. Very highly recommended for any college collection supporting these disciplines.

Introduction To Partial Differential Equations With MATLAB, second edition
Matthew P. Coleman
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439898468, $89.95, www.crcpress.com

Matthew P. Coleman's second updated edition of An Introduction To Partial Differential Equations With MATLAB is a pick for any college-level collection strong in applied mathematics and nonlinear science, and provides a thorough assessment updated for the latest mathematical applications. From modeling problems ranging from heat flow to sound waves and algae spread to equations based on methods of solution and physical and mathematical applications, this reviews PDEs and their applications and is a pick for advanced math collections whose patrons have an basic knowledge of multivariable calculus and ODEs. Any working with MATLAB codes and problem-solving applications need this!


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Dictionary of International Human Rights Law
Constance de la Vega
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781849803779, $160.00, www.e-elgar.com

College-level collections strong in human rights references and with a focus on international legal systems will find Dictionary of International Human Rights Law provides students and professors alike with a one-volume reference breaking down terms used in discussions of such laws. From in-depth definitions of torture, the United Nations Trusteeship Council, and international financial institutions to privacy rights and positive law, this includes cross-references, discussions of rights, legal entities, and more. The result is a powerful technical dictionary suitable for any student of international law and social issues.


The Library Science Shelf

Practical Programming
Monique Delatte Starkey
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838986707, $40.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Practical Programming: The Best of YA-YAAC covers different kinds of programs librarians can consider to attract young adults, and come from the YA-YAAC online tools sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Librarians and staff will find this a basic introduction to the best new programming ideas of recent years, providing keys to staging events and conducting games, creating youth services, and coordinating youth opportunities. From activities to recipes for refreshments, this holds many different approaches and programs librarians can use to attract teen interest.


The Technology Shelf

Finite Element Modeling Methods for Photonics
B.M. Azizur Rahman and Arti Agrawal
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781608075317, $159.00, www.artechhouse.com

Finite Element Modeling Methods for Photonics provides a powerful resource describing the applications of FEM in photonics devices and covers everything from problem-solving applications to real-world examples and mathematical concepts. Engineers involved in developing photonic components will find this a powerful guide to the simulation process as a whole, with chapters including formulas, structure analysis, discussions of different methods and approaches, and investigations applying different methods to problems. The result is a powerful technical reference highly recommended for any engineering library.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Shady Characters
Keith Houston
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393064421, $25.95, www.wwnorton.com

SHADY CHARACTERS: THE SECRET LIFE OF PUNCTUATION, SYMBOLS AND OTHER TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS provides a fine history of punctuation marks, creating a reference that will appeal not just to literary collections, but those involved in typographic history and social history alike. It begins with early Alexandria and moves to modern times with its survey of the evolution and changing use of eleven punctuation marks, linking punctuation choices with religion, technology, culture and literacy. With its lively dialogue and literary insights, this is a reference that will appeal across the board from scholarly to general-interest readers.


The Science Shelf

Signatures of Life
Edward Ashpole
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616146689, $25.00, www.promeheusbooks.com

SIGNATURES OF LIFE: SCIENCE SEARCHES THE UNIVERSE explores the possible reasons why scientists have found no evidence supporting intelligent life in the universe, despite the efforts of SETI's astronomical search of the skies over a period of decades. Is life a universal phenomenon, or are humans unique? This examines inherent problems involved in scanning the skies for life, including the challenges of communicating with species in possession of entirely different technologies. It considers alternate ways of identifying life, discusses the 'signatures of life' emanating from Earth and how we may be missing signs of alien life both in the universe and here on Earth. Any interested in the science of extraterrestrial research will find this an engrossing, revealing survey of possibilities.

The Universal Sense
Seth S. Horowitz, PhD
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781608198832, $17.00, www.bloomsbury.com

THE UNIVERSAL SENSE considers the effects of sound on the brain, and provides both a scientific and humorous review of how this sense affects not only perception, but the brain's ability to process thoughts and images. It discusses both ambient and pronounced sounds and their different effects on the human body, sharing insights about noises, psychology, and the science of sound as it operates in the human and natural world. With its ramifications for understanding our universe, this discussion is a recommended pick for science and health collections alike.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
www.orbisbooks.com

James H. Cone's THE CROSS AND THE LYNCHING TREE (9781626980051, $24.00) is a powerful Christian history about race and religion in America and focuses on the spiritual world of African Americans. From the history of their evolution in America to the reconciliation of religion with violence and threats, God's answer the lynching and injustices, and individuals who engaged blacks about social issues, this pairs an inspirational social history with a survey of underlying Christian Biblical references that permeated the black community and provided inspiration and impetus for fostering change. The analysis of faith and race makes for a powerful, compelling Christian survey important for any spirituality collection. Tim Flinders' JOHN MUIR: SPIRITUAL WRITINGS (9781626980358, $20.00) combines biography with spiritual analysis as it surveys the spiritual life inherent in John Muir's writings and connections with nature. This coverage analyzes Muir's unique form of American spiritual perception and thinking and covers everything from perceptions of baptism and nature to pilgrimages in the wilderness. The result is a powerful work that's recommended not just for environmental or nature collections which are the usual recipients of works by and about Muir, but for spiritual holdings. Also recommended is Diarmuid O'Murchu's GOD IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE: WISDOM FOR CONFUSING TIMES (9781626980419, $20.00), which combines religion and science in a consideration of the author's quest to find a spiritual underlying theory of everything. O'Murchu is an evolutionary theologian whose works have been discussed in many circles: this fine coverage analyzes religion, the difference between this and underlying spirituality, and making sense of the world and God's place in it. Any spiritual holding will welcome this discussion.

The God Who Became Human
Graham A. Cole
IVP Academic
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830826315, $22.00, www.ivpress.com/academic

The God Who Became Human: A Biblical Theology of Incarnation is a recommendation for academic collections strong in biblical analysis and considers themes in theology and the roles and events key to understanding Christianity. From the purpose of creation and its underlying divine image contention to God's acts in Israel's history and the language and image of God as a creator and voice, this considers the transformation of God to a human word accessible to all, and uses New Testament answers to consider the basic question of why God became man. Collections strong in scholarly Christian theology will find this a perfect choice.

One With Christ
Marcus Peter Johnson
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433531491, $19.99, www.crossway.org

ONE WITH CHRIST: AN EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY OF SALVATION uses the Scriptures and church history to consider salvation and the basics of redemption with the living Christ, and is a recommendation for Christian collections looking for a theology centered around the salvation process. Chapters cover everything from the passive obedience of Christ to the meaning of being 'justified', sanctifications in Christ, and the Church's role in manifesting a living Christ. Christian scholars will find this a wonderful theological analysis.

Discovering Trinity in Disability
Myroslaw Tataryn & Maria Truchan-Tataryn
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980372, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Discovering Trinity in Disability: A Theology for Embracing Differences comes from a Ukrainian priest and a wife who specializes in disability studies who are themselves parents of disabled children, and thus provides a unique blend of spiritual and social observation and analysis of Gospel teachings and disability issues. From a history of Scripture from Hebrew to modern times to how modern churches and society view social and individual models of disability, this packs in a fine analysis that advocates building inclusive communities and spiritual teachings, and will find a home in any library strong in religious discussions of disability.

From Times Square to Timbuktu
Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802869685, $20.00, www.eerdmans.com

From Times Square to Timbuktu: The Post-Christian West Meets the Non-Western Church explores the lasting consequences of the shift in modern Christianity from Europe to a point near Timbuktu in Africa, and considers how changing centers of religious power have affected North America in its efforts to rebuild Christian unity. This focus on different efforts and purposes between north and south offers fine analysis of the church structure and approaches differentiating each. The result begins with a global perspective but offers important analysis of North and South religious communities perfect for any spiritual history collection.

Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration
John Chryssavgis & Bruce V. Foltz, Editors
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823251452, $35.00, www.fordhampress.com

Toward an Ecology of Transfiguration: Orthodox Christian Perspectives on Environment, Nature, and Creation provides a fine anthology contributing to scholarly writings on religion and ecology, and is an essay collection recommended for this audience. It connects ecological to spiritual crisis, offering analysis of Christian perspectives, orthodoxy, and the environment and nature, and it provides religious academics with discussions of human and world image, orthodoxy, the history of ecopolitics and church involvements, and much more. A fine guide for any scholarly Christian reader concerned about environmental issues!


The Fiction Shelf

Game: A Thriller
Anders de la Motte
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
9781476712888, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Author Anders de la Motte has worked as a police officer and an IT security director, and now works as an international security consultant: all these jobs lends to a powerful thriller telling of one Henrick Pettersson, a slacker who finds a mobile phone on a train from an unknown company and receives messages addressed to him inviting him to play a secret game. Of course Henrick jumps at the opportunity - and finds himself involved in an increasingly complex game involving criminal acts and pranks; all of which are filmed and uploaded onto a protected server where viewers rate his performance. A Game Master oversees all behind the scenes; but when the game becomes all too real, it's up to the unlikely Henrick and his sister, a bodyguard with many secrets and fears, to overcome the layers of unreality the game is imposing on his life. Can Rebecca solve the puzzle of the game's real purpose before Henrick loses touch with reality and endangers them all? A fine story evolves, perfect for fans of high technology thrillers.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Cold Tuscan Stone
David P. Wagoner
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464201905, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

Cold Tuscan Stone provides a new Rick Montoya Italian mystery and tells of Rick's move from New Mexico to Rome, where he's beginning to settle into the life of a translator when he's tapped for an unofficial undercover role posing as a buyer for a gallery to uncover relic traffickers. What begins as a simple sting operation turns into a murder investigation when a gallery employee's murder involves Rick in a dangerous series of cat-and-mouse games. Mystery holdings will find this a fine chronicle.

The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Rose
Susan Wittig Albert
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425260586, $25.95, www.penguin.com

The southern ladies are at it again: this time the Darling Dahlias face a flying circus visit to Darling, Alabama and a saboteur who is bent on being sure the visit turns into murderous disaster. What makes the Dahlias stories stand out from the crowd is an attention to colorful Southern scenes, culture, and interactions which are unexpected and fun. In addition to a mystery, readers receive a solid dose of Southern hospitality and gentle interactions which makes this a special pick for any harboring an affection for Southern culture.


The Biography Shelf

Cowboy Stuntman
Dean Smith with Mike Cox
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727892, $29.95, www.ttupress.org

COWBOY STUNTMAN: FROM OLYMPIC GOLD TO THE SILVER SCREEN follows author Dean Smith's career as a cowboy turned Hollywood stuntman, and provides a powerful autobiography surveying the family and career elements that influenced his career. From his encounters with the movie industry to how he got the chance to re-create some of the most powerful Western scenes in film, this creates a lively page-turner packed with encounters, events, high drama, and all the elements of a powerful read. While fans of cowboy memorabilia and insights will be the most likely readers of his autobiography, any interested in Hollywood stunt actors will also find COWBOY STUNTMAN packed with insights on the industry in general and stunt work in particular.

Hanns and Rudolf
Thomas Harding
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
NY, NY 10020
9781476711843, $26.00, www.simonsays.com

HANNS AND RUDOLF: THE TRUE STORY OF THE GERMAN JEW WHO TRACKED DOWN AND CAUGHT THE COMMANDANT OF AUSCHWITZ will reach readers of World War II history as well as readers of biographies, and tells the story of two Germans whose lives involved tracking down one of the most brutal war criminals of the times. The author first discovered that his own great-uncle was a Nazi hunter only after the man's death in 2006. Over the next six years, Harding read through hundreds of archives, interviewed survivors, and even traveled to Auschwitz. His investigation into the search for Hoss moves from past to present in covering the history of the war, concentration camps, and the events which led two respected men who loved their country to become symbols of evil. The result is a powerful study recommended for any reader of World War II history.


The Travel Shelf

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

James Bainbridge, et.al.'s SOUTH AFRICA, LESOTHO & SWAZILAND (9781741798005, $27.99) provides a fine take-along tote for any destination visitor and considers Africa's southernmost trip of areas. New research, small easy to use maps, and revised coverage of small towns, local offerings, and sights and activities keep this a fine, current reference guide highly recommended for any planning a trip to the region that goes beyond the usual South Africa borders to neighboring areas. Carolyn McCarthy researches PANAMA (9781742200125, $24.99) and covers everything from beaches to rainforests, providing a strong independent traveler's guide that considers byways and the latest areas for any who would travel throughout the country. From places to stay and eat on a budget to detailed descriptions of surrounding areas, this is a 'must' for any who would visit Panama on their own. Independent travelers will also relish Chris Rowthorn, et.al.'s weighty JAPAN (9781742204147, $29.99), which explores the basics of travel throughout the country and uses the combined experiences of some 40 years of journeying by the collaborator authors involved. From sleeping and eating in small villages to local attractions and sights, this is a solid reference for any interested in Japanese culture and unique opportunities. Regis St. Louis, et.al.'s SOUTH AMERICA ON A SHOESTRING (9781741798944, $39.99) comes from experts who live and work in South America and has been updated to include a new itineraries chapter with photos, discussions of many active outdoors opportunities from hiking to rafting, and presents a vast range of ratings for accommodations and places to eat to appeal to active, independent travelers. At over 1,000 pages this is no slim tote - but then, it covers all of South America: perfect for journeyers who plan on visiting more than one country and who want a larger guidebook than the smaller regional coverages can offer.

Traveler's Tales
2320 Bowdoin Street
Palo Alto, CA 94306
www.travelerstales.com

Any interested in solid armchair travel readers will find two books exceptional, lively coverages packed with true stories from travelers braver - and zanier - than most. Marcy Gordon edits LEAVE THE LIPSTICK TAKE THE IGUANA: FUNNY TRAVEL STORIES AND STRANGE PACKING TIPS (9781609520533, $16.95), a fun set of humorous stories about some eye-opening travel experiences. From a hunt for apes in Paris to an Indian wedding which is anything but like the movies, this is packed with hilarious travel encounters that will leave readers both laughing and glad to be safely at home. Volume 8 of Lavinia Spalding's THE BEST WOMEN'S TRAVEL WRITING: TRUE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD (9781609520595, $19.95) provides both fun and serious encounters and is a pick for both travel and women's issues collections. It is filled with accounts of holidays gone awry, close cultural encounters, and experiences that are narrated from and involve a woman's unique perspective, and it makes for lively and involving armchair enjoyment. The result are collections that offer outstanding stories of real experiences, recommended for any travel library looking for literary accounts of world journeys.


The Computer Shelf

SQL for Dummies, eighth edition
Allan G. Taylor
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118607961, $29.99, www.dummies.com

SQL for Dummies teaches the basics of creating more powerful databases using SQL and covers the core language and everything needed to create a database design. From storing information in a relational database structure to keeping data safe from hacking or manipulation, this appears in its eighth updated edition to cover all the basics of database language and manipulation processes. From using SQL on the Internet to avoiding 10 common mistakes, this is a 'bible' of SQL information and is a 'must' for any using the language in any form. The author is a 25-year industry veteran who lectures nationally on databases: his instructions are clear, based on real-world applications, and cover everything one needs to know about SQL's applications.

OpenGL ES2 for Android
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381
Frisco, TX 75033-7438
www.pragprog.com

Developers who want the basics of how to create graphics on Android will find Kevin Brothaler's OpenGL ES2 for Android (9781937785345, $38.00) a fine handbook for using the newly released OpenGL ES 3 version and making full use of its advanced effects and applications. From linear algebra and creating three-dimensional special effects to building landscapes then using them for 3-D wallpaper projects, charts and color illustrations and examples throughout offer a basic coverage of tips and tricks for using OpenGL more effectively. Any developer looking for such tips will find this a solid pick. Eewei Chen's 101 Design Ingredients to Solve Big Tech Problems (9781937785321, $36.00) helps technology teams identify problems and solutions to design. Over a hundred problem-solving ingredients are arranged here by project stages and created to provide formulas to business success, complete with examples on how companies used these formulas to solve specific business issues. The result is a tested series of design specifics perfect for any collection strong in project management, business design applications, or IT.

Tableau 8: The Official Guide
George Peck
McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
NY, NY 10020
9780071816786, $40.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Tableau 8: The Official Guide provides an outstanding survey on how to create and distribute rich data visualizations and interactive BI dashboards and gathers best practices needed for any business intelligence project. From navigating Tableau's interface and using data fields to displaying maps, adding calculations and charts, and combining data sources to produce exceptional visual displays, this provides a step-by-step focus on creating better business communications between end users and entities, and comes with videos that demonstrate the techniques and sample Tableau workbooks on a disc. Business and IT professionals alike will find this an important survey!

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

Two new 'Jump Start' titles provide fine basic introductions to getting started in programs and teaches the basics in just a weekend of study. Don Nguyen's JUMP START NODE JS (0987332104, $24.95) shows how to develop and work within a dynamic node.js application, from assembling pieces of a new account to understanding the simplicity of setup code and handling different style codes. Sidebars of information and illustrations clarify the code examples throughout. Earle Castledine's JUMP START COFFEE SCRIPT (9780987247827, $24.95) teaches web developers how to work with CoffeeScript, which is altering how JavaScript is written. From working with loops and structuring code to understanding CoffeeScript basics and applying them to real-world solutions, this is packed with clear step-by-step explanations backed by code examples throughout. Both are solid references for any computer collection!

jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5 for Mobile and Desktop Devices
O. Camesato
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781938549038, $51.95, www.merclearning.com

jQuery, CSS3, and HTML5 for Mobile and Desktop Devices: a Primer includes a DVD with all the source code and images from the text and provides a basic primer on all the features of HTML5, CSS3 graphics, jQuery and jQuery Mobile, and shows programmers with some prior knowledge how to create better code and graphics. Examples help show how to create mobile Web applications and how to create animation effects, with chapters covering all the new features of the latest researches and how they apply to web programming efforts. The result is a 'must' for any programmer looking to get to the next level.

Computer: A History of the Information Machine, third edition
Martin Campbell-Kelly, et.al.
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813345901, $42.00, www.westviewpress.com

Computer: A History of the Information Machine explores the development of computer science from its early roots as a theory to its modern incarnation in mobile computing, and is a 'must' for any studying the computer's history and evolution. A historical coverage analyzes different forms of early computers, applications, and their evolution beginning in the 1800s and covers all the key innovations affecting computer science today. This third updated edition updates all information on modern computing trends and makes for a top pick for any student of technology and computer history.


The Social Issues Shelf

Privilege: A Reader, third edition
Michael S. Kimmel & Abby L. Ferber
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348711, $39.00, www.westviewpress.com

Privilege: A Reader appears in its third updated edition to explore elements of gender, class, disability and religion in the process of considering privilege and oppression, and provides new and recast readings to reflect the latest research in the area. Ten new readings have been added, sections have been revamped, and material has been tweaked to make readings more vivid and diverse. The result is a highly recommended reader for any collection strong in social analysis and issues of race, class, gender, and social structure.

Word of Mouse
Marc Ostrofsky
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
NY, NY 10020
9781451668407, $24.99, www.simonandschuster.com

WORD OF MOUSE: 101+ TRENDS IN HOW WE BUY, SELL, LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND PLAY blends computer insights with social and technological approaches to everything from shopping and education to health and safety, and teaches parents how to bridge the digital gap with kids by using social media, consumers how to make better shopping decisions using the 20 best mobile apps, and general users how to understand modern digital classroom approaches. Technology goes beyond computer use to cover GPS collar tags for pets and even selling crafts with the aid of a smartphone app. The result is a solid coverage of all kinds of technological innovations and how they can work to improve daily lives, and is a pick for any consumer or social issues holding.


The Psychology Shelf

From Like to Love for Young People with Asperger's Syndrome
Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849054362, $19.95, www.jkp.com

From Like to Love for Young People With Asperger's Syndrome: Learning How to Express and Enjoy Affection With Family and Friends comes from two world leaders in Asperger's and provides parents and caregivers with insights and training on how to teach children to identify the words and gestures that transmit affection. Activities are designed to help adults work with children in teaching these basic gestures, and are supplemented by insights that lead to greater understanding of the Asperger's child's special perceptions and challenges in the world. Any collection strong in parenting special needs children will find this a top addition.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Spillover
David Quammen
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393346619, $16.95, www.wwnorton.com

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic provides an outstanding survey of the next human pandemic which the author maintains is likely to b caused by zoonotic virus - one that jumps from a wild animal to infect its human host. David Quammen has tracked this subject around the world from Africa to China, reports on researchers who work in space and in labs studying lethal viruses, and how other diseases such as Ebola and SARS have gained footholds. His is a powerful survey that makes the case for a dangerous possibility that is coming closer every day, and is a 'must' for science and health collections alike.

Caring for Children Who Have Severe Neurological Impairment
Julie M. Hauer, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409375, $34.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Caring for Children Who Have Severe Neurological Impairment promotes shared decision making between family caregivers and healthcare providers and details all aspect of medical care, from handling pain and feeding problems to respiratory issues. Case studies and stories show how different families approach the overall and specific issues involved in high-maintenance caregiving routines for such children, while scientific information and the latest health research is clearly explained. Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to a variety of problems are examined in a fine health guide highly recommended for any caring for disabled children.


The Crafts Shelf

North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street
Iola WI 54945
www.artistsnetwork.com

Mark and Mary Willenbrink's DRAWING NATURE FOR THE ABSOLUTE BEGINNER (9781440323555, $22.99) provides a fine step-by-step beginner's course on drawing nature that assumes no prior artistic experience, and is a fine pick for any who would learn basic sketching, textures, and values using nature scenes as a reference point. From drawing individual features - rocks, butterflies and flowers - to incorporating them into overall nature landscapes, this reference leaves nothing to wonder and provides such easy sketches that even those with little background will find themselves producing startlingly-authentic results in a minimum of time. Highly recommended! Lian Quan Zhen's CHINESE LANDSCAPE PAINTING TECHNIQUES FOR WATERCOLOR (9781440322655, $29.99) is a fine art guide for any collection strong in watercolor art and teaches how to blend techniques and materials to produce lovely yet simple landscapes. 12 complete demonstrations show how to capture a range of seasonal landscapes while 15 step-by-step exercises provide the basics of watercolor use. Black and white line drawings and color photos of finished results provide clear art insights and are often accompanied by bonuses, such as a website available to download a free bonus demonstration of a watercolor. The result is an outstanding pick, highly recommended for any arts and crafts library providing the basics to beginners!


The Woodworking Shelf

Hogbin on Woodturning
Stephen Hogbin
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565237520, $24.99, www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Hogbin on Woodturning: Masterful Projects Uniting Purpose, Form & Technique comes from a legendary woodturner whose exhibition of unique turnings changed the industry in the early 1970s. His method of cutting apart, reassembling and carving pieces revolutionized crafter usage of the lathe and resulted in internationally-acclaimed works. This manual is the first time Hogbin has described his techniques in a step-by-step project format designed for other woodworkers to emulate, and provides keys to reproducing twelve of his masterpieces. Projects from walking sticks to bowls make for lovely basis for enhancing woodturning methods, while color photos of all works accompany fine insights into his craft. Any woodworking or crafts collection MUST have this definitive reference from a renowned expert!


The Business Shelf

The Board of Directors and Audit Committee Guide to Fiduciary Responsibilities
Sheila Moran, CPA, CFE
Ronald Kral, CPA, CMA
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780814431665, $34.95, www.amacombooks.org

The Board of Directors and Audit Committee Guide to Fiduciary Responsibilities reviews ten steps to protecting an organization and is directed to those Americans who serve on board or audit committees of organizations. Over three million Americans serve in this capacity, and the position involves risk and major duties. As there's increasingly less leeway for error and omission in the process, with individual board or audit committee members being held liable for wrongdoing, this book becomes even more essential as a solid reference for any who would understand the processes, duties, and crucial action steps for serving on such a committee. Very highly recommended!

What Happened to Goldman Sachs
Steven G. Mandis
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422194195, $28.00, www.hbr.org/books

What Happened to Goldman Sachs: An Insider's Story of Organizational Drift and its Unintended Consequences charts the evolution of the firm and how it changed from an ethical base to a legal base when it became a leading global corporation. In the course of charting this 'drift' it reveals what caused Goldman to move away from its foundations, and uses the author's firsthand experience, research, and analysis of SEC and other filings as well as interviews with former clients to pair a strong story with financial and ethical analysis. Any interested in Goldman history will find this a solid foundation for classroom discussion.

Starting an Etsy Business for Dummies, second edition
Kate Gatski and Kate Shoup
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118590249, $19.99, www.fordummies.com

Starting an Etsy Business for Dummies tells how to use etsy.com to sell handmade goods, crafts and vintage items, and tells how to build an Etsy shop and promote it. This second updated edition covers all the basics, from understanding the Etsy model and signing up for an account to selling items, understanding what can and can't be sold on Etsy, and marketing an Etsy business. Any business collection interested in online marketing strategies must have this!

Great Work
David Stuart
McGraw-Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
NY, NY 10020
9780071818353, $25.00, www.mhprofessional.com

GREAT WORK: HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE PEOPLE LOVE comes from the O.C. Tanner Institute, a division of a leading global provider of employee recognition systems, and covers the five basic things people do to make a difference that attract others to their efforts. The focus is on 'great work' and what makes work great, and covers the skill sets and activities that differentiate this kind of work for ordinary basics. These are skills any can learn - and are covered here, in a discussion of strategies perfect for employees and business readers.


The Cookbook Shelf

Made at Home
Dick & James Strawbridge
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845336561, $19.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

MADE AT HOME: VEGETABLES comes from a father/son team who host a popular BBC TV series and here shows how to grow, harvest, preserve and cook with seasonable vegetables. From choosing the best ingredients to using a small space to produce big results, MADE AT HOME: VEGETABLES assumes no prior knowledge of growing or cooking and offers step-by-step coverage for all kinds of garden produce. Recipes are simple and pair color photos with sidebars of at-a-glance information to make the most of a garden's bounty. Newcomers to vegetables will find this a winning introduction.

Triple Slow Cooker Entertaining
Kathy Moore & Roxanne Wyss
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
97890778804444, $24.95, www.robertrose.ca

Plenty of cookbooks cover slow cooker recipes and some advocate using the cooker for entertaining, but this differs in exploring the approach of a 'triple slow cooker': one cooker with three stoneware vessels. With triple cookers you can cook three dishes simultaneously and keep them warm for a party - and this cookbook provides not only recipes but menu plans for all kinds of occasions, from child's birthday party to Halloween and seasonal entertaining. Dips, meatball main dishes, salsas, snacks, and finger foods are all explored with this specific set-up in mind, making for a top pick for owners of a triple slow cooker set-up who want entertainment-specific dishes.

The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook
Christopher Kimball & Cook's Country Editors
America's Test Kitchen
9781936493531, $29.95, www.americastestkitchen.com

The Complete Cook's Country TV Show Cookbook is published to coincide with the TV show's 6th season and includes recipes and tests from all five seasons. This cookbook is strong on presenting fool-proof, tested comfort foods such as Honey Fried Chicken, Baltimore Pit Beef, and much more, taking regional American favorite dishes and making them accessible to home cooks. There's over 50 pages of an in-depth shopper's guide to ingredients and equipment, over 250 recipes, and insights into how they were tested to achieve predictable, assured success. Fans of the TV series, especially, now can enjoy their favorite recipes in one convenient cookbook.

Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street
Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com

J.M. Hirsch and Michelle Hirsch's VENTURESOME VEGAN COOKING: BOLD FLAVORS FOR PLANT-BASED MEALS (9781572841147, $19.95) is packed with insights on how to make vegan dishes that are easy to prepare and packed with flavor, and includes a wealth of main dish and side dishes dedicated to healthier eating. From Maple-Curried Carrots and Pasta Spirals with Creamy Potato and Artichoke Sauce to Creamy Tomato and Rice Soup and Couscous Curry with Dried Fruit, these dishes often take under 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish, include tips for quicker cooking - such as what skillet to select - and are accompanied by a liberal peppering of color photos throughout for added embellishment. Any vegetarian will relish the different, flavorful dishes! Paula Haney's THE HOOSIER MAMA BOOK OF PIE: DELUXE RECIPES (9781572841437, $29.95) provides an excellent cookbook from one of Chicago Avenue's best bakeries, Hoosier Mama Pie Company, and presents dishes that range from sweet to savory. The company specializes in artisanal pies made with season and local ingredients, and their cookbook reflects this focus, pairing recipes with step-by-step color photos when techniques need embellishing. The result is a pie cookbook accessible to all levels of cook, and recommended for any cookbook collection.

Charcuterie
Michael Ruhlman & Brian Polcyn
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393240054, $35.00, www.wwnorton.com

CHARCUTERIE: THE CRAFT OF SALTING, SMOKING, AND CURING provides a fine in-depth update of the original 2005 publication of CHARCUTERIE which promoted home curing. This update assures this book will remain the 'bible' of its genre, providing an authoritative guide to the home curing culinary movement that involves curing meats and making sausage, pates and confits. It provides reviews of key practices and different kinds of curing methods, it provides recipes for all kinds of sausages and charcuterie and their use in specific dishes, and it even includes innovative recipes such as a grilled vegetable terrine. Don't expect a 'quick' cookbook: these methods require time and a basic culinary interest. But don't expect this to be a cookbook limited to professional viewing only. Do expect a clear guide to the genre, packed with color photos and step-by-step procedures, along with discussions of what works, how, and why.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Lace One-Skein Wonders
Judith Durant, editor
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781612120584, $18.95, www.storey.com

Lace One-Skein Wonders gathers contributions from lace workers around the world and provides a collection of over a hundred lace projects, each using just one skein of yarn. It's arranged by project type and includes close-ups of stitching patterns and charts, and provides lace groups for knitters of all levels who want to use lace in the creation of hats, home decor and more. Different yarn weights and applications are reviewed in a fine gathering of projects perfect for knitters seeking more detail and specifics on lace embellishments, paired with projects and color examples throughout.

Organic Fiber Dyeing
Max Hamrick
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604601114, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com

Organic Fiber Dyeing: The Colonial Williamsburg Method provides details on color-dyeing fabric techniques used by 18th century Williamsburg people, and covers nontoxic dyeing methods used in traditional ways. Nine natural color sources are revealed in 'recipes' that demonstrate how to create 14 colors for all kinds of fabrics, textiles and yarn. Photos by Barbara Lombardi round out the information and provide fine embellishment to a lovely book highly recommended for any fiber artist interested in learning non-toxic and old dyeing sources and methods.

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

Cindy Lammon's SIMPLY MODERN CHRISTMAS: FRESH QUILTING PATTERNS FOR THE HOLIDAYS (9781604682182, $24.99) is a pick for crafts and needlework collections alike and provides 14 projects that use traditional and modern fabrics to create designs for either Christmas gift-giving or year-round celebrations. From a tree skirt and holiday stockings to lovely quilts, this shows how to incorporate quilting patterns into holiday motifs, and how to spruce up results for seasonal applications. A lovely survey evolves, perfect for year-round needleworker efforts. Kim Diehl's SIMPLE BLESSINGS: 14 QUILTS TO GRACE YOUR HOME (9781564775191, $27.99) is for any quilter who wants to incorporate quilts into a home deign and features an array of bed quilt, lap quilt and wall hanging projects that show how to make the most of home decor and quilt design. Tips range from how to use simpler techniques to polish the process to choosing borders and patterns that compliment a home's decor. The result is a fine survey, highly recommended for any needlework collection.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Last President
John Barnes
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9781937007157, $26.95, www.penguin.com

The Last President offers the third book in Barnes' series about a post-apocalyptic U.S. and tells of a small band of survivors who attempt to reconstruct the U.S. and civilization after the event known as Daybreak, which has destroyed technology and sent mankind back to the dark ages. For over a year Heather has struggled to form a government: now she and her band are in place to restart a new President, Congress and a new Constitution. The only problem is, some opposing forces don't welcome any form of government, and her attempts may only succeed in destroying a slowly-blossoming civilization. Another fine Daybreak saga is especially recommended for prior fans of the story.

Vicious
V.E. Schwab
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765335340, $24.99, www.tor-forge.com

VICIOUS provides a powerful novel of greed and power struggles, is set in a near-future world, and creates characters whose powers don't lend to heroic acts. Victor and Eli began as college roommates who came to appreciate each other's talents: a shared research interest in the supernatural and adrenaline results in experiments with superpowers - and abilities that don't lend to good results. Ten years later Victor breaks out of prison and Eli is on a mission to destroy any super-powered person he finds. Their conflicts could change the world in the gripping saga, recommended for science fiction readers.


The Music Shelf

Mr. B: The Music & Life of Billy Eckstine
Cary Ginell
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458419604, $18.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

Mr. B: The Music & Life of Billy Eckstine provides a fine biography of a 1950s singer who was one of the most popular in America. Known as "Mr. B.", he made his name singing the hits of others, formed an orchestra in 1944 that included the greatest stars in bebop jazz, and became a superstar - and yet, he fought for recognition and respect during the segregated music world of the 1940s and 1950s, and never achieved the recognition he should have to become America's first black romantic singer. This biography considers his life, achievements, and how he influenced many singers, and is a pick for any music history collection.

Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die
Willie Nelson
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780062293312, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road features art work by musician Willie Nelson's son as it captures the words and reflections of a country singer who has decades of experience playing and promoting his music. From his early and later influences to family relationships, feelings about politics and playing, his past relationships and interests outside the music world, this captures the essence of Nelson's life and belief, packages it in a lively dialogue, and makes for a top pick for any already interested in Nelson and his world.


The Audiobook Shelf

Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.highbridgeaudio.com

Sue Scott's SERIOUSLY SILLY (9781622310074, $16.95) is an audio listen highly recommended for any Prairie Home Companion listener and provides the humor and observations of Sue Scott, a radio actor whose best works are gathered. Sue acts out a variety of parts and personalities and provides some 14 sketches and bits heard over the years on live Prairie Home Companion broadcasts. Fans will recognize her voice and appreciate her style in a fun presentation recommended for any audio collection. Garrison Keillor's LAKE WOBEGON FAMILY REUNION: SELECTED STORIES (9781622312931, $29.95) is quite different, presenting primarily monologs from Keillor about life in the Midwest that have been hand-picked from over 15 previously released collections and some 40 years of A Prairie Home Companion live broadcasts. Four discs provide fun Thomas H. Cook's SANDRINE'S CASE (9781611749816, $34.95) provides a powerful reading by Brian Holsopple, who brings to life an unusual love story in the form of a courtroom drama and mystery. Samuel and his wife Sandrine had a tranquil life until one night Sandrine is found dead in their bed - and Samuel is accused of her murder. As more facts come to life, Samuel confronts an insurmountable wave of town resentment and convictions that he's the killer - and also uncovers facts about her that bring him newfound appreciation for the person she was. A wonderful blend of mystery and romance makes for an exceptional listen! Robert Morgan's THE ROAD FROM GAP CREEK (9781622312337, $34.95) presents the Richards family, who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and charts their evolution as World War II invades their isolated world and brings their boys out into the world to fight. It's a compelling story of the entwined lives and perspectives of peoples who have lived generations with little but their own connections to each other and the world, and it provides a gripping saga that not only outlines the changed perspectives and experiences of a small community, but how isolation and war invade and ultimately change those lives. It's a powerful story highly recommended for any audio collection, and springs to life under Emma Galvin's smooth and evocative rendition.

Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Lee Child's NEVER GO BACK (978030749666, $45.00) provides a fine new Jack Reacher thriller and tells of a former military cop who journeys to the headquarters of his old unit to meet a new commanding officer - only to find many puzzles affect both his professional and personal life. Lured back to a fold which has substantially changed, Jack discovers threats to his world that all hinge on him finding his new commanding officer before disaster strikes. A fine cat-and-mouse hunting game begins, spiced with veteran narrator Dick Hill's fine voice and ability to transmit drama. Marianne Szegedy-Maszak's I KISS YOUR HANDS MANY TIMES: HEARTS. SOULS. AND WARS IN HUNGARY (9780449010136, $45.00) is narrated by the author and provides a winning survey of her parents, who met and fell in love in Budapest. Her father survived Dachau, sought out his love after nearly two years without contact, and reunited with her in a devastated Budapest in 1945 where they were wed. This family memoir traces an incredible journey through war-torn Europe and is a blend of personal autobiography and analysis of Hungary's relationship to the world. Shawn Achor's BEFORE HAPPINESS (9780804127899, $35.00) receives the seasoned voice of actor Mike Chamberlain, whose brings a smooth and passionate rendition to this self-help title focusing on positive change and why happiness leads to greater success on all levels. This audio builds on the author's prior concepts explored in THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE and considers what comes before happiness and success - and how human potential evolves and is changed by world experience. The result includes five proven strategies for changing one's perspective to be positive. Any self-help collection needs this!

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hachetteaudio.com

Nicholas Sparks' THE LONGEST RIDE (9781619691384, $35.00) enjoys a vivid dual narration by New York voice and stage actress January LaVoy and seasoned author and Broadway actor Ron McLarty as it tells of Ira Levinson, alone in the world at 91 years old and stranded after a car crash. It is then that his beloved wife, who passed away nine years ago, comes to him in a vision and reviews their life together as a means of keeping him alive. At the same time a college senior's life is about to change when she meets a new love and anticipates the many changes romance will bring. How these four lives entwine makes for a vivid story spiced with insight and revelation. Also enjoy the abridged version narrated by the same readers (9781619691841, $23.00), covering the highlights of the story. Joyce Meyer's GOD IS NOT MAD AT YOU (9781611132625, $27.00) receives a vivid reading by Meyer's youngest daughter Sandra McCollom, who brings to life this audio account of Meyer's exploration of connections between a loving parent and a stern judge. Christians responded to her "God's not mad at you" post on Facebook in such quantity that she's expanded her concept here, creating a vivid analysis of how God's love can be experienced on new levels. Any Christian listener will find this accessible and inspirational. Rebecca Musser with M. Bridge Cook's THE WITNESS WORE RED: THE 19TH WIFE WHO BROUGHT POLYGAMOUS CULT LEADERS TO JUSTICE (9781478924586, $30.00) provides a fine memoir read by the author and telling of how she grew up in fear, living downstairs from her father's 'real' family and hiding her family's polygamous lifestyle from the outside world. Tired of the abuse, and of being the 19th wife of her people's Prophet, eighty-five-year-old Rulon Jeffs, she not only escaped her world but brought law enforcement to an outcome that avoided bloodshed. Her testimony to long-kept secrets about her family's polygamous cult lifestyle are eye-opening and engrossing and make for captivating listening!


The American History Shelf

Pumpkin
Cindy Ott
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
978029599324, $24.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress

PUMPKIN: THE CURIOUS HISTORY OF AN AMERICAN ICON comes from a professor who considers how Americans have used the pumpkin to connect with nature and the seasons, and provides a cultural and natural history of human involvement with the pumpkin and its symbol. Food, environment, and shifts from urban to rural culture and back are documented in a fine survey that places pumpkin facts and usage in sync with one of the standing icons of America: the Thanksgiving celebration. Chapters provide a fine history in an engrossing survey highly recommended for any interested in American culture, food, and farming changes.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Myth of the Superhero
Arco Arnaudo
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409535, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

The Myth of the Superhero receives a fine translation by Jamie Richards and provides a fine examination of superhero icons and their underlying cultural meaning. The myth of a Superman sent to America which evolves into a successful immigrant story and the transformation of an individual to a crime fighter in the form of the moral Batman makes for a powerful complication considering American culture, superhero stories of morality and strength, and how the genre provides a fine study of formulas for gods, individuals, and behaviors. Chapters include black and white illustrations of superheroes as it considers center principles in superhero comics and culture and how they relate to and reflect American goals and principles. The result is a cultural study highly recommended for any comics, graphic novels, or cartoons collection, as well as academic library American history holdings.

American Comic Book Chronicles
Bill Schelly
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490540, $40.95, www.twomorrows.com

American Comic Book Chronicles continues the series of colorful documentation, this one covering the 1950s from 1950-59. Chapters cover the most notable comic publications, a history of trends, creators and comic media for all ages, and the expanded works of Harvey Kurtzman and Carl Barks who created comics generations would come to follow for decades. From notable comic history such as the revamp of the Flash in Showcase #4 that started the Silver Age of Comics to the return of Captain America and the introduction of a new Green Lantern, the 1950s represented a blossoming age in comic history. Atomic war fears were represented in comics (including Bradbury's classic 'There Will Come Soft Rains', about an all-automated house which continues its functions after humans are dead from atomic warfare), military forces began to achieve representation in the comic world, and the conversion of MAD to a comic format gained new enthusiasts. The result is a dynamic era in comic history, neatly charted in this survey which is packed with color comic book images.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Pleiadian Principles for Living
Christine Day
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632616, $17.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Pleiadian Principles for Living: A Guide to Accessing Dimensional Energies, Communicating with the Pleiadians, and Navigating These Changing Times is the second title channeled by the author, a healer and spiritualist, and provides basic wisdom from other dimensions as it comes from enlightened beings from another star cluster who provide guidelines for living for new age believers. From using sounds and tools to work with planetary energies to understanding pre-agreements and missions from other worlds, this provides a guide to spiritual pathways and current changes facing Earth, and is a fine set of insights for any who believe in channeling and other worlds.


The Political Science Shelf

The United Nations and Changing World Politics, seventh edition
Thomas G. Weiss, et.al.
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348476, $47.00, www.westviewpress.com

The United Nations and Changing World Politics appears in its seventh updated edition to provide a thematic approach analyzing the UN's role in world affairs, and is a pick for any college-level political studies collection. The focus on global governance issues and UN actions accompanies analysis of the latest UN activities related to world peace and conflicts, with chapters blending history with political and international legal insights. From natural disaster management to human affairs, this volume provides a detailed account of world interactions and events and is a solid reference for any world politics student.

Everyman's Constitution
Howard Jay Graham
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780870206344, $38.95, www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress

Everyman's Constitution: Historical Essays on the Fourteenth Amendment, the "Conspiracy Theory," and American Constitutionalism comes from a deaf law librarian who in 1938 successfully argued that the authors of the fourteenth amendment were motivated by abolitionist fervor and Civil war outcomes. His inspection of the meaning of the amendment and its evolving applications to corporations and individuals alike is reprinted in this essay collection which provides legal and political analysis as important today as it was in the 1930s. Originally hired to write a brief on the Amendment for a supreme court case on education, Graham's work was published in law journals for decades - and this reprint offers important insights to legal and political studies collections surveying key works on constitutional analysis.

Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com

Mark Gasiorowski has edited the seventh updated edition of THE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (9780813348650, $52.00) provides a fine comprehensive coverage of the domestic politics and foreign policies of all countries in the area, and provides college-level readers with a fine modern assessment of the issues, approaches, interactions and background of nations involved in present-day struggles. Reviews of the government and politics of each country use a central framework for assessment and organization, making it easy to cross-compare national objectives, features, and politics. From foreign policies to political milieu and history, this is a solid reference for any collection strong in Middle East history and politics. Paula D. McClain and Joseph Stewart Jr.'s "CAN WE ALL GET ALONG?": RADICAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES IN AMERICAN POLITICS (9780813347158, $39.00) appears in its sixth updated edition to contrast the political status of various ethnic groups and their influence on political processes, and is a recommendation for college-level social issues and political studies collections alike. This update includes new coverage of Obama's first term, discussions of judicial appointments and policy changes, more details on native Hawaiian issues, and more, and continues the blend of field survey and research which made earlier editions mainstays of classroom discussions. A 'must' for any political and ethnic studies reader. Recommended for Middle East history and political collections if the third updated edition of Alan Richards, et.al.'s A POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE MIDDLE EAST (9780813349282, $55.00), which updates information to include coverage of the Arab Spring in a new chapter considering this and other regional events. It uses the same focus on an economic approach to Middle East issues to provide coverage of everything from education and politics to the military, and comes from a professor of economics and other professors of social and political science who gather the latest information on the region. The seventh updated edition of Robert C. Oberst, et.al.'s GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN SOUTH ASIA (9780813348797, $45.00) is packed with new material but retains the same comparative approach examining leading nations in the region, and is also a recommendation for college-level readers. It provides major topics of inquiry from political parties to conflicts and development issues, assesses new threats to the region's stability as posed by ethnic nationalism, and considers relationships between the U.S. and various countries in South Asia. The result is a fine pick for any Asian studies collection.


The DVD Shelf

5 Mega Miles
Leslie Sansone
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
www.collagevideo.com.fordummies
013132607450, $16.98, www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Leslie Sansone: 5 Mega Miles is a walking and exercise kit packaged with a DVD instructional video, and comes complete with a resistance band, five different one-mile walking workouts, and numerous exercise options packaged into the walking program. It uses a low-impact walk paired with warmup and toning band routines to create strength training for any who would begin with walking and add appropriate embellishments for core training. A progressive program moves from warmup and toning to jogs, sculpting with the band, and ab toning routines to make the most of a walking exercise routine. Perfect for in-home training routines.

Tighten, Tone and Torch
Suzanne Bowen
Suzanne Bowen Fitness
c/o Bethany Rogers
No ISBN DVD, $14.99 www.suzannebowenfitness.com

Tighten, Tone and Torch comes from a fitness expert who advocates tightening and toning through a series of three 20-minute workout segments designed to be enjoyed either individually or as a single workout. Light weights are recommended to make the most of muscle-shaking routines that include stretch segments and controlled cardio intervals alike. The focus on a quick, challenging, affordable routine that can be fit into a busy day makes this the perfect choice for busy workers looking to challenge and tone their muscles.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Buffalo Bill on the Silver Screen
Sandra K. Sagala
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143613, $24.95, www.oupress.com

Buffalo Bill on the Silver Screen: The Films of William F. Cody tells of an entertainer who used the Wild West concept to captivate audiences across the U.S. and Europe. Many books have been written about his showmanship - but few offer an in-depth analysis of his involvement with the film industry. This title details Cody's early association with filmmaking in its infancy, detailing Cody's involvement thanks to Thomas Edison's kinetoscope project and Cody's fascination with the industry's possibilities. In 1910 he was featured on The Life of Buffalo Bill, and after his touring show disbanded, he become even more involved in the industry. Any collection strong in film history will find this a 'must'.

Michael Wiese
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com

John Badham's ON DIRECTING (9781615931385, $26.95) comes from a veteran director who explains the basics of action, suspense, and how great scenes are differentiated from good scenes no matter what the genre, and is a pick for any film holding. It analyzes scenes that don't work right, considers the elements involved in making them work correctly, and provides a director's eye to working with even the most difficult actors and getting the most from rehearsals and performances. The result is a solid reference highly recommended for any film collection or student of acting, directing and production. Houston Howard's MAKE YOUR STORY REALLY STINKIN' BIG (9781615931552, $18.95) presents the author's "360 Degree Storyweaving" process which promotes concept development across genres, and is a pick for any writer working in everything from short and feature films to YouTube and more. It comes from the CEO and founder of One 3 Productions and a leader in international strategy, and provides business and performing arts readers alike with an in-depth survey of how to move successfully from concept to franchise in creating a memorable story. From identifying needs to the idea of a 'high concept' and how it works in a setting, this analyzes the nuts and bolts of the writer's toolbox and is a top, recommended pick for business and film libraries as well as writer's reference collections.


The Railroading Shelf

Fast Trains Worldwide
Thomas Estler
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764344473, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Fast Trains Worldwide provides a fine historical focus not just on the evolution of trains in general, but upon fast trains that broke records at different points in time, from the famous Rainhill Trials of 1829 to the 1955 French breakthrough of the 186 mph limit with their electric locomotives. Commercial high speed transportation systems are analyzed in chapters that provide a history of these locomotives around the world, pairing color photos throughout with charts of technical train information. From different series trains in different countries to prototypes and their special challenges, this is a 'must' for any train history collection.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Having it All in the Belle Epoque
Rachel Mesch
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804784245, $39.95, www.sup.org

HAVING IT ALL IN THE BELLE EPOQUE: HOW FRENCH WOMEN'S MAGAZINES INVENTED THE MODERN WOMAN provides a fine historical survey debating the history of high-achieving women and how the roots of these achievers can be traced back to early 1900s France. Two key photographic magazines for women created a female role model who embodied new freedoms and approaches for women, captivating large numbers of French women and setting the stage for a century of women's rights changes. This focus on these publications provides new images of this modern French figure, analyzes artistic and literary trends contributing to the rise of this culture, and blends history with literary and artistic insights throughout, making for a solid and specific pick for any women's studies collection.


The Automotive Shelf

Moto Guzzi: Motorcycles Since 1921
Jan Leek & Wolfgang Zeyen
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764343445, $39.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Moto Guzzi: Motorcycles Since 1921 is all about motorcycle design and history, and follows the history and achievements of Moto Guzzi, a manufacturer whose creations made history and revolutionized the motorcycle industry. Chapters follow his many design achievements and describe all models and technical specs. There's information about the company, details on the industry as a whole, and biographies of the people who contributed to these changes.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
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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