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California Bookwatch

Volume 6, Number 4 April 2011 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Computer Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Railroading Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Military Shelf Cookbook Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Social Issues Shelf Art Shelf
Fashion Shelf Education Shelf Business Shelf
Music Shelf Language Studies Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Audiobook Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Photography Shelf Automotive Shelf
Biography Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Architecture Shelf Gardening Shelf California Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Moby-Duck
Donovan Hohn
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670022199, $27.95, www.penguin.com

MOBY-DUCK: THE TRUE STORY OF 28,800 BATH TOYS LOST AT SEA AND OF THE BEACHCOMBERS, OCEANOGRAPHERS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, AND FOOLS, INCLUDING THE AUTHOR, WHO WENT IN SEARCH OF THEM offers a fine survey of a 1992 freighter which ditched 28,800 plastic bath toys into the North Pacific during a storm. Donovan Hohn read about the mishap and the resulting floaters that were washing up on shores from Washington to Alaska and decided to search them out - his research into the world of maritime shipping, marine litter, and Chinese toy manufacturing makes for an intriguing account perfect for any general lending library.

Will to Live
Les Stroud
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780062026576, $17.99, www.harpercollins.com

WILL TO LIVE: DISPATCHES FROM THE EDGE OF SURVIVAL offers a fine survey of seven legendary figures facing difficulties. Each of their survival stories serves as a lesson in survival tactics, with Les Stroud breaking down choices and circumstances to show how each made decisions that allowed for survival. Any general library strong in true-life survival stories will find this compelling.

All Things Shining
Hubert Dreyfus & Sean Dorrance Kelly
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416596158, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age highlights a loss in Western culture that is profound and wide-ranging. A flow of choices offers more options than ever - but how to we make choices, how do we identify what is important, and how is a secular life with meaning within all these choices? The loss involves an ability to recognize what matters in a life with living and how to attain it, and chapters track this loss and how it can be recovered. Spirituality, literature and social issues blend in a fine survey especially recommended for spirituality and college-level social issues collections.

Coiffures
Carol Rifelj
University of Delaware Press
c/o Associated University Press
440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
9780874130997, $62.50, www2.lib.udel.edu/udpress

Coiffures: Hair in Nineteenth-Century French Literature and Culture offers a fine survey of the historical and cultural practices associated with women's hairstyles and hair care in 19th century France. As Paris became the center of world culture, it also fostered changing styles, false hairpieces, and products for hair care. This provides college-level fashion collections with a solid fashion history that uses journals and period publications for its background history.

The Complete Dictionary of Insurance Terms Explained Simply
Melissa Samaroo
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601382375, $21.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

The Complete Dictionary of Insurance Terms Explained Simply is a handy guide for insurance agents and consumers alike, explaining the common terms of various insurances using simple language and ideas. Over 2,000 terms are defined from car and life insurance to homeowners or worker's compensation, listing such terms in alphabetical order for quick consultation. Highly recommended for any general lending library!

1,000 Words to Sign
Professor Geoffrey S. Poor
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd, Ste 100, San Diego, CA 92121
1607101939, $24.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

Any who wish to learn American Sign Language MUST have this tutorial, which teaches each sign using close-up sequential color photos supplemented by written descriptions of all hand and finger formations and movements. The accompany DVD demonstrates the actual sign language in motion, while photos include directional arrows to indicate the correct movements. An A-Z arrangement allows for quick location of words in this invaluable reference, unique in its clarity and approach to ASL.


The Computer Shelf

Vector Basic Training
Von Glitschka
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321749596, $44.99, www.newriders.com

Vector Basic Training: A Systematic Creative Process for Building Precision Vector Artwork provides a key to not just Adobe Illustrator, but how to translate ideas into vector shapes, analyze designs, and build them in vector form. It comes from an illustrative designer who analyzes the entire process for creating vector graphics, and provides basic keys to the tools and methods that result in accurate curves and anchor points for designs. Design libraries will find this a powerful pick!

Learn iPhone and iPad Cocos2d Game Development
Steffen Itterheim
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430233039, $39.99, www.apress.com

This introduction to the cocos2d for iPhone gamers offers keys to creating several games made entirely with cocos2d and provides four simple games that teach introductory and key concepts of the cocos2d game engine and Objective-C programming. These examples are modeled after popular App Store games and provide programmers with a working familiarity with the basic cocos2d game engine API and the Chipmunk and Box2d physics engines. Black and white screen shots, code, and more provide all the basics needed.

jQuery: Novice to Ninja
Earle Castledine & Craig Sharkie
Sitepoint
9780980576856, $39.95, www.sitepoint.com

jQuery: Novice to Ninja belongs in any computer library where Javascript is of concern. It provides a basic introduction into jQurery, teaching the basics of the JavaScript framework and covering advanced techniques from plug ins to widgets. jQuery code is the focus, with all source code available for download and chapters covering everything from making elements draggable to using Ajax for interactive structures. Simply outstanding, this is a pick for any library strong in JavaScript applications.

Microsoft Office 2010
LiveLessons Video
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789743922, $39.99, www.quepublishing.com

Microsoft Office 2010: Maximizing Your Office 2010 Productivity offers a DVD video instruction course packing in over four hours of video instruction, 50 tips and techniques, and features that can be learned in less than five minutes. Office 2010's most sophisticated features are revealed in fine visual training surveys that offer self-paced instructionals.

Secrets of Corel Painter Experts
Daryl Wise & Linda Hellfritsch
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
9781435457201, $44.99, www.courseptr.com

Secrets of Corel Painter Experts provides a powerful set of tips and techniques for Corel Painter users of all abilities, pairs book format with a DVD that contains a 30-day demo of Corel Painter II, video tutorials and Painter movies, and features the works of a range of artists in the genres of fine art photography, comic book illustration, and more. Chapters are organized according to the artist's area of expertise and provide a fine pairing of color illustration with full-page representations of each artist's works. Corel users will find this packed with possibilities.

The Art of Image Processing With Java
Kenny A. Hunt
A.K. Peters
5 Commonwealth Road #2C, Natick, MA 01760
9781568817170, $69.00, www.akpeters.com

The Art of Image Processing With Java offers engineers and computer scientists alike a fine survey on software design, packing in illustrations with examples of Java code and explanations of the math behind it. Each chapter includes problems to help students, teaches the basics of image processing, and discusses issues such as complications that arise from source code images of different dimensions, and how to leverage separable kernels. A fine guide for any technical collection strong in image processing.

Javascript Step by Step, second edition
Steve Suehring
Microsoft Press
9780735645523, $39.99, www.microsoft.com/mspress

The second updated edition of Javascript Step by Step is for any JavaScript developer who would self-learn how to program with JavaScript. Programmers with basic skills will find this tutorial pairs hands-on examples with specifics on applications and techniques, and is perfect for any who would work with JavaScript syntax and data types. From manipulating CSS styles to developing interactive Web applications using Ajax, this pairs exercises with an online edition and access to further web examples and tutorials. Any Java beginner needs this!

Office 2010: The Missing Manual
Nancy Conner & Matthew MacDonald
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781449382407, $39.99, www.oreilly.com

Office 2010: The Missing Manual packs in answers to common issues that arise when using Microsoft office. Most people just know the basics of each program in this powerful suite: if you want to go further, Office 2010: The Missing Manual provides answers to everything from assembling data and crunching numbers with Excel to integrating video and audio clips into Power Point and building Access databases. Learn more efficient ways to manage Office and use its hidden powers in a detailed manual that should've come with the program.

HTML5 and CSS3
Brian P. Hogan
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356685, $33.00, www.pragprog.com

HTML5 and CSS3: Develop with Tomorrow's Standards Today tells programmers how to get up to speed using the new HTML5 elements, APIs, and CSS3 features. Even more important, it tells how to create solutions that are compatible with older browsers, and teaches everything from how to embed audio and video into pages without using Flash to sharing data and using offline caching. A tutorial project for each HTML5 and CSS3 feature covered makes for a powerful survey perfect for any serious website programmer and any collection catering to them.

Managing Software Debt
Chris Sterling
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321554132, $49.99, www.informit.com

Collections strong in software engineering and Agile development will find MANAGING SOFTWARE DEBT: BUILDING FOR INEVITABLE CHANGE includes contributions from Brent Barton and shows how understanding software debt can help move products from development to market. From minimizing interest payments by paying off debts quickly to using automated testing and knowledge sharing techniques, MANAGING SOFTWARE DEBT offers techniques that can deliver greater business value and streamline processes for more efficient results.

Quicken 2011: The Official Guide
Bobbi Sandberg
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
0071748687, $25.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Quicken 2011: The Official Guide covers U.S. editions Deluxe and Premier and is the only official guide to the software covering all the basics of use and customization. From automating transactions and reconciling accounts to tracking investments and managing household records, this packs in professional keys to using all the software's latest features, and is a 'must' for any Quicken user or collection catering to them.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Blackwork
Becky Hogg
Search Press
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA94954-1117
9781844485512, $21.95, www.searchpress.com

Blackwork tells how to develop many different patterns from basic blackwork stitches and offer a lay-flat hardcover binding for easy instruction. Black and white examples of traditional and modern embroidery accompany details on patterns and are included in a coverage arranged by basic stitches. The result is a top pick for any needlework collection where embroidery is of interest.

Quilt Fiesta!
Cheryl Lynch
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Ave NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011-9511
9781604680034, $26.99, www.martingale-pub.com

QUILT FIESTA! SURPRISING DESIGNS FROM MEXICAN TILES packs in a lovely collection of quilts inspired by Mexican folk art. 10 decorative projects for quilts, placemats, and more offer mix and match blocks and tips on creating a fusible applique quilt. A photo of the original tile that inspired each design is included. Quilting and needlework libraries will find this a fine, unique addition.

Shadowfolds
Jeffrey Rutzky & Chris K. Palmer
Kodansha America
451 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781568363790, $27.95, www.kodanshaamerica.com

SHADOWFOLDS: SURPRISINGLY EASY-T0-MAKE GEOMETRIC DESIGNS IN FABRIC explains how traditional folding designs can be adapted to create unique textiles. From a history of the origins of Shadowfolds in Moorish tiles and Japanese origami to how they translate to fabric, this offers a three-step process and patterns for fifteen projects from hats and neckties to purses and even a bedspread. Any crafts or needlework collection will find this an unusual pick!

International Sunbonnet Sue
Debra Kimball, MD
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326796, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com

International Sunbonnet Sue packs in nearly fifty sunbonnet designs that capture other cultures and places around the world. In each sue is dressed in her country's traditional costume and holds a symbolic souvenir, making this a pick for any quilter familiar with the traditional Sunbonnet motif. The opportunities to produce quilts that reflect heritage or travels using the Sunbonnet design makes this a fascinating approach to a traditional pattern - and perfect for quilters who already use Sue in other projects.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Home Fires
Gene Wolfe
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780765328182, $24.99, www.tor-forge.com

HOME FIRES is Gene Wolfe's first science fiction novel in several years, and tells of a couple separated just after marriage: one off to fight a war against aliens in space, the other joining a prestigious defense firm. Now Chelle is returning - after twenty years have passed for her mate at home. Her mental injuries and her uncertain new life with a husband she barely knows takes a new turn when their cruise ship is hijacked and Chelle becomes aware she's on a killer's hit list. Intrigue, science fiction and action abound in this winning survey!

Practicing Science Fiction
Karen Hellekson, et.al. Editors
McFarland & Company
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786447930, $35.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

Practicing Science Fiction: Critical Essays on Writing, Reading and Teaching the Genre is drawn from the Science Fiction Research Association conference held in Kansas in 2008 and offer essays discussing the reading, writing and teaching of science fiction. Research into how to teach science fiction in other disciplines and discussions of science fiction in the media, from books to films, makes for an absorbing, scholarly survey perfect for education collections and college-level courses on science fiction.

In Fire Forged
David Weber
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781439134146, $26.00, www.baen.com

IN FIRE FORGED: WORLDS OF HONOR #5 is a top recommendation for any science fiction collection seeing popularity with the prior novels in the series. It provides short stories exploring the universe of Honor Harrington and providing new adventures by David Weber, Timothy Zahn, and others, providing fabulous space opera political science fiction packed with intrigue and action. The 'Honorverse' short stories by Weber, Jane Lindskold and Timothy Zahn are top picks for any lending library strong in science fiction.

The Inheritance Almanac
Michael Macauley
Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780375864933, $18.99, www.randomhouse.com/kids

THE INHERITANCE ALMANAC: An A-to-Z to the World of Eragon is intended for teen fans of the Eragon movie, but is reviewed here for its attraction to many an adult science fiction reader. Fans of Christopher Paolini's 'Inheritance' series will find this a fine fan guide by a teen who originated the Shurtugal.com website for Inheritance cycle fans. This packs in an encyclopedia of fats gained from dozens of interviews with the Eragon series creator, and is a 'must' for any reader of the Eragon series.

Admirality
Rick Katze, Editor
NESFA
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778948, $29.00, www.nesfa.org/press

"Admirality: The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson, Volume 4" continues an outstanding series presenting the best fantasy and science fiction works of Poul Anderson. This collection is cemented by "Admirality", a story in which humans have colonies throughout the galaxy and faces alien conflict, "Goat Song", about a man's desire to bring his lost love back to live, and many more. Another powerful collection, highly recommended for collections that either have the prior volumes or who seek a definitive gathering of Poul Anderson's works.

The Wise Man's Fear
Patrick Rothfuss
DAW Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780756404734, $29.95, www.penguin.com

Fans of Patrick Rothfuss' 'Kingkiller Chronicles' have had a long wait between his debut best-seller The Name of the Wind and now: four years between his first book of a planned three-book epic until now. This alone will make THE WISE MAN'S FEAR an exciting appearance above and beyond the usual sequel. It picks up where The Name of the Wind leaves off, following Kvothe's search for answers about his heritage and evil forces. His survival of an impossible goddess and his involvement in another realm's interests makes this a powerful, highly recommended pick - and a 'must' for any collection where Patrick Rothfuss has already become a legend.

Pale Demon
Kim Harrison
Harper Voyageur
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061138065, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

PALE DEMON tells of Rachel, who has been condemned for black magic and has three days to get to the annual witches' conference to clear her name or be trapped in the demonic world forever. With her companions being an elf, a living vampire and a pixy you're looking at a carload of trouble in this engrossing, lively and highly recommended pick!

Resurrected Press
www.resurrectedpress.com

Resurrected Press is dedicated to bringing quality editions of classic writings back to print, publishers the editions in affordable paperback formats, and offers a lovely alternative to paying huge dollars for collectibles of the past when all a library wishes is to stock the title for lending. Two wonderful picks are top recommendations from their expanding line of wonders. Murray Leinster's ADVENTURES IN THE FIFTH DIMENSION (9781935774211, $12.99) includes THE FIFTH-DIMENSION CATAPULT and THE FIFTH-DIMENSION TUBE and tells of a professor and his daughter marooned in the fifth dimension, and the playboy mathematician who can save them. The two complete novellas under one cover is a real treat, as Astounding Stories published them originally. Donald Allen Wollheim's THE SECRET OF THE NINTH PLANET (9781935774396, $9.99) tells of an alien spaceship and its crew that travels around the universe facing dangers all the way. To save their planet, the experimental spaceship must disable alien installations designed to destabilize the sun - which involves a voyage beyond Pluto in this engrossing novel. All are powerful recommendations for any serious, comprehensive science fiction collection!

Blasphemy
Mike Resnick
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846649, $24.95, www.goldengryphon.com

BLASPHEMY offers two short novels and five short stories demonstrating the best of Mike Resnick's talents, and is a top pick deserving ongoing recommendation for any serious science fiction collection. Walpurgis III is a novel about a world populated by Satanists that is confronted by Evil presenting a conundrum in ethics, The Branch tells of the real Messiah of the Old Testament who shows up at the end of the 21st century to exact vengeance, and all stories confront ideas of God and religion. Libraries will find this a powerful, recommended pick!


The Railroading Shelf

Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout
Tony Koester
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780890247976, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout is a 'must' for any model railroader interested in modeling a specific prototype railroad. From researching real railroads for models to designing a layout based on prototype principles and operating a model railroad, this is packed with examples of research strategies, design principles, and model railroad construction. Any railroader must have this!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Mind-Body Workbook for PTSD
Stanley H. Block, MD & Carolyn Bryant Block
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572249233, $21.95, www.newharbinger.com

Mind-Body Workbook for PTSD: A 10-Week Program for Healing After Trauma features a mind-body bridging technique that has proven effective for self-help healing after a traumatic experience. This self-guided program can be completed quickly and provides readers with the skills they need to recover from PTSD. While the workbook's fill-in pages and exercises may not completely lend to library circulation, there's plenty of text description which does make it a pick for personal and library lending alike.

Swallow
Mahy Cappello
New Press
38 Greene St., New York NY 10013
9781595583956, $27.95, www.thenewpress.com

SWALLOW: FOREIGN BODIES, THEIR INGESTION, INSPIRATION, AND THE CURIOUS DOCTOR WHO EXTRACTED THEM provides a fine review of the Chevalier Jackson Foreign Body Collection, a curious museum collection holding thousands of items that were swallowed or inhaled, then extracted nonsurgically by a pioneering laryngologist using instruments of his own design. From a toy airplane, hooks and a wristwatch to a beaded crucifix, this provides answers to how and why the items were swallowed - and how they came to light.

No Family History
Sabrina McCormick
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780742564084, $34.95, www.rowmanlittlefield.com

NO FAMILY HISTORY: THE ENVIRONMENTAL LINKS TO BREAST CANCER gathers evidence of environmental links to breast cancer, from cosmetics to industrial waste, and blends the story of a survivor with no family history into an exploration of how profits often take precedence over prevention options. New ways of reducing breast cancer rate accompany a powerful survey weaving personal experience with political conflicts and health concerns. Any health or general lending library should have this!

How We Age
Marc E. Agronin, MD
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142
9780306818530, $25.00, www.dacapopress.com

HOW WE AGE: A DOCTOR'S JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF GROWING OLD uses personal experience and interviews with pioneers in the field of aging to explore what aging means today and how well we understand it. Aging doesn't have to mean slowing decline - it can mean increased wisdom, vitality and creativity as well. Dr. Agronin is a geriatric psychiatrist and Harvard graduate: his book offers inspiration for any interested in aging well, and for both general and health libraries.

Cinch!
Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061974649, $25.99, www.harperone.com

CINCH! STOP COUNTING AND START LIVING offers an inspiring new kind of diet plan for those sick of calorie counts and memorization of routines. Choose four daily meals from over a hundred options in a plan from a weight-loss expert whose goal isn't just to lose weight, but to sustain it through diet changes. Thirty days of quick-fix meals are included in CINCH, along with a formula for moving on to create your own weight-conscious meals. General libraries will find this a fine survey!

A Life in Balance
Meg Wolff
Down East Books
Box 679, Camden, Maine 04843
9780892729067, $19.95, www.downeast.com

A Life in Balance: Delicious, Plant-Based Recipes for Optimal Health could also have been featured in our cookbook section, but is reviewed here for its health-oriented approach to food choices and cooking. Packed with healthy recipes, all plant-based, this tells of Meg's struggle with second stage cancer and how a vastly different diet helped her feel healthy. A LIFE IN BALANCE deserves ongoing recommendation as a top lending library pick!

The Tell-Tale Brain
V.S. Ramachandran
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393077827, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

THE TELL-TALE BRAIN: A NEUROSCIENTIST'S QUEST FOR WHAT MAKES US HUMAN comes from one of the most original neuroscientists of our age whose pioneering works in neurology offer keys to understanding the human brain and personality. From how language developed and what causes autism to the origins of creativity and personality itself, college-level libraries will find this a solid link between medicine, science and the latest brain research findings.

Talking with Patients and Families About Medical Error
Robert D. Truog, MD, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21218-4363
0801898048, $30.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Talking with Patients and Families About Medical Error: A Guide for Education and Practice is based on guidelines from the Institute for Professional and Ethical Practice and the author's own experiences, and tells how to initiate a discussion and handle patient reactions to medical error. From documenting medical records and explaining them to handling questions about financial compensation, this aims to promote resolution and healing and stresses clear, empathic communication for any involved in medical practice. Professional health collections will consider this essential.

A Caring Approach in Nursing Administration
Jan J. Nyberg
University Press of Colorado
5589 Arapahoe Ave., #206C, Boulder CO 80303
9781607320739, $27.95, www.upcolorado.com

A Caring Approach in Nursing Administration comes from a lifelong career of administration and management backed by human caring, and offers knowledge, experiences and insights key to more effective nursing administration. Chapters cover values and ethics, nursing economics, leadership styles and more, emphasizing how the caring approach develops. College-level collections catering to nursing students and professional health libraries catering to nursing administrators will find this a specific and useful reference.


The Military Shelf

The Los Banos Prison Camp Raid
Gordon L. Rottman
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219, Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849080750, $18.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

The Los Banos Prison Camp Raid: The Philippines 1945 narrows the World War II focus to a masterful raid in the Philippines, where an internment camp held over 2,000 starving men, women and children guarded by 250 Japanese soldiers in a remote countryside location. From the origins of a conflict that would free them to the execution of the raid, moment-by-moment drama is captured in a blend of rare photos, artwork by Johnny Shumate, and a dramatic script by historian Gordon L. Rottman that keeps the action moving and lively from start to finish. Any serious, in-depth World War II collection needs this!

Black Faces of War
Robert V. Morris
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760339176, $30.00, www.zenithpress.com

BLACK FACES OF WAR: A LEGACY OF HONOR FROM THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO TODAY celebrates the lasting military legacy of Afro-American men and women throughout American history, and features biographical and historic sketches of numerous prominent military figures. Medal winners and leaders to airmen and 'firsts' are all celebrated in pages that pack vintage black and white photos with facts. Any collection strong in either military or Afro-American history needs this.

Neptune's Inferno
James D. Hornfischer
Bantam Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553806700, $30.00, www.bantamdell.com

NEPTUNE'S INFERNO: THE U.S. NAVY AT GUADALCANAL provides an epic history of the most pivotal campaign of the Pacific war: Guadalcanal. It blends interviews with survivors with previously unpublished eyewitness accounts and new documents into a fine analysis to bring to life the events of Guadalcanal, from its importance as a Naval triumph to the seven major naval actions that won a seemingly unwinnable war. It's a top recommendation for any military history holding.

You Know When the Men Are Gone
Siobhan Fallon
G.P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780399157202, $23.95, www.penguin.com

You Know When the Men Are Gone explores the emotional world of an Army base in Fort Hood, Texas during time of war, when many women await their men to return from battle. Siobhan Fallon interviews wives from all walks of life and experience, from a wife who discovers secrets when she hacks into her husband's e-mail to a teen and her young brother who vanish as their mother fights cancer. Accounts of how these families keep connections and face impossible odds on top of war make this an absorbing 'must' for any military library and many a genera-interest collection.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Flavors of the Florida Keys
Linda Gassenheimer
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780802119537, $27.50, www.groveatlantic.com

The Flavors of the Florida Keys provides another classic cookbook from the author of a popular column "Dinner in Minutes", which appeared in the Miami herald in 1987 to much acclaim. Eleven books later comes a book to tour the best of the Florida keys' recipes, and comes from the author's travels throughout the keys and her stories of the men and women behind the dishes. Access to fresh seafood is a 'must' for the many dishes including Stuffed Lobster Tails and Broiled Snapper with Pineapple Salsa. A winning collection, this is a pick for any seafood library!

The Art of the Chocolatier
Ewald Notter
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470398845, $65.00, www.wiley.com

The Art of the Chocolatier: From Classic Confections to Sensational Showpieces provides a comprehensive guide to chocolate-making and covers all the basics on ingredients, equipment, and handling different types of chocolate. Professional cooks receive step-by-step instructions covering chocolate-making, from tempering to using molds, creating a confectionary competition piece, and more. Color photos illustrate both finished results and the step-by-step techniques, while measurements in US, Metric and Volume appear in color sidebars for quick assessment. A 'must' for any professional culinary library!

The Arabian Nights Cookbook
Habeeb Salloum
Charles Tuttle
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804841023, $24.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

The Arabian Nights Cookbook From Lamb Kebabs to Baba Ghanouj, Delicious Homestyle Arabian Cooking celebrates a range of Arab cultures and provides dishes compatible with Western kitchens and tastes. The author traveled around the Arabian Gulf to sample cuisine from the region and here offers dishes ranging from a mini Saudi pizza to Fish Fillets in an Aromatic Red Sauce consisting of fresh cilantro, garlic, oregano, and onion. A fine compendium of Arab influences!

The Just Bento Cookbook
Makiko Itoh
Kodansha America Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9784770031242, $19.95, www.kodanshaamerica.com

The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go offers a new approach to the Japanese traditional bento box lunch, presenting well over a hundred recipes for Japanese and Not-so-Japanese food that fits perfectly into a bento-style box of compartments. From Ginger Pork to Turkey Soboro or Soba Noodles, color photos pair well with appealing dishes.

Not Your Mother's Casseroles
Faith Durand
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston MA 02118
9781558324848, $16.95, www.harvardcommonpress.com

Not Your Mother's Casseroles offers fine one-dish meals that are anything but standard, offering over 200 recipes for all kinds of tastes. From Baked Coconut Rice With Spices to Baked Huevos Rancheros, these dishes incorporate international influences and spices, come from ingredients easy to obtain in any local market, and are filled with appeal and innovation.


The American History Shelf

Tracing the Santa Fe Trail
Ronald J. Dulle
Mountain Press
Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425716, $22.00, www.mountain-press.com

Tracing the Santa Fe Trail: Today's Views, Yesterday's Voices blends color modern images of the Santa Fe Trail today with historical commentary on its past, offering a fine survey of American frontier history with strong links between past and present experience. From its natural beauty to its military dramas and encounters, photo images pack in a diverse set of images perfect for any collection strong in American history.

American Uprising
Daniel Rasmussen
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061995217, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

AMERICAN UPRISING: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICA'S LARGEST SLAVE REVOLT tells of a group of sugar plantation slaves that violently rebelled just outside of New Orleans, marching on a defenseless city during the period following Mardi Gras in pursuit of establishing a black republic in the area. AMERICAN UPRISING surveys the plot and the slave army's march on the city, documenting the massacre which resulted, and is a pick for any American history library as well as many a general lending collection and any collection concerned with civil rights history.


The World History Shelf

Five Thousand Years of Slavery
Marjorie Gann & Janet Willen
Tundra Books
75 Sherbourne St., 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5A 2P9
9780887769146, $29.99, www.tundrabooks.com

Five Thousand Years of Slavery provides a powerful history of world slavery processes as a whole, from ancient Sumerians who sold their children to slave women in Rome and American blacks. History accounts, firsthand accounts, maps, photos and paintings explore circumstances of slavery in human culture, with a special focus on world slavery today linking past to present. Any library strong in world history and social issues from high school through college and general lending collections will find this a winning survey.

A History of Cambodia, fourth edition
David Chandler
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue #200, Boulder CO 80301
0813343631, $37.00, www.westviewpress.com

The fourth updated edition of A History of Cambodia provides a fine overview of Cambodia's history and culture and is key to any Asian studies library at the high school or college levels. It has been completely revised and updated to include material examining the early history of Cambodia and the revolution effecting it, and offers new material and recent research by major scholars, making for a powerful pick even for collections who have prior editions.


The Social Issues Shelf

Terrorists in Our Midst
Yonah Alexander, Editor
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313375705, $34.95, www.abc-clio.com

Terrorists in Our Midst: Combating Foreign-Affinity Terrorism in America gathers essays on foreign nationals operating in the U.S. and American citizens participating in terror networks here and abroad. It reviews conventional and unconventional terrorism, considers the terrorist threat in the U.S. by state and nonstate entities, and considers issues ranging from endangered intelligence to specific issues around border security. College-level collections strong in social issues and public safety will find this packed with key discussions.

Little Princes
Conor Grennan
William Morrow
10 E. 63rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061930058, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

LITTLE PRINCES: ONE MAN'S PROMISE TO BRING HOME THE LOST CHILDREN OF NEPAL tells of the 29-year-old author who embarked on a trip around the globe, starting with a three-month volunteer position at the Little Princes Children's Home in Nepal. What began as a world tour evolved into a commitment to save the children he encountered as he learned most were not orphans, but victims of a child trafficker's abandonment. Grennan's discovery changed his life and makes for a passionate story of how even one individual can effect huge social changes.

Science for Welfare and Warfare
Per Lundin, Niklas Stenlas, and Johan Gribbe, Editors
Science History Publications
Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
9780881354256, $49.95, www.shpusa.com

Science for Welfare and Warfare: Technology and State Initiative in Cold War Sweden considers the establishment of state-led science and technology in Cold War Sweden, and is a recommendation for college-level collections strong in science and European social issues history. It comes from a Swedish historian who considers how to state evolved during and after World War II, and how its new direction changed Swedish society and all aspects of its structure. Its reforms consisted of both welfare institutions and warfare machinery and were driven by science and technology participants: the result is an outstanding, technical history perfect for college-level collections.

Covering Disaster
Ralph Izard & Jay Perkins, Editors
Transaction Books
300 McGraw Drive-Raritan Center, Edison NJ 08837
1412813336, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

COVERING DISASTER LESSONS FROM MEDIA COVERAGE OF KATRINA AND RITA provides a fine survey of journalism's challenges in covering hurricanes. From basic communication to obtaining reputable information and making sense of chaos, this provides a fine set of contributions on human and professional coping and lessons learned from Katrina. Journalistic techniques that produced landmark reporting are recounted along with social challenges, making this a winning pick for any college-level collection strong in either journalistic techniques or social issues.

Beyond the 'Wild Tribes'
Ceri Oeppen and Angela Schlenkhoff, Eds
Columbia University Press
61 West 2nd St., New York NY 10023
9780231702102, $40.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

Beyond the 'Wild Tribes': Understanding Modern Afghanistan and Its Diaspora uses the blended expertise of journalists and international and nongovernmental organizations to consider modern Afghanistan and its peoples and cultures. Where other collections would focus on 'wild tribes' and stereotypes of anarchy, this provides essays considering the country's culture, conflicts, and social structure, and offers an outstanding cultural portrait key to any understanding of the country and the region. College-level collections will consider this a 'must'.

Au Contraire! Figuring Out the French, revised edition
Gilles Asselin & Ruth Mastron
Intercultural Press
c/o Nicholas Brealey Publishing
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9781877864827, $29.95, www.nicholasbrealey.com

Au Contraire! Figuring Out the French covers everything from friendship and politics to work and romance, and comes from bilingual, bicultural authors who use their own experiences as consultants and students to give readers a more personal look at French culture and habits. This revised edition includes updated details on France's changing social and political climate and offers detailed information on business and education in the country. Travelers and students of French culture and society will find this a key pick.

Manning Up
Kay S. Hymowitz
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465018420, $25.99, www.basicbooks.com

MANNING UP: HOW THE RISE OF WOMEN HAS TURNED MEN INTO BOYS comes from a social critic who argues that as women begin to become successful, men are struggling to retain traditional roles in society. Despite vastly changing economic and social roles, the stability of marriage and family life is still a desire of all classes - and MANNING UP offers a survey of the social forces working against men and how men and women can seek stable long-term relationships within new social situations. A fine title perfect for any contemporary social issues collection.

Connected
Nicholas A. Christakis, MD, PhD & James H. Fowler, PhD
Back Bay Books
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316036139, $15.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

CONNECTED: HOW YOUR FRIENDS' FRIENDS' FRIENDS AFFECT EVERYTHING YOU FEEL, THINK, AND DO provides a powerful survey of social networks and social relationships, and goes beyond the usual computer focus to explain why emotions are contagious and how behaviors spread. An outstanding social issues survey, this is a pick for any general lending library.

Acceleration: The Forces Driving Human Progress
Ronald G. Havelock
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616142124, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Acceleration: The Forces Driving Human Progress comes from a social psychologist who looks at facts and worries about the future of humanity and identifies a more optimistic trend which he's named the 'forward function': six forces that have driven human progress forward. Keys to humanity's progress and learning and its ability to grow and stay on positive paths of expansion make for a powerful survey of how progress is accelerating in human existence in this outstanding survey of how fears can be overcome, suitable for any general lending library.

Harlem is Nowhere
Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316017237, $24.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

HARLEM IS NOWHERE: A JOURNEY TO THE MECCA OF BLACK AMERICA offers a powerful survey of Harlem's political and social evolution considering its official history and the Harlem the author knows well. Her account takes the form of a series of vignettes considering Harlem's legacy, its colorful artistic personalities, and how writings have depicted their experiences. Any who would understand Harlem's social milieu needs this!

From Melting Pot to Witch's Cauldron
Ernesto Caravantes
Hamilton Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham MD 20706
9780761850564, $24.00, www.hamilton-books.com

From Melting Pot to Witch's Cauldron: How Multiculturalism Failed America offers college-level social issues collections a strong assessment of the history of multicultural intentions and its fallacies. From the original wishes of the American Republic's founding members to modern civil rights leaders, this points out how intentions have not been realized in society - and traces this failing back to the radical activism of the 1960s which first fostered multiculturalism. Classrooms will find plenty of food for discussion in this analysis, which shows how xenophobia and ethno-centrism have developed rather than unification between diverse cultures.

Addict Nation
Jane Velez-Mitchell & Sandra Mohr
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
0757315453, $24.95, www.hcibooks.com

ADDICT NATION: AN INTERVENTION FOR AMERICA analyzes how addictions have robbed Americans of their basic freedoms of choice, with freedoms coming through marketing and packaging designed to get us hooked on everything from drugs to shopping. ADDICT NATION comes from a recovering addict who asks if addiction is being marketed by big business - and how to resist its lure. Health and social issues collections alike will find this a thought-provoking 'must'.


The Art Shelf

Color & Light
James Gurney
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
0740797719, $24.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Color & Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter provides a powerful text on painting and offers traditional and digital artists alike a fine key to capturing different color and lighting effects to spice the results. From basic principles of light, form, and color relationships to premixing, color opposites and surfaces and effects, this packs in color examples throughout to accompany a specific guide to painting for superior results: very highly recommended as a basic text for painters.

Mixed-Media Paint Box
Tonia Davenport, Editor
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1440309078, $24.99, www.fwpublications.com

MIXED-MEDIA PAINT BOX: WEEKLY PROJECTS FOR A YEAR OF CREATIVE EXPLORATION offers a range of projects from various artists and teaches how to apply paint into mixed-media art. Over fifty projects and techniques for every week of the year offer tips and step-by-step instructions for projects ranging from jewelry to journaling, collage and more. Crafts collections will find this a real winner!

The Art of Chinese Calligraphy
Zhou Kexi
Better Link Press
99 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016
9781602201170, $26.95, www.amazon.com

The Art of Chinese Calligraphy provides an excellent set of nearly two hundred pieces of Chinese calligraphy - the most famous examples - and are culled from the Zhou and Qin dynasties to modern times. Any interested in calligraphy will find this pairs the examples with historical review of their development and discussions of the importance of the script. Any collection strong in Chinese history or culture or calligraphy art in particular will find this a winner!


The Fashion Shelf

Fashion Illustration 1930 to 1970
Batsford
c/o Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781906388812, $24.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

Fashion Illustration 1930 to 1970 pack in over 200 of the best fashion illustrations from the pages of Harper's Bazaar magazine from 1930 to 1970, and features artwork from major illustrations as well as keys to changing illustration trends and techniques. Pages packed with full-page color photos and drawings chart both Harper's pages and the progress and trends of the fashion illustration world. Any collection strong in fashion design history needs this!


The Education Shelf

The Passionate Mind
Wendy Lawson
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849051217, $24.95, www.jkp.com

The Passionate Mind: How People With Autism Learn offers a fine survey and the author's own theory of Single Attention and Associated Cognition in Autism, an approach that explains how individuals with autism learn and perceive. Autistic learners tend to focus on a single theme at any one time - which leads to narrowed but deep attention. Educators, employers and families receive keys to using this unique learning style to help autistic learners achieve their fullest potential. Highly recommended!

Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8
Zhihui Fang with Linda Lamme and Rose Pringle
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
9781412988421, $28.95, www.corwin.com

Language and Literacy in Inquiry-Based Science Classrooms, Grades 3-8 provides a fine survey showing teachers how to use innovative new ideas reflecting national science education standards for incorporating language analysis and science into inquiry-based science classrooms. Sample lessons, activities and chapters covering definition, language and more make this a specific, useful tool educators will need!

Assistive Technology for Young Children
Kathleen Curry Sadao and Nancy B. Robinson
Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1598570919, $39.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Deserving of ongoing mention and recommendation for any library strong in early childhood special education is Assistive Technology for Young Children, developed by two leading early childhood specialists with expertise in assistive technology. From assessing a young child's AT needs to using AT to support critical skills development, chapters are packed with keys supported by an included CD-ROM of printable forms for evaluating AT needs and strategies. Special education teachers will consider this a winner!

Lens on Outdoor Learning
Wendy Banning & Ginny Sullivan
RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540245, $49.95, www.redleafpress.org

Lens on Outdoor Learning is a 'must' for early childhood education collections. It provides a fine resource for parents and teachers and packs in details on supporting outside learning experiences, showing how to connect kids to the world of nature. Stories and case histories pack each page and connect risk-taking, responsibility and other issues with the outdoors experience all seasons of the year. Color photos and descriptions make this a lively survey!

Cracking the ACT, 2011 Edition
Geoff Mertz, et.al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780375427992, $31.99, www.princetonreview.com

The book/DVD set Cracking the ACT provides a winning survey for seniors preparing to take the ACT test, and packs in three full-length ACT practice exams plus online bonuses that include analysis of scores and customized reports on strengths and weaknesses. Explanations for all drills and tests are included in a fine survey, while the DVD has over an hour of video instruction from ACT expert course teachers. Any collection catering to students taking the ACT must have this!

CompTIA A+ Certification Practice Exams
James Pyles & Michael Pastore
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
0071760180, $30.00, www.mhprofessional.com

CompTIA A+ Certification Practice Exams offers questions and in-depth exam answers for exams 220-701 and 220-702, packing in over 1,000 exam questions and four full MasterExams. Windows 7 is covered in this in-depth self-test, which comes from two CompTIA A+ experts and outlines objectives, keys for success, and more to accompany the CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide, now in its seventh updated edition.


The Business Shelf

The Facebook Marketing Book
Dan Zarrella & Alison Zarrella
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, Ca 95472
9781449388485, $19.99, www.oreilly.com

The Facebook Marketing Book is a pick for any computer library but is especially recommended here for its focus on how to use the popular online social networking site to promote a brand, products and services. Proven tactics link Facebook's structure and approach with techniques to attract prospective customers, showing how to make the most of the pages without falling into the usual pitfalls would-be business users encounter.

How to Start a Home-Based Bakery Business
Detra Denay Davis
Globe Pequot Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762760824, $18.95, www.globepequot.com

How to Start a Home-Based Bakery Business offers insights on all the basics to starting a home-based bakery business. Veteran cook and caterer Detra Denay Davis provides strategies to launch and grow a bakery business. From understanding local and federal regulations to packaging, labeling, and marketing, this shows how to market products successfully. Home-based bakers will welcome the worksheets, checklists, and sample recipes and more, and will appreciate a wealth of specifics to home-based baking over the usual general business start-up approach. Very highly recommended!

Design It!
Rona Arato
Tundra Books
Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
9780887768460, $20.95, www.tundrabooks.com

DESIGN IT! THE ORDINARY THINGS YOU USE EVERYDAY AND THE NOT-SO-ORDINARY WAYS THEY CAME TO BE is intended for kids ages 8-11 but reviewed here for its additional interest to adults who want a fine visual introduction to the potentials of a design career. The survey includes biographies of inventors who produced the tub, microwave, camera and more, keys to how their discoveries linked to industrial design. From history to activity suggestions and facts, DESIGN IT! is for any interested in a career in industrial design.

Shine
Edward M. Hallowell, MD
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781591399230, $26.95, www.hbr.org

SHINE: USING BRAIN SCIENCE TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR PEOPLE tells how to get the best from an employee or team - and what to do when the best isn't being presented. Issues and advice come from a psychiatrist and ADD expert in peak performance, and blends the latest brain science research with business practices. It's not just theory, but a solid approach to proven success.

Make Your Own Rules
Wayne Rogers with Josh Young
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814416578, $23.00, www.amacombooks.org

Make Your Own Rules: A Renegade Guide to Unconventional Success comes from an author whose creative approach has worked across the board, from his business pursuits to his career in film and stage. It's also gotten him through starting up and turning around numerous businesses, so MAKE YOUR OWN RULES comes from solid life experience and tells readers what actually worked for him in business over the past four decades, what didn't work, and why. With its candor and solid advice keyed to real-life experiences, this is a 'must' for any business collection!

The Great Workplace
Michael Burchell & Jennifer Robin
Jossey-Bass
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470596265, $27.95, www.josseybass.com

THE GREAT WORKPLACE: HOW TO BUILD IT, HOW TO KEEP IT, AND WHY IT MATTERS shows how the Great Place to Work Institute produces its assessment of the Fortune 100 best companies to work for list, which features some of the best-known business names in the world. A great workplace environment offers more than good pay and perks: it involves trust between employee and employer and enjoyment of the overall atmosphere and its participants. Chapters use decades of research to consider how leaders and managers can reinforce values of trust and pride in a company.

Be Your Own Brand, second edition
David McNally & Karl D. Speak
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605098104, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

The second updated edition of BE YOUR OWN BRAND: Achieve More of What You Want by Being More of Who You Are comes from authors who show that developing a personal brand is not about creating and marketing a contrived image, but about discovering who you really are and marketing the truth. The entire process of creating a brand is covered, from considering the brand's relationship to real-world identity to marketing it effectively. This revised edition includes new material on how to use social media to build a person brand.

Make It in America
Andrew N. Liveris
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470930229, $24.95, www.wiley.com

MAKE IT IN AMERICA: THE CASE FOR RE-INVENTING THE ECONOMY comes from the chairman and CEO of the Dow Chemical Company, and makes a strong case for supporting domestic manufacturing, key to the long-term health of the U.S. economy. America needs to re-invent its manufacturing base quickly, Andrew Liveris maintains: his book shows why manufacturing is so essential to America's future, and offers tips on private and government engagement alike. Business libraries - and many a general interest collection - will find this a pointed, easy read.

Eat People
Andy Kessler
Portfolio Penguin
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781591843771, $25.95, www.penguin.com

EAT PEOPLE AND OTHER UNAPOLOGETIC RULES FOR GAME-CHANGING ENTREPRENEURS shares twelve ideas entrepreneurs can use to identify and improve upon the next big trend. Author Andy Kessler was an investment banker, venture capitalist, and hedge fund manager who learned truths about successful start-ups - and heard pitches from those whose ventures failed. His identification of the most successful as people who have identified and latched on to trends that skyrocket makes for a fine survey probing the difference between a smart trend or a delusion. The twelve basic rules he presents from his findings are key to business success.


The Music Shelf

Taylor Swift: Speak Now
Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 W. Bluemound, Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9781617803666, $16.99, www.halleonard.com

Taylor Swift: Speak Now provides piano, vocal and guitar sheet music for a number of Taylor Swift country songs, from 'Mine' to 'Never Grow Up'. Musicians seeking to learn her songs will find this a key acquisition, offering the words and music of Taylor Swift in a workbook recommended for any country music collection strong in guitar and vocal songbooks.


The Language Studies Shelf

Compact Chinese Dictionary
Li Dong
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804839938, $24.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

Compact Chinese Dictionary offers a fine new reference designed for English speakers who are learning or using Chinese as a foreign language. Over 48,000 words and expressions are packed into a concise guide that offers over 5,000 example sentences designed to show how the words are used in real-life situations. Keys to tones and grammar are found at the front of the dictionary, making this an essential Chinese language reference!

Alif Baa, third edition
Kristen Brustad, Mahmoud Al-Batal, Abbas Al-Tonsi
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect St., Washington, D.C. 20007
9781589017054, $23.30, www.press.georgetown.edu

Alif Baa: An Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, 3rd Edition, Teacher's Edition features four-color design throughout, over 100 illustrations and photos, and includes a DVD of video dialogues in Egyptian and Levantine, filmed in Cairo and Damascus. New English-Arabic glossaries and basic audio and video materials for offline study in this teacher's edition text make this a key instructional intended for the first 20-25 classroom hours of the Al-Kitaab program. College-level collections where Arabic language is taught will find this essential.

Modern Communications Receiver Design and Technology
Cornell Drentea
Artech House
685 Canton St., Norwood, MA 02062
9781596933095, $149.00, www.artechhouse.com

Modern Communications Receiver Design and Technology is a top pick for any college-level electrical engineering collection, offering a solid sourcebook exploring the state of the art in communications receivers. From mixers, oscillators and system design to forthcoming receiver technology, this comes packed with specific technical engineering discussions perfect for college-level electrical engineering collections. A 'must' for any modern communications collection!


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, eighth edition
Shae Irving, J.D. & Editors of Nolo
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413313213, $34.99, www.nolo.com

As a standard reference to everyday legal issues, this can't be beat: it covers everything you ever wanted to know about credit issues, probate, child custody, divorce, buying a house, wills, workplace rights, and more - and is written by a team of Nolo attorney experts who answer the most frequently asked questions using simple approaches. The eighth edition has been completely updated to reflect the latest laws and is a winner for any general lending library!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Your Psychic Potential
Richard Ireland
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Berkeley CA 94704
9781556439285, $18.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

YOUR PSYCHIC POTENTIAL: A GUIDE TO PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT provides a fine text from one of this century's most famous psychics. This text didn't reach the author's son until 2004, twelve years after his father's passing. Since then two psychic mediums with no prior knowledge of the manuscript have delivered messages to mark suggesting his father deliberately delayed the book's discovery. YOUR PSYCHIC POTENTIAL is a 'must' for any interested in growing extrasensory talents. It provides easy methods for psychic development and encourages a program that fosters psychic abilities. New age collections will find this outstanding!

Decoding the Enochian Secrets
John DeSalvo, Ph.D.
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773648, $19.95, www.innertraditions.com

Decoding the Enochian Secrets considers the Biblical Book of Enoch and reproduces for the first time the complete copy of these tables - a set of nearly 100 mystical tables - given to mankind in the 1580s. The tables here include the phonetic pronunciations written by Dr. Dee and Edward Kelly, explains the differences between these tables and the Book of Enoch, and considers how later magicians used them. New age collections will find this an intriguing, detailed and unique survey.

Goddesses for Every Day
Julie Loar
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577319504, $16.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Goddesses for Every Day: Exploring the Wisdom & Power of the Divine Feminine Around the World provides an excellent inspirational pick analyzing the qualities and origins of a rsange of deities - and how to put them to daily use. Here the goddesses are aligned with zodiac signs and cycles of nature in a daily-reflection format, which each day selecting a goddess and providing history, background, and keys to further contemplation. New age collections looking for daily affirmations will find this a winner!

Afterlives of the Rich and Famous
Sylvia Browne
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061966798, $25.99, www.harperone.com

Afterlives of the Rich and Famous is for any reader interested in psychic interpretations of what favorite celebrities are doing on the Other Side. Afterlife accounts of John Lennon, Princess Di, Marilyn Monroe and others come from the author's channeling of a spirit guide, which allows Browne to gain unrestricted access to an unusual dimension. Stars here 'tell' of their new lives and discoveries in a unique survey perfect for new age collections or any general library interested in psychic lives and discoveries.

The Trinity Secret
Marie D. Jones & Larry Flaxman
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631459, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

THE TRINITY SECRET: THE POWER OF THREE AND THE CODE OF CREATION goes beyond the usual Christian perspective of the Holy Trinity, offering a probe that presents years of research that began with the authors' discovery that the concept of a trinity or triune nature occurs in all religions - not just Christianity. Their investigations led to findings of trinities in science as well as religion, and their consideration surveys the power of three and its possible key to unlocking further secrets of the universe. Any spirituality and many a science collection will find this packed with intriguing insights.


The Audiobook Shelf

Water for Elephants
Sara Gruen
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598870626, $29.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

Water for Elephants is narrated by David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones, who provide a vivid dual narration to a fine story of a Depression-era circus. Jacob is over ninety years old - but as a young man he worked in a world filled with freaks and clowns, with its own rules and own laws. It was the Depression and everyone was lucky to have a job - and Rosie the elephant is the one act that could save the circus. Love and danger evolve in this winning, vivid story.

Peace and Plenty
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781607886594, $34.98, www.hachetteaudio.com

Peace and Plenty: Finding Your Path to Financial Security comes from the best-selling author of SIMPLE ABUNDANCE, is narrated by the author in a fine unabridged CD set, and provides an answer to the author's own fiscal crisis - one that takes the form of advice, stories from her life, and excerpts from books and magazines on the Depression years. Any experiencing economic challenges will find this a powerful guide to finding beauty and meaning in daily life despite financial setbacks: a powerful and key primer for our modern hard times and perfect for any general lending library.

Ruthless Game
Christine Feehan
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780142428870, $39.95, www.penguin.com

Ruthless Game receives a fine narration by Tom Stechschulte and provides an excellent GhostWalker novel revolving around a woman on the run who finds danger in GhostWalker Kane Cannon - the only GhostWalker she can trust. Kane is a wanted man - and together they face a challenge of romance and survival. Tom Stechschulte has narrated over a hundred sixty books, and his voice lends high drama to this novel.

Red Light
T. Jefferson Parker
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781423355748, $29.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

RED LIGHT receives a fine performance by narrator Tavia Gilbert, an audio award-winning finalist who provides an outstanding survey of a young prostitute's murder and a lead investigator forced to expose and arrest her lover as a suspect. Her search for the truth leads her into a dangerous world in a riveting thriller that comes alive in audio.

What to Remember When Waking
David Whyte
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781591797722, $69.95, www.soundstrue.com

David Whyte's What to Remember When Waking comes from a naturalist and thinker in organized leadership and coves the key skills needed for a full life. From an image of our 'awakened' selves to wisdom for building skills of trust and courage in life, this provides collections with a powerful success-oriented how-to survey.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

1000 Sacred Places
Christoph Engels
H.F. Ullmann
9783833154805, $29.95, www.ullmann-publishing.com

1000 Sacred Places packs in a review of a thousand unusual sites, pairing color photos with texts surveying the major spiritual sites of the world. It's arranged geographically for easy use and offers a fine overview complete with details on religions, gods, saints and features of each location, moving from prehistoric rituals to modern sites and including spiritual history. Monasteries, temples, churches - they're all here, in a weighty but accessible reference suitable for spirituality and travel libraries alike.

Little Book of Life: A User's Manual
Neale Donald Walsch
Hampton Roads Publishing
65 Parker St, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746443, $16.95, www.hrpub.com

Little Book of Life: A User's Manual comes from the author of the CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD series and provides a fine survey of how to get through life's challenges. From creating healthy relationships that honor both parties and living a prosperous life to living in harmony with the world, this offers keys to better living in a series of simple admonitions easy to incorporate into any lifestyle. Self-help collections will find this outstanding.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Souls in Full Sail
Emilie Griffin
InterVarsity Press
Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830835485, $15.00, www.ivpress.com

Souls in Full Sail: A Christian Spirituality for the Later Years provides a fine exploration of the second half of life and offers a rich story paired with spiritual exercises. From moving and job changes to losing her mother and changing relationships with adult children, this discusses age, adjustment, and uses Bible quotes to cement tips for positive paths throughout. Christian collections will find this a winner!

If God, Why Evil?
Norman L. Geisler
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764208126, $14.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

If God, Why Evil? A New Way to Think About the Question is a top pick for any Christian collection, and tackles the problem of evil and why there is suffering in the world. Step-by-step explanations and analysis and examples analyze traditional answers to the question and new approaches based on the author's insight, which revolves around whether or not this world is the 'best of all possible worlds'. The result is a scholarly yet accessible study perfect for any Christian collection.

Hearing God
Peter Lord
Chosen
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 E Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780800794972, $16.99, www.chosenbooks.com

HEARING GOD: AN EASY-TO-FOLLOW, STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH GOD has been revised and expanded in this new edition showing readers how to discern God's voice and find God's will for life. The focus is on developing a richer prayer life that moves to two-way conversions with God: this title offers a detailed survey on how to make these communications count.


The Photography Shelf

Gimp 2.6 for Photographers
Klaus Goelker
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission St #3, Santa Barbara CA 93101-2432
9781933952499, $39.95, www.rockynook.com

Gimp 2.6 for Photographers: Image Editing with Open Source Software includes GIMP 2.8 on DVD as it provides a powerful beginner's guide to the only open source image editing tool that provides a no-cost yet professional alternative to expensive photo programs. From easy editing and adjustments to more advanced techniques for using masks, layers and other professional tools, this provides a fine workshop in a book and is packed with color photo examples and screenshots throughout.

Wedding Photojournalism
Paul D. Van Hoy II
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781608952946, $34.95, www.amherstmedia.com

Wedding Photojournalism: The Business of Aesthetics provides professional digital photographers with a fine survey of basic skills needed to master the wedding photography business. From knowing what brides would like from a photographer to the pros and cons of working with an assistant, how to stage and manage an engagement session, and top wedding day photos, this packs in color photo examples and keys to success and adds plenty of photo-specific business savvy. Highly recommended!

Contemporary Pin-Up Photography
Tom Denlick
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764336768, $39.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Contemporary Pin-Up Photography isn't your usual focus on pinup work of the past: it's a unique presentation of a new generation of digital photographers who replace painting with film, and offers over 300 photos from 25 photographers across the nation. The pin-up models were photographed in some of the most scenic locations in the country, and full color shots pack pages of glamour works in a pick for arts and photography holdings alike.

Nikon D7000: From Snapshots to Great Shots
John Batdorff
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley CA 94710
0321766547, $24.99, www.peachpit.com

Nikon D7000: From Snapshots to Great Shots will please any owner of the Nikon D7000, teaching the top things needed to know about shooting with the D7000 model. From using its automatic scene scans to get better shots to using its HD video capability for recording live action and using its professional modes to enhance images, this is packed with screen shots and color examples throughout and is a highly recommended pick for any photography library.


The Automotive Shelf

Grumpy's Toys
Doug Boyce
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709276, $34.95, www.cartechbooks.com

GRUMPY'S TOYS: THE AUTHORIZED HISTORY OF GRUMPY JENKINS' CARS provides a lively survey of Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins whose drag strip racing escapades and cars represented innovation and a lively career that fostered the development of competition cars. This collection features the largest collection of Jenkins vintage photos under one cover, includes input from Grumpy on the tales that evolved behind the cars, and discusses myths and facts alike. Auto history buffs will consider this a 'must have'.


The Biography Shelf

The Last Greatest Magician in the World
Jim Steinmeyer
Tarcher
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781585428458, $26.95, www.penguin.com

The Last Greatest Magician in the World: Howard Thurston Versus Houdini & The Battles of the American Wizards comes from a magic historian and stage designer who makes a case that Howard Thurston, Houdini's chief rival during the early 1900s, was actually America's Greatest Magician. Chapters cover the different careers of the two colorful figures, telling how Thurston evolved from a traveling saloon entertainer and con artist to become a celebrated master of illusion. His ground-breaking act and demonstrations provides a vivid story of the evolution of American magic and entertainment alike. Any general lending collection as well as collections strong in American history need this.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Way I See It
Melissa Anderson
Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762759705, $22.95, www.globepequot.com

THE WAY I SEE IT: A LOOK BACK AT MY LIFE ON LITTLE HOUSE provides a fine survey of a TV star who played Mary Ingalls on the show, and tells her side of the story of her TV experiences for the first time. At age 11 Melissa became one of TV's most beloved young characters in one of the most watched shows in TV history: her autobiography reveals the special challenges of coming of age as a child actor, winning awards, and interacting with fellow actors and crew members. A 'must' for any fan of Melissa Anderson and the Little House series, general lending libraries will find this a popular lend.

American Idol
Richard Rushfield
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401324124, $24.99, www.hyperionbooks.com

AMERICAN IDOL: THE UNTOLD STORY goes beyond the scenes of the American Idol TV show, conducting thousands of hours of interviews with cast and crew and offering a history of the popular TV show. The rare, candid interviews with Idol creator Simon Fuller, star Simon Cowell, and many others offer unique revelations to be found only here, including how Idol votes work and how judges relate to one another on- and off-stage. It's a 'must' for any American Idol fan.

The False Promise of Green Energy
Andrew P. Morriss, et.al.
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781935308416, $24.95, www.cato.org

The False Promise of Green Energy considers the claims green energy proponents make about its potentials, from economic changes to environmental impact, and refute many common beliefs. An alliance of special interests have demanded public support for a range of programs under the idea of 'green jobs', making claims that are simply untrue. This book doesn't refute the notion of real environmental problems: it does show how special interests are taking advantage of issues to form a new breed of politician. College-level business and political science collections need this discussion.

Byte-Sized Television
Ross Brown
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907865, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet is the only book in print to show how to create an Internet TV series to reach millions of audiences. It's based on the author's own courses at a top American film school and offers aspiring Internet filmmakers an opportunity to create a series and produce a short-form internet TV show. From deviating from the outline in pilot scripts to production challenges, this offers fine keys to successful Internet production and marketing. Film libraries - and many a computer collection - will want this!

Directing Animation
David B. Levy
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581157468, $24.95, www.allworth.com

Directing Animation collects a fine set of real stories from the animation world and discusses management, leadership and keys to industry success. Experienced as well as neo-professional directors will find this covers the entire role of the director in managing animation film from beginning to end. Animation directors need to direct people who animate as well as writers, creators, crew and clients. From directing commercials and TV series to Web production and full-length films, this surveys it all!


The Homeowner's Shelf

How to Solar Power Your Home
Martha Maeda
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601383617, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

How to Solar Power Your Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply is for any home reference collection and guides any who are interested in either buying or building a home with a solar system. From how it works and costs to evaluating solar power's potential usefulness in a home, this covers everything from assessment to installation.


The Architecture Shelf

Roundwood Timber Framing
Ben Law
Permanent Publications
c/o Chelsea Green
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781856230414, $39.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Roundwood Timber Framing: Building Naturally Using Local resources packs in over 400 color photos and step-by-step instructions offering keys on building everything from a garden shed to a woodland house using sustainable techniques. The author built his famous Woodland House from his own woodland and his style of natural building has inspired a building movement. This packs in practical advice and is a 'must' for any who would practice sustainable building techniques.

Log Home Secrets of Success
Roland Sweet
PixyJack Press
Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
9780977372478, $22.95, www.pixyjackpress.com

Log Home Secrets of Success: An Insider's Guide to Making Your Dream Home a Reality is for any homeowner who dreams of entering log home ownership. It covers all the basics, from choosing between log home models and manufacturers to building and living in one. Insights about designing and selecting a log home or producer covers everything needed, from assessing land suitability for building to making energy choices. Simply outstanding!


The Gardening Shelf

The Book of Little Hostas
Kathy Guest Shadrack & Michael Shadrack
Timber Press
133 SW - 2nd Avenue, #450, Portland OR 97204-3527
9781604690606, $27.95, www.timberpress.com

The Book of Little Hostas: 200 Small, very Small, and Mini Varieties provides a fine, colorful guide to the newly popular small hostas that are suited to container cultivation. They hold the same color and leaf attraction as their larger cousins, along with similar variations in appearance, but respond well to smaller displays. Discussions of optimum growing conditions and more make this a top pick for any indoor gardener's collection.

Bioshelter Market Garden
Darrell Frey
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716780, $34.95, www.newsociety.com

Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm provides a fine survey of a sustainable food system that covers all the basics of year-round organic market production. It uses Pennsylvania's Three Sisters farm as a source of practical information on permaculture principles applied, from wetlands usage and the design of a market garden farm to bioshelter management and farm design.

The Undaunted Garden
Lauren Springer Ogden
Fulcrum Books
4690 Table Mountain Dr. #100, Golden CO 80403
9781555917074, $34.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

THE UNDAUNTED GARDEN: PLANTING FOR WEATHER-RESILIENT BEAUTY provides a fine, revised edition of Lauren Ogden's gardening guide and describes environments, plants that adapt well to different climates, and how to garden in a challenging climate. Color photos taken by the author in the three gardens she's built over the last decades compliment a new edition that packs in over 100 new surveys of underused plants, more details on drought-tolerant and deer-resistant plants, and discussions on native plants and weeds. Any homeowner gardener or general lending library catering to them will find this an exceptional survey.

Growing a Farmer
Kurt Timmermeister
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393070859, $24.95, www.wwnorton.com

GROWING A FARMER: HOW I LEARNED TO LIVE OFF THE LAND tells of a Seattle chef who fell in love with an island home on four acres and the possibilities of building a self-sufficient life. At the time he was a successful restaurateur, but as he developed more food consciousness through farming he found his interest shifted to building a viable business out of producing food on his parcel of land. His experiences will delight any interested in sustainable practices and small-scale farming, and is a pick for any general lending library with its lively account of farming lessons and experiences.


The California Shelf

New England to Gold Rush California
Edited with commentary by Lynn A. Bonfield
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623929 $45.00 www.ahclark.com 1-800-842-9286

New England to Gold Rush California: The Journal of Alfred and Chastina W. Rix, 1849-1854 is a husband and wife journal providing a firsthand perspective of daily life in New England and California during the mid-nineteenth century. Edited with helpful reference notes and commentary by Lynn A. Bonfield (retired director of the Labor Archives and Research Center, San Francisco State University), New England to Gold Rush California tells of an era when abolition, temperance, and westward expansion were the talk of the day in New England. Two schoolteachers, Alfred and Chastina Rix, were married; Alfred decided to travel to California in search of gold, while Chastina stayed in Vermont to raise their young son. Alfred earned enough money in California to send for his wife and two-year-old son; the couple continued their journal, describing life in the bustling California city, until terrible tragedy came. Enhanced with a handful of black-and-white photographs, New England to Gold Rush California offers an impressive primary testimony, and is especially recommended for college library collections.


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

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


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