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The Bookwatch

Volume 8, Number 10 October 2013 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Metaphysical Studies Shelf Travel Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Computer Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Biography Shelf Education Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Music Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Business Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Science Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Audiobook Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Fashion Shelf Military Shelf Photography Shelf
Crafts Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Sports Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

100 Ghosts
Doogie Horner
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
978594746475, $9.95, www.quirkbooks.com

100 Ghosts: A Gallery of Harmless Haunts explores all kinds of spooks from a fuzzy Muppet to the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, and is a light-hearted account of what ghosts would look like if we encountered them in real life. This all comes form a stand-up comedian who adds his quirky sense of humor to a collection of haunts and their personalities and possible incarnations, and is a top pick not just for adults or kids, but the entire family, who will find this a quirky and fun read.

Guide to New York City Urban Landscapes
Robin Lynn and Francis Morrone
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393733570, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

Guide to New York City Urban Landscapes features lovely color photos throughout by Edward A. Toran as it features nearly thirty urban landscape gems, including maps and histories of each site. From parks on islands to bridge parks, historical redevelopment, choices in landscaping using native plants, and future projects, this provides blend of history and travelogue perfect for any visiting New York City who want a guide to urban and natural landscapes that make up the City's buildings and natural areas. It's reviewed here for its wide-ranging interest to both New York residents and visitors and any involved with the architectural and natural heritage of the city.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Path of Initiation
J.S. Gordon
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620551738, $29.95, www.innertraditions.com

The Path of Initiation: Spiritual Evolution and the Restoration of the Western Mystery Tradition is a powerful recommendation for any occult or new age studies collection and uses work from the Mystery traditions of East and West to examine the initiatic path from early to modern times. From step-by-step processes in initiation to underlying psychological and spiritual issues surrounding this journey, The Path of Initiation: Spiritual Evolution and the Restoration of the Western Mystery Tradition provides a lively survey packed with insights from all kinds of paths and choices, and is a fine reader for any considering the routines and ways of spiritual enlightenment.


The Travel Shelf

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

Carolina A. Miranda, et.al.'s DISCOVER PERU (9781742205694, $24.99) is a top pick for any independent traveler who wants to uncover the best of Peru, and who looks for a Peru-exclusive guidebook listing everything from how to get there and get around in the country to best places for food, drink, accommodations and sightseeing. Small line maps accompany colorful photos of local people and places, while discussions include sidebars of "don't miss" information, at-a-glance references for each region of the country, and places to find everything from authentic Peruvian restaurants to specific local cuisines and culture. The result is more than an overview: it's an in-depth discussion of the cultural elements that make Peru unique. Greg Benchwick and Paul Smith's BOLIVIA (9781741799378, $26.99) provides an important guide packed with planning tips and reviews of outdoor opportunities, independent travel and Bolivian culture - all packaged in a handy take-along tote filled with line maps, sidebars of information, and candid assessments of travel opportunities. From ecotours to modern malls, local history and culture to wilderness areas, and more, BOLIVIA is a fine pick for any planning a visit; especially for independent travelers who want to choose routes away from the typical tourist paths. Jean-Bernard Carillet's ETHIOPIA, DIJBOUTI & SOMALILAND (9781741797961, $27.99) is another fine take-along tote for any heading to the region and covers three countries typically lumped into more general coverages of Africa. From color sidebars of information to small line maps and tips on where to eat, sleep, and sightsee, this provides specific details culled from some 40 years of experience and provides local secrets, recommendations based on personal expertise, and more. From getting around in each country to routes that make the most of the unique opportunities in each nation, this is a powerful recommendation for any independent traveler looking for specifics on those countries: it's not your usual general Africa-wide travel guide that provides minimal information, but an invaluable take-along guide for destination-oriented readers.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Murder in Passing
Mark de Castrique
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464201493, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

A Murder in Passing provides a fine Sam Blackman mystery blending history with intrigue and revolves around a common problem: no clients for PI work. It's ironic that a mushroom hunt leads Sam Blackman into a new case which local authorities don't want him to investigate - and that a burglary coincidentally ties into the murder and leads to the arrest of the 85-year-old mother of his client. Now Sam is investigating a powerful chain of events in this revealing novel of intrigue and detective work, perfect for any mystery reader seeking more depth and complexity in a plot.

Mortal Arts
Anna Lee Huber
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425253786, $16.00, www.penguin.com

MORTAL ARTS provides a fine Lady Darby mystery, is set in 1830s Scotland, and tells of a murder investigation that begins otherwise, with Lady Kiera Darby to Edinburgh with her family. The city brings with it many complexities, from encounters with critical society women to unexpected romance blended with another deadly mystery. Any who found the protagonist of P.I. Lady Darby and the historical setting of Edinburgh will find this provides a similarly-powerful story line with the same vivid characterization and sense of place as its predecessor.

Death in the Ashes
Albert A. Bell, Jr.
Perservance Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel, Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745323, $15.95, www.danielpublishing.com

DEATH IN THE ASHES - A FOURTH CASE FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF PLINY THE YOUNGER provides a satisfying story set a few years after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and tells of Pliny the Younger, asked by his friend to help her husband, who has been accused of murder. Having learned the basics of forensic investigation from his uncle, Pliny embarks on a new investigation that snakes into political and social circles alike, and is spiced by the hardened ash of the volcano's eruption which traps clues in its surface. Add long-buried fears and a solid dose of historical reality and you have a mystery that brings the ancient Roman world to life.


The Fiction Shelf

The Bookstore
Deborah Meyler
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781476714240, $16.00, www.simonandschuster.com

The Bookstore is a special pick for book lovers and comes steeped with information about a quirky bookseller and a pregnant girl who works there. A cast of interesting and book-absorbed people float through the small bookstore and involve Esme in fun and revealing encounters - but like most bookstores, this is struggling to survive and its culture is dying out. When the father of her unborn child makes moves to reconcile, Esme finds herself facing some difficult choices in this moving, revealing story perfect for romance and book-loving fans alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

The March on Washington
William P. Jones
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393082852, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

The March on Washington: Jobs, freedom, and the Forgotten History of Civil Rights comes fro ma professor of history who provides a narrowed focus on the march itself and its wider influence on the course of the civil rights movement of its times. From union leader A. Philip Randolph's initial proposal in 1941 for black workers to march for equality to how the movement grew in size and political clout during the 1940s, this is a powerful focus that considers individuals and history that few civil rights books cover. The result is a powerful account highly recommended for any social issues collection strong in civil rights events.


The Computer Shelf

Classic Game Design
Franz Lanzinger
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781937585976, $49.95, www.merclearning.com

Classic Game Design features five Unity projects that serve as examples for teaching basic game programming concepts, and comes with a DVD packed with source code, art and sound sources. Readers - even those relatively new at programming - learn how to design classic arcade games while learning the basics of game design elements using free, modern software tools. From historical anecdotes from game programmers to options that differentiate casual from classic game structures, this is a winning survey that packs in details perfect for any would-be game designer; especially those relatively new to the field.

The Practice of Network Security Monitoring
Richard Bejtlich
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593275099, $49.95, www.nostarch.com

The Practice of Network Security Monitoring: Understanding Incident Detection and Response comes from an author who since 1998 has defended networks from digital attackers, and who has seen attacks against government agencies, ISPs, telecommunication carriers, schools and businesses. He developed a methodology called network security monitoring to thwart these attackers, based on his experience as an intelligence officer and computer network defender, and here provides a powerful method of detecting and controlling intrusions on all kinds of networks using open source software. Any who manage networks will find this an invaluable technical guide to using NSM platforms, analysis data, and managing a Computer Incident Response Team.

Exploring Arduino
Jeremy Blum
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118549360, $34.99, www.wiley.com

Exploring Arduino: Tools and Techniques for Engineering Wizardry teaches how to use the microcontroller Arduino to create educational and artistic projects, combining lessons in electrical engineering, programming and computer design to show how to build skills to create increasingly complex projects. The basics of system design, code, and best practices are imparted in the process of exploring the features of common Arduino boards and their use. A companion website includes keys to schematics, tutorials and code downloads. With black and white photos, charts and diagrams throughout, this is a top pick for any seeking a solid introduction to the basics of Arduino!

CCNA Routing and Switching, third edition
Scott Empson
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9781587204302, $34.99, www.ciscopress.com

CCNA Routing and Switching: Portable Command Guide appears in its third updated edition to update and gather all CCNA routing and switching commands under one cover. It groups topics for quick, logical consultation, offers a review of basic processes perfect for certification exam study, and it provides a compact format which lends to its use as a take-along reference - not quite pocket-sized; but close. It summarizes all commands, keywords, prompts and more, offering examples of real-world applications and teaching how they are used in overall network design processes. The result is a top recommendation for any computer reference library and students of CCNA routing in particular.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collector's Guide to the Feldspar Group
Robert J. Lauf
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764343292, $19.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Collector's Guide to the Feldspar Group packs in over a hundred color photos of feldspar minerals showing each species in its geological context, and explaining how they are formed and why they have unusually vivid colors. From the chemistry of the group to their geology and location and their collectability, this is a primer any geological collector will find essential, offering keys to what good specimens look like and where to locate them. It's a pick for geology and collector sections alike, and offers many basics key to successfully assembling a superior group of feldspar minerals for display, sale and science.

Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia, updated edition
Judith Miller, General Editor
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845337698, $50.00, www.octopusbooksusa.com

Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia appears in a new, updated edition to provide a fine review of the antiques market since 2008, and is arranged by period and type to provide a price guide filled with discussions, latest prices, and color photos throughout. Explanations of materials, marks and techniques accompany identification and dating basics for everything from porcelain and jewelry to posters, ceramics and sporting memorabilia, with discussions covering all facets of antique collecting and valuations. The result is a highly recommended, basic 'bible' of information that any general antiques collector will find an essential reference.


The Cookbook Shelf

Talk With Your Mouth Full
Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841239, $20.95, www.agatepublishing.com

Talk With Your Mouth Full pairs lovely color photos by Laurie Proffitt with a fine guide to cooking and entertaining by two chefs who have a hit Food Network television show. It's packed with easy recipes, tips, catering insights, and more and covers not just cooking for a crowd, but entertainment and settings. From Truffled mashed Potatoes to Rustic Onion Pie, this packs in hearty foods made for a crowd along with plenty of serving and dishing tips to make them attractive. It's a fine winner for any who would learn new ideas for cooking and entertaining from chefs who have a proven track record of success and a plan any home cook can access.

Breakfast for Dinner
Lindsay Landis & Taylor Hackbarth
Quirk Books
215 Church Street Philadelphia PA 19106
9781594746130, $19.95, www.quirkbooks.com

Breakfast for Dinner: Recipes for Frittata Florentine, Huevos Rancheros, Sunny-Side-Up Burgers, and More packs on over 100 classic breakfast recipes made with something different, from Bacon Fried Rice to Breakfast Ravioli and Tomato Peach Jam. These aren't just breakfast meals transferred to dinner: they are re-done breakfast foundations that use these foundations to build salads, main dishes and sides suitable for dinner but with many of the infusions of breakfast (pancakes, bacon, etc.). With color photos added, the result is a powerful presentation for any cook's collection!

Blue Plate Special
Kate Christensen
Doubleday & Company
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780385536264, $26.95, www.doubleday.com

Blue Plate Special: An Autobiography of My Appetites provides a vivid, powerful literary memoir about novelist and blogger Kate Christensen's experiences eating, cooking and reflecting on food, and is a lovely survey of her life in the foodie universe. From family memories and bonds to how food has changed her life, Blue Plate Special is lively writing at its best: a powerful saga filled with delicious memories, reflections and food universe encounters, perfect for any collection strong in literary food writing.


The Biography Shelf

Ghosts and Ballyhoo
Thomas Wictor
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764343384, $19.99, www.schifferpublishing.com

Ghosts and Ballyhoo: Memoirs of a Failed L.A. Music Journalist documents Thomas Wictor's ten years in Los Angeles music and pairs a memoir with a music history perfect for collections interested in both. Its unusual title stems from the author's haunting by the Cardinal Ghost and the Collateral Ghost (former Zappa bassist Scott Thunes), and blends interviews, personal correspondence, and previously unpublished articles and photos with a story of music failure and eighteen years of struggle in music journalism. The result is an autobiography packed with insights, reflections, and personal observations unique to this title.


The Education Shelf

Inquiring into the Common Core
Nancy Fichtman Dana, et.al.
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452274263, $25.95, www.corwin.com

Inquiring into the Common Core is a fine guide to Common Core guidelines and how to teach them, and provides teachers with an inquiry-based model for achieving better understanding of the standards as they apply to classroom work. From adapting to new standards and understanding the Common Core's practical applications and challenges to learning more about the inquiry process and relating it to all socioeconomic levels of students, this covers the basics of student inquiry and provides teachers with many specific examples key to classroom success.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Toni Morrison: An Ethical Poetics
Yvette Christianse
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823239160, $28.00, www.fordhampress.com

Toni Morrison: An Ethical Poetics is a recommendation for college literature collections where study of Toni Morrison is frequent, and analyzes Morrison's style, subject and literary choices, examining the questions that are brought to the forefront in many of her works. As a blend of criticism and analysis, this considers ways in which Morrison works with language to present social and ethical dilemmas, and uses examples from many of her works to consider the ethical poetics Morrison fosters in her writings. Any looking for a critical survey of her beliefs and literary structure will find this offers much food for thought, citing specific passages, works, and approaches throughout.


The Music Shelf

Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302
Montclair, NJ 07042
www.halleonardbooks.com

John Coltrane Omnibook for Bflat Instruments (9781458422118, $19.99) provides music transcribed directly from Coltrane's recorded solos and is a top pick for musicians who would learn Coltrane's standards. Lay-flat spiral binding accompanies music for Cousin Mary, India, Moment's Notice and much, much more. Any musician interested in Coltrane's standards and solo pieces will find this in-depth and extensive collection a 'must have' for reproducing his music. Musicians will also relish Volume V of 'The Real Book' (9781423488484, $35.00), which provides a book of music for key of C instruments and includes sheet music for such popular songs as 'Where Is Love?', 'Sweet Georgia Brown', and 'Smooth Operator'. The songs come from different decades but all were popular hits and performing musicians who regularly need sheet music will find this the perfect reference. Troy Nelson's Fretboard Freedom (9781458420145, $24.99) provides an audio to accompany discussions of some 376 licks from rock and jazz to country and metal, and covers a range of scales, harmonics, chord progressions and more. It's a 52-week, one-lick-per-day learning method for visualizing and understanding the neck of the guitar, with each lick including resources used and performance insight along with the lick's sheet music and link to the demo on disc. The result is an excellent, unparalleled method of learning that is packed with detail and specifics, and a unique key to learning a wide range of musical styles.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Rebirth of the Church
Eddie Gibbs
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780801039584, $21.99, www.bakeracademic.com

Christian churches have become increasingly fragmented as declining members and spiritual issues divide congregations again and again, resulting in too many churches and not enough parishers - yet modern church leaders often assume a Christian foundation for ministry that doesn't handle these trends. Veteran church expert Eddie Gibbs here provides a history of how the church has re-created itself in the past, present and future, and considers the challenges inherent in doing so in a post-Christendom world. Biblical insights pair with leader experience in chapters that analyze the social and spiritual context of how churches originate and grow, and use experiences from the Bible to teach new methods of understanding church issues and the process of revitalization and rebirth. Any who would foster effective change in their church will find this a powerful survey.

Good News to the Poor
Tim Chester
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433537035, $15.99, www.crossway.org

Good News to the Poor provides a powerful survey that considers how to deliver spiritual messages to the poor, showing how word and deed can affect messages and biblical visions of mission and how effective Christian techniques incorporate elements of gospel and social action alike. Chapters use the Bible to show how to address need in the world while bringing the message of Christ to the public, and provide important keys to integration action with spiritual insight. The result is a powerful account, highly recommended for any Christian reader who would effectively deliver Biblical passages to the poor.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Emperor of Thorns
Mark Lawrence
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425256855, $25.95, www.penguin.com

Emperor of Thorns is Book Three of 'The Broken Empire' series and concludes the trilogy for prior readers who will relish the final story of a king facing the end of his empire. Jorg, main protagonist of prior books, is now twenty and High King of Seven Nations. While he hasn't gotten revenge against his father, he's determined to rule as emperor, and has uncovered the last dangerous lost technology of the land which could change and destroy the world. His confrontation with the Dead King in a battle for power introduces him to an unexpected enemy in an unexpected place in this engrossing, satisfying conclusion to an epic fantasy series, highly recommended for any prior reader.


The Business Shelf

Leading the Epic Revolution
Hunter Muller
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118340479, $45.00, www.wiley.com

LEADING THE EPIC REVOLUTION: HOW CIOS DRIVE INNOVATION AND CREATE VALUE ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE discusses how to innovate and make innovation approaches with in modern business worlds, and is written for modern CIOs and technology leaders who want a clear description of the actual applied processes to changing business environments to accept innovation strategies that are profitable and sustainable. Interviews with modern leading CIOs and leaders from major companies ranging from IBM and Cisco to Facebook and Intel make for a powerful discussion of how these companies overcame obstacles to achieve unparalleled success. Highly recommended for any looking to lead a business revolution from the inside out!

Why Wait to Be Great
Terry Hawkins
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609948917, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

Why Wait to Be Great? provides a fine synthesis of business savvy and philosophical and neuropsychological insights as she introduces two sample characters who represent two different patterns of behaviors. One is trapped in misery and feels a victim of life, the other is courageous and successful. How to move from one to the other perspective is what Why Wait to Be Great? is all about - and it's not just philosophy, either. Chapters provide an action plan for rising above the slings and arrows of life - and shows how to perceive and use concrete steps to self-improvement. Business and self-help collections alike will find this a positive approach.

Advertising Concept and Copy, third edition
George Felton
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393733860, $65.00, www.wwnorton.com

The third updated edition of Advertising Concept and Copy continues to provide new generations with a powerful, in-depth approach to creative advertising routines, showing how to research product lines, match them with clearly-identified audiences, and how to understand both consumer psychology and the evolving business marketplace. It teaches how to use all these tools to create definitive advertising objectives, and shows how copywriters can create brands by telling stories and using powerful, original writings to highlight the entire creative process that is advertising. The result is a recommended pick for any business library.

Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow
Libby Gill
Palgrave Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
9781137278517, $26.00, www.palgrave.com

Capture the Mindshare and the Market Share Will Follow: The Art and Science of Building Brands provides a fine step-by-step guide to the process of creating a brand that captures customer loyalty and trust, and uses case studies, client success stories, and easily duplicated strategies to reveal the experiences of executive coach Libby Gill. From honing in on and profiling a brand's special value to blending branding with organizational objectives and creating long-term customer loyalty, chapters consider the basics of how to identify markets, assess competition, use media resources to profile and market brands, and much more. The result is a powerful key to success highly recommended for any business collection.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Christmas is Coming
Cheryl Almgren Taylor
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604681987, $26.99, www.martingale-pub.com

CHRISTMAS IS COMING: APPLIQUE QUILT PATTERNS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON is a fine guide recommended for any quilter's collection; particularly those seeking seasonal projects for the holidays. It follows up on Taylor's popular DECK THE HALLS title and provides thirteen pieced, fusible-applique projects from table runners and wall hangings to pillows and holiday motifs for adults and children alike, and includes many gift ideas perfect for the holidays. Any holiday needleworker needs this crafts title, packed with original ideas.

The Big Book of Baby Quilts
Martingale
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604683073, $29.99, www.martingale-pub.com

The Big Book of Baby Quilts teaches dozens of quilt patterns and gathers quilts by top-selling designers who impart the basics of producing a variety of baby quilts. Some 87 baby quilt patterns and designs run the gamut from traditional to modern, while quilts for showers, holidays and more present projects that are relatively quick and easy to produce, from patchwork to applique. Full-page color photos of completed projects accompany sidebars of information and at-a-glance specs on materials, cutting, assembly and more. The result is a perfect choice for any planning quilts for babies: a treasure trove of inspiration!

Sew Red
Laura Zander
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
9781936096558, $22.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

SEW RED: SEWING & QUILTING FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH provides some 30 sewing and quilting celebrity insights and dozens of sewing projects that lend to fashion and home decor, sharing personal experiences with heart disease and tips on how women can keep their hearts fit. Cardio-friendly recipes, sewing campaign ideas, and more appear in lay-flat binding with clear spine lettering for easy shelving and use, while color photos of completed projects and sidebars of information complete what turns out to be a powerful needleworker's guide.

Universal Stitches
Nancy Arthur Hoskins
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764344312, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Universal Stitches for Weaving, Embroidery and Other Fiber Arts provides beginning and advanced fiber artists with a fine text that shows how five basic stitches (plus nearly two hundred variations and combinations) can result in new decorative options, and provides detailed diagrams and projects that show how to make the most of these five basic stitches. From embroidery and needlework pieces mixing techniques and media to wrapping, looping, chaining and more, this provides the author's own unique visual approach to diagraming stitches to teach all 200 used in a range of projects. Color photos and clear examples make this a pick for any needleworker looking to get the most from basics.


The Science Shelf

Thinking in Numbers
Daniel Tammet
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316187374, $26.00, www.littlebrown.com

Thinking in Numbers: On Life, Love, Meaning and Math provides a powerful survey exploring the beauty of numbers and math and how they operate in daily life, covering everything from synesthesia (perceiving numbers with colors and texture) to why time seems to speed up as we are, whether there is truly an 'average', and how math is related to musical beauty. Packed with solid connections between math and the world around us, this is an outstanding survey highly recommended for any interested in math, numbers, and real-world applications.

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com

Ronald T. Kellogg's THE MAKING OF THE MIND: THE NEUROSCIENCE OF HUMAN NATURE (9781616147334, $20.00) explores five different parts of human cognition and considers executive-level functions and how five distinct components result in a uniquely human mindset. Against this backdrop the efforts and perceptions of humans and issues revolving around morality, spirituality and literacy are considered, with a history of cognitive thinking's evolutionary processes included in the consideration. Any who want an assessment of cognitive thinking and its evolution will find this filled with science and insights perfect for any collection strong in accounts of human nature. Kenneth Worthy's INVISIBLE NATURE: HEALING THE DESTRUCTIVE DIVIDE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT (9781616147631, $19.00) documents the disconnect between humans and nature, analyzing the psychology, history and impact of this increasing psychological distance from nature and how the evolution of Western thinking has resulted in a type of ethics that don't take environmental importance into consideration. Chapters draw important links between this disconnect process and the ongoing erosion of the environment and provide a powerful survey highly recommended for any collection strong in nature and environmental facts.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

BSAVA
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley-blackwell.com

M.C. Muhlbauer & S.K. Kneller's RADIOGRAPHY OF THE DOG AND CAT: GUIDE TO MAKING AND INTERPRETING RADIOGRAPHS (9781118547472, $99.99) comes with website support and provides veterinary reference collections with an in-depth guide to producing high-quality radiographs and evaluating findings. It may be used as either a quick reference on the job, or for more in-depth information on specific disorders, and is arranged by sections describing the basics of radiographic anatomy and interpretation. Checklists for evaluation, charts, line drawings and visuals, and discussions of both analog and digital radiography systems provide concrete techniques for improving radiographs and diagnosis from them, making this a 'must' reference for any vet student or practicing technician. Simon Platt and Natasha Obly edit BSAVA MANUAL OF CANINE AND FELINE NEUROLOGY, FOURTH EDITION (9781905319343, $149.99), and provides new edition of a best-selling technical guide covering diagnostic procedures and clinical presentations of neurological diseases. Two new chapters have been included here to cover the genetics of such diseases and recent discoveries in the field of molecular biology and breed associations, while descriptions of advancements in radiology and clinical definitions continue to make this a basic bible of reference material for veterinary students and practicing vets alike.


The Audiobook Shelf

Mistress
James Patterson and David Ellis
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781611130423, $34.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

MISTRESS receives a powerful reading by Kevin T. Collins, who adds a vivid and lively tone to a gripping story of Ben, who is consumed by obsessions with objects, a beautiful woman, and her murder. Diana's death is ruled a suicide but Ben is sure she'd never have killed herself, and the same obsession that has ruled him when she was alive turns into a hunt for the truth when she's dead. Further complicating matters is the revelation that someone's trying to prevent him from learning the truth, resulting in a gripping murder mystery and thriller any reader will find absorbing and unpredictable.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Aspects of Contemporary Book Design
Richard Hendel, Editor
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381752, $29.95, www.uiowapress.org

Aspects of Contemporary Book Design considers the craft of book design and tells designers who work with modern technology how to manage specific book design challenges. Images from the books they have produced provide an example-driven, indexed guide to how professional British and American designers think about book design. Any involved in the art of publisher and design will find this gathers the latest thinking on book design, offering first-person step-by-step insights on the progression from manuscript to finished product. Numerous black and white examples throughout make for a 'must' for any book designer or publisher who would understand the process of choosing an effective book design.


The Fashion Shelf

New Earrings
Nicholas Estrada
Thames & Hudson Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500290828, $29.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

NEW EARRINGS: 500+ DESIGNS FROM AROUND THE WORLD packs in over five hundred color illustrations and displays the talents and art of a new brand of designer and artist creating earrings that go beyond traditional jewelry design methods. Innovative works from designers around the world showcase new trends in these designs and range from traditional to cutting-edge pieces. All jewelry shown is notable for something different, whether it be style and materials or color and composition. Nicholas Estrada is a jewelry designer in Spain: his own work has achieved much acclaim and places him in a perfect position to assess industry trends.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B
Long Island City, NY 11101
www.ospreypublishing.com

Thomas Anderson's TIGER (9781780962016, $29.95) provides a fine, comprehensive survey on German fighting vehicles in general and the Tiger in particular, which was feared by Soviet and Allied forces alike - and it comes from an authority who follows the evolution of the Tiger from original specs to variants produced using its chassis. Engineering, war strategy, and the mechanical operations of the Tiger are covered in an outstanding survey illustrated with many rare images - some never published before - and details from original Tiger manuals. The result is a powerful account highly recommended for any military collection covering vehicles and their evolution. Duncan B. Campbell's THE RISE OF IMPERIAL ROME AD 14-193 (9781780962801, $20.95) provides a fine military history of ancient Imperial Rome and follows two centuries of its expansion and events. Photos and color maps throughout accompany discussions of emperors, legions of conquerors, and how the empire employed military and strategic tactics to gain advantage and might. Any military history holding specializing in ancient history will find this a specific, useful guide. John Weal's HE 111 KAMPFGESCHWADER ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT (9781780963075, $22.95) provides a fine survey adding to the Osprey combat aircraft series and tells of the twin-engined He111 which flew in battles during the start of World War II, providing the aerial force that fostered all the early Blitzkrieg campaigns. Its equipment, military force, and operations as a strategic bomber and nightfighter as well as transport details all its uses in battle, making for a powerful account recommended for any military collection strong in World War II or equipment history. Osprey's BOLT ACTION: ARMIES OF IMPERIAL Japan (9781780960915, $24.95) provides a powerful survey recommended for any military player of the 'Bolt Action' wargames, and focuses on the scenarios of the Imperial Japanese military which saw action throughout Asia. Players can use this handbook to build a force of the Emperor's loyal troops and can represent campaigns throughout the region, making this a strong 'must have' reference for any prior Bolt Action wargamer.


The Photography Shelf

A Russian American Photographer in Tlingit Country
Sergei Kan
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142906, $39.95, www.oupress.com

A Russian American Photographer in Tlingit Country: Vincent Soboleff in Alaska packs in images of life in a small town southeast Alaska village in the late 1800s and early 1900s and is also the first title to feature the photos of amateur Russian American photographer Vincent Soboleff. As such, it's a recommendation for history and photography holdings as well as Native American collections, documenting the daily lives of Tlingit Indians and Russian-Americans alike. Soboleff used a Kodak camera to capture his images and despite their historical importance, surprisingly few have seen print since their discovery in 1950. Anthropologist Sergei Kan gathers over 100 images and combines them with archival records and documents to illustrate life in a multiethnic community. The result is a fine recommendation for any interested in Tlingits, Alaskan history and culture, and early photography.


The Crafts Shelf

Wabi-sabi Art Workshop
Serena Barton
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
9781440321009, $24.99, www.createmixedmedia.com

Wabi-sabi Art Workshop provides crafters working in mixed media with a fine, inspirational guide for translating the simple things in life to inspiration for art. Dozens of inspiration images and tips for taking photos blend with over thirty techniques for working in oil, paints, inks, foils, collage, paper, crayons and much more. Wabi-sabi is all about flexibility and find beauty in imperfection, and this book teaches the basics, using some 70 big, finished pieces of art to illustrate each technique. Any working in art who want a mixed media series of project ideas will find this a fine sourcebook filled with examples and inspiration.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

"On My Way"
Joseph Horowitz
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393240139, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

"On My Way": The Untold Story of Rouben Mamoulian, George Gershwin, and Porgy and Bess tells of a nearly forgotten director who helped Porgy and Bess turn into a successful and unparalleled production: Rouben Mamoulian, whose collaboration with the more famous Gershwin has nearly been forgotten. From the evolution of Porgy as a novella published in 1925 to its adaptation into play format and the early association of director Mamoulian with the opera that evolved, "On My Way" provides a powerful inspection gleaned from research into primary documents from the Mamoulian Archives and interviews with those who worked with the director. Any interested in Porgy's evolution and the biography of Mamoulian will find this an unparalleled survey of the evolution of a world-famous opera and the man who fostered its fame.

Elysium: The Art of the Film
Mark Salisbury
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781781162477, $39.95, www.titanbooks.com

Elysium: The Art of the Film blends music, theater, visual arts and more and revolves around a contemporary science fiction film that released in August. Any fan of the movie or science fiction film-making in particular will want this visual guide, which packs in rare photos, production art and designs, interviews which reveal behind-the-scenes operations of the film, and more. The movie is set in year 2154, where two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who reside on space station Elysium, and the rest who live on an overpopulated, ruined planet. Predictably the worlds are far apart and it's up to one man, Max, to get to Elysium and undertake a dangerous mission which, if successful, will change both worlds. It's a powerful, moving saga that comes to life in a survey reviewing the art and making of the movie, highly recommended for science fiction and film collections alike.


The Sports Shelf

100 Things 49ers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
Daniel Brown
Triumph Books
814 N. Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781600787911, $14.95, www.triumphbooks.com

100 Things 49ers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die comes from a seasoned Bay Area sports journalist and covers the key moments and facts about past ands present players, coaches and rivalries that permeate 49ers football history, and is a pick for any fan and collections catering to football enthusiasts. Anecdotes, interviews, fun stories and history blend to offer a fine survey of all facts pertinent to the 49ers and their culture, making this a top recommendation for any interested in football culture, history, and more.


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


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