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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Wild Beautiful Places
National Geographic
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426217401, $40.00, www.natgeo.com
Wild Beautiful Places: Picture-Perfect Journeys Around the Globe covers the national parks and
Seven Wonder of the World as well as many sites which are rarely photographed, to provide
engaging insights on the top fifty that impressed National Geographic's most experienced
photographers. First-hand accounts of their observations accompany an oversized, lovely
collection that gives justice to its format with full-page color images from the best of National
Geographic's archives. Etosha National Park in Namibia, a chain of sleeping volcanoes in
France's Volcans d'Auvergne, and a national park in the heart of Croatia, Plitvice Lakes, are only
some of the profiles even the most nature-oriented or experienced traveler may not have heard
about.
The Cookbook Shelf
Sheila G's Butter & Chocolate
Sheila G. Mains
Kyle Books
National Book Network
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487512, $19.95, www.kylebooks.com
Sheila G's Butter & Chocolate: 101 Creative Sweets and Treats Using Brownie Batter tells how
to use brownie batter beyond the usual pan, and features such different approaches as a Brownie
Banana Bread, Brownie Whoopie Pies, Brownie Pancakes and Waffles, and more. Full-page
color photos accompany at-a-glance preparation time information and easy directions that take
the author's custom-made brownie batter and apply them to all kinds of sweet creations. The
result is a deliciously inviting gathering of fun and innovative twists on the brownie theme.
The Saffron Tales
Yasmin Khan
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781632867100, $35.00, www.bloomsbury.com
British-Iranian cook Yasmin Khan traveled through Iran in search of the nation's unique recipes,
covering both urban and rural areas as she entered the homes of farmers, teachers, artists, and
ordinary people. The Saffron Tales: Recipes from the Persian Kitchen thus stem not from high
court or restaurateur circles; but from the ordinary Iranian home kitchen. Pistachio Soup, Smoky
Eggplants with Egg and Tomato, Spiced Beef with Egg and Spring Onions, and other dishes
largely use ingredients readily available in any supermarket and require access to only a few
specialty items (such as pomegranate molasses) to prove completely accessible. Color photos
throughout make this a winner.
The Monster's Cookbook
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784722333, $14.99, www.amazon.com
The Monster's Cookbook: Everyday Recipes for the Living, Dead, and Undead arrived too late
for Halloween mention but deserves ongoing recommendation is a collection of intriguing
recipes for all kinds of monsters, of all ages. 70 dishes described in monstrous terms to especially
attract the young include Chunky Organ Chutney (made with pumpkin, onions, orange, ginger
and spices), Sweet Gooey Baked Brain (made with baked Brie, pecans, and maple syrup), and
Mashed Fairy (strawberry) Cupcakes. Drawings throughout provide embellishments to recipe
themes centered around party fare and Halloween entertaining.
Institut Paul Bocuse Gastronomique
Institut Paul Bocuse
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600634171, $75.00, www.amazon.com
Suitable for year-round gift-giving for that serious or would-be serious cook who 'has
everything', the Institut Paul Bocuse Gastronomique: The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to
Culinary Excellence is a winning celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Institut founded near
Lyon by French chef Paul Bocuse, and is packed with illustrated step-by-step instructions
covering basic culinary techniques both in visual and written format. Techniques are arranged by
differing levels of difficulty and provide instruction on everything from trimming and preparing
meat to cooking and braising. Over 1,800 color photos throughout pack the book, which is the
first time the Institut's chefs and their teachings have appeared in book format.
The Nautical Shelf
Tugboats Illustrated
Paul Farrell
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393069310, $49.95, www.wwnorton.com
Tugboats Illustrated: History, Technology, Seamanship comes from an architect who happens to
also be a tugboat enthusiast as well as an artist, and provides a lively history and visual survey in
an oversized presentation perfect for displaying the tug's evolution and different designs. This
was no hasty production: Tugboats Illustrated took a quarter of a century to complete and pairs
the author's own sketches and diagrams with both vintage and contemporary photos and artwork,
along with engineering diagrams. The result is a pictorial survey and history that will delight any
nautical collection and any readers with a special interest in tugboat design, deployment and
history.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Anti-Diabetes Mellitus Plants
Appian Subramoniam
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781498753234, $119.95, www.crcpress.com
Anti-Diabetes Mellitus Plants: Active Principles, Mechanisms of Action and Sustainable
Utilization provides college-level health reference and life science holdings with a solid
introduction to the latest research and health concerns surrounding diabetes mellitus activities of
plant products, and highlights the therapeutic possibilities of blending anti-diabetes
phytochemicals with polyherbal applications. Over 300 anti-diabetes compound are covered and
updated with pharmacological properties, with features including coverage of all kinds of
anti-diabetic applications and how some 400 plants interact. From in vitro studies of propagation
and tissue cultures to multiple mechanisms of action, Anti-Diabetes Mellitus Plants is a powerful
technical survey packed with the latest research and information.
The Needlecraft Shelf
The Guide to Grids
Gina Perkes
AQS Publishing
c/o American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
9781683390084, $19.95, www.americanquilter.com
The Guide to Grids comes from an expert quilter who specializes in using grid intersections as
visual guides to enhance free-motion quilting skills. Here she shows fellow quilters how to create
lovely quilting designs that can apply to any type of machine, pairing step-by-step color photos
with patterns and designs that require no backtracking or special familiarity with grid usage.
Quilters who want to make the most of quilting grids will find this a winning approach.
Teach Me to Machine Quilt
Pat Sloan
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com
9781604688313, $26.99, www.shopmartingale.com
Teach Me to Machine Quilt: Learn the Basics of Walking-Foot & Free-Motion Quilting comes
from a quilting teacher and designer who offers the third book in her "Teach Me" series for
quilting students. Here she offers step-by-step coverage of the walking-foot and free-motion
quilting techniques, using easy projects beginners will appreciate and presuming little prior
familiarity with either machine or quilting practices. From how to plan designs and handle the
quilt to cutting shapes, finishing, and assembly, Teach Me to Machine Quilt is packed with
patterns and step-by-step large and small color photos throughout and is highly recommended for
novices looking for solid visual instruction.
The Military Shelf
The Secret History of World War II
Neil Kagan and Stephen G. Hyslop
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426217012, $40.00, www.ntgeo.com
The Secret History of World War II: Spies, Code Breakers & Covert Operations provides a
special focus on wartime spying and covert operations during World War II, but couches its
information in a lively format that pairs visuals of rare artifacts, coded messages, and photos with
pictorial essays and six narrative chapters that focus on lively stories of spies and efforts on both
sides of the war. The wealth of color maps, vintage black and white photos, color presentations
of enigma machines, hunters, and fighters, and more contribute to a lively dialogue that does
more than survey facts, but presents them in a format and eye-catching presentation that invites
even non-World War II enthusiasts to browse and learn.
Lost Submarines of Pearl Harbor
James P. Delgado, et.al.
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623494667, $45.00, www.tamupress.com
Lost Submarines of Pearl Harbor considers one of the lasting mysteries of the Japanese invasion
of Pearl Harbor as it examines the two-man Japanese Midget Submarines involved in the attack,
which were secret weapons deployed for the first time. This in-depth coverage of these subs
examines their development in the years before the attack, their deployment, and how they
performed in years to follow Pearl Harbor, representing literally decades of research in U.S. and
Japanese archives as well as holdings form British and Australian records. The authors directly
observed the midget subs - some more than 1,000 feet below the Pacific - and employ a scholarly
yet lively tone as they explore all aspects of their development and deployment. The result is a
lively, in-depth history packed with images and lively accounts that considers these subs from
every angle.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Marvel: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know
Adam Bray, Lorraine Cink, John Sazaklis
DK Publishing, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781465452627, $19.99, www.dk.com
Marvel: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know discusses the world of Marvel Comics and it
heroes and villains, and is arranged into five chapters that consider various characters, teams,
panels filled with official Marvel art pieces, and word bubbles that appear above comic book-like
pages. The pages are busy, filled with information, and lend to slow leisure review and browsing
as they present supporting facts about Marvel's creations. Readers with a prior affinity for and
familiarity with the extent of Marvel's comic universe will find this an engrossing, revealing, and
colorful survey packed with information.
The Education Shelf
Education to Better Their World
Marc Prensky
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807757901, $29.95, www.tcpress.com
Education to Better Their World: Unleashing the Power of 21st-Century Kids makes a case for
and provides a model of a better education system to encourage globally conscious children, and
is recommended for educators who want to move beyond the basics and into incorporating an
approach that encourages kids to 'Better Their World'. By branding efforts with this overlay,
educators can re-examine curriculums and teaching strategies to incorporate life lesson plans that
build detailed road maps for success. From integrating and fine-tuning technology to seeing
teachers as "empowerers" to improve their students, this encourages a preliminary and basic set
of revisions to lesson plan approaches to add value to the educational process's ability to change
lives and futures.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com
Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes's second updated edition of Quality Questioning:
Research-Based Practice to Engage Every Learner (9781506328874, $34.95) reviews the process
of "quality questioning" and how it can be used to encourage better thinking and dialogue in
students, and provides a newly updated edition of the original best-selling book which uses the
GPS Framework and others to facilitate the questioning process and its practices. The authors'
own classroom experiences as well as input from other classroom teachers form the foundation
of a coverage which gathers together all the graphics and strategies needed to translate quality
questioning best practices to curriculum standards and classroom approaches. Black and white
photos, charts, and sidebars of information make this an easily-absorbed text that can quickly be
applied to existing classroom structures and practices. Edward Fergus' Solving Disproportionality
and Achieving Equity: A Leader's Guide to Using Data to Change Hearts and Minds
(9781506311258, $30.00) is for school leaders looking at a disconnect between data indicators
and what their values and morals would indicate on how to handle inequality in the school
setting, and examines the biases against students of color that often lead to skewed data and
attitudes towards them. Case studies, vignettes, and clear insights about how data is collected,
applied, and interpreted lend to chapters that give specific examples about statements, underlying
premises, and root cause analysis of their effects. Any school environment looking to better
address equity issues will find this key to analyzing many troubling situations. John
Krowanapple's Guilding Teams to Excellence with Equity: Culturally Proficient Facilitation
(9781483386980, $31.95) is based on research and packed with strategies for tackling collective
efficiency to reduce inequities in the educational system, and addresses professional learning of
adults in schools. There are some surprising links between the special challenges and guiding
principles governing adult education, and this book offers models for a kind of system that offers
solutions to the most common problems encountered in this learning environment. From
different areas of competence and their potential for shaping community responses (especially
listening skills) to learning how to facilitate educators in seminars, handle questions of
differences, and conduct mindful inquiries, this book is packed with specific information and
experiences. David S. Sousa's How the Brain Learns (9781506346304, $34.00) blends the latest
studies in neuroscience, education and psychology to provide an updated discussion of how
technology, psychology, and scientific changes are affecting the educational focus and processes
being offered. This revamp represents an extensive revision that includes an expanded resources
section, numerous new or updated references, the latest findings on studies about learning, and
more, making for a highly recommended 'must' for any educator seeking the latest studies and
their applications.
The Computer Shelf
Game Testing All in One
Charles P. Schultz and Robert Denton Bryant
Mercury Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781942270768, $49.95, www.merclearning.com
Game Testing All in One provides an updated version of Game testing All in One 2/E, and
provides the tools for a testing of game software, discussing how such testing acts in the game
development process and how to measure game quality and testing effectiveness. The basics of
test design are applied to real game situations, while coverage includes the latest console games
and the ne mobile and social games. A companion DVD offers tools supporting these testing
methods, while each chapter concludes with a Q&A session designed to reinforce information.
From test flow diagrams and different configurations and triggers to cleanroom testing
procedures, this is a 'must' for any involved in creating and testing computer-driven games.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Women of Futures Past
Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Editor
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476781617, $16.00, www.baen.com
Women of Futures Past is a powerful gathering of stories by Andre Norton, Ursula K. Le Guin,
Nancy Kress and other major figureheads of sci-fi writing, and gathers a host of approaches
under one cover, all written by women whose lost classics and foundation writings have formed
some of the major themes of sci-fi. These stories, connected by their gender origins, involve
everything from time travel to space opera and beyond and are singularly united by their
powerful themes; many of which served as predecessors to entire sub-genres in the sci-fi world,
but which didn't receive the attention they deserved at the time of their publication.
The Queen of Blood
Sarah Beth Durst
HarperVoyageur
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062413345, $19.99, www.harpercollins.com
The Queen of Blood presents Book 1 of 'The Queens of Renthia' series, and tells of an idealistic
young student and a banished warrior who become allies as they struggle to change their world.
This opener to a series is especially strong in political intrigue, adding elements of horror into its
fantasy as its protagonists vie for control against a crumbling kingdom held together by one
woman, the queen, whose magical powers mean the difference between the world's survival and
its end. Because it's never good to have all of one's basket, young women are being trained to
take her place - but will any of them be able to claim the throne, much less hold it? A riveting
story line with powerful protagonists promises a blockbuster of a series.
Gods of Nabban
K.V. Johansen
Pyr
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633882034, $17.99, www.pyrsf.com
Gods of Nabban tells of a fugitive slave, Ghu, who has finally ended the assassin Ahjvar's
possession by a dangerous ghost. The cost to him, however, is high: Ahjvar remains haunted by
his actions when the ghost took control of him, and is actually a danger to everyone around him.
Teetering on the brink of madness, the only thing keeping him from full descent is his loyalty to
Ghu, who journeys with him on a trek back to the empire he'd one fled. As the two travel cross a
war-torn country, they will find within themselves and each other a newfound power to go on as
a god and an assassin struggle against terrible forces of the devil to forge new lives and worlds
for themselves. Fantasy readers who like lots of action and not a few introspective moments will
find this an absorbing saga, hard to put down.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha
JoAnna Carl
Berkley Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780451473820, $23.00, www.penguin.com
The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha is a 'chocoholic' mystery that revolves around an Easter candy
caper featuring chocolatiers and a killer. This unlikely combination, combined with the Easter
holidays, creates a delicious mystery revolving around klutzy new hire Bunny Birdsong, an errant
entourage of dysfunctional family members, and a dispute that comes to involve the murder of a
wealthy aunt. Intrigue ramps up a notch as chocolate it pitted against life itself in a mystery that
will delight chocolate fans in particular.
The Fiction Shelf
A World Between
Robert M. Herzog
The Story Plant
9781611882179, $16.95 http://thestoryplant.com
A World Between surveys a horrifying series of events: parts of the world have disappeared. At
first (somehow) this doesn't seem of concern; but as more and more voids disrupt human affairs,
they lead to a desperate effort by some of the top scientists in the world to discover what is
happening before everything disappears. As physics, politics, and human affairs collide, readers
are treated to a sharply engrossing story that's unpredictable and hard to put down as more and
more of what is familiar turns out to be part of the past.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Dreaming Wide Awake
David Jay Brown
Park Street Press
PO Box 63, South Paris, ME, 04281
9781620554890, $19.95, www.parkstreetpress.com
Dreaming Wide Awake: Lucid Dreaming, Shamanic Healing, and Psychedelics provides a
detailed guide to mastering lucid dreaming, and uses some 20 years of author David Jay Brown's
experience using these techniques to illustrate the relationship between lucid dreaming imagery
and experiences, healing, and various approaches to promoting lucid dreaming and analyzing its
results. From psychedelic drugs and plants to links between lucid dreaming and spiritual
development, Dreaming Wide Awake covers everything from herbs and nutritional foods to
developing 'superpowers' in the dream realm that can translate into the waking state. New age
collections will find this packed with insights and specific applications for lucid dreaming.
A Traveler's Guide to the Afterlife
Mark Mirabello, PhD
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620555972, $16.95, www.innertraditions.com
A Traveler's Guide to the Afterlife: Traditions and Beliefs in Death, Dying, and What Lies
Beyond takes death and afterlife traditions from cultures around the world and blends them into
an analysis of the various forms of existence beyond death. Having such disparate views as from
the Bardo Theodol from Tibet, the Lieh Tzu from China, and philosophical thinkers such as Plato
to literary icons such as Poe makes for a wide-ranging cross-comparisons of various perceptions
and afterlife platforms of belief. One thing is for certain: A Traveler's Guide to the Afterlife
provides much food for thought and favors no singular tradition as it considers and contrasts
various afterlife models and possibilities.
The Circle of Initiates Past and Present
Klaire D. Roy & Djwhal Khul
Orange Palm Publications
9780980969474, $39.95, www.palmpublications.com
The Circle of Initiates Past and Present: Their Incarnations, Hidden Personality Traits, and the
Influence of the Seven Rays features over a hundred persons and comes from the thoughts of
Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul, whose "who's who" of famous and celebrated figures gathers some
unusual facts about each individual and why they appear in this collection. Bill Gates, for one
example, would seem an unlikely inclusion in a new age consideration of notable world figures
past and present, but his various incarnations as a mathematician and scientist include that of a
Buddhist monk. Elvis Presley here is mentioned as a reincarnation of Puccini, and is set to
reincarnate again in the future; while Roy Orbison, a gifted musician, had lived two prior lives as
a castrato but harbors an ongoing desire over various incarnations to "sing like an angel".
Intriguing and packed with insights, any reader of reincarnation literature will find The Circle of
Initiates Past and Present quite a different biographical collection and perspective.
Lost Masters
Linda Johnsen
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608684380, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
Lost Masters: Rediscovering the Mysticism of the Ancient Greek Philosophers comes from a
long-time student of religious philosophy whose Indian research led her in an unexpected
direction: back to Greece. There she discovered some amazing connections between different
cultures and India: spiritual ideas neglected by many modern spiritual researchers and historians
alike. Lost Masters documents these early spiritual masters, juxtaposing their life stories with
their spiritual insights and their connections to Indian wisdom. It's a 'most' for any interested in
the connections between early Greek and Indian mysticism and philosophy.
Nessie
Nick Redfern
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738747101, $15.99, www.llewellyn.com
Nessie: Exploring the Supernatural Origins of the Loch Ness Monster considers the paranormal origins of Nessie, moving beyond the wealth of material written about the Loch Ness phenomenon to blend history and new age thought with photos, theories, and first-hand accounts of Nessie monsters and mysteries. Readers who remain fascinated with the Nessie phenomena to this day will find Redfern's emphasis on the supernatural aspects of Nessie's legend makes for an involving compilation of various sightings, theories, and different connections between the Nessie craze and body, mind and spiritual perspectives.
The Audiobook Shelf
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.hachetteaudio.com
Richard Castle's High Heat (9781478971504, $30.00) is read by Robert Petkoff, who has
appeared on film and TV shows and whose many Broadway and film credits lend to a
familiar-sounding, smooth voice for this story. An ISIS-style beheading of a journalist doesn't
happen in the Middle East, but is carried out by a New York City group, which involves NYPD
captain Nikki Heat in a terrible murder video that brings terrorists into her home territory. A
powerful listen presents many twists and turns of story. Grace Lin's When the Sea Turned to
Silver (9781478912518, $24.00) is narrated by Kim Mai Guest and tells of Pinmei's
grandmother's exciting stories, which come to an end when the emperor's soldiers take her away,
leaving her granddaughter behind. Pinmei's decision to rescue her beloved grandmother involves
a journey, friends and secrets in this moving story. Dana Pernio's Let Me Tell You About Jasper
(9781478912910, $30.00) is written and narrated by the author who tells not only of her beloved
dog, but how the Fox News host's pet became a familiar, loved face to the nation. Dubbed
'America's Dog', Jasper become part of Dana's life and her show, and this new audio tells stories
of politics and canine partners alike. David Baldacci's No Man's Land (9781478930013, $40.00)
is narrated by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy, who form a powerful team as they narrate the
saga of two men whose lives collide: an army investigator and a combat veteran. Fans of military
fiction and intrigue will find the story spans time and families in a murder mystery that questions
values, psychological profiles, and dangerous presumptions. James Patterson's Cross the Line
(9781478928188, $35.00) is narrated by Ryan Vincent Anderson and Pete Bradbury and provides
another Alex Cross mystery; this one beginning with a road rage incident that turns out to be
much more dangerous. Alex tracks a killer that is not only panicking a city, but is helped by a
stalemated police department - all set in Washington, D.C. The narrators bring the story to life in
all its gripping tension. Stephanie Meyer's The Chemist (9781478906568, $40.00) is narrated by
Ellen Archer, an award-winning narrator whose acting and singing background lends to a
gripping thriller about an ex-agent fleeing from her former employers. Her position as an expert
gave her access to many dark secrets of a deeply secret agency: now her position as a has-been
has led to a life on the run. An engrossing story of threats and struggles makes for a gripping saga
that's hard to set aside. All are excellent audio listens.
The Sports Shelf
Yoga for Athletes
Ryanne Cunningham
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781492522614, $21.95, www.hkusa.com
Yoga for Athletes is especially recommended for athletes who would use traditional yoga
practices to improve performance and supplement sport-specific training routines, and provides
routines for all levels of athlete, from weekend trainers to those who want to use yoga's basic
poses for improved strength and flexibility. Color step-by-step photos illustrate the poses while
text discusses modifications, safety tips, and reviews muscles being used in the course of the
yoga routine. Athletes already interested in yoga will find this a clear, specific set of routines
perfect for supplementing their exercise work.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
The American Fisherman
Willie Robertson and William Doyle
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062465641, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com
The American Fisherman: How Our Nation's Anglers Founded, Fed, Financed, and Forever
Shaped the U.S.A. comes from the star of Duck Dynasty and provides a lively, fun title that
combines outdoors lore with history as it surveys the hobby of fishing in the U.S. and how it
translates to American national identity and insights alike. Packed with black and white
illustrations throughout, it follows the history of fishing in this country from the nation's
settlement to modern times, considering lore, legends, the impact of fish on different industries
and American progress, and how fishing has changed over the decades. This feisty, fun overview
is highly recommended for any collection strong in sports in general and Duck Dynasty fans in
particular.
Wild Spaces, Open Seasons
Kevin Sharp, Editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806154633, $29.95, www.oupress.com
Wild Spaces, Open Seasons: Hunting and Fishing in American Art is both an art title with a
specific theme and ah history of hunting and fishing in American art from the early 19th century
through World War II, and uses a group of American paintings and sculpture to consider not only
their subjects, but their artistic value and approaches. This comes not from an artist's perspective
alone, but from that of an avid outdoorsman who surveyed a range of major artists to consider
how hunting and fishing images in art came to reflect some of the changes facing American
society over the decades. The result is recommended not just for arts and history holdings, but for
any collection strong in outdoors representations.
The Science Shelf
Little Book of Wonders
Nadia Drake
National Geographic Press
101 West 104th Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10025
www.nationalgeographic.com
9781426216893, $12.95, www.nationalgeographic.com/books
Little Book of Wonders: Celebrating the Gifts of the Natural World comes from a science writer
who gathers a presentation of scientific wonders in a lovely gift book that blends bright color
photos with reflections on the beauty and bounty of the natural world, from the squirrels who
forget to recover the nuts they bury, prompting the growth of many trees, to Darwin's astonishing
prediction of the existence of the Madagascar sphinx moth with its foot-long tongue forty years
before its actual discovery. The lovely survey will make for a perfect gift for anyone who loves
nature images and facts.
Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California
David Alt and Donald W. Hyndman
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426706, $26.00, www.mtnpress.com
Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California comes from two authors who began the
'Roadside Geology' series in the 1970s when they published Roadside Geology of Northern
California. Though David Alt passed away in 2015, this revision lives on and has been updated
to reflect the latest geologic science and research regarding Northern and Central California.
Designed to appeal to two audiences - vacationers and geology enthusiasts at all levels - this
lively coverage offers the rare opportunity to not only learn about California's unique geologic
sites, but to locate and visit them in person. Color photos, maps, and directions accompany a
detailed and inviting survey designed for lay readers and neo-scientists alike.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Protecting the Planet
Budd Titlow & Mariah Tinger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633882256, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
Protecting the Planet: Environmental Champions from Conservation to Climate Change is a
weighty volume that both gathers evidence for climate change and examines the history of U.S.
environmental policies and the individuals who helped foster environmental awareness. Chapters
chart the activities of these individuals, which range from scientists and researchers to artists and
activists, and rely heavily on personal interviews to fill in details about these efforts and the
politics surrounding them. The result is an important acquisition especially recommended for any
science holding strong in charting climate change research, science, and activism surrounding
environmental affairs.
The Art Shelf
The Art of Minnie Mouse
Disney
Disney Editions
c/o Disney Hyperion
125 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10023
www.disneyhyperionbooks.com
9781484767733, $40.00, www.disneybooks.com
One of Disney's most successful characters was Mickey Mouse, and the second was Minnie.
Despite her popularity, Minnie's importance has largely been 'minimized' and overshadowed by
Mickey's popularity, until now. The Art of Minnie Mouse points out that Minnie was actually
introduced simultaneously, not as an afterthought to Mickey, and this survey of her sassy
character and its evolving designs returns attention to her by providing a gallery of full-page,
color images depicting Minnie from various mediums, from digital renditions to watercolors,
paper and paint, and acrylics. From films and milestones to the evolution of her artistic rendition,
The Art of Minnie Mouse allows for side-by-side contrast of her evolving persona and presence,
and is a 'must' for any art holding strong in cartoon history or Disney characters.
The Photography Shelf
Shoot What You Love
Henry Horenstein
Monacelli Studio
236 West 27th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10001
9781580934558, $40.00, www.monacellipress.com
Shoot What You Love: Tips and Tales from a Working Photographer offers a clear message that
author and photography Henry Horenstein received early on in his career, from professional
photographer Harry Callahan: shoot what you love, because even if the result is lousy, you'll have
a good time. What was left unsaid is that one's love of subject does translate into a special
attention to detail and presentation that often isn't achievable when shooting something that isn't
as beloved. This set of Horenstein images offers a visual memoir of his works, professional
stories and experiences, photography tips, and insights that blends autobiography with a
photographer's keen eye for detail and achievement. The result is a powerful combination of
images and insights that any aspiring photographer at any level will relish.
The Geography Shelf
Map Use, eighth edition
A. Jon Kimerling, et.al.
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589484429, $99.99, www.esri.com/esripress
The eighth updated edition of the weighty geographic reference Map Use: Reading, Analysis,
Interpretation is a college-level cartographic textbook that has been updated to reflect the latest
cartography concepts and research, and is a highly recommended staple made even more valuable
with the addition of a new chapter covering map design, including web maps. Basic information
has been updated throughout, while students and professional cartographers alike receive an
in-depth coverage packed with nearly 600 color maps, photos, and graphs. From quantitative
information and types of map accuracy to map usage for navigation, typical map projections, and
visual analysis approaches of cartographic data, this is a 'must' for any serious collection on map
technology and applications.
The Technology Shelf
Bitcoin and Blockchain Security
Ghassan Karame and Elli Androulaki
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781630810139, $99.00, www.artechhouse.com
Bitcoin and Blockchain Security joins others in the 'Information Security and Privacy' series and
answers basic questions about the security involved in managing Bitcoin, reviewing prior
provisions and it underlying blockchain clients. The assumptions surrounding Bitcoin's
applications and privacy issues, means of securing Bitcoin wallets, and implementing ZeroCash,
ZeroCoin and more considerations are given technical coverage, including privacy-preserving
requirements and proposals to improve Bitcoin. The result is a technical survey packed with
security protocols and insights specific to Bitcoin's unique commerce environment and
applications a 'must' for any IT managers working with Bitcoin frameworks. Christian Bojinca's
How to Become an IT Architect (9781630811464, $119.00) introduces IT students and would-be
professionals to the routes to becoming a successful IT architect, defining the different types of
IT architecture and an IT professional's work. From performance standards and measuring
competency to leadership and communication skills needed for different IT architect positions
and how employers can apply assessment tools to hiring the best IT people for their company,
this is a reference recommended not just for would-be IT pros, but for businesses that would hire
them. David B. Cruickshank's Microwave Material Applications: Device Miniaturization and
Integration (9781630811013, $169.00) is recommended for college-level engineering reference
collections and professional libraries alike, and considers magnetic and dielectric materials for a
range of microwave applications. From how new materials work with filter technologies and how
new material designs use different properties to help reduce their size requirements to antenna
application trends, filters, and absorptive properties, this reference specific to microwave
applications includes formulas and technical details key to any engineer working with the latest
microwave systems and options.
The Music Shelf
Hank
Mark Ribowsky
Liveright Publishing
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9781631491573, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com
Hank: The Short Life and Long Country Road of Hank Williams details the life and times of the
country music star with a special attention to how he rose to fame and made his name, following
his songs, recording career, and the evolution of his unique observational style. There have been
so many Hank Williams books on the market that one might wonder at the need for yet another;
but Hank uses new interviews and insights not available elsewhere to delve into the heart of
Hank's career, making it a unique and worthy addition to any country music history holding; even
those who already have several biographies of Hank Williams in their collections.
The Crafts Shelf
Creative Origami and Beyond
Jenny Chan, et.al.
Walter Foster
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
9781633221642, $19.95, www.quartoknows.com
Creative Origami and Beyond is especially recommended as a basic beginner's overview of paper
folding techniques, and uses a combination of step-by-step large-sized color images and projects
to teach different types of origami, from modular, giant and tiny productions to wet origami.
Each section offers a different origami approach and builds on skills from the last, while projects
range from wall art and jewelry to miniature boxes and figurine models. The result is a 'must',
offering enough oversized presentations to make for a clearer how-to guide than most
competitors.
The Social Issues Shelf
Privilege: A Reader
Michael S. Kimmel and Abby L. Ferber, editors
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780813359935, $42.00, www.westviewpress.com
Privilege: A Reader appears in its fourth updated edition to discuss the idea and nature of
'privilege' as it relates not only to class, gender, and ethnicity, but to oppression beyond set
categories and approaches. Thirteen new essays appear in this edition, recommended for
college-level students who seek to understand privilege, oppression, and the social and political
conflicts surrounding the concept. The expansion of these approaches allows for an updated set
of discussions and activities that encourage students to more closely consider their own beliefs
and presumptions about privilege.
Violent Borders
Reece Jones
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
9781784784713, $27.95, www.versobooks.com
Violent Borders: Refugees and the Right to Move goes beyond most considerations of refugee
history to consider how new borders are formed and policed, and how state attempts to contain
and control populations and allocate resources have resulted in many limits to peoples'
movements around the world. From migrant history and experiences to the money spent on
border security and how the poor are regulated to areas and processes that restrict their abilities to
rise above their conditions, this is a powerful contrast between wealth and privilege and
unrestricted movement and the lasting effects of border control on poverty and resource
allocation, making for a powerful survey that should be a 'must' for any social issues
collection.
The California Shelf
Coast to Cactus
Diana Lndsay, Paula Knolls, Terri Varnell, eds.
Sunbelt Publications
1250 Fayette Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
www.sunbeltbooks.com
9781941384206, $29.95, PB, 636pp, www.amazon.com
"Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors" is so much more than just
another regional hiking guide. It also field guide to the flora and fauna of the region. Written
by citizen scientists trained by the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers, "Coast to
Cactus" is the new bible for really getting to know and appreciate the county's biodiversity while
exploring firsthand. The guide has 245 hikes and an additional 73 hike options making 318
exploring opportunities. Each hike has its own map and symbols indicating the habits found on a
trail, a full hike description with mileage, elevation gain/loss, difficulty rating, directions to the
trail-head with GPS, trail use, and special features of a hike. There are 525 species of plants,
birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates that are described in detail. Each hike
has a focus on a species or natural/cultural history feature associated with that hike. "Coast to
Cactus" is a learning tool designed to teach the reader what is special about San Diego outdoors.
Published in cooperation with California State Parks, San Diego County Department of Parks
and Recreation, Mission Trails Regional Park (City of San Diego), San Dieguito River Park Joint
Powers Authority, and The San Diego River Foundation, "Coast to Cactus" is like having a
trained San Diego Natural History Museum naturalist with you who will teach you what is
special about each trail. While highly recommended for personal, community, and academic
library collections, should be noted that a purchase of "Coast to Cactus" supports the mission and
programs of the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Craven Street Books
c/o Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
www.cravenstreetbooks.com
David Kulczyk's California's Deadliest Women: Dangerous Dames and Murderous Moms
(9781610352802, $14.95) provides nearly thirty profiles of some of the deadliest crimes
committed in California, with each short survey including a biographical sketch of the murderer's
early life, what led the woman to murder, how she was apprehended and punished, and her
ultimate place in California's legal history. Collections strong in criminal justice, California
history or women's issues will find it a lively survey of women who didn't just join others in
crime, but fully participated in them. The short style of the vignettes lends to quick, absorbing
leisure reading by a general-interest audience. Christopher Burchfield's Choose Your Weapon:
The Duel in California, 1847-1861 (9781610352772, $16.95) brings to life an era in which
conflicts in early California were settled by duels, and documents every major duel that occurred
in the state. As chapters follow the beginnings and evolution of the duel in this state, using
historical archives and newspaper accounts, historian Christopher Burchfield defines and
provides a powerful saga of the duel's place in not just settling disputes, but acting as a legitimate
legal process and forum for decision making. Anyone interested in California's early history and
the specter of the duel will find this book absorbing and intriguing, bringing together many
disparate pieces of information.
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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