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The Bookwatch

Volume 6, Number 8 August 2011 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice American History Shelf World History Shelf
Political Science Shelf International Studies Shelf Science Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Gardening Shelf Military Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Biography Shelf Fiction Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Cookbook Shelf Education Shelf
Music Shelf Travel Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Criminology Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Literary Shelf Social Issues Shelf Business Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Art Shelf
Fashion Shelf Audiobook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Psychology Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Photography Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Crafts Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Humor Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Pickled Punks & Girlie Shows
Rick West
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764337031, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Pickled Punks & Girlie Shows comes from a fifty-year sideshow veteran who takes readers behind the scenes in his life as a showman. His memoir probes America's sideshows and midways and tells how oddities are presented, pairing color photos of attractions and advertising with an insider's view of the midway experience. An enlightening, vivid survey evolves, perfect for any general-interest collection with an interest in circus or sideshow culture.

Indigo
Catherine E. McKinley
Bloomsbury Press
175 - 5th Avenue Suite 300, New York NY 10010
9781608195053, $27.00, www.bloomsburyusa.com

INDIGO: IN SEARCH OF THE COLOR THAT SEDUCED THE WORLD describes the author's passion for indigo - a passion that led to using her Fulbright grant to cross nine African countries in 1999 pursing the colors and their history and use. INDIGO tells of the dye and its ancient heritage and evolution, tracing its social and natural history and its significance in Africa. Part memoir and part history, this will be a unique pick for any general lending library or African history holding.


The American History Shelf

What So Proudly We Hail
Amy A. Kass, Leon R. Kass, Diana Schaub, Editors
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
1610170067, $35.00, www.isibooks.org

Any high school to college-level collection strong in U.S. history will find WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL: THE AMERICAN SOUL IN STORY, SPEECH AND SONG to be a fine exploration of American identity and civil life. These three elements gather writings from the nation's greatest authors and leaders, from Mark Twain to George Washington and Ben Franklin to Martin Luther King Jr, and include editorial commentary and notes on American character, citizenship, and values. Very highly recommended!


The World History Shelf

History's Lists
Bathroom Readers' Institute
Box 1117, Ashland OR 97520
0607101807, $18.95, www.bathroomreader.com

HISTORY'S LISTS adds to the 'Uncle John's Bathroom Reader' blend of humor and reference and offers over 500 pages of fascinating facts of history. From four revolutions launched in taverns to a major American designer and how the early U.S. represented global interests, this packs in colorful humor and historical facts and is a key leisure read for any who enjoy their historical trivia facts in small doses.

Measure of the Earth
Larrie D. Ferreiro
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465017232, $28.00, www.basicbooks.com

MEASURE OF THE EARTH: THE ENLIGHTENMENT EXPEDITION THAT RESHAPED OUR WORLD recounts the Geodesic Mission to the Equator from 1735-1744 - the world's first international scientific expedition jointly sponsored by the French and Spanish crowns to determine the Earth's shape. Sixty years before the von Humboldt exploration of South America and sixty years before Darwin's voyage, this journey to foster navigation issues recounts the historic, military and political importance of the mission to France and Spain and provides a fine survey of how the mission shaped future scientific perceptions of the Earth. Science and history holdings alike should consider this a 'must'.

India: The Definitive History
D.R. SarDesai
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder CO 80301-2877
9780813343525, $57.00, www.westviewpress.com

India: The Definitive History provides an in-depth history of India that uses an 'Indiacentric' (as opposed to a Eurocentric) approach, covering the process of change as seen through the experience of India's peoples. It's the first major survey to handle the entire history of India with tradition and modernity instead of the old applications of ancient, medieval and modern time frames, and is a special pick for college-level collections and instructors who would provide a different viewpoint of India's development and perspective.


The Political Science Shelf

Defining Moments: McCarthyism and the Communist Threat
Kevin Hillstrom
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit MI 48231-1640
9780780811843, $49.00, www.omnigraphics.com

Defining Moments: McCarthyism and the Communist Threat provides a detailed history of the rise and fall of Senator Joseph McCarthy and his politics, which changed the culture and politics of this country. High school to college-level readers will find this a clear survey explaining the history of American perceptions of communism, Communist activism in this country, and the political rise of McCarthy himself. Biography blends with history in a recommendation for any American history student.

Government Is Us 2.0
Cheryl Simrell King, Editor
M.E. Sharpe
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
9780765625021, $37.95, www.mesharpe.com

Government Is Us 2.0 picks up where the original GOVERNMENT IS US title left off, considering how citizens should be involved in administrative governance and analyzing relationships between citizens and their governments. From ideas on how public administrators can involve citizens in government work to influences that keep us from participatory change, this provides a powerful political survey perfect for any college-level social or political issues collection.


The International Studies Shelf

Reinventing Collapse
Dmitry Orlov
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865716858, $17.95, www.newsociety.com

Reinventing Collapse: The Soviet Experience and American Prospects has been revised and updated to reflect growing similarities between the Soviet Union and the U.S. economy, offering eye-opening and specific insights on the current unraveling of the U.S. Any college-level collection strong in politics and risk management will find this a solid analysis packed with keys to superpower similarities and dangers, and will find this an exceptional starting point for classroom debate on the topic.


The Science Shelf

Thinking About GIS, fourth edition
Roger Tomlinson
ESRI Press
380 New York St.
Redlands CA 92373-8100
9781589482739, $54.95, www.esri.com

The fourth updated edition of Thinking About GIS: Geographic Information System Planning for Managers results from literally decades of the author's consulting practice and worldwide GIS seminars and discusses successful GIS implementation plans. It offers a practical, tested formula for planning a GIS application and blends in the latest advances in software, hardware and mobile environments alike, and is a 'must' for any college-level collection strong in GIS planning.

Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us
Joe Palca & Flora Lichtman
Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470638699, $25.95, www.wiley.com

Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us comes from an NPR Science Correspondent and Science Friday writer who search the scientific world for explanations of annoyance. From researchers who have forged new paths in understanding annoyances to everyday encounters that irritate, this covers annoyances, how they develop, and how they are handled and provides a step-by-step set of insights for both creating and diffusing such annoyances. Science and psychology collections alike will relish this lively discourse.

The Mathematics of Life
Ian Stewart
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465022380, $27.99, www.basicbooks.com

The Mathematics of Life explains how math can illuminate difficult issues concerning evolution, can explain phenomena like population explosions, and how it can apply across disciplines to illuminate many mysteries. The author believes math is the sixth revolution in biology and here it applies to the life sciences in a survey that tackles some of the major issues surrounding nature and the origins of life.

The Book of Universes
John D. Barrow
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393081213, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

THE BOOK OF UNIVERSES: EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF THE COSMOS comes from a math professor who tours the evolution and science of cosmology and provides a basic introduction of its concepts to non-scientist readers. It provides a history of the ideas that led to Einstein's theories, covering ancient philosophers and scientists and the movement from spiritual to scientific perceptions of the universe. Any general lending library will find this a revealing, accessible account.

How the Hippies Saved Physics
David Kaiser
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393076363, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture and the Quantum Revival documents how a group of eccentric, underemployed physicists in Berkeley California offered a speculative new LSD-fueled set of ideas on quantum theory - and in doing so changed not just the concepts but the approaches of scientific inquiry and physical research. Their discoveries forced mainstream physicists to re-examine quantum theory after it'd fallen out of fashion as a pursuit, helping to change the nature and purposes of science and to foster in a new era of discovery. General and science collections alike will find this a winner!

Born in Africa
Martin Meredith
Public Affairs
250 West 57tyh St., Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
9781586486631, $26.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

BORN IN AFRICA: THE QUEST FOR THE ORIGINS OF HUMAN LIFE recounts the works of anthropologists, biologists, and scientists working to discover the origins of humankind, and is a top pick narrating a century of changing theory and discovery, starting with Darwin's first theories and working to modern times. The people, teams, and theories that have affected human origins thought over the decades are here chronicled in a fine scientific history especially recommended for college-level science collections.

Artech House Publishers
685 Canton St., Norwood MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com

Victor C. Chen's THE MICRO-DOPPLER EFFECT IN RADAR (1608070573, $139.00) provides a technical resource with a working knowledge of the micro-Doppler effect in radar, from its basic principles to implementation with MATLAB codes. Any interested in learning code for simulating radar backscattering and generating micro-Doppler signatures will find this important, offering the math and physics needed to understand the effect and its applications. Examples range from an oscillating pendulum to helicopter blades and more, in a volume that includes a DVD of source codes for simulation. Tim Maguir and Eric Novik edit ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO ANIMAL TESTING (1608070115, $139.00) a pick for any college-level collection strong in biomedical research techniques. It surveys various technologies used in animal testing, focusing on alternatives and widely accepted techniques and scientific advancements that result in methods applicable to academic and industrial communities alike. Chapters offer a blend of methods, technical analysis, charts, graphs, and discussions of the pros and cons of alternative testing methods. The second edition of Richard A. Poisel's MODERN COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES (1608071650, $159.00) provides a revised, greatly expanded edition that provides an in-depth treatment of the techniques available to build communications jamming devices. From different kinds of jams and new material on urban warfare to designing and building jammers targeted at a wide range of targets, this provides college-level engineering collections with a fine survey of the best systems successful in jamming environments. A 'must' for any engineering or communications collection, Hiroaki Kogure, Yoshie Kogure and James C. Rautio's INTRODUCTION TO RF DESIGN USING EM SIMULATORS (1608071553, $109.00) provides a fine new book that will serve college-level engineering collections as a basic introduction. Readers learn how to use EM software to design microwave circuits in a guide that teaches how microwave and high-speed digital circuits work. Black and white screenshots, charts, and illustrations accompany a discussion which also holds a DVD containing RF electromagnetic analysis software and example files illustrated in the book.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Quantum Thief
Hannu Rajaniemi
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780765329493, $24.99, www.tor-forge.com

The Quantum Thief tells of one Jean le Flambeur, who gets up in the morning to kill himself - before his other self can kill him first. He's led many lives in which he's been a thief, a mind-burglar and more, and his origins are mysterious - but his deeds are well known and he has a singular chance of regaining his lost powers in this fantastic journey through the solar system and the motivations of men, thieves, and quantum time-travelers.


The Gardening Shelf

Eco-Yards
Laureen Rama
New Society Publishers
Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716827, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

ECO-YARDS: SIMPLE STEPS TO EARTH-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES tells how to have a lovely environmentally-friendly, low-maintenance yard, offering an illustrated manual that holds clear directions for designing a water-wise 'eco-yard' which encourages less watering and low maintenance. Any who would work with nature rather than against it, will find this a winner!

The Outdoor Room
Jamie Durie
Harper Design
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061374852, $25.99, www.harperdesignbooks.com

THE OUTDOOR ROOM comes from the host of a TV show of the same name, an award-winning horticulturalist and landscape designer who reveals secrets behind his designs on his TV series. Photos and displays here offer a fine companion to the show, packing in site plans, zonal plant lists, insider tips on landscape design, and keys to integrating an outdoor garden with themes and the sense of an 'outdoor green room'. Design solutions are specific and contribute to an outstanding survey recommended for any home and garden collection.


The Military Shelf

Area 51
Annie Jacobsen
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780316132947, $27.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

AREA 51: AN UNCENSORED HISTORY OF AMERICA'S TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE covers one of the most controversial military installations in the world, discussing the nature of 'black operations', classified air base information, and providing the first book based solely on recently declassified documents and interviews with firsthand eyewitnesses to base history. Her account discusses what really goes on in the Nevada desert and provides a fine narrative on the base's activities, showing how distinctions between fact and fiction blur under the cloak of secrecy. Any interested in Area 51 must read this - which includes general-interest, new age and military collections alike.

The Battle for the Mind
Gary S. Messenger
University of Massachusetts Press
P.O. Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498532, $28.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

The Battle for the Mind: War and Peace in the Era of Mass Communication provides college-level students and military collections with a survey of mass media, the efforts to prevent war, and ways mass communication has changed and affected international relations in either making or preventing war. Breakthroughs in media have helped reshape the promotion and presentation of facts and helped actually create war or peace: The Battle for the Mind follows these changes and is a fine social history.

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Tony Holmes, Editor's DOGFIGHT: THE GREATEST AIR DUELS OF WORLD WAR II (9781849084826, $25.95) offers lovely digital artwork to recreate the cockpit of each fighter plane and provides a step-by-step explanation of the design and development of combat warbirds from prototype to combat, pairing these fine color images with first-hand accounts and interviews with surviving pilots that tell of training differences among combatants and equipment used in war. Maps, diagrams, and strategic analysis of dogfights offer in-depth surveys of the air battles of World War II in a vivid account including brief biographies and kill tables of famous ace fighters. Any military collection will welcome this! Dr. Kaveh Farrokh's IRAN AT WAR: 1500-1988 (9781846034916, $29.95) profiles Iranian military history and is a 'must' for any college-level Middle East collection and any world military history holding. It provides a military and political history that documents Iran's changing alliances through time, describing the trends and changes that occurred in Iran and showing how its culture, politics and military might evolved. A 'must' for any military history holding. Also a 'must' is Chris McNab's A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 WEAPONS (9781849085205, $29.95), arranged by age and detailing 100 weapons of history. Each weapon is explored in full detail and considers how its development affected its era, and how it was used in battle. Stories of famous battles, wars and leaders associated with each weapon accompanies a history packed with detail and insights, and comes form an author and editor whose specialty is military history and technology. Any serious military strategy collection must have this.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Irresistible Church
Wayne Cordeiro
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764208850, $19.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

THE IRRESISTIBLE CHURCH: 12 TRAITS OF A CHURCH HEAVEN APPLAUDS doesn't just maintain that a church can be irresistible to people - it shows how a church can be better linked to God. It's about building a church that's irresistible to heaven - one that is deeply involved with God's leadership and which will earn God's blessing. Any pastor or minister seeking to build a church based on God's attention will find this a powerful pick.

Abraham Joshua Heschel: Essential Writings
Susannah Heschel, Editor
Orbis Books
Box 308, Maryknoll NY 10545-0308
9781570759192, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Abraham Joshua Heschel: Essential Writings joins others in Orbis's 'Modern Spiritual Masters' series and gathers the Christian reflections of one of the great religious teachers and moral prophets of modern times. Heschel studied philosophy in Germany, escaped the Nazi invasion, and settled in the U.S. where his writings contributed to both a renewal of Judaism and surveys key to Christian thinkers alike. This gathering of his key writings is thus a 'must' for any spirituality collection.

Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com

Timothy Willard and Jason Loey's VENEER: LIVING DEEPLY IN A SURFACE SOCIETY (9780310325635, $17.99) encourages the Christian reader to return to Scripture and a deeper communion with God to overcome the influence of cultural shallowness. From the search for meaning in life and the drive towards God as the antidote to self-love, this book offers a condemnation of consumer-driven society and shows how a more authentic life may be achieved through spiritual intervention and enhancement. Any Christian library will find this inspirational. Also recommended for such a collection is Pastor Brady Boyd's FEAR NO EVIL: A TEST OF FAITH, A COURAGEOUS CHURCH, AND AN UNFAILING GOD (9780310327707, $19.99). It comes from the pastor of the New Life Church and tells how the church and its pastor experienced a gunman who opened fire on their congregation, leaving dead and wounded before taking his own life. The church didn't fold: they found new faith and courage, and this book shows how it was rebuilt, and how the New Life congregation learned to endure suffering only to see how their faith ultimately resulted in a greater good.

The Pope's War
Matthew Fox
Sterling Ethos
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016-8810
9781402786297, $22.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

THE POPE'S WAR: WHY RATZINGER'S SECRET CRUSADE IMPERILED THE CHURCH AND HOW IT CAN BE SAVED presents a fine pick from a former Catholic priest silenced by Pope Benedict XVI when he was Cardinal Ratzinger. His history tells of the secret war waged by Benedict and his predecessor John Paul II, offering an indictment of church hierarchy and theological battled behind the scenes but offering hope as Fox believes the Holy Spirit is at work in ending the Catholic Church as we know it. An engrossing, eye-opening survey!

The Way of Goodness and Holiness
Richard M. Gula
Liturgical Press
Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814633472, $18.95, www.litpress.org

The Way of Goodness and Holiness comes from a priest who has been involved in seminary education for many years, and who has become a popular lecturer and workshop presenter for pastoral ministers around the country. His book addresses how ministers form their spiritual life and integrate that life with their service, and he offers a survey of different virtues that encourage a minister's moral and spiritual life and growth. Any who aspire to ministry will appreciate this powerful guide.


The Biography Shelf

Evel
Leigh Montville
Doubleday
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10014-3657
9780385527453, $27.50, www.doubleday.com

EVEL: THE HIGH FLYING LIFE OF EVEL KNIEVEL: AMERICAN SHOWMAN, DAREDEVIL, AND LEGEND provides a fine new biography of Evel Knievel, a dare-devil stunt man who is best known for successfully pulling off some of the most outrageous and dangerous stunts in the country. From his motorcycle jump over the newly opened Caesars Palace fountains to his leap over the Snake River Canyon in Idaho, this provides a satisfying in-depth survey of his relationships, life, media encounters, and more, and considers his status as a sports legend. Both sports and biography collections in general lending libraries will consider this a winner.

A Father's Love
David Goldman
Viking Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780670022625, $26.95, www.penguin.com

A FATHER'S LOVE: ONE MAN'S UNRELENTING BATTLE TO BRING HIS ABDUCTED SON HOME tells of a four-year-old son abducted by a spouse for nearly five years. This tells of the author's battle to bring his son home when his Brazilian wife took their son to Brazil for a two-week vacation - then informed him she'd be staying there and keeping their son. His ordeal across international borders and with the courts makes for a powerful saga any general-interest audience will relish, and proves especially inviting to fans of NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER and other accounts of cross-border parental issues struggles.

Normal Gets You Nowhere
Kelly Cutrone with Meredith Bryan
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins
353 Sacramento St., Suite 500
Sacramento CA 94111-3653
9780062059796, $23.99, www.harperone.com

NORMAL GETS YOU NOWHERE offers a fine book that blends autobiography, fashion tips, and keys to how to reinvent yourself and create and market your own brand. It comes from the CEO and founder of People's Revolution and encourages readers to embrace their differences - and foster change as a result of their powerful self-revelations. From foregoing the traditional Thanksgiving in favor of re-inventing its meaning as a Harvest Dinner to her insights into the fallacies and failings of the American dream, this is a powerful testimony to being yourself - and perhaps the ultimate individualist's 'how to' guide suitable for any general lending library and many an arts and social issues collection.

Sisters of Fortune
Jehanne Wake
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451607611, $27.00, www.simonandschuster.com

SISTERS OF FORTUNE: AMERICA'S CATON SISTERS AT HOME AND ABROAD tells the story of four American sisters who entered the high levels of English Regency society decades before the more publicized Dollar Princesses of Victorian times. The Caton sisters, raised by a wealthy grandfather, would have been expected to 'marry a plantation'. Instead their grandfather made sure they were well educated, independent women - and in Britain they made headway against prejudices prevalent against Americans and Catholics like.

Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
www.hyperionbooks.com

Stephen "Steve-O" Glover with David Peisner's PROFESSIONAL IDIOT: A MEMOIR (9781401324339, $25.99) provides a fine autobiography by an actor known for his daring and outrageous acts in the MTV series jackass and its accompanying films. Steve-O elicited awe and disgust from his audiences but underlying his stage antics was a growing drug addiction that would challenge and ruin his world. PROFESSIONAL IDIOT is a powerful, highly charged memoir of addiction and the entertainment world and will prove a popular lend in any public library where MTV and similar shows are of interest. Rick Harrison, star of television's Pawn Stars, now has his own book with LICENSE TO PAWN; DEALS, STEALS, AND MY LIFE AT THE GOLD & SILVER (9781401324308, $23.99), certain to be a major attraction in any general lending library. It blends an autobiography and memoir with experiences at his family's now-famous pawn shop, and offers stories on objects, deals, and more. Rick's autobiography and family history rounds out the pawn shop details and makes for an engrossing survey.


The Fiction Shelf

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom
A.C. Crispin
Disney Press
c/o Disney Book Group
114 Fifth Avenue, 14th floor, New York, NY 10011
9781423107040, $22.95, www.disney.com

This fine, weighty pirate novel features Jack Sparrow in an unusual position: as a twenty-five-year-old merchant seaman pursing a legitimate career as a first mate for the East India Trading Company. He doesn't miss his boyhood pirating days but when his ship is attacked by pirates and his captain dies, he finds himself in command - and newly involved with pirates, legends, and journeys as well as sultry women. Any fan of pirate novels will relish this swashbuckler, and any library seeing popularity with pirate literature will want this.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Martin Edwards' THE HANGING WOOD (9781590588529, $24.95) provides a fine Lake District mystery telling of a missing teen, an uncle's suicide, and a sister who wants to uncover the truth of her brother's disappearance. When she dies in a shocking way, Hannah's investigation becomes more complicated - and brings her into contact with her own past and unresolved troubles in this satisfying, absorbing murder mystery. Brent Ghelfi's THE BURNING LAKE (9781590589250, $24.95) provides the fourth Volk novel to the mix, and tells of another prominent journalist found murdered in Putin's Russia. Russian agent Alexei finds Kato's murder summons a dark set of memories - and his decision to avenge her death leads him on an investigation from Moscow to the site of a nuclear reprocessing plant and to Las Vegas, even as his personal life collapses. International intrigue makes this a satisfying thriller for any mystery collection.

The Ridge
Michael Koryta
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316053662, $24.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

THE RIDGE provides a satisfying mystery and investigation and is a recommendation for any general lending library where suspense novels are of interest. Set in eastern Kentucky, it tells of a place where an isolated lighthouse built by an eccentric carpenter resides - and the involvement of a sheriff who is faced with danger when the lighthouse suddenly is adorned with maps bearing the names of the dead. Dark plots and complex interactions evolve in a fine read for any mystery holding.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Bar & Beverage Book, fifth edition
Costas Katsigris & Chris Thomas
John Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken
NJ 07030-5774
9780470248454, $58.69, www.wiley.com

The fifth updated edition of The Bar & Beverage Book offers a fine guide to building a five-star bar and beverage service, survey new trends in the wine, beer and spirits world and covering updates to labor laws, employment practices, technology, and the mixing and serving of drinks. Any seeking a resource for the hospitality industry - especially college-level culinary hospitality collections - need this fine survey of drinks and their promotion.

Good Fish
Becky Selengut
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main St. #400, Seattle, WA 98104
9781570616624, $29.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

GOOD FISH: SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD RECIPES FROM THE PACIFIC COAST provides home cooks with color photos and over seventy recipes for dishes featuring fish - but it's more than just another fish cookbook. Becky Selengut provides a definitive guide which covers the best season for each seafood species, buying tips, questions relating to health and freshness, and more. From issues of what kinds of fish are more sustainable to what makes a 'flake', and recipes such as Grilled Sockeye Salmon with Fennel Two Ways, this is an outstanding pick for any seafood cook's collection and for any general lending library where seafood is of interest.

For Cod and Country
Barton Seaver
Sterling Epicure
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South
New York NY 10016-8810
9781402777752, $30.00, www.sterlingpublishing.com

FOR COD AND COUNTRY comes from a Washington, D.C. chef who has become a major voice in the sustainable seafood culinary world. His food features seafood that hasn't been overfished or caught in a destructive way, and his recipes, arranged by season, offers some amazing dishes original to his book, from Mahimahi with Gingered Zucchini and Smoked Tomato Sauce to Yogurt-Marinated Sturgeon. Any culinary collection strong in new seafood dishes will welcome this!

The Improvisational Cook
Sally Schneider
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062025364, $27.50, www.harpercollins.com

THE IMPROVISATIONAL COOK offers a fine survey that takes the home cook a step away from relying on recipes and cookbooks, and teaches how to develop successful improvisational strategies. Recipes here are accompanied by notes on inspirations and techniques for improvising on them, offering keys to taking a basic dish and considering the culinary take-offs that will make it a success. Any cook looking to move to the 'next level' will find this specific and well-guided.

The Puglian Cookbook
Viktorija Todorovska
Surrey Books
1501 Madison Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.surreybooks.com
9781572841178, $20.00, www.agatepublishing.com

The Puglian Cookbook: Bringing the Flavors of Puglia Home offers a fine color introduction to the cuisine of Southern Italy's Puglia region, which features lovely dishes and images from Puglia. From Chickpea Soup and Penne with Sausage to Lamb with Fresh Peas, this Italian region is loaded with intriguing and often surprisingly simple dishes and this cookbook is a strong pick for any culinary collection interested in regional Italian fare.

Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

Domenica Marchetti's THE GLORIOUS PASTA OF ITALY (9780811872591, $30.00) presents classic and modern pasta dishes from the author's Italian heritage, and offers step-by-step directions for making fresh pasta and different shapes and sauces. From Pot Roast Pappardelle and Roasted Carrot and Ricotta Gnocchi to Joe's Pesto, this packs in color photos and many pasta dishes not seen in other pasta cookbooks. A fine recommendation for any general lending library strong in pasta preparation! Ryan D'Agostino edits ESQUIRE EAT LIKE A MAN: THE ONLY COOKBOOK A MAN WILL EVER NEED (9780811877411, $30.00), a fine survey that pairs recipes with practical information from how to host a party and make a drink to basic cooking techniques from grilling to in-house food prep. Stories of kitchen experiences come from Esquire's writers and provide a fine collection of easy gourmet dishes any man can recreate without effort. Color photos peppered throughout complete the attractive pairing of recipes and experience. Andrew Schloss and David Joachim's FIRE IT UP: MORE THAN 400 RECIPES FOR GRILLING EVERYTHING (9780811865050, $24.95) packs in over 400 recipes that focus on ingredients over methodology in grilling. It organizes chapters by meats, vegetables, fruits and breads and offers details on flavorings, recipes for rubs, brines and marinades, and more, offering tips for buying and handling foods and making the most of their qualities on the grill. A top pick for any library where grilling is of interest, this includes extensive color photos by Alison Miksch. James Oseland edits SAVEUR THE NEW COMFORT FOOD: HOME COOKING FROM AROUND THE WORLD (9780811878012, $35.00) comes from the editors of the food magazine Saveur and provides a blend of lovely color photos and over a hundred home-style dishes from around the world. From Chicken Tikka Masala from India via Great Britain to the simple Italian Fennel Baked in Cream, this is packed with delicious details, introductions about dish origins, and more!


The Education Shelf

Kaplan Publishing
395 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.kaplanpublishing.com

NCLEX-RN 2011-2012 (9781607148777, $34.99) is filled with strategies for passing the NCLEX-RN exam, from two practice tests and detailed answer explanations and analysis to review of alternate format questions and a CD-ROM filled with performance analysis and answer explanations. It comes form the creator of an extensive exam prep course for the NCLEX-RN and is one of the best study guides on the market for any would-be nurse. The NEW GRE VERBAL WORKBOOK (9781419550010, $19.99) provides a fine combination of test preparation guide and diagnostic tool for practice, reviewing the basic skills and ideas involved in vocabulary and answering the different verbal question typed on the revised GRE. Test-takers will find it a winner for any GRE preparations. Test-takers also won't want to miss the PCAT 2012-2013 (9781609781101, $44.99), a fine guide to the various components of the Pharmacy College Admission test. From a full-length practice test online to detailed answer explanations and diagnostics to pinpoint weak areas, this is packed with solid keys to test success. NEW GRE MATH WORKBOOK (9781419550034, $19.99) has been updated for the 2011 GRE test changes and appears in an 8th updated edition for any who would want the latest test practice questions and approaches. Strategies for the new GRE Quantitative question types and reviews of all the basic math concepts for the new test make this a 'must' for any test-taker.

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

Laura A. Riffel's POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL (9781412982016, $33.95) tells teachers how to respond to a student who frequently has emotional meltdowns and exhibits challenging behaviors in the classroom. It presents the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports model for resolution, showing teachers how to use this idea to create an intervention plan to modify such behaviors, and providing techniques for collecting and analyzing data along with examples of how to modify consequences. A top pick for teachers working with diverse classrooms. Also recommended is Jodi O'Meara's RTI WITH DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION, GRADES 6-8: A CLASSROOM TEACHER'S GUIDE (9781412995269, $33.95), which surveys a different way of merging differentiated instruction and RTI. A 'how to' format directed to middle school teachers shows how to adapt assessments, curriculum and instruction to student abilities, discussing connections between the RTI and DI model and showing how to adapt ideals for classroom systems. Lesson plans, case studies, rubrics and more contribute to an outstanding survey. For a different age group, choose her RTI WITH DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION, GRADES K-5 (9781412995276, $33.95), providing the same integration for a different grade level. Rita Smilkstein's WE'RE BORN TO LEARN (9781412979382, $36.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide teachers with keys to using the brain's natural learning process. From lesson planning and test preparation using the six-step Natural Human Learning Process to new details on how the Internet affects student learning, this packs in practical methods for achievement, and is a top pick for any education collection. Frank Crowther's FROM SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TO SUSTAINED CAPACITY (9781412986946, $34.95) provides a fine survey on achieving long-term school improvement, and comes from an author who makes a case for capacity building and parallel leadership as keys to sustainable improvement. Six research-based dynamics for achieving results are outlined along with real-world applications of their ideas. A fine guide for any educator's collection! Any interested in children's rights will relish Peter W. Cookson Jr.'s SACRED TRUST: A CHILDREN'S EDUCATION BILL OF RIGHTS (9781412981163, $28.95). This describes a proposed education bill of rights for American students that provides ideas on how to restructure the U.S. Department of Education for greater equality and standards for all, and outlines the types of education all American kids should have a right to enjoy. Examples cover problems and solutions to achieving these uniform goals and make for a fine action plan all schools can consider. David Houle and Jeff Cobb's SHIFT ED: A CALL TO ACTION FOR TRANSFORMING K-12 EDUCATION (9781412992961, $28.95) provides a powerful key to changing the process of teaching and is a fascinating survey for any education collection. From sociocultural evolution in generations to the evolving and changing landscape of education in America, SHIFT ED is a fine pick for any contemplating the trends of educational reforms. TEACHING BY DESIGN IN ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS: GRADES 4-5, (9781412987035, $39.95) is actually a series of professional development guides that helps teachers investigate how students learn. This book joins two other volumes focused on grade-appropriate math, offering activities and lesson plans that help teacher teams evaluate student performance. From reproducible handouts to facilitation notes, this provides teachers fine resources for improving and supplementing instruction. Joseph Murphy and Kerri Tobin's HOMELESSNESS COMES TO SCHOOL (9781412980548, $36.95) provides a fine survey of effective intervention programs for handling homeless kids, surveying how schools, parents and community can come together to work with them. From handling absenteeism and expulsion to ensuring access and understanding the impact of homelessness on kids, this is a wide-ranging blend of research results and applied solutions perfect for any urban educator's library, in particular. Jann H. Leppien and Jeanne H. Purcell edit PARALLEL CURRICULUM UNITS FOR MATHEMATICS GRADES 6-12 (9781412965484, $28.95) provides a fine collection of lessons based on material in THE PARALLEL CURRICULUM, and provides four sample units on fractions, linear programming, geometry and quadratic relationships. Keys to user-friendly lessons offer field-tested strategies that guide students through secondary math concepts, offering study components, critical thinking skills, problem solving and much more. Teachers will find this a treasure trove of proven strategies. Kenneth s. Trump's PROACTIVE SCHOOL SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING (9781412974318, $38.95) provides school administrators with a resource for keeping students safe. The author has dedicated his career to making schools safer and his solutions range from an overview of school security and politics to daily strategies for preventing violence and handling bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and more. The emphasis on collecting data and working with community leaders and parents fills it with practical assessments of common problems and solutions. DIFFERENTIATING SCIENCE INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, K-8 (9781412993999, $35.95) offers educators field-tested strategies for teaching science to students with special needs. From education requirements for science literacy to ways of revising science activities and assessments, this provides step-by-step instructions for using rubrics for revision and assessment, discusses science instruction and specific disabilities, and provides case histories and checklists to help teachers understand connections between science education and special education. Daniel R. Venables' THE PRACTICE OF AUTHENTIC PLCS: A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE TEACHER TEAMS (9781412986632, $33.95) offers keys to building authentic PLCs and comes from the author's work with the Coalition for Essential schools. It considers team building, protocols for success, and teacher-designed formative assessments and teaches how to respond to data and develop exercises and activities for PLC leaders. A fine pick for any educator's collection!

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

Doug Pierce's CRACKING THE NEW GRE 2012 (9780375428180, $22.00) packs in drills, test-taking strategies, and in-depth reviews of all GRE topics and is a top pick for any who would gain a higher score on the test. 2 full-length practice tests accompany an extensive revision that's been updated for the new test, offering keys to acing the new format and questions. Proven techniques make this a test-taker's solid reference. Douglas Pierce and Sean Kinsell's CRACKING THE TOEFL iBT 2012 EDITION (9780375428234, $34.99) comes with audio exercises on CD and proven techniques that include a full-length, simulated TOEFL iBT, strategies for all sects, and keys to improving essay skills. If it's on the test, it's in the book; any TOEFL learner taking the test will score higher studying this clear guide to achievement.


The Music Shelf

Sacred Song in America
Stephen A. Marini
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820-6903
9780252078033, $30.00, www.press.uillinois.edu

Sacred Song in America: Religion, Music, and Public Culture is a pick for music and spirituality college-level collections alike, examining the role of sacred song across the U.S. from Native Americans and Hispanic peoples to the rural South and church music of Mormon, Catholic and Black churches. Its focus is a historical and musical examination of the roles of ritual music in the public religious cultures of modern America: as such, it provides a fine analysis of the social and musical impetus for different sacred music styles and is a 'must' for any in-depth analysis of sacred music in America.

See a Little Light
Bob Mould with Michael Azerrad
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780316045087, $24.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Melody provides the autobiography of a musician who moved from a rural farming world living with an alcoholic parent to a gay man who fostered a three-decade long musical odyssey, and provides an inspiring story of Bob Mould's personal and professional odyssey. Bob Mould was a punk music hero whose band Husker Du toured the nation on no money and a lot of hope. Here he tells how he tailored the band's evolution and how it blended with his own drive and talents to change the face of American popular music as a whole. Any rock music collection - especially fans of punk rock - will find this a lively and essential coverage.


The Travel Shelf

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

Robert Kelly & Joshua Samuel Brown's TAIWAN (9781741790436, $26.99) provides a fine take-along guide recommended for any destination-bound visitor to Taiwan. It provides maps, guides to temples, hot springs and attractions, and packs in keys on where to eat and stay. With its small maps and many specifics on everything across Taiwan, this is a 'must' take-along presented in perfect tote format for any wanting to visit Taiwan. Sandra Bao's WASHINGTON, OREGON & PACIFIC NORTHWEST (9781741793291, $24.99) provides a fine set of maps and keys to sleeping, eating and journeying through the Pacific Northwest, and is a recommendation for any West Coast independent traveler's collection. From things to do with kids to adults, this is a fine pick travelers will relish, packaged in a take-along tote filled with quick, easy references to local attractions. TALES FROM NOWHERE: UNEXPECTED STORIES FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES (9781741795202, $14.99) is edited by Don George and offers 30 real travel stories that offer surprises in the midst of the journey. Adventure is at the heart of each story, with self-discovery as prevalent as travel encounters and life-changing sagas. Any armchair traveler will find this an engrossing, vivid collection. Adventure-oriented independent travelers will want to take along Anthony Haywood, et.al.'s AUSTRIA (9781741792843, $22.99), which covers all the adventure opportunities in the country's mountains, alpine valleys, and great outdoors. Packed with small maps, the latest details on where to go, stay and eat, and practical destination-oriented travel tips, this is a top recommendation for any planning a trip to Austria!


The Money/Finance Shelf

Beyond Wealth
Alexander Green
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118027615, $27.95, www.wiley.com

BEYOND WEALTH: THE ROAD MAP TO A RICH LIFE comes from a longtime financial writer and acclaimed investment advisor who draws important links between wealth and how a rich life can be lead both because of and in spite of it. From how different values can be blended into a richer life to over sixty commentaries on topics from health and spirituality to love, this combines many factors to analyze the real roots of wealth in life. Motivational collections will find this an inspiring read.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Transformers Vault
Pablo Hidalgo
Abrams Books
115 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780810998681, $35.00, www.abramsbooks.com

Transformers Vault has been officially licensed by Hasbro and profiles rare collectibles and memorabilia in an oversized, slipcased collection of Transformer images and history. Any Transformers collector or fan must have this: it offers a full range of plots, toys, comics, and merchandise as well as images from both the animated and live-action feature films, providing behind-the-scenes surveys including interviews with creators, discussions of prototypes, action-figure designs, and more. Collectors and Transformers fans will consider it a 'must have' reference.


The Criminology Shelf

In Cold Pursuit
Lt. Paul Echols and Christine Byers
New Horizon Press
Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
0882823485, $24.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

IN COLD PURSUIT: MY HUNT FOR TIMOTHY KRAJCIR - THE NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLER is a pick for any collection where true crime accounts are popular, and tells of the author's hunt for a notorious killer who believed he got away with murder nine times, stalking women in the Midwest and assaulting and killing them, only to vanish with no trace. Author Paul Echols was a rookie cop assigned to cases that had little chance of revolution: his study of the evidence led him to eventually track down the killer, and this account packs in exclusive interviews and new facts about his personal manhunt and its successful conclusion.

In Defense of Flogging
Peter Moskos
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465021482, $20.00, www.basicbooks.com

In Defense of Flogging comes from a criminologist and former Baltimore City police officer who offers a startling alternative: give offenders the choice of suffering corporal punishment in exchange for staying out of prison. Flogging may be considered cruel and unusual punishment today, but it could address the problem of America's expanding prison system. America has more prisoners than any other country in the world - ever. The author is willing to defend the notion of flogging, as an alternative.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Story Engineering
Larry Brooks
Writer's Digest Books
4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati OH 45236
9781582979984, $17.99, www.writersdigest.com

What makes a good story or screenplay great? Most writers have no idea of story engineering basics, so never achieve the 'great' level they could. STORY ENGINEERING is a 'must' for any writer's library: it analyzes the design of a story line and uses it as the basis for narrative, offering six specific ways storytelling methods combine and elevate writing to its highest standards. From scene construction to character development, this discusses the basics of plot and method and is an ongoing 'must' for any aspiring writer and libraries catering to them.

Writer with a Day Job
Aine Greaney
Writer's Digest Books
4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati OH 45236
9781582979960, $17.99, www.writersdigest.com

Writer with a Day Job provides an invaluable collection of exercises to help integrate a side career of writing with a regular day gig. It's a talented dance to keep the daily grind of a job from sapping a writer's energy: this tells how to achieve that balance, providing exercises, ideas, and techniques to build creative expression into a daily work cycle. From planning a writing getaway to using one's lunch hour for writing, this is filled with keys to a writer's success, and is a pick for any literary or writer's collection.

Writing Subtext
Dr. Linda Seger
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907964, $16.95, www.mwp.com

WRITING SUBTEXT: WHAT LIES BENEATH is one of the most valuable writer's guides in print, covering the power of subtext in film and screenwriting and exploring how it's used. Writers and film professionals like will learn the tools to creating effective dialogue, description and more, and will appreciate a guide that probes different levels of complexity in the writing and character-building subtext process. From gestures and action to words that express subtext, this is a specific, key reference!

Clip Stamp Fold
Beatriz Colomina and Craig Buckley, Editors
Actar D
c/o ActarBirkhauser Distribution
151 Grand Street, 5th floor
New York, NY 10013
9788496954526, $54.95, www.actar.com

Clip Stamp Fold: The Radical Architecture of Little Magazines 196X to 197X is a 'must' for not just arts but college-level literary collections, packing in interviews with over 40 magazine makers, reproductions of magazine styles and articles, and details to accompany an exhibition's global travels. Discussions have been transcribed into English and accompany a chronological presentation of over 120 issues from the 1960s and 70s and facsimiles of magazines designed for browsing. From activist politics to the changing trends of small press and magazine production standards, this is just packed with key historic, artistic and literary reference detail and is an outstanding reference.


The Literary Shelf

Literacy Myths, Legacies & Lessons
Harvey J. Graff
Transaction Publishers
300 McGaw Drive, Edison NJ 08837
9781412814751, $49.95, www.transactionpub.com

Literacy Myths, Legacies & Lessons: New Studies on Literacy provides college-level literacy collections with critical revisions of many common ideas about literacy, presenting eight essays that address the key concerns in modern culture, society and literary analysis. Harvey Graff's own research accompanies surveys of the field and writings of the last three decades, and crosses disciplines in adding historical and cultural notes in an analysis any college-level collection will consider timely and valuable.

Lit From Within
Kevin Haworth and Dinty W. Moore, Editors
Swallow Press
c/o Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19, Athens, OH 45701
9780821419489, $19.95, www.ohioswallow.com

LIT FROM WITHIN: CONTEMPORARY MASTERS ON THE ART AND CRAFT OF WRITING provides a fine survey of modern American authors and provides college-level literary collections with essays from fiction writers, poets, and nonfiction writers alike. Essays provide powerful literary reflections on the process of writing and make for a fine addition to any library where creative writing and literature are of interest; especially at the high school to college level.

The Story of Charlotte's Web
Michael Sims
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780802777546, $25.00, www.walkerbooks.com

The Story of Charlotte's Web: E.B. White's Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic provides a fine biography filled with detail and packed with insights about White's life, perceptions, and how these translated to classic works. From an early childhood spent on a farm in New York to the author's evolving kinship with animals, this tells of countless Charlottes and Wilburs in White's life, and is a lively, wonderful biography for any lending library.


The Social Issues Shelf

Jackpot
Jason Ryan
Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599219769, $24.95, www.lyonspress.com

JACKPOT: HIGH TIMES, HIGH SEAS, AND THE STING THAT LAUNCHED THE WAR ON DRUGS provides a fine 'true crime' world adventure that focuses on some of the most outrageous drug dealers of the Reagan era and the Federal Task Force's 'Operation Jackpot' that brought them down. The kingpins of marijuana trafficking and the social and political influences on the undercover sting operation that brought them down are detailed in a lively, engrossing adventure story perfect for any general lending library.

The Sociology of Economic Life, third edition
Mark Granovetter and Richard Swedberg, Editors
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder CO 80301
9780813344553, $59.00, www.westviewpress.com

The third updated edition of The Sociology of Economic Life remains a top pick for any college-level library interested in a blend of modern and classic readings in economic sociology, and will reach social issues and economics collections alike with its history of the field and discussions of trends. This updated edition holds eight new readings, including three commissioned essays in the foundations of economic sociology and market sociology, and presents several original articles from leading scholars who critically review the field. A top pick for any college-level library!

Among the Truthers
Jonathan Kay
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780062004819, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground comes from an author who spent three years researching conspiracy theorists, and offers eyewitness accounts of the conspiracist subculture that abounds. Conspiracy theories are both a cause and symptom of our crisis, especially when educated people begin to follow them. Jonathan Kay traveled the country and attended conventions, interacted with conspiracy theorist, surfed their websites, and more. Ten different types of modern conspiracy theorists are profiled here along with a survey of how the internet has provided them with fuel and audiences. Any social issues collection needs this!


The Business Shelf

Paid to Speak
National Speakers Association
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608321315, $22.95, www.gbgpress.com

PAID TO SPEAK: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SPEAKING BUSINESS is a top recommendation for any serious business collection and covers all aspects of building a successful speaking career. Professionals of all levels, from motivators and coaches to trainers and consultants, will find this covers the four core competencies the National Speakers Association has identified for success: eloquence, enterprise, expertise and ethics. The result is a collection that teaches how to create compelling presentations and how to develop and brand an effective approach.

Franchising & Licensing, fourth edition
Andrew J. Sherman
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814415566, $45.00, www.amacombooks.org

The fourth updated edition of Franchising & Licensing comes packed with more examples, field stories, and dozens of forms for franchising agreements and licensing programs, and covers all the legal, financial and business strategies of franchising and licensing processes. It covers the latest regulations, best industry practices, web 2.0 strategies, and the new FDD disclosure format and includes the latest franchising trends in a comprehensive, college-level business title perfect for any who would understand the basics of raising capital, creating globalization strategies, and developing innovative domestic and international franchising alike.

Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.koganpage.com

Tim Phillips's FIT TO BUST: HOW GREAT COMPANIES FAIL (9780749460136, $19.95) provides an excellent and engaging investigation into the typical causes of business failure, and goes beyond the popular news to examine back-room boardroom decision-making processes and how such decisions can contribute to a company's success or failure. It profiles big corporations that went from boom to bust and considers the course of events leading to their downfall. Matt Haig's BRAND FAILURES: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE 100 BIGGEST BRANDING MISTAKES OF ALL TIMES (9780749462994, $19.95) examines what happens when major businesses such as Coca-Cola launch major brands that fail. It probes what went wrong in each case, what lessons evolved from the brand bust, and teaches businesses how to recognize potential branding failures in advance. Any business collection will find this a winning survey!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

JFK & UFO
Kenn Thomas
Feral House
1240 W. Sims Way #124
Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781936239061, $17.95, www.feralhouse.com

JFK & UFO: MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL CONSPIRACY AND COVER-UP FROM MAURY ISLAND TO DALLAS tells of the Maury Island incident, in which six flying saucers circled above a harbor boat in Washington, were witnessed by several, and was subsequently covered up. In 1968 an attorney investigating the JFK assassination subpoenaed Fred Crisman as part of his investigation, believing Crisman was the infamous shooter. This title connects these two disparate mysteries of assassination and ufos, considering the underground world of covered-up experience and providing a fine survey for any new age collection strong in conspiracies and cover-ups.

Alien Invasion
Travis S. Taylor, PhD and Bob Boan, PhD
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781439134429, $16.00, www.baen.com

ALIEN INVASION: THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE ULTIMATE ATTACK provides a fine survey considering alien invasion possibilities and how to get ready. It comes from experienced scientists and physicists with expertise in both defense and military signal intelligence, and offers many keys to possible alien contact scenarios - and what can be done if they aren't friendly encounters. While new age shelves will be the most likely to find this a popular pick, many a military and general lending library will find its specific, science-based research a huge plus.

Exposed, Uncovered and Declassified: UFOs & Aliens
Michael Pyle & Kirsten Dalley, Editors
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631732, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Exposed, Uncovered and Declassified: UFOs & Aliens: Is There Anybody Out There offers original essays from Stanton Friedman, Kathleen Marden and many others who consider conspiracy theories surrounding UFOs. It addresses basic questions about what UFOs are and why they are here and comes from a nuclear physicist and UFO expert who considers our own proximity to interstellar travel and how UFOs may be part of our world. Any collection strong in UFO science and potential will find this an intriguing survey.

The Real Men in Black
Nick Redfern
New Page
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631572, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

The Real Men in Black: Evidence, Famous Cases and True Stories provides a UFO readers with a fine conspiracy perspective on UFOs and how the 'men in black' may actually be real. It documents instances of 'real' men in black encounters around the world, offering exclusive interviews with leading researchers of the phenomenon. It comes from the author of Contactees and provides authoritative evidence perfect for any new age or UFO collection.

Primal Body, Primal Mind
Nora T. Gedgaudas, CNS, CNT
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774133, $19.95, www.parkstpress.com

Primal Body, Primal Mind is a pick for health, nutrition and new age collections alike, and considers the healthy lives of our Paleolithic ancestors and how an increase in diseases and birth defects followed the birth of the agricultural lifestyle. Our modern grain, carb-heavy, low-fat diets are hugely different from our hunter-gatherer roots, and are leaving to many problems. Research from biology, health, nutrition and psychology fields blend in a survey of who diet affects mental and physical health and accompanies a fine blend of history, guidelines, recipes and meal recommendations from a certified nutritional therapist. New age, health, culinary and other holdings will find this a popular library lend.

Time of the Quickening
Susan B. Martinez, Ph.D.
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431268, $20.00, www.parkstpress.com

Time of the Quickening: Prophecies for the Coming Utopian Age reviews cycles of history and prophecy from Nostradamus to Jeane Dixon and maintains that our current times of troubles represents not the end of the world, but the beginning of the Utopian Age. It explains why so many prophecies have failed - and presents an Egyptian system of prediction that can foretell every day of the year based on Earth's magnetic systems. New age collections will find this a fine survey offering an alternative prophecy process.

Chakra Frequencies
Jonathan Goldman and Andi Goldman
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594774041, $18.95, www.destinybooks.com

Chakra Frequencies: Tantra of Sound includes a 60-minute instructional CD and is a pick for any new age library strong in spirituality and personal growth. It provides a step-by-step guide from a sound-healing pioneer and his holistic psychotherapist wife, who consider ways the voice can resonate with and affect the physical and spiritual body. Exercises using breath, tone and mantras teach the basics of sound healing with an accompanying CD offering specifics on intonation. New age collections will find this both specific and key.


The Computer Shelf

Interactive Data Visualization
Matthew Ward, Georges Grinstein and Daniel Keim
A.K. Peters Ltd.
5 Commonwealth Rd. #2C, Natick, MA 01760
9781568814735, $89.95, www.akpeters.com

College-level collections strong in concepts and theory surrounding data visualization will find INTERACTIVE DATA VISUALIZATION: FOUNDATIONS, TECHNIQUES, AND APPLICATIONS to be a powerful addition, covering all the details and tools needed for building visualizations around data. From math and statistical graphs to cartography and scientific displays, this offers plenty of details for creating visual displays of data, offering color illustrations throughout and plenty of refinement details.

Java for Programmers, second edition
Paul Deitel and Harvey Dietel
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132821544, $59.99, www.informit.com/ph

The second updated edition of Java for Programmers offers a fine guide to the Java platform and is written for programmers who already have a background in high-level language programming. It provides fully tested programs and ideas and over 200 complete Java programs with 18,000 lines of proven Java code along with tips for applying them to applications. From OOP case studies to threads and I/O, this covers all the basics in application developments and is key to all the Java applications and is key to any developer's library.

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

Richard A. Caralli, et.al.'s CERT RESILIENCE MANAGEMENT MODEL (0321712439, $79.99) is a pick for any college-level IT or risk management collection, offering a new way to manage operational resilience and telling of best practices for managing information, technology and people. It provides a model that embraces security, business continuity and IT operations and presents CERT-RMM as the method of choice for doing so. The model is presented in its entirety and offers key background for professionals, explaining different approaches for using the model and providing short essays to show its applications in real-world environments. Business and IT collections alike will find it a key to success! Christopher M. Moyer's BUILDING APPLICATIONS IN THE CLOUD: CONCEPTS, PATTERNS, AND PROJECTS (0321720202, $39.99) is a top pick for any computer collection strong in cloud computing concepts. It covers the key details about cloud computing, common issues, and solutions, and provides a guide to the different services the cloud offers and how to take advantage of multiserver deployments. The author has four years' experience in cloud computing with Amazon Web Services - which places him ahead of most in this new computing environment, and makes this title a top reference. Martin L. Abbott and Michael T. Fisher's SCALABILITY RULES: 50 PRINCIPLES FOR SCALING WEB SITES (0321753887, $29.99) is a small pocket guide perfect for any web programming collection, and offers an easy scalability primer and reference designed as a take-along reference for architects, developers, web professionals and managers alike. This tells how to create and evaluate designs, share techniques for database management, and help in decision-making processes, with chapters offering basic rules for scalability from learning aggressively to avoiding redirects and learning from failures.

PayPal APIs Up and Running
Michael Balderas
O'Reilly Media
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol CA 95472
9781449396121, $34.99, www.oreilly.com

PayPal APIs Up and Running is for any library strong in web development applications, providing programmers with keys to understanding the PayPal option and how it can apply to any web endeavor. Step-by-step instructions for accepting money via Web or mobile devices for products and services makes for a survey that teaches how to use the PayPal API and blend it with a range of projects. Developers looking at transaction services must have this reference to a key internet commerce component.


The Art Shelf

Pastels
Painting Class Series
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764163890, $29.99, www.barronseduc.com

Pastels joins others in the 'Painting Class Series' and provides a fine survey telling beginning crafters how to use pastels to achieve many different effects. A range of projects, from landscapes to human figure drawings, pack a survey that covers all the basics of materials, tools, and introductory and advanced techniques, offering step-by-step art projects in full color as a means of reinforcing the how-to concepts. Any general arts library will find this an excellent starting point to pastel work.

Fiber Art Today
Carol K. Russell
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764337772, $50.00, www.schifferbooks.com

Fiber Art Today comes from an artist and design teacher who has written extensively on tapestry and fiber methods and materials in modern art. Her FIBER ART TODAY packs in sculpture and wall art with over three hundred images accompanying a history of generations of fiber artists and their creations. From different techniques to a wide range of art using fiber media, this pairs full-page color and black and white photos with artist insights and surveys of techniques and creations and is a 'must' for any arts collection strong in fiber arts.

Abduzeedo: Inspiration Guide for Designers
Fabio Sasso and the Abduzeedo Team
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321767448, $39.99, www.newriders.com

Abduzeedo comes from a Brazilian designer who established one of the world's most famous, desirable sources for inspiration and how-to tutorials: here they present an introduction to seven design styles in chapters that focuses on different designs and their concepts and techniques. Interviews with master artists working in the design field accompany plenty of color examples and keys to blending that style using Photoshop, Illustrator, and personal style. Arts and crafts collections will relish this!


The Fashion Shelf

Emerging Fashion Designers 1
Sally Congdon-Martin
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764336003, $39.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Emerging Fashion Designers 1 packs in nearly three hundred color images of fresh creations from collections by recent grads of sixteen of the most respected fashion design programs at universities across the country. This anthology presents a brief review of each designer, including inspiration, materials, and work examples, then organizes garments alphabetically by designer and graphically by school. Any college-level collection strong in contemporary fashion design will find this packed with reference to the latest fashion trends.

Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Claude Montana and Marielle Cro's CLAUDE MONTANA: FASHION RADICAL (9780500515396, $50.00) packs in over a hundred color illustrations as it presents the French fashion designer's haute couture collections and works. It considers the basic practices that reflect Montana's unique perspective and style, includes conversations with Claude Montana himself, and captures the new image and culture the Montana models embody. From Montana's exaggerations of the proportions of his clothes to his preferred choices in cut, color and style, this is an in-depth study no fashion arts collection can be without. Fashion collections interested in history will welcome Jonathan Walford's FORTIES FASHION: FROM SIREN SUITS TO THE NEW LOOK (9780500288979, $29.95) packs in over 200 illustrations - most in color - to provide a definitive history of fashion in the 1940s. A range of fashions and styles that created trends around the world are surveyed by a fashion specialist who shows how fashion was considered an artistic expression of its times. From street fashion to attire for air raids, this provides a wide range of popular styles and is a fine addition to any interested in evolving fashion trends of the times.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Nature Principle
Richard Louv
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611742879, $34.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

THE NATURE PRINCIPLE: HUMAN RESTORATION AND THE END OF NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER blends research and personal stories to identify seven basic concepts that can help reshape lives through a better association of nature. Rick Adamson's narration is smooth and vivid and lends life to this account of how humans can re-connect with the power of nature to strengthen their bonds and abilities. Science and psychology collections will find this a fine addition!

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

David Baldacci's ONE SUMMER (9781609412951, $34.98) offers a fine dual narration by author actor Ron McLarty and Broadway actress Orlagh Cassidy, and provides a fine family drama set around Christmas where a family is facing the death of a terminally ill father. He's spending his last days saying goodbye - when his wife is killed in a car accident and the kids are sent to live with family members around the country. A miraculous recovery and a final family summer make for an engrossing, moving audio listen perfect for any general lending library. I'M HERE TO WIN by Chris McCormack with Tim Vandehey (9781611138368, $29.98) offers a fine narration by a runner who at age 37 overcame all odds to win the Ford Ironman World Championship - for the second time. His training and athletic abilities comes alive in his autobiography and particularly under audio format, where the drama and insights of his training and his advice to other would-be athletes takes on new meaning. Annie Jacobsen's AREA 51: AN UNCENSORED HISTORY OF AMERICA'S TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE (9781609410896, $34.98) provides a powerful nonfiction survey of America's most secretive domestic military facility located in Nevada, offering a fine in-depth account of a base that the government has never admitted to. Annie Jacobsen narrates her own account and her voice is a vivid dramatic and smooth style that captures perfectly the many facts she's revealing about Area 51. Any general library will find this a popular lend. Also sure to be popular is Joyce Meyer's best-selling BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND (9781586215347, $29.95), read by Pat Lentz adds smooth passion to this best-selling account of negative thinking and how millions can overcome negativity. Learn to gain control over your mind, recognize damaging thought patterns, and overcome bad attitudes through a guide that teaches self-awareness and victory in an excellent audio nonfiction guide.

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

P.T. Deutermann's PACIFIC GLORY (1611063329, $29.99) provides a fine novel telling of three friends who form strong bonds during their naval academy years with different goals in mind. All find their lives changed by the Pearl Harbor attack - and years later struggle with loss and lessons from the event. Any audio collection strong in military fiction needs this poignant story, highlighted by Dick Hill's veteran skills. Iris Johansen's EVE (1441886001, $36.99) receives a powerful performance by Jennifer Van Dyck and recounts Eve Duncan's mission in life: to bring closure to families of missing kids. She's a forensic sculptor who is a genius at solving missing children cases - driven by her own past sadness. Now new evidence may bring her own resolution in this gripping mystery, the first in a projected trilogy augmenting prior Eve Duncan novels of intrigue.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Gordon S. Wood's THE IDEA OF AMERICA (9780142429396, $19.95) receives an excellent narration by Audie Award winner Robert Fass, and is a recommendation for any audio collection strong in nonfiction and American history. It provides essays exploring the ideological origins of the Revolution from Ancient Rome to the event, and shows how the founders created an American democratic ideal. Any collection strong in American historical evolution will find this a winning presentation! John Grisham's THEODORE BOONE: THE ABDUCTION (9780142429419, $19.95) comes to life under a fine narration by Richard Thomas, a prolific actor who enlivens this new Theodore Boone adventure recommended for newcomers and prior fans alike. Here Theodore's best friend April vanishes - and it's up to Theo to use his legal and investigative skills to find her. An excellent novel of mystery and intrigue comes to life in audio. The classic John Steinbeck OF MICE AND MEN (9780142429181, $19.95) receives a fine reading by Gary Sinise, whose smooth Tony-nominated voice lends to Steinbeck's classic story of commitment and hope. Two men face a world dominated by petty tyranny but struggle to rise above it in this classic American story of survival, perfect for any general lending library seeking audios of the classics.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Cosmetic Surgery
Robert T. Grant & Constance M. Chen
McGraw-Hill Lange
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071470797, $90.00 www.mcgraw-hillmedical.com

COSMETIC SURGERY offers a color, step-by-step set of instructions on how to perform the most popular procedures in cosmetic surgery and is a college-level medical reference no serious health library should be without. Over 250 color illustrations and photos illustrate each step and present facial and other body cosmetic surgeries. Experienced plastic surgeons offer a fine survey of techniques, complications, outcomes assessment, and more. Black and white 'before and after' photos accompany the step-by-step processes.

USMLE Pharmacology and Treatment Flashcards, second edition
Conrad Fischer, MD
Kaplan Medical
c/o Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor
New York, NY 10006
9781607148791, $44.99, www.kaplanpublishing.com

USMLE Pharmacology and Treatment Flashcards appears in a second updated edition packing in pharmacology questions for Step 1 and treatment questions for Steps 2 and 3. Over 500 drugs are covered in over 125 case studies presented on flashcards for quick consultation for the best treatment for any given diagnosis on the USMLE.

Exercise Testing and Prescription Lab Manual, second edition
Edmund O. Acevedo and Michael A. Starks
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
0736087281, $44.00, www.humankinetics.com

The second updated edition of Exercise Testing and Prescription Lab Manual includes the latest updates keyed to recent modifications published in the ASCM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, Eighth Edition, and adds in-depth surveys on body composition testing, new emphasis on assessment processes, a newly updated format lending to quicker reference, and more discussion questions for each lab. Forms, worksheets and more make this a pick for any college-level sports collection.

Fierce Medicine
Ana T. Forrest
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins
353 Sacramento St. #500
San Francisco CA 94111-3653
9780061864247, $25.99, www.harperone.com

FIERCE MEDICINE: BREAKTHROUGH PRACTICES TO HEAL THE BODY AND IGNITE THE SPIRIT comes from a pioneer in emotional and physical healing who has changed people's lives for over forty years. When Ana attended her firs yoga class as a dare, she became more hooked on the concept than on the booze and pills she was addicted to - and eventually founded Forrest Yoga, a technique integrated into daily living. Her experiences with yoga anyone can do draws important connections between yoga and life, offering a style of yoga that promises a new way to move beyond metal blocks and hurt. Any collection strong in health and yoga needs this guide.

Something Different About Dad
Kirsti Evans
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849051149, $18.95, www.jkp.com

Something Different About Dad: How to Live With Your Asperger's Parent follows the story of Sophie and Daniel whose dad Mark has Asperger Syndrome. The family's progress from initial diagnosis to acceptance offers a fine survey presented in a dialogue loaded with black and white cartoons and family-friendly dialogue that embraces the realistic experiences of Asperger. Any family facing such a diagnosis needs this, as do general health collections appealing to parents.

Jones & Bartlett
40 Tall Pine Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com

The fourth updated edition of Sara T. Fry, Robert M. Veatch, and Carol Taylor's CASE STUDIES IN NURSING ETHICS (9780763780319, $82.95) is a top pick for any college-level healthcare library, surveying the latest ethical issues and specific guidelines for carrying through basic nursing principles. Over 150 actual case study conflicts that have occurred in nursing practice are accompanied by keys to resolution, enabling students to consider their own approaches to ethical conflict in nursing. This edition has been completely revised and updated, adding two new chapters on Moral Integrity and Moral Distress and on Respect, and adding new case studies and citations throughout. Very highly recommended! Janie B. Butts and Karen L. Rich's NURSING ETHICS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM AND INTO PRACTICE, 2ND EDITION (0763748986, $73.95) has been newly revised and updated and provides a college-level ethics textbook to any serious nursing program. New to this edition are two new chapters covering bioethics and professional nursing practice, key terms and chapter summaries, multiple-choice questions and reports based on clinical evidence and case studies.

Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing, second edition
Rick Daniels & Leslie Nicoll
Delmar
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9780840023360, $74.95, www.cengage.com/delmar

Contemporary Medical-Surgical Nursing provides an updated second edition packing in keys to addressing health concepts that embrace holistic nursing practices, and represents a remake of the original edition that offers a better focus on concepts, research, and new case studies supporting and applying them. Chapters offer color-coded sections of critical thinking activities, resources and references, and color sidebars of information to accompany overall discussions of nursing and the hospital environment, health assessment processes and different levels of care, and more. With its extensive in-depth surveys, this college-level textbook is certain to reach classroom audiences for any studying nursing, and is filled with facts and recommendations suitable for any student.


The Psychology Shelf

Change
Paul Watzlawick, John H. Weakland, Richard Fisch
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393707069, $19.95, www.wwnorton.com

CHANGE: PRINCIPLES OF PROBLEM FORMATION AND PROBLEM RESOLUTION provides a fine survey of why some people can change their lives and others can't. Psychologist Paul Watzlawick maintains that the solutions to problems lie embedded in the problems themselves - and his thoughts have influenced generations of psychotherapists and a branch of psychology called solution-focused therapy. This considers why problems arise and how they are tackled, offering a new edition with a new preface by Bill O'Hanlon that places the work of Paul Watzlawick and his coauthors in a modern perspective. A top pick for any psychology library!

The Worrier's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination
Pamela S. Wiegartz, PhD & Kevin L. Gyoerkoe, Psy.D.
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572248717, $19.95, www.newharbinger.com

The Worrier's Guide to Overcoming Procrastination teaches a program for identifying specific triggers to procrastination and changing negative thinking patterns, and is a fine survey for any who would set goals and change destructive habits that obstruct them. Chapters provide cognitive behavioral solutions to doubt, time management issues, and goal setting challenges and provide a thorough program for success.

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain
David Eagleman
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780307377333, $26.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain comes from a neuroscientist who considers the subconscious brain and its mysteries. From brain damage and recovery to synesthesia, criminal minds, artificial intelligence and more, this provides a fine survey of the latest research on the mind and the brain-body connection, and is a top recommendation for science and health collections alike.

Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Sourcebook, second edition
Joyce Brennfleck Shannon, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit MI 48231-1640
9780780811461, $95.00, www.omnigraphics.com

Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Sourcebook appears in a new second edition to provide the latest studies and reports on autism and related disorders. From genes to environmental factors, this covers basic diagnosis and the types of interventions that produce the best long-term outcomes, offering the latest facts in a rapidly-changing field. Both psychology libraries and general lending collections will benefit from the narrowed focus and wealth of cutting-edge research on trends and facts.

Autism Solutions
Dr. Ricki Robinson
Harlequin Enterprises Ltd.
233 Broadway Suite 1001, New York NY 10279
9780373892099, $24.95, www.eHarlequin.com

AUTISM SOLUTIONS: HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY AND MEANINGFUL LIFE FOR YOUR CHILD provides parents with a solution-oriented guide that covers evaluation, diagnosis, education and treatment options for the autistic child. From the features of autism and its possible causes to common myths and realities about autism, Dr. Ricki covers all the latest research, treatment options, and her own approach to customizing the treatments to suit an autistic child's unique needs. She also maintains that autistic kids are undeserved medically and she covers all the common conditions and symptoms likely to affect such a child. Parents will find this a 'must' pick while general lending collections appealing to parents will find this a popular lend.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Conquering YouTube
Jay Miles
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907940, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Conquering YouTube: 101 Pro Video Tips To Take You To The Top is a 'must' for filmmakers both amateur and professional and for any film library catering to them. It provides a user-friendly survey of the basics involved in creating memorable videos for the Web, blending clear instructions with shooting exercises and insights tailored to solving common film-making problems. The tips are presented in such a way that readers can choose between start-to-finish projects or at-a-glance quick reference. The tips used by larger-budget film and TV productions translate well to the smaller Web environment, making this a top pick not just for film libraries, but for computer holdings alike.

Thinking Animation
Angie Jones and Jamie Oliff
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place
Stamford, CT 06902
1598632604, $39.99, www.courseptr.com

Thinking Animation: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and CG provides a fine survey that emphasizes how artists can use traditional animation techniques with modern computer-generated animation technology. It's written by seasoned animators with experience in both 2D and CG and interviews 40 professionals who have a wide range of backgrounds in everything from stop-motion to visual effects, and it packs in keys to animating with the computer while retaining artistic results. Any film collection must have this information-packed survey of the creative animation field!


The Photography Shelf

Creative Landscapes
Harold Davis
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118027325, $29.99, www.wiley.com

CREATIVE LANDSCAPES: DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS & TECHNIQUES comes from a master landscape photographer who shows how to look at real-world landscapes with an eye to creating great photos. From using exposure controls and basic composition for landscapes to working with weather and using HDR, this packs in digital tips specific to landscape design and shooting, and offers full-sized color photos on nearly every page to support basic teachings. No photography collection should be without this specific resource!

How to Do Everything: Digital Photography
Jason R. Rich
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
0071754717, $25.00, www.mhprofessional.com

How to Do Everything: Digital Photography is packed with color photos and instruction on how to create professional-quality photos using any digital camera, whether it be from a smartphone or an advanced digital SLR camera. Learn to take better pictures by understanding basic photography, from composition techniques to common mistakes in lighting and candid shots, and learn how to digitally edit and improve images using photo editing software and plug-ins alike. Any general lending library or photography collection needs this.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Rehabilitation, Supportive and Palliative Care
Samantha Lindley and Penny Watson, Editors
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9781905319206, $130.00, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Rehabilitation, Supportive and Palliative Care: Case Studies in Patient Management is a 'must' for any college-level veterinary studies collection, and reviews the basics of animal rehabilitation, supportive care, and pain management. From alternative therapies such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy to nutritional requirements and handling animal stress, this introduces the basic principles and provides a section of case study examples of all kinds of animal patients in a powerful survey packed with practical applications.


The Crafts Shelf

The Elemental Journal
Tammy Kushnir
North Light Books
c/o F& W Media
4700 E. Galbreath Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
1440305366, $24.99, www.artistsnetwork.com

THE ELEMENTAL JOURNAL: COMPOSING ARTFUL EXPRESSIONS FROM ITEMS CAST ASIDE shows how to create a wide variety of journals to express thoughts, and offers new ways of using wood, paper, fabric and more. Some fifteen journal projects made from unusual materials and found objects offer tips for seeking out materials in flea markets and nature, and provides gallery projects from nine artists who provide full color, step-by-step photos. Any crafts or writer's collection will find this a specific, unusual attraction.

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Joe Silvera's SOLDERING MADE SIMPLE (9780871164063, $21.95) shows how to make professional-quality jewelry at home, and offers the tools and materials needed to make some 12 jewelry projects. Learn how to create earrings, pendants, rings and more in a collection that covers all the basics of soldering techniques, from fueling to pick-soldering. Related metalworking techniques, from polishing to using a jeweler's saw, are presented in this fine survey of applied soldering, recommended for any jewelry crafting library. Collections strong in model railroading crafts will welcome Jeff Wilson's THE MODEL RAILROADER'S GUIDE TO TRACKSIDE STRUCTURES (9780890247754, $19.95), packed with historical photos and explaining the design and operation of different railway structures for modelers. From depots and stations to crossing gates and water tanks, this shows modelers prototypes of such structures and explains how they were operated by railroads across the country. Tips for modeling these structures round out the specific train history. Nancy Zellers' BEAD TUBE JEWELRY: PEYOTE & BRICK STITCH DESIGNS FOR 30+ NECKLACES, BRACELETS AND EARRINGS (9780871164179, $19.95) tells how to create bead tubes and use them in peyote and brick stitch patterns. From designing jewelry to blending in patterns, this is fine survey of different styles and approaches and offers easy projects newcomers will find appealing and fun. Also fun is Julie Picarello's PATTERNS IN POLYMER: IMPRINT & ACCENT BEAD TECHNIQUES (9780871164094, $21.95), which comes from an award-winning mixed-media artist and provides keys for combining and working with colors to create a new polymer imprint technique based. Five bead projects and six jewelry projects are provided in this survey of how polymer offers potentials for new patterns and textures in jewelry making.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.larkcrafts.com

These fine guides are top picks for any needlework library and offering fine projects that are easily accessible to a range of skills. Jenny Doh's SIGNATURE STYLES: 20 STITCHERS CRAFT THEIR LOOK (9781600597916, $19.95) provides a series of illustrated profiles touring homes and studios and offering keys to both techniques and developing an individual style in the process. From sweaters to vivid colors and patterns, this focus on the crafter's style makes for a fine reference for any who would focus on developing a unique 'look'. Susan Wasinger's SEWN BY HAND: TWO DOZEN PROJECTS STITCHED WITH NEEDLE & THREAD (9781600596681, $19.95) offers over twenty projects that require no electricity to produce. It provides embellishment and embroidery techniques along with basic how-to patterns and includes hats, throws, home decor and more. A fun pick for any needlework collection!

Custom Couture
Helene Le Berre
SixthandSpring Books
161 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
9781936096169, $17.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Custom Couture packs in over thirty ways to redo a wardrobe and is a pick for any needlework or crafts-oriented collection. From changing collars or adding borders to creating fine fabric flowers, each project holds color photos and step-by-step instructions to help readers adapt clothing. Line drawings and photos capture details exactly, leaving nothing to guesswork, and use very simple sewing techniques that usually don't even require a sewing machine.


The Philosophy Shelf

Open Court Books
70 East Lake St. #300, Chicago IL 60601
www.opencourtbooks.com

Richard Greene, et.al., editors's DEXTER AND PHILOSOPHY (9780812697179, $17.95) is a recommendation for any collection where philosophy or TV and film are popular. The Dexter character serves as a fine contemporary vehicle for modern philosophical analysis, offering insights on basic philosophical issues from the nature of evil to free will and choice inherent in Dexter's aesthetics. Luke Cuddy edits HALO AND PHILOSOPHY: INTELLECT EVOLVED (9780812697186, $19.95) adds another powerful guide to the 'Popular Culture and Philosophy' series, this focusing on one of the most successful videogames ever. Halo's unique features are examined in light of its philosophical meanings, from the ethics of behaviors and how ancient philosophers would have considered the Halo environment to the meaning in different characters. Any Halo player will find this a much more accessible method of understanding philosophy.


The Humor Shelf

Go the Fuck to Sleep
Adam Mansbach
Akashic Books
Box 1456, New York NY 10019
9781617750250, $14.95, www.akashicbooks.com

Parents will be the likely readers - and applauders - of the underlying frustration and message in this picturebook which is couched as a bedtime story but offers a sardonic - and fun - tale about parenting. Not for the young, this provides tired parents with Ricardo Cortes' engaging drawings to accompany rhymes which are increasingly strong ("All the kids from day care are in dreamland./The froggie has made his last leap./Hell no, you can't go to the bathroom./You know where you can go? The fuck to sleep.") A surprise ending completes the hilarious presentation.


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


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