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California Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 12 December 2007 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks California Shelf International Studies Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Library Science Shelf Business Shelf
American History Shelf Education Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Science Shelf Military Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Art Shelf Social Issues Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Computer Shelf Native American Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Travel Shelf Gardening Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Homeowner's Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Sports Shelf
Biography Shelf Audiobook Shelf  


Donovan's Picks

True Self, True Wealth
Peter Cole, CHFC, LCSW and Daisy Reese, LCSW
Beyond Words Publishing
c/o Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582701784, $16.95 www.beyondwords.com

True wealth takes a 'holistic' approach to working with money, and TRUE SELF, TRUE WEALTH: A PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY covers not only business sense but spiritual and psychological security and practices, using the emerging field of neuroeconomics to link emotions to economic choices. Recommended for both new age and business collections alike, TRUE SELF, TRUE WEALTH offers quotes from spiritual teachers and financial gurus, exercises, and examples of finding a different kind of financial security in life, and is a choice new age libraries especially will find popular.

Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff
Rosemary Mahoney
Little, Brown
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
031610745X, $23.99 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Two hundred years after Napoleon invaded Egypt author Rosemary Mahoney, a rower, decided to take her own solo trip down the Nile in a small boat – and in a seven-foot skiff helped by Muslim sailor Amr, she begins a boat journey which will ultimately sail her right into the culture and poverty of rural Egyptians. Egyptian women don't row on the Nile, and tourists aren't allowed to for safety purposes – so Mahoney must first fight culture and legal challenges to embark on her journey. Any who would understand Middle Eastern traditions and culture needs Down the Nile: Alone in a Fisherman's Skiff, especially general-interest public lending libraries strong in Middle East cultural experiences and travel.

Paradoxes from A to Z, 2nd Edition
Michael Clark
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780415420830 www.routledge.com

The first edition of Michael Clark's Paradoxes from A to Z was a best-seller, and any library or individual who missed this collection of brain-teasing puzzles will thus welcome this second edition, which includes ten new paradoxes from Muddy Children to Self-Amendment paradox. Philosophy, science, and general-interest lending collections alike will find this a popular pick, appealing across the board to the intellectual leisure readers and to students of science, philosophy and social science alike.

A Slice of Organic Life
Sheherazade Goldsmith, Editor-in-Chief
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9780756628734, $25.00 www.dk.com

Any consumer who would lead a more organically-based life will want to consider the multi-faceted approach in A Slice of Organic Life, whether it be the home cook seeking to adjust food and cooking habits to the small gardener who wants to incorporate organic methods. Libraries where readers enjoy organic cookbooks, gardening titles or home ownership patrons will find A SLICE OF ORGANIC LIFE a popular lend: it packs its pages with color photos along with specific suggestions for buying, growing, eating, and choosing organics and it is an excellent manual for making lifestyle changes easy.


The California Shelf

Wilderness Press
1200 – 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1306
www.wildernesspress.com

California visitors and residents alike will welcome Elizabeth Wenk with Kathy Morey's John Muir Trail (9780899974361, $17.95), an exceptional hiking guide to one of the most famous trails around. This updated new 4th edition describes the entire trail from beginning to end, including GPS coordinates for all junctions, established campsites, and excellent maps. No avid hiker of this trail should be without it, making it a fine reference pick for any California public library specializing in hiker's references. Equally recommended is Jerry Schad's AFOOT & AFIELD: SAN DIEGO COUNTY: A COMPREHENSIVE HIKING GUIDE (9780899974286, $22.95), also a 4th updated edition especially recommended for any San Diego county library. It packs in over two hundred trips which range from short self-guiding nature trails to longer, serious hikes on peaks, and it explores everything from mountains to beaches in the process, expanding this edition with new maps and over 35 new hikes. Both are top recommendations.

The Country in the City
Richard A. Walker
University of Washington Press
P.O. Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
0295987014, $35.00 www.washington.edu/uwpress

THE COUNTRY IN THE CITY: THE GREENING OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA should be a 'most' for any San Francisco Bay Area or comprehensive California library, whether it be a college-level or public lending collection. Students of California history and geography alike will appreciate this story of how the Bay Area's greenbelt was planned into an urban environment – and how each piece of it was fought for. From environmental battles which spread out to affect urban policies across the country to the involvement of businesses and individuals like, THE COUNTRY IN THE CITY is packed with insights on how early conservation affects today's urban environment, making it a fine pick for any collection interested in urban planning, ecology, or Bay Area history alike.

Splendid Mountains: Early Exploration in the Sierra Nevada
Peter Browning, Editor
Great West Books
P.O. Box 1028, Lafayette, CA 94549
0944220223, $21.95 www.greatwestbooks.com

Libraries strong in California history will welcome SPLENDID MOUNTAINS a survey of the mountains to the north and east of Paradise Valley, which uses first-person observation to reveal early explorations, observations, and adventures in their exploration. It's an excellent survey for any library strong in California's pioneer history and provides a host of first-person experiences under one cover, essential for any who regularly seek California history source materials.

Hells Angels Motorcycle Club
Andrew Shaylor, Photographer
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
1858944074, $24.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Photographer Andrew Shaylor was given unique access to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and sought to provide an excellent representation of the group: available in paper for the first time is a set of images captured at their important events, worldwide. The Hells Angels Club is a huge part of California culture in addition to being worldwide, so this color-photo-packed representation is a top pick for any California general-interest lending library strong in California alternative culture.


The International Studies Shelf

The Seventy Wonders of China
Jonathan Fenby, Editor
Thames & Hudson
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780500251379, $40.00 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Any collection strong in China surveys, from college-level holdings to general-interest public libraries, will want to include THE SEVENTY WONDERS OF CHINA in their collection. It provides a cultural and geographical review of the country's wealth with a strong focus on the arts, surveying its modern systems and its achievements. Entries come from experts from leading academic institutions in Asia and the West and are accompanied by color photos and maps throughout. The result is an excellent review certain to appeal to both general-interest browsers and students of Chinese history and culture alike.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

On-Scene Commander
Weldon L. Kennedy
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781597971362, $26.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

ON-SCENE COMMANDER: FROM STREET AGENT TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE FBI describes the author's personal experiences of his career, which culminated in his service as the Bureau's top official under director Louis Freeb. It's a key survey offering an insider's stories of major historical FBI cases during his tenure, blending autobiography with Bureau workings and insights and considering four decades of service and Bureau changing work. Both public lending libraries and collections strong in American politics needs this unusual insider's view of changing FBI programs and intentions.


The Library Science Shelf

Information Tomorrow
Rachel Singer Gordon, Editor
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573873031, $35.00 www.infotoday.com

INFORMATION TOMORROW: REFLECTIONS ON TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC LIBRARIES is a 'must' for any college-level collection strong in library science or information technology. Chapters bring together some 20 of modern thinkers who discuss libraries and technology – and ways in which technology is impacting library services. Any working in library science needs to consider the rapidly changing world of information collection and dissemination – and INFORMATION TOMORROW is key to understanding.


The Business Shelf

Surrounded by Geniuses
Dr. Alan S. Gregerman
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
140220910X, $16.95 www.sourcebooks.com 1-800-432-7444

SURROUNDED BY GENIUSES: UNLOCKING THE BRILLIANCE IN YOURSELF, YOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR ORGANIZATION is a recommended pick for any library strong in business leadership books. It provides a different approach to success based on the idea that everyone holds a 'hidden genius' inside – and that we are all surrounded by such unused talents which collectively can be harnessed to make for a more powerful organization. Chapters point out specifics of how to achieve this goal, making for an excellent survey recommended for business collections and practicing business managers at all levels.

Atlantic Publishing Group Inc.
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

Two outstanding financial guides are picks any general-interest lending library should have. Teri B. Clark's THE COMPLETE PERSONAL FINANCE HANDBOOK (9781601380470, $29.95) provides detailed directions any family can use to identify financial security strategies for the entire family. From budgeting basics to solutions to health and retirement issues, chapters are in an easy format packed with case study examples and step-by-step directions, perfect for families and libraries catering to them. Jamaine Burrell's COMPLETE GUIDE TO CURRENCY TRADING & INVESTING: HOW TO EARN HIGH RATES OF RETURN SAFELY AND TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR INVESTMENTS (9781601381194, $24.95) provides another personal finance and investing guide recommended for this audience: this on the topic of currency trading, or exchanging one country's currency for another's. Unlike most investment guides which consider thousands of dollars for initial investment, COMPLETE GUIDE TO CURRENCY TRADING begins with just, $100 or less – and goals can be achieved from just part-time attention.

The Restaurant Manager's Handbook, 4th Edition
Douglas Robert Brown
Atlantic Publishing Company
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
0910627975, $79.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

This restaurant manager's business guide has been the best-selling business book on the topic through numerous editions now, and the revised 4th updated edition is no exception. It packs in details on how to set up, operate and manage a successful food service operation covering all facets of management in over thirty chapters describing the process of a restaurant's start-up. A new companion cd-rom offers all forms used in the book in a handy PDF format, while photos and information from leading food service manufacturers enhance the explanations and new chapters covering food nutrition guidelines and employee training. Packed with invaluable detail, it can't be missed: any college-level holding catering to hospitality students will find it invaluable.

Know Can Do!
Ken Blanchard, Paul Meyer & Dick Ruhe
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576754689, $19.95 www.bkconnection.com

KNOW CAN DO - PUT YOUR KNOW-HOW INTO ACTION provides invaluable information for businesses and libraries catering to business owners, managers and students alike: it tells how to make behavioral changes which lead to better learning abilities, identifying three key reasons people don't use the knowledge and new information they're given in seminars and schools, then showing how to tweak the brain's filtering system to expand knowledge. Any library strong in business and learning strategies needs KNOW CAN DO!

The New Science of Getting Rich
Wallace D. Wattles
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582701881, $11.95 www.simonsays.com

This is one of the foundation titles that influenced Rhonda Byrne's bestselling THE SECRET: as such, it's been updated for modern readers to include newly revised examples and expanded exercises. Any interested in acquiring wealth will find it a fine survey of how to gain riches through the natural Law of Attraction. This book was written nearly a hundred years ago, but its lessons – especially since examples have been updated – are important picks for any interested in getting ahead and managing or acquiring money, making it especially recommended for general-interest libraries.

The Origin of Wealth
Eric D. Beinhocker
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
157851777X, $29.95 www.hbspress.org

What is wealth, what defines it, and how can it be created? THE ORIGIN OF WEALTH: EVOLUTION, COMPLEXITY, AND THE RADICAL REMAKING OF ECONOMICS is an excellent college-level text highly recommended for business and economics collections: it surveys the latest ideas of economics and science, arguing that the economy is a complex adaptive system akin to the brain in its functioning. New ideas consider the evolutionary influence and path of economics, and survey the underlying origins of and influences upon wealth.

50 Bosses Worse Than Yours
Justin Racz
Bloomsbury
175 – 5th Avenue Suite 300, New York NY 10010
159691324X, $14.95 www.bloomsburyusa.com

The sixth installment of Justin Racz's 'Worse Than Yours' series has arrived – and it's hilarious, blending humor with real-world observations of bosses who are truly semi-evil. From 'The Heir Apparent' who has never worked a day in his life but who professes to management skills to Big Brother who is always watching EVERYTHING, 50 BOSSES WORSE THAN YOURS blends spoof, humor, and a healthy dose of reality, presenting entries of bosses who are the most annoying – and incompetent – ever to slip through Human Resource scrutiny. Perfect for both business and public lending libraries alike!

Freedomnomics
John R. Lott, Jr., Ph.D.
Regnery Publishing Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001
9781596985063, $27.95 www.regnery.com

FREEDOMNOMICS: WHY THE FREE MARKET WORKS AND OTHER HALF-BAKED THEORIES DON'T shows how free market principles produce the best chances for success. It's a direct rebuttal to FREAKONOMICS – thus any collection owning one needs the other – and it also provides a conservative's view of how freedoms – not fads – drive America's economics. College-level courses in modern economics as well as any who have already digested the best-selling FREAKONOMICS needs to consider this counter-argument.


The American History Shelf

Making the Irish American
J.J. Lee and Marion R. Casey, Editors
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10003
9780814752180, $26.95 www.nyupress.org

Plenty of books have been written on Irish-American history both locally and nation-wide, but MAKING THE IRISH AMERICAN holds a difference: it's nearly thirty perspectives on the process of the Irish in America and blends original research with reprints of classic analyses, making for a thoughtful set of essays and articles which survey Irish-American history in context of the overall immigrant experience. Any college-level holding strong in ethnic studies or American history will find this an outstanding compilation, highly recommended as a basic collection addition.

The Naked Quaker
Diane Rapaport
Commonwealth Editions
266 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
9781933212579, $19.95 www.commonwealtheditions.com

Collections strong in regional American history – particularly New England regional history – will want to add THE NAKED QUAKER: TRUE CRIMES AND CONTROVERSIES FROM THE COURTS OF COLONIAL NEW ENGLAND to the collection. It comes from a historian and former trial lawyer who uses court records to provide over twenty true stories previously published in his column for New England Ancestors journal. A wider audience can now appreciate these lively vignettes of early crime.


The Education Shelf

Listen Up! Podcasting for Schools and Libraries
Linda W. Braun
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873048, $29.50 www.infotoday.com

Teachers, librarians and educators who need to understand the technology and potentials of podcasting will welcome LISTEN UP! PODCASTING FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. It comes from an educational technology specialist who explore podcasting and why it's a useful tool for libraries, covering content and mechanics of operation and showing how schools and libraries can best utilize the technology to get the most from both students and staff. While it's directed to educators, any who want a simple introductory primer on podcasting will welcome this, making it a top pick for both college-level education libraries and general-interest collections.

The Best 366 Colleges, 2008 Edition
Robert Franek & Tom Meltzer, et.al.
Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375766213, $21.95 www.princetonreview.com/bookstore

THE BEST 366 COLLEGES is superior to most college guides on the market: for one thing, it provides high school to college-level students with information based on the responses of over 120,000 college students who provide insights on the realities of their institution of choice. For another, it offers unique rankings of the schools in over sixty categories based on student ratings of not just academics but financial aid, dorms and more – and it offers tips to high schoolers on how to prepare for admission to a college of choice. With all that under one cover, this becomes the item of preference for any collection catering to students who are college-bound.

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

TEACHING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: USING THE INTERNET TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, 2nd edition by Kristen J. Nelson (9781412955669) is quite simply essential reading for any modern teacher. It shows how to integrate Web resources with traditional teaching patterns and objectives, showing how to use Internet-based, brain-friendly activities to promote student comprehension. The reference packs in Internet assignments to foster computer research skills, including standards-based lesson plans and rubrics. No college-level teacher's library should be without this fine manual. Jason Ohler's DIGITAL STORYTELLING IN THE CLASSROOM: NEW MEDIA PATHWAYS TO LITERACY, LEARNING, AND CREATIVITY (9781412938501, $32.95) is for both educators and college-level teaching libraries interested in blending the digital technology tools newly available into classroom strategies. Chapters offer studies in and out of the classroom with a focus on digital storytelling options: from two different kinds of such storytelling to blending in different routines, this is a pick practicing teachers will relish. Steven S. Kussin's HOW TO BUILD THE MASTER SCHEDULE IN 10 EASY STEPS (9781412955911, $29.95) is directed to secondary school administrators and the libraries that cater to them, offering a formula for schedule development and curriculum planning which can reach virtually any type of school, from urban to rural. Exercises, worksheets, and case studies inform administrators how to students, parents and teachers alike and will make for a valuable overview of the entire process. AFTERSCHOOL MATTERS edited by Sara Hill (9781412941242, $24.95) discusses how to develop creative youth programs and is a 'must' in a learning environment where afterschool enrichment possibilities have blossomed. Teachers and education libraries alike will find AFTERSCHOOL MATTERS: CREATIVE PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT to be an essential overview of the elements that lend success to such a program, from teacher quality and academic standards to methods of making a lasting difference in education. David A. Sousa's HOW THE BRAIN LEARNS MATHEMATICS (9781412953061, $37.95) comes from a respected author and researcher who explores the latest neuroscientific findings in learning and math cognition. From how a child's innate number sense develops to how to plan lessons in PreK-12 math to address these shared learning strengths, HOW THE BRAIN LEARNS MATHEMATICS pairs research with lesson plans specific to elementary and secondary school teachers. Lois Brown Easton's ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED: HOW SCHOOLS CAN HELP STRUGGLING STUDENTS SUCCEED (9781412949996) surveys the process of creating an integrated system of support for struggling students, and is based on the author's experience working with such students. From assessing curriculum and instruction methods to make vital changes to developing innovative teaching strategies and self-directed learners, ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED should be required reading for any teacher.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

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

The second, updated edition of Julia C. Carroll's COLLECTING COSTUME JEWELRY 101 (9781574325621, $24.95) is a top pick for any lending library where patrons collect jewelry. Costume jewelry is one of the most easily-obtained, popular collectibles so many different levels of collectors will want to consult this reference, which comes packed with not only the latest values but color photos for identification, and plenty of insights into what makes for a collectible piece. Gene & Cathy Florence's COLLECTIBLE GLASSWARE FROM THE 40s 50s AND 60s (9781574925577, $19.95) packs in manufacturer history and overviews comparing the glassworks and approaches of different companies as well as providing fine color photos and the latest prices. It's a winning choice for any who would collect glassware from this 30-year period. Gene & Cathy Florence's 18th updated edition COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DEPRESSION GLASS (9781574325591, $19.95) is also an outstanding pick, providing the latest values along with color photos of complete collections arranged by maker for quick reference. Felicia Browell, Kelly Korber-Weimer and Kelly Kesicki's BREYER ANIMAL COLLECTOR'S GUIDE (9781574325560, $24.95) packs in color photos of the popular plastic Breyer animal toys, along with the latest values in an updated 5th edition Breyer collectors will find invaluable. The 26th updated, 2008 edition of SCHROEDER'S ANTIQUES PRICE GUIDE (9781574325713, $17.95) provides yet another revised price guide which has proved a bestselling standard for years, and is a top pick for any library seeking a fine general all-in-one antiques value guide. Over 500 categories provide both strong introductory chapter and insights on values, fakes, and reproductions alike. B.J. Summer's POCKET GUIDE TO COCA-COLA IDENTIFICATIONS, 6TH EDITION (9781574325706, $14.95) provides the latest values for top Coca-Cola items, from older bottles and clocks to ads and calendars, postcards and dishware. All are top, recommended picks for public libraries specializing in catering to collectors.

Milestone Coins
Kenneth Bressett
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Road, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
0794823610, $29.95 www.whitmanbooks.com

Coin collectors interested in more than just values will welcome MILESTONE COINS: A PAGEANT OF THE WORLD'S MOST SIGNIFICANT AND POPULAR MONEY. It's a history telling the stories behind over 100 famous world coins and tokens, covering a history of civilization through its coinage. From Biblical coins to pirate coins, Celtic gold, and unique world coin manufacture, chapters pair a fascinating coin history with insights on world trends. Perfect for collections catering to coin collectors and history buffs alike.


The Science Shelf

Research and Theory in Advancing Spatial Data Infrastructure Concepts
Harlan Onsrud, Editor
ESRI
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589481626, $24.95 www.esri.com

International experts present the latest research on the development of spatial data infrastructures in this new title, recommended as a pick for any college-level collection which houses books on SDIs and managing spatial data efficiently. Contributors are well versed in a range of research and topics, exploring data-sharing partnerships around the world from Australia and India to Europe. From the evolution of national spatial data clearinghouses from 200 to 2005 to data sharing models, this is a technical collection not to be missed by any holding strong in spatial data research.

Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships
Marc Bekoff, Editor
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport CT 06881
9780313334870, $499.95/set www.greenwood.com

Editor Marc Beckoff is Professor of Biology at the University of Colorado, and has written numerous books on animal rights and welfare. This set is no limited regional offering but assumes a global perspective in surveying human connections with animals, with sections offering topics as diverse as analysis of animal assistance to humans to issues of ethics, animal treatment and welfare, and habitat challenges around the world. Both wild and domesticated animals are presented, with numerous sidebars of information, charts, and bibliographic references providing information key to any college-level collection strong in animal welfare, ecology and natural history, or veterinary management. The subject matter and scope are unparalleled.

Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History
William J. Bell, Louis M. Roth, Christine A. Nalepa
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801886163, $100.00 www.press.jhu.edu

College-level collections strong in entomological references will find an invaluable detail to COCKROACHES, a review of the approximately 4,000 species within the suborder Blattaria. Chapters explore the history and behavior of cockroaches, describing their colors, shapes, diet, reproduction habits and more, and including analysis of the ecology and evolution of the species. Over 100 illustrations and an expanded glossary enhance a coverage packed with charts and black and white illustrations, making COCKROACHES a specialty pick well suited for any collection delving into insect natural history.

Lives of the Planets
Richard Corfield
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0465014038, $27.50 www.basicbooks.com 1-800-242-7737

LIVES OF THE PLANETS: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM offers a survey of the most recent advances in astronomy which are leading into new areas of experimental science. Blending a history of astronomical inquiry with a focus on new discoveries and new ways of analyzing data, LIVES OF THE PLANETS offers a fine, wide-ranging review of solar system history and study and promises to interest a wide audience, from high school to college collections, to public lending libraries alike.

Discovery! Unearthing the New Treasures of Archaeology
Brian M. Fagan, Editor
Thames & Hudson
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780500051498, $40.00 www.thames.wwnorton.com

Archaeological discoveries are usually limited to technical journals and scientific circles, but DISCOVERY offers keys to understanding to general-interest readers and public lending libraries strong in science for lay readers. This covers all the important archaeological discoveries of the last 15 years that have changed how we know the past. Many are written by the discoverers themselves, who provide first-hand accounts of their finds. A world-wide approach to some two million years of discovery is embellished by gorgeous photos – many taken at the moment of discovery – and make for an outstanding presentation recommended as a 'must' acquisition for any collection strong in science for lay readers.


The Military Shelf

The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told
Iain C. Martin, Editor
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599210179, $14.95 www.globepequot.com

Any who would read live-action, heart-stopping military stories needs The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told, an outstanding re-enactment of some of the greatest Marine battles in history. From the battles of the War of 1812 and struggles during the Mexican-American war to more modern times, these stories of sacrifice and courage come from a range of Marine eyewitness accounts and make for an outstanding, action-packed presentation of experience perfect not only for military holdings, but for general-interest libraries.

World War II titles
Sutton Publishing
c/o MBI Publishing
380 Jackson Street #200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
$24.95 each www.mbipublishing.com

Three excellent World War II books are recommended picks for military collections strong in battle history: together especially they form a fine review of some of the German military's greatest military endeavors. HITLER'S ATLANTIC WALL by Anthony Saunders (9780705945547) is, surprisingly, the first substantial analysis in English, examining the history of the wall, how it was built, and what role it played in the war. Chapters survey the conception to the making of the project. Jak P. Mallmann-Showell's HITTER'S U-BOAT BASES (9780750945554) survey the u-boats and their importance in Germany's offensive strategies, with chapter including many rare photos and illustrations. It's also the first comprehensive guide in English to examine the bunkers in detail and comes from an author who has visited many of the sites personally. Neil Short's HITLER'S SIEGFRIED LINE (9780750945011) surveys the huge wall of German defenses that was 300 miles long and in places up to 20 miles deep, providing in in-depth history and analysis in what is the first English guide to the line. All should be required reading for any detailed college-level World War II military analysis.

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

Terry Crowdy's MILITARY MISDEMEANORS (9781846031489, $16.95) covers faux pas, bungles, acts of incompetence, and just stupidity – over seven such scandals are gathered under one cover and celebrate bungles throughout history, from Caesar to modern times. Massacres, battles fought over simple conflicts, and more are revealed in this exploration of military slip-ups, which will reach into general-interest collections as well. Military libraries will welcome Osprey's line of detailed guides. David Fletcher's CHURCHILL CROCODILE FLAMETHROWER (9781846030833, $15.95) tells of a tank which proved a winning weapon in World War II, Mark Glidden's MODELLING THE F4F WILDCAT (9781846031106, $18.95) tells of an aircraft renowned for its ruggedness and firepower and offers up four modeling projects for Wildcat variants which aviation modelers will appreciate, Gordon Williamson's U-BOATS VS. DESTROYER ESCORTS: THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC (9781846031335, $17.95) tells of a key confrontation between U-Boats and Destroyers during World War II and is a top pick for specialty World War II collections, Brian L. Davis' THE GERMAN HOME FRONT 1939-45 (9781846031854, $17.95) chronicles German civilian life during the war and the duties and challenges of living in a Nazi state, Andrew Thomas's AMERICAN SPITFIRE ACES OF WORLD WAR II (9781846032028, $20.95) surveys the first Spitfire volunteers and the development of units which began flying Spitfires to gain fame during the ear and joins others in Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series, Gordon Rottman's SOVIET RIFLEMAN 1941-45 (9781846031274, $17.95) tells of the Soviet rifleman who suffered defeats during the war, only to regroup to form an effective defense during the winter of 1941-42, David Nicolle's CRUSADER CASTLES IN CYPRUS, GREECE AND THE AEGEAN 1191-1571 (9781841769769, $16.95) tells of early fortifications built by Crusaders, Genoese and others which defended against an array of threats from pirates to Catalan mercenaries, surveying the design and technology of key fortresses, Alejandro de Quesada's THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION 1898-1902 (9781846031243, $15.95) outlines the uniforms and armies of the war which involved the U.S. in its first overseas battles. Specialty military history holdings will find these exceptional additions.

Wars of Blood and Faith
Ralph Peters
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811702744, $27.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

Strategist Ralph Peters here reveals one of the most important world trends affecting security and military concerns in our time: the shift from ideology to a violent clash between ethnicity and religion, which in turns fosters terrorism and genocide on a global scale. American foreign policy and military structures aren't prepared to adapt to this shift, Peters argues; chapters chart the growing dangers, including the proliferation of nuclear weapons enemies won't fear to use.

Fubar: Soldier Slang of World War II
Gordon L. Rottman
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781846031755, $15.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

Soldier slang of World War II as colorful and could range from insults to witty sayings: any collection strong in World War II history thus needs FUBAR: SOLDIER SLANG OF WORLD WAR II, a dictionary defining World War II slang from all armed forces sides. From conscripted 'koala' Australian soldiers to identifying a 'Chinese attack', this is loaded with phrases and insights.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Good Germs, Bad Germs
Jessica Snyder Sachs
Hill & Wang
19 Union Square West, New York NY 10003
0809050633, $25.00 www.fsgbooks.com

GOOD GERMS BAD GERMS: HEALTH AND SURVIVAL IN A BACTERIAL WORLD discusses a range of issues in health, from discoveries about useful bacteria to explanations of how bacteria acquire resistance to drugs and how antibiotics work. Allergy, infection and recovery are all discussed with an eye to exploring both health and biology and social influences, making GOOD GERMS BAD GERMS an important acquisition not just for college-level health collections, but for any general-interest library.

Happy Accidents
Morton A. Meyers, Ph.D.
Arcade Publishing
116 John Street Suite 2810, New York NY 10038
1559708190, $29.95 www.arcadepub.com

HAPPY ACCIDENTS: SERENDIPITY IN MODERN MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS provides a fine look at medical discoveries of the 20th century, from the accidental discovery of iproniazif, a tuberculosis treatment which evolved a whole new class of antidepressants, to a doctor's chance observation which fostered a discovery of aspirin's ability to shrink polyps leading to cancer. The drug stories are fine, involving accounts of how treatments evolve quite by accident.

Yoga Anatomy
Leslie Kaminoff
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736062785, $19.95 www.hkusa.com

Plenty of books outline the fundamentals of yoga, but how many provide an illustrated anatomical guide to postures, movements and breathing techniques which blends anatomy with yoga moves? YOGA ANATOMY offers a visual approach that allows learners to see how all the muscles interact during various poses. Chapters survey joint actions, poses, and how yoga helps various conditions. Any library strong in yoga or new age will find this anatomical approach specific and invaluable.


The Art Shelf

Shy Boy, She Devil and Isis
Gerald W.R. Ward & Julie Muniz, Editors
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467181, $55.00 www.mfa-publications.org

SHY BOY, SHE DEVIL AND ISIS: THE ART OF CONCEPTUAL CRAFT is a top pick for any art library: it accompanies a major exhibition and gathers some fine pieces for the first time under one cover, survey works of prominent artists of the studio craft movement who have created signature pieces in glass, wood, clay, metal and fiber. Full and half-page color photos are accompanied by excellent descriptions and background history.

Space Art
Michael Carroll
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780823048762, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com

SPACE ART: HOW TO DRAW AND PAINT PLANETS, MOONS, AND LANDSCAPES OF ALIEN WORLDS comes from a leading astronomical artist who explains the basics of styles and paints needed to produce the hues and excitement of alien worlds. Carroll has been a professional space art painter for over 25 years: his experience lends to a blend of science and art ideas which not only provides an overview of techniques, but provides some fourteen paintings, building in complexity, for step-by-step teaching. Any general-interest or art library will find it easily accessible and a popular pick.

Travels with Van Gogh and the Impressionists: Discovering the Connections
Lin Arison and Neil Folberg
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, New York NY 10013
0789209322, $45.00 www.abbeville.com

In 2000, shaken by her husband's death, Lin Arison traveled through France with her granddaughter and discovered a new world of art with her skeptical teen relative. Thus began a personal journey and collaboration with photographer Neil Folberg to bring Impressionist works to new life, reflecting both her journey to discover the paintings and lives of the Impressionists and an effort to translate this inspiration to new young American artists. A memoir, travelogue, and art history thus blends under one cover to provide art libraries and general-interest holdings alike with a special, more modern approach to Impressionism than is usually provided.

The Artist's Guide to GIMP Effects
Michael J. Hammel
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271213, $44.95 www.nostarch.com

The GIMP is an image editor whose power and easy use rivals the industry standard Photoshop – and is a popular free software item. While The Artist's Guide to GIMP Effects could've been explored in our Computer Shelf area, it's reviewed here to alert every artist working with computer images. It shows how to use the GIMP's powerful features to apply to ads, photos, and business pursuits, and comes from an author who has used GIMP since its first public release. From specialty photographic techniques available within the GIMP model to advanced web design features for special effects, no photo artist using the computer should be without THE ARTIST'S GUIDE TO GIMP EFFECTS – and any collection strong in Photoshop-type books needs it.

Kenneth J. Lane: Fabulous Jewelry and Accessories
Nancy N. Schiffer
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764327360, $59.95 www.schifferbooks.com

Costume jewelry designer Kenneth Jay Lane has created high-fashion styles for over forty years for royalty, first ladies and movie stars: this new book profiles his many designs, packing in over 700 color photos to accompany a survey of the vintage and current styles he's developed – including his accessories and handbags. Close-up color photos accompany descriptions and background history, making for an outstanding pick for any collection strong in jewelry making history and designer biographies.


The Social Issues Shelf

Making Islam Democratic
Asef Bayat
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
0804755957, $21.95 www.sup.org

MAKING ISLAM DEMOCRATIC: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND THE POST-ISLAMIC TURN is a key acquisition for any college-level collection strong in Middle East studies. It offers a focus on events from Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution to modern times, considering religion, politics and everyday life in the Middle East and providing a fine analysis of the contemporary Iranian revolution and its evolution. Asef Bayat is Academic Director of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World, and lends authority and insight to his review of the modern Middle East world.

Contemporary Debates in Urban Planning
Planetizen
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20009-1148
1597261335, $19.95 www.islandpress.org

College-level collections strong in urban planning and land use issues need this collection, which outlines issues in urban planning and comes from Planetizen, the web's source of news and details for the planning community. Experts in the field offer debates and arguments on some of ht most controversial issues facing modern urban designers, making for a particularly valuable guide for classroom study and debate.

The Best-Laid Plans
Randal O'Toole
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave N.W., Washington, DC 20001
9781933995076, $22.95 www.cato.org

Government planners claim to know all, from how individuals should be living their lives to how far to live from work and how much money to make, population distribution and more. THE BEST-LAID PLANS: HOW GOVERNMENT PLANNING HARMS YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE, YOUR POCKETBOOK, AND YOUR FUTURE refutes these claims, offering damning evidence on government planning gone awry – and what to do about it. Theory blends with case studies to create an analysis perfect for college-level classroom debate, making THE BEST-LAID PLANS a top pick for any college-level political science or American history collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Nocturnal Witch Collection
Konstantinos
Llewellyn
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738711560, $24.95 www.llewellyn.com

From astral travel to working with thoughts and understanding rituals, this set packs in two books – NOCTURNAL WITCHCRAFT and GOTHIC GRIMOIRE – under one slipcased set, offering an excellent guide to using dark symbols and magick. These are two of Konstantinos' favorite Wiccan titles and offer an occult expert's formulas, insights and methods, making it a top reference and the perfect gift for beginning witches who want specifics on the finer point of magickal practices.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Beyond the Secret
Dr. Lisa Love
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745569, $15.95 www.hrpub.com

BEYOND THE SECRET: SPIRITUAL POWER AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION considers further aspects of the Law of Attraction, expanding upon the initial concept to show it's more than just about acquiring wealth – it's about developing a real spirituality. Chapters provide the same steps that helped the author transform her own life, offering discussions that provide not only theory, but how to execute such theories in real-world scenarios. Any new age library will find it a popular lend.

Metamorphia: Jesus as a Way of Life
Kyle Strobel
Baker Books
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9801067731, $14.99 www.bakerbooks.com

Author Kyle Strobel knew the 'right path' growing up, absorbing a Christianity based on moral codes – but his faith was stagnant, not growing or evolving. METAMORPHIA discusses the process of spiritual formation through Bible interaction, Holy Spirit and community alike, surveying the depths of Scripture, discussing instances of Holy Spirit and its connections to change, and surveying the underlying meaning of being a believer in the modern world. Perfect for any Christian spirituality collection.

From Eden to Exile
Eric H. Cline
National Geographic
1145 – 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036-4688
9781426200847, $26.00 www.nationalgeographic.com

FROM EDEN TO EXILE: UNRAVELING MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE is a recommended acquisition not just for spirituality collections, but for any public lending library interested in Biblical history. Archaeologist author Eric H. Cline uses a blend of Biblical history and archaeological evidence to probe some basic religious mysteries, from the Garden of Eden's location to what happened to Noah's Ark. What results is a pleasing juxtaposition of spirituality and Biblical history perfect for a wide reading audience, no matter what the faith.

The Agnostic Reader
S.T. Joshi, Editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025337, $21.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Agnosticism is the argument that it's impossible to know whether god exist or not – and has been the point of view of many a thinker from the 19th century to modern times. This reader selects some prime discussions of agnosticism over the past two centuries, compiling them under one cover to make for an excellent survey recommended not only for spiritual libraries but for general-interest holdings and any college-level collection strong in philosophy or religious debates. From Christianity to natural science viewpoints by Albert Einstein, Isaac Asimov and others, THE AGNOSTIC READER is an excellent recommendation.


The Computer Shelf

Core Java V. 1 – Fundamentals, 8th Edition
Cay S. Horstmann & Gary Cornell
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0132354764, $54.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com 1-800-428-5331

CORE JAVA V. 1 - FUNDAMENTALS represents a revised, updated edition of Core Java V. 1 – Fundamentals: as such, it's a definitive guide to Java for serious programmers who want to apply Java to real-world projects. It's been fully updated for the new Java SE 6 platform and provides a tutorial appropriate for both college-level computer libraries and as text assignments for classrooms. Chapters cover all the basics but apply them to real-world practices, incorporating all the new facets of Java SE6 in a guide essential for Java learners.

The Book of Qt 4: The Art of Building QT Applications
Daniel Molkentin
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271473, $54.95 www.nostarch.com

The Book of Qt4 is an excellent recommendation for any interested in using QT to build GUI applications, and for advanced computer libraries catering to programmers and designers. Chapters cover all the tools for creating dialogues, data visualization techniques, handling databases and events, and more, offering tips on developing user-friendly applications and providing black and white screen shot examples throughout. It's an excellent guide for any QT programmer, and for collections catering to them.

Scripting in Java
Dejan Bosanac
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
501 Boylston #900, Boston MA 02116
0321321936, $49.99 www.awprofessional.com 1-800-428-5331

Java platform's new scripting support can help streamline development processes and solve problems, especially when paired with SCRIPTING IN JAVA, which covers many key components of Java scripting. The overview begins with discussions of the importance of scripting language and processes, introduces Java frameworks, identifies proven routines for blending scripting into Java applications, and moves to in-depth technical details on language bindings, code configuration and more. Any computer collection which is both advanced and strong in Java programming references needs SCRIPTING IN JAVA.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Even the best web site will fail if navigation is poor, so plenty of books focus on optimum web design and admonish to have effective navigation in place – but how? Enter James Kalbach's DESIGNING WEB NAVIGATION (0596528108, $49.99), a college-level web designer's book that links business objectives to a logical framework for successful web navigation. From how to understand navigation challenges before a web site is even designed to incorporating successful business principles, DESIGNING WEB NAVIGATION is an excellent and highly recommended pick for any collection strong in web design fundamentals. Fred Gerantabee and AGI Creative Team's DYNAMIC LEARNING FLASH CS3 PROFESSIONAL (0596510586, $44.99) is a 'must' for any who would learn the basics of Adobe's Flash CS3. Fifteen self-paced lessons come with both theory and color, real-world screen examples in a step-by-step tutorial perfect for either college classroom assignment or computer library reference. It's rich with tools and introductions to all the new features of FlashCS3 Professional, and it offers the visual backups key to complete understanding. Danny Goodman's JAVASCRIPT & DHTML COOKBOOK, 2nd edition (0596514085, $44.99) offers easily-digested solutions to specific scripting problems in Java, making it a 'must' for any library already strong in Java programming references. It comes from a scripting pioneer who here compiles problems that frequently puzzle scripters at all levels of experience, teaching problem-solving methods and solutions with over 150 recipes for everything from HTML positioning to creating dynamic content. An outstanding reference addition. Also outstanding for programming collections is Toby Segaran's PROGRAMMING COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE (0596529325, $39.99) tells how to use search rankings and other online data mining standards to build Web2.0 applications to use them more effectively. Any library strong in programmer's guides needs PROGRAMMING COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE: it backs in details on machine statistics and uses these insights as models for creating more effective online systems.


The Native American Shelf

Victorio: Apache Warrior and Chief
Kathleen P. Chamberlain
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138435, $24.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Apache chief Victorio was a champion of his people during wars with the whites, but is much lesser known than his contemporaries Cochise and Geronimo. That's why college-level collections strong in Native American studies needs Victorio: Apache Warrior and Chief: it uses ethnographic sources to surmise Victorio's life, integrating insights into traditional Apache lifestyles and culture along the way, and revealing his life beyond the usual military records. It's an important survey of a spiritual and military leader and is a recommended top pick for any collection strong in Native history and culture.

The Seminole Freedman: A History
Kevin Mulroy
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138657, $36.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Popularly known as 'Black Seminoles', American Seminole freedmen have a long history of oppression and have long been assigned a label which denies them cultural distinctions. They have had many misconceptions of their shared historical relationship with Africans s: THE SEMINOLE FREEDMAN: A HISTORY argues that Seminole freedmen are neither Seminoles, Africans or 'black Indians', proposing they are descendent who inhabit a unique cultural and racial category. Chapters build upon this concept and provide not only a unique historical review, but an analysis essential to any college-level collection strong in Native American studies.


The Cookbook Shelf

Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
Bev Shaffer
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589804654, $29.95 www.pelicanpub.com

The MUSTARD SEED MARKET & CAFE NATURAL FOODS COOKBOOK comes from an early organic retailer founded in 1981: Ohio's first certified organic retailer. It offers up natural food recipes, organic and vegetarian selections from mat and soups to beans, pastas and drinks, and it comes from a chef and food columnist who provides dishes ranging from Green Beans and Gold Potato Salad with Miso Dressing to Chili Bean Salad and Cream of Roasted Fennel Soup. Add a healthy dose of color photos throughout and you have a fun, innovative collection recommended for any library interested in natural foods cookbooks.

Junior's Cheesecake Cookbook
Alan Rosen & Beth Allen
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781561588800, $22.00 www.taunton.com

Author Alan Rosen opened Junior's Restaurant back in 1950 with a small bakery and a counter: it grew to become famous among Brooklyn celebrities and its cheesecake has been constantly rated tops by media. Fans of either cheesecake or the establishment will find here a winning collection of recipes for some 50 cakes, from Pumpkin to the original New York version. Charts also list common problems during baking and how to overcome them. Any library strong in dessert cookbooks; particularly those on the East Coast where Junior's has its greatest reputation, needs this.

The Best International Recipe
Cook's Illustrated
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
1933615176, $35.00 www.americastestkitchen.com

America's Test Kitchen excels in recipe collections that are nearly fail-safe in nature, using their kitchens to develop 'foolproof' versions of fare. Prior books have focused on American fare: The Best International Recipe surveys the world's home cooking, gathering the best ethnic dishes under one cover and providing cooks with step-by-step black and white illustrations covering the making of homemade ravioli, flipping fish fillets in a pan, and much more. Recipes rely on common ingredients so there will be few dishes challenging even to novices. While more color photos might be desired by the novice, when presented with virtually fail-safe dishes – you won't need them. Any library strong in international cuisine needs this as a standard.

The 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook
Nancy S. Hughes
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
158040278X, $16.95 www.diabetes.org

Those with diabetes who might be tempted to less healthy eating habits because they lead lifestyles too busy to follow complex recipes in cookbooks will welcome The 4-Ingredient Diabetes Cookbook, which combines excellent and very basic introductions for newcomers to cooking and nutrition with easy recipes which rely on 4 common ingredients for success. From breakfast dishes and snacks to soups and main courses, this comes peppered with color photos for inspiration and embellishment and will make an excellent, basic addition to any diabetic or general lending library's cookbook reference collection.

Knife Skills Illustrated
Peter Hertzmann
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393061789, $29.95 www.wwnorton.com

The students in Peter Hertzmann's knife skills classes all entered his kitchen with two things in common: a lack of knowledge on how to use knives, and the desire to learn. His three-hour class led to their newfound appreciation of new knife-wielding habits – a class represented in KNIFE SKILLS ILLUSTRATED: A USER'S MANUAL for his students and for any who would properly use kitchen knives in the home. Chapters survey different kinds of knives for different tasks, their proper handling and care, and how to employ specific techniques for vegetables, meats, and other foods. Any collection strong in cooking will find this a handy, popular reference.

Taste of Home Baking Book
Taste of Home
Reader's Digest Books
0898215285, $29.95 www.rd.com www.tasteofhome.com

Over seven hundred recipes pack a binder-style cookbook which comes with a hard cover lettered spine for quick shelf location, easy lay-flat format for recipes, and hundreds of tips and recipes paired with color photos throughout. From cookies and pies to brownies and breads, the book packs in recipes for a range of creations, comes from readers who love to bake, and makes an excellent culinary gift for any avid cook. While the package isn't necessarily recommended for lending libraries due to the ring binding format, it will find a ready home in any baker's collection.

Modern Thai Food
Martin Boetz
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794604870, $24.95 www.periplus.com

MODERN THAI FOOD gathers innovative Thai dishes from Sydney's Longrain Restaurant and the creations of Chef Martin Boetz, who provides 100 of his favorite dishes adjusted for home cooks. From a Crisp Roast Duck and Lychee Salad and a Stir-Fried Squid with Light Curry Sauce to Smoked Trout Salad with Sweet Thai Dressing, this packs in many recipes created by chef Boetz, not to be found in any competing Thai cookbooks, and is a top pick for any who already cook Thai cuisine and seek new directions, especially for lending libraries strong in ethnic cuisines.

Cooking from the Hip
Cat Cora with Ann Krueger Spivack
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
0618729909, $30.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

Cat Cora is star of the TV marathon chef's cooking show Iron Chief America, and so has much experience preparing exciting dishes at the drop of a hat. Home cooks can now duplicate her efforts through a guide which covers producing such fast and easy fare as Watermelon Gazpacho, Asian Steak and Spinach Salad, and Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes. Add color photos throughout and you have a winning survey.

Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant
Jenni Ferrari-Adler, Editor
Riverhead Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
9781594489471, $22.95 www.riverheadbooks.com

Everyone faces eating alone at some time in their lives – but when you've been cooking for two or more, how do you convert to cooking and eating alone? Twenty-six food writers and foodies discuss the secret meals they make for themselves when they're alone, making up a diverse collection which travels the world to gather experiences and recipes both hilarious and realistic. Many famous chefs offer insights into influences and experiences, with essays packed with recipes and a lively format perfect for public lending libraries. ALONE IN THE KITCHEN WITH AN EGGPLANT; CONFESSIONS OF COOKING FOR ONE AND DINING ALONE should not be missed.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

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

These important new titles are top picks for college-level collections strong in veterinary studies. Dean H. Percy and Stephen W. Barthold's PATHOLOGY OF LABORATORY RODENTS AND RABBITS, THIRD EDITION (9780813821016, $124.99) updates what has become a standard text for both veterinary pathologists and students of laboratory animal medicine. It includes newly recognized infectious diseases, new technology and methods for studying such diseases, and more discussions of infections, parasites, metabolic disorders, aging problems and more. It's arranged by species to cover mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits and makes it easy to quickly skim for details on diagnostic routines and diseases. Laurie J. Gage, DVM and Rebecca S. Duerr, DVM's HAND-REARING BIRDS (9780813806662, $79.99) provides plenty of in-depth details on hand-rearing techniques for many common avian species. Chapters cover both general bird care and species-specific guides to hand-rearing for all the major avian species, and provides a resource to caring for young birds. College-level collections strong in veterinary and animal studies will find this a Bible of facts and information. Even more comprehensive a reference is William J. Tranquilli, John C. Thurmon and Kurt A. Grimm's LUMB & JONES' VETERINARY ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA, 4th Edition (9780781754712, $149.99). The price tag is actually a bargain for a hefty 1096-page reference packed with charts, diagrams, black and white photos, and technical detail on veterinary anesthesia suitable for any advanced vet science collection – and many a doctor's office. Chapters cover everything from physiology and pharmacology to equipment and selected anesthetic techniques for different species and classes of animals, making for an invaluable reference.

Street Dogs
Traer Scott
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
1858944082, $22.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Author photographer Traer Scott journeyed to Puerto Rico and Mexico to capture her black and white photos of dogs living alone or in packs on city streets: thus STREET DOGS offers up a documentary of some thirty street dogs as they seek food, play, and live. She's captured some of the heartbreak of such abandoned animals but also produces a photo documentary suitable for any general-interest library strong in animal portraits, as well as many a college-level art photography library.

Freshwater Aquarium Problem Solver
David E. Boruchowitz
TFH Publications
One TFH Plaza, 3rd and Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793837618, $9.95 www.tfhpublications.com

Every aquarium will have a problem at some point, so any aquarium owner and many a library catering to them needs Freshwater Aquarium Problem Solver. It provides detailed information on everything from balancing water chemistry and understanding equipment problems to fish health and diseases. Chapters pair color photos with sidebars of at-a-glance information and plenty of easy tips.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 0UP, UK
www.titanbooks.com

Three excellent, full-color Star Trek graphic novels are top picks for any Star Trek fans who seek new adventures done up in an excellent visual manner. CONVERGENCE (1845763203, $29.95) presents a vivid new plot from the first Star Trek series, this focusing on Captain Montgomery Scott, who is adapting to new life four hundred years in his own future. Kirk, Picard and other Captains converge in a plot which blends all Trek adventurers. STAR TREK: THE RETURN OF THE WORTHY (184576319X, $27.95) tells of Kirk's discovery of a group of heroes long thought dead – heroes who must be newly introduced to a much-changed universe. Can they adapt, and can they build new heroic identities? The Next Generation story MAELSTROM (1845763181, $19.95) provides the ongoing Enterprise mission in a series of short graphic stories: a telepath tries to turn Chief O'Brien into a killer, and Riker and LaForge come upon a Ferengi plot. Any prior Trek fan will relish these brand new adventures.

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

John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor's VORPAL BLADE (1416521291, $25.00) returns William Weaver and SEAL Chief Adams, heroes who saved Earth from aliens in INTO THE LOOKING GLASS, to new audiences. Now Bill has his own ship, converted into a warp ship, and heads for the stars – in a comedy of errors which involves ignorant Marines and an alien planet's threat to the universe. Tongue-in-cheek humor and a ripping good yarn make this a treasure for any avid science fiction reader seeking adventure. Tom Kratman's A DESERT CALLED PEACE (1416521453, $23.00) is set five centuries into the future and tells of an Earthlike planet which is mankind's only colony in space, and the murder of a rich uncle and his family – murder which will shake the delicate foundations of the colony and lead to rebellion and the rise of a new military war. A gripping, strong military space epic evolves.


The Travel Shelf

Walking the Gobi
Helen Thayer
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134
9781594850646, $23.95 www.mountaineersbooks.org

In 2001, at age 63, the author achieved her life's goal of crossing Mongolia's Gobi Desert, accompanied by her 74-year-old husband and two camels. They walked 1600 miles in 126-degree temperatures – and WALKING THE GOBI recounts their adventure, which was undertaken without the usual support team, sponsors or even radio contact. The people and cultures of the Gobi desert come to life in this fine adventure read, a pick for any general-interest library where adventure travel is prized.

Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil
Tony Wheeler
Lonely Planet
150 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
9781741791860, $14.99 www.lonelyplanet.com

Author Tony Wheeler has actually visited all the countries currently in the news – and his BAD LANDS thus is not just another travelogue, but the perfect choice for cultural insights for any who would understand either the cultures of the 'Axis of Evil' or travel conditions throughout. Chapters blend humor with observation as they discuss journeys through North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya and other nations, and consider both foreign policy and tourist issues and what makes a country 'bad'. Any library strong in both travel and political affairs will find BAD LANDS a fine pick.

Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story
Tony and Maureen Wheeler
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794605230, $16.95 www.periplus.com

Lonely Planet Publications began in 1973 when the authors self-published a unique travel guide ACROSS ASIA ON THE CHEAP. What began as a one-time publication evolved into an entire publishing company specializing in places where few conventional tourists traveled. UNLIKELY DESTINATIONS is a wonderful addition to any travel library: it blends autobiography, business history and travel and covers the authors' personal story and the evolution of their budget travel guide business. Armchair travelers and any familiar with the Lonely Planet lineup of excellent independent-travel guides will relish this expose of how they came to be.


The Gardening Shelf

Fallscaping
Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cohen
Storey
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176804, $22.95 www.storey.com

Fall garden designs offer both plant tips and ten complete garden landscape plans, covering flowers, vines, trees and shrubs that thrive from September into November. Plenty of books on the market cover spring, summer and winter plants, so it's a special treat to see a book devoted to the in-between season of autumn. With its color photos throughout and its focus on color, texture and growing conditions, Fallscaping makes a top pick for any home and garden library.


The Interior Design Shelf

Wallcovering Secrets
Brian Santos
Meredith Books
1716 Locust, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
9780696234750, $19.95 www.meredithbooks.com

Brian Santos is 'The Wall Wizard', and here provides his tips on how to install beautiful wallcoverings easily. It's not just another rehash of 'how to hang wallpaper', but a guide to the many new colors, textures and patterns on the market – and how best to work with them. Chapters follow a sample project step by step, teaching the finer details pros use and including close-up color photos of processes throughout. It's an excellent, practical manual for any who would modernize a home with the latest wallpaper choices.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Stone Primer
Charles McRaven
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176705, $24.95 www.storey.com

Stone work adds much to a property, whether it be in the form of a patio, staircase, wall, or fireplace – and stonemason and blacksmith author Charles McRaven here provides all the keys to incorporating stone into projects, from choosing between structures to putting together a stone barbecue, retaining walls, and much more. With color photos throughout, interviews with designers and homeowners, and keys to stoneworking success, STONE PRIMER is a top pick for any homeowner's library, and for general lending collections catering to handymen.


The Needlecraft Shelf

XDX Inc.
Box 1525, Sioux Falls, ID 57101-1525
www.knittinguniverse.com

Susan Mills & Norah Haughan's THE BEST OF LOPI (18937642041, $27.95) celebrates the Icelandic yoked sweater tradition with a difference, updating traditional patterns to modern times and providing quick-knitted Arans and easy textured knits. Knitters will appreciate not only projects but photos of Iceland, interviews with Iceland needleworkers, and plenty of color photos throughout. THE BEST OF KNITTER'S ARANS & CELTICS (189376205X, $19.95) gathers projects ranging from pullovers and jackets to sweaters and shawls, offering plenty of color photos and step-by-step project tips throughout. It's a lovely compilation of the best from Knitter's Magazine projects, and the narrowed focus on Arans and Celtics makes for a fine display of options. Both are strong picks that public libraries emphasizing needlework titles will appreciate.

American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com

Pat Yamin's QUILT SAVVY: ONE-PATCH SCRAP QUILTS (9781574329377, $22.95) offers a pocket-sized tote packed with nearly 40 templates of popular one-Patch quilt patterns. With color photos throughout accompanying patterns, this is a fun, fast method of creating quick one-patch designs and piecing a variety of patterns. The larger Carolyn Sullivan book QUILTED ONE BLOCK MARVELS (9781574329407, $22.95) offers 12 fun projects for unique quilt blocks, even including color comments, tips, and special directions for tailoring the one-block style to unique projects. These are excellent lending library acquisitions for any holding catering to quilters. Quilters have a nice calendar to display this year, from the AMERICAN QUILTER'S SOCIETY: a 2008 WALL CALENDAR (9781574329322, $9.95) offering a different colorful quilt pattern for each month of the year along with practical blocks for write-in dates.

Martingale & Company
20205 – 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-9478
www.martingale-pub.com

Karina Hittle's CHRISTMAS WITH ARTFUL OFFERINGS (9781564777775, $24.95) is the perfect item of choice for quilters and needlework artists who want ideas for holiday themes. From Tree decorations and place mats to table runners and stockings, basic how-tos for each provide patterns, color photos of projects, and easy instructions beginners will love. Wendy Vosters' PAPER-PIECED MINI QUILTS (9781564777430, $24.95) offers a new idea for paper piecing: doing designs in strips rather than blocks for fast results. 17 projects include classic styles and original designs, using color-coded patterns to make placement easy, and easy rotary cuts. The patterns are all there, ready to go! Polly Minick's THE AMERICANA COLLECTION: HOOKED RUGS (9781564777522, $24.95) tells how to incorporate traditional American designs into rug-hooking efforts, sowing how to crate folk-art-style rugs wit flags, vintage images, and pieces of Americana. Beginners learn how to hook rugs and how to produce a finished project with an Americana theme. Antje Gillingham's KNITTING CIRCLES AROUND SOCKS (9781564777393, $24.95) tells how to knit two at a time using circular needles, presenting a unique book showing how two socks can be created simultaneously. Eight patterns range from beginning to advanced, come with color photos, and profile a range of knitting designs and options. Debby Ware's TOO CUTE! COTTON KNITS FOR TODDLERS (9781564775982, $27.95) provides whimsical, fun designs in bright colors which are easy to knit, based on simple stitches. From fun little hats and booties with animal faces to sweaters, knitters have a range of fun and very easy designs. Sheryl Thies' OCEAN BREEZES: KNITTED SCARVES INSPIRED BY THE SEA (9781564778017, $24.95) provides a range of new knitting projects on sea themes, from starfish to 'kelp forest' and 'nautical twisted rope' themes. Full-page color photos are accompanied by knitting directions perfect for knitters looking for something different. Valerie Hearder's POINTS OF VIEW: LANDSCAPE QUILTS TO STITCH AND EMBELLISH (9781564777003, $26.95) tells how to create lovely landscapes with textures, colors and patterns of fabric. Nine step-by-step projects are easy for beginners to duplicate and provide lovely scenes and full-size patterns. All are excellent, top picks quilting libraries will appreciate!


The Sports Shelf

Eating on the Run
Evelyn Trimbole, MS, RD
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736046089, $16.95 www.hkusa.com

The third updated edition of EATING ON THE RUN offers a host of tips on how to eat well despite a hectic schedule. From options for speedy grocery shopping and recipes which streamline meal preparation time to tips on eating right while away from home and insights on different diet perspectives, EATING ON THE RUN is more than a manual for busy people: it offers all the basics on how weight is lost and kept off, for families and individuals alike. Any library will find it a popular pick.

Strength Training Past 50, 2nd Edition
Wayne L. Westcott & Thomas R. Baechle
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
073606771X, $16.95 www.hkusa.com

Strength training has many advantages, from decreasing symptoms of arthritis and diabetes to increasing endurance and weight loss, but most strength training titles focus on the under-40 crowd. STRENGTH TRAINING PAST 50 offers a range of workouts and programs designed for the over-50 set, offering a range of routines illustrated by black and white photos of over-50 exercisers. It's an important pick for any considering strength training efforts past 50, and is recommended for any library catering to health and fitness patrons of all ages.


The Biography Shelf

American Jennie
Anne Sebba
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393057720, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

AMERICAN JENNIE: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF LADY RANDOLPH CHURCHILL tells of a Brooklyn girl who married into the British aristocracy in 1847 after a three-day romance, becoming the wife of a maverick politician and becoming the most controversial American woman in London society. Her scandals would rock the city, her loyalty would ultimately protect her husband from the public eye. AMERICAN JENNIE is a top pick not only for public lending libraries strong in biography, but for history collections.

A G-Man's Life
Mark Felt and John O'Connor
Public Affairs Books
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
1586484435, $15.95 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

In 2005 after nearly 33 years of secrecy, William Mark Felt, retired associate director of the FBI, revealed his true identity as Deep Throat, the secret source behind the Watergate case's public exposure – and in A G-Man's Life, Felt tells his own story of how the Watergate case grew to create personal challenges, isolation, and the dilemma of whether his duty as an FBI official superseded his duty to expose the truth. Both college-level collections strong in social and political American history and general-interest libraries strong in true crime and autobiography will find this an absorbing discussion.


The Audiobook Shelf

Melting Stones
Tamora Pierce
Full Cast Audio
618 Westcott Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
9781934180129, $55.00 www.fullcastaudio.com

MELTING STONES is an excellent new 'Circle of Magic' novel and receives a powerful narration by Grace Kelly and the entire Full Cast staff, bringing to life with great drama the story of Evvy, a stone mage introduced in Street Magic who here discovers the reasons behind a mysterious plant die-off. Her efforts could save a planet or cost her life. MELTING STONES was written by Piece just for the voices of the Full Cast and comes to life in a gripping drama not to be limited to young adult listeners alone, but recommended for any public lending library strong in fantasy.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


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