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The Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 10 October 2010 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Philosophy Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Dance Shelf Biography Shelf Political Science Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Gardening Shelf Fiction Shelf Crafts Shelf
Sports Shelf Audiobook Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Travel Shelf Nautical Shelf
Science Shelf Math Shelf Architecture Shelf
Music Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Business Shelf
Military Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Education Shelf
Art Shelf Economics Shelf Sociology Shelf
Computer Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Photography Shelf
Native American Shelf Parenting Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Poetry Shelf World History Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Aviation Shelf American History Shelf Black Studies Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

I Drink for a Reason
David Cross
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446697712, $13.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

I DRINK FOR A REASON combines comedy and memoir in a fun survey of developing a career and life in comedy. Personal essays, satirical fiction, and comic social observation permeate a presentation packed with fun and ribald humor, creating a lively survey perfect for any general lending library!

Tales of Woe
John Reed
MTV Press
1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
9781576875407, $20.00, www.talesofwoe.com

There is always someone who has it worse than you. "Tales of Woe" is a self-described collection of Greek catharsis, of tales where people are faced with suffering that is not of their doing, the cruelty of their life, the suffering they endure, and how they struggle simply to endure and live. Not stories of overcoming adversity, "Tales of Woe" focuses on tragedy as a motivator, to remind readers that no matter what they are going through, it could be worse.

The Wedding Workbook
Kimberly Schlegel Whitman
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423601937, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

THE WEDDING WORKBOOK is a top pick as a gift guide for any bride-to-be. It pairs checklists and a handy user-friendly workbook style with a design meant to help wedding planners focus on the important issues of a wedding celebration. Three-hole binding allows users to add their own pages, while tips on entertaining are simply outstanding! As an early wedding planner gift, this can't be beat.

Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects
Trish & Chris Meyer
Focal Press
30 Corporate Dr. #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240814155, $69.95, www.focalpress.com

Creating Motion Graphics With After Effects tells how to master animation and digital video using After Effects, teaching how the program can help video producers think visually and more quickly. It's packed with color examples and screen shots, tips and tricks, and advice that covers all the features added in After Effects CS4 and CS5, including the new Roto Brush tool and 3D model import from Photoshop. A 'must' for any video, film, computer or reference collection where After Effects is covered!

Allworth Press
10 East 23rd St., New York NY 10010
www.allworth.com

Steven Heller's POP: HOW GRAPHIC DESIGN SHAPES POPULAR CULTURE (9781581157154, $24.95) offers an outstanding key linking graphic design to popular culture. From the recreation of Yankee Stadium to twitter, POP is the first book to consider graphic design's choices and influence on wider cultural norms, and focuses on contemporary issues from viral advertising to political satire and design vs. decoration. Arts and sociology collections alike will appreciate this diverse approach. Theo Stephan Williams' THE INTERIOR DESIGNER'S GUIDE TO PRICING, ESTIMATING, AND BUDGETING (9781581157185, $24.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide interior designers with a fine business survey on fees and pricing. Commercial and residential interiors alike are covered along with interviews with experienced home designers and tips on competing effectively.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Katas
Kenji Tokitsu
Inner Traditions
1 Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773488, $16.95, www.innertradtions.com

There is more to the martial arts than fighting techniques. "The Katas: The Meaning Behind the Movements" looks at the katas, a philosophical principle that connects much of Japan's many martial arts, the underlying goal of a dedication to perfection and the endless pursuit of bettering oneself. With much eastern philosophy blended in, "The Katas" is an intriguing collection of principles and makes for a fascinating and enlightening read, highly recommended.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Case of the Unnecessary Sequel
Brian Landon
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393909, $14.95, www.brianlandon.com

Some people take cinema seriously. Perhaps too seriously. "The Case of the Unnecessary Sequel: A Doyle Malloy Mystery" tells the story of Detective Doyle Malloy and his investigation of a murder that happens on a controversial film. When his friends become entangled, and the murder seems to not be done just yet, Doyle seems to be pit in a race against time. "The Case of the Unnecessary Sequel" is a thrilling and fun mystery, highly recommended.


The Dance Shelf

Choreographing From Within
Diana F. Green
Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736076190, $34.00, www.humankinetics.com

Choreographing From Within: Developing the Habit of Inquiry As an Artist provides a fine survey of how to artistically create movement and choreograph concepts, and provides exercises to make it happen. Students receive keys to exploring individual styles in a series of photos illustrating concepts and showing how to blend movement with music and artistic pieces. Dance and art libraries alike will find this a fine exploration.


The Biography Shelf

God's Angry Man
B. Wayne Quist
Brown Books
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812686 $24.95 www.brownbooks.com

God's Angry Man: The Incredible Journey of Private Joe Haan is the true-life story of a survivor. Joe Haan lost his mother at a young age, and spent his childhood in a cheerless orphanage; worked for years as an indentured farm servant; rode the rails during the Great Depression; and served as part of Patton's Third Army during World War II. His harsh life taught him to mistrust organized religion, yet he also harbored a sense of wonder concerning the mysteries of the natural world, including the composition of stars, galaxies, plants, and living creatures. He wrote poetry and music, and played the guitar and harmonica. God's Angry Man is the extraordinary and unforgettable saga of an independent-minded man, honest and determined to the end. "I owe one apology only, and that is to the devil, for lacking the ability to be more severe in my criticism of all organized religion."

Lives We Carry With Us
Robert Coles
New Press
38 Greene St., New York NY 100013
9781595585028, $24.95, www.thenewpress.com

LIVES WE CARRY WITH US: PROFILES OF MORAL COURAGE is edited by David D. Cooper and offers a fine compilation of biographical storytelling and personal reflection, with stories from thirteen lives that have served as a personal inspiration for Coles during the last six decades profiled here. This blends profiles with the exploration of 'moral courage' and demonstrate courageous individuals who have moved against convention to challenge the world. Literary and biography holdings alike will find this a fine survey.


The Political Science Shelf

Courting Disaster
Marc A. Thiessen
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781596986039, $29.95, www.regnery.com

COURTING DISASTER: HOW THE CIA KEPT AMERICA SAFE AND HOW BARACK OBAMA IS INVITING THE NEXT ATTACK comes from a former Bush administration Senior staff members who defends the CIA and warns of dangers ahead. He focuses on how the CIA programs were effective, supports interrogation techniques that ultimately saved many lives, and provides evidence to prove the CIA's tactics were lawfully and morally just as well. President Obama dismantled the CIA's interrogation program, and this makes a case for how national security has been degraded, as a result. Political collections will find this an intriguing argument.

Reappraising the Right
George H. Nash
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
9781935191650, $27.95, www.isibooks.org

REAPPRAISING THE RIGHT: THE PAST AND FUTURE OF AMERICAN CONSERVATISM considers whether real conservatism is dead, and comes from a historian of American conservatism who examines the new issues directing the modern Conservative movement. Over thirty years of study lends to a consideration of various conservative politicians and considering perspectives on Roosevelt, Hoover and more, considering the past and future of the movement. Highly recommended!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

2013: Raising the Earth to the Next Vibration
Richard Grossinger
North Atlantic Books
Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
9781556438783, $16.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

2013: Raising the Earth to the Next Vibration comes from a spiritual writer gifted with a range of knowledge and insights into planes of consciousness and psychic opportunities to be found in failure. From different vibrations that will affect Earth in the future to the coming 2013 changes, this provides an outstanding spiritual survey for any New Age collection!


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Do Unto Others
Michael Z. Williamson
Baen Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439133835, $22.00, www.baen.com

DO UNTO OTHERS tells of a Welsh coal-mining family who uses technology to exploit the subsurface ores of entire planets, becoming the richest people in the universe. But enemies are trying to kill them - and Bryan and his daughter face repeated dangers and even nuclear threats in this moving and exciting story of espionage, wealth, and dangers perfect for any general science fiction collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Multi-Ethnic Bird Guide
Ricardo Rozzi
University of North Texas Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781574412826, $34.95, www.unt.edu/untpress

South America has a grand variety of wildlife, and in the particular avenue of birds, no place else can match it. "Multi-Ethnic Bird Guide of the Sub-Antarctic Forests of South America" discusses these birds which are believed to have persistently inhabited the area for millions of years, and that the native people have passed down stories of these birds for generations. Combing a study of these birds with a study of the people, "Multi-Ethnic Bird Guide" proves to be an intriguing study of South America, its people, and its wildlife. A fine pick and highly recommended.

Wiley-Blackwell
111 River St., MS 8-01, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

The second updated edition of Edward J. Noga's FISH DISEASE: DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT (9780813806976, $124.99) is a 'must' for any aquatic biologist or fish health specialist. The newly updated edition expands clinical work-up insights, coverage of fish pathogen identification, and more, providing updates on diagnosis, treatment, and issues affecting overall environmental health. The result is a top pick filled with technical detail and the latest research, recommended for any college-level collection! Also recommended for college-level vet libraries is Terry W. Campbell and Krystan R. Grant's CLINICAL CASES IN AVIAN & EXOTIC ANIMAL HEMATOLOGY & CYTOLOGY (9780813816616, $124.99), a fine survey packed with keys on how to use hemic cytology and cytodiagnosis as part of the assessment of an exotic animal patient. Nearly 100 clinical cases provide a fine survey putting theory into practice, and is organized by animal type and diagnostic focus. From real-life examples to applications of basic theory, this packs in tips and cases perfect for any vet school collection. Also highly recommended is Nick Bexfield and Karla Lee's BSAVA GUIDE TO PROCEDURES IN SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE (9781905319176, $101.99), offering step-by-step guidance to performing the diagnostic procedures performed in a regular small animal vet practice. From neurological exams to nasal oxygen administration and skin biopsies, this is an outstanding guide for any working in a vet's office.


The Gardening Shelf

So You Want to Be a Garden Designer
Love Albrecht Howard
Timber Press
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland OR 97204-3527
9780881929041 $29.95 www.timberpress.com

Having an eye for design is one thing, but to be a professional takes a bit more. "So You Want to Be a Garden Designer: How to Get Started, Grow, and Thrive in the Landscape Design Business" is a how to guide to the landscaping industry for those who love gardening and want to better embrace it and its challenges. Passion is a great place to begin, but Love Albrecht Howard gives readers the finer tuning of the business side, how to present your ideas, and most importantly how to make it profitable. For anyone with dreams of making their living working with gardens, "So You Want to Be a Garden Designer" is the book for them.


The Fiction Shelf

The Sixth Surrender
Hana Samek Norton
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452296237 $16.00 www.us.penguingroup.com

The Sixth Surrender is a medieval novel of intrigue, passion, innocence, and jockeying for power. Sister Eustace, born Lady Juliana, is the last of the de Charnais line, and she longs to possess her rightful home: the viscounty of Tillieres. Forced to choose between a husband or life in the cloister, Juliana hopes to wed an honorable and kindly man; instead she is betrothed to a landless mercenary with darkness on his soul. The two yearn to end their marriage as soon as feasible, yet machinations close upon them both as traitorous lords plot Juliana's untimely death. Vividly brought to life, The Sixth Surrender is a captivating novel from first page to last.

Backcountry Fury
Tony Zeiss
Parkway Publishers
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
9781597124096 $19.95 www.parkwaypublishers.com

Manhood came early for some young individuals during the revolutionary war. "Backcountry Fury: A Sixteen Year Old Patriot in the Revolutionary War" tells the tale of Thomas Young, a South Carolina teen who joins the cause and quickly grows up through the conflict, and exhibiting determination, courage, and maturity well beyond his age. An exciting historical novel, "Backcountry Fury" is not a read to be missed.

The Plum Rains and Other Stories
John Givens
The Liffey Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781905785766 $29.95 www.theliffeypress.com

As peace came to Japan, the conflict simply switched to an inner one. "The Plum Rains and Other Stories" is a collection of short fiction from John Givens focusing on the Edo period of Japan where Japan shut itself off from the world as a time of feudalism. His stories focus on Samurai without wars to fight, the birth of the Yakuza, women who seek to be something other than servants fo pleasure, faith and religion, and more. "The Plum Rains and Other Stories" provide an intriguing collection of stories of Japan with plenty of poignancy and excitement.

Bedlam at the Brickyard
Brenda R. Stewart & Wanda Lou Willis, editors
Blue River Press
c/o Cardinal Publishers Group
2402 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9780981928999 $14.95 www.cardinalpub.com

Speed attracts all sorts, and not all of them are race fans. "Bedlam at the Brickyard" is a collection of fifteen short stories surrounding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's 400-mile stock car race and the hysteria that surrounds the event. The history of racing is delved into, the darker side of the events, superstition, and so much more. "Bedlam at the Brickyard" is a collection of fiction that those who love auto racing will love and enjoy.

The Great Bay
Dale Pendell
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
9781556438950, $21.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Great extinctions have ravaged the planet before, and humanity is not immune. "The Great Bay" is a novel set in the far flung future. Disease ravages mankind and thousands of years in the future, the world has greatly changed, with technology not as prevalent as it once was. An environmental examination of the world and how humans can live in tune with it for a better future, "The Great Bay" is a wonderful concept with a solid message, highly recommended.


The Crafts Shelf

30-Minute Earrings
Marthe Le Van
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781600594878, $21.95, www.larkbooks.com

30-MINUTE EARRINGS offers some sixty quick projects for jewelers, offering a range of styles that moved from earrings made from fabric swatches or scrap metal to those made from copper sheets. These are different, stylish creations made largely of metal and are fine quick projects for any jewelry-maker.


The Sports Shelf

Rickwood Field
Allen Barra
W.W. Norton
500 -5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393069334, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

RICKWOOD FIELD: A CENTURY IN AMERICA'S OLDEST BALLPARK provides a fine survey of Richwood Field, a 1910 ballpark envisioned by a local steel baron which is the country's oldest ballpark. Sports writer Allen Barra tells the ballpark's story and provides a concurrent history of Southern baseball, creating a lively survey of regional baseball evolution highly recommended for any sports library!

Fair Play, third edition
Robert L. Simon
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813343686, $33.00, www.westviewpress.com

FAIR PLAY: THE ETHICS OF SPORT appears in its third edition to provide new sections analyzing sports, games, and ideas of philosophy. From revised considerations of the morality of sports competition and violence concerts to discussions of headline-making issues, this is packed with discussions key to any high school or college-level survey of professional sports and ethics.

Cycling Fast
Robert Panzera
Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736081143, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

CYCLING FAST: WINNING ESSENTIALS FOR CYCLING COMPETITION provides a fine survey of cycling, from selecting a racing bike frame and choosing a race to nutrition for training, bike-handling skills for different terrains, and more. The focus is on competitive cycling: CYCLING FAST is packed with tips and training plans, workouts and checklists perfect for avid cyclers.

Ride Your Way Lean
Selene Yeager & Bicycling Editors
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
9781605294063, $19.99, www.rodale.com

Ride Your Way Lean does more than just advocate cycling as a weight loss program: it tells exactly how to use the bicycle to optimize loss, from understanding connections between speed and duration and calorie-burning to selecting the proper bicycle, choosing the gear that will make the most of calorie burning, and eating before and after the ride. A fine survey for any interested in optimizing bicycle use for weight loss!


The Audiobook Shelf

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

Scott Turow's THE BURDEN OF PROOF (9781607883784, $29.98) receives a fine narration by stage and screen actor John Bedford Lloyd, and tells of a defense attorney facing an emotionally shattering event as a family is caught in crimes and secrets. This gripping story is a top pick for any library where legal investigative action thrillers are a hit. Tiger Woods' HOW I PLAY GOLF (9781607882060, $17.98) is narrated by Walter Franks and Tiger Woods and provides a fine, vivid account detailing Woods' game and personality. From his six keys to a great backswing to how to practice golf shots, this is a winning account any sports collection will relish! HITCH 22 by Christopher Hitchens (9781607882329, $34.98) is narrated by the author, features a conversation with the author, and tells of one of the most notable, debated public intellectuals of modern times. It's a personal history as well as a social history, telling of his relationships, changes, and public personal life. Tony Hsieh's DELIVERING HAPPINESS: A PATH TO PROFITS, PASSION, AND PURPOSE (9781607882305, $29.98) provides a powerful survey of an author who sold his first company for, $265 million - at the age of 24. His amazing survey shares the different lessons he's learned in business and life, showing how a differently evolving corporate culture is offering a strong model for success and achievement, based on personal happiness and new paradigms for measuring success. Robert Ludlum's THE BOURNE OBJECTIVE (9781607882268, $49.98) receives a new Jason Bourne novel written by Eric Van Lustbader and narrated by powerful reader Scott Sowers. Facing down African mercenaries, Jason Bourne's witness of an art dealer's death results in a dangerous trail of conspiracy in this powerful Bourne thriller, packed with exciting twists and turns in the typical Bourne tradition begun by novelist Ludlum. Nelson DeMille's THE LION (9781607882206, $39.98) receives a fine narration by Scott Brick, who has lent his voice to numerous successful recordings over the years, and brings a sequel to a year 2000 best-seller to life. It's ten years later, and special Agent John Corey returns to confront the Libyan terrorist known as The Lion in this gripping saga recommended for any lending library. Also a pick is James Patterson and Adam Sadler's DANIEL X: DEMONS AND DRUIDS (9781607882442, $22.95), a survey of Daniel X, on a mission to eliminate every intergalactic criminal on Earth. His superpower allows him to take on some dangerous aliens - including Phosphorius Beta, the demon of fire. An excellent science fiction story evolves, packed with twists, turns and high drama! Elin Hilderbrand's THE ISLAND (9781607882404, $34.98) is narrated by Denise Hicks, who adds a fine and lively flavor to this novel of a summer get-away where Birdie Cousins finds her role as mother of the bride-to-be challenging - especially when the bride abruptly announces she's canceled her engagement. A fine story of mothers, daughters and family secrets makes for a moving saga and dramatic audio! Scott Turow's INNOCENT (9781600249211, $39.98) provides a fine sequel to PRESUMED INNOCENT and receives a fine reading by Edward Hermann featuring Orlagh Cassidy. Over twenty years after the murder trial of PRESUMED INNOCENT, this tells what happens when Sabich, a chief judge, finds his wife dead under mysterious circumstances. Molto accuses him once again of murder - and dark truths and dangers again threaten the legal system. Fans of PRESUMED INNOCENT will relish this!

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Andre Norton's YEAR OF THE UNICORN (1441814191, $24.99) enjoys a fine spirited performance by Kate Rudd as it pairs a coming-of-age story with a romance set in Andre Norton's Witch World. Gillian longs to leave her dull country life, but her desire for adventure brings her on a dangerous journey in this vivid science fiction audio, perfect for any lending library. Dean Koontz's FRANKENSTEIN: LOST SOULS (1441818294, $34.99) receives a fine narration by veteran Christopher Lane, who brings to life a new Frankenstein legend with a twist for modern times. This monster is created using stem cells and nanotechnology with the goal of creating a race of machine/biological humans - and when it back fires, Victor is in trouble in this engrossing story line! Douglas Brinkley's THE WILDERNESS WARRIOR: THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND THE CRUSADE FOR AMERICA (1441853243, $39.99) receives a fine performance by Dennis Holland who provides a warm, clear voice to reveal a fine focus on President Theodore Roosevelt and his environmental legacy. From the role nature played in Roosevelt's career to his influences from Audubon to Darwin, this offers a blend of personal anecdotes and political insights perfect for any general lending library. Dean Koontz's THE VISION (1441817344, $34.99) receives a fine narration by Dan John Miller, who is a multiple Audie finalist and Earphones ward winner. It provides an early Koontz classic award-winning novel telling of a clairvoyant who uses her psychic abilities and visions to help police solve crimes - until she envisions her own death. A striking supernatural crime drama evolves. Meg Gardiner's THE LIAR'S LULLABY (1441820019, $36.99) receives a fine narration by veteran reading Susan Ericksen, who brings to life a story of has-been country singer Tasia, who is the ex-wife of the president of the U.S. Her latest politically charged song rises in the charts - and results in her murder. It's up to forensic psychiatrist Jo to prove it's murder, not suicide, in this latest thriller. Linda Howard's AFTER THE NIGHT (1423363191, $29.99) receives a fine performance by Natalie Ross, a native Texan stage actor whose voice spices the story of Faith Devlin and Gray Rouillard in another search for truth. Southern overtones are perfectly captured in Ross' narrative voice as the thriller and romance evolves.


The Cookbook Shelf

Best of the Best from the Pacific Rim
Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
9781934193464 $16.95 www.quailridge.com

Featuring a plastic comb binding so that it can lay flat on the table for easy reference, Best of the Best from the Pacific Rim is a collection of popularly beloved recipes from the best cookbooks of the Pacific states of America: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. From Dungeness Crab Puffs to Blue Cheese-Pear Salad with Hazelnuts to Broccoli Salmon Quiche, Crab or Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms, Blueberry-Raspberry Upside-Down Cake and more, Best of the Best from the Pacific Rim lives up to its title with a wealth of savory, flavorful delights. A supplementary list of contributing cookbooks and an index round out this mouth-watering compilation perfect for anyone interested in serving up a taste of the Pacific Rim.

Semi-Homemade Grilling 2
Sandra Lee
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
9780696238284, $19.95, www.semihomemade.com

SEMI-HOMEMADE GRILLING 2 offers wonderful recipes that taste as though they are made from scratch. From grilling and barbecue parties to special side dishes, this is packed with innovative, easy dishes and color photos throughout, making for an inspiring survey perfect for summer and fall entertaining and any general lending library seeking quick dishes with embellishments.

Gems of Gluten-Free Baking
Wendy Turnbull
Whitecap
351 Lynn Avenue, North Vancouver, BC V7J 2C4
9781770500181, $29.95, www.whitecap.ca

Gems of Gluten-Free Baking provides a fine assortment of breads and gluten-free treats everyone can enjoy, telling how to create your own GEMS flour, and how to reduce fat, calories and sugar in recipes. From quick breads and muffins to cookies and pies, this comes from an author diagnosed with Celiac Disease over thirty years ago - who wanted good baked goods to fit her diet. Health AND general lending libraries must have this!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Eden Diet
Rita Hancock, MD
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310328087, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

THE EDEN DIET: YOU CAN EAT TREATS, ENJOY YOUR FOOD, AND LOSE WEIGHT advocates a simple technique - the Apple test - to help decide when it's actually time to eat. The idea is when you are physically hungry you will eat anything - even an apple - and it uses this and other visualization techniques to modify and identify real hunger and need versus habit. A fine behavior modification approach to dieting, this will earn its place in any culinary library.

SleepManual
Wilfred Pigeon PhD
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764197371, $16.99, www.barronseduc.com

SLEEPMANUAL: TRAINING YOUR MIND AND BODY TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP includes an audio CD with relaxation exercises and is a top pick for any who have had trouble sleeping. Edited by Michael J. Sateia, MD, this offers the latest research and advice from leading experts and an unusual interactive exercise plan perfect for insomniacs.

Jones and Bartlett
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com

The tenth updated edition of 2011 NURSE'S DRUG HANDBOOK (9780763792381, $39.95) is a 'must' for any health reference collection, especially those where nurses regularly consult nursing drug references. It provides facts on hundreds of drugs, using formatted drug entries in an alphabetical arrangement and an index of all generic, trade and alternate drug names for quick cross-referencing, and it provides the latest research on drug interactions, dosage adjustments, and precautions. Mary E. Zaccagnini and Kathryn Waud White's THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE ESSENTIALS: A NEW MODEL FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING (9780763773465, $56.95) will be a textbook assignment for many a nursing student, current DNP students and those seeking the degree. It's modeled after the eight DNP Essentials outlined by the AACN, offering analysis of materials relevant to an Essentials document, using the documents to help students understanding the degree requirements. Lisa Astalos Chism's THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE: A GUIDEBOOK FOR ROLE DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES (9780763766535, $61.95) provides students with information on the DNP degree and related professional topics. From case scenarios and bulleted summaries to reflection questions at chapters' end, this is a fine textbook choice for any studying for the degree. No nursing library should be without these!

The Whole-Food Guide to Overcoming Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Laura J. Knoff, NC
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572247987, $17.95, www.newharbinger.com

The Whole-Food Guide to Overcoming Irritable Bowel Syndrome offers a blend of recipes and health tips for eating well with a digestive disorder. From natural relief for constipation and diarrhea to a greens recipe for those who hate leafy greens, this is packed with plenty of practical ideas blending nutrition and appealing dishes, and deserves a place in any health or general collection!


The Travel Shelf

Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

Adam Skolnick & Austin Bush's PHUKET ENCOUNTER (9781741797114, $12.99) offers a fine pocket-sized tote consisting of regional and city maps and unique itineraries, and offers a fine survey by locals who share their secret Phuket back roads. Destination-oriented travelers receive a fine activity-oriented approach perfect for any planning an independent journey to Phuket. Andrew Burke, et.al.'s THAILAND'S ISLANDS & BEACHES (9781741794137, $21.99) is also a highly recommended take-along tote for independent travelers to Thailand. It offers color chapters on activities and documents best places to stay from a range of independent reviews of different types of accommodation, using a green index for ecofriendly options and packing in highlights from natural areas to urban disco clubs. Anthony Ham's AFRICA (9781741049886, $36.99) packs in over 250 detailed small maps and is the only guide for independent travelers to cover the entire continent. Fast facts, tips on where to see local culture and wildlife alike, and plenty of town-by-town descriptions for accommodations, food and more make this a thick but welcome take-along tote. Travel collections will find these popular picks.


The Nautical Shelf

A Full Cup
Michael D'Antonio
Riverhead Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson St., Ne York NY 10014-3658
9781594487606, $26.95, www.riverheadbooks.com

A FULL CUP: SIR THOMAS LIPTON'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND HIS QUEST FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP provides an excellent biography and nautical story telling of Lipson, who set the standard for winning a prize he never achieved. He was a millionaire sportsman that everyone loved - he became an international business figure but tried to win America's Cup four times - to no avail. His exploits during World War II are particularly moving in a fine account suitable for nautical, business and general libraries alike.


The Science Shelf

Packing for Mars
Mary Roach
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393068474, $25.95, www.wwnorton.com

PACKING FOR MARS: THE CURIOUS SCIENCE OF LIFE IN THE VOID offers a fine survey studying space. Her survey of hilarious adventures from simulated space stations around the glove to a simulated moon missions makes for a personal collection of information on how to become an astronaut. Psychology and physical challenges are assessed in a lively tour of space research perfect for any general lending collection!

Brilliant
Jane Brox
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780547055275, $25.00, www.hmhbooks.com

BRILLIANT: THE EVOLUTION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT provides a lively, fun history of artificial light form early limestone lamps by Ice Age humans to the latest LED technology. This probes scientific developments but also offers a concurrent social history of how light needs and developments have changed mankind. A fine, lively survey!


The Math Shelf

Hot X: Algebra Exposed
Danica McKellar
Hudson Street Press
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781594630705, $26.95, www.penguin.com

Hot X: Algebra Exposed comes from an actress and math genius who shows students how to ace algebra. This is more than your traditional math review: it uses sassy, sparkling language and easy step-by-step instructions to explain math and relate it to the real world. Students stuck on square roots, word problems and more receive a peppering of the actress' own math encounters in a title highly recommended for any middle to high school or general lending library!

The Pythagorean Theorem
Alfred S. Posamentier
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616141813, $27.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

The Pythagorean Theorem: The Story of its Power and Beauty offers high school to college-level collections a fine survey of the best-known equation in math, which every math student studies. Why is it fascinating? Veteran math educator Alfred S. Posamentier offers a fine history of the theorem and its importance over the centuries, linking it to mankind's development and evolution and exploring its hidden aspects. A fine addition to any math history library.


The Architecture Shelf

Residential Building Codes Illustrated
Steven R. Winkel, FAIA, et.al.
John Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470173596, $49.95, www.wiley.com

Residential Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2009 International Residential Code is a 'must' for any serious builder or architect's collection - and for many a homeowner. It provides an easy, illustrated guide to the building code requirements for residential structures, is organized to follow the 2009 Code, and provides commentary by codes experts as well as drawings and a visual format to enhance understanding. A team of experts in building codes, architecture, and code consultation make this more than a recitation of law - and a 'must have' reference!

Prefab Houses
Arnt Cobbers & Oliver John
TASCHEN America
107 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012
9783836507530, $69.99, www.taschen.com

PREFAB HOUSES offers insights into the mass-produced house that's constructed in a factory and assembled on site in a few days or weeks. Unlike other coverages on the topic, this covers the entire global prefab movement from the U.S. to Asia and Africa, offering assessments not just of structure but of accessibility, delivery difficulties, and the mechanics of their assembly and construction. Lavish, full-page color photos compliment an oversized presentation especially recommended for college-level collections strong in architectural history and construction.

The Hybrid House
Catherine Wanek
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
1423603168, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

THE HYBRID HOUSE: DESIGNING WITH SUN, WIND, WATER AND EARTH provides an outstanding home reference perfect for builders, remodelers, and homeowners at all stages of home design or retrofit. It considers the specifics of what makes a hybrid house, views structures in different regions of the U.S. facing different weather challenges, and comes packed with color photos of houses as it provides case histories and reviews of home choices. A fine addition to any home and garden collection!


The Music Shelf

Encyclopedia of Music Knowledge
Dr. William F. Lee, editor
Jessy Sauchuk, producer
Santorella Publications
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
TS221, $10.95, www.santorellapublication.com

Encompassing a dictionary of music terms, music theory guide, and a history of music timeline, (including 20 related reference charts), the "Encyclopedia of Music Knowledge" offers a compact key to definitions of music terms and music theory areas. Including scales, modes, intervals, transpositions, ranges, conducting patterns and a chronological timeline of Western music history, the "Encyclopedia of Music Knowledge" is a versatile compendium of a wide range of music knowledge. It even contains charts for analysis of forms of rondos, sonatinas and sonatas. The "Encyclopedia of Music Knowledge" is a must for both serious and amateur students of music.

Dictionary of Musical Terms
Produced by Jessy Sauchuk
Revised by Cari Levreault
Santorella Publications, Ltd.
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
TS220, $8.95, www.santorellapublications.com

"Dictionary of Musical Terms" is a handy reference for music students featuring 126 pages of definitions, reference charts and music theory, originally published in 2000 and revised in 2010. In addition to many other appendices, it contains schematic charts for first, second and third rondo forms plus sonatina and sonata forms for analysis. English translations of German, French, Italian and other phrases and expressions are presented. Organized alphabetically with multiple Appendices of other relevant musical information at the end, the "Dictionary of Musical Terms" is the music student's best friend to aid in unlocking the mysteries of music.

The Fender Bass Handbook
Paul Balmer
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760338629, $25.00, www.voyageurpress.com

The Fender Bass Handbook tells how to purchase, set up and maintain and repair a Fender bass guitar, covering everything from setting intonation and electronics troubleshooting to stage fixes and basic enhancements. Including over six hundred color photos, this offers expert advice, model history, tips on assessing a Fender, and more, and is the first handbook exclusively covering Fender bass guitars. A 'must' for any collection strong in musical instrument coverage.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Modern Commemorative Coins
Eric Jordan
Krause Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440212895, $22.99, www.fwmedia.com

Modern Commemorative Coins offers all the essential keys to coin collecting, from selecting coins that have the best chance of increasing in value to including coins in an IRA and understanding new issues from the U.S. Mint for those on a budget. Any collector who wants to make a secure investment in modern coins will find this a fine, in-depth key to success!


The Social Issues Shelf

The Great Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America
Andrew C. McCarthy
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York NY 10003-1239
9781594033773, $27.95, www.encounterbooks.com

The Great Jihad: How Islam and the Left Sabotage America offers a survey of the threat of Islam, which has collaborated with the American left to undermine U.S. national security and democracy. This comes form the former federal prosecutor who convicted numerous jihadists for waging a terrorist war: his survey offers a penetrating insight into underlying dangers of Jihad ideology.

Illegal
Terry Green Sterling
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599218618, $16.95, www.lyonspress.com

ILLEGAL: LIFE AND DEATH IN ARIZONA'S IMMIGRATION WAR ZONE profiles the undocumented people who live and work in Arizona - and those who persecute them. Arizona's violent border is a busy gateway for illegal immigration in America: no state is as hostile to them as Phoenix, yet it's home to thousands who have no civil rights. This documentation of the heart of an immigration war makes for an involving, thought-provoking survey for any discussion on illegal immigration and immigration and civil liberties in America.

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

Mark Gottdiener and Ray Hutchison's fourth updated edition of THE NEW URBAN SOCIOLOGY (9780813344256, $44.00) has been revised and updated to provide college-level students with a fine integrated reader on race, class, gender, culture and politics in urban society. It discusses how these relationships influence behavior, how individual choice can affect spatial arrangements, and expands coverage of world urban centers to focus on new patterns of global interactions. Also recommended is the fourth updated edition of Craig A. Rimmerman's THE NEW CITIZENSHIP: UNCONVENTIONAL POLITICS, ACTIVISM, AND SERVICE (9780813344577, $29.00), which has been updated throughout with new material on the 2008 presidential election, ACORN, and Obama's presidency. It builds on author Rimmerman's 'Dilemmas in American Politics' series and is a top pick for classroom discussion at the high school to college level. An outstanding pick for any school collection!


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Horror Movie Freak
Don Sumner
Krause Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1440208247, $19.99, www.krausebooks.com

Over 130 movies and over two hundred fifty photos of movie stills and posters lend to a fine horror film survey perfect for enthusiasts. It covers the entire genre of horror, explaining what makes such a movie great, covering classics as well as newer films, and dividing horror into categories from Asian horror and supernatural thriller to zombie movies. A bonus 'Night of the Living Dead' DVD rounds out this recommendation for film collections and horror movie fans.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Fearless Job Hunting
Bill Knaus, Ed.D, et.al.
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland CA 94609
9781572248342, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com

Fearless Job Hunting: Powerful Psychological Strategies for Getting the Job You Want tells how to overcome self-doubt and worry and how to use psychology to understand real job requirements, interviewer intentions, and how to land the job. From staying positive during the process to using cognitive behavioral therapies to understand strategies decision processes in organizations, this is yet another powerful tool in the modern job-hunter's toolbox - and a pick for any career-oriented collection.


The Business Shelf

Best Practice in Professional Supervision
Allyson Davys & Liz Beddoe
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Box 960, Herndon, CA 20172-0960
9781843109952, $34.95, www.jkp.com

Best Practice in Professional Supervision: A Guide for the Helping Professions offers an assessment of the basic skills and practices involved in a supervision relationship, from organization to culture, and offers examples and a model of superior supervision. Adult learning theory contributes to the model where supervision is viewed as a learning environment: a range of professions, from nursing to allied health, is covered in this fine recommendation for any business or health sciences collection.

The Jazz Process
Adrian Cho
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321636457, $29.99, www.informit.com/aw

THE JAZZ PROCESS: COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND AGILITY is a top pick for business managers and teams seeking to apply jazz musician principles to the business world. It comes from a collaboration expert and musician who shows how to use thee basics to improve team performance, offering a survey that begins with five core principles of working in teams and teaches how to collaborate more effectively both within the team and with customers and outside interests. A top pick for any business collection!


The Military Shelf

Osprey
44-02 - 23rd St., Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com

Shilomo Aloni's Mirage III vs. MiG-21: Six Day War 1967 (9781846039478, $17.95) is a pick for any serious military library, offering a blend of first-hand accounts and surveys of the latest research to tell of dogfights over the Middle East. Photos and drawings in color illustrate the Mirage III aircraft and MiG 21 operations during the key aerial warfare scenarios of the times, making this a top pick for any military collection. Also highly recommended is Alfredo Logoluso's FIAT CR.32 ACES OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR (9781846039836, $22.95), a survey offering complete histories of the pilots and craft of the FIAT CR.32 in Spanish Civil War. History blends with technical specs and military strategy for an outstanding presentation! Paul F. Crickmore offers a fully revised edition of his classic LOCKHEAD BLACKBIRD: BEYOND THE SECRET MISSIONS (9781846038464, $24.95). It was first published in 1986 when the Cold War was at its height: ten years later a number of official documents have been declassified and these and dozens of key military contacts re-tell the story of the SR-71 and its performance and importance, in a title highly recommended for any serious military collection. Also recommended is COUNTERINSURGENCY IN MODERN WARFARE (9781849081641, $19.95), edited by Daniel Marston and Carter Malkasian. This new paperback edition holds new chapters reviewing counterinsurgency methods, comparing works and perspectives of leading analysts in the U.S. and Canada in a 'must have' reference for any military collection.

Hero Found
Bruce Henderson
Harper
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061571367, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

HERO FOUND: THE GREATEST POW ESCAPE OF THE VIETNAM WAR provides a dramatic, true story of a U.S. navy pilot who led a mass escape from a POW camp inside Laos and became the longest-held American to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. It reads with all the drama of a novel, but is a powerful, true story of survival and daring perfect for military and general lending collections alike!


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knit Socks!
Betsy Lee McCarthy
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603425490, $12.95, www.storey.com

KNIT SOCKS! 17 CLASSIC PATTERNS FOR COZY FEET offers a fine new paperback edition of the best-selling original title, offering a completely revised, updated survey packed with modern, new styles. New knitters learn correct sock techniques, practical knitting applications, and how to personalize a sock project in a title packed with interchangeable stitch patterns perfect for beginners.

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

Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks's 'TIS THE SEASON: QUILTS AND OTHER COMFORTS (9781564779847, $24.99) provides a fine collection of home decorating ideas using ten folk-art quilts and accessories. From lap and wall quilts to projects using fusible applique, themes include stockings, stars, holly and more traditional holiday ideas, providing a powerful pick perfect for any holiday needleworker looking for new projects. Beginners will relish A TO Z OF SEWING: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE (9781604680218, $19.99), a reference that documents nearly two hundred sewing techniques using step-by-step photos paired with directions. From creating box corners to working with facings, this is a top pick for any basic needlework section. Terry Martin's QUILTING WITH PRECUTS AND SHORTCUTS (9781564779953, $22.99) is also a top pick, using simple sewing methods, bright fabrics and tips for beginners to other quilter levels. Learn how to create complex-looking patterns such as diamonds and pieced blocks using shortcuts to simplify and streamline the process in this outstanding winner!


The Education Shelf

The Adventures of Super3
Annette C.H. Nelson and Danielle N. DuPuis
Linworth
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 92116-1911
9781586833879, $95.00, www.abc-clio.com

The Adventures of Super3: A Teacher's Guide to Information Literacy for Grades K-2 offers teachers a collection of dynamic lesson plans which can be used to teach problem-solving strategies to young children. Each lesson contains performance objectives, activities, assessment, and children's literatures, with printable materials for each lesson and a DVD with two animated shorts rounding out a revolutionary new way teachers can teach the concept of the Super3.

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

Gayle H. Gregory and Lin Kuzmich's STUDENT TEAMS THAT GET RESULTS: TEACHING TOOLS FOR THE DIFFERENTIATED CLASSROOM (9781412917025, $35.95) offers effective group tools to improve critical thinking, knowledge sharing and applied learning. Over 100 reproducible planning tools offer teachers a host of tools, from examples for math and graphic organizers to examples, steps and directions. Sandra M. Kaplan, Irene Guzman and Carol Ann Tomlinson's USING THE PARALLEL CURRICULUM MODEL IN URBAN SETTINGS GRADES K-8 (9781412972192, $38.95) provides a key survey for teachers in urban settings. It provides a hands-on curriculum guide that focuses on student potential in studies, as classroom participants, and as presenters, teaching how to build the connections between curriculum and personal strengths that will enable students to rely on their strengths. Education collections must have these! Randi Stone's MORE BEST PRACTICES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS: WHAT AWARD-WINNING TEACHERS DO (9781412963428, $30.95) comes packed with lessons and units written by teachers who have used these ideas successfully in classrooms. Each lesson includes grade levels, objectives, state and national standards, and more, offering keys to managing classrooms and teaching in all disciplines. A 'must' key for engaging students more efficiently. Also key is Sarah V. Mackenzie and G. Calvin Mackenzie's NOW WHAT? CONFRONTING AND RESOLVING ETHICAL QUESTIONS: A HANDBOOK FOR TEACHERS (9781412970846, $33.95). Real-life case studies offer a volume that examines the relationship between ethics and school success, considering the role of teachers in developing ethical policies for their schools and considering how inter-relationships are affected by the school's structure. A thought-provoking piece, this examines working relationships throughout the system. Cornelius L. Barker and Claudette J. Searchwell's WRITING MEANINGFUL TEACHER EVALUATIONS - RIGHT NOW! (9781412960113, $31.95) appears in its third updated edition and provides school principals with a reference guide to teacher evaluations. Sample written evaluations with commentary, forms, and keys to interacting with teachers and parents alike make for an outstanding, specific guide!

Best Practices for the Inclusive Classroom
Richard T. Goon, PhD and Vicky G. Spencer, PhD
Prufrock Press
Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593634063, $39.95, www.prufrock.com

Best Practices for the Inclusive Classroom is written by expert teachers and researchers and examines field-tested strategies that teachers need to teach all learners equally well in the classroom. General and special interest providers alike receive strategies in different content areas and a review of the entire integration process, plus tested tips for introducing assistive technology and responding successfully to cultural differences. Very highly recommended!

Developmentally Appropriate Play
Gaye Gronlund
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540375, $32.95, www.redleafpress.org

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PLAY; GUIDING YOUNG CHILDREN TO A HIGHER LEVEL provides a powerful early childhood survey packed with teaching methods and best strategies for facilitating high-level play. From interaction with kids to adding documentation and drawing and blending early learning standards into play, this offers parents and educators an excellent survey and is a pick for any early learning library.


The Art Shelf

Idle Idol
Edward & John Harrison
Mark Batty Publisher
30 West 37th St., Suite 409, New York NY 10018
9780984190614, $16.95, www.markbattypublisher.com

IDLE IDOL: THE JAPANESE MASCOT collects under one cover the fine 3D characters found all over Japan, and is a pick for both arts and Japanese culture collections. The names, culture and features of each character is explored in an outstanding survey of strange Japanese figures, from Hello Kitty to Pyon-Chan.


The Economics Shelf

Toward a Truly Free Market
John C. Medaille
ISI Press
3901 Centerville Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
9781935191810, $26.95, www.isibooks.org

Toward a Truly Free Market offers an excellent survey on the role of government, taxes, and regulation in the lives of Americans. For three decades free-market leaders have tried to reverse Keynesian economic politics only to produce more government debt. John Medaille advocates a truly free-market system by considering economics as a humane science and arguing that economic equilibrium and economic equality together lead to an unbalanced economy. A fine argument ensues!

Money Enough
Douglas A. Hicks
Jossey-Bass
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780787997755, $17.95, www.josseybass.com

MONEY ENOUGH: EVERYDAY PRACTICES FOR LIVING FAITHFULLY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY deserves ongoing mention and recommendation as an outstanding survey identifying and exploring the nine economic practices that shape our social and religious lives. It shows how money is a necessary but not central key to an abundant life, and it advocates readers 'do better' in their work and money decision-making processes. Highly recommended as a key to spiritual and social survival during hard times as well as better days!


The Sociology Shelf

Networks, Crowds and Markets
David Easley and Jon Kleinberg
Cambridge University Press
32 Ave of Americas, New York NY 10013
9780521195331, $50.00, www.cambridge.org

Networks, Crowds and Markets: Reasoning About a Highly Connected World offers a college-level text surveying the connectedness of modern society, from the Internet to global communication, the spread of news and information, and more. It considers the networks and behaviors of groups of people that evolve from such connections and provides undergrads with a textbook considering the economics, sociology, computing and other factors of networks and behavior patterns. A top pick for college-level sociology collections!


The Computer Shelf

Microsoft
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Laurence Moroney's MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT 4 (9780735638877, $34.99) comes with a disc of exercises and tools needed to install and build a first Silverlight application. Use one of Silverlight's 4 features, learn how to deploy simple applications, and use the accompanying online learning resources in this outstanding survey! Casey Reas & Ben Fry's GETTING STARTED WITH PROCESSING (9781449379803, $19.99) tells how to learn computer programming with Processing, an easy language that uses code to create drawings, animation and graphics. This approach is based on hands-on projects, not theory: as such it provides a fine introduction to programming basics and uses the fine Processing software as a teaching foundation. Also powerful is Joyce Cox and Joan Lambert's STEP BY STEP MICROSOFT WORD 2010 (9780735626935, $29.99), a survey packed with tips on building skills in Word 2010. Numbered steps and screenshots emphasize tips and pointers on using MS Word 2010, offering keys to web pages, blog posts, document management, and graphics alike. Highly recommended!

SQL Antipatterns
Bill Karwin
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356555, $34.95, www.pragprog.com

SQL ANTIPATTERNS is for any programmer's collection where SQL database programming is of interest. Chapters identify, explain and correct antipatterns, grouping them in terms of logical design and queries and linking them to application development. Learn how to identify and fix dangerous application antipatterns and common problems in this fine addition to any database programming collection.

Microsoft Office 2010 On Demand
Steve Johnson
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789742780, $29.99, www.quepublishing.com

Microsoft Office 2010 On Demand is packed with details on how to use Office 2010, documenting tasks on one or two pages, offering illustrations and screen shots in full color with matching steps, and numbering the steps for complete task achievement. Alerts to quirks and tips complete the at-a-glance details, while pointers offer further keys to related information in the book. Any general lending library needs this instructional guide!

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit/com

The third updated edition of Robert Love's LINUX KERNEL DEVELOPMENT (0672329468, $49.99) offers a narrowed focus on the design of the Linux Kernel for programmers seeking a deeper understanding of the operating system so they can tailor coding more specifically to Linux strengths and operations. This newly updated third edition includes details on handlers, coverage of virtual memory, tips on debugging the Linux kernel, and more. Also recommended is Jason Sanders and Edward Kandrot's CUDA BY EXAMPLE: AN INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL-PURPOSE GPU PROGRAMMING (0131387685, $39.99). It's a fine pick for advanced programming collections where parallel programming is of interest, covering a computing architecture designed to support parallel programs. Two senior member of the CUDA software platform team up to offer this in-depth coverage, perfect for professional programming collections. Richard S. Wright, et.al.'s OPEN GL SUPERBIBLE, fifth edition (9780321712615, $59.99) provides a powerful survey of Open FL graphics programming for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, and offers hands-on keys to OpenGL development. From writing shaders and using real-time 3D graphics to using OpenGL across platforms, this is a 'bible' packed with key details for any graphics programmer and collections catering to them.

Microsoft Office 2010 Bible
John Walkenbach, et.al.
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470591857, $44.99, www.wiley.com

Leading experts in MS Office provide a fine reference of all features of Office 2010 in Microsoft Office 2010 Bible. From creating a document in Word and applying advanced editing options to using Excel's formulas and building a fine PowerPoint presentation, this is packed with step-by-step references to all functions from beginning to advanced features, and is a top pick for any computer reference collection.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Friends We Keep
Laura Hobgood-Oster
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602582644 $19.95 www.baylorpress.com 1-800-710-3217

The Friends We Keep: Unleashing Christianity's Compassion for Animals is a reminder that the tenets for Christianity promote compassion for the humane treatment of animals as well as fellow human beings. Modern humans are often isolated from the animal world; yet animals have been an integral part of Christians' lives for generations. Chapters discuss what the Christian faith implies for human-animal interactions in "What a Friend We Have: Our Animal Companions", "Lions and Christians: Animals in Sport", "Eating Mercifully: Animals for Food", "Good Christian Hospitality: Animals at Home on the Earth", and "Where Have All the Animals Gone?" A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful testimony about re-evaluating how Christians should view the role of the many animal species that God created.

New Feminist Christianity
Mary E. Hunt and Diann L. Neu, editors
Skylight Paths Publishing
Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594732850 $24.99 www.skylightpaths.com

In the past century, feminism has risen harder than ever. "New Feminist Christianity: Many Voices, Many Views" discusses feminism and what it means to be both a feminist and a Christian. Many women converge in this volume to give their own thoughts and opinions on scripture, clergy, ethics and the feminist agenda in regards to the Church, and so much more. A thoughtful and scholarly study, "New Feminist Christianity" is a solid compendium on the issue, very highly recommended.

Playing with Purpose
Mike Yorkey
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781616262891 $19.99 www.barbourbooks.com

With the pre-game prayer, Christianity and football aren't complete strangers to one another. "Playing with Purpose: Inside the Lives and Faith of the NFL's Top New Quarterbacks" looks at three new figures in the National Football League, hailed as both good Christians and good role models. An analysis of how faith will stack up on the field, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow are discussed as both players and people, and provides an intriguing debate for Christian NFL fans. "Playing with Purpose" is a strong pick for any analytical football collection and for Christian studies collections.

Ancient Paths
David Robinson
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557257734 $16.99 www.paracletepress.com

Christian faith is something learned in many ways. "Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way" is a guide to the more traditional learning paths, as David Robinson looks deep into history encourages faith through these ancient ways, complete with a twelve week study guide that encourages readers to empower themselves through the studies of this path. "Ancient Paths" is a fine addition to any Christian studies collection, highly recommended.

Choosing to See
Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn
Revell
c/o Baker Books
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516
9780800719913, $21.99, www.bakerbooks.com

CHOOSING TO SEE: A JOURNEY OF STRUGGLE AND HOPE shares the author's personal journey from childhood to marriage and the sudden loss of a daughter. Her account is permeated with encounters with God, questions on God's plan, and her relationship with God in the face of loss and pain. The result is a fine autobiographical portrait of one relationship to spirituality that belongs in any Christian collection.

Christian Ethics in a Technological Age
Brian Brock
William B. Eerdmans Publishing
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802865175, $34.00, www.eerdmans.com

Christian Ethics in a Technological Age offers a fine analysis of the historical and conceptual roots of modern science and technology, and is a recommendation for college-level Christian collections interested in a comparison of Christian beliefs and technology challenges. Part 1 traces 'secular' philosophical accounts of modern technology's meanings and ethical implications, while Part II develops an account of faith's search to hear the claim of Christ amid technological living. An excellent scholarly discussion evolves!

The Me I Want to Be
John Ortberg
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310275923, $19.99, www.zondervan.com

THE ME I WANT TO BE: BECOMING GOD'S BEST VERSION OF YOU provides a fine personal account of spiritual thought, surveying God's ideas for personal growth and offering a survey of natural gifts and how God seeks redemption and personal strengths alike. Any spiritual reader will find this packed with details on how to be an individual and spiritually enlightened, making THE ME I WANT TO BE a fine addition to any spirituality collection.

A Quest for Godliness
J.I. Packer
Crossway
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
0891078193, $25.00, www.crossway.org

A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life comes from an author who has had a passion for Puritan history and values. His survey of Puritan life and thought probes their spiritual teachings and contrasts it with Western Christianity in a survey reflecting his own lifetime of study of great Puritan leaders and their values.


The Photography Shelf

Glacier Album
Michael J. Ober
Riverbend Publishing
PO Box 5833, Helena, MT 59604
9781606390085 $14.95 www.riverbendpublishing.com

The cold does not counter the innate beauty. "Glacier Album: Historic Photographs of Glacier National Park" is a collection of back and white photograph of this wonderful national park in Montana, focusing on its early days in the post war-boom where automobile travel came into major prominence. Displaying the sights of the area, and offering historical context, "Glacier Album" is an intriguing take and a solidly recommended pick for any lover of nature and historical photography.

Full Bleed: New York City Skateboard Photography
Alex Corporan, Andre Razo and Ivory Serra
Vice Books
c/o Power House Books
37 Main St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781576875391, $35.00, www.PowerHouseBooks.com

Full Bleed: New York City Skateboard Photography offers a powerful visual journey through over thirty years of skateboarding in New York, featuring a range of full color photos by New York photographers as it captures the urban skateboard phenomenon in motion. Any collection where urban culture and skateboarding are of interest will relish this presentation!

Rocky Nook
26 West Mission Street, Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
www.rockynook.com

Jack Howard's PRACTICAL HDRI: HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGING USING PHOTOSHOP CS5 AND OTHER TOOLS (9781933952635, $34.95) provides a fine survey by a pro photographer who offers tips updated for 2010 in a highly recommended second edition. The entire HDR process from picture to print, plus processing for web applications, is fully illustrated with step-by-step tutorials packed with color screen shots throughout. No serious photography library should be without this! Also recommended as an ongoing pick is Stephen Laskevitch's PHOTOSHOP CS5 AND LIGHTROOM 3 (9781933952673, $39.95), a fine basic guide to novices new to Photoshop and Lightroom. Step-by-step instructions come from the author's background as a teacher and photographer and offer keys to using the latest version of Photoshop and Camera Raw, Lightroom and Bridge. Color examples pack nearly every page. Darrell Young's MASTERING THE NIKON D3000 (9781933952598, $34.95) offers a fine guide for any owner of the budget Nikon digital camera. It considers all the buttons, options, and personal recommendations on how and where to use each advanced function, assuming no prior knowledge in digital technology as it explores photo basics.

Apple Aperture 3
Ken McMahon & Nik Rawlinson
Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521787, $39.95, www.focalpress.com

Apple Aperture 3 provides an excellent survey of how to use Apple's photo management package to produce superior images. Aperture 3 tips include how to protect images, use Presets and the new Curves tool, and how to blend Aperture 3 with other programs. Digital photographers will relish instructions which use projects for examples, from exporting images to slideshows or the Web to creating an oversized photo book.


The Native American Shelf

Trickster
Matt Dembicki, editor
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917241, $22.95, www.fulcrum-books.com

"Trickster: A Graphic Collection of Native American Tales" is a sequential, illustrated selection of Native American trickster tales from a variety of authentic voices and artists. Presenting the artistic and storytelling offerings of more than 26 artists/authors of different Native American backgrounds, "Trickster" is a vivid glimpse of the rich traditions still present and accessible to modern memory in Native American oral/historical traditions. Just paging through "Trickster" is sure to intrigue the most casual observer, for its vibrant colors and illustrations leap out from the page. "Trickster" is an adult/young adult serious comic book collection with a mission to inform and educate all who are interested in the vast, diverse Native American heritage that precedes discovery and colonization. Come meet an ancient god, the trickster takes many forms.

One Nation One Year
Doug James, photographer
Karyth Becenti, text author
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107
9781890689995, $24.99, www.nmsantos.com

"One Nation One Year: A Navajo Photographer's 365-day Journey into a World of Discovery, Life and Hope" is a photographic odyssey through far-flung parts of the Navajo nation by a talented Navajo photographer with a clear connection to the beauty of daily events in this varied setting. Traveling over dirt roads by truck, horseback, even on foot, Don James documents exciting and artistically challenging events involving rodeos, sports, traditions, people, and celebrations. From July 9, 2009, when a young woman plants corn and earns money in a summer job to buy herself an ipod, to January 19, 2009, where Joe Vandever, Sr., famed Navajo Code interpreter from WW II is pictured, the emphasis in "One Nation One Year" is on the lives and deeds of the Navajo people. There are also spectacular shots of great scenic drama woven throughout. "One Nation One Year" is a great gift of sharing to cross cultural and distance divides, presented with exquisite sensitivity and vision.

The Story of the American Indian
Sydney E. Fletcher, author/illustrator
Craig R. Smith, editor
Aubrey Wells, assistant illustrator
Axios Press
P.O. Box 118, Mt. Jackson, VA 22842
9781604190328, $18.00, www.AxiosPress.com

Initially published in 1954 by Grosset & Dunlap, "The Story of the American Indian" is a young readers' classic compendium or mini-encyclopedia to the main representatives of American Indian tribes and nations that existed previous to 1492. filled with detailed drawings and illustrations partially supplemented or completed by Aubrey Wells after the death of the original author/illustrator, "The Story of the American Indian" presents background information on Mayans, Pueblos and cliff-dwellers, Mound Builders, Iroquois, Lakota and other Plains Indian nations, Cherokee, Paiute and other Seed-Gatherers, Northwest Fishermen nations including Haida, Eskimos, Navajo, and other Indian American nations and tribes. In addition to general information about survival practices, hunting, gathering, agriculture, and social customs of the various specific groups, "The Story of the American Indian" has 21 brief biographic profiles of famous Indian Americans listed chronologically from Pocahontas, Powhatan (1595-1617), through Washakie, Shoshoni (1804-1900). More recent famous Indians mentioned include Allie Reynolds (Creeek Yankee pitcher), Jim Thorpe (Sauk Fox great athlete), Will Rogers (part Cherokee humorist), Marjorie and Maria Tallchief (Osage, ballet dancers), Charles Eastman, D'Arcy McNickle, and Maria Martinez. Ideally presented as a resource for teen readers age 12-18, "The Story of the American Indian" is a practical collection of lore and information about many of the best known American Indian nations/tribes. Due to the vast amount of current material available on the general topic, use of 'the Story of the American Indian" should be supplemented with more recent publications for any serious or comprehensive research. However, it continues a classic and valuable contribution to the field of study of American Indian history.


The Parenting Shelf

Out of Harm's Way
Sandy K. Wurtele, Ph.D.
Parenting Press
P.O. Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98175
9781884734977, $9.95, www.parentingpress.com

"Out of Harm's Way: A Parent's Guide to Protecting Young Children from Sexual Abuse" is a paperback pamphlet written specifically for parents of young children to help them provide realistic protection and defense against sexual predators. Though this is a difficult area to enlighten, necessary information will empower and enable parents of young children to detect signs of the imminence of sexual abuse and allow them to take swift, preventive, protective actions when necessary. "Out of Harm's Way" teaches parents how to recognize sexual abusers of children, how to practice good safety habits both at home and outside, how to communicate openly and truthfully with your child about sexuality, safety, and personal boundaries, and how to keep their children out of harm's way. While avoiding jargon and unnecessary scare tactics, "Out of Harm's Way" helps parents identify potential predators and also how they may begin to groom children for their attention. Child self-protection strategies are also taught, as well as choosing reliable adult support for child protection. Most important of all, full and open communication between parent and child is encouraged. The concepts of parental discretion, with regard to choices for single parent partners, and heeding one's intuition or "gut warnings" are stressed as well. "Out of Harm's Way" is an excellent supplement to school-based personal safety curricula for parents of young children. Also recommended by this publisher is "Where Is My Mommy?" (9781884734465, $12.95), dealing with issues of child abandonment.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Such is Life!
Lloyd Geering
Polebridge press
Williamette University
900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301
9781598150230, $20.00

The thinkers of the ancient world are revered for their thoughts for a reason. "Such is Life!: A Close Encounter with Ecclesiastes" looks at the work of the Jewish sage known as the Proclaimer and his thoughts on the world. His work, studied as the Ecclesiastes, was a work that promoted human worth and rings very true in today's secular world where few live only for their faith. "Such is Life!" is a fine read and a solidly recommended one.

The Pilgrim's Way to St. Patrick's Purgatory
Eileen Gardiner
Italica Press
595 Main Street, Suite 605, New York, NY 10044
9781599101675, $20.00, www.italicapress.com

The faith of the Irish Christian is deeply entrenched in their homeland. "The Pilgrim's Way to St. Patrick's Purgatory" looks into the pilgrimage sights throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, looking at major religious sites throughout its deeply dedicated and religious past. With paths to be traveled by any method, be it foot or car, "The Pilgrim's Way to St. Patrick's Purgatory" is a must for anyone who wants to embrace Ireland's deep religious heritage.


The Poetry Shelf

Pima Road Notebook
Keith Ekiss
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974937, $15.00, www.wmich.edu

Flourishing in a barren wasteland is something very hard to do. "Pima Road Notebook" is a collection of poetry from Keith Ekiss, reflecting on the American Dream and how it applies to America's deserts. "Pima Road Notebook" is a thoughtful and fun first collection, a top pick. "Reclamation": The landscape needs fewer words--/lexicon of birds dispersed.//Toxic slurry, spoil piles, chloride pools./There's a rawness to it, like beaten flesh.//When it's been filled in and over/a tentative takes hold//one unsure of its roots.


The World History Shelf

Lonergan & Historiography
Thomas J. McPartland
Missouri University press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218841, $44.95, www.press.umsystem.edu

There's more to history than writing down things that have happened. "Loneregan & Historiography: The Epistemological Philosophy of History" is a discussion of historiography, the philosoph and why of history. History is used not only as a look into the past, but an inquiry of the why of human nature, what culture has brought, and brings forth plenty of thought on the matter. A scholarly study and a solid addition to history and philosophy collections, "Loneregan & Historiography" is an informative text with plenty to add to any classroom discussion.


The Self-Help Shelf

When You Have Outgrown Him
Dr. Kimberly Ventus-Darks
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823201 $14.95 www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

People change, and that can be hard to cope with. "When You Have Outgrown Him: Whether to Stay or Go" is a guide to being a woman who is at a crossroads with their mate. With advice on when to stay with your man and when to move on with your life, Dr. Kimberly Ventus-Darks gives sage wisdom to women everywhere. "When You Have Outgrown Him" is a fine take and a solidly recommended read.


The Aviation Shelf

The Fw 200 Condor: A Complete History
Jerry Scutts
Crecy Publishing
c/o Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
9780859791311 $49.95 www.spibooks.com

The Fw 200 Condor: A Complete History is an exhaustively in-depth history of the Fw 200 Condor, a German aircraft used before and during world War II. The Condor was well known for being capable of long air routes before the War broke out; its accurate navigation capabilities over long tracts of ocean took a special toll of discipline among its pilots and crew. The Condor was used to target allied vessels so far out to sea as to scarcely expect attack, and several hundred thousand tons of war material to the bottom of the ocean. This continued until the arrival of escort carriers and merchant ships armed with Hurricane fighters and long-range bombers to counter the Condor threat. The Fw 200 Condor is a story of maritime reconnaissance, the transition from peace to war, and more. Over 200 vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this meticulous accounting of how the Condors were constructed, how they were used, and their ultimate effect upon aviation history. A "must-have" for serious aviation history and military collections.


The American History Shelf

Beyond Mount Rushmore
Mary A. Kopco, editor
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780982274965 $19.95 www.sdshspress.com

Beyond Mount Rushmore is an anthology of essays by a diversity of learned authors about famous historical personages of the Black Hills. From great musicians, to influential members of the local Chinese population, to the story of a Civilian Conservation Corps worker, to the testimony of the first African-American woman to settle in the Hills, Beyond Mount Rushmore offers an eclectic and cosmopolitan array of viewpoints. An excellent historical primary source, Beyond Mount Rushmore is especially recommended to any historian or layperson who wants to learn more about the Black Hills and the people who lived there from the mid-1870s to the late twentieth century.

The Sweetness of Freedom
Stephen Garr Ostrander
Martha Aladjem Bloomfield
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25, 1405 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870139772 $29.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Historian Stephen Garr Ostrander and museum curator Martha Aladjem Bloomfield present The Sweetness of Freedom: Stories of Immigrants, an anthology of firsthand testimonies of adapting to life in America by immigrants hailing from all over the world. People from Finland, the Netherlands, Korea, Iraq, Lebanon, Tanzania and more tell their stories - some of escaping from persecution, some of the drive to find the American dream, and some of just struggling to get by day by day. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrates this compelling testimony of true-life stories, sure to engage and enrich readers of all backgrounds as well as offer an invaluable primary source to historians.


The Black Studies Shelf

Say It Loud!
Catherine Ellis and Stephen Drury Smith, editors
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595581136 $35.00 www.thenewpress.com 1-800-233-4830

The sequel to the speech anthology/CD compilation "Say It Plain", Say It Loud! Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African American Identity collects memorable speeches (all as recorded at live events) pertaining to the African American struggle for liberty and equality from 1960 to the present day. An accompanying MP3 allows one to listen to the impassioned voices of great leaders speaking directly to the hearts and minds of the people about racial equality and civil rights. Individual speeches include Malcolm X's "The Ballot or the Bullet", Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Where Do We Go from Here?", Toni Morrison's 1993 Nobel Prize Lecture, Condoleeza Rice's "Speech to National Council of Negro Women", and Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" 2008 speech. Like its predecessor, "Say It Loud!" is a superb primary source worthy of the highest recommendation for public and college library collections.


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
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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