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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 17, Number 3 March 2007 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Pets/Wildlife Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Computer Shelf American History Shelf Business Shelf
Self-Help Shelf International Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Architecture Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Travel Shelf Real Estate Shelf Science Shelf
Religion/Spituality Shelf Military Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Literary Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Fiction Shelf World History Shelf Antiques/Colectibles Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Psychology Shelf Political Science Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Music Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Sports Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Photography Shelf
Art Shelf Humor Shelf Education Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Nature Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Parenting Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Automotive Shelf Library Science Shelf Poetry Shelf
Evironmental Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Civil War Shelf Archeology Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Native American Shelf
Railroading Shelf Gardening Shelf Crafts Shelf
Gaming Shelf Interior Design Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Dragon Lover
Yong-Sheng Xuan
Shen's Books
40951 Fremont Blvd., Freemont, CA 94538
1885008317, $7.95 www.shens.com

Written and illustrated by Yong-Sheng Xuan, "The Dragon Lover And Other Chinese Proverbs" is one of those beautifully imaged books that will strongly appeal to adults and children of all ages. Each saying is drawn from Chinese culture and has a story using animals to illuminate human nature. There's a lazy farmer who hopes his food will come to him without effort on his part; a Sheriff who claims to only love dragons as a why of masking his fear; and other proverbial lore showcasing human nature. Wonderfully colored paper-cut illustrations are perfectly matched to the story texts which are printed in both English and Chinese. The painstakingly detailed artwork and the delightfully entertaining stories combine to present an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, family, school, or community Mythology/Folklore picturebook collection.

Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com 1-800-233-3130

Dover Publications is famous for their design books. Now they have released a new series of design and illustration books that include an accompanying CD of electronic clip art containing all the images presented in the book along with the very special and 'user friendly' Dover Design Manager system allowing the reader to easily browse, print, crop, and rotate the images. Among the newest titles in this outstanding Dover Publications series are "Beardsley Illustrations: 221 Royalty-Free Designs" (0486997707, $14.95 showcasing the work of Aubrey Beardsley whose exotic renderings of the sensual and the grotesque shocked London society in the 1890s and have continued endured in popularity as magazine cover designs, title pages, and poster art. "Victorian Goods And Merchandise: 949 Royalty-Free Designs" (0486997898, $14.95) showcases images drawn from rare nineteenth-century periodicals and organized into categories ranging from Victorian era gardening, music, photography and sports, to stationery, writing supplies, foot items, and more. "Victorian Women's Fashion Photos: 239 Royalty-Free Designs" (0486997774, $14.95) showcases period photographs of women's Victorian era clothing ranging from the 1840s to 1900 and will be of especial interest to costume designers and students of women's fashion. "Historic Fashion From Around The World: 96 Royalty-Free Designs" (0486998118, $19.95) offers a unique survey of more than 400 years of 'high fashion' ranging from the late fifteenth century to the mid-1800s as revealed in portraits by celebrated artists ranging from Durer and Titian to Rubens and van Dyck, making this an indispensable reference for students of fashion history, commercial artists, and costume designers. "Gibson Girl Illustrations: 200 Royalty-Free Designs" (0486997634, $14.95) showcases the turn-of-the-century illustrations of Charles Dana Gibson who became renowned for his ability to capture the style and spirit of the American woman in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth society. Drawn from period advertising, catalogs, posters, newsletters and other Gibson projects, this is a 'must' for students of American art history as well as costume designers and students of American women's fashions.

Satanic Purses
R. T. Naylor
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
0773531505, $34.95 1-800-387-0141

R.T. Nayor is an expert on money laundering, the underground economy, and terrorism. In "Satanic Purses: Money, Myth, And Misinformation In The War On Terror" he applies his extensive experience and expertise to debunk commonly held myths about how Islamic terrorist groups like Al Qaidah, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others finance their operations. Misinformation, propaganda, misconceptions, and flawed intelligence are to be found in every war, but the War On Terrorism has been particularly plagued with untruths, lies, mistakes, misunderstandings, governmental manipulation, and more. Critically important reading for policy makers, academia, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in understanding the financial issues of terrorism, "Satanic Purses" is a thoroughly 'reader friendly' presentation that will go far in correcting the confusion and misrepresentations that have evolved over the past six years with respect to the on-going global terrorist war with respect to the finances of both stateless and state-sponsored terrorist groups.

The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide And Cookbook
Albert Bates
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
0865715688, $19.95 www.newsociety.com 1-800-283-3572

Albert Bates draws upon his expertise and experience that has included being the Director of the Global Village Institute for Appropriate Technology since 1984 and the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm in Tennessee since 1984 to write and compile "The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide And Cookbook", a practical, informative, positive, upbeat, optimistic manual for making the transition from a petroleum-based lifestyle to a way of life that will come into play when the world's supplies of petroleum run out. Bates addresses a wide range of subjects including the rebuilding of a civilization based on petroleum energy and products when they are no longer cheap and affordable; changing our needs to adapt to petroleum-free conditions; water and waste disposal; energy and transportation that don't rely on petroleum; equipment and tools; food storage; and even first aid. Also featuring a series of superb recipes for organic, flavorful, locally grown produce, "The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide And Cookbook" is a strongly recommended addition to personal and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists. This is a book to have on hand when the inevitable happens – be it next year or the next decade. Also highly recommended from New Society Publishers are four other thematically appropriate titles: "Better World Handbook" (0865715750, $18.95); "Better World Shopping Guide" (0865715769, $9.95); "Eating Fossil Fuels" (0865715653, $11.95); and "Oil Depletion Protocol" (0865715637, $16.95).

The British Bulldog Revolver
George Layman
Andrew Mowbray Inc., Publishers
PO Box 460, Lincoln, RI 02865
193146426X, $34.99 www.manatarmsbooks.com 1-800-999-4697

Firearms history authority George Layman draws upon his considerable expertise in "The British Bulldog Revolver: The Forgotten Gun That Really Won The West", to showcase a very special pistol in great detail and documents its importance in the American west and elsewhere. This is a compendium of invaluable information that will be of immense interest to students of western history and firearms. This meticulously researched, superbly presented and profusely illustrated compendium will also prove to be of great value for collectors and dealers with Layman's professional commentary on British Bulldog Revolver variations and rarities (including prices for each type of pistol). "The British Bulldog Revolver" is a welcome and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional and academic library Firearms History reference collections.

Edward Johnston: Master Calligrapher
Peter Holliday
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720-5038
158456198X, $49.95 www.oakknoll.com 1-800-996-2556

Edward Johnston (1872-1944) was a master calligrapher, a typeface designer, and a creator of the lettering and branding for the London Underground. He was also an accomplished man of letters, an educator, and a philosopher. Johnston's work and commentary on lettering and calligraphy were to influence the men and women of his own generation as well as our own. The late Peter Holliday (who died in November 2003) presents a carefully researched and profusely detailed survey of Edward Johnston's life and work in "Edward Johnston: Master Calligrapher" in an impressive book that was finished by his sister and fellow calligrapher Susan Skinner based on the notes, writings and information he left to her along with a charge to finish the work he started on one of the most influential calligraphers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This 416-paged, beautifully illustrated, informative volume is 'must' reading for any dedicated calligrapher and a welcome, prized addition for personal and academic library collections on the history of lettering, calligraphy, and publishing.

Skylines Of The World
James Blakeway, Chris Gjevre, M. Hill Goodspeed
Hugh Lauter Levin Associates
9 Burr Road, Westport, CT 06880
Publishers Group West, dist.
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0883635291, $75.00 www.HLLA.com www.pgw.com 1-800-788-3123

"Skylines of The World: Yesterday And Today" showcases physical profiles of 49 major cities from around the world – including eight American cities. From the sentinels of ancient Jerusalem, Athens and Rome, to the medieval steeple of Munich and Budapest, to the splendor of Renaissance Florence and Venice, to the metropolitan cities of London, Paris, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, and more, "Skylines Of The World" presents each distinct city in terms of its particular adaptation to the landscape in which it occurs. Offering impressive and memorable images of steel and glass profiles, bird's-eye-views, historical photographs, and maps reflecting each city's distinct character, the photography of James Blakeway and Chris Gjevre is consistently enhanced with the informed and informative text of the historian M. Hill Goodspeed. Also very highly recommended for academic and community library collections is the companion volume, "Skylines: American Cities Yesterday And Today" (Hugh Lauter Levin Associates, 2005).

Halsey's Typhoon
Bob Drury and Tom Clavin
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0871139480 $25.00 www.groveatlantic.com

HALSEY'S TYPHOON: THE TRUE STORY OF A FIGHTING ADMIRAL, AN EPIC STORM, AND AN UNTOLD RESCUE is not just a top pick for World War II history holdings, but for general-interest collections strong in wartime adventure stories. It charts the true story of a rescue using previously classified documents and interviews with survivors to tell the story of Typhoon Cobra, which claimed more lives than the Battle of Midway. An extraordinary account of an extraordinary, little-revealed event which provoked extreme heroism under extreme conditions.

What Are the Animals to Us?
Dave Aftandilian, Editor
University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
157233472X $45.00 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

What Are the Animals to Us?: Approaches from Science, Religion, Folklore, Literature, and Art could also have been featured in our Pets & Wildlife section but is showcased as a 'Reviewer's Choice' selection for meticulous and scholarship as well as for its special interest to New Age collections, including college-level libraries strong in science and nature. The contributors to essays here examine cultural insights gained from animals, from totems and folklore to literary and historical representations of animals. Add in a healthy dose of ethical analysis and you have a wonderful guide which promises to reach beyond its intended college-level readership and into the holdings of many a New Age literary reader and non-specialist general reader with an interest in the conceptual relationships between humans and animals.

In the Name of Heaven
Mary Jane Engh
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024544 $25.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

IN THE NAME OF HEAVEN: 3,000 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION defines repressive actions used by authorities on their own people on religious grounds, and provides a history of ancient civilizations right up to modern times, moving around the world to cover Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. Varying methods, purposes, and objectives are contrasted in a focus perfect for any collection strong in general religious history.

Africa: In the Footsteps of the Great Explorers
Kingsley Holgate
Striuk House
80 McKenzie, Cape Town 8001, SA
1770071474 $31.95 www.amazon.com www.struik.co.za

Kingsley Holgate is a self-proclaimed 'romantic adventurer' inspired by African explorers of the past: he's traveled the African continent with his family in the past decade and here blends his travelogue with history, following the paths of early African explorers. Color photos pack chapters filled with adventure, from 'A Journey Down the Congo' to 'Chuma and Susi: Two Unsung Heroes of African Exploration'. While this could also have been featured in our History or Travel shelves, it's reviewed here as a 'Reviewer's Choice' selection for the widest possible audience: both public libraries with general lending audiences and collections strong in African history and culture will find it a riveting read, packed with color photos unusual to this subject.

Wild: An Elemental Journey
Jay Griffiths
Tarcher
c/o Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
158542403X $25.95 www.penguin.com

You might think WILD would be about wildlife, but it's not – it's a blend of true adventure and travelogue which follows the author's journeys into the world's wildest places and his encounters with the peoples who inhabit them, from the Amazon to the Arctic. It's also a personal journey as Griffiths struggles with his own depression and loss – and as such comes from a visitor who is not your typical adventure traveler, but a cultural investigator. Fascinating, dramatic, moving - and packed with insights on the changing wild places of the Earth.

To the Ends of the Earth
Jeremy Harwood
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1582974640 $35.00 www.fwpublications.com

How can maps change the world? TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: 100 MAPS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD reviews cartography's impact on world perceptions, considering how maps have influenced propaganda, borders, and history itself. From how mapping territories can lead to control and profiteering to how maps help in furthering civilization, TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH is filled with insights and geographical connections, all connected by lovely maps and color illustration throughout – perfect for general-interest public and school libraries.

Confederate States of America: What Might Have Been
Roger L. Ransom
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393329119 $15.95 www.wwnorton.com

What if the South had won the Civil War, and what would the world be like today? Many historians have considered this scenario and plenty of science fiction collections have been constructed around stories of such – but THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA uses real facts and analysis to blend historical plausibility and realistic scenarios to show how a Confederate-run America would change not only this country, but the world. Even economics are explored, along with international relationships changed by such events. An intriguing survey any collection strong in Civil War history will want: it offers more scholarship and seasoned, rational reasoning than most approaches.

Firefly Books Limited
155 East 34th Street Suite 5B, New York NY 10016
www.fireflybooks.com

The first edition of Terence Dickinson's night-viewer's guide Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe (155407147X $35.00) first appeared in 1983 and has sold over 600,000 copies, gaining numerous fans: this fourth updated edition includes all the basics on planetary positions, alignments, and conjunctions updated to reflect the current sky through 2018. Its extensive updated information includes an entire revamping of the stargazing equipment section with new recommendations and new photos. A 'must' for any avid night-time observer. Richard Sale's A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ARCTIC WILDLIFE (155407178X, $49.95) pairs gorgeous photos by Per Michelsen and Richard Sale with sections which cover dozens of species, from birds to plants and animals, and which blend a field guide to Arctic birds and mammals with a mini-travel guide to the Arctic. Notes are quite specific, from size and confusion species to diet, breeding, and geographical variation, making this the perfect specific reference for any library strong on Arctic wildlife identification and natural history. Jimie Wilkins and Robert Dunn's 300 ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE UNIVERSE (1554071755, $29.95) packs in some amazing astronomical photos usually seen in much larger titles, providing an excellent introduction to each object and specific examples accompanied by one or more large photos. From a close-up of the Great Red Spot to guides to the solar system, Milky Way and more, amateur astronomers will find this an outstanding visual and factual treat which offers the convenience of a smaller format lending to take-along totes. It completes well with larger guides intended for coffee-table display. The same format graces Greg Jennings' 500 FRESHWATER AQUARIUM FISH: A VISUAL REFERENCE TO THE MOST POPULAR SPECIES (1554071674, $29.95). Over 500 species and varieties are covered with basic facts on size, behavior, diet, aquarium and breeding conditions accompanying a full-color, full-page facing photo. Any home or library collection strong in aquarium references – and many a fish store – will find this packed with in-depth detail perfect for setting up an aquarium.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Eros & Equus
Laura Chester, editor
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua WI 54548
1595433880, $29.95 www.willowcreekpress.com 1-800-850-9453

Selected, compiled and edited by Laura Chester, the extracts and quotations comprising the text of "Eros & Equus: A Passion For The Horse" are beautifully enhanced throughout with the black and white photography of Donna Demari. The result is a terrific read for horse lovers of all ages. From the boisterous enthusiasm of the young colt to the stolid stoicism of the older horse, "Eros & Equus" offers a series of moving tributes, observations and commentaries that connect humans to their horses. From a band of wild girls racing their horses through a river, to an elder gentleman riding his prized stallion, to a nude woman swept into the saddle of a bandit, to a drunken father protecting his daughter's blind horse from the gun, each exquisite piece and their accompanying photographic images simply sweep the reader along from first page to last. "Eros & Equus" is a dramatically recommended addition to personal and community collections on Pets/Wildlife in general, and the horse in particular.

Brackish-Water Fishes
Neale Monks, editor
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793805643, $39.95 www.tfh.com 1-800-631-2188

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by zoologist and aquarium fish expert Neale Monks "Brackish-Water Fishes: An Aquarist's Guide To Identification, Care & Husbandry" is a complete, 384-page, authoritative and 'user friendly' guide to rare, common, and easy-to-obtain species of brackish-water fish species which would prove ideal for the home aquarium. In addition to full color photographically illustrated descriptions of each fish, "Brackish-Water Fishes also features sound recommendations for themed aquarium tank setups, and tankmates for each identified species. Very highly recommended and an indispensable reference, "Brackish-Water Fishes" is a specialized and core addition to any personal, professional, academic, and community library Pets/Wildlife collection in general, and aquarium fish reference shelf in particular.

Portraits Of The Bison
Wes Olson
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
0888644329, $39.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Profusely illustrated throughout and especially recommended for both community and academic library Pets & Wildlife collections, "Portraits Of The Bison" by Wes Olson (Senior Warden at Elk Island National Park in Alberta, Canada) showcases the bison herd at the Elk Island National Park and deftly explores the distinctions between wood bison and plains bison species. A superbly presented and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide for non-specialist general readers with an interest in bison, "Portraits Of The Bison" and their life cycles, notable individuals, families, bands, clans and herds making up bison society.

The Everything Cat Book, second edition
Karen Leigh Davis
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
1593375778 $14.95 www.everything.com

Now in an updated second edition, The Everything Cat Book: All You Need to Know About Caring for Your favorite Feline Friends is a solid, well-rounded primer for prospective and current cat owners alike. Written by Karen Leigh Davis, a professional member of Cat Writers' Association Inc. whose work has appeared in "CATS Magazine" and "Cat Fancy", The Everything Cat Book covers the pros and cons of adopting a stray versus buying a purebred, how to tell a reputable breeder (one tip is to ask breeders questions about whether their litters are registered and how well their cats do in shows - unscrupulous breeders rarely bother with either, as registration fees cut into their profits), how to prepare for a new kitten, all aspects of feeding, grooming, litterbox cleaning, and dealing with behavior problems, what to expect when breeding cats and raising kittens, first aid and emergency care, showing cats, and much more. The writing is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and the true value of The Everything Cat Book is its attention to detail - such as a lengthy list of common household plants that are toxic to cats. An absolute "must-read" for cat owners and cat fanciers everywhere.

Watchable Birds of the Black Hills, Badlands, and Northern Great Plains
Jan L. Wassink
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806
0878425268 $22.00 www.mountain-press.com 1-800-234-5308

Written by wildlife management expert and photographer, Jan L. Wassink, Watchable Birds of the Black Hills, Badlands, and Northern Great Plains is a stunning, full-color field guide to the feathered friends known to grace North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, eastern Montana and Wyoming, and the northeast corner of Colorado. Each species of bird has half a page to a page of text devoted to it. 257 beautiful color photographs, a state-by-state guide for birdwatching destinations, hot spots for viewing rare species, tips for distinguishing different species in the field, and much more, Watchable Birds of the Black Hills, Badlands, and Northern Great Plains is an absolute "must" for avid birdwatcher residents and visitors of the region, and a delight to simply page through for birdwatchers everywhere.

All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures
Roger Tory Peterson
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
0618758623 $30.00 www.hmco.com

All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures is an excellent pick for any who have long known of and used Roger Tory Peterson's birding guides, which have become leading industry references in the fine art of bird identification. A decade after his death comes a personal collection which blends color photos and line drawings with a passionate survey of the bird world, selected by the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest which ran his column 'All Things Reconsidered' during the last twelve years of his life. His adventures traveling the world are captured in a set of vivid vignettes perfect for that avid birder.


The Library DVD Shelf

John Bunyan: Journey Of A Pilgrim
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
#501116D, $19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

"John Bunyan: Journey Of A Pilgrim is an informative and superbly presented documentary that was filmed at the John Bunyan Museum in Bedford, England and presents a detailed history of this English protestant reformer's life story as chronicled by John Pestell (the author of 'Travel with John Bunyan). Viewers will learn fascinating information about Bunyan's time and his experiences including a mischievous childhood, his nightmares, and those events and influences that shaped his life. Viewer's will also learn that Bunyan, well into adulthood was able to find inner peace by studying the Bible and began preaching illegally which inevitably led to his twelve years of imprisonment – during which he wrote "A Pilgrim's Progress" which was to become a classic of Christian literature. Now in a full-color DVD format and a highly recommended addition to family, church, and community library collections, "John Bunyan: Journey of A Pilgrim" has a total running time of 42 minutes.

Mr. Lincoln: The Life Of Abraham Lincoln
Allen C. Guelzo
The Creative Company
123 South Broad Street, Mankato, MN 56001
Course #8561, $39.95 www.teach12.com 1-800-445-6209

"Mr. Lincoln: The Life Of Abraham Lincoln" is a series of 12 thirty-minute lectures by Allen C. Guelzo (Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era and Professor of History at Gettysburg College) who draws from his many years of scholarly research and writing about President Lincoln (he has won both the Lincoln Prize and the Abraham Lincoln Institute Prize for his books on Lincoln) to present informed and informative explorations on such themes as Lincoln's understanding and approach to mid-nineteenth century American politics; his opposition to slavery; and his leadership skills and style during the bloody conflicts that comprising the American Civil War. The twelve lectures are organized on the subjects of: 'Young Man Lincoln'; 'Whig Meteor'; 'Lincoln, Law, and Politics'; 'The Mind of Abraham Lincoln'; 'Lincoln and Slavery'; 'The Great Debates'; 'Lincoln and Liberty, Too'; 'The Uncertain President'; 'The Emancipation Moment'; 'Lincoln's Triumph'; 'The President's Sword'; and concludes with 'The Dream of Lincoln'. Professor Guelzo is a gifted speaker who is able to convey enthusiasm along with information in a presentation that is thoughtful, thought-provoking, and completely accessible to both students and non-specialist general viewers alike. Very strongly recommended for highschool honors courses in American History, "Mr. Lincoln: The Life Of Abraham Lincoln" is also a welcome addition to college and university libraries, as well as the DVD collections of community public libraries as well. It should be noted that a printed transcript book of the lectures is also available ($15.00) and that the lectures are also available on an audio CD ($24.95).

Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Monterey Media produces DVDs showcasing some of the best theatrical productions directed and enacted by the very best of talented men and women in Broadway and Hollywood. Seven new releases continue to provide personal, academic, and community library collections with simply outstanding plays and readings drawn from creative minds for public enjoyment. These enthusiastically recommended productions (many of which have aired on such television networks as PBS, A&E, BBC America, and Discovery) include among the plays: Raby Bradbury's "Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby is a Friend of Mine" starring Fred Gwynne; Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s "Who Am I This Time? Starring Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon; F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Under the Biltmore Clock" starring Sean Young; and Shirley Jackson's Along with Me" starring Estelle Parsons and directed by Joanne Woodward. The multicast poetry readings so wonderfully presented include Robert Frost's "New England in Autumn" filmed in an autumnal New England by 'The First Poetry Quartet'; Emily Dickinson's "A Certain Slant of Light" performed by Julie Harris; and "The Glorious Romantics" which showcases the poetry of Lord Byron, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley as performed by the British actress Jean Marsh with the support of a ensemble of talented actors. Theatrical departments and specialist librarians are especially urged to visit the Monterey Media website for a complete listing of all their available theatrical and poetry reading titles.

Prevention Fitness Systems DVDs
GT Media
c/o Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
www.rodalestore.com

Two outstanding workout DVDs are excellent additions to any home or lending fitness library. Chris Freytag's WALK YOURSELF FIT (0766227766, $19.98) is for home use and combines stomps, power walks, side taps and dance to create a fun and challenging routine. Even more challenging is DROP IT IN 30! (0766228800, $14.98), which provides two of her cardio workouts to burn fat and calories. Together the two provide an outstanding routine for any determined to workout at home.


The Computer Shelf

Windows Vista in a Nutshell
Preston Gralla
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527071 $34.99 www.oreilly.com

Every important setting and feature in Microsoft's new operating system is covered in a guide which packs in listings for hundreds of commands, windows, menus, and other Windows Vista elements. From the new operating system's basic user interface and differences between Vista and other operating systems to tips in installation, keyboard shortcuts and more, this should be a basic reference for quite some time, offering essential keys to understanding and streamlining Vista's capabilities. Libraries will find it an increasingly valuable reference as Vista products permeate the stores and replace older systems in the next year or two.

Windows Vista Secrets
Brian Livingston & Paul Thurrott
Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ
0764577042 $39.99 www.wiley.com

Windows Vista is the latest operating system and users serious about tweaking their system will thus wish to go beyond the usual Microsoft Help guide to consult WINDOWS VISTA SECRETS, a guide to installing Vista and using some of its new features – including undocumented ones – to streamline a system. From creating movies and DVDs to new security features and system pros and cons, WINDOWS VISTA SECRETS is the item of choice for any who would get the most from their system.

Understanding DB2 9 Security
Rebecca Bond, et.al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Education
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131345907 $49.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Understanding DB2 9 Security isn't for the light programmer's library: it's an in-depth, comprehensive guide – the only one – to securing DB2 and harnessing the new features of 9, and comes from a security deployment expert and the IBM DB2 development team itself. As such, college-level holdings strong in advanced computer database and security holdings will find it a top pick, covering everything from security processes and plans to implementing design in the DB2 environment.

Cryptography for Developers
Tom St Denis
Syngress
800 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370
1597491047 $59.95 www.syngress.com

Cryptography for Developers deserves ongoing recommendation as a basic text – the only one written for software developers – probing the foundations of cryptography. Here are details covering message authentication codes, encryption models, public key cryptography, and more that discuss and provide examples of cryptographic goals and security measures. Any software developer serious about security must have this.


The American History Shelf

Copper Chorus
Dennis L. Swibold
Montana Historical Society
225 North Roberts, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620-1201
0975919601 $24.95 www.montanhistoricalsociety.org

Former reporter and current professor of the University of Montana School of Journalism Dennis L. Swibold presents Copper Chorus: Mining, Politics, and the Montana Press, 1889-1959, a straightforward look at newspapers owned or controlled by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company over the course of seven decades, and their profound influence on state politics. A cautionary tale for free citizens in today's world of increasing media consolidation, Copper Chorus examines the notoriety and abuse of power observed in the industrial press during times of war and peace. Extensively researched and illustrated with a smattering of black-and-white photographs, Copper Chorus is an engaging slice of little-known American history that deserves to be studied, lest it be repeated.

Crossroads In Time
Dennis J. Connors
Onondaga Historical Society
c/o Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
0815681496, $49.95 www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu 1-800-365-8929

Dating from its beginnings in 1862, the Onondaga historical Association (OHA) is one of the oldest cultural organizations in Central New York. A nonprofit organization, OHA is the primary historical agency for the Greater Syracuse area and has the mission of preserving historical materials and teaching about local area history through exhibits, publications, tours, programs, and educational services at its Museum and its Research Center located in downtown Syracuse. Co-published by the Onondaga Historical Society and the Syracuse University Press, "Crossroads In Time: An Illustrated History Of Syracuse' by local Syracuse historian Dennis J. Connors provides an informed and informative history of this venerable institution, its mission and accomplishments. Highly recommended and profusely illustrated reading, as well as a welcome addition to American History reference collections, "Crossroads In Time" could well serve as a template for other regional and state historical societies seeking to record and publish their own histories.

Alabaster Cities
John Rennie Short
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, New York 13244-5160
0815631057 $29.95 www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

Written by John Rennie Short (Professor of Geography and Public Policy, University of Michigan), Alabaster Cities: Urban U.S. Since 1950 is an in-depth, scholarly study of urban America since 1950, with especial focus on "urban renewal" that all too often demolished working-class city zones that were not slums, failed to provide adequate public housing, and therefore left too many poor and lower-income people with no place to go; the positives and negatives of increasing suburbanization; and political and social fallout from changing urban and suburban dynamics. Though serious-minded, drawing heavily on research, and careful not to mistake correlation for causation (are suburbs often more conservative politically because conservatives tend to move there, or because life there tends to give residents a more conservative perspective?), Alabaster Cities is thoroughly accessible to lay readers as well as scholarly readers. Highly recommended.

Where We Lived
Jack Larkin
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CN 06470-5506
1561588474 $40.00 www.taunton.com

Written by museum scholar and historian Jack Larkin, Where We Lived: Discovering The Places We Once Called Home is a coffee-table book that blends eyewitness accounts of early American life with black-and-white Depression-era photography to give a historically accurate accounting of everyday life during America's formative years. From the lives of slaves and paupers to the hardships faced by frontiersmen to the relative luxury of east coast elites, Where We Lived offers a mosaic of the American experience for readers of all backgrounds, sure to enrich one's understanding of American history and culture. A wonderfully descriptive treasure, enthusiastically recommended for public library collections.

Abraham Lincoln Portrayed In The Collections of The Indiana Historical Society
Harold Holzer, editor
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
0871952017, $49.95 www.indianahistory.org

Harold Holzer is co[-chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and an acknowledged authority on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. Therefore he brings a very special expertise to compiling and editing "Abraham Lincoln Portrayed In The Collections of The Indiana Historical Society", a 264 page volume that includes 150 images (many of which are in full color) and a complete catalog of the Indiana Historical Society collection compiled by IHS William Henry Smith Library staff members Emily Castle and Barbara Quigley. Here are contemporary and later images of Lincoln with his family, generals, and cabinet members, as well as political cartoons, illustrate sheet music, book and newspaper illustrations of the period.. A work of impressive, detailed and original scholarship, "Abraham Lincoln Portrayed In The Collections of The Indiana Historical Society" is a singularly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American History reference collections in general, and supplemental reading lists for students of Abraham Lincoln's life and times in particular. Also very highly recommended are Harold Holzer's other works on Abraham Lincoln: "The Lincoln Image"; "Lincoln Seen and Heard"; "Dear Mr. Lincoln"; "The Lincoln Mailbag"; and "Lincoln at Cooper Union".

Ledyard
Bill Gifford
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
0151012180 $25.00 www.harcourtbooks.com

Ledyard: In Search of the First American Explorer tells of a celebrated American explorer who participated in some of the greatest expeditions of his times. He was not only present on Captain Cook's final voyage and helped pioneer the fruit trade, but joined Thomas Jefferson in planning for an expedition across North America – and made the journey nearly to Russia in Alaska before he was arrested as a spy. It's a wonder his story isn't better known – and LEDYARD follows all his journeys, providing a blend of history and true-life adventure to make it a fine pick for both school libraries at the high school to college level, and for general-interest public library collections.

Born in the Country
David B. Danbom
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801884594 $20.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The second updated edition of BORN IN THE COUNTRY: A HISTORY OF RURAL AMERICA remains the only general history of rural America in print, covering changes from pre-Columbian to modern times and blending both agricultural, technological and economic themes with ethnic, cultural and social analysis. This second edition expands the coverage on the late 20th and early 21st centuries and traces changes in country living: any college-level holding strong in American or rural history must have this.

Amarillo: Story of a Western Town
Paul H. Carlson
Texas Tech University Press
Box 51037, Lubbock, TX 79407-1037
0896725871 $28.95 www.ttup.ttu.edu

Amarillo, Texas is known for many things: its famous musical tributes to the state, its Texas flavor, and its regional uniqueness – yet AMARILLO: STORY OF A WESTERN TOWN represents the first book to provide a comprehensive history of the city, from its earliest explorers to its rise as a hub of Texas. Any collection strong in Texas history must have it: no study of Texas is complete without a thorough understanding of the roots and influences of Amarillo.


The Business Shelf

Brand It Yourself
Lynn Altman
Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Jane Wesman Public Relations (publicity)
322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10001
1591841062 $21.95 www.us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515

Lynn Altman, cofounder of brand consulting firm Viverito & Altman Inc., presents Brand It Yourself: The Fast, Focused Way to Marketplace Magic, a guide to transforming branding into an energizing, exciting process that captivates consumer imaginations. Teaching the "Brandmaker Express" process as a means for revitalizing and overcoming paralysis in marketing departments, Brand It Yourself covers not only being sufficiently bold to take the market by storm, but also how to avoid common advertising quagmires such as puns, negatives, ads that focus too much on problem areas, wearing one's price tag on one's sleeve, the dangers of branding, and the savvy consumer's modern distrust of "doctor" and expert recommendations for products. "In fact, while this book is not the number-one Doctor Recommended Book on Branding, it is a book endorsed by the Branding Professionals of America (BPA), the New Product Marketing Alliance (NPMA), and the Fast Branders of America (FBA). Well, it would be if any of them really existed." Salacious humor, straight-to-the-point advice, tips, tricks, techniques, and much more backed by a lifetime of experience in the field make Brand It Yourself a "must-read" for anyone responsible for business marketing and advertising.

Taking Minutes of Meetings
Joanna Gutmann
Kogan Page International
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Stylus Publishing (distributor)
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
0749445599 $17.95 www.koganpage.com 1-800-232-0223

Written by freelance training consultant and secretarial education expert Joanna Gutmann, Taking Minutes of Meetings is a no-nonsense, self-teaching tool instructing the reader in the theory and application of proper forms for taking minutes (records) of a meeting. Chapters cover tips for setting up a meeting, personal preparation recommendations, guidelines for taking notes and constructing minutes, how to record decisions and actions in such a manner that any reader will immediately understand what happened, and much more. Numerous examples and sample formats clearly show the note-taking forms that Gutmann recommends, in this one-of-a-kind quick-study tool that can swiftly transform any willing student into a skilled minute-taker.

Leadership and Motivation
John Adair
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749447982 $25.00 www.kogan-page.co.uk

John Adair's pioneering NOT BOSSES BUT LEADERS helped change the way leadership roles are viewed in business: in LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION: THE FIFTY-FIFTY RULE AND THE EIGHT KEY PRINCIPLES OFM OTIVATING OTHERS he extends his analysis to review the foundations of leadership ability and its role in both business and personal life. Chapters tell how to create framework for such motivation by selecting the right people and creating the atmosphere that enables them to shine. From moral issues to key points in 'action centered' leadership, business readers receive a well-rounded analysis which lends particularly well to college-level classroom use.

Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadephia, PA 19147
www.kogan-page.co.uk

The relationship between top management consultancy teams and their clients is reviewed through a series of case studies from large organizations working in both the public and private sectors to analyze the best consulting practices in management in Fiona Czerniawska & Paul May's MEASURING CONSULTING IN PRACTICE (0749448180 $39.95). Each case study is used as a foundation for analysis by a leading consulting industry commentator and a business technology author and consultant, making this a hard-hitting pick recommended for any serious business library collection. Jonathan Reuvid consults and edits THE SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE: PROFITING FROM BEST PRACTICE, 2ND EDITION (0749446439, $79.95), a pick for college-level collections strong in advanced business studies. Issues relating to the ideas of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility are reviewed by leading industry pros and regulatory authorities who review various aspects of sustainability in the workplace. It's a special pick indeed with a well-rounded worldview on the topic.


Public Relations Online
Tom Kelleher
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412914175 $32.95 www.sagepublications.com

From hands-on Internet resource exercises to discussions on the social and technological influences changing the field of public relations, Public Relations Online: Lasting Concepts for Changing Media holds a wealth of easily discussions blending theory, research and practice to identify the elements of effective public relations. College-level students of public relations will find it an important guide to the online media environment, and college-level courses in both public relations and media studies will find it suitable for assignment and classroom discussion.

The Power of Principles
William J. Byron
Orbis Books
P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756783 $16.00 www.maryknoll.org

What are the ethical and spiritual principles businesses should embrace and incorporate to prevent the problems that affected Enron and others? Examples from a range of corporate scenarios narrow the ideas down to ten 'old' principles and review them with an eye to surveying how business decisions may be tempered by ethical and spiritual considerations. Business owners will find this an essential key to maintaining ethics in a blossoming business structure, and business libraries will find students of business will choose this for classroom debate and discussion.

Global Diversity
Ernest Gundling, Anita Zanchettin, Alperian Global
Nicholas Brealey International
100 City Hall Plaza #501, Boston, MA 02108
190483809X $35.00 www.nicholasbrealey.com

The fine art of mastering operations in a global environment challenges the best of leaders and managers to understand the differences both within and between countries – and that's where GLOBAL DIVERSITY: WINNING CUSTOMERS AND ENGAGING EMPLOYEES WITHIN WORLD MARKETS comes in. Years of the authors' hands-on experience contribute to a synthesis of key cultural variables in eight major markets around the world, from China and India to Russia and the UK. Each country receives in-depth analysis for its external and internal business challenges. Any college-level business student of international business and many a domestic manager will find GLOBAL DIVERSITY holds essential keys to understanding international motivation.

In Focus: Strategies for Business Writers
Myra Shulman
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
0472030744 $24.95 www.press.umich.edu

Both native and non-native English speakers will find IN FOCUS packed with important tips for more effective business writing, using real-world assignments on resumes, cover letters, memos, short reports and business plans to emphasize proper practice. The range of business issues and solutions covered here differentiates IN FOCUS from resume-oriented or language-oriented guides and makes it an important text suitable both for classroom assignment at the ESL or business English levels, or for high school to college-level library reference.

Strategic Ambiguities
Eric M. Eisenberg
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412926882 $39.95 www.sagepub.com

STRATEGIC AMBIGUITIES: ESSAYS ON COMMUNICATION, ORGANIZATION, AND IDENTITY is a collection of essays perfect for college-level courses in either linguistics or business. It details the historical development of communications theories and comes from an internationally recognized leader in the theory and applications of organization communication. Chapters consider the basics of communication perspectives within business and the community environments alike, drawing many important links between the two. An important college-level discourse perfect for holdings strong in linguistics and business.


The Self-Help Shelf

Singular Existence
Leslie Talbot
Citadel Press
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022-6222
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
0806527994, $12.95 www.kensingtonbooks.com 1-800-345-2665

Being single is always a choice – sometimes a voluntary decision, sometimes an involuntary one. Whether singleness has been selected deliberately or the unhappy and unwanted result of personal circumstance, it has always been a source of advice for schlock counselors, mercenary dating services, and those well (and not so well) meaning friends and family. Leslie Talbot's "Singular Existence" is a wickedly funny, smartly written, shrewdly realistic compendium of observation and advice based on her own dating experiences as an unmarried woman in a culture that prizes women getting married. Of special note is her declaration of independence for the proudly unmarried she calls her 'Manifesto Destiny'. If you are single and looking for that special someone, if you are single and have given up looking for anyone at all, or if you are married and wish you weren't – then read Leslie Talbot's "Singular Existence"!

Change 101
Bill O'Hanlon
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393704963 $23.95 www.wwnorton.com

A very strongly recommended addition to the reading list of anyone who has or is contemplating any form of therapy to improve their lives or help them deal with the their problems, CHANGE 101: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO CREATING CHANGE IN LIFE OR THERAPY tells of the one thing all therapies have in common: they all work with clients to facilitate change. That said, it's surprising that few books on therapy identify this common denominator to treatment – or survey the basic idea of what constitutes helpful change. Bill O'Hanlon provides keys to achieving personal transformation, offering specific methods to encourage change. His background as a licensed marriage and family therapist lends to reality-based discussions in a survey recommended for both psychology collections and general-interest libraries.

Mapping the Memory
Rita Carter
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
1569755558 $14.95 www.ulyssespress.com 1-800-377-2542

Mapping the Memory: Understanding Your Brain to Improve Your Memory is a one-of-a-kind informational book about improving one's memory through understanding basic neuroscience and skillfully applying tools such as mnemonics (such as "homes" for remembering the Great Lakes - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). Chapters discuss the neuroscience of making memories, common memory problems, causes and cures of memory ills, and tips, tricks, and techniques to improve one's memory. A reader-friendly, down-to-earth discussion of the practical realities and benefits gleaned from modern scientific research, Mapping the Memory is especially recommended for students, knowledge-skill professionals, and anyone else whose expertise and success depends heavily on maximizing their memory capacity. Highly recommended, as is author Rita Carter's previous book, "Mapping the Mind".

Hip Tranquil Chick
Kimberly Wilson
Inner Ocean Publishing
PO Box 1239, Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768
1930722710 $16.95 www.innerocean.com

Written by Kimberly Wilson, founder of Tranquil Space (voted "DC's Best Yoga Studio"), Hip Tranquil Chick: A Guide to Life On and Off the Yoga Mat is a holistic self-help guide to improving one's health, lifestyle, and mindset Chapters cover yoga sequences to aid personal flexibility and tranquility, tips for consciously creating a solid career path, interior design advice, important things to keep in mind when managing finances, and much more. Written by a woman, for women, in a down-to-earth style accessible lay readers, and illustrated with simple diagrams of yoga poses, Hip Tranquil Chick is especially recommended for women of all ages who are ready to take control and make the most of their destinies.

Unlock Your Creative Genius
Bernard Golden, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024560 $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Any who seek to unlock creativity either for personal or business pursuits needs Unlock Your Creative Genius. It comes from a noted psychologist whose program teaches how to probe individual creative choices and how to pursue a creative path. From analysis of different fears that hold us back to handling failure and others' expectations, this is an inspirational guide to making the most of underlying creativity.

The New Think and Grow Rich
Red Ciuba and Napoleon Hill
Morgan James Publishing
1225 Franklin Suite 32, Garden City, NY 11530-1693
097585707X $19.95 www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

For the 'next generation' in personal achievement, turn to a new version of Napoleon Hill's long-time best-selling 'Think and Grow Rich'. This is more than just a revamp with modern examples – it radically transforms the vision by adding new gender, cross-cultural and international issues to the mix, including new material to include both science and genetics, as in the Quantum reality of accelerating income and wealth. An excellent re-do of a classic financial inspirational guide, any library where Hill's been a popular patron pick must have this latest version.

You Can Be Happy No Matter What
Richard Carlson, Ph.D.
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315685 $12.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Key Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective isn't a new age admonition with pop phrasing – it tells how to maintain an equilibrium in a world fraught with uncertainties and setbacks, and should be required reading for any interested in mental health. Both public library lending collections and new age and health holdings will find Dr. Carlson offers much detail on how the human mind functions, addressing the 'five principles' of Thought Moods, Separate Realities, Feelings and Present Moment and explaining how to apply these ideas to everyday life: relationships, stress, and habits. A checklist further emphasizes self-help assessments.


The International Studies Shelf

A Common Hunger
Joan G. Fairweather
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
1552381927 $39.95 wwww.outcross.com

Written by South African historian and Canadian resident Joan G. Fairweather, A Common Hunger: Land Rights in Canada and South Africa is a unique treatise comparing and contrasting indigenous people's legal battles for rights to land that are currently taking place in modern-day Canada and post-apartheid South Africa. Penned with scholarly precision and attention to detail, A Common Hunger traces treaties in both nations, respective histories of negotiation, litigation, restitution, and self-government, the quest to restore dignity, and much more. Ultimately, A Common Hunger seeks to understand and explain why land rights matter both to individuals and to collectives, outline the difficult task of nation-building in South Africa, and explore options for the future. An extensively researched, highly recommended study, with a thorough bibliography and an index.

Endgame in the Balkans
Elizabeth Pond
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036-2188
0815771606 $29.95 www.brooking.edu

Written by German-based veteran journalist Elizabeth Pond, Endgame in the Balkans: Regime Change, European Style is a serious-minded examination of how the appeal of European Union membership is affecting the Balkan nations, and repercussions that developments in the Balkans are having on the EU. Bulgaria, Romania, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro all must confront and carry out difficult reforms to qualify for EU membership, including establishment of democracy, rule of law, and fostering general societal tolerance. At war with these efforts for change and longstanding intergenerational mindsets produced grown from poverty, corruption, and chauvinism. Yet the EU has already achieved sweeping historic changes by forging a historic reconciliation between France and Germany, and helping to consolidate democracy in Portugal, Spain, and Greece. Endgame in the Balkans explores the most difficult societal and nation-building challenge of the EU yet, through the collective information gathered from hundreds of interviews taken all across the Balkan region. A serious-minded and candid inquiry, written for lay readers and students of modern history and politics alike, highly recommended.

Witches, Westerners, and HIV
Alexander Rodlach
Left Coast Press
c/o University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Avenue, #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
1598740342 $29.95 www.lcoastpress.com

Written by anthropologist and former missionary working in Zimbabwe Alexander Rodlach , Witches, Westerners, and HIV: Aids & Cultures of Blame in Africa is a serious-minded examination of cultural and social beliefs that give rise to harmful conspiracy theories and sometimes pose seemingly intractable barriers against attempts to prevent HIV/AIDS in the nation of Zimbabwe. Though Zimbabwe culture is the primary focus, the general insights of Witches, Westerners, and HIV are no doubt applicable to most if not all African nations suffering from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Witches, Westerners, and HIV dissects cultural misunderstandings at length, from cultural beliefs in sorcery (including the idea that sorcerers use the power to spread HIV/AIDS) that provide an explanation for why the terrible disease afflicts good people; to the history of harm caused by colonialism as motivation for conspiracy theories that Western institutions are withholding a cure for HIV/AIDS or actually spreading HIV/AIDS by "distributing infected condoms" and the like; to the massacres the government carried out against perceived dissidents that have left lingering fear against speaking freely; to the need for receptive listening when interviewing Zimbabweans due to cultural tendencies to speak in metaphorical terms. An absolute "must-read" for any health care or other professionals seeking to learn lessons from tragic failures of the past and better understand how to be effective in African nations in general and Zimbabwe in particular. Highly recommended.

Conflict Across Cultures
Michelle Lebaron & Venashri Pillay
Intercultural Press
100 City Hall Plaza #501, Boston, MA 02108
1931930228 $29.95 www.interculturalpress.com

CONFLICT ACROSS CULTURES: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF BRIDGING DIFFERENCES comes from modern conflict resolution scholars from Canada, South Africa, Japan and the U.S. who describe the latest concepts and framework for successful conflict resolution. With these new techniques in hand comes new understanding of the roots of cultural conflicts, exposed in a series of stories which come from a range of groups and locales. College-level students of international studies will find this perfect for classroom debate and study.


The Social Issues Shelf

Conjugal America
Allan Carlson
Transaction Books
390 Campus Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873
0765803623 $29.95 www.transactionpub.com 1-888-999-6778

Written by Allan Carlson (president of the Howard Center for Family) for readers of all backgrounds, Religion, and Society, Conjugal America: On the Public Purposes of Marriage is a reasoned treatise, written with the precision and rationality, concerning the role of marriage as a human institution in fostering the perpetual stability of society. Conjugal America speaks out against gay marriage and civil unions, no-fault divorce, tax laws with a "marriage penalty", declining fertility rates in industrialized countries such as the United States, and also dismisses claims of the imminent threat of human overpopulation. Conjugal America does not use religious tenets or concepts of "sin" to justify its claims, but rather presents the view that male-female married relationships are the most stable and effective vehicle for producing healthy, well-adjusted children in large quantities - children which are the future of the nation. To this end, Conjugal America argues strongly against practices that favor the single individual over the married couple or large family, welfare payments that support out-of-wedlock births, and any redefinition of marriage that could divert societal, economic, or moral support for male-female family-producing couples. Of especial note is a final section in which Carlson answers questions from a philosophically opposed detractor at length, defending his arguments as thoroughly as possible. On the Public Purposes of Marriage is an absolute "must-read" not for what it says, but rather how it speaks - in a style of reasoned, serious-minded public debate with the greater good in mind, listening openly to opponents and addressing their counterpoints logically without resorting to any kind of personal attacks, morality judgments, or blanket pandering. This is how arguments concerning all social policies should be phrased and presented. Regardless of the reader's personal beliefs about marriage, he or she is sure to gain insights into the modern changes in social fabric from this book and better understand the logical reasoning of his or her own personal views. Highly recommended.

Cultural Whiplash
Patrick M. Carry, J.D, Ph.D.
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
1581825692 $20.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

Written by research advisor and law professor Patrick M. Carry, J.D, Ph.D., Cultural Whiplash: The Unforeseen Consequences Of America's Crusade Against Racial Discrimination is a harsh scrutiny of modern American culture, particularly in response to its current overemphasis upon the ills of racism and underemphasis upon other social ills including but not limited to crime, drug use, poverty, out-of-wedlock births, corporate greed and theft, and an overall culture of divisiveness and entitlement. Cultural Whiplash is mindful of the past necessity of affirmative action to break color barriers and anti-racism movements to fight discrimination in recent history, yet simultaneously exposes the harm that modern-day overimplication of such practices causes to blacks especially and to society in general. For example, affirmative action guidelines that allow black students to be admitted to academically demanding private schools or colleges they are not prepared to do well in simply predisposes those students to drop out or flunk out of school. New Orleans black leadership clearly failed its population well before Hurricane Katrina, as any examination of pre-Katrina New Orleans poverty and crime rates can attest, yet that same leadership is not held accountable for its own role in the Katrina disaster and aftermath in the way that national government and FEMA leadership is. Fear of accusations of racism curb any societal impulse to condemn rap lyrics that promote violent crime, let alone gang membership or violent crime itself, yet crime causes an enormous and disproportionate burden of cyclical suffering among African-American communities. Cultural Whiplash emphatically argues the need for stronger, more unified moral values as a universal preventative tonic and deterrent to crime, poverty, unemployment, and the exploding divorce and out-of-wedlock birth rates that correlate to all three social ills. A strongly recommended, serious-minded account that does not downplay the evils of racism, but rather sheds light upon all the other societal evils in need of immediate attention that have been severely neglected in favor of tunnel vision upon the evil of racism.

A Bee in the Mouth
Peter Wood
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594030537 $25.95 www.encounterbooks.com

A BEE IN THE MOUTH: ANGER IN AMERICA NOW considers issues of 'social anger', or how the anger in American society has become not only excessive but glorified. College-level collections strong in social sciences in particular will find here a unique survey of evidence of the 'new anger' dominating American culture, from politics to music. Chapters analyze how this anger has manifested itself throughout society, how it affects relationships, ideals and goals, and how it differs from 'anger' of the past. An intriguing title, perfect for classroom discussion.

New Orleans After the Promises
Kent B. Germany
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820329002 $24.95 www.ugapress.org

In the 1960s and 70s New Orleans was transformed by a people who replaced poverty and prejudice with new architecture, a professional football team, and the Superdome. The city's mixed racial groups participated in a golden age of construction at time when liberalism was waning – only to face destruction with Hurricane Katrina. NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE PROMISES details the influences and success story of the last reconstruction period and draws important connections between this and the city's post-Katrina landscape. It's a 'must' for any collection strong in both racial issues in America and histories of either Louisiana or the South as a whole.

Fueling Our Fears
Brigitte L. Nacos and Oscar Torres-Reyna
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
4501 Forbes Boulevard #200, Lanham, MD 20706
0742539849 $23.95 www.rowmanlittlefield.com

FUELING OUR FEARS: STEREOTYPING, MEDIA COVERAGE, AND PUBLIC OPINION OF MUSLIM AMERICANS considers the media coverage and focus on Muslim-Americans after 9/11, considering Muslim civil rights, stories about everyday Muslim life in this country, and showing that press reports don't just foster stereotypes but can promote cultural understanding. Both positive and negative points come to light in a study perfect for students of Middle East issues, media studies, or ethnic American cultures.

Total Chaos
Jeff Chang, Editor
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
0465009093 $18.95 www.basiccivitasbooks.com

Most books on hip hop fall into the music category: not so TOTAL CHAOS: THE ART AND AESTHETICS OF HIP-HOP, compiled and edited by Jeff Chang whose contributors informatively and thoughtful consider the evolution, presence, and impact of hip-hop as a cultural expression and social commentary. From its commercial world to its cultural and artistic roots, TOTAL CHAOS offers students of sociology an excellent survey that runs the gamut from gender issues to artistic conflicts within the hiphop environment. The anthology includes interviews, first-person experience and analysis yet is lively enough for the general-interest library, as well.

Ethnic Bargaining
Erin K. Jenne
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
0801444985 $45.00 www.cornellpress.cornell.edu

ETHIC BARGAINING: THE PARADOX OF MINORITY EMPOWERMENT offers college-level students of minority politic and issues a fine survey of bargaining power and the history of minority rights issues since 1945. Chapters consider international cycles of ethnic bargaining powers, use case histories to display analysis of power-sharing strategies, and provides college-level students with a basic rationalist theory of bargaining. As a basic text for students of world-wide cultural concerns it will provoke much discussion and debate.

Global Justice
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275992977 $49.95 www.praeger.com

Anyone interested in the issues of humanitarian law in general, and war crimes prosecution in particular, will want to consider GLOBAL JUSTICE: THE POLITICS OF WAR CRIMES TRIALS, which examines underlying motivations of war crimes trials and considers the social and political forces which influence justice and decision-making processes. Students of international law, in particular, will find GLOBAL JUSTICE packed with illustrative examples and thoughtful reflections on the international legal processes with respect to war crime prosecutions and the development of an internationally sanctioned judicial system to try them.

The Humane Metropolis
Rutherford H. Platt, Editor
Lincoln Institute
c/o University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
1558495541 $27.95 www.lincolninst.edu www.umpress.usmass.edu 1-800-537-5487

Essays and case studies consider why and how urban places can be made greener for those who live there, packing in a 22-minute film on DVD to accompany text examples of how more humane metropolises are built. College-level collections strong in urban studies will find this perfect for classroom discussion, assignment, and for college-level contemporary social issues reference libraries.


The Architecture Shelf

The Architecture Of Ratcliff
Woodruff Minor
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1597140422, $39.95 www.heydaybooks.com 1-510-549-3564

The architectural firm of Ratcliff is the oldest architectural company in San Francisco and beginning in 1906 has been lead by a single family of gifted architects. "The Architecture Of Ratcliff" is a survey of the impressive architectural accomplishments of the members of this firm whose influence with respect to innovative, creative building solutions on West Coast architectural designs continues to the present day. Among their successes is the Oakland International Airport Terminal 2; the Mills College Concern Hall; various buildings on Berkeley's 'Holy Hill'; and an architectural wealth of houses and manors that range from the quaint to the contemporary. "The Architecture Of Ratcliff" is a welcome addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and very highly recommended reading for students who aspire to becoming architects themselves.

The Modern American House
Sandy Isenstadt
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
0521770130 $85.00 www.cambridge.org

College-level students of architecture, design, and social issues will find a fine study in THE MODERN AMERICAN HOUSE, which considers how home designers worked to enhance spatial perception in middle-class houses. The idea and enactment of spaciousness has been linked to financial limitations and the evolutionary structure of domestic architectural standards as a whole: chapters consider real estate, architecture, law, and economics in a wide-ranging survey of how visual space became entwined with cultural values.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The View from a Monastery
Brother Benet Tvedten
Paraclete Press Inc.
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
155725477X $15.95 www.paracletepress.com

The View from a Monastery: The Vowed Life and its Cast of Many Characters is the spiritual memoir of Brother Benet Tvedten, who has been a Benedictine monk for almost fifty years. An inside look at not only the faith and commitment of monastic life, but also the foibles of monks as fallible human beings, Written in kindly, engaging prose, The View from a Monastery reflects on the values of stability and commitment to a humble way of life, and bonds of community. "Benedictines, Hutterites, and Native Americans are subjects of interest because we all live apart from mainstream society. We belong to 'intentional communities'. On a particular day, however, members of each group may be found shopping at Wal-Mart. After all, we are not totally withdrawn from the world." An insightful, true testimony to the ups, downs, and satisfactions of dedicating oneself to a monastic way of life.

Desperate Women of the Bible
Jo Kadlecek
Baker Books
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801066182 $12.99 www.bakerbooks.com

Written by journalist, author, and retreat and conference teacher Jo Kadlecek, Desperate Women of the Bible: Lessons on Passion From the Gospels presents the stories of eight nameless women from the Gospels who were driven by passion and desperation to find out who Jesus Christ really was. Desperate Women of the Bible guides the reader in an exploration of the story of these unforgettable women, and the insights revealed as to how emulating Christ's character and teachings can transform even the most desperate of one's desires and passions into a life of greater fullness and purpose. "In-Between Reflections", such as "What are some specific and creative ways you could consciously seek opportunities to give more generously?" and "Digging Deeper" passages between chapters of narrative parable offer the opportunity for self-study, further reflection, and examination. Highly recommended for personal spiritual discovery as well as group study and discussion.

Priestly Ministry in Multiple Parishes
Katarina Schuth
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814618294 $19.95 www.litpress.org 1-800-858-5450

Written by Katarina Schuth (Endowed Chair for the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas), Priestly Ministry in Multiple Parishes is a serious-minded examination of the recent and growing trend of priests who necessarily take responsibility for serving multiple parishes. Drawn heavily from extensive interviews, Priestly Ministry in Multiple Parishes covers common recurring patterns in such service, repercussions in ministerial responsibilities and levels of satisfaction, recommendations for improving the morale of priests, recommendations for seminaries, diocesan models for multiple parish ministry, and much more. Extensive appendices including summary responses from selected survey questions put to 911 recipients round out this thoughtful, fact-based examination of a changing religious dynamic.

1 and 2 Thessalonians
Ben Witherington III
Wm. B. Eeardmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Ave. S.E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
0802828361 $30.00 www.eerdmans.com

Written by Ben Witherington III (Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary), 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary is a full-scale discussion of Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians, applying a socio-rhetorical approach specifically to examine aspects that might remain hidden using only form criticism, epistolary categories, or traditional criticism. Subjects given an extra-close study include "Holy Wedlock and Unholy Alliances", "A Christian Manual on Manual Labor", "Exercising Restraint: Apocalyptic Answers to Difficult Questions", and more. A heavily researched, scholarly, in-depth examination written for intermediate to advanced students and fellow professors of the New Testament, highly recommended for its thoroughly reasoned interpretations keen attention to detail.

A Feminist Companion to the New Testament Apocrypha
Edited by Amy-Jill Levine with Maria Mayo Robbins
The Continuum International Publishing Group
PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105
0826466877 $130.00 www.amazon.com

Edited by Amy-Jill Levine, A Feminist Companion to the New Testament Apocrypha is an anthology of essays by a wide variety of learned authors exploring apocryphal New Testament texts such as the Acts of Paul, the Acts of John, the Acts of Peter, Thecla, the Apocalypse of Peter, and much more, as well as Irish apocrypha and Greek novels, from a feminist perspective. Specific topics discussed include Christian identity, Christian martyrdom, heterodoxy and orthodoxy, conjugal ethics and apostolic homewreckers, asceticism, eroticism, and much more. An extensive bibiography and index of references rounds out this scholarly and at times technical close analysis. Enthusiastically recommended for advanced theology and Biblical literature reference shelves.

Transfiguring Loss
Jane F. Maynard
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
0829816011 $28.00 www.thepilgrimpress.com

Written by Jane F. Maynard, whose service includes time spent in interim ministry, Transfiguring Loss: Julian of Norwich as a Guide for Survivors of Traumatic Grief is an exploration of the works of fifteenth-century mystic Julian of Norwich's theology and spirituality, and modern-day applications of Julian's wisdom to aid and comfort those suffering from terrible grief and loss - such as from large-scale disasters like the September 11th attacks or losing a loved one to AIDS. Chapters discuss the theological and psychological analysis of multiple loss, as well as pastoral praxis for traumatic loss. A gentle, thoughtful search for spiritual insights into appropriate counseling and comfort, written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds. Especially recommended for church and pastoral libraries, and as supplemental reading for ministers, pastors, and religious counselors.

On the Move
Moises Sandoval
Orbis Books
P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756767 $16.00 www.maryknoll.org

ON THE MOVE: A HISTORY OF THE HISPANIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES was published fifteen years ago – today it still remains the foundation title telling of the Hispanic church in this country, so this reissue remains essential for any collection strong in either Hispanic studies or church history. It tells how Hispanic Catholics emerged to claim their own power and identity in the church structure, and traces the rise of Hispanic Christianity in this country as well.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Crockery Cook
Mable Hoffman
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
0762426004, $14.95 www.runningpress.com 1-800-345-5359

A professional home economist, Mable Hoffman is the five-time winner of the R.J. French Tastemaker Award.. In "The Crockery Cook" she has drawn upon her very special expertise to compile delicious, nutritious, 'kitchen-cook friendly' slow-cooker recipes for the family crock pot. From Potato Shitake Soup; Chinese Braised Chicken; Irish Corned Beef Dinner; and Mediterranean Ratatouille; to Brazilian Feijoada; Tropical Baby Back Ribs; Sweet-Sour Pork Chops; and 'No Chopping' Vegetable Soup; each recipe lists their calories, grams of protein, fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrates per serving. Enhanced with a section devoted to hassle-free entertaining, Mable Hoffman's "The Crockery Cook" is the perfect addition to any household cookbook shelf. Also very highly recommended are her earlier culinary collections: "Crockery Cookery Favorites" and "The Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Cookbook".

Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide And Cookbook
Bonnie Sanders Polin & Francis Towner Giedt
Cleveland Clinic Press
9500 Euclid Avenue, NA32, Cleveland, OH 44195
0767921682, $29.95 www.clevelandclinicpress.com 1-216-444-1158

Showcasing more than 150 superb recipes, the "Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide And Cookbook" is the collaborative effort of experienced cookbook authors Bonnie Sanders Polin and Francis Towner Giedt, and the medical experts at the Cleveland Clinic's highly respected Heart & Vascular Institute. More than just another cookbook designed for 'heart healthy' dining, the "Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide And Cookbook" is also a compendium of sound, practical, professional advice on reshaping the modern American lifestyle so as to enhance cardiovascular health and physical well-being. From Salmon Mousse; Warm Arugula with Polenta Croutons and Mozzarella Cheese; and Linguine with Spicy Broccoli and Portobello Mushrooms; to Grilled Black Sea Bass over Summer Vegetables with Japanese Dressing; Asian Chicken Wraps; Curried Lentils and Cauliflower with Cucumber Raita; and Orange Upside-Down Cake, the "Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide And Cookbook" offers a culinary wealth of savory, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that would grace any family meal or celebratory dining event.

Hot Dish Heaven
Ann L. Burckhardt
Minnesota Historical Society Press
345 Kellogg Boulevard, West, St. Paul, MN 55102-1906
0873515684, $16.95 www.mnhs.org/mhspress 1-800-647-7827

A former reporter, columnist, and editor for the Taste section of the 'Star Tribune', Ann L. Burckhardt has written or edited more than twenty-five books on food – including the original edition of the "Betty Crocker Cooky Book". So she brings a very special expertise to "Hot Dish heaven: Classic Casseroles From Midwest Kitchens" where she has compiled an impressive collection of mouth-watering, palate-pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen-cook friendly recipes showcasing what the casserole can do ranging from ordinary family meals to gourmet dishes fit for even the most elegant celebratory dining event. The recipes (ranging from Old Standby Hamburger and Rice Bake, to Satisfying Shepherd's Pie, to Beef Chow Mein Hot Dish, to Mom's Bread Pudding) are grouped into seven sections; Casserole Classics; Round the World in a Casserole Dish; Comfort Foods for Busy Days; Hot Dishes for Potlucks and Church Suppers; Satisfying Side Dishes; Breakfast and Brunch Casseroles; and Warm, Wonderful Desserts. Enhanced with two appendices featuring 'Cream Sauce' and 'Pastry Crust', as well as an informative introduction by Karal Ann Marling, "Hot Dish Heaven" is a simply wonderful addition to any family cookbook shelf, and a 'must' for the community library culinary collection.

Eating Well: Serves Two
Jim Romanoff
The Countryman Press
PO Box 478, Woodstock, VT 05091
0881507237, $24.95 www.countrymanpress.com 1-800-245-4151

Featuring 150 wonderfully healthy and savory recipes for quick and easy meal preparation for the time-constrained kitchen cook, "Eating Well: Serves Two" covers planning the meal, shopping wisely, and step-by-step cooking instructions for a perfect result. Culinary author Jim Romanoff (Food Editor and Recipe Developer of 'EatingWell Magazine') offers delectable dishes ranging from Captiva Shrimp and Chicken Salad; Tunisian Vegetable Tagine; Grilled Chicken with Chipotle-Orange Glaze; and Turkey fingers with Maple-Mustard Sauce; to Saffron-Scented Mussels; Pork with Dried Apples and Prosciutto; Poached Salmon with Creamy Piccata Sauce; and Penne with Vodka Sauce and Capicola.. Profusely illustrated with full color photography of the finished dishes, "Eating Well: Serves Two" is strongly recommended for kitchen cookbook collections for its time-conserving, elegantly presented, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, culinary cornucopia of imaginative recipes.

The Dutch Oven Cookbook
Sharon Kramis & Julie Kramis Hearne
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
1570614989, $19.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com 1-800-775-0817

Sharon Kramis is a former student and protege of the famed culinary chef and cookbook author James Beard. She has also been a food consultant for Anthony's Restaurants in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years. Julie Kramis Hearne has been a professional chef at the Herbfarm and studies at the Culinary Institute of America. Together, in "The Dutch Oven Cookbook", this mother and daughter team have collaborated to showcase a culinary wealth of savory recipes to be prepared in a 'Dutch Oven' – the original slow cooker. From Provencal Vegetable Soup with Pistou; Seafood Stew in Red Curry Sauce; Slow-Cooked Beef Short Ribs; and Roasted Mussels with Pinot Grigio; to Smothered Chicken with Mushrooms; Roasted Red Pears; Lemon Cake Pudding with Blueberries; and Simple Curried Lobster Chowder, "The Dutch Oven Cookbook" is a superbly illustrated and kitchen cook friendly compendium of highly recommended and easy to prepare recipes that will turn any ordinary meal into a gourmet dining occasion.

Japanese Cooking
Shizuo Tsuji
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022
4770030495, $45.00 www.kodanshaamercia.com 1-800-451-7556

Now in a superbly presented 25th Anniversary Edition, "Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art" by the late Japanese master chef Shizuo Tsuji (1933-1993) has been considered to be the best and most comprehensive single volume on the variety and preparation of Japanese cuisine. More than a simple compendium of instructions for Japanese dishes, "Japanese Cooking" provides a core background on the concepts underlying Japanese traditions and ideas about food and dining. Here presented are the quintessential qualities that professional chefs and amateur gourmets need to understand if they are to fully appreciate and expertly prepare Japanese cuisine whether it be for a simple family meal or an extravagant celebratory occasion. Featuring more than 100 recipes that fully showcase the best of Japanese cuisine and the culinary expertise to make even the most novice kitchen cook the peer of a competent Japanese chef, "Japanese Cooking" is a core addition to any and all personal, professional, or community library multicultural cookbook collections.

New Orleans Classic Desserts
Kit Wohl
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
1589804449, $15.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

In "New Orleans Classic Desserts", culinary enthusiast Kit Wohl has compiled a series of recipes drawn from Big Easy restaurants for memorable desserts that are gorgeously illustrated in full color and guarantee to please any palate and satisfying any craving for something sweet and delicious at the end of a meal or any other time a bit of dessert is called for. Organized into sections devoted to Cakes & Pies, Custards & Puddings, Candies & Cookies, Flambe, Ices & Ice Creams, Accompaniments, Sauces & Garnishes, the recipes range from Chef Emeril Lagasse's Banana Cream Pie; to the Palace Cafe's White Chocolate Bread Pudding; to Chef April Bellow's Pecan lace Cookies; to Angelo Brocato's Cantaloupe Ice. Enhanced with an informative little section on 'Baking Essentials', the "New Orleans Classic Desserts" will prove a very popular and 'kitchen cook friendly' addition to any cookbook shelf.

Single Malt And Scotch Whiskey
Daniel Lerner
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
1579125778, $14.95 1-800-722-7202

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly organized by Daniel Lerner, "Single Malt And Scotch Whisky" is an informed and informative 199-page reference guide to more than two hundred brands and varieties of scotch whisky. This superbly illustrated, newly revised and expanded addition covers the varieties, strength, aroma, flavor, and distinguishing characteristics of each cited brand. Comprehensive, 'reader friendly', and easily portable, readers will begin with an informative introductory chapter on 'How to Use this Book', and then move on to learn about the distilling process, what constitutes Scotch Whiskey, labels, and more. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary, a resource guide, and a comprehensive index, "Single Malt And Scotch Whiskey" is clearly an ideal reference and guide which is very highly recommended for novice whiskey drinkers, restauranteurs, barkeeps, and collectors.

Savor Oregon Cookbook
Chuck Johnson & Blanche Johnson
Wilderness Adventures Press
45 Buckskin Road, Belgrade, MT 59714
1932098062, $14.95 www.wildadvpress.com 1-866-400-2012

Featuring impressive dishes contributed by the chefs and head cooks of some of Oregon's finest restaurants and lodges, "Savor Oregon Cookbook" is an enthusiastically recommended compendium of regional recipes collaboratively compiled by the husband and wife team of Chuck and Blanche Johnson. Very nicely illustrated throughout with period photography, the recipes in this celebration of Oregonian cuisine ranges from Molasses and Caraway Seared Elk Loin with Black Barley Risotto and Honey-Mead Demi-Glace (Salishan Lodge); to Hazelnut Encrusted Halibut Florentine with Champagne Oyster Cream (Silver Salmon Grille); to Alder Smoked Duck Breast with Raspberry Anjous (Morton's Bistro); to Gungeness Crab Cakes with Artichoke Tapenade, Garlic Coulis, and Caper Berries Appetizer (Hood River Hotel). Four other regional and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' collections by the team of Chuck and Blanche Johnson include: Savor Colorado Cookbook: Mountains and Western Slope (1932098070, $24.95); Savor Idaho Cookbook (1932098216, $24.95); Savor Greater Seattle Cookbook (1932098089, $24.95); and Savor Montana II Cookbook (1932098259, $24.95).

Lebanese Cooking
Dawn, Elaine & Selwa Anthony
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794650244 $19.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Relatively few cookbooks cover Lebanese cuisine outside of the general Middle East, and those that do often omit color photos. Now there's an inviting revision to Dawn, Elaine and Selway Anthony's "Lebanese Cookbook (a best-selling book and the first ever published outside Lebanon) which pairs over a hundred color photos with classic Lebanese dishes. From basic kibbi to Okra Stew, all the classics Lebanese recipes are here, making it an excellent pick for any library strong in international cooking, and an ideal addition to gourmet club member reference shelves.

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Judi Kingry and Lauren Devine
Robert Rose
120 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario MP4 1E2 Canada
0778801314 $19.95 www.robertroseinc.com

Four hundred recipes for modern canners and preservers are packed into a book branded with the Ball canning label for added impact: Ball made much of the home canning equipment for decades and this book packs in user-friendly recipes for novices and experienced canners, pairing a problem solver directory with tips on canning salsas, condiments, fruits, spreads and pickles. If there's only one book to obtain on the topic, the general-interest collection will find Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving the item of choice.

Mystic Seafood
Jean Kerr with Spencer Smith
Three Forks
c/o Globe Pequot Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
0762741376 $16.95 www.globepequot.com

Pair great seafood dishes with anecdotes about the industry and the history of American seafood and add a regional touch with Mystic photos and you have an appealing guide which will easily reach beyond Mystic or New England residents to any seafood fan. Chapters celebrate the history and bounty of Mystic Seaport with gourmet recipes from the region, from Smoky BBQed Bluefish to Grilled Lobster with Avocado-Lime Mayonnaise. An outstanding guide.

Sugar Solution Cookbook
Prevention Magazine Editors & Anne Fittante, MS, RD
Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594865191 $26.95 www.rodalestore.com

Over 200 recipes pack a guide which is designed to help control blood sugars through better eating – without sacrificing taste. SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK will appeal to diabetics and any who just wish to lose weight: from Curried Couscous Salad and Asian Noodle and Mushroom soup to a spicy Breakfast Fruit Crisp, SUGAR SOLUTION COOKBOOK peppers appealing color photos throughout and is filled with fine, appealing dishes. Perfect for general public library holdings.

Oz Clarke's Pocket Wine Guide 2007
Oz Clarke
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
015101180X $14.00 www.harcourtbooks.com 1-800-543-1918

Oz Clarke's a noted authority in the field and his POCKET WINE GUIDE is updated annual with the latest information: POCKET WINE GUIDE 2007 offers up an A-Z organization packing over 1,600 entries and over 7,000 wines into a handy 'best of' reference. From best years for grape-growing in regions from Africa to Australia to assessments of price and quality, here's the 'one stop shopper' place to consult an authority – in a compact take-along tote which lends to consumer consultation in a wine shop as well as library reference.

The Sonoma Diet Cookbook
Dr. Connie Guttersen, RD, Ph.D.
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
0696231859 $24.95 www.meredithbooks.com

THE SONOMA DIET COOKBOOK is a companion volume to the Sonoma Diet idea, and here's where you'll find a host of delicious recipes backing up the diet's healthy lifestyle. Meals are ready in 30 meals or less in the Sonoma Express section, with side dishes embracing healthy foods and snacks and desserts geared to the diet's plan. From Pork with Apples in Cider to Pesto Chicken and Squash, meatless meal choices and more, THE SONOMA DIET COOKBOOK includes color photo displays of finished dishes and plenty of culinary tips, making it a top recommendation for any consumer's diet cookbook collection – especially those who already have a grasp of the Sonoma Diet idea and want a cookbook backing up the concept.

Test Kitchen Favorites
America's Test Kitchen
7 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
1933615044 $34.95 www.americastestkitchen.com

Published to coincide with the January 2007 launch of the series is TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES by the editors of America's Test Kitchen, which provides some of the best tested recipes from a popular TV show. More than just another recipe collection, TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES opens each recipe with an article discussing the best attributes of each dish and how the kitchen testers overcame obstacles to produce the perfect recipe. From BBQ and meat and potatoes to company dishes and ethnic meals, TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES is far more than another cookbook, detailing the testing requirements and recipe adjustments which led to formulating the perfect dish.


The Travel Shelf

Adventure Guide: Peru
Nicholas Gill
Hunter Publishing
130 Campus Drive, Edison, NJ 08818
1588435938, $22.99 1-800-255-0343

The newest addition to the acclaimed 'Hunter Travel Guides' series from Hunter Publishing, "Adventure Guide: Peru"is a profusely illustrated, compact, 'traveler friendly', 584-page carry-along guide for anyone traveling anywhere in Peru and enjoying the best of Peru's amenities, sights, restaurants, hotels, festivals, and attractions. "Adventure Guide: Peru" provides an informed and informative introduction to Peru's history, culture, and basic travel information; what to see and do in the Peruvian capital city of Lima; the sights and resources when traveling along Peru's Southern Coast, Central Highlands, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, Cordillera Blanca, Northern Highlands, the North Coast, the Amazon, and the Southeastern Jungle/Madre de Dios. Enhanced with maps and practical information on transportation, "Adventure Guide: Peru" is the ideal guidebook for planning and enjoying a visit to Peru whether for business or vacation.

The Smart Traveler's Passport
Erik Torkells
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
1594741778, $14.95 www.quirkbooks.com

Very highly recommended for both the novice and the seasoned traveler alike, "The Smart Traveler's Passport" is a compact, pocket-sized, 244-page compendium offering 399 practical and valuable tips from experienced travelers on everything from locating an appropriate hotel online, to what to pack in a bag small enough to carry on an aircraft, to navigating through airport security with a minimum of frustration. Included are thirteen different uses for Ziploc bags, how dental floss can double as a tape measure, where to find the best street food when in a strange city, how a digital camera can help to find your rental car, how to avoid long lines at popular attractions, and so much more. If you are contemplating a trip anywhere at home or abroad, especially if you are traveling on a budget, then "The Smart Traveler's Passport" will prove to be a welcome and throughly 'user friendly' reference to getting the most out of your trip.

Bend to Baja
Jeff Johnson
Stellar Transmedia
1209 Pearl Street, Suite 11, Boulder, CO 80302
097234229X $29.95 www.stellartransmedia.com

BEND TO BAJA: A BIOFUEL POWERED SURFING AND CLIMBING ROAD TRIP is like no other travel/adventure guide you've read in the past. It's a new action sports book and embraces elements of both sports and adventure travel within the story of a surf-inspired road trip which makes Kerouac's classic 'On the Road' odyssey pale in comparison. Both sports libraries and general-interest lending collections should find this quite a popular read: a captivating cover is accompanied by photos and words by Jeff Johnson and a story which tells of a road trip from California to Oregon and back to Baja on biodiesel and veggie oil. Uplifting, inspirational, and just plain fun!

Vancouver in Focus
Mike Chadwick
Granville Island Publishing
c/o Greenleaf Book Group LP
4425 Mopac South, Suite 600, Austin TX 78735
1894694449 $39.95 www.GranvilleIslandPublishing.com

Modern Vancouver comes to life in a lovely gathering of black and white photos of the downtown's most striking buildings and landmarks. While VANCOUVER IN FOCUS could have been included in our 'Arts' section for college-level architectural students, it's reviewed here because no general-interest holding strong in Canadian travel should miss it. Accompanying text makes it much more than an architectural guide: tourists will relish ideas on which buildings to view in the city's downtown neighborhoods.


The Real Estate Shelf

The Complete Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Explained Simply
Jeff Haden
Atlantic Publishing Group
1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474
0910627010 $21.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Real estate terms can be quite confusion and while other references weave definitions into the mix, for a fine A-Z coverage with simpler explanations than most, choose The Complete Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Explained Simply. Subjects range from debts, escheat, recital, devisee and more specialty terms but definitions are geared to consumers, investors and others both within and outside the industry, making it a perfect pick for both specialty college-level courses in real estate and the general-interest library.


The Science Shelf

Central Sites, Peripheral Visions
Richard Handler, editor
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711
0299219208 $50.00 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

Edited by Richard Handler (professor of anthropology, University of Virginia), Central Sites, Peripheral Visions: Cultural and Institutional Crossings in the History of Anthropology is volume eleven in the History of Anthropology series, and collects five in-depth, scholarly essays by learned authors under one cover. The topics discussed are "Ethnographic Publication and Emergent Nationalism in the Sixteenth Century", "Tracking, Offshore Incarceration, and Ethnology in the Back of Beyond", "Diffusion, Race, and the Culture Paradigm in the History of Anthropology", "The FBI and the History of Anthropology at Chicago and in Nigeria", and "Historical Particularism and Cultural Ecology in Court". Overall, Central Sites, Peripheral Visions traces how the science of anthropology has been affected, sometimes distorted, by forces both central and peripheral, from Cold War politics to jousting for status among academia. A thoughtful, serious-minded scrutiny of specific aspects of the gradual evolution of a scientific discipline, enthusiastically recommended along with the rest of the History of Anthropology series for college library reference shelves.

Introducing Geology
Graham Park
Dunedin Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services (ISBS)
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 3000, Portland, OR 97213-3786
1903765641 $19.99 www.isbs.com

Written by professional geologist Graham Park, Introducing Geology: A Guide to the World of Rocks is a straightforward text for readers of all ages with a budding interest in the science. Introducing Geology does not talk down to its readers in the slightest, yet most scientific terms are typed in boldface and listed in the glossary to aid comprehension. Chapters cover the basics about all rocks and the Earth's crust, from crystals and gemstones to melted rock found near volcanoes to sediment, geological time, earthquakes, fossils, geology and industry, and much more. Diagrams and color photographs throughout illustrate this first-rate primer.

Vital Harmonies
Erwin Fleissner
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
0231131135 $19.00 www.columbia.edu/cy/cup 1-800-944-8648

Written by professor emeritus of biology Erwin Fleissner, Vital Harmonies: Molecular Biology & Our Shared Humanity is an introduction to the amazing mysteries of cell biology and molecular genetics, and landmark discoveries made in the field over the past fifty years. Written for readers of all backgrounds, Vital Harmonies blends memoir-style personal recollections, scientific analysis, and speculation on what the future holds as well as cellular biology-related questions and problems facing humanity today. A glossary, further reading list, and index round out this one-of-a-kind insider's reminiscence of how human enquiry about the basic building blocks all humans are made of changed the world.

The Comprehensible Cosmos
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024242 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Professor Victor J. Stenger provides a fine survey of the status and science of physics in THE COMPREHENSIBLE COSMOS: WHERE DO THE LAWS OF PHYSICS COME FROM? Where exactly do the 'laws' revealed by math come from, and do they represent religious constraints on behavior built in by God or a governing body? These and other intriguing questions provide students of physics with challenging food for thought in a survey essential to college-level collections. Many a professor will wish to use it as a foundation for classroom discussion and debate extending the realm of scientific observation and discovery into the world of philosophical meaning.

Measurement Uncertainty: Methods & Applications
Ronald H. Dieck
ISA
Box 12277, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
1556179154 $69.00 www.isa.org

MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY: METHODS AND APPLICATIONS appears in its fourth edition to provide an entire course to engineering students: a tutorial of measurement uncertainty methods categorized and ready to go. The new uncertainty technologies in US and international standards are included here, serving as both a desk reference to practicing engineers and as a basic text for college-level students in engineering and industry. An excellent survey recommended for specialty college-level Science & Technology collections, and for supplemental curriculum classroom text assignment.

Science in Latin America: A History
Juan Jose Saldana, Editor
University of Texas Press
Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
0292712715 $45.00 www.utexas.edu/utpress

Science in Latin America isn't just about modern science: indeed the region's science has its roots in its oldest cultures, from the Mayas to the Incas – and Science in Latin America: A History traces all these connections and more. College-level students of Latin American history and culture will find here a detailed survey of scientific beliefs, traditions, and development which draws many important connections between Latin science development and social issues. Any college-level student of Latin American history and culture needs this background to thoroughly understand the nation's background.

Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street, #200, St. Paul MN 55101-3885
$26.95 Each www.voyageurpress.com

Three state-wide Voyageur press starwatch guides by Mike Lynch offers specifics few other books accomplish, come from a master stargazer instructor and juxtapose full-page color photos of regional night skies with astronomy facts, legends and lore, and star chart maps to aid the local astronomy's observations. FLORIDA STARWATCH (0760328463), CAROLINA STARWATCH (0760328455) and TEXAS STARWATCH (0760328439) each provide a fine blend of mythology, step-by-step location directions, and tips on stargazing equipment and methods. Each book will appeal to library collections of each state, which will relish the specific details unique to each region.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Bare Bones Bible Handbook
Jim George
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
0736916547 $12.99 www.harvesthousepublishers.com 1-800-547-8979

Christian author and speaker Jim George applies his extensive degree learning from Talbot Theological Seminary to The Bare Bones Bible Handbook: 10 Minutes to Understanding Each Books of the Bible, a plain-text, straightforward guide to what the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible have to say. Written for lay people, and designed so that the reader can absorb the essence of each book of the Bible in ten minutes at a time, The Bare Bones Bible Handbook is enthusiastically recommended as a quick-study aid especially for anyone new to bible studies. An excellent, no-nonsense primer and introduction to sacred texts.

Constantine's Bible
David L. Dungan
Augsburg Fortress Publishers
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
0800637909 $17.00 www.fortresspress.com

Written by David L. Dungan (Professor of Religion, University of Tennessee in Knoxville), Constantine's Bible: Politics and the Making of the New Testament is an inquiry into accepted canon of the New Testament that explores the social-historical context of the Greek polis ideology. Chapters examine the precise definition of what is and is not canon, the influence of Greek philosophy upon early Christianity, defense of Catholic scriptures against "pagans and heretics", how the intervention of an Emperor reshaped religious history, and much more. A scholarly, well-researched and succinctly reasoned treatise, shedding new light on our understanding of ancient scriptures, highly recommended for religious studies shelves.

Interpreting the Historical Books
Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
0825427649 $19.99 www.kregelpublications.com 1-800-733-2607

Written by Robert B. Chisholm Jr. (chair of the Old Testament department and professor of Old Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary), Interpreting the Historical Books: An Exegetical Handbook is an in-depth scrutiny of Old Testament books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. Chapters examine the components of narrative (setting, characterization, and plot) in each of these Old Testament historical books, interpreting the narrative writings through a common lens to promote understanding. A scholarly, serious-minded assessment written for intermediate to advanced Biblical or literary scholars, Interpreting the Historical Books includes a glossary and an introduction to narrative literary, structural, and dialogue terms to aid relative newcomers to the field of Biblical study. A welcome contribution to theology and Biblical studies shelves.

Firstlight
Sue Monk Kidd
Guide Post Books
16 East 34th Street, New York NY 10016
0824947061 $19.95 www.guidepostsbooks.com

Stories and essays filling FIRSTLIGHT with inspiration come from the author's early writings for Guideposts and other publications and are centered around spiritual insights and 'firsts', following her early years as a spiritual thinker. Anyone with an interest in the life and thought of Sue Monk Kidd in particular will find FIRSTLIGHT filled with both autobiographical insights and spiritual inspiration, making it a pick both for religious collections and for the general-interest public lending library.


The Military Shelf

Weather Warfare
Jerry E. Smith
Adventures Unlimited Press
303 Main Street, Kempton, IL 60946
1931882606 $18.95 www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

Adventures Unlimited Press primarily publishes metaphysical and paranormal titles, yet Weather Warfare: The Military's Plan to Draft Mother Nature is an in-depth examination of modern military efforts to effectively "draft mother nature" - by applying the latest technology to manipulate weather patterns and possibly even natural disasters for military advantage. Weather Warfare covers both known historical incidents and speculation of unproven theories concerning military efforts. From simple rain-making to the possibility of earthquakes on demand to chemtrails, geoengineering, and much more, Weather Warfare touches upon a broad range of dimensions and demands open to military scrutiny. Though part of Weather Warfare is devoted to exploring unproven conjecture, its evidence of past military escapades and efforts to apply nature as a weapon is quite convincing in its own right. Highly recommended.

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

CHATEAU THIERRY & BELLEAU WOOD 1918: AMERICA'S BAPTISM OF FIRE ON THE MARNE (184603034X, $18.95) by David Bonk joins others in Osprey's specialized 'Campaign' series to cover the actions of a 1918 American Expeditionary Force, which helped defeat the last German offensive of World War I. Included in the recount are first-hand accounts, photos and maps – in both black and white and full color – lending to an outstanding survey for specialized, in-depth collections where World War I history is a focus. David Murphy's IRISH REGIMENTS IN THE WORLD WARS (1846030153, $17.95) joins others in the 'Elite' series focusing on military forces and techniques. This focus on Irish regiments of the two wars includes a healthy dose of Irish history and culture in addition to military history: as such it offers a smooth survey of Irish heroes and participation. Chris Bucholtz's 332ND FIGHTER GROUP – TUSKEGEE AIRMEN (1846030447, $22.95) adds to the 'Aviation Elite Units' series and covers a Tuskegee Experiment designed to prove that Afro-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft: an experiment which created one of aviation's top units. The group proved victorious, sink a German naval vessel, and was feared and respected by the Germans. Their saga comes to life, here.


The Money/Finance

Quick Steps To Financial Stability
Alan Lavine & Gail Liberman
Que
800 E 96th St., 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240
0789735083 $16.95 www.quepublishing,com

Written by husband-and-wife syndicated columnists Alan Lavine and Gail Liberman, Quick Steps To Financial Stability: Expert Advice And Practical Techniques To Guide You Where You Want To Be is a straightforward financial guide for readers of all ages and backgrounds. Quick Steps To Financial Stability is plain-spoken, yet does not dumb-down its presentation of the basics in the slightest. Chapters cover how to zero in on and eliminate debt, create a simple investment plan, and improve one's savings plan. Lists of references for more in-depth information, easy-to-use mortgage worksheets, and an index round out this excellent primer for everyone ready to take financial preparedness to the next step beyond balancing the checkbook and paying off credit card debt.

High School Money Book
Don Silver
Adams-Hall Publishing
Box 491002, Los Angeles, CA 90049
0944708749 $19.95 www.adams-hall.com

Written by educational consultant Don Silver, High School Money Book is a practical, no-nonsense guide to basic money management skills - a "Money Smarts 101" for high school students, if you will. Chapters discuss simple, smart ways to think, such as the monetary value of resisting peer pressure or engaging in "voluntary simplicity" to reduce the tendency to fritter one's dollars away; shopping smarts; selecting the right credit card and using it appropriately ("If you take one piece of advice from this book, it's this: avoid credit card debt"); ways to bank, handle paperwork, and grow one's money; money smarts to remember when working at a job; and much more. A first-rate primer not only for teens, but for anyone unfamiliar with simple money matters. Enthusiastically recommended.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, 8th Edition
Attorney Stephen Elias & Robin Leonard
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305083 $39.99 www.nolo.com

If you're behind on your bills and creditors are threatening, you can consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection – and the 8th updated edition of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will save you a fortune in attorney fees and confusion. Learn how to determine qualifications, understanding the law's protections, fill out and file forms, pay off debts and represent yourself in court: it's been completely rewritten to reflect the latest changes to federal bankruptcy law and includes all the latest facts, making this a top reference both for filers and for public library reference sections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

A Grey Moon Over China
Thomas A. Day
Black Heron Press
PO Box 95676, Seattle WA 98145
0930773780 $25.95 www.blackheronpress.com

Winner of the Black Heron Press Award for Social Fiction, A Grey Moon Over China is a dark, apocalyptic tale of a future riven by human greed. In a world-spanning energy war that pits the United States on one side against Japan and California on the other, a disillusioned company of Army engineers steal the plans for an energy device that could end the war and instead extort the resurrection of an abandoned space colonization effort to take them away from the dying planet. But they cannot leave all their evils behind as easily as that; armed colonists pursue them, and the wars follow them to the crushing Black Planet where armies are trained, to impoverished farms , and do the heavily guarded portal leading to a nigh-legendary haven. Following its cast of deeply flawed protagonists - the man driven to escape his past by destroying everything connected to it, the woman whose love is so all-consuming it will surely lead to self-destruction, soulless and merciless warriors male and female, and a failed priest who must ultimately resurrect the last shred of his conscience, A Grey Moon Over China is a compelling chronicle of the dark complexities of human character as surely as it is a star-spanning adventure.

Alphanauts
J. Brian Clarke
Edge
c/o Hades Publications Inc.
Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta T2P 217, Canada
1894063147 $14.95 www.edgewebsite.com

A small band of colonists on Genser's World, an earth-like planet of Alpha Centauri, meets up with other space-traveling species and tackles a dangerous computer intelligence as well as refugees from a ruined Earth in ALPHANAUTS, a fast-paced science fiction story of survival and new world achievement. Fans of science fiction on general and those with a special interest in new world adventures will find ALPHANAUTS a satisfying read.

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

John Ringo's GHOST (1416520872, $7.99) appears in paperback to tell of a former SEAL team member who is having troubles fitting into civilian life on a liberal college campus. His observation of a coed's kidnaping unleashes a highly trained fury which leads to an involvement in terrorism in this gripping sci fi drama perfect for fans of military fiction. Ringo's UNTO THE BREACH (1416509402, $26.00) continues the saga in a new series: again Michael's looking to kick back from intrigue, espionage and violence – but a visit with the President leads to an unexpected assignment deep into Islamic terrorist strongholds, again on a mission to thwart Armageddon. Joel Rosenberg's PALADINS II: KNIGHT MOVES (074349914X, $25.00) tells of a world ruled by the Pendragon flag, which flies over much of Europe, Asia and the New World, and of magical swords which work in service of good or evil. Add an old force in form of a witch and the undead that are infesting Europe and you have a hard-hitting fantasy packed with action. Cordwainer Smith's WE THE UNDERPEOPLE (1416520953, $15.00) is set in the future and tells of planoforming ships in which the Underpeople, humanlike beings created from animals to do human work, have no rights -–and have become more than workers. When Rod joins forces with the cat woman C'Mell, rebellion is sparked. Robert Heinlein's FARNHAM'S FREEHOLD (1416520937, $15.00) is an old classic brought to new life in a new Baen paperback edition. Hugh Farnham is a self-made man who builds a bomb shelter under his house, only to find nuclear war sends him back in time to a world with no sign of other humans. A controversial epic evolves. James P. Hogan's MISSION TO MINERVA (1416520902, $7.99) provides a fine timeslip epic in which Victor Hunt and his colleagues are investigating the strange physics of alternate universes in conjunction with Thurien's alien scientists. Add military action and you have a fast-paced adventure. A.E. Van Vogt's TRANSGALACTIC (1416520899, $15.00) tells of the aftermath of a global war which has ended civilization, leaving 'scientists' to repair and operate their old machines. A brilliant mutant recovers the lost science behind these machines, uncovering in the process the truth about humanity's decline. Margaret Ball's DISAPPEARING ACT (1416520910, $7.99) tells of a woman who borrows a rich stranger's identity – only to find the woman is supposed to be bionically enhanced with abilities and weapons she can't possess. Intrigue and action follow. Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis' ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT (1416520961, $7.99) is for avid fans of fantasy and tells of an aging king and a struggle for a throne. Elfland becomes involved in human endeavors in this thriller. All are excellent picks, especially recommended for library collections strong in science fiction and fantasy lending.

PYR
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.pyrsf.com

Joel Shepherd's CROSSOVER (1591024439, $15.00) tells of one Cassandra Kresnov, a soldier and synthetic person created by the League to fight in an interstellar war against the conservative Federation. Cassandra is way above her peers as an experimental design – but with intelligence comes human-like qualities and Cassandra deserts the League and heads out in search of a new life, finding herself battling social mores for a place in the universe. Martin Sketchley's THE LIBERTY GUN (1591024927, $15.00) represents Book 3 of the 'Structure' series and as such as a recommended pick for prior fans who will enjoy a smooth transition to his latest adventure. Delgado and Ashala are sent to a future Seriatt occupied by a three-species race and search for a way back: ideals thwarted by an arrest and the Sinz's military needs. Perfect for fans of military sci fi. All are fine picks any science fiction library will find popular.


The Literary Shelf

Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Harold Bloom
Bloom's Literary Criticism
c/o Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street, 17th floor, New York, NY 10001
079108115X, $35.00 1-800-322-8755

In "Gabriel Garcia Marquez", Harold Bloom (Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University) provides readers with an informed and informative biography of Gabriel Garcia Marques, the South American writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature and whose most widely known novel for English readers is "One Hundred years of Solitude". "Gabriel Garcia Marquez" features a critical, scholarly, and thought-provoking essay and analysis, supplemented with details about the writer and his life. Also very highly recommended reading for inclusion into highschool, college, and community library Literary Studies collections are Professor Harold Blooms' "James Baldwin" (978-0791085752, $35.00); "Herman Melville" (978-0791085738, $35.00); "William Blake" (978-0791085714); "Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451" (978-0791092941, $30.00); "Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five" (978-0791092958, $30.00); "Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis" (978-0791092989, $30.00); and "Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie" (978-0791092972, $30.00).

REED in Review
Audrey Douglas & Sally-Beth MacLean, editors
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON M4Y 2W8
0802038271 $70.00 www.utppublishing.com 1-800-565-9523

REED in Review is a celebration of and tribute to the twenty-fifth anniversary (in 2002) of the Records of Early English Drama project. REED in review presents thirteen essays based on the content of selected contest papers, plus a fourteenth submitted at the editors' invitation. Spanning topics from the effect of REED research on Shakespeare textual editing, Robin Hood, patronage, and Elizabethan theatre studies, to details of recent discoveries in Scottish records, the possibilities that Web technologies have to offer, and much more, REED in review connects the past and future of literary research with scholarly precision, highlighting unexplored depths in human culture and expression across the centuries. Enthusiastically recommended especially for college library and literary studies shelves.

The Perfect Ceremony of Love's Rite
Robert L. Montgomery
Arizona Center for Medieval Studies, Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
086698349X $30.00 www.amazon.com

Written by English and Comparative Literature teacher Robert L. Montgomery, The Perfect Ceremony of Love's Rite: Shakespeare's Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint is a critical reading of Shakespeare's "Sonnets" and its companion volume, "A Lover's Complaint", while scrutinizing their connections to the Petrarchan conventions as well as to the work of contemporary Elizabethan poets such as Sidney, Spenser, and Daniel. Of particular interest to the discussion are the ways by which poetry evokes admiration, passion, guilt, obsessive longing, and preoccupation with time and the decay of youth and beauty. An index rounds out this scholarly and thoughtful close reading of classic poetry.

Transatlantic Stowe
Denise Kohn, Sarah Meer, & Emily B. Todd
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587294737 $39.95 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Edited by English professors Denise Kohn, and Emily B. Todd, and English university lecturer Sarah Meer, Transatlantic Stowe: Harriet Beecher Stowe and European Culture is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors concerning the literary writings of Harriet Beecher Stow, perhaps best known for her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Transatlantic Stowe particularly focuses upon Stowe's personal and literary ventures into Europe, drawing upon source material from London and Paris as well as Stowe's own writings. Essays include "'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and the Irish National Tale", "Stowe, Gaskell, and the Woman Reformer", "Stowe and Religious Iconography", and much more. An extensive list of works cited and an index round out this in-depth intellectual contemplation of the broad-reaching repercussions of Stowe's literature, which was wildly and internationally popular in Stowe's heyday, to the extent of being pirated by publishers. Recommended for college library literary studies shelves.

John Calvin and the Printed Book
Jean-Francois Gilmont
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112568 $36.95 www.tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

John Calvin and the Printed Book comes from one of the foremost experts in the field of studying John Calvin, and thus deserves a place on any serious college-level library shelf as an essential reference studying John Calvin's interactions with books and the literary world of the 16th century. Chapters use extensive archival materials and add both biographical and historical elements to the story of John Calvin. Karin Maag translates this classic from the original French.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Aiming At Amazon
Aaron Shepard
Shepard Publications
1102 Olympia Avenue NE, #18, Olympia, WA 98506
093849743X, $15.00 www.shepardpub.com

Amazon.com is the 800 pound gorilla of online bookselling. There are a large and growing number of other online booksellers (some are independent 'virtual' stores, while others, like Borders.com, are affiliated with traditional 'brick-and-morter' bookstores, and still others are specific to a particular publisher, like iUniverse.com) , but Amazon.com is by far the oldest, largest, best known, successful, and most important of them all. Amazon.com can (and often does) make the difference between a self-published author, a print-on-demand (POD) published author, a small-press author, or a major press mid-list published author being able to make a profit on their books. No small press publisher can afford to not list their titles with Amazon.com for the same reason – connecting with the reading public. In "Aiming At Amazon: The New Business of Self Publishing", an experienced writer of children's books for major publishing houses, as well as a successful self-publisher, Aaron Shepard draws upon his considerable expertise to teach novice authors who have (or are contemplating) self-publishing just how to utilize Amazon.com as a marketing resource for selling their book(s). The first major section, 'Publishing for Profit' begins with a basic introduction to the value of (and preparation for) online bookselling. The next section, 'Building Your Book', covers everything from title selection factors, to creating spin-offs, to crafting a marketable cover, to portability, to reprinting. Next is 'Meeting the Marketing' where Shepard covers data collection, publishing dates, pricing, book returns, book classification and description, publicity/promotion, and keeping track of book sales. "Aiming at Amazon' is specific to getting the book registered on Amazon.com, maximizing the benefits of being listed on Amazon.com, the various relevant features of Amazon.com, and 'the other Amazons'. The final section, 'Finessing the Future' addresses the issues of fine tuning a book, 'keeping it fresh', publishing more books, and how to deal successfully with a publishing industry and marketplace that is in a steady state of flux, change, and technological evolution. "Aiming At Amazon" is an essential read for anyone having to market a self-published or POD published book – and has a wealth of very practical and valuable information for small press publishers, novice free-lance book publicists, and mid-list authors of the larger publishing houses who find themselves having a major responsibility for promoting and publicizing their titles.

Beating the Odds
Shelley B. Wepner & Linda B. Gambrell, editors
International Reading Association
800 Barksdale Road, PO Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139
0872075893 $25.95 www.reading.org

Edited by professors Shelley B. Wepner & Linda B. Gambrell, Beating the Odds: Getting Published in the Field of Literacy combines essays from seventeen contributors presenting more than eighty guidelines to cope with the often confusing labyrinth that is the publishing process. Though compiled especially for classroom teachers, reading specialists, faculty and administrators affiliated with literacy programs and others seeking to publish their writings in the field of literacy, much of the practical advice in Beating the Odds is applicable to writers of all walks. Whether one is trying to get a literacy article published in a journal, newspaper or magazine, or responding to rejection or revise-and-resubmit decisions, writing or editing a book, or just getting started, Beating the Odds offers sound advice on every step of the way. Of especial note are the topics not covered by most other writing guidebooks, such as the advantages and pitfalls in collaboration in writing for publication, and the importance of establishing a "write-for-publication" mindset. Highly recommended.

Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary
Christine Maxwell
Lande Communications
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
9812469818 $7.95 www.berlitzbooks.com

Teacher Christine Maxwell presents Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary, a one-of-a-kind reference especially for students, English-language learners and others who have extreme difficulty in spelling words - and as a result, find it hard to look up the words' proper spellings in an ordinary dictionary. Berlitz Spell It Right lists both commonly misspelled words and their most frequent misspellings, in two-color format so as to make it perfectly clear which spelling is the correct one. Berlitz Spell It Right Dictionary does not give dictionary definitions of words or pronunciations, though it does offer specific tips for searching for words when a first glance and guess at the word's spelling yields no success. A key to spelling rules is on the bottom of each page for easy reference in this user-friendly, go-to guide for aspiring writers regardless of their personal level of spelling skill.

Vocabulary Dictionary and Workbook
Mark Phillips
A. J Cornell Publications
18-74 Corporal Kennedy Street, Bayside, NY 11360
0972743944 $16.95

University teacher and editor of 30 years' experience Mark Phillips presents Vocabulary Dictionary and Workbook: 2,856 Words You Must Know, a quick-study self-teaching tool for expanding one's English vocabulary. Vocabulary Dictionary Workbook is divided into over two hundred chapters, each chapter presenting a dozen or so words with straightforward dictionary definitions and an example of the word's use in a sentence, plus simple bonus exercises at the end to reinforce the reader's familiarity. The words are organized alphabetically among all chapters as a whole, so that looking up any individual word is a simple matter regardless of what chapter it is from. The words covered include many that are most likely to be on the SATs and other standardized tests, or included on the job or peppering everyday conversation. An absolute "must-have" for anyone preparing for college entrance exams, and an excellent, easy-to-use literacy improvement resource for everyone else.

The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist
Thomas McCormack
Paul Dry Books, Inc
117 South 17th Street, Suite 1102, Philadelphia, PE 19103
1589880307 $14.95 www.pauldrybooks.com

Now in a revised second edition that incorporates author's additional years of experience in the publishing industry since the publication of the first edition, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist: A Book for Writers, Teachers, Publishers, and Anyone Else Devoted to Fiction is a no-nonsense guide to planning, writing, and revising a novel. Written by award-winning publisher Thomas McCormack, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist offers constructive advice for each step of the creative process, from how to structure a novel, choose characters, and drive the story, to identifying common flaws in narratives, and apply appropriate remedies. Written in an amiable tone, often using examples, hypothetical writing scenarios, or dialogue-style discourse between industry professionals to clarify its points, The Fiction Editor, the Novel, and the Novelist is a superb handbook for fiction writers but especially recommended for prospective and professional fiction editors.

The Writer's Quote Book
Jim Fisher, editor
Rutgers University Press
100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099
0813538823 $22.95 http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu 1-800-446-9323

Edited by Jim Fisher (professor emeritus, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania), The Writer's Quote Book is intended for aspiring writers combating writer's block, writer's of all walks, genres, and seasons, and book lovers who simply relish the printed word. Compiling the thoughts of five hundred published writers about the quintessence of literary life and what it means to write, The Writer's Quote Book offers passages ranging from one sentence to one paragraph long, each with its own distinct and often witty insight. Highly recommended. "Turning out flashy, dense, complicated prose is a breeze; putting things down in simple terms that anyone can understand takes brainwork." -Patricia T. O'Conner

How To Write A Children's Picture Book
Eve Heidi Bine-Stock
E & E Publishing
1001 Bridgeway, No. 227, Sausalito, CA 94965
3 Volumes, www.EandEGroup.com/Publishing

"How To Write A Children's Picture Book" is an impressive trilogy of instructional books by children's author and illustrator Eve Heidi Bine-Stock that provides other aspiring children's authors with sound, practical, time-tested advice on constructing a picturebook story for children that will hold their interest from beginning to end. Volume 1 is devoted to the structure of writing and draws examples from a series of popular and successful children's books that include 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Sylvester and the Magic Pebble', and several other children's stories. Applicable to both concept books and picture storybooks, "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Structure" demonstrates and documents that being able to properly structure a story is the key to writing a picture book that will appeal to children preschool through first grade. Volume 2 focuses upon the use of words, sentences, scenes, and the story when developing a successful picturebook for children. Examples and illustrations are drawn from such picturebook favorites as 'Harry the Dirty Dog', Harold and the Purple Crayon', 'Frog and Toad Are Friends', and several other well known picturebooks, in order to help aspiring picturebook authors understand the critical role of word choice and storytelling strategies for a picturebook's appeal to its intended and age appropriate readership. Volume 3 explores the importance and usage of figures of speech when writing the text for a child's picturebook. Illustrative examples are taken from a series of successful picturebooks that include 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile', 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Caps for Sale', and 'Fish is Fish'. The deft and careful inclusion of figures of speech are more that just the occasional use of similes, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole and personification. They are clever, subtle, sophisticated expressions that can make characters and stories truly memorable and raise the level of a good picturebook to the status of a great one – a picturebook that will endure in popularity through many generations of young readers. To each volume of this truly outstanding and unique series of 'how to' books specializing in the techniques of crafting picturebook stories, Eve Heidi Bine-Stock brings her own particular expertise in communicating her instructions, advice, recommendations, and observations, making "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Structure" (0971989885, !8.95); "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Word, Sentence, Scene, Story" (0974893323, $18.95; and "How To Write A Children's Picture Book: Figures of Speech" (097489334X, $14.95) an indispensable, unique, and enthusiastically recommended instructional reference set specifically intended for dedicated authors wanting to hone their craft in the deceptively demanding field of picturebooks for children.

A Writer's Coach
Jack Hart
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0375423273 $24.95 www.pantheonbooks.com 1-800-726-0600

Author Jack Hart is a managing editor at The Oregonian and here shares his advice on how writers can get ideas, make theme outlines and add variety to their writing style. From provocative lead sentences and composition ideas to common ways writers fail, A WRITER'S COACH acts like a writer's personal editor, uses excerpts from major literary figures as examples, and teaches by example of both exemplary and inadequate writing. Any student of writing must have this guide: college-level libraries in particular will find it a popular read.


The Fiction Shelf

Mountain Top
Robert Whitlow
Westbow Press
c/o Thomas Nelson
P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
1595541314 $21.95 www.westbowpress.com

Attorney and novelist Robert Whitlow's background makes him the perfect author for a novel exploring the legal system and the influence of dreams in MOUNTAIN TOP, a novel telling of mysterious visions which plague Sam and land him in jail for crimes he appears to know too much about. Attorney Mike, a lawyer-turned-minister, represents him – and finds himself in the unusual position of having to justify the visions' authenticity to prove his client's innocence. Spiritual insights and social issues blend in a fast-paced story line especially recommended for religious readers and lending libraries.

The Drifter's Revenge
Owen G. Irons
Thorpe
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
1846175860 $20.99 www.ulverscroftusa.com 1-800-955-9659

"The Drifter's Revenge" by Owen G. Irons is one of the Linford Western Library series of large print western novels. It's the story of Ryan, a drifter who had taken a job in a railroad's timber camp in Montana. But when company men kill his friend Ben Comfrey over owed wages of seventy-four dollars and fifty cents, Ryan must flew the camp in fear for his own life. Ryan knows that Ben's widow and son need that money to get them safely through the harsh Montana winter, now with a gun in his hand and vengeance on his mind, Ryan is going to seek frontier justice in behalf of his friend and that orphaned family. Highly recommended reading and a popular addition to any community library's large print fiction collection, "The Drifter's Revenge" is a classic western yarn that will hold the reader's rapt interest from first page to last. Also very highly recommended western titles in the Lindford Western Library large print series are; Terry Murphy's "Broken Star" (1846175879), Tom Benson's "The Land Grabbers" (978-1846175831), David Bingley's "Lawman's Lament" (978-1846175848), and Jake Douglas' "Sound Of Gunfire" (978-1846175855).

Falling To Him
Tamara Lyon
Goblin Fern Press, Inc.
3809 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705
1595980369, $12.95 www.GoblinFernPress.com 1-888-670-2665

Faryn is eighteen years old and trying to balance her constricted life as the daughter of a Lutheran pastor with the heady anticipation and experiences of being on her own as enters college. It's there that she first discovers her budding sexuality. Faryn's mother Alice is also having to cope trying to keep up appearances as a devoted preacher's wife while struggling with her husband's neglect of a 38-year old woman's needs – compounded by his embarking on an extended mission trip in Mexico and leaving her alone in an empty house and with an aching heart. "Falling To Him" is a story of generational struggles, the mother's growing attraction to the handsome assistant pastor at her husband's church, a young woman in college struggling to reinvent herself (and falling in love with an older man with the inevitable heartbreaks), and both women's ultimate attempts to satisfy their needs, achieve their heart's desires, and connect with God and the men in their respective live. "Falling To Him" is a deftly written and highly recommended novel of complex and engaging characters caught up in a web of personal issues that will grip the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end.

The Weight of Smoke
George Robert Minkoff
McPherson & Company, Publishers
PO Box 1126, Kingston, NY 12402
0929701801 $24.95 www.mcphersonco.com 1-800-613-8219

Written by antiquarian expert George Robert Minkoff, The Weight of Smoke is the first of a three-volume historical fiction epic, "In the Land of Whispers", set four hundred years ago on the shores of what would one day become the state of Virginia. Young Captain John Smith carried dedication and drive at the colony of Jamestown, yet as one disaster after another beset the colonists: intrigue, avarice, corruption, disease, starvation, and violent war with the indigenous peoples. A prophecy is spoken concerning Captain John Smith: that his acts in this untamed world will be remembered not in terms of immortal glory, but rather in degrees of desperation. And deep inside, he carries a yearning desire for Powhattan's favorite daughter, Pocahontas. The Weight of Smoke reads with the flourish of an odyssey, and the dark reality of grim history. Enthusiastically recommended.

Return to Dar al-Basha
Hassan Nasr, author; William Hutchins, translator
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
0815608780 $22.95 www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu 1-800-365-8929

Written by Tunisian native Hassan Nasr, Return to Dar al-Basha is a semi-autobiographical novel describing a boy's Tunisian childhood during the era of nationalist resistance against French colonial rule. Taken from his mother and raised in his father's home, physically abused and emotionally neglected, he grows up into a perpetual wanderer. Questioning his inability to set roots, he explores the streets of Tunis, recalls his childhood introduction to Islamic mysticism and Sufism, and braces himself to see his father again. An evocative, heartfelt tale, providing an unforgettably vivid impression of Tunisian life through a child's eyes.

100 Words Per Minute
Adina Sara
Regent Press
6020-A Adeline, Oakland, CA 94608
1587900920 $15.00 www.regentpress.net

Part short fiction anthology, part memoir, 100 Words Per Minute: Tales From Behind Law Office Doors is a collection of ultra-brief, wry, witty, sometimes nasty, always insightful short stories by veteran law office worker Adina Sara. From backbiting coworkers to clueless bosses to litigators of all flavors from megalomaniacal to nearly-dead from exhaustion, 100 Words Per Minute offers a wry glimpse into trials and tribulations, and what working within America's legal system is really like. 100 Words Per Minute is a singularly delectable collection, whether the stories are savored a few at a time or all at once.

Gods of the Andes
Jack Zimmerman
New Leaf Books
PO Box 6992, Villa Park, IL 60181
1930076045 $14.95 www.newleafbooks.net

Written by Southwest Chicago native Jack Zimmerman, and set in his home town during the summer of '59, Gods of the Andes is a novel about ordinary, borderline destitute people struggling to get by in their daily lives - and a masterful betting scheme concerning baseball's White Sox, who are poised to seize the American League Pennant. A colorful novel of dreams tantalizingly out-of-reach pervading a neighborhood, and the willingness to risk all in hope of fantastic payoff, Gods of the Andes comes alive with vibrant impressions, boisterous dialogue, and the urgency of desperate hope that threatens when one's life is barely a step away from being penniless on the streets. A one-of-a-kind slice-of-life tale turned grandiose.

Twenty-Three Pages
Barbara Clark
Rosedog Books
701 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
0805999485 $37.00 www.rosedogbookstore.com

When freshman college student Carol entered a hated math teacher's class, her life would change as they debated and confronted each other over the course of some twenty-three months. A striking novel of confrontation, ideals and change makes for evocative and smooth reading and will enhance any public library fiction collection.

A Rogue's Life
Wilkie Collins
Hesperus Press
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1843911329 $15.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com 1-800-423-4525

Frank Softly is introduced to a range of professions by a father hoping he'll make a fortune – but Frank finds work a challenge and by age 25 he has many failed careers to his name. He's lost and wandering – until he meets one Alicia and her rich father. An entertaining story of personal transformation emerges in a pick especially recommended for college-level literary holdings already containing his better-known novels, who want to add depth to their treatment of Wilkie Collins.


The World History Shelf

I Was There
Ellen Schoeck
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
0888644647 $39.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Written by former University of Alberta student and senior administrator Ellen Schoeck, I Was There: A Century of Alumni Stories About the University of Alberta 1906-2006 is a work of oral history chronicling the accomplishments and contributions of the University of Alberta over the past century. Collecting testimonies from generations of students, professors, and staffs who lived and worked at the University of Alberta, I Was There reads fluidly throughout its length of seven hundred pages, as it walks the reader through highlights, anecdotes, funny stories, and moments that would shape history. Notes, an index, and black-and-white vintage photography scattered through I Was There adds a visual touch to this soulful compendium and tribute that is surely the next best thing to having experienced the University of Alberta for oneself.

Sternwheelers & Canyon Cats
Jack Boudreau
Caitlin Press
c/o Harbour Publsihing
PO Box 219 Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0
1894759206 $18.95 www.caitlin-press.com www.harbourpublishing.com

Written by British Columbia native Jack Boudreau, Sternwheelers & Canyon Cats: Whitewater Freighting on the Upper Fraser presents the fascinating true story of the whitewater men who crewed boats along wild rivers and creeks, seeking to bring freight and supplies to northern British Columbia from 1862 to 1921, prior to the completion of the Grand Trunk Railway. The riverboat life was dangerous; taming rough waters might involve such daring tactics as using powder to blow out boulders and logjams, and the Grand Canyon of British Columbia's Fraser River in particular was responsible for the deaths of at least two hundred individuals. Extensively researched, and presented with a smattering of black-and-white photographs, Sternwheelers & Canyon Cats is a welcome addition to nautical history and Canadian history shelves.

They Say There Was a War
Richard David Wissolik, David Wilmes, Eric Greisinger, John DePaul
Saint Vincent College
300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650
1885851510 $30.00 www.stvincent.edu/napp11

They Say There Was a War collects fifty detailed, personal narratives of men and women who served in the United States military in all different services and theaters during World War II. The individuals tapped to tell their stories in their own words range from a survivor of the Bataan Death March to one who worked on building the Thai-Burma Railway. From bloody battles to harrowing conditions of poor hygiene to the threat of starvation and much more, They Say There Was a War gives a vivid impression of precisely what everyday life on all aspects of the battle front was like. Printed on high quality paper and illustrated with occasional black-and-white photographs, They Say There Was a War is an utterly invaluable primary source emphatically recommended for college and library collections.

The Cold War and the New Imperialism
Henry Heller
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001
1583671390 $22.95 www.monthlyreview.org

Written by Henry Heller (Professor of History, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada), The Cold War and the New Imperialism: A Global History, 1945-2005 is a scholarly examination of world history during the sixty years since the end of World War II. From struggles for national liberation that spelled the demise of colonial empires, to revolutions in China, Cuba, and Vietnam, to neoliberalism, intervention, and more, The Cold War and the New Imperialism encapsulates the transformations of history in straightforward prose, with a keen eye for spotting long-term trends. Chapters reveal that the end of the Cold War created as many problems for the United States as it solved, including the erosion of America's political, economic, and financial hegemony, costly military adventures abroad, and increasing inequality and authoritarianism at home. Highly recommended, and a welcome contribution to college and public library world history shelves.

City of Laughter
Vic Gatrell
Walker & Company
175 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0802716024 $45.00 www.walkerbooks.com

CITY OF LAUGHTER: SEX AND SATIRE IN 18TH-CENTURY LONDON considers the presence and meaning of lewd graphic prints in early 18th century London society, and comes from a little-known treasure trove of such prints long held by the British Library. These prints held satire, observational pieces, and represented a changing sexual and social climate in the country: they are key to any in-depth, college-level understanding of 18th century London. Thousands of such prints of the era explore Georgian worldviews and habits in a book highly recommended for any in-depth college-level collection.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles
Albert Jackson & David Day
Smithsonian
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0061137324 $16.95 www.harpercollins.com

If you buy antiques whether for resale or home use, you must also own or look at Care & Repair of Antiques & Collectibles: it's packed with over four hundred color illustrations and photos and provides hints from professional restorers and conservators on how to handle antiques, how to repair them, and how to maintain them. From repainting repaired ceramics and stripping and cleaning wooden collectibles from jewelry to furniture to cleaning textiles, this is a 'bible' of preservation for any owner, curator or dealer in antiques of all kinds – and a book many a general public lending library will also find useful.

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

Margaret White's COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO HOUSEKEEPING TOYS 1870-1970 (157432540X, $16.95) organizes its chapters by type of housekeeping activity – cooking, wash day, tableware, cleaning and more – and adds color photos of each item, along with values. The photos, organization and latest values make this a winner. The sixteenth edition of FLEA MARKET TRADER (1574325345, $15.95) is also a top pick for any serious collector or libraries catering to collectors: it offers an all-in-one volume packed with thousands of items with current values, from cookie jars and comic books to depression glass and flashlights. Virtually any popular flea market item is displayed in a handy take-along tote.

Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2007
Alan Greenwood & Gil Hembree
Vintage Guitar Inc.
P.O. Box 7301, Bismarck, ND 58507
1884883184 $24.95 www.vintageguitar.com

This music collector's reference represents the only volume covering all the collectible guitars of the industry, and sets industry standards when it comes to determining market values of collectible guitars. Both musicians and collectors will want to keep this guide at hand: it blends quick-find page headings and an index and dealer directory for the entire country with an examination of what makes a guitar collectible. Add black and white photos and paragraphs of maker and model history and you have a price guide which can't be beat: a must for music collectors and guitar players alike.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Early Intervention Dictionary, third edition
Jeanine G. Coleman, M. Ed.
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
1890627631 $ 21.95 www.woodbinehouse.com

Written by Jeanine G. Coleman, M. Ed., The Early Intervention Dictionary: A Multidisciplinary Guide to Terminology is the updated third edition of a straightforward, practical definitive reference for medical professionals and parents alike. Each entry consists of a brief (from one sentence to one full paragraph) definition of a medical or scientific term concerning medical and development issues, features, and abnormalities present in infants and children. The Early Intervention Dictionary is accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and covers everything from "abrachia" (congenital absence of arms) to "Zero Reject" (The principle that no child with a disability should be refused a free, appropriate education if other children the same age are being served). Highly recommended as a user-friendly reference.

Avoiding Miscarriage
Susan Rousselot
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
0977493318 $19.95 www.atlasbooks.com

Written by Susan Rousselot, a mother who personally undertook extensive research to learn how to minimize the risk of miscarriage after personally suffering one, and featuring a foreword by miscarriage specialist Dr. Mary Stephenson, MD, Avoiding Miscarriage: Everything You Need to Know to Feel More Confident in Pregnancy offers straightforward answers to difficult questions. Debunking common myths about miscarriage, such as "after a miscarriage, I have to wait six months before trying again", "I miscarried because I continued to exercise", or "I miscarried because I once had an abortion", Avoiding Miscarriage acknowledges that a great deal of miscarriages are due to chromosomal problems and other abnormalities beyond the mother's control, but goes on to outline what is under a mother's control and how to effectively reduce risk. Maintaining a reasonably healthy weight (neither obese nor malnourished), receiving immunizations against common diseases that threaten pregnancy, and eliminating (or at least drastically reducing) alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine are among the helpful strategies advised; also of note are Avoiding Miscarriage's recommendations for improving communication with one's partner. Highly recommended, and a "must-read" for any woman seeking to become pregnant.

The Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Carol Tarkington & Ruth Anan Ph.D.
Facts On File
132 West 31st Street, new York, NY 10001
0816060029 $75.00 www.factsonfile.com 1-800-322-8755

Medical writer Carol Tarkington and clinical psychologist Ruth Anan Ph.D. present The Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, a comprehensive reference filled cover to cover with alphabetized entries covering everything from early intervention programs to genes and autism, high-functioning autistic disorders, language delays, safety issues, sensory sensitivity, the role of vitamins, and much more. One hundred and sixty-four pages are devoted to the encyclopedia itself; the entire second half of the book is filled with appendices that list autism-related organizations, helpful web sites, state autism organizations, autism resources by state, collaborative programs of excellence in autism, clinical trials for autistic disorder, and a thorough index. Written in straightforward terms accessible to lay readers and healthcare professionals alike, The Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders is enthusiastically recommended for medical institution library, college library, and public library reference shelves, as well as the personal reference collections of anyone living or working with autism spectrum disorder individuals.

Walking Your Blues Away
Thom Hartmann
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771448 $12.95 www.parkstreetpress.com

It's a simple concept: our bodies usually heal rapidly from injury but our minds can suffer for years from upset. Now there's a method for combining the healing powers of the body with the mind: walking, a therapy which actives both sides of the brain to remove 'stuck' emotions. Case studies supplement the author's tips on how to use movement and mind awareness of the stress to mitigate its effects. New age and general-interest health collections alike will find this inspirational.

Unstrange Minds
Roy Richard Grinker
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
0465027636 $26.95 www.basicbooks.com

UNSTRANGE MINDS: REMAPPING THE WORLD OF AUTISM is a powerful survey of the parents of autistic children in South Africa, South Korea and India and how their societies view the disorder – and is written by an anthropologist and father of a daughter with autism. Contrary to popular belief there is no evidence for an 'autism epidemic' – just better diagnosis of the condition – and Grinker's focus on diagnosis processes, public awareness, social programs, and his own personal story blends into an unusual anthropological investigation hard to put down. Public libraries as well as health collections will find UNSTRANGE MINDS compelling and revealing.

Celiac Disease
Sylvia Llewelyn Bower, Mary Kay Sharrett, Steve Plogsted
Demos Publishing
386 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
1932603255 $16.95 www.demosmedpub.com

CELIAC DISEASE: A GUIDE TO LIVING WITH GLUTEN INTOLERANCE is the only book on the topic co-authored by a nurse, dietitian and clinical pharmacist, and provides an excellent guide to living a wheat-free, gluten-free lifestyle. From symptoms and diagnosis to managing daily life and complications, Celiac Disease comes complete with recipes and nutritional ideas and also includes management tips for all ages, adult to child. An excellent health library addition; especially for collections emphasizing allergies and dietary control.

After Cancer Treatment
Julie K. Silver, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801884381 $16.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Plenty of books discuss how to handle a diagnosis of cancer and how to consider and handle treatment – but very few survey what happens next. AFTER CANCER TREATMENT: HEAL FAST, BETTER, STRONGER comes from a doctor who is a cancer rehabilitation specialist and a breast cancer survivor: her guide blends personal experience and professional insights to offer up a plan for healing. From how to recognize withdrawal signs for medications to understanding the beneficial effects of proper nutrition, AFTER CANCER TREATMENT belongs in any serious health library or collection focusing on cancer recovery.

Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes
Neal D. Barnard, MD
Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594865280 $25.95 www.rodalestore.com

A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes often leads to heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening complications – but it needn't be a death sentence, with Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes in hand. Dr. Barnard uses clinical research results to describe a new low-fat vegan diet which can help patients cut blood sugars and often eliminate the need for medication entirely. And it involves eating regular meals, using the body's natural insulation to alter what goes on at the cellular level. Add recipes and menus and Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs becomes an excellent key to positive change and the kinds of quick results Type 2 diabetics need.

Restoring Your Eyesight: A Taoist Approach
Doug Marsh
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
P.O. Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771502 $14.95 www.healingartspress.com

RESTORING YOUR EYESIGHT could also have been featured in our New Age section but is reviewed here for its interest to any who would overcome blurred vision. Here's a natural alternative to improving eyesight which blends Taoism with an eye doctor's exercises and insights, discussing reflexes, concentration, and re-training the eye. An intriguing approach for a long-standing problem.


The Psychology Shelf

Divorce Doesn't Have To Be That Way
Jane Appell
Impact Publishers
PO Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016
1886230714, $27.95 www.impactpublishers.com 1-800-246-7228

"Divorce Doesn't Have To Be That Way: A Handbook For The Helping Professional" by Jane Appell (a private practice psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Tufts new England medical Center, and President of the Massachusetts Association of Guardians Ad Litem) offers marriage counselors and family therapists with a complete guide to divorce counseling with an emphasis on providing healthy support to clients that is family centered and non-adversarial. Step-by-step therapeutic intervention procedures are outlined and explained covering all of the key elements of the divorce process from initial decision to relevant legal issues. Highly recommended as informed and informative reading, "Divorce Doesn't Have To Be That Way" covers working with 'problem' personalities, domestic abuse, child custody, alternatives to litigation, and more. Also strongly recommended from Impact Publishers' 'The Practical Therapist Series' for therapists counseling couples considering or engaging in divorce actions is "Defusing The High-Conflict Divorce: A Treatment Guide For Working With Angry Couples" (1886230676, $27.95).

A Long-Shadowed Grief
Harold Ivan Smith
Cowley Publications
4 Brattle Street, Suite 309, Cambridge, MA 02138
1561012815 $14.95 www.cowley.org

Written by former funeral director Harold Ivan Smith, A Long-Shadowed Grief: Suicide and its Aftermath is a compassionate, serious discussion of the grief and suffering that friends and family endure in the wake of a loved one's suicide. From permitting oneself to grieve and survive, how one can learn to live a spiritual life as a survivor, to praying one's grief, surviving the toll suicide takes on one's assumptions and values, and much more, A Long-Shadowed Grief covers in-depth the emotional dimensions of relearning day-to-day living after a loved one has made the choice to die. True stories of suicide and the words of survivors illustrate this comforting, plain-spoken discussion.

Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders
Bruce F. Chorpita, Ph.D.
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
1593853637 $35.00 www.guilford.com

Written by professor of clinical psychology Bruce F. Chorpita, Ph.D., Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders is a practical guide for professionals to treating childhood anxiety with proven exposure-based techniques. The modular treatment regimens are expressly designed with flexibility and adaptation to individual needs in mind. Presented from an emphatically "real-world" perspective, Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders can be tailored to deal with motivational problems, disruptive behavior, family issues, and common clinical stumbling blocks. Worksheets, records, and handouts supplement the modules and the in-depth discussion concerning how to apply them and deal with common problems. Highly recommended as a supplementary resource for professionals in the field.

Howard Gardner Under Fire
Jeffrey A. Schaler, Editor
Open Court Publishing
Box 300, Peru, IL 61354-0300
0812696042 $36.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

HOWARD GARDNER UNDER FIRE: THE REBEL PSYCHOLOGIST FACES HIS CRITICS is for any college-level reader in either psychology or education who already have some gasp of Gardner'' contributions in these areas. Before Gardner's FRAMES OF MIND there was little opposition to the paradigm of IQ: his works changed how intelligence was perceived and measured, and generated much criticism – here refuted.


The Political Science Shelf

Absentee and Early Voting
John C. Fortier
American Enterprise Institute Press
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW Washington DC 22036
0844742473 $20.00 www.aei.org

Written by American Enterprise Institute research fellow John C. Fortier, Absentee and Early Voting: Trends, Promises, and Perils is examines how nearly a quarter of Americans today vote before election day, either through absentee ballot or early voting places. Absentee and Early voting questions whether or not the convenience of these practices has undermined the integrity of the process and weakened a unifying civic experience. Exploring the legal and historical reasons for alterations in the voting system, as well as the many variations across states, Absentee and Early Voting offers measured, rational conclusions about that changes in the system have meant for the nation across the decades, how America can better protect itself against voter fraud, and what should be America's next step. A cutting-edge study as accessible to lay readers as it is to scholars, Absentee and Early Voting is enthusiastically recommended for political science library and reference shelves.

Crashing The Gate
Jerome Armstong & Markos Moulitsas
Chelsea Green Publishing
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
193339241X $12.95 www.chelseagreen.com

Crashing The Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics is an unabashedly partisan examination of what needs to be done to transform the Democratic party into a viable opposition force to the Republican party, and therefore wrest the nation away from its currently disastrous neocon leadership. Chapters denounce the harm caused by the neocon Republican party, and describe what needs to be done to promote grass-roots opposition within the Democratic party; the authors are quite realistic about the limits of a two-party system, and offer means to reform the Democratic party as the swiftest and most practical way to improve American government. Topics covered include the importance of campaign finance reform, a trough that both Democrats and Republicans feed off of all too frequently; the unfortunate prevalence of unrealistic visions and "single-issue" obsessives within the Democratic party; the changing landscape of modern media; and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone involved in grassroots politics.

Seeing the Elephant: The U.S. Role in Global Security
Hans Binnendijk and Richard L. Kugler
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1597971006 $30.00 www.potomacbooksinc.com

Fifty analysts provide important essays on aspects of the post-Cold War political environment, analyzing the U.S. role in global security, tracing changes, and providing insights perfect for college-level students of political science. Even working politicians will find SEEING THE ELEPHANT as a major work providing an important intellectual history of U.S. national security thinking since the fall of the Soviet Union: such an analysis provides a foundation work central to any thorough understanding of U.S. foreign relations today.

Leviathan on the Right
Michael D. Tanner
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
1933995009 $22.95 www.cato.org

Conservatives in the Republican Party have lots to debate these days: they've lost control of Congress and their platforms are being called into question. Leviathan on the Right: How Big-Government Conservatism Brought Down the Republican Revolution analyzes the concept and origins of big-government conservatism and its growth over the decades, offering a critique of its foundations and policies and gathering evidence to support the convention that conservatives need to return to their small-government roots. Essential for any college-level political science discussion of modern American trends.

The National Security Legacy Of Harry S. Truman
Robert P. Watson, et.al., Editors
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112460 $24.95 www.tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

Volume 1 of this analysis combines the scholarly reflections of political leaders and others who consider Truman's national security legacy on the 50th anniversary of his Presidency. Truman was credited with bring post-WW II order: both former aides to the President and seasoned national security experts blend memories with analysis in a coverage recommended for any college-level library strong in political science and American history.

The Meaning of Marxism
Paul D'Amaro
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
1931859299 $12.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

There are plenty of philosophical and political guides to the ideals of Marx, but few which draw the connections between ideals, politics and social issues as does The Meaning of Marxism. It's a blend of explanation of philosophy and politics with links to contemporary issues, and provides a survey of just how Marxism was to transform the world. Chapters provide the perfect introduction for students from high school to college levels who are new to Marxist thinking and who wish to relate Marxism with contemporary social and political perspectives.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

With Our Good Will
Doug Copsey
Caxton Press
312 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
0870044567, $37.95 www.caxtonpress.com 1-800-657-6465

Compiled and written by Doug Copsey, "With Our Good Will: 30 Years Of Shakespeare In Idaho" is a profusely illustrated history of performances of Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies in the theatres of Idaho. In addition to photos of performers and performances, this compendium details Shakespearean productions arranged chronologically beginning with 'The Downtown Years' of 1977 to1980; 'The Plantation Years' of 1981 to1983; 'The Parkcenter Years' of 1984 to1997; and 'New Beginnings' from 1998 to 2006. Concluding with a chapter on 'What the Future Holds', "With Our Good Will" is enhanced with the further inclusion of Acknowledgments, Appendix, Index, and '30 Years of Posters'. A unique and welcome contribution to American Theatrical History reference collections, "With Our Good Will" would also serve as an excellent template for other regional and statewide theatre histories.

Cinema By The Bay
Sheerly Avni
Welcome Books
6 West 18 Street, New York, NY 10011
1932183884, $39.95 www.welcomebooks.com 1-800-733-3000

"Cinema By The Bay" by San Francisco-based film and culture writer Sheerly Avni is a profusely illustrated survey of influential, full-length, post-1960s feature films produced by five movie studios located in the San Francisco Bay Area (American Zoetrope, The Saul Zaentz Company, Lucasfilm Ltd., Pixar Animation Studies, and Pacific Data images), or which were directed by independent filmmakers living and working in Northern California (many of whom were recent graduates of the California Institute of the Arts and Stanford – where they had studied experimental animation). Enhanced with the inclusion of an informed and informative introduction by film critic Michael Sragow, filmographies, an index, credits and acknowledgments, "Cinema By The Bay"is a welcome and strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Cinema History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Asia Shock
Patrick Galloway
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
1933330120 $19.95 www.stonebridge.com

Written by multinational traveler and lifelong student of Asian film culture and philosophy Patrick Galloway, Asia Shock: Horror and Dark Cinema from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand is a movie buff's guide to the horror and shock cinema of the far east. Asia Shock is not a comprehensive encyclopedia of all films in the genre, but rather a "reviewer's choice" of top shocking picks, some with in-depth reviews and some with capsule reviews, nearly all with extensive notes on unique cultural paradigms, viewing tips, and genre considerations. Focusing on over 50 critical and fan-favorite gory, chilling, and startling Asian horror movies, Asia Shock is the connoisseur's definitive guide to the classics of this pop-culture genre.

American Theatres
David Naylor & Joan Dillon
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Route 372, Atglen, PA 19310
0764324918 $39.95 www.schifferbooks.com

American theatres are marvels of design and content and here to celebrate their history is AMERICAN THEATRES, a top pick for any serious college-level holding strong in film and stage history. The book profiles some forty of the finest theatres in operation around the country, covering a range of structures and styles and blending original photos by David Naylor – many published here for the first time – to contrast histories of different venues, from playhouses and opera houses to concert halls. The state-by-state listing of over 200 surviving 19th century theatres assures any serious buff will easily locate venues.

Mr. Confidential
Samuel Bernstein
Walford Press
1133 Broadway Suite 708, New York NY 10010-7903
0978767128 $22.95 www.walfordpress.com

Hollywood sex, scandal and ironies comes to life in MR. CONFIDENTIAL: THE MAN, HIS MAGAZINE & THE MOVIELAND MASSACRE THAT CHANGED HOLLYWOOD FOREVER, which tells of publisher Robert Harrison and his magazine Confidential, which changed the face of entertainment writing. From the impact of different kinds of stories and dramas to changing Hollywood personalities, MR. CONFIDENTIAL offers up an inside look into the industry that is required reading for any who would understand Hollywood's underlying influences.

The Show I'll Never Forget
Sean Manning, Editor
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306815087 $16.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

Unforgettable concert memories have been revealed in numerous sources, from magazine articles to biographies and the works of literary writers: here they're gathered under one cover to prove a powerful collection of insights from those who observed Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Rush, and more in concert. The musical genres are diverse here and range from rock to classical, but these insightful, sometimes funny, thought-provoking essays have all been written especially for THE SHOW I'LL NEVER FORGET and are vivid recollections for both general-interest public libraries and specialty music collections alike.


The Music Shelf

Hollywood Shack Job
Harvey Kubernik
University of New Mexico Press
MSC04 2820, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
082633542X, $24.95 www.unmpress.com 1-800-249-7737

An impressive body of work that includes a compilation of thirty-one interviews impressive, author Harvey Kubernik draws upon his years of experience and expertise as a former West Coast director of A&R for MCA Records and as a former TV music and talk show host in "Hollywood Shack Job: Rock Music In Film And On Your Screen" to chronicle the role rock and pop music have played in films and on television in terms of their esthetics and influence on commerce and culture. A kind of oral history spanning sixty years of film and television production, Kubernik includes observations by and on directors, music supervisors, musicians, historians, screenwriters and others. A unique and strongly recommended contribution to music fan, film buff, as well as professional and academic music history, in addition to film history reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

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

Santorella Publications has become an established and trusted name in sheet music because of their dedicated attention to quality and diversity. Four of their highly recommended titles for violinists include "Classical Duets for Violin" (TS367, $14.95) featuring arrangements by Jonathan Robbins; "Popular Wedding Classics for Violin" (TS368, $14.95) including Wagner's 'Bridal Chorus', Schubert's 'Ave Maria', Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March', 'Pachelbel's Canon', Brackett's 'Simple Gifts', and seven other pieces; and Larry McCabe's "The Magic of Irish Fiddling" (TS362, $9.95) and "The Magic of Light Classical Fiddling (TS360, $9.95). Both "Classical Duets for Violin" and "Popular Wedding Classics for Violin" feature an accompany CD. These titles are all very strongly recommended for students of the violin as well as professional violinists performing for the public.

Remembering Oliver Strunk
Christine Huemer & Pierluigi Petrobelli, editors
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
1576471020, $60 www.pendragonpress.com 1-518-325-6100

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Christine Huemer and Pierluigi Petrobelli, "Remembering Oliver Strunk: Teacher And Scholar" is the twenty-first and strongly recommended title in the Pendragon Press 'Festschrift Series' and focuses upon the life and work of William Oliver Strunk (1901-1980) who served with distinction as a professor of musicology at Princeton University. Comprised of papers presented at a conference at the American Academy in Rome (January 18-19, 2002), as well as including two additional and subsequent contributions, "Remembering Oliver Strunk" is an academically prestigious, thoughtful and thought-provoking, specialized contribution to musicology in general, and Professor Strunk's contributions and work in this academic discipline in particular.

Start-Up At the New Met
Paul Jackson
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671472 $49.95 www.amadeuspress.com 1-800-637-2852

Music professor and critic Paul Jackson's last two books on the Metropolitan Opera were published to much acclaim, and here he expands his survey by examining the period from 1966-76 when the opera house moved from its old locale to modern housing at Lincoln Center. Any involved in opera on more than a casual level, and with Met history in particular, will relish this in-depth survey of this transitional period along with analysis of performances and legendary opera stars. A hundred photos of performers and performances lends excitement and depth to a survey any college-level collection strong in opera history will want.

How to Have Your Hit Song Published
Jay Warner
Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1423411994 $18.95 www.halleonard.com

Author Jay Warner is a Grammy award-winning music publisher and the revised, updated version of his winning How to Have Your Hit Song Published provides a chart of how to be a successful music songwriter. Charts, graphs and sample contracts are included in the extensive revision of the 1988 best-selling guide, which covers everything from performing rights societies and the latest copyright law to understanding differing types of publishing deals. Also included are specific contacts for companies ranging from music publishers and songwriters to licensing societies and record companies. Simply invaluable: no music or general-interest library should be without it!

Motown in Love: Lyrics from the Golden Era
Herb Jordan, Editor
Pantheon Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0375422005 $23.00 www.pantheonbooks.com 1-800-726-0600

If you're a Motown music fan you must have MOTOWN IN LOVE: it packs in under one cover all the words to all the love songs of Motown's 'golden era', from 'My Girl' and 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' to 'Bernadette' and 'Let's Get It Own'. Perfect for sing-alongs, MOTOWN IN LOVE gathers classics under one cover and makes it easy for singers to gather a group of like-minded music together. Any popular music library and many a public library will find it popular.

Guitar Man
Will Hodgkinson
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306815141 $16.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

GUITAR MAN: A SIX-STRING ODYSSEY, OR, YOU LOVE THAT GUITAR MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME comes from a 34-year-old who decides to play guitar even though he's tone deaf and has no rhythm. His quest to become a musician at a later age involves instruction from friends and guitar 'greats' alike, in the process revealing much about the music world's finest figures from PJ Harvey to the eccentric old bluesman T. Model Ford. His odyssey is more than autobiography: it charts the evolution of guitar, methods of playing, and more and takes readers along on a rollicking journey through the music world in the process. General-interest collections will love it; music libraries will find it a fine leisure reader's choice.

The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen
Rob Kirkpatrick
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989380 $44.95 www.praeger.com

Other books have covered the life and works of popular musician Bruce Springsteen, but few offer the depth of analysis and critical assessment of The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen, which opens with a brief biography before it turns to the heart of the matter: all of his significant albums, in chronological order, which provide a musical analysis of themes, motifs, and underlying ideas. College-level students of popular music will appreciate the attention to detail and the insights which lend to a far greater appreciation for Bruce Springsteen's works.

Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-4794
1592236510 $29.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com

"Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts" is one of those glitzy titles that makes the perfect eye-catching, impressive gift or public library display. It's presented in a thick, oversized format but requires a British pop focus to fully appreciate – and also an affection for singles which have provided the sound tracks for memorable moments. Individual single hits are the focus here, using plenty of colorful photos, blending in an overall history of popular music, and profiling and impact of radio and TV on single hits. With its coverage of such hits, "Singles: Six Decades of Hot Hits & Classic Cuts" is simply not to be missed.

Getting Into Classic Guitar
Ben Bolt
Mel Bay Publications Inc.
#4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069
0786666862 $17.95 www.melbay.com

Ben Bolt's GETTING INTO CLASSIC GUITAR pairs and book and cd combo to provide an overview of the fundamentals for those who have some basic guitar experience but want to get their feet wet in classic guitar styles. The black and white photos help illustrate technique and options in playing. Personal, professional, and academic music libraries strong in how-to references and home guitar players seeking an easy manual on classic guitar will find GETTING INTO CLASSIC GUITAR both useful, 'user friendly', and important.


The Audiobook Shelf

Parmenides Publishing
3753 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 200, Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.parmenides.com

Paremnides Publishing has release two complete and unabridged audiobook editions of Homer's "Iliad" (1930972083, $42.00) and "Odyssey" (1930972067, $42.00) based on the print editions published by Hackett Publishing in 1997 and 2000 respectively. Each enthusiastically recommended volume is translated and narrative by Stanley Lombardo (Professor of Classics at the University of Kansas), and features an introduction written by tom Palaima (Raymond F. Dickson Centennial Professor of Classics at the University of Texas), as well as an Introduction and Synopses read by the award winning actress Susan Sarandon. The 12 CD set of the "Iliad" has a total running time of 15 hours, while the 10 CD set of "Odyssey" has a total running time of 12 hours, 30 minutes. Both of these unabridged additions would make a welcome addition to personal, school, and community library collections. For those who are more limited in their time, Parmenides Publishing also offers two superbly recorded and technically flawless abridged audiobook editions: "The Essential Homer" (1930972121, $48.00, 14 CDs, 17.5 hours) and "The Essential Iliad" (1930972105, $20.00, 5 CDs, 6 hours).

Death Before Wicket
Kerry Greenwood
Bolinda Publishing, Inc.
48 Oxford Woods, Falmouth, ME 04105-3401
1740938917, $56.00 www.bolinda.com 1-888-235-2019

Phryne Fisher's plans for her trip to Sydney, Australia unexpectedly go awry when her maid discovers that her thoroughly respectable sister Joan has abandoned her family for the murky and somewhat sleazy nightclub scene. Her trip is again postponed because Phryne can't say no to two youn men who beg for her help in finding their friend innocent of theft. So once again ("Death Before Wicket" is the tenth classic mystery featuring the remarkable Phryne Fisher) she is caught up in a web of blackmail, secrets, lies, and ruthless people who are dangerously dabbling in deep magic. Author Kerry Greenwood once again has created a story that grips the reader's total attention from beginning to end – and will lead those knew to the Phryne Fisher mysteries to seek out all nine of her earlier adventures. This seven CD audiobook edition is superbly narrated by Stephanie Daniel who does full and dramatic justice to Greenwood's brilliant character development and 'cliffhanger' plot.

Skylight Confessions
Alice Hoffman
Hachette Audio
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 01020
1594836132 $29.98 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Actress Mare Winningham has appeared in over fifty film and television projects, and lends her familiar and seasoned voice and dramatic skills here to SKYLIGHT CONFESSIONS, a choice for audio fans who enjoy literary romances. Arlyn Singer believes in love and destiny – but John is anything other than what she imagines, and their marriage is fragile and rough. An excellent story of change and connections emerges.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio

Carl Hiaasen's NATURE GIRL (0739342665, $39.95) receives the smooth voice of Lee Adams, familiar from her work on the Educational TV Network, and tells of one Honey, a willful girl who is leading a telemarketer and his mistress into the Florida wilderness to teach them about civility. But Honey's plans are being thwarted by her former employer – and that man's being followed by Honey's ex-husband. A hilarious set of events evolves. Scott Turow's LIMITATIONS (0739341553, $29.95) receives Stephen Lang's Broadway acting strengths as it provides a new legal mystery revolving around George Mason, who returns to life in a new story of a dangerous rape case. Mireille Guiliano's FRENCH WOMEN FOR ALL SEASONS (073934059X, $22.00) receives the author's own vivid narration as it tells of simple secrets to enjoying wine, chocolate and other pleasures – without weight gain. These are picks general-interest libraries strong in audio for leisure listeners will want.

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

Laurel K. Hamilton's MISTRAL'S KISS (1423322290, $29.95) receives veteran Laurel Merlington's warm and passionate voice which pairs well with the story of Meredith, a princess heir to a fairy throne. She once was a private detective and is now a full-time princess – trapped in the realm and defying faerie powers for love. A fine multi-faceted thriller evolves. Robert Crais' INDIGO SLAM (1423314085, $34.95) provides an involving Elvis Cole novel which receives David Stuart's winning voice and tells of a teen who entices Elvis to search for her missing father. The case should be easy – but the father is involved in the criminal underworld and soon Elvis is in over his head in this fun, involving mystery. It deserves ongoing recommendation as a powerful leisure listen. P.T. Deutermann's SPIDER MOUNTAIN (1423306511, $39.95) receives veteran Dick Hill's smooth, seamless narrative style which perfectly captures and matches the story of an ex-cop who pursues a vicious gang through the Smoky Mountain wilderness area. His journey will take him deep into Appalachia culture to a standoff with a local matriarch known to destroy people. Jill Conner Browne's THE SWEET POTATO QUEENS' FIRST BIG-ASS NOVEL: STUFF WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO, BUT COULD HAVE, AND MAY YET (1423311205, $29.95) receives the author's own smooth narrative style as it tells of Mississippi high school classmates whose daily routines are interrupted by the arrival of a fiery red-headed newcomer in their midst. An unusual friendship evolves in this fine saga of change and fun. Fern Michaels' LETHAL JUSTICE (1597375829, $29.95) receives Laural Merlington's professional performance and tells of women of the Sisterhood who face a new challenge trying to right a wrong. Alexis has spent a year behind bars for a crime she never committed: she dreams of getting even – and comes up with an unusual way of doing so. W.E.B. Griffith's THE HUNTERS (1423323513, $42.95) also benefits from veteran Dick Hill's smooth voice as it picks up where THE HOSTAGE left off. Two murders and millions of missing dollars lead Castillo and his team to Uruguay, murder and scandal in this riveting thriller, a top recommendation for listeners of espionage fiction. Stephen Coonts' DEEP BLACK: JIHAD (1423306422, $36.95) is written by Stephen Coonts and Jim DeFelice and narrated by J. Charles, who brings to life a gripping thriller of international terrorism and agents who try to stop them. Al Qaeda is launching a series of new attacks against the West and a new war is emerging from it in this gripping narrative. Jill Gregory & Karen Tintori's THE BOOK OF NAMES (1423330781, $34.95) enjoys Christopher Graybill's vast experience narrating audiobooks and bringing their adventures to life. Here a childhood tragedy affects the uncovering of the Book of Names – an ancient religious text offering up the names of each generation's righteous souls. All are powerful listens, recommended for both personal acquisition and public lending libraries alike.

Audio Editions
Auburn, CA 95604
www.audiopartners.com

Agatha Christie's HICKORY DICKORY DOCK (1572705647, $27.95) enjoys Hugh Fraser's warm voice as it tells of an outbreak of thefts at a student hostel, an odd series of missing or vandalized items, and eventually, murder. The usual Christie attention to details and twists and turns gives a satisfying twist to this audio. Rex Stout's THE FINAL DEDUCTION (1572705663, $27.95) receives Michael Prichard's warm recording – indeed, Prichard's narrated all the title by Stout featuring the Nero Wolfe protagonist, which lends a wonderful uniformity to this mystery revolving around a high-society kidnapping and murder. These are both especially recommended for public lending libraries strong in audio mysteries.

Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

Steve Wozniak's IWOZ (1400103282, $34.99) comes to life in an excellent audio narrated by winning audio narrator Patrick Lawlor, who spices up the 9 hours of unabridged cd action. Thirty years after Wozniak's dream of a personal computer, the world's been transformed – and his company Apple has risen to become an industry giant. IWOZ documents the sources of his inspiration and in audio provides even more impact than the written word. Dr. Daniel T. Drubin's LETTING GO OF YOUR BANANAS: HOW TO BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL BY GETTING RID OF EVERYTHING ROTTEN IN YOUR LIFE (1400103223, $19.99) enjoys the winning audio narrative voice of Stephen Hoye, who brings to life a step-by-step program consisting of twelve keys to liberating potential, telling how to live in the 'now' while creating a vision for the future. From confronting and moving beyond old fears to developing strategies for success, this is inspirational listening at its best – and both will find places in lending libraries strong in inspirational nonfiction.


The Sports Shelf

Sports-Talk Radio in America
John Mark Dempsey, Ph.D., editor
The Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
0789025906 $17.95 www.haworthpress.com

Edited by John Mark Dempsey, Ph.D., Sports-Talk Radio in America: Its Context and Culture is an anthology of essays by learned authors and field professionals about major, medium, and small-market stations across America with an all-sports format. Each is presented with an eye toward the individual programming strategies and charismatic personalities that made them successful. Written in mostly plain terms (and some sports-specific terminology), Sports-Talk Radio in America is as accessible to the casual sports-talk radio fan as it is to a prospective sports-talk radio station owner or professional. From WFAN and the inception of all-sports radio to WHB Kansas City "World's Happiest Broadcasters", Sports-Talk Radio in America is part history, part tribute, part testimony, and entirely enjoyable. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the field.

Yoga on Horseback
Nicole C. Cuomo & Marty Whittle
Alpine Publications
225 S. Madison Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537
1577790804 $15.95 www.alpinepub.com

Interest in yoga is growing nearly as fast as interest in horses: the melding of the two is logical culmination of two interests and YOGA ON HORSEBACK is a guide nearly alone in its survey of how to bring elements of balance and body awareness to the equestrian arena. The author is a yoga practitioner and owner of Saldare Therapy who has been riding with Marty Whittle for several years: YOGA ON HORSEBACK illustrates the basics of yoga exercises designed for horseback riders.

Hockey Play-By-Play
Jason Farris
Granville Island Publishing
212-1656 Duranleau, Vancouver BC V6H 3S4, Canada
0973901616 $37.95 www.granvilleislandpublishing.com

Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Robson delivered blow-by-blow NHL hockey reports over the airwaves for nearly thirty years, and HOCKEY PLAY-BY-PLAY captures these moments of fame, blending visuals such as tickets, programs, and Robson's handwritten game notes with 'you are there' surveys of hockey cities, events, and broadcasts from the 1970s to modern times. It's a keepsake hockey fans – and libraries strong in hockey books – will relish.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

The Pocket Deer Hunting Guide
Stephen D. Carpenteri
Stoeger Publishing
17603 Indian Head Highway, Suite 200, Accokeek, MD 20607-2501
088317331X, $9.95 www.stoegerpublishing.com

A compact and pocket-sized instructional reference, "The Pocket Deer Hunting Guide: Successful Hunting With A Rifle Or Shotgun" by expert hunter Stephen Carpenteri provides a wealth of thoroughly 'user friendly' information, advice and tips for preparing and conducting a successful hunt for the white-tailed deer. In addition to the basics on selecting rifles and shotguns, Carpenteri offers expert counsel on marksmanship, gun safety, deer cartridge performance, deer behavior and habitats, hunting locations, deer stands, ground hunting, and scent control. Of special note are the sections dealing with field dressing, butchering, and the trophy deer. Essential for the novice and offering an invaluable refresher for the seasoned hunter, "The Pocket Deer Hunting Guide" is confidently recommends as being among the best and most easily portable of all the 'how-to' books on deer hunting basics.

Guide To Pheasant Hunting
M.D. Johnson & Julia Johnson
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
081170176X, $32.95 www.stackpolebooks.com 1-800-732-3669

Seasoned pheasant hunters, M.D. Johnson and his wife Julia collaborate to provide a nostalgic but practical and informative handbook on hunting pheasants that includes strategies for conducting a successful hunt, the guns and ammo to use in hunting America's favorite game bird, what clothing to protective clothing to wear when hunting, gun dogs, hunting tactics, even tasty recipes preparing the birds for eating. Of special note is their comments and observations on pheasant conservation efforts. The text (which is profusely illustrated with the full color photography of Julia Johnson) employs amusing and illustrative anecdotes, informal interviews, and personal observations covering everything from the effects of weather on roosters to the use of nontoxic shellshots. The Johnson's "Guide to Pheasant Hunting" is very highly recommended reading – especially to those new to the sport and its incumbent responsibilities.

A Whitetail Retrospective
Boone & Crockett Club
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
0940864568 $34.95 www.booneandcrockettclub.com

Other hunting guides offer up essays on whitetail hunting – but none offer 100 years of records keeping and memorabilia combined in the gorgeous A WHITETAIL RETROSPECTIVE, the item of choice for any avid whitetail hunter. More than another essay collection, it surveys the whitetail deer records and memorabilia involved in Boone and Crockett Club archives, using plenty of vintage charts, black and white photos and more to spice an excellent history. A 'must' for any collection which has more than a casual interest in hunting; and particularly for holdings strong in literary representations.

Jig Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon
Dave Vedder
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883916, $24.95 www.amatobooks.com

Salmon fishing is an art unto itself and something very special for those dedicated anglers in search of high adventure. "Jig Fishing For Steelhead & Salmon" by veteran angler Dave Vedder covers every aspect of how to find and catch steelhead, coho, chinook, pink an chum salmon in the coastal waters and inland rivers of North America. Of special note are the informed and informative chapters on how to make your own jigs and on fishing lead jigs in the ocean for salmon. The profusely illustrated and "user friendly" information in this 96-page instruction manual is an absolute must for anyone wanting to experience for themselves the thrill of successfully matching their skills and equipment against a wiley steelhead or feisty salmon.


The Photography Shelf

In Search Of Peace
Yousef Khanfar
Art Blanc
6957 N.W. Expressway, PMB 210, Oklahoma City, OK 73003
0974732001, $50.00 www.yousefkhanfar.com

A compendium of museum-quality photography, Palestinian photographer and writer Yousef Khanfar's "In Search Of Peace" features a poetically articulate, emotionally passionate, and philosophically inspiring essay on the need for a universal healing for humanity's ills. The photographic images are organized into principle segments devoted images of awe-inspiring power and conflict inherent in natural phenomena and which reflect on the harshness of human conflict; impressionist images conveying human aspirations for freedom of expression, religion, speech, truth, peace, and love; and images that reflect peace, tranquility, and properties of the spirit that can establish a paradise of peace for the whole of the human race. "In Search Of Peace" is a unique compendium of images and a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Photography collection.

A Couple of Ways of Doing Something
Chuck Close & Bob Holman
Aperture
574 West 27th Street, New York NY 10001
1597110183 www.aperture.org

Full-page black and white close-up portrait photos of notable personalities by Chuck Close pair with poems by Bob Holman in an artistic venture which concludes with a revealing interview with the two collaborators in A Couple of Ways of Doing Something. This piece represents the best in the world of text/photo interplays: artistic, striking, and revealing, it both visually and via written word offers some starting portraits and displays the power of collaborative art. A fine pick for any serious art library holding.

Master Lighting Guide for Commercial Photographers
Robert Morrissey
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
1584281987 $34.95 www.amherstmedia.com

What skills produce top images and big sales? Lighting has a lot to do with a photo's success or failure, and the basics of commercial lighting are here revealed in a guide covering how to use and capture light. From selecting commercial equipment to creating setups and shooting using panels, grids, umbrellas and more to soften or accent lighting, Master Lighting Guide for Commercial Photographers is filled with both photo how-tos and business tips for neo-professionals. Perfect for the college-level collection strong in photography studies.

Photography in Japan 1853-1912
Terry Bennett
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
0804836337 $65.00 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Japan's change from a feudal society to a modern state is captured here in photos that cover its pivotal transitions between 1853-1912, when Commodore Perry compelled the reclusive nation to open its doors to the world. Some 400 old and vintage images from the period have been culled from museums, libraries and private holdings around the world – over half appear here for the first time – and thus no collection, even the most extensive Japan historical holding – will be duplicating by purchasing the 'must have' Photography in Japan 1853-1912. It will reach both specialty art libraries and college-level collections on Japanese history and culture alike.


The Art Shelf

Circling Around Abstraction
Georgia O'Keeffe
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
0943411491, $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Georgia O'Keeffe continues to be regarded as one of America's most creative and original painters whose work continues to influence and inspire new generations of artists long after her death."Circling Around Abstraction" beautifully traces and showcases O'Keeffe's experiments with circular forms throughout her lengthy career from hypnotic swirls in charcoal abstractions in the 1910s, through her carefully constructed still lifes of the 1920, to close-up depictions drawn from the natural world in the 1930s, to her seminal pelvis series of the 1940s, and concludes with a selection of her late paintings in which she went back to the visionary roots of her earliest days as an artist. Enhanced with a pare of informed and informative essays by exhibition curators Jonathan Stuhlman and Barbara Buhler Lynes, "Circling Around Abstraction" is an invaluable contribution to O'Keeffe studies and a critically important addition to academic library American Art History reference collections.

Rubens
Susan Lawson
Chaucer Press
20 Bloomsbury Street, London, WC1B 3JH
www.chaucer-press.com
International Publishers Marketing (distributor)
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
1904449204, $55.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756

Rubens, while best known today for his paintings, was also a collector, a diplomat, a linguist, a renowned scholar, and a master of Baroque theatricality who won acclaim for his powerful religious altarpieces and large-scale commissions for the royal courts of Europe. His profound influence on artists of future generations also rested on his superbly executed landscapes and intimate portraits of family and friends. Now the life and work of Rubens is superbly presented in an historical survey by Susan Lawson (Commissioning Editor in Contemporary Art and Visual Theory at I.B. Tauris Publishers) that put into context Ruben's politics, religious beliefs, and artistic mastery of brush and canvas. Superbly illustrated throughout, "Rubens" is divided into eight chapters ranging from his 'Life and Times', to 'Arcadia: Portraits and Landscapes', to 'Architecture and Theatre in the Mature and Late Styles', to 'Figures, Flesh, and the Rubenesque'. Enhanced with a recommended selection for further reading on the artist and his work and a core addition to any personal, academic, or community library Art History collection, "Rubens" is a strongly recommended study of meticulous scholarship that is as articulate as it is informative.

Art At Work/L' Au Travail
Victoria Henry, editor
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
0864924291, $50.00 www.gooselane.com 1-800-565-9523

Possessing more than 18,000 paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures by more than 2,500 contemporary artists which they accumulated over the past 35 years, the Canada Council Art Bank is the largest public collection in Canada outside a public gallery. Featuring a bilingual French/English text, "Art At Work" showcases a representative survey of the artwork created by some of the best of Canada's aborigines. Compiled and edited by Victoria Henry (Director of the Canada Council Art Bank), "Art At Work" is profusely illustrated with full color photography and the informative contributions of Adrienne Clarkson (Governor General of Canada from 1999-2005 and selector of many Art Bank pieces); Toronto critic and independent curator Peggy Gale; art historian, consultant, freelance researcher and writer Pierre Landry; David P. Silcox (the Canada Council's first arts officer); and noted photographic artist and curator Jeffrey M. Thomas. "Art At Work" is a seminal work of impressive dimensions and a welcome addition to Canadian Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Romance Of Modernism
George T. M. Shackelford
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
0878467092, $50.00 www.mfa-publications.org 1-800-338-2665

Scott M. Black was named one of the world's top 200 art collectors by ARTnews magazine and is well known for his more than twenty years of collecting Impressionist, Post-impressionist, and Modernist works. The Scott M. Black collection includes sculptures by Rodin, Maillol, and Moore, paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Leger, Picasso, Braque, Vuillard, Signac, De Chirico, Miro, and magritte; as well as works on paper by Chagall, Pissarro, and Dega. Now for the first time, the general public can appreciate the breadth and depth of this superb collection with "The Romance Of Modernism: Paintings And Sculputre From The Scott M. Black Collection". Showcasing 60 representative items from the collection as carefully selected by George Shackelford, "The Romance Of Modernism" offers a panoramic and informative survey of the Modernist period from 1870 to 1970. Indeed, "The Romance Of Modernism" is an important and seminal addition to personal, community, and academic library Art History reference collections.

Phaidon Press Inc.
180 Varick Street, 14th Floor, New York NY 10014
www.phaidon.com

If you're a regular New Yorker reader you already know the works of Jean-Jacques Sempe, but having them all together under one cover is a treat, and these new reprint collections cover the extent of his best-loved works. EVERYTHING IS COMPLICATED (0714845426, $24.95) excels in irony and pointed observations here: cartoons cover everything from tourism to unruly kids and represent the second Sempe volume published in France. His NOTHING IS SIMPLE (0714844837, $24.95) was the first book of his drawings, originally published in 1962: it offers engaging drawings, watercolors, and hilarious insights, all in black and white.

Factory Records
Matthew Robertson
Chronicle Books
85 Second Street, San Francisco CA 94105
0811856429 $35.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

FACTORY RECORDS: THE COMPLETE GRAPHIC ALBUM could have been featured in our Music Shelf area but is profiled here for its artistic visual inspection of one British music label's eye-catching covers and productions. Notes for each production outline the varying graphic design choices which made the albums notable and different, making this a fine choice not just for contemporary music libraries but for art library holdings strong in graphic arts representations.


The Humor Shelf

Hank Ketcham's Complete Dennis The Menace 1955-56: Volume 3
Hank Ketcham
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City Way, NE , Seattle, WA 98115
1560977701, $24.95 www.fantagraphics.com 1-800-657-1100

The brain child of cartoonist Hank Ketcham, Dennis the Menace became an American favorite and a staple of the comic section of newspapers across the country. Ketcham's mischievous little boy was so popular that the character also appeared in comic books, a television series, and even the movies. Fantagraphic Books has been compiling the Dennis the Menace series for a new generation of readers and has now released the third volume which covers the newspaper cartoons published from 1955 and 1956. Very highly recommended for academic and community library American Popular Culture reference collections, this Dennis the Menace series is a 'must' for American comics buffs in general, and the legions of Hank Ketcham fans particular. For those new to this series, or who have an interest in American comics art and history, visit the Fantagraphics Books website for a complete listing of their available cartoon and graphic novel titles.

Try Rebooting Yourself
Scott Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
0740761900 $10.95 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Fans of the Dilbert comic strip will relish this new collection featuring black and white strips from some of the latest office antics. It will take an office worker to truly understand the organizational structures and business politics Dilbert is mocking – but there's a wide audience out there for his humor and TRY REBOOTING YOURSELF is packed with fun and ironies not to be missed. General-interest libraries and prior Dilbert fans alike will love it.


The Education Shelf

Where You Stand Is Where You Sit
Robert V. Smith, author
Dusty Higgins, illustrator
The University of Arkansas Press
201 Ozark, Fayetteville, AR 72701
1557288305 $19.95 www.uapress.com

Written by Robert V. Smith (Provost and Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of Arkansas), Where You Stand Is Where You Sit is a no-nonsense guide for academic administrators of all stripes, from provosts and vice-presidents to deans to department chairs and administrative support professionals. Chapters cover how to communicate effectively with one's supervisor, the model of the integrated scholar, common joys, challenges and failures of professional life, common conflicts of interest or commitment that can arise, and much more. Where You Stand Is Where You Sit literally tells it like it is, and will prove as invaluable to those contemplating or just starting out in an administrative academic career as to those who are already long-time veterans in the field. Highly recommended.

Improving Your School One Week at a Time
Jeffrey Zoul
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
1596670274 $24.95 www.eyeoneducation.com

Written by Jeffrey Zoul, a principal with 20 years of teaching experience in the elementary, middle, and high school levels, Improving Your School One Week at a Time: Building the Foundation for Professional Teaching and Learning is a week-by-week guide to fostering better living, working, and study conditions in any school. Each week recommends addressing a different topic - from school safety to strategies for English as a second language students to test taking considerations, adopting a focus toward homework as small amounts of meaningful work rather than large amounts of busywork, improving communication between teachers and parents, and much more. Improving Your School One Week at a Time is a complete, user-friendly yearlong manual by itself, yet comes with a bonus - those who purchase a copy may enter a code online to download each of the "37 Friday Focus" memos from the publisher's website, and then customize them to apply to the specific needs and context of one's school. An invaluable step-by-step resource.

Early Entrance to College
Michelle C. Muratori, Ph.D.
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
1593631995 $18.95 www.prufrock.com

Written by Michelle C. Muratori, Ph.D., an experienced counselor for gifted young adults who enter college early, Early Entrance to College: A Guide to Success is a straightforward guide for young people and their families to the many challenges and rewards of embarking on a part-time or full-time college career one, two, or even three or more years sooner than usual. Chapters address factors affecting academic, social, and emotional adjustment to college, as well as expert views and opinions on early college entrance. Of especial importance are the chapters that stress why some who gain early entrance to college succeed and some do not, and the do's and don'ts to prepare for the transition and keep one's momentum once enrolled. An absolute "must-have" for anyone considering early college entrance, and packed with valuable information for anyone considering college regardless of age.

Recipe for Great Teaching
Anita Moultrie Turner
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
0761939989 $22.95 www.corwinpress.com

Written by teacher and teacher-trainer Anita Moultrie Turner, Recipe for Great Teaching: 11 Essential Ingredients is an easy-to-comprehend, go-to guide filled with valuable advice especially for grade and high school teachers. Using a cooking motif as metaphor, Recipe for Great Teaching is filled cover to cover with techniques for successful curriculum planning, strategies for creating environments that promote learning, witty classroom stories and quotations, valuable advice for being fair and consistent ("Address undesirable behavior when it first occurs - unchecked misbehavior may result in a greater disruption down the line"), and much more, all served up with a dash of humor for spice. Highly recommended.

Connecting Leadership With Learning
Michael A. Copland & Michael S. Knapp
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
1416604049 $27.95 www.ascd.org/books

Written by Michael A. Copland and Michael S. Knapp (assistant professor and professor, respectively, of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, at the Univ. of Washington), Connecting Leadership with Learning: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action is a guide especially for school leaders to help teachers increase their own knowledge, improve the instructional environment of schools, and ensure learning among all students. Chapters discuss how to establish a focus on equitable learning, the value of building professional communities, organizational skills for acting strategically and delegating leadership, advice for creating a unified leadership vision, and much more. Numerous charts condense the main bullet points of the text into at-a-glance summaries that can be quickly absorbed and put in practice. Describing 23 different leadership "pathways" that have been put into practice, and drawing upon numerous real-life examples of the Leading for Learning Framework in action, Connecting Leadership with Learning is a solid guide enthusiastically recommended for educators everywhere.

Professors' Guide To Getting Good Grades In College
Lynn F. Jacobs & Jeremy S. Hyman
Collins
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
0060879084, $15.95 www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737

The collaborative effort of Lyn F. Jacobs (Associate Professor of Art History, University of Arkansas) and academician Jeremy s. Hyman (who manages 'Professors' Guide' projects), "Professors' Guide To Getting Good Grades In College" shows college and university students on how to pick courses with an eye to good grades; ten tips on effectively taking lecture notes; successful test-preparation and test-taking strategies; strategies and tactics for staying academically motivated; and perhaps most importantly – how to get the most from classroom and seminar professors. Of special note is the section on 'The 4 Hazards of the Last Month of the Semester". Especially recommended for students new to college, as well as university students needing to improve their scholastic performance, "Professors' Guide To Getting Good Grades In College" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and an invaluable self-help manual for securing a successful academic performance.

Non-Fiction Writing Strategies
Marcia S. Freeman
Maupin House
PO Box 90148, Gainesville, FL 32607-0148
0929895371 $19.95 www.maupinhouse.com 1-800-524-0634

Author and internationally known writing-education consultant Marcia S. Freeman presents Non-Fiction Writing Strategies: Using Science Big Books as Models, a resource especially for primary and elementary school teachers (K-5) charged with the responsibility of teaching young people how to write. From basic strategies for instructing children in writing class fundamentals, to an assortment of student examples, practice activities and assessment procedures, to tips, tricks, and techniques for preparing young students to do well on performance-based tests, Non-Fiction Writing Strategies is packed cover to cover with invaluable guidelines, suggestions, and inspirations for teachers of all experience levels. Highly recommended.

The Words Came Down!
Emelie Parker & Tess Pardini
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
1571104143 $20.00 wwww.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812

Written by National Board Certified Teachers Emelie Parker & Tess Pardini, "The Words Came Down!" English Language Learners Read, Write and Talk Across the Curriculum K-2 is a resource especially of teachers charged with instructing English language-learning students - usually, students whose parents are functionally illiterate in English. These young people need to learn English-language fluency for their family's sake as well as their own; workshop-structured chapters show teachers tested methodologies to achieve just that. Oral language is emphasized for communication, teacher modeling, and demonstration in The Words Came Down!, but written language instruction is also covered at length. Strategies to aid teachers in learning to adjust to the needs of each individual child, and guidelines for including English-language learning students in all aspects of the day form the heart and soul of this excellent workshop guide, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Highly recommended for K-2 ELL educators everywhere.

Reading Doesn't Matter Anymore…
David Booth
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3400
1571104925 $15.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812

Professor Emeritus David Booth applies his thirty-plus years of experience in training teachers to use innovative ways of promoting literacy among children of all ages Reading Doesn't Matter Anymore… Shattering the Myths of Literacy. Chapters address how reading has evolved far beyond the traditional Dick and Jane picturebooks and works of classic literature to encompass the internet, comic books, technical manuals, graphic novels, iPods, and much more. Chapters stress how the very use of technology, crucial to keeping up with drastic changes in today's modern world, is a form of literacy; explore how words themselves work; emphasize the importance of focusing on literacy in every subject of the school curriculum; and much more. Part reasoned philosophy, part "how-to" guide for teachers, part celebration of the transformation of reading into an invaluable skill affecting multiple dimensions of modern life, Reading Doesn't Matter Anymore... is enthusiastically recommended for grade school and high school educators everywhere.

I Get By With a Little Help… Colleague Support in Schools
Bill Rogers
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412921198 $32.95 www.sagepub.com 1-800-818-7243

Written by teacher and education consultant Bill Rogers, I Get By With a Little Help… Colleague Support in Schools is an honest account of how colleague support can be crucial to fostering well-being, professional esteem, and professional coping with the rigors and challenges of teaching. Chapters draw upon Rogers' experience and highlight the key personal and relational influences of colleague support, and offer recommendations for building such support in one's own school system, the better to foster adaptive unity. I Get By With a Little Help is enthusiastically recommended for educators and school administrators of all types of schools and educational institutions.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Essential Krav Maga
Christopher Philippe
Blue Snake Books
c/o North Atlantic Books
1435 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1583941681, $16.95 www.bluesnakebooks.com 1-800-788-3123

'Krav maga' is a martial arts fighting style developed for the Israeli armed forces and is respected for its simplicity, speed, and efficiency. With "The Essential Krav Maga", Christopher Philippe presents the first and very strongly recommended instruction manual that includes self-defense strategies against empty-handed opponents; assailants armed with sticks, knives, handguns, and long guns; how to protect a companion; as well as krav maga strategies against multiple foes. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Essential Krav Maga" is a core addition to personal and professional marital arts reference collections and supplemental study lists.


The Nature Shelf

Dry Borders
Richard Stephen Felger & Bill Broyles, editors
The University of Utah Press
1795 E. South Campus Dr., #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
0874808197 $45.00 www.uofupress.com 1-800-773-6672

Edited by natural historian Richard Stephen Felger and research associate Bill Broyles, Dry Borders: Great Natural Reserves of the Sonoran Desert is an in-depth natural history reference and resource of the Sonoran Desert in southwestern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Chapters examine the Sonoran Desert's geography, geology, flora and fauna, indigenous people, aquatic life of the adjoining gulf, and much more. An inset selection of color plates a geographic dictionary of place names, and an index round out this comprehensive guide accessible to lay readers, natural history enthusiasts and scientists alike.


The Woodworking Shelf

Traditional Wooden Toys
Cyril Hobbins
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
193350210X, $24.95 www.lindenpub.com 1-800-345-4447

In "Traditional Wooden Toys: Their History And How To Make Them", woodworking expert Cyril Hobbins provides aspiring woodworkers with colorfully illustrated, step-by-step, do-it-yourself instructions for a broad range of traditional wooden toys, dolls and games from cultures and countries around the world. These are toys that have provided entertainment for countless generations of children. Informed and informative reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history of toys and toymaking, "Traditional Wooden Toys" is especially recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library woodworking reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Making Decoys The Century Old Way
Grayson C. Chesser and Curtis J. Badger
Cornell Maritime Press Inc.
101 Water Way, PO Box 456, Centreville, MD 21617
0870335790 $24.95 www.cmptp.com

Written by expert decoy caver Grayson C. Chesser and wildlife art expert Curtis J. Badger, "Making Decoys The Century Old Way" is a step-by-step guide to carving, painting, weighing and rigging, and using lifelike waterfowl decoys. Black-and-white and color photographs illustrate each phase of traditional decoy crafting, including basic carving patterns, and the easy-to-follow text walks woodworkers of all skill and experience levels through the process. This new and expanded edition of "Making Decoys The Century Old Way" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone with an interest in true do-it-yourself waterfowling and decoy woodworking.


The Parenting Shelf

A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children
James T. Webb, et al.
Great Potential Press Inc.
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
0910707529 $24.95 www.giftedbooks.com

Written by the team of James T. Webb, Ph.D., Janet L. Gore, M.Ed., Edward R. Amend, Psy.D. and Arlene R. DeVries, M.S.E, A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children is a well-rounded resource written especially for parents and lay readers. Chapters cover the characteristics of gifted children, emotional concerns such as unhappiness and depression, guidelines for aiding gifted children in the social development when they often have more in common with a notably older peer group than children their own age, concerns for "twice-exceptional" children who are gifted in one area and disadvantaged in another, and much more. Extensive endnotes, references, and an index round out this sensible, "must-have" for parents of gifted children.

Your Baby Can Read!
Robert Titzer
Smart Kids
c/o Penton Overseas, Inc.
1958 Kellogg Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008
1591256674, $79.95 www.YourBabyCan.com 1-877-881-READ

Carefully designed by Robert Titzer (an acclaimed expert in infancy research and an educator for more than 15 years), "Your Baby Can Read!" is a complete system of do-it-yourself activities that parents can easily and naturally use to encourage their infants and toddlers to understand the written word just as they are also learning to use spoken words. This simply outstanding and thoroughly 'user friendly' boxed DVD set system utilizes songs, poems, animals, and children in a multi-sensory, interactive approach that is as effective as it is fun for both children and their parents. Included is a complete overview of the program, an orientation to help parents get started with their children, and a parent's 'how to'. The sliding word and picture cards are specifically designed to be a companion set for the "Your Baby Can Read!" DVDs. The included blank, erasable Learn to Read word card provides parents with the means to teach their children an unlimited amount of new words. "Your Baby Can Read!" is confidently recommended for parents wanting to insure that their children have all the advantages when it comes to cognitive development and learning skills.

There Are No Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter
Laura J. Buddenberg & Kathleen M. McGee
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010
1889322717 $12.95 www.boystownpress.org 1-800-282-6657

Written by mothers and Girls and Boys Town workshop presenters Laura J. Buddenberg and Kathleen M. McGee, There Are No Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter: Surviving the Pitfalls of Teen Relationships is a "must-read" guide for parents about the teen dating scene - including and especially the dramatic changes that have taken place within it since the rise of email, text messaging, instant messaging, blogging, and other forms of cyber communication. There Are No Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter is a thoroughly comprehensive guide covering everything from how to set limits to ensure children's safety, how to keep the lines of communication open, how to gently and respectfully break up (in a non-abusive relationship - anyone in an abusive relationship owes the other person no explanations when getting out), how to deal with the pain of rejection, how to recognize and terminate physically or emotionally abusive relationships, talking about sex with teens, and much more. A plain-spoken, readily understandable guide, highly recommended for mothers, fathers, and legal guardians of teens everywhere - and also for teens themselves!


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

What Makes You Not a Buddhist
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
Shambhala Publications, Inc
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
1590304063 $19.95 www.shamhala.com

What Makes You Not a Buddhist is a one-of-a-kind expression of the four basic points of Buddhism written for the sake of the general public, by Tibetan Buddhist master Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse. What Makes You Not a Buddhist presents the tenets of Buddhism as a set of four challenging questions: Can you accept that all things are impermanent and that there is no essential substance or concept that is permanent? Can you accept that all emotions bring pain and suffering and that there is no emotion that is purely pleasurable? Can you accept that all phenomena are illusory and empty? Can you accept that enlightenment is beyond concepts; that it's not a perfect blissful heaven but instead a release from delusion? If one's answer to these four questions is an unambiguous "yes", then according to Khyentse, one is truly a Buddhist. Written in an amiable tone and primarily in plain terms, What Makes You Not a Buddhist is highly accessible to lay readers and enthusiastically recommended for anyone seriously contemplating Buddhism as the faith of choice for oneself.


The Biography Shelf

Adolph Hitler: A Portrait
Michael Fitzgerald
Spellmount Publishers Ltd.
The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud, Gloucstershire, GL5 2QG
1862273227, 20.00 (British Pounds) mikfitz@lycos.com www.spellmount.com

There have been dozens of biographies on Adolph Hitler. Not surprising in view of his impact on Europe and the world in the early decades of the 20th century. Michael FitzGerald's biography differs from the others in several significant ways. Readers are presented with a portrait of Hitler that arising from the influence of Western European art, architecture and culture on his 'world view'. FitzGerald reveals that Hitler was the first European leader to adopt radical economic policies which were primarily responsible for bringing Germany out of the disastrous recession and runaway inflation brought about by the draconian provisions forced upon the nation by the victorious Allies after World War I. It will come as a surprise to most readers that Hitler was also the first world leader to adopt 'green' policies for his countries natural environment. An impressively researched, deftly written, and confidently recommended biography, "Adolph Hitler: A Portrait" also reveals the origins of Hitler's anti-Semitism and the very curious and unexpected phenomena of high-ranking anti-Semitic Jews within the Nazi Party.

Continental Liar From the State of Maine
Neil Rolde
Tilbury House Publishers
2 Mechanic Street #3, Gardiner, Maine 04345
0884482863 $20.00 www.tilburyhouse.com

Written by prize-winning historian and former Maine politician Neil Rolde, Continental Liar From the State of Maine: James G. Blaine is the true story of the American presidential campaign of 1884, the so-called "dirtiest campaign in American history", when Republican James G. Blaine came within 1,047 votes of becoming president. Yet his career, as spectacular as any of the "Gilded Age", did not end there; he served twice as U.S. secretary of state, became a Speaker of the House of Congress, and a U.S. senator for his adopted state of Maine. Credited with initiating America's progression down the path to acting like a world power, Blaine's unofficial nicknames ranged from "The Plumed Knight" to "Slippery Jim" to "The Continental Liar from the State of Maine." A singularly fascinating biography of a shrewd, powerful, charismatic politician who dominated the American stage from just before the Civil War to nearly the turn of the century, Continental Liar From the State of Maine is a fascinating read from cover to cover, offering insights into political leadership, scandal, and backdoor dealing that are as applicable today as they were over a hundred years ago.

Behind the Veil
Debra Johanyak
The University of Akron Press
Akron, OH 44325-1703
1931968403 $24.95 www.uakron.edu/uapress

Written by Debra Johanyak, Behind the Veil: An American Woman's Memoir of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis is an outstanding personal testimony by a wife and mother with dual Iranian and American citizenship. Married to an Iranian man, she lived in Iran and taught English before and after the 1979 revolution, and watched the events of the American embassy hostage crisis with trepidation. Her husband's family embraced her warmly, yet the building pressure from Islamic fundamentalists placed heavy strain on her daily life and her hopes of staying. She also came to terms to her identity as a Christian in an Islamic country, and had to learn to balance acceptance of traditional customs with her own feminist values. Eventually, despite the support and good character of so many fellow individuals, she had to leave Iran due to threat of violence; Behind the Veil chronicles her physical and spiritual pilgrimage, her memories good and bad of the nation's people, and her insights into cultural and historical gulfs. Highly recommended for up-close and personal insight into Iran's dynamic character, as well as for the fascinating story of the author's search for her own path.


The Automotive Shelf

Ford Mustang 1964 1/2 - 1973
Pat Covert
Specialty Press
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
1580070795, $22.95 www.specialtypress.com 1-800-895-4585

Part of the Specialty Press 'Musclecar Tech' series, "Ford Mustang 1964 1/2 - 1973" by Pat Covert covers the finishes, materials, and parts for each year of the popular Mustang and enables dedicated restorers to bring their Mustang back to authentic, mint condition. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Ford Mustang 1964 1/2 - 1973" provides detailed views of the car body, including the chassis and undercarriage, drivetrain and engine bay, as well as the interior. Straight profile, front and reader views are printed to scale. Informative sidebars include production numbers, performance figures, paint, trim, and interior codes and colors. A work of impressive detail, "Ford Mustang 1964 1/2 - 1973" is a 'must' for car fans in general, and Mustang restorers in particular.


The Library Science Shelf

Read the High Country
John Mort
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
1591581346 $60.00 www.lu.com

Read the High Country: A Guide to Western Books and Films is a no-nonsense book and film selection guide created especially for librarians and anyone else seeking to choose just the right cross-section of novels and movies from the Western genre. Describing approximately 2,000 titles grouped by subgenre and theme, Read the High Country includes the classics by such well-known authors as Max Brand, Louis L'Amour, Zane Grey, Elmer Kelton, as well as contemporary "novels of the West" by author such as Annie Proulx, Louise Erdrich, and Larry McMurtry, and much more. Cover works aimed toward readers in grades 10 and up, Read the High Country is an intuitively organized, easy-to-use media selection guide.

Technology and Copyright Law
Arlene Bielefeld & Lawrence Cheeseman
Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc,
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
1555705707 $65.00 www.neal-schman.com

Written by legal and library science experts Arlene Bielefeld and Lawrence Cheeseman, the newly updated and expanded second edition Technology and Copyright Law: A Guide for the Library, Research, and Teaching Professions is a straightforward, practical manual for adhering to legal conventions. Chapters spell out the requirements of copyright legislation as affected by current information technology, the future of copyright as technology continues to evolve, what is and is not covered by "fair use", special exemptions for the blind and others with disabilities, international copyright agreements, and much more. Technology and Copyright Law is precisely worded and slightly dry in tone, covering its subject in depth while remaining as accessible as possible to the serious-minded library professional. Recommended as an intermediate to advanced level resource and reference for library personnel.

New On The Job
Ruth Toor & Hilda K. Weisburg
ALA Editions
50 East Hurnon Street, Chicago, IL 60611
0838909248 $38.00 www.alastore.ala.org

Library media consultants Ruth Toor and Hilda K. Weisburg present New on the Job: A School Library Media Specialist's Guide to Success, a compendium of tips, tricks, and techniques drawn from experience, gathered and presented for school librarians in general and school library media specialists in particular. Chapters cover how to secure a job, connecting with students and teachers, dealing with advances in technology, career ethics and standards, and much more. Written in plain terms, with numerous "write your answer in the blank" questions for personal insight (such as, "What is the procedure for opening blocked websites? Who has the authority to do so?" with a blank underneath so one can learn the answer and write it down for quick reference later). A "Key Ideas" summary reinforces the lessons of each chapter, in this enthusiastically recommended supplementary resource for library media specialists, sure to prove useful to veterans in addition to its target audience of career beginners.


The Poetry Shelf

Black Velvet Elvis
J.D. Black
The Porcupine's Quill Inc.
68 Main St., Erin, Ontario N0B IT0
0889842779 $16.95 www.sentex.net/~pql

The debut poetry collection of J.D. Black, Black Velvet Elvis is a unique free-verse compilation that varies in tone from gritty and brutal to urgent to painfully awash with memories. From the loss suffered by a Holocaust survivor, to the sudden manifestation of the fierce wolf within an ordinary dog, to the recurring figure of a menacing redneck and a guest appearance by the sadly diminished presence of "The King" Elvis Presley, Black Velvet Elvis keeps the reader guessing with its heart-rending surprises up to the very last poem. "Nonet: Cheshire Cat": Cheshire Cat (who'd lain dangling a shin, / Straddling a branch, lazy as sin, / Lashing his tail in chagrin / With a slow tail-tip spin) / Vanished like a jinn, / From tail-tip in, / Past his chin, / To thin / Grin.

The Kitchen Sink
Albert Goldbarth
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
1555974627, $26.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077

Award winning poet, essays and novelist Albert Goldbarth is an accomplished and prolific writer whose distinctive voice showcases one of the best and most imaginatively original minds creating literature today. A highly recommended and core contribution to personal, academic, and community library poetry collections, "The Kitchen Sink: New & Selected Poems 1972-2007 is a retrospective of his signature verse that spans a career of more than thirty-five years. "A Photo of a Lover from My Junior Year in College": Or the Earth: One half in sun,/one half in darkness.//The planet can be its two selves at once./Not us; we're either asleep, or awake.//We're either walking over the countless graves,/or in them. Here, or there.//We rarely pay attention to the moment of transition./Blood, being oxygenated. Love, when it's still just chemicals.//She has one of her arms in an arm of her blouse,/and the other one wonderfully not.

Come-By-Chance
Carl Leggo
Breakwater Books
100 Water Street, St. John's, NL, Canada A1C 6E6
1550810820, $14.95 www.breakwaterbooks.com

The latest addition to the Newfoundland Poetry Series, "Come-By-Chance" is a fascinating, engaging, highly recommended compilation of deftly written poetry by Carl Leggo who is a poet as well as a professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia. 'Traces': Three gulls, gray and white, gasp/in a gust of winter wind.//On the hill next door,/spruce trees like stoic giants/guard the deserted house.//The day is a Gerry Squires lithography,/lines of light etched lightly.//In this place where we dwell for a year/before resuming our old lives,/we leave a swathe pressed by snowshoes,//but our tracks fill up almost as fast/as we walk, leaving few traces//as the gulls write a long story/with the quills of their wings/filled with India ink and hoarfrost.

Uncoded Woman
Anne-Marie Oomen
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
1571314253, $14.95 www.milkweed.org 1-800-520-6455

"Uncoded Woman" is a compilation of rather impressive and highly recommended verse by poet, playwright and essayist Anne-Marie Oomen (Founding Editor of the 'Dunes Review' and Chair of the Creative Writing Department at Interlochen Arts Academy). All of the individual poems (each of which is headed by semaphore letters) combine to tell the story of a woman named Bead and her search for a safe harbor which involves ship's pennants and how they are used to communicate – and miscommunicate. 'UC - Is a Pilot Available in This Place?': Only one birch here not yet gone/to blight, dirty sleeve shines/its tattered column even in/this spring racked with fog.//Not yet riddled with punk, it holds/up a night sky that's too close,/holds up blind stars who see who I am,/not who I could be. I follow its rules://Hide in the dark./Stand alone./Move when the wind does./Don't talk.

One Season Behind
Sarah Rosenblatt
Carnegie Mellon University Press
5032 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15289-1021
0887484662, $14.95 www.cmu.edu/universitypress 1-414-405-8471

Wisconsin poet Sarah Rosenblatt has had her verse appear in such publications as 'The Clark Street Review', 'Ploughshares', 'Poetry East', 'The Portland Review, and 'Free Verse', as well as in the pages of "American Poetry: The Next Generation". "One Season Behind" is a compendium of her compelling poems that will well serve to introduce readers to one of Wisconsin's best when it comes to contemporary poetry. 'Outgrowing Our Homeland Security': This leader had always had more than enough,/like certain girls in grade school/who acted as if they had an edge/on the rest of us.//In the cafe a homeless woman/turns from person to person/asking if he or she/is angry with her.//A well-kept woman/waits for her coffee,/looks straight ahead–/not intending to face/up to anyone's gaze.

Aqua Regia
F. J. Bergmann
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
1893311872, $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

F. J. Bergmann is the kind of award winning poet who sells used books, has had considerable experience training horses, has illustrated a manual of interesting diseases, and was even a rural postal carrier. These days she contributes her verse and commentary to madpoetry.org and has her own website at www.fibitz.com "Aqua Regia" is a little chapbook compendium of her own very special prose poetry that entertains, reminisces, and occasional inspires thoughtful reflection. 'Summer': it is best to succumb/soon after the solstice/just before warm dusk/in the dwindling amber/gold striking through trees/to stroke our naked skins/in shadowy quagga stripes/cinnamon bracken rustles/far away the phalarope sings

Hunger for Light
Stephen Browning, poet
Kalani Engles, monotype illustrations
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel, Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
1564744612 $20.00 www.danielpublishing.com 1-800-662-8351

Written by Stephen Browning, whose work has appeared in such distinguished literary magazines as "The Southern Review", "Poetry Northwest", and "The Western Humanities Review", and illustrated with striking black-and-white monotypes by museum-exhibited artist Kalani Engles, Hunger for Light is a sublime blend of free-verse expression and powerful imagery. The brief, free-verse poems touch upon both simple and eternal concepts, celebrating human impressions and emotions awakened by the natural world and especially through the lush grandeur of all types of vegetation. "Yes": Maybe it was a lotus / lifting its head above the mud // set Coleridge wishing that / like Vishnu, dreamer of worlds, // he could float, asleep / on the infinite ocean, // cradled in a lotus flower, / and every few million years // wake for a moment / simply to reaffirm // he could go back to sleep / for a few million more.

The World in a Frame
Emily Dickinson, author
Will Barnet, illustrator
Pomegranate Communications, Inc.
PO Box 808022 Petaluma, CA 94975-8022
0764937197 $30.00 www.pomegranate.com

The World in a Frame is a hardbound, high-quality collection of forty-six classic poems by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), illustrated with two dozen black-and-white drawings by Will Barnet. Barnet's shaded and often somber art style adds a thoughtful dimension to Dickinson's timeless verse. An introduction by Christopher Benfey rounds out this highly recommended especially for connoisseurs of exquisite literature and emotional art. "The Spider as an Artist / Has never been employed- / Though his surpassing Merit / Is freely certified // By every Broom and Bridget / Throughout a Christian Land- / Neglected Son of Genius / I take thee by the Hand-"


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Renewable Energy Handbook
William H. Kemp
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0, Canada
0973323329 $29.95 www.newsociety.com

Consulting electronics and software designer and green technology advocate William H. Kemp presents The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living, a handbook to home improvement via stretching one's energy dollars and supporting environmental concerns through powering one's home with clean, dependable, renewable energy. Especially valuable for homeowners who live far from utility poles and power grids, but useful for all homeowners, The Renewable Energy Handbook covers energy-efficient home design considerations, especially factors that should be taken into account when renovating an older home; tips for appliance selection; an in-depth primer for off-grid living; electrical production through photovoltaic means, wind turbines, micro hydro electricity production, batteries, and fossil fuel backup power sources; how to apply and connect all the different aspects of green power safely; and much more. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this home improvement guide for readers of all backgrounds. The Renewable Energy Handbook is for both energy-conscious do-it-yourselfers and homeowners seeking to educate themselves on what exactly they need to know before they call in a professional. In today's world of oil crises, electrical blackouts, high gas prices and increasing environmental depredations, The Renewable Energy Handbook is a "must-have" for homeowners everywhere.


The Philosophy Shelf

Sentience and Sensibility
Matthew R. Silliman
Parmenides Publishing
3753 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 200, Las Vegas 89109
1930972075 $32.00 www.parmenides.com

Written by philosophy professor Matthew R. Silliman, Sentience and Sensibility: A Conversation About Moral Philosophy is a treatise written in the venerable format of philosophical dialogue between individuals, in which characters actively challenge each other to clarify their ideas and defend their reasoning. Eschewing excessive technical language to remain accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Sentience and Sensibility explores both traditional and fresh takes on weighty philosophical issues such as the nature and origin of moral values, the moral status of animals, problems of partiality, racism and moral perfectionism, and much more. A thought-provoking examination of fundamental philosophical morality quandaries affecting humankind from ancient times to the modern day.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Women Shaping Islam
Pieternella Van Doorn-Harder
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
0252073177 $27.00 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

Written by Pieternella Van Doorn-Harder (associate professor of Islam and World Religions, Valparaiso University), Women Shaping Islam: Reading the Qur'an in Indonesia is an exploration of the active role Muslim women have played in the religious culture of Indonesia, the largest majority-Muslim country in the world. Though a large amount of the Muslim world excludes women from religious authority, Indonesia's two leading Muslim organizations have crafted networks led by women who interpret sacred texts and wield notable religious influence. Women Shaping Islam discusses the history, current standing, and future of women in both these organizations (the Muhammadiyah and the Nahdlatul Ulama) with a scholarly eye toward accuracy, meticulous detail, and cultural context. An invaluable insight into the great sphere of influence of female Indonesian religious leaders, and a "must-read" for all students and scholars examining Islam and the Muslim world.

Teaching Islam
Eleanor Abdella Doumato & Gregory Starrett, editors
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th St., Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301-1026
1588264505 $55.00 www.rienner.com

Edited by Eleanor Abdella Doumato (visiting fellow, Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University) and Gregory Starrett (professor of anthropology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Teaching Islam: Textbooks and Religion in the Middle East is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors concerning the political and social priorities underlying religious education in nine Middle Eastern countries. One essay is devoted to Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, The Palestinian National Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey; three additional essays examine the role of Islamic textbook creation and the impact of Islamic teaching methods upon the populace of a given nation state. An invaluable close scrutiny, especially in the wake of the September 11th attacks and accusations that textbooks fostering violence have heavily infiltrated Saudi Arabia and the Muslim world. Highly recommended.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Graphic Classics: H.P. Lovecraft
Simon Gane, et al.
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove Road, Mount Horeb, WI 59572
0974664898, $11.95 www.graphicclassics.com

H.P. Lovecraft was a reclusive and idiosyncratic New England writer whose horror fantasy stories were to influence generations of authors down to the present day. Now seven of his macabre tales have been illustrated by a series of skilled artists into the newly revised and enlarged second edition of the fourteen volume of the increasingly impressive Graphic Classics series from Eureka Productions. The illustrated stories comprising "Graphic Classics; H.P. Lovecraft" include 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' (Simon Gane); 'Dreams in the Witch-House' (Pedro Lopez); 'The Shadow Out of Time' (Matt Howarth); 'The Cats of Ulthar' (Lisa K. Weber); 'The Terrible Old Man' (Onsmith Jeremi); 'Sweet Ermengarde' (one of Lovecrafts attempts at comedy and illustrated by Kevin Atkinson); and 'Herbert West: Reanimator' (presented in four chapters illustrated by Richard Corben, Rick Geary, J.B. Bonivert, and Mark A. Nelson respectively). A 'must' for the legions of Lovecraft fans and very highly recommended reading for graphic novel enthusiasts, this second edition 'Graphic Classics: H.P. Lovecraft" is enhanced with the addition of illustrations by Skot Olsen, Gerry Alanguilan, Jim Nelson, and Maxon Crumb.

American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang
First Second (Roaring Brook Press)
c/o Holtzbrinck Publishing
143 West Street, New Millford, CT 06776
www.roaringbrookpress.com 1-800-462-4703
1596431520 $16.95 www.firstsecondbooks.net

Written by Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese is a full color graphic novel that uses a simple, vivid style of color illustration to contrast parallel narratives of Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy who longs to fit in and date his attractive high school classmate; Danny, a boy plagued by yearly visits from his cousin Chin-Kee who embodies every hateful Chinese stereotype imaginable; and the Monkey King, a mythical character from ancient fables whose pride and stubborn defiance against the will of Creator Tze-Yo-Tzuh resulted in his imprisonment under a mountain for five hundred years. Just as the Monkey King was ashamed of being a monkey and sought to hide or overcome it, young Jin Wang is ashamed of his Chinese heritage and longs to hide it. The three stories come together in a surprising climax, in this candidly told, utterly absorbing modern American fable. Highly recommended.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Swords and Plowshares
Edwin C. Goldberg
URJ Press
PO Box 933364, Atlanta, GA 31193-3664
080740943X $14.95 www.urjpress.com

Written by Edwin C. Goldberg, D.H.L., Swords and Plowshares: Jewish Views of War and Peace collects excerpts from biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and contemporary texts in search of answers to the question: What insights can Judaism offer on the problems of war, violence and terrorism? The volatile modern-day situation in the Middle East demonstrates that now more than ever is the time for greater religious understanding concerning what faith has to say about protecting oneself through war and fostering prosperity through peace. Some passages are presented in both their original Hebrew and in English translation for the reader's benefit; all are dissected at length with scholarly precision, in this insightful account.

The Way Into Judaism and the Environment
Jeremy Benstein, Ph.D.
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, RT4, Woodstock, VT 05091
158023268X $24.99 www.jewishlights.com

Jeremy Benstein, Ph.D. applies his extensive studies and knowledge of rabbinic literature and environmental ethics in The Way Into Judaism and the Environment, a serious-minded discussion of the role Judaism needs to play in proper stewardship of creation, especially in today's modern era of global warming, climate change, pollution, and extinction. Chapters address everything from the question of global overpopulation to the dangers of overconsumption and the need to strike a balance between what is necessary or healthful with what is extravagant and wasteful, the role of Jewish holidays and observances in replenishing not only faith, but belief in the importance of careful stewardship and personal responsibility, to what different interpretations of the book of Genesis have to say about man's relationship to the environment. Written in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Way Into Judaism and the Environment is thought-provoking material offering invaluable insights to readers of all faiths, even though the specific focus is on the Jewish faith and the obligations its practitioners have to the environment. Highly recommended.


The Women's Studies Shelf

The Sum of Our Past
Judy Busk
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851848 $32.95 www.signaturebooks.com 1-800-356-5687

THE SUM OF OUR PAST: REVISITING PIONEER WOMEN is a 'must' for any college-level holding on women's studies, and many a public library strong in either this or pioneer history: it examines how pioneer women handled personal issues ranging from depression and family planning to keeping house, using the author's own ancestors as a starting point for pinpointing daily issues which arose. You could call THE SUM OF OUR PAST a family autobiography but it's so much more, combining blending vintage black and white photos with first-person accounts in a truly powerful presentation.


The Civil War Shelf

Confederate Spies At Large
John Stewart
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
0786428686, $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Tom Harbin and Charlie Russell were two southern spies during the American civil war and through their involvement in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, became the most wanted Confederate agents of that conflict. In "Confederate Spies At Large: The Lives Of Lincoln Assassination Conspirator Tom Harbin and Charlie Russell" by John Stewart provides a fascinating account of these two men, their activities in behalf of the Confederacy, their genealogy, and their contribution to the killing of an American president. "Confederate Spies At Large" is a unique and strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, or community library Civil War reference collections and reading lists.

Fire On The Water
James Gindlesperger
Burd Street Press
c/o White Mane Publishing Company
PO Box 152, Shippenburg PA 17257
157249378X, $27.95 1-888-948-6263

On June 19, 1864, the Union warship Kearsage fought an epic battle off the coast of France with the Confederate warship Alabama. "Fire On The Water" is the riveting story of that epic naval confrontation by author and civil war historian James Gindlesperger. Captained by Raphael Semmes, the CSS Alabama had been raiding Union merchant ships for the better part of two years and accounted for almost one of every four union merchant ships lost during the American Civil War to a total of more than 60 ships sunk. The USS Kearsarge (first captained by Charles Pickering and the later by John Winslow) chased the Alabama around the seas and oceans of the world and finally caught up with her. Profusely illustrated (including maps of 'The Cruise of the Alabama' and 'The Battle'), and featuring appendices listing the ships captured or detained by the Alabama; officers and crews of both vessels; extensive chapter notes; and a comprehensive index, "Fire On The Water" is a work of impressive and detailed scholarship, making it a strongly recommended addition to personal and academic library Civil War and American Naval History reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Also very highly recommended are two earlier Civil War studies by James Gindlesperger: "Escape From Libby Prison" (0942597915, $24.95) and "Seed Corn Of The Confederacy" (157249056X, $24.95).

Battlefields & Blessings
Terry Tuley
AMG Publishers
6815 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
0899570437 $16.99 www.amgpublishers.com

Compiled by Baptist pastor and Civil War enthusiast Terry Tuley, Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from The Civil War is a unique daily devotional for Christians - one that compiles true quotes and stories from Christians who served in the American Civil War. Each day of the year has a corresponding page with an anecdote concerning the uplifting power of faith, especially amidst a lethal war in which death by bullets, shrapnel, and disease were ever-present. These real-world examples of courage and faith, in the very words of the individuals who personally faced the dark hours of war, make Battlefields & Blessings a truly unforgettable means to contemplate God with each new dawn.


The Archeology Shelf

Forbidden Archeology
Michael A. Cremo & Richard L. Thompson
Bhaktivedanta Institute
c/o Torchlight Publishing
PO Box 52, Badger, CA 93603
0892132949, $44.95 www.torchlight.com

The scientific discipline archeology (the study of antiquity through ancient writings and artifacts) is taught in every university in this country and abroad. Archeology seeks to illuminate human origins and the development of human civilization down through the millennia. A constantly evolving field of scientific inquiry, theory and findings, archeology has a number of anomalies that are either glossed over or ignored in traditional courses of archaeological instruction. In "Forbidden Archeology: The Hidden History Of The Human Race", Michael A. Cremo and Richard L. Thomson from the Bhaktivedanta Institute (a research center founded in 1975 and dedicated to the advanced study of the nature and origin of life and the universe in light of ancient India's Vedic literature) have collaborated to compile and present these anomalies that have been suppressed by established, traditional archaeological studies because they contradict or simply don't fit in with the accept theories about human origins and earlier cultures. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Forbidden Archeology" is a very strongly recommended, 914-page volume that is specifically written and organized to be thoroughly accessible for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in archeology and anthropology, and has a great deal of value for dedicated students, academicians, and working professionals in these sciences as well.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Quilt Toppings
Melody Crust
Breckling Press
283 Michigan Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126
1933308028, $29.95 1-800-951-7836

"Quilt Toppings: Fun And Fancy Embellishment Techniques" by quilting expert Melody Crust features hundreds of color photos illustrating close-up details of quilting embellishment techniques, before-and-after shots of projects that transformed plain quilts into works of the needlecrafter's art, and a wealth of impressive resources for inspiration and for embellishment techniques ranging from beading to painting, buttons and bows, thread play, and fabrics. Each individual chapter includes an 'Idea Gallery' of unique quilt toppings. "Quilt Toppings"is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to instructional quilting reference collections for the novice needlecrafter and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced quilt maker.

Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions
Eileen Roche
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
0896893030, $29.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966

Eileen Roche is the founding editor of 'Designs in Machine Embroidery' and so brings a special expertise to "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions: Transform Everyday Garments Into Designer Originals". Enhanced with a profusion of colorful illustrations, as well as the inclusion of a bonus CD offering 30 original designs, "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions" focuses upon fashion embroidery using the sewing machine. Needlecraft enthusiasts are provided with twenty projects with their step-by-step instructions and coordinating outfit ideas; techniques and tips for selecting and using blanks, notions, designs, templates, stabilizers, hoops and machines; as well as invaluable information on embroidering tops and bottoms, necklines, collars, cuffs, pockets, and trim. A thoroughly 'user friendly' manual of projects and concepts, "Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions" will prove a welcome and even inspiring addition to needlecraft reference collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Star Babies
Judy Flower
Allison & Busby
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
0749081902 $15.95 www.allisonandbusby.com

Written by Astrological Studies graduate and grandmother Judy Flower, Star Babies: Discover What Astrology Has In Store For You And Your Baby is a simple guide to what astrological star signs have to say about mother-child relationships. Divided into sections covering every possible mother-child, father-child, and two-sibling starsign combination, Star Babies offers its wisdom in a charming, affable narrative style. "For the Libran baby, who'll happily settle for a peaceful existence and harmonious surroundings, its Aries mother can be quite a challenge. She, of course, just loves the wonderfully amenable baby but is blissfully ignorant of just how changeable and self-indulgent her little son or daughter is going to be." An easy-to-use general guide, not constrained to any specific or current year.

Divining The Asian Zodiac
Fumio Shiozawa
Heian
c/o Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
0893469491, $18.95 www.stonebridge.com 1-800-947-7271

A gifted illustrator and expert art director, Fumio Shiozawa's Divining the Asian Zodiac: Ancient Guide to Life And Love" is a full-color, in-depth exploration of Asian astrology that includes the use of horoscopes, personality profiles, compatibility charts, and Zodiac animal fables. Based on the work of ancient astrologers who invented the Asian zodiac because they held that each human being has a destiny that guides th way we feel and act, this metaphysical divination system sought to explain the influence of birth years in the forms of animals and their related folklore. Through the pages of "Divining The Asian Zodiac", Shiozawa seeks to aid his readers in discovering their own paths into the future. A unique and inherently beautiful work of text and image, "Divining the Asian Zodiac" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to Metaphysical Studies reading lists and Astrology reference collection.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Lawyer's Guide To Balancing Life & Work
George W. Kaufman
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610
1590316746, $39.95 www.ababooks.org 1-800-285-2221

Now in an newly updated and expanded second edition, George W. Kaufman's "The Lawyer's Guide To Balancing Life & Work" is designed and written to help attorneys to achieve both personal and professional satisfaction and success in their chosen careers. An experienced lawyer himself, Kaufman describes and comments on how the legal profession has evolved over the last five years, then provides the reader with philosophical and practical advice, examples, and exercises that will substantially assist attorneys to reconcile their goals and expectations with the realities and demands of the legal profession including private practice, law firms, courts, and clientele. "The Lawyer's Guide To Balancing Life & Work" is a 'must' for anyone aspiring to or newly enrolled in the legal profession, and a core addition to law school and university library reference collections.


The Native American Shelf

Indian Spirit
Michael Oren Fitzgerald & Judith Fitzgerald, editors
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
1933316195 $14.95 www.worldwisdom.com

Featuring an introduction by Thomas Yellowtail, and now in a newly revised and enlarged edition, Indian Spirit combines spiritual and religious quotations from Native American leaders, individuals, and rituals with black-and-white photography. The result is a deeply spiritual collection that reaches out to share wisdom and insight to readers of all faiths. An inspirational and memorable invigoration of the soul, Indian Spirit carries the highest possible recommendation. "Our religion is the traditions of our ancestors - the dreams of our old men, given them in the solemn hours of night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sacred medicine men, and is written in the hearts of our people." -Seattle, Dwamish.


The Railroading Shelf

Burlington Zephyrs
Gerry Souter
Specialty Press
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
1580070825, $24.95 www.specialtypress.com 1-800-895-4585

The newest addition to the acclaimed 'TrainTech' series from Specialty Press, "Burlington Zephyrs" showcases the elegant American streamliners that became so popular with the railroading public from its debut in 1933 at the Century of Progress Exposition, to its record breaking run from Denver to Chicago. The first diesel-electric powered streamlined train in America, the Burlington Zephyrs featured a 600-horsepower, 8-cylinder, 2-cycle Winton 201A diesel engine – making it the fasted locomotive for its time. Author, historian, and train experts Gerry Souter enhances his informative historical survey with 100 color and 200 black/white photographs, making "Burlington Zephyrs' a core addition to personal and academic Railroading History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

American Railroad Collections
Pentrex
2652 East Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 91107
www.pentrex.com 1-800-950-9333

Pentrex is the premier producer of railroading videos in a DVD format. One of their titles in particular is worthy of attention -- especially for those with a special interest in railroading history. "American Railroad Collections: Volumes 1 & 2 Combo DVD" (1563421100; $29.95; 2 hours, 51 minutes) showcases eight rare promotional, training, and safety films produced in the 1950s through the 1970s. Among those railroads featured are the Missouri Pacific (Mo-Pac), Burlington Northern, Chicago & North Western, CN Rail, and AAR freight yard safety, railroad competition and federal law, special-duty cars and container trains, and how to handle dangerous trains featuring the new York Central. Three other very highly recommended Pentrex additions to the video shelves of dedicated railroad buffs and community library railroading collections are: "Steam To The Grand Canyon: 3751 NRHS Convention Special" (1563421178; $29.95; 2 hours); "Daylight Freedom Special" (1563421135; $29.95; 1 hour); and "Classic St. Louis Railroading and Santa Fe Vintage Diesels: Combo DVD" 1563421232; $29.95; 98 minutes).


The Gardening Shelf

Timeless Landscape Design
Mary Palmer Dargan & Hugh Graham Dargan
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
0941711854, $29.95 www.gibbs-smith.com 1-800-748-5439

The collaborative effort of professional landscape architects Mary Palmer Dargan and Hugh Graham Dargan, "Timeless Landscape Design: The Four-Part Master Plan" lays out their unique and thoroughly 'user friendly' methods for creating award-winning gardens and landscapes for more than 30 years. "Timeless Landscape Design"showcases four distinct elements of landscape designs beginning with the approach and arrival sequence to create a sense of anticipation, the hub as the landscape property's natural center, the perimeter consisting of outdoor spaces wrapped tightly around the house, and passages to destinations which animate movement around the property and invite the enjoyment of garden places. Profusely illustrated in full color to provide a visual accompaniment to an informative text, "Timeless Landscape Design" can enable any homeowner or aspiring landscape student to master the basic principles in developing truly enduring landscaped properties in all climate zones and conditions. No personal, professional, academic, or community library Gardening & Landscaping reference collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of Mary and Hugh Dargan's "Timeless Landscape Design".

A Celebration Of Clematis
Kaye Heafey & Ron Morgan
Half Full Press
1814 Franklin Street, Suite 820, Oakland, CA 94612
0971955263, $34.95 www.halffullpress.com

The collaborative work of Kaye Heafey and Ron Morgan, and enhanced with the brilliant photography of Keith Lewis, "A Celebration Of Clematis" is the story of how the Chalk Hill Clematis (a established flower farm and renowned clematis nursery) was created. Showcasing this unique flower grower, the reader is treated to over forty varieties of clematis, as well as Chalk Hill's memorable interiors and beautiful landscape. The newly established Mary Toomey Clematis garden is also features, presenting the potential of clematis that is available for any home garden. Enhanced with a glossary of three hundred varieties, as well as sound, practical information on the selection, planting, care, and cultivation of clematis, "A Celebration Of Clematis" is a single volume, comprehensive, authoritative, beautifully presented, and thoroughly 'user friendly' reference which is especially recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Gardening & Landscaping reference collections.

Painted Garden Art Anyone Can Do
Lin Wellford
ArtStone Press
c/o KSB Promotions
55 Honey Creek, NE , Ada, MI 49301
0977706516 $22.99

Truly lovely gardens often require more than simply lovely plants. They also depend on the use of stepping stones, scalloped border pieces, manufactured field stones, natural river rocks, and other such raw materials to create maintenance-free borders, flower beds, and accent pieces. In "Painted Garden Art Anyone Can Do", gardening expert Lin Wellford presents eleven complete projects and patterns that even the most novice gardener can immediately apply to their own gardening and landscaping efforts. There are projects here that will help the gardener or landscaper to make the most out of limited space, compensate for not having time enough to keep annuals from looking their best, deal with otherwise doggedly shady areas and worn spots in the year, using relatively inexpensive and low-maintenance water features. A very strongly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional reference for aspiring gardeners, Lin Wellford's "Painted Garden Art Anyone Can Do" is profusely illustrated with more than three hundred color photographs and a welcome addition to community library Gardening & Landscaping reference collections.


The Crafts Shelf

A Basketmaker's Odyssey
Lyn Syler & Carolyn Kemp
TSE Worldwide Press
c/o Word Weavers Ink
PO Box 1214, Matthews, NC 28106
0977194116, $23.95 www.WordWeaversInk.com

Lyn Syler is a basket making expert who taught this craft to students over the years. That's how she met Carolyn Kemp who was one of her first students in 1981. The two of them have teamed up to produce a series of 'how-to' booklets on basket making, as well as two major works on the subject: "The Basket Book" and "Handmade Baskets". Now they have collaborated with the publishing of their newest title showcasing twenty-four terrific basket making patterns, "A Basketmaker's Odyssey: over, Under, Around & Through" where Lyn's superbly informative and 'reader friendly' text is wonderfully enhanced with Carolyn Kemp's photographic and drawn illustrations. These beautiful basket patterns with the 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions range from 'Easy Beginner' projects to baskets that will challenging the more advanced and experienced basket maker. From an Abenaki Style Knitting Basket, to Emily's Lit'l Pot Belly Purse, to a Natural Vine Wall Basket, to Woven Watercolors, "A Basket Maker's Odyssey" is the perfect addition to the dedicated basketmaker's reference shelf, and any community library's Homemade Crafts collection.


The Gaming Shelf

Omaha High-Low
Bill Boston
Cardoza Publishing
PO Box 1500, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276
158042175X $19.95 www.cardozapub.com

Written by expert Omaha high-low player Bill Boston, Omaha High-Low is a no-nonsense guide for serious gamblers determined to win and make money. Based on the premise that Omaha is driven by hand value more than any other poker game, Omaha High-Low spells out the mathematical chances every one of the 5,278 Omaha high-low hands has for winning the high end or the low end of the pot. Half text and hints, half reference charts, Omaha High-Low is the definitive resource for learning how to play to win with the odds in their favor. Highly recommended for all Omaha High-Low fans.


The Interior Design Shelf

Inspired High-End Interior Design
Shane Reilly
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764324993, $44.95 www.schifferbooks.com

Shane Reilly draws upon her many years of professional experience and expertise running an interior design company with offices in new York and San Francisco, helping a wide variety of clients in developing customized high-end designs for their homes and offices in writing "Inspired High-End Interior Design". Reilly also draws upon the contributions of 83 of the country's leading interior designers and examines the different sources of inspiration these designers call upon for their concepts and ideas. Reilly also addresses such diverse interior design issues as the use of art and collected objects, furniture and fabric, personality, concept, color and architecture in forming a concept for the look of a room. Profusely illustrated with more than 300 photographs of beautiful and beautifully diverse rooms and a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Interior Design Studies reference collections, "Inspired High-End Interior Design" emphasizes focusing on unique, high-quality pieces in a room design resulting in a work of liveable art that will have an enduring appeal for dedicated designers, homeowner esthetics, and anyone seeking to live and work in an hospitable, elegant, luxurious surrounding. Also very highly recommended are two other Interior Design titles from Schiffer Publishing: Decorator Show Houses: Tour 250 Designer Rooms (0764320513, $44.95) and "Designer Showcase: Interior Design At Its Best (0764323989, $44.95).


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