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California Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 1 January 2014 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Crafts Shelf Education Shelf
Computer Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Business Shelf
International Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf Music Shelf
Science Shelf Military Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Technology Shelf Mathematics Shelf Fiction Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Travel Shelf Art Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Photography Shelf
Biography Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf DVD Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Philosophy Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Gardening Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Gun Shelf
Hobby Shelf Self-Help Shelf Journalism Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Mardi Gras
Errol Laborde
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455617647, $35.00, www.pelicanpub.com

Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival pairs lovely photos by Mitchel L. Osborne with discussions of Mardi Gras culture, and delves into the history and evolution of the famous carnival. Chapters discuss past and present incarnations of the festival and its celebratory process, considering the changing face of New Orleans, its evolution, its foods, and its various influences. With its in-depth discussions of foods, various cultures, and more, Mardi Gras: Chronicles of the New Orleans Carnival is a fine recommendation for any collection strong in the region's history and local color.

Before I Die
Candy Chang
St. Martins Griffin
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250020840, $24.99, www.stmartinspress.com

Before I Die could easily add to any Arts collection, but is recommended for its interest to wider-ranging general-interest audiences as well. The question was "What do you want to do before you die?" The answers are presented in visuals by artist Candy Chang, who painted the side of an abandoned building with chalkboard paint and asked her neighbors this question. The wall quickly became covered with chalk notes as contributors reflected on their dreams, then became a phenomenon sparking walls created by people around the world. This celebrates these walls and their contents, and offers a fine, intimate look at life dreams and ironies alike. General-interest collections as well as arts holdings will find this unique and poignant.


The Crafts Shelf

Making Etched Metal Jewelry
Kristen Robinson & Ruth Rae
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.fwmedia.com/catalog
9781440327056, $26.99, www.createmixedmedia.com

Making Etched Metal Jewelry: Techniques and Projects, Step by Step takes jewelry making to a new level and teaches several different techniques for etching brass, copper and nickel silver. Step by step instructions blend with safety insights for 17 projects ranging from necklaces and earrings to rings, and blends different media as it teaches how to incorporate even photos into a jewelry project that involves etching metal techniques. The result is a powerful, highly recommended guide for any jewelry maker new to metal etching.

Spruce
Amanda Brown
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121376, $35.00, www.storey.com

SPRUCE: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO UPHOLSTERY AND DESIGN is a pick for any who would reupholster old furniture and comes from an upholstery shop owner who teaches anyone the craft of upholstering their own furniture. Beginners receive six complete upholstery projects from different chairs to a sofa and an ottoman, with each project teaching more skills needed to progress. Over 900 photos illustrate the steps while new upholsterers receive insights on techniques and tricks for different projects. The result is a 'must' for any who would learn upholstery.

Artful Ways with Mixed Media
Monique Day-Wilde & Angie Franke
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811712668, $16.95, www.stackpolebooks.com

Any crafter interested in texture, line and color and involved in using collage and altered art will find Artful Ways with Mixed Media provides a fine collection of layered projects to help teach basic techniques and encourage experimentation. Design ideas range from using ink-jet prints embedded in wax and colored with oil paint to creating a collage with photographs, ads and lettering. Color illustration throughout enhances the overall focus and encourages artists to experiment, making this a pick for any arts and crafts collection.

Woodcarving
Everett Ellenwood
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565238008, $14.99, www.foxchapelpublishing.com

WOODCARVING: TECHNIQUES AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST-TIME CARVER has been revised and expanded and presents eleven do-it-yourself projects arranged from easy to more challenging ideas. All take only a few hours to complete, and each project introduces new techniques designed to build upon the woodcarver's skills. From learning how to work with and transfer patterns to drilling holes, using carving tools, and finishing wood, this is packed with projects any woodcarver can easily produce.

Kumihimo: Basics & Beyond
Rebecca Ann Combs
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9781627000437, $21.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Kumihimo: Basics & Beyond teaches the basics of making braids for jewelry and all kinds of combinations, showing how to work with fiber and how to use a range of beads in different projects. Kumihimo braids can serve as the foundation for all kinds of projects, and also is a fast, relaxing series of movements that produce finished results in about 3-4 hours. With its many applications and portability, this is a fine jewelry form that a wide range of crafters could embrace, especially with all the color photos and step-by-step directions offered in this basic primer.


The Education Shelf

The Early Intervention Workbook
Lynda Cook Pletcher and Naomi O. Younggren
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572247, $34.95, www.brookespublishing.com

The Early Intervention Workbook: Essential Practices for Quality Services provides a fine survey of basic principles and practices for early intervention services and provides early childhood workers with a fine collection of evidenced-based intervention approaches. From implementation of best practices to activities and strategies to improve work with families and children alike, this offers professionals with models for success, quick-reference checklists, and an approach that encourages filling in a workbook format. With its lay-flat spiral binding and discussions of developing family service plans and transition planning routines, this is a 'must' for any early childhood worker, and can be used for trainings or individual reference.

Home Field Advantage
Skyla King-Christison
Night Owls press
9781937645076, $19.95, www.nightowlspress.com

Home Field Advantage: A Guide to Choosing Teaching Methods for Your Homeschooling Champions helps parents put together a home education program for their children, and gathers under one cover methods of improving teaching and learning activities at home. Families receive a primer based on several tested K-12 educational frameworks and a review of learning theories and how they apply in the home environment. It advocates creating a customized home education program that blends methods and addresses educational and budgeting concerns alike: one that can be adapted to a family's schedules as well as a child's needs. The result is a pick recommended for any collection strong in homeschooling basics.

Rigorous Reading
Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452268132, $30.95, www.corwin.com

Rigorous Reading: 5 Access Points for Comprehending Complex Texts provides a key text covering analytic reading and teaches a method built on research that students and teachers can use to cultivate better comprehension and critical thinking. From collaborative learning process designed to help students train and hone analytical skills to creating assessments that help students understand text in different ways, this covers general and specific understandings and learning methods, and tells how to access strategies that offer new comprehension. Any who want to build better skills will find this an important guide to taking reading to the next step.

The De-Text Book
Cracked
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452298200, $25.00, www.penguin.com

The De-Text Book comes from the comedy writers at Cracked, the leading web humor site, and offers a fun survey spoofing textbook writing in general. Its textbook parody profiles 'surprising truths mankind has found out about' and covers everything form health and history to biology and sex education, debunking myths and offering controversial and charged truths. Any who appreciate textbook spoofs will find this a hilarious, fun comedy.

Visual Supports for Visual Thinkers
Lisa Rogers
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059459, $49.95, www.jkp.com

Visual Supports for Visual Thinkers is packed with tools perfect for use with children who have a range of educational needs, and shows how to create a classroom environment that accommodates all levels of need. From using schedules and time planning to better efficiency to strategies for teaching social behavior and improving concentration, this provides blank templates of the visual supports on an accompanying CD and packs pages with a resource of easy ideas for special education and mainstream teachers alike. The result is a fine pick educators will relish as a treasure trove of tested ideas for better classroom visualization.

Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org

Five new books in a "A Whole Health Curriculum for Young Children" series covering health for young children provides a succession of topics and activities for kids ages 3 to kindergarten, appear in their third updated edition, and pack in curriculum details that include reviews of six body care topics, materials and supports for learning, some 30 classroom activities, and more. The series is designed to help teachers blend comprehensive health education into an existing curriculum, with resources and ideas including tips for families as well as educators. BODY CARE (9781605542409, $14.95), FITNESS AND NUTRITION (9781605542416, $14.95), SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING (9781605542430, $14.95), SAFETY (9781605542423, $14.95) and COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT (9781605542447, $14.95) each cover specific topics and provide educators with fine guidelines for integrating health concerns into an early learner's classroom.

Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom
Carrye Kay Syma and Robert G. Weiner
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786459131, $45.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

Graphic Novels and Comics in the Classroom: Essays on the Educational Power of Sequential Art provides a fine survey of sequential art, which blends visuals and text in a way that requires readers to interpret the images with the writing. Comics, thus, are a good pairing with education because students use and are drawn to a format that actually incorporates more engagement. These essays consider current educational practices and techniques of using comics and graphic novels in educational settings. The school level is also surprising: elementary levels through college. Discussions include everything from specific graphic novels to using them for history and gender discussions, and provide fine specifics highly recommended for any educational reference library.


The Computer Shelf

Power Tools for Cubase 7
Matthew Loel T. Hepworth
Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458413680, $39.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

Power Tools for Cubase 7 includes a DVD-ROM and is a recommendation for music and computer collections alike. It provides keys to working with Cubase, a program that can turn one's computer into a recording studio with all the advanced equipment found in a real studio. It provides tracks for musicians and many options for composing, recording, mixing and mastering - and this handbook teaches all the basics from ground up; from installation to configuration and customization. No music or computer holding should be without!

Learn Python the Hard Way
Zed A. Shaw
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321884916, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Learn Python the Hard Way appears in its third updated edition to provide a basic and easy introduction to computers and coding, presenting over fifty exercises for learning Python. Learners read the exercises and type the code without copying and pasting: through practice one learns to fix mistakes, run programs, and understand what good software does. Chapters present the basic math, variables, logic structures and program design specifics that make for good Python software production. No Python learner should be without this methodical approach.

Agile Web Development with Rails 4
Sam Ruby, et.al.
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381, Frisco, TX 75033-7438
9781937785567, $43.95, www.pragprog.com

Agile Web Development with Rails 4 is edited by Susannah Davidson Pfalzer and provides a basic tutorial and reference to learn Rails. Newcomers receive step-by-step guidance while those with some background in development will learn the basics of producing high-quality web applications through creating better code. From the steps involved in building such an application to considering caching, migrations and best practices, this latest edition has been updated for Rails 4 and includes new examples and also new Ruby 2 procedures. Rails developers will appreciate this approach.

50 Android Hacks
Carlos Sessa
Manning Publications Company
c/o O'Reilly Media, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781617290565, $34.99, www.manning.com

50 ANDROID HACKS is for programmer who wants a solid collection of clever programming work-arounds, creative applications and hacks, and ranges from self-contained quick applications to eye-opening changes. Each hack includes annotated source code and is just a few pages long, and each is arranged into twelve collections covering common Android development issues. From using BroadCast Receiver to update an Activity to aspect-oriented programming tips, this is packed with excellent insights any Android programmer simply must have!

Super Scratch Programming Adventure!
Lead Project
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593275310, $24.95, www.nostarch.com

Super Scratch Programming Adventure is for ages 8 and up and covers Scratch, the educational programming language used by many first-time learners in the classroom. It teaches code by using color and concepts kids can readily use to make games and animations, and Scratch 2 is designed for web browser use: no software downloads required! Here programming basics are covered as kids (and adults!) learn to make their own playable video games with projects that can be created and used in a short period of time. A color comic book format illustrates the steps. While this is designed for young budding programmers, many an adult will find it very accessible - and not to be missed.

The Official Ubuntu Server Book
Kyle Rankin and Benjamin Mako Hill
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780133017533, $44.99, www.informit.com/ph

The Official Ubuntu Server Book appears in its third updated edition and covers the complete, free server operating system and how to get it up and running with minimum effort. Both beginners and those with some Ubuntu experience receive details ranging from basic installation and use to troubleshooting, system rescue and backup, and using server applications to set up Web services and automate processes. Chapters are loaded with black and white screen shots and code examples covering everything from juju services to clusters, while step-by-step explanations make the process simple. There are even two discs that offer a long-term support release and the latest version of Ubuntu Server. The result is a detailed reference for all levels of Ubuntu user, and is a highly recommended basic for any collection looking to include Ubuntu instructions.

Agile Data Science
Russell Jurney
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449326265, $39.99, www.oreilly.com

Agile Data Science teaches the basics of creating analytics applications by using the Agile Big Data development method, and provides programmers with keys to using Hadoop to build better analytics. It shows how to visualize data with charts and reports, how to use this data to predict the future, and how to understand basic data structures and their applications. All example code here is available as working Heroku apps. The charts and many real-world applications make this a solid reference.

My Windows 8.1
Katherine Murray
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789752222, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com

My Windows 8.1 provides step-by-step instructions with callouts to Windows 8.1 color photos throughout, and provides any user with keys to gaining the most from an 8.1 operating system. Having the task examples in full color allows for exact comparison between Windows tips and results, while chapters cover the basics of downloading, installing, and information. From managing files and folders to using Internet Explorer 11 and more, this is packed with all the basics needed to get new users up and running.

Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours
Katie Cunningham
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780672336874, $34.99, www.informit.com/teachyourself

Teach Yourself Python in 24 Hours is a fine pick for any Python learner who wants to get up and running quickly, and shows how to master core concepts of programming and how to use the book's step-by-step approach to address database integration issues, solve common problems, and apply Python to a range of real-world scenarios. Chapters are packed with code and highlighted boxes of information, with the progressive instructions making it easy to move from one topic to something more advanced. Any Python programmer wannabe needs this!

AutoCAD 2014 3D Modeling
Munir Hamad
Mercury Learning
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781938549618, $44.95, www.merclearning.com

AutoCAD 2014 3D Modeling provides all level of users with step-by-step instructions on creating and working with 3D models, from rendering and cameras to printing, and uses both metric and imperial units to cover the different tools available for this application. A companion DVD includes drawing exercises while the approach takes the form of "mini-workshops" that provide coverage of projects from design to plotting. Users of this book who solve all the workshops will find the simulations indicative of real-world applications, covering all the basic functions in AutoCAD 2014. The result is a fine survey written by an AutoDesk Approved Instructor and Master and packed with details on working with all types of AutoCAD applications.

Cryptography for Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing
Stefan Rass and Daniel Slamanig
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075751, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com

Cryptography for Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing covers new cryptographic techniques developed to tackle issues and applications involving cloud technology, and reviews all the possibilities of cryptography as it pertains to the data protection environment. Various recent cryptographic primitives and discussions of their possibilities and limitations pack an overall review of cloud computing security protocols in a technical title recommended for any programmer working with cloud computing systems. Such an expert will find the latest network security applications to be specific, suitable for network engineers and any involved in the details of cloud management.

iPhone for Seniors for Dummies
Nancy C. Muir
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118692905, $24.99, www.fordummies.com

iPhone for Seniors for Dummies teaches the basics of using the iPhone, from setting up and interacting with Siri to sharing photos, reading e-books, using video calling and much more. This third updated edition has been updated for iPhone5s, 5c and iOS7, and covers all the basics of using the iPhone in all kinds of applications. What sets this apart from other users' guides is an all-color format packed with screen shot examples accompanying easy step-by-step directions that assume no prior smartphone or iPhone knowledge. This should be in the iPhone box for any senior or user knew to the technology!


The Needlecraft Shelf

Patchwork Plus
Geralyn J. Powers
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604683628, $24.99, www.shopmartingale.com

Patchwork Plus: Easy One-Block Quilts with Seasonal Applique teaches nine projects geared to seasons and gift-giving, and uses one basic patchwork block to create a background for applique. From how to find such applique for quilting ideas to using full-sized patterns provided here to create easy blocks from Snowball to Log Cabin, this covers all the basics of quilting and includes all the details on yardage, fabrics and precuts to assure success.

Needle Lace Flowers
Figen Cakir
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780817712965, $19.95, www.stackpolebooks.com

Needle Lace Flowers teaches how to create flowers and use them in borders and projects with little more than a needle and thread, and is a pick for any needleworker who wants to learn the fine art of Turkish needle lace. Chapters provide all the basics and then offer step-by-step instructions for a variety of flowers, showing how to make them and blend them into projects ranging from jewelry to clothing. Packed with color photos throughout, this is an excellent choice for any needleworker.

Great Little Gifts to Knit
Jean Moss
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600858475, $21.95, www.taunton.com

GREAT LITTLE GIFTS TO KNIT: 30 QUICK AND COLORFUL PATTERNS provides patterns and clear directions for knitters who want to produce fun gifts, and features everything from a guitar strap and beret to a tea cozy, door hanging, or fingerless gloves. Full-page color photos of completed projects compliment measurements, skill level notes, yarn requirements and more. Knitters who already have the basics down will find the directions easy to read and the projects perfect for quick assembly.

First-Time Machine Applique
Janet Pittman
Landauer Publishing
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9781935726340, $24.95, www.landauerpub.com

First-Time Machine Applique: Learning to Applique in Nine Easy Lessons provides all the basics of learning to machine applique using step-by-step instructions and a format packed with photos that assume no prior machine experience. It adopts a 'teach me/show me' format that pairs full-page color photos of applique results with color photos of step-by-step processes, and it provides close-up examinations of each project so that nothing's left to guesswork. The result is an excellent addition to any needleworker's collection; especially those new to machine applique techniques.


The Business Shelf

Business for Aspies
Ashley Stanford
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849058452, $19.95, www.jkp.com

Business for Aspies: 42 Best Practices for Using Asperger Syndrome Traits at Work Successfully follows current business practice and uses an easy format to address many common issues faced by people with AS once they began working. It describes expectations of employers, provides tips to help AS individuals succeed at work, and provides a positive tone in discussing strategies. Business-oriented concerns from pay raises and team meetings are also surveyed in a guide that is simply packed with nuggets of financial wisdom geared to Aspie employees.

Group Coaching
Ro Gorell
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749467593, $39.95, www.koganpage.com

GROUP COACHING: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO OPTIMIZING COLLECTIVE TALENT IN ANY ORGANIZATION is a fine pick for any business collection and is based on over 20 years of HR and coaching experience. It provides templates for use in coaching with an eye to showing readers how to customize coaching routines and understand group dynamics, and covers everything from successful coaching routines to the overall process of group coaching. A fine pick for any business or individual involved in coaching!

Simply Managing
Henry Mintzberg
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609949235, $18.95, www.bkconnection.com

Simply Managing streamlines the original Managing title for busy managers and covers what managers do and what they can improve on. It condenses the original reader down to 176 pages of text, and considers the dynamics of managing from considering the fundamentals of leadership to influences on changing management practices. The business environment is analyzed in the process of considering new challenges to management strategies and systems, with chapters offering managers keys to success under changed conditions. Any manager needs this guide.

The Business of Dog Walking
Veronica Boutelle
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617811289, $19.95, www.dogwise.com

The Business of Dog Walking - How to Make a Living Doing What You Love is based on the Dog Walking Academy course and covers all the basics of dog walking for profit. Any who envision making money at this will learn all the basics, from walking small groups of dogs off leash to using the leash in urban areas. Chapters cover the financial and legal commitments needed in such an endeavor, discuss self-assessment processes to help readers learn about the risks and benefits of the business, and discusses everything from self-discipline to building a client base of dog owners who will be customers for years. Any who have thought about dog walking will consider this an excellent pick.

21 Days to Success Through Networking
Ron Sukenick and Ken Williams
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781937290030, $15.95, www.infotoday.com

21 Days to Success Through Networking provides a wide range of insights on the process by using a fictional character, Gnik Rowten, and exploring his process of moving to a new city where he has few friends and no business contacts. His daily life over a three-week period as he creates strategies for networking makes for chapters that explore the basics of business networking without the usual dry tone of most titles. The result is a very accessible, involving account perfect for any involved in business networking.


The International Studies Shelf

The Middle East and the United States
David W. Lesch and Mark L. Haas
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813349145, $55.00, www.westviewpress.com

College-level readers of Middle East and U.S. political relations and issues will find the fifth updated edition of The Middle East and the United States to be key to any political science collection discussing the region. It updates the 2013 edition to include coverage of the Arab Spring, offering a new chapter on its impact and regional politics, and it also offers more philosophical approaches to the region's evolution and America's role in it. Historical reviews blend with modern events to provide students with an outstanding survey central to discussions and insights about the entire region, making this a 'must have' reference for any college's political science library.

From Arab Spring to Islamic Winter
Raphael Israeli
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412852593, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

From Arab Spring to Islamic Winter is for any college-level reader who would better understand the latest changes in the Middle East, and provides a fine survey that begins with the early years of Islam and reviews the history and past and present obstacles to freedom in the region. From the Islamic idea that sovereignty belongs to Allah to the evolution of Arab thinking on religious and social issues in the region as a whole, this is a powerful presentation that is an important key to understanding evolving relationships and ideas within and outside the Middle East, and is a 'must' for any collection specializing in the area.

China's Nonprofit Sector
Chien-Chung Huang, et.al.
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412852968, $49.95, www.transactionpub.com

China's Nonprofit Sector: Progress and Challenges is a recommendation for any college-level collection strong in Chinese social and political developments, and provides an introductory framework for understanding the different kinds of nonprofit organizations in China and the issues they handle. From the cultural context under which these nonprofits operate to their regulatory and political challenges, this considers the evolving and changed status of nonprofits in modern China, and is recommended for any college-level collection strong in Chinese history, business and culture.


The Cookbook Shelf

Emeril's Cooking with Power
Emeril Lagasse
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.williammorrow.com
9780061742989, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

Emeril's Cooking with Power: 100 Delicious Recipes Starring Your slow Cooker, Multi Cooker, Pressure Cooker, and Deep Fryer comes from a chef who profiles over 100 recipes for these four appliances. Chapters show how they can be used to put together either quick suppers or weekend entertaining, and include recipes arranged by cooker: a slow cooked lasagna dish for the slow cooker, turkey meatballs for the multi cooker, a curried pumpkin soup for the pressure cooker, and apple fritters using the fryer. Pack in color photos of dishes and tips on saving time and money and you have an outstanding guide.

Complete America's Test Kitchen Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen Publishing
www.americastestkitchen.com
9781936493609, $45.00, www.amazon.com

America's Test Kitchen regularly publishes volumes of 'best' foolproof recipes, tested in their own kitchens and packed with success - but this volume is something different. It's a weighty, revised edition offering all 14 seasons of the hit TV show and over 900 foolproof recipes along with dozens of tips, and is a virtual 'bible' of culinary success. Discussions of what happens in the kitchen before and during filming and what's involved in their rigid recipe development process supplement recipes which are to-notch. From what kitchen equipment should be 'essential' must-have acquisitions to snafus and how to handle them, this covers winning brands, winning testing methods, and winning recipes. No cook's collection should be without this winning title!

From the Wood-Fired Oven
Richard Miscovich
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583282, $44.95, www.chelseagreen.com

From the Wood-Fired Oven: New and Traditional Techniques for Cooking and Baking with Fire is the first cookbook to provide a full range of methods for getting the most out of a wood-fired oven's heat cycle, and tells how to bake pizzas, meats, vegetables and more. From recipes for bread to using the oven to steam and fry food, this provides a much wider-ranging set of recipes and approaches than the few other wood-fired oven books in the market, considers oven design recommendations, and provides a baker's perspective on using the oven more effectively. Charts, color photos and overall insights make this a winning presentation.

Pickles, Pigs& Whiskey
John Currence
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449428808, $40.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Pickles, Pigs & Whiskey is all about southern coking with a twist, taking traditional dishes and adding new modern influences throughout. Over a hundred Southern dishes are arranged by technique, from brining and smoking to pickling, and also includes songs chosen by the author to play during the cooking experience (all are available on Spotify). From Bourbon-Braised Pork Cheeks to Duck Confit with Peach Relish and Tournedos of Venison with Warm Cherry-Juniper Vinaigrette, this is packed with dishes that take Southern roots, add international influences, and finish the effort with a dash of innovation you don't find elsewhere. Any collection strong in contemporary Southern fare needs this!

GQ Eats
Paul Hendrson, Editor
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845337452, $29.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

GQ Eats: The Cookbook for Men of Seriously Good Taste provides a fine cookbook directed to men who love to cook and eat, and features contributions from top male chefs and TV chefs. Recipes provide dishes for all occasions, from a Boy's Night In to other entertainment themes, while dishes aren't just easy makes for novices, but often involve complex-sounding scratch meals which actually are a snap to put together. From a leg of lamb with rosemary and anchovies to fine picnic and breakfast ideas, dishes pair well with lovely photos by Romas Ford and Tom Schierlitz to invite any male chef to delve further into the world of gourmet cooking.

The Cheesy Vegan
John Schlimm
DaCapo Press
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02210
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738216799, $19.99, www.dacapopress.com

THE CHEESY VEGAN: MORE THAN 125 PLANT-BASED RECIPES FOR INDULGING IN THE WORLD'S ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD provides cheesy dishes that begin with some 25 recipes for making your own vegan cheeses at home, from Swiss to brie. Once the cheese-making is done, recipes - some 100 - include dishes that rely on them, from Cheesy Broccoli and Potato Soup to pasta dishes, and even cheesecake. Guides to pairing dishes with vegan wine and beer accompany tips on locating store-bought vegan cheeses to make this a useful pick for any interested in making cheese-based dishes from scratch with a vegan touch.

The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Fish Volume 2
Jerald and Glenda Horst
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455616923, $26.95, www.pelican-pub.com

The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Fish Volume 2 provides the finishing touch to the The Louisiana Seafood Bible series of books and picks up where the first fish volume left off - making it a 'must' acquisition for any collection seeing popularity with the other. It provides a range of fresh fish preparations and international influences, provides a glossary packed with color photos and the best preparation methods for each of the some hundred Louisiana fish species, and provides a fine history of commercial fishing in the region. From Healthy Vegetable and Catfish Soup to a pepper-infused Figs and Fins with fig jam and French-Fried Fish Fillets, full-page color photos pair well with facing recipes which are quick and easy to reproduce. Fish enthusiasts will consider this a 'must' acquisition!

Pasta
Christopher Boswell with Elena Goldblatt
The Little Bookroom
435 Hudson St, Suite 300, New York NY 10014
9781936941025, $22.00, www.littlebookroom.com

PASTA: RECIPES FROM THE KITCHEN OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME pairs lovely color photos by Annie Schlechter with the third in a series of cookbooks gathering dishes served at the American Academy. Each cookbook features a single ingredient or topic and PASTA provides a delicious selection, from Orcchiette with Cauliflower, Anchovies, Garlic & Rosemary to Fazzoletti with Pistachio Pesto and Chestnut Ravioli with Porcini Mushrooms. The result is a collection of dishes that won't be easily found in competing pasta cookbooks, packed with color photos throughout and recommended for any pasta collection.

D.O.M.: Rediscovering Brazilian Ingredients
Alex Atala
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780714865744, $49.95, www.phaidon.com

There are other Brazilian cookbooks on the market; but this is the first major cookbook by the only chef to be named as one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013, and it's a powerful examination of not only his innovative dishes, but the process that brings them to life. For over fifteen years Chef Atala has worked with local Brazilian scientists and anthropologists to document new agricultural products from the Amazon. Each chapter in his cookbook accompanies recipes with essays discussing the history and use of different ingredients, Brazilian variants, and spices. Over sixty recipes are accompanied by lovely color photos by food photographer Sergio Coimbra, making this a powerful and unique cookbook not to be missed by any ethnic cook.

Latin American Street Food
Sandra A. Gutierrez
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9781469608709, $35.00, www.uncpress.unc.edu/books

Latin American Street Food: The Best Flavors of Markets, Beaches, and Roadside Stands from Mexico to Argentina uses the author's love of street food to embark on a tour of some twenty Latin American countries, gathering recipes for the regional fare - some 150 of them - for home cooks. From fresh foods to foods rolled into tacos, made into ice cream, and more, this packs in 90 color illustrations and sources for local ingredients that may not be available in a typical grocery store. The result is a lovely survey of the best of Latin American street fare, perfect for any ethnic culinary collection.

From Scratch: Inside the Food Network
Allen Salkin
G. P. Putnam's Sons
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399159329, $26.95, www.penguin.com

From Scratch: Inside the Food Network uses hundreds of interviews with all involved in the cooking shows of Food Network from their origins in the 1970s and 80s to modern times, and is a pick for any interested in how television cooking came to evolve. Food Network's internal documents and video archives were opened to former New York Times reporter Allen Salkin, who offers an entertaining and eye-opening analysis of how a tiny network became big business. Any interested in food and cooking shows will find this a winner!

The Puglian Cookbook
Viktorija Todorovska
Surrey Agate
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841178, $20.00, www.agatepublishing.com

The Puglian Cookbook: Bringing the Flavors of Puglia Home provides a color exploration of Southern Italy's culinary tradition, pairing lovely recipes with preparation photos, photos of completed dishes, and photos of the countryside. It focuses on simple recipes any cook can easily do at home, with dishes designed for family meals and discussions commenting on how the dish compares to similar recipes or Puglian styles. The result is a fine addition to any Italian cook's collection: a cookbook that successfully profiles the region's many attributes.

Toro Bravo
John Gorham & Liz Crain
McSweeney's Insatiables
9781938071571, $35.00, www.mcsweeneys.com

Portland's Toro Bravo restaurant is one of Portland's food institutions, packed with flavors and powerful differences, and TORO BRAVO: STORIES. RECIPES. NO BULL. Pairs lovely color photos of dishes and people eating them with a fine blend of stories and recipes from original cocktail inventions to meat curing tips and methods, specialties of the house such as squid ink pasta, and a range of tapas. Author John Gorham is one of Portland's premier chefs: his trailblazing approach to cookery and being a chef comes from his mother's influence but isn't your usual 'mom's good influence' story. You have to read it - and marvel at this chef's uncommon background and how he succeeded against all odds. But Toro Bravo is as much about cooking as about rising above life's slings and arrows: recipes open with personal insights and provide aspiring home cooks with fare that will intrigue their culinary approaches. Any collection filled with unique titles for aspiring chefs won't want to miss this fun collection.

Put An Egg On It
Lara Ferroni
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
9781570618796, $19.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

PUT AN EGG ON IT: 70 DELICIOUS DISHES THAT DESERVE A SUNNY TOPPING provides dozens of recipes for dishes that include and feature eggs as the main ingredients, and offer many embellishments on familiar fare, from soups and salads to main courses and even cocktails. Accompanying these recipes are hints on how to best use eggs, from poaching and pickling to frying, and keys to all kinds of preparation. The result is a satisfying collection of dishes that not only contain eggs, but profile their role as the major ingredient. Any egg fan will relish this!

Winter Cocktails
Maria del Mar Sacasa
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
9781594746413, $22.95, www.quirkbooks.com

WINTER COCKTAILS: MULLED CIDERS, HOT TODDIES, PUNCHES, PITCHERS, AND COCKTAIL PARTY SNACKS is a fine pick and offers some 50 recipes for cold-weather cocktails and mixed beverages. Lovely color photos accompany new twists on classic warm drinks, offering many embellishments and options perfect for the coming cold months. Nothing is taken for granted here: tutorials on opening champagne, preparing fresh fruit garnishes and more accompany recipes, making this a top pick for any cook's collection.

The Lemonade Cookbook
Alan Jackson and Joann Cianciulli
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250023667, $30.00, www.stmartins.com

The Lemonade Cookbook isn't about cooking with lemonade, as one might expect: it comes from the chef of a Southern California restaurant who opened his first casual cast-food eatery, Lemonade, in 2007 and saw instant success. Today there are over ten locations and more in the works, and The Lemonade Cookbook offers tried-and-tested recipes scaled for home cooks based on the successful premise of these establishments. It features international influences, easy preparations, and comfort food that includes spicy and innovative flavors. From a Greek-Marinated Chicken, Tzatsiki which features a yogurt and herb marinated chicken in a cucumber/yogurt herbed sauce (tzatski) to a unique sandwich made from Chicken, Beet, Apple, Goat Cheese and Honey, this is packed with innovations you won't see elsewhere. Cooks will find this a delicious survey!

Soup Night
Maggie Stuckey
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612120997, $19.95, www.storey.com

SOUP NIGHT: RECIPES FOR CREATING COMMUNITY AROUND A POT OF SOUP is more than just another soup cookbook: it's a collection of nearly a hundred recipes for soups, some 40 recipes for salads and side dishes, and tells how to bring neighbors and friends together over soup. It shows how to build community spirit through a 'Soup Night' tradition, and it provides many details on how neighborhoods can organize their own Soup Night tradition. The result is more than a collection of recipes (although it can be used that way, of course): it serves up a portion of inspiration for any who would create community around food.

How to Roast a Pig
Tom Rea
Quarry Books
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592537877, $24.99, www.quarrybooks.com

How to Roast a Pig: From Oven-Roasted Tenderloin to Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork Shoulder to the Spit-Roasted Whole Hog provides a cut-by-cut, step-by-step set of directions for working with all parts of the pig, including the basics of how to roast a whole pig and how to use all of its parts in various recipes. It's a winning guide for meat collections that want a narrowed focus on the hog: it covers basic roasting techniques, teaches how to roast pig as an everyday meal, and provides a collection of basic roasting techniques for the most common cuts, building up to the whole-pig roasting idea. Any interested in learning more about the pig roasting process will find this a winning survey!

The Petit Four Cookbook
Brooks Coulson Nguyen
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612432281, $19.95, www.ulyssespress.com

The Petit Four Cookbook provides a lovely collection of bite-sized cake/candy recipes from the Dragonfly Cakes Bakery, and is a pick for any who want to know how petit fours are made. Layers of cake, buttercream and marzipan coated in chocolate and other coatings are perfect for bite-sized teas and celebrations: cooks will be pleased to know these can be made easily, and in a wide range of flavors. A minimum of specialty baking equipment is needed in order to produce these: that, and a cookbook such as this, with recipes, step-by-step foolproof directions, and color photos throughout!

The A.O.C. Cookbook
Suzanne Goin
Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307958235, $35.00, www.aaknopf.com

The A.O.C. Cookbook comes from a Los Angeles restaurant operator who has been much-admired as one of the best chefs in the country, and who offers recipes from her restaurant A.O.C.: dishes which focus on small-plate, shared-style courses. There are many innovations here not to be found in any other cookbook, from Wild Striped Bass with Roasted Beets, Watercress, and Blood Orange Butter to Sweet Potatoes with Bacon, Spinach and Romesco. Color photos abound, dishes are geared to cooks who have an interest in unique flavor combinations and interesting preparation techniques, and this cookbook is a winner for any who look for complex, intriguing and innovative creations not to be found in just any cookbook.

Cocktails
Eliq Maranik
H. F. Ullmann
c/o 60 Cycle Media Relations LLC
38 High Avenue, Nyack NY 10960
9783848002849, $19.99, www.ullmann-publishing.com

COCKTAILS: FANCY AND DELICIOUS RECIPES FOR ALL TASTES is for any who want to learn how to make cocktails, or who plan a cocktail party. Over a hundred classic and innovative recipes provide alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks both hot and cold, suitable for any kind of occasion, from a cocktail party to an after-dinner drink. Each recipe offers facts about its history and provides tips on adaptations and modifications, and each is filled with ideas for entertaining. Any interested in serving cocktails will find this a fine starting point, pairing bright color photos with easy directions that assume no prior knowledge of drinks.

The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage
Caroline M. Grant & Lisa Catherine Harper, Editors
Roost Books
Horticultural Hall
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9781611800142, $16.95, www.roostbooks.com

The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage offers essays on cooking and social interactions and provide lively, personal reflections on relationships to food and eating. From junk food and busy weeknight meals to holiday celebrations, nearly thirty writers offer their memories, insights, and original recipes that probe what food means in their families. From a special Mother's Day feast from a young cook who has trouble chopping onions to kitchen habits that reveal family differences, this is a special and fun book that will appeal to cooks and literary food fans alike.


The Music Shelf

The Disney Song Encyclopedia
Thomas S. Hischak and Mark A. Robinson
Taylor Trade Publishing
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589797130, $18.95, www.rowman.com

The Disney Song Encyclopedia appears in a fine updated edition to provide performing arts and music collections with a collection of over 900 songs specifically written for Disney movies, videos, TV shows and theme parks. Annotated entries describe original songs used to date, and covers song origins, where it was sung, how the song evolved, and how it was traditionally done. The result is a fun and winning survey recommended for film and music collections alike: any with an interest in Disney music.

Digital Performer for Engineers & Producers
David E. Roberts
Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781458402240, $16.99, www.halleonardbooks.com

Digital Performer for Engineers & Producers: Music Production, Mixing, Film Scoring & Live Performance is for any music collection strong in discussions of technology and recording, and is designed to help musicians become proficient in Digital Performer. It focuses on music production, mixing and film scoring and provides a reference packed with tips and insights to help DAW users get up to speed quickly. An accompanying DVD-Rom provides video tutorials supporting the text while chapters offer black and white screen shots throughout during discussions of live performance challenges, post production editing, and more. A fine survey for any practicing musician.

2 Minutes to Midnight
Martin Popoff
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
9781617135651, $39.99, www.backbeatbooks.com

2 Minutes to Midnight: An Iron Maiden Day-by-Day is for any fan of Iron Maiden and provides a new band biography covering all kinds of events in its history and daily encounters. Packed with illustrations, this relives the band's tours, personalities, and achievements, and provides a powerful reference filled with fun trivia and information on band personalities and experiences. Quotes and pictures permeate a fine celebration of the band's many concerts and memorable moments.

The Beatles: The BBC Archives: 1962-1970
Kevin Howlett
Harper Design
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062288530, $60.00, www.harperdesignbooks.com

The Beatles: The BBC Archives: 1962-1970 comes from a Beatles historian who considers how the BBC sessions changed the face of pop and rock music. Surprisingly, many of the songs were never released on their records. 2013 is the fiftieth anniversary of the release of The Beatles' first album and this collection packs in rare BBC transcripts, illustrations, and rare photos. All is presented in a box edition designed to look like a 1960s reel-to-reel tape box. Packed with replicas of rare BBC material and memorabilia along with a fine book, this gift box is sure to be a winner for any avid Beatles enthusiast!

Torment Saint
William Todd Schultz
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781608199730, $27.00, www.bloomsbury.com

TORMENT SAINT: THE LIFE OF ELLIOTT SMITH provides a fine biography of a musician whose many influences and personas permeated genres and changed lives. Smith presented very different faces to the world; from that of a paranoid drug user to that of a talented musician with a wide circle of influences. More than most musicians, Smith struggled with his gift and his personality, with his genius quite often subject to volatile personality changes. From the height of his achievements to the depths of his depression, TORMENT SAINT covers the extent of his world and is a 'must' for any fan of the musician.


The Science Shelf

An Appetite for Wonder
Richard Dawkins
Ecco
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062225795, $27.99, www.eccobooks.com

An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist comes from the author of The Selfish Gene, which caused a revolution in the study of biology by providing a gene-centered perspective on evolution. Here Dawkins shares a memoir that examines his early life and his intellectual growth and development, considering the influences that led to his writing The Selfish gene and surveying his mentors, the influence of the university educational system, and how his career as an Oxford fellow evolved. It was, strangely enough, a 1973 British strike causing electricity outages which paused his computer-based research - and caused him to focus on writing The Selfish Gene. Any interested in his life and evolution will find An Appetite for Wonder a lively, revealing read.

The Neanderthals Rediscovered
Dimitra Papagianni and Michael A. Morse
Thames and Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
978050051771, $29.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

The Neanderthals Rediscovered: How Modern Science is Rewriting Their Story is an in-depth assessment of the history of prehistoric research on the Neanderthal, long seen as humanity's stupid cousin. It provides a re-assessment of the species and its relationship to Homo sapiens which traces their evolution in Europe and their disappearance, following the parallel lines of their progress with Homo sapiens and showing that at one point the Neanderthals actually were more advanced. What caused their extinction? This offers some solid insights into their lives, evolution, and demise and is a 'must' for any collection strong in prehistory research.

Spark from the Deep
William J. Turkel
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421409818, $34.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Spark from the Deep: How Shocking Experiments with Strongly Electric Fish Powered Scientific Discovery offers an eye-opening, important survey that considers how humans came to understand and use electricity by studying electric fish. People learned to work with electricity and created new technologies by studying electric fish: they even became inspiration for new engineering sensors, undersea robots and more. This lively discussion considers studies, predictions, and how electric fish properties came to be applied to human achievements, and provides a satisfying synthesis of science and natural history perfect for any science collection and many a general-interest reader.

The Fairness Instinct
L. Sun
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148478, $24.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

THE FAIRNESS INSTINCT; THE ROBIN HOOD MENTALITY AND OUR BIOLOGICAL NATURE comes from a biologist who considers the innate sense of fairness that has been part of all kinds of societies throughout human history, considering that it's a behavior that's part of human DNA rather than an ideological or social concept. Chapters use case studies from animals to show that this is inherent in other animals as well, considering how this instinct may have evolved and how fairness is actually an evolutionary outcome. The positive and negative aspects of fairness in society are considered in chapters packed with examinations of the role of fairness in violence, religion, and achievement. The resulting study findings are recommended for science and psychology collections alike.

Beyond the God Particle
Leon Lederman and Christopher Hill
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148010, $24.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

Beyond the God Particle begins where Lederman's best-selling THE GOD PARTICLE left off and continues the discussion of results of the discovery of the Higgs Boson "God Particle" in 2012, considering the history of the idea and why so much matter in the cosmos is hidden. It examines the basic questions surrounding Higgs Boson and the mysterious subatomic entity that creates the most basic of particles, and it provides science in a way that even general-interest and non-physics readers can readily absorb. The result is a strong recommendation for any science and many a general interest collection.


The Military Shelf

V1 Flying Bomb Aces
Andrew Thomas
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780962924, $22.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

V1 Flying Bomb Aces joins others in Osprey's military aviation history series and covers the first of the German 'revenge weapons', the V1 flying bomb. It was a fast, pulse-jet powered pilotless aircraft aimed at London and intended to destroy civilian morale. The bombers prompted new attention to defense responses and new developments in aviation history in general. Over 154 pilots became V1 aces, and this documents the fighters and people involved. History and specifications are discussed in a fine survey no military history collection should be without.

The Art and Science of Military Deception
Hy Rothstein and Barton Whaley, Editors
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608075515, $139.00, www.artechhouse.com

The Art and Science of Military Deception gathers classic writings on deception, introduced by experts on military deception practices, and arranges all this in sections designed to provide depth and information to all levels of students and readers on the subject, from newcomers to experts. It features history, commentary, critical assessments, and original writings to consider the art and role of deception, and it covers topics ranging from the ethics of political and military deception practices to myths, basic principles, strategies, and different kinds of warfare applications. A 'must' for any serious military collection and many a political one, as well.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

American Exodus
Giles Slade
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717497, $19.95, www.newsociety.com

AMERICAN EXODUS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COMING FLIGHT FOR SURVIVAL is a strong title on environmental and current events and argues that climate chaos is coming - and that mankind can survive the next century of destruction by preserving now-sparsely populated lands above the 49th parallel. Chapters chart what will happen when 'environmental refugees' travel poleward as southern conditions worsen, consider social and economic upheaval, and analyze measures that can be taken now to assure social structures are maintained. A hard-hitting, thought-provoking guide, this goes beyond survivalist thinking to analyze how America will cope and retain its structure in the face of wide-reaching, predictable climate disaster.

Nature Next Door
Ellen Stroud
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295992082, $26.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress

NATURE NEXT DOOR: CITIES AND TREES IN THE AMERICAN NORTHEAST considers the woods of Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont and considers how urbanization in the region fostered a surprising era of recovery in the forests. 20th century interactions between nature and cities resulted in a new reforested landscape in the area's cities and towns. This era and the individual foresters, researchers, and urban planners who made a difference are covered in a fine survey that shows how forest preservation issues were outlined and promoted, and how different types of trees flourished under the new attention to their conservation. The result is a reference that will appeal to any botany or Northeastern history collection, filled with lively discussions of issues and resolutions.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Lost Colonies of Ancient America
Frank Joseph
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632784, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com

The Lost Colonies of Ancient America: A Comprehensive Guide to the Pre-Columbian Visitors Who Really Discovered America comes from a long-time expert in the field of prehistory and documents the evolution of Josph's special brand of non-conformist archaeology which challenged modern science and resulted in different views of the ancient world. This new book describes different peoples who influenced pre-Columbian history, considering their lasting impact on the continent and providing documentation to show that Old World visitors appeared in the Americas thousands of years ago, making lasting impressions on the land and its history. Any who want an alternative view of history will find this a fascinating, revealing survey.

My Son and the Afterlife
Elisa Medhus, MD
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781582704516, $16.00, www.simonandschuster.com

My Son and the Afterlife: Conversations from the Other Side comes from a physician who never believed in life after death: her faith lay in science, until her son Erik killed himself - then reached out to her from the other side. This book comes from Medhus's popular blog, Channeling Erik, and provides a wealth of inspiring reading describing Erik's experiences and answering questions about life, death, and the afterlife. The author's journey to belief is riveting and lends to an engrossing, eye-opening read perfect for any new age collection.

Lost Race of the Giants
Patrick Chouinard
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591431480, $18.00, www.bearandcompanybooks.com

Lost Race of the Giants: The Mystery of Their Culture, Influence, and Decline Throughout the World provides a fine survey considering giant mythologies around the world and how these stories link to each other as well as to other myths about lost civilizations and prehistoric worlds. It considers how the physical remains of giant-size peoples have been found on nearly every continent, considers reports from world explorers that document their encounters with such giants, and explains how giants interacted with extraterrestrial gods. The result is a consideration of ancient mysteries that will delight any new age reader.

Mindfulness
Joseph Goldstein
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781622030637, $25.95, www.soundstrue.com

MINDFULNESS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AWAKENING comes from an author who shares four decades of wisdom and teaching for any who want to realize the goal of mindful living. His inspiration comes from the Buddha's discussions of the four levels of mindfulness: this book considers mindfulness of body, feelings and mind and devotes chapters to each. Quotes and descriptions from the Buddha and other writings and reflections make this a powerful read, highly recommended for any new age collection strong in spirituality and mindfulness.


The Psychology Shelf

Become an Elite Mental Athlete
David Silverstein
BMGI
1200 17th St., Suite 180, Denver, CO 80202
9781938353031, $8.99, www.bmgi.com

Become an Elite Mental Athlete: Commit to Building Your Brain and Improving Your Mental Game joins others in the 'Connect the Dots' series and offers keys to excelling at mental tasks using the latest research in cognitive science, and comes from an innovation expert who shows how the brain's systems work and how to use this knowledge to improve mental capabilities. Chapters teach everything from how to train memory to how to hone decision-making skills in and include both physical influences such as diet and nutrition as well as exercise. The result is an all-around health title geared to producing the best results, recommended for health and sports holdings alike.

Using Art Therapy with Diverse Populations
Paul Howie, et.al.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059169, $39.95, www.jkp.com

Using Art Therapy with Diverse Populations: Crossing Cultures and Abilities considers how culture affects art therapy practices in urban areas and amongst specific populations, and is packed with essays from experienced art therapists who have worked in these environments. It considers different factors affecting art therapy, how cultural differences can affect physical art making and choices in display, and provides chapters discussing everything from family therapy to adolescent development, art therapy's use in school settings, and more. Practitioners will find this a solid reference filled with insights on how this therapy is worked in different settings.

Borderline Personality Disorder
Alexander L. Chapman, PhD, RPsych and Kim L. Gratz, PhD
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781608827060, $15.95, www.newharbinger.com

Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed is packed with keys to understanding the symptoms of BPD, and is directed to the individual with such a diagnosis. It provides an easy introduction teaching about treatments, lifestyle changes, handling triggers, and more, and it tells how to keep up with medication, handle relationship issues stemming from BPD, and more. The result is a fine recommendation for any newly diagnosed with the disorder, who want more information.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Chicana and Chicano Mental Health
Yvette G. Flores
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816529742, $22.95, www.uapress.arizona.edu

Chicana and Chicano Mental Health provides a fine model to address the special mental health and service challenges affecting Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans, and comes from an author who holds more than thirty years of experience as a clinical psychologist. Chapters review the disorders that affect these groups, considers belief systems and how they affect treatment options, and incorporates cultural values and class concerns in the course of discussing the special needs of Hispanics in the U.S. Any mental health collection must have this unique approach!

The Story of the Human Body
Daniel E. Lieberman
Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307379412, $27.95, www.pantheonbooks.com

The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease comes from the chair of the department of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University and provides college-level readers (and many an interested lay reader) with the story of how the human body evolved over millions of years - and how the modern focus on longevity is resulting in increased chronic disease. It considers the major evolutionary changes that have affected the human body and its processes, cultural and social shifts that have contributed to changes in diet and activity, and documents cultural and biological evolution as separate processes. The result is a powerful discussion of adaptation, change, and influences on modern health which should be in every health and science collection.

Anthocyanins in Health and Disease
Taylor C. Wallace
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781439894712, $129.95, www.crcpress.com

Anthocyanins in Health and Disease is a recommendation for any college-level course in nutrition and covers the compounds to be found in certain foods, and which are responsible for various colorful presentations of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Discussions of these pigments and their healthy properties come from a group of scientists working in different fields who consider the chemistry, metabolism and qualities of anthocyanins and how they help the body fight chronic diseases. This is a technical survey recommended for professional and college-level holdings in nutrition science and health: it provides clear discussions of the role of anthocyanins in preventing pathologies and fostering health and is a pick for any collection specific about health and disease management.

Longevity Now
David Wolfe
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583946145, $29.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Longevity Now provides a fine, in-depth approach to healthy hormones, immunity, and system-wide rejuvenation and considers how we age, how long we can live, and more. From balancing hormones and cleansing your body to battling age- and injury-related chronic conditions, this isn't just about living longer: it's about living better. Beginners to advanced health and nutrition students will find this packed with detail and key to living not just longer, but healthier, taking full advantage of the new technologies for so doing!


The Technology Shelf

Design of Semiconductor QCA Systems
Weiqiang Liu
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608076871, $179.00, www.artechhouse.com

Design of Semiconductor QCA Systems provides a fine discussion of integrated circuits and how QCA (quantum-dot cellular automata) provides new opportunities to the circuitry world. This book considers the logic and algorithmic design involved, offering the latest research on circuit architecture and device design and providing a fine key to understanding their applications in the real world. The authors provide an excellent combination of analysis, discussion and metrics to cross-compare different designs in a guide loaded with charts, diagrams and math. No engineering collection should be without!

Modeling Electric Distribution with GIS
Bill Meehan
ESRI
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589482418, $42.95, www.esri.com

Modeling Electric Distribution with GIS provides a fine survey that discusses how electric utilities can benefit from implementing a geographic information system, and is based on the author's years of experience with the electric industry adapting just such models to real-world industry applications. The fictionalized case history of a new GIS manager at an energy company outlines the lessons, challenges, applications and changes involved in creating a GIS model of the electric distribution network he oversees, and follows the progress from start to finish. Any working with applied GIS will find this a winning survey.


The Mathematics Shelf

An Introduction to Number Theory with Cryptography
James S. Kraft and Lawrence C. Washington
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781482214413, $89.95, www.crcpress.com

An Introduction to Number Theory with Cryptography provides a fine history of number theory and surveys its applications. College-level undergrads will appreciate the number theory topics, arranged in a format suitable for any standard course in the topic, and will also appreciate the inclusion of many exercises and projects to support all the theory provided. In providing a foundation text with step-by-step analysis, examples, and exercises, this is a top teaching tool recommended for any cryptography student or instructor.


The Fiction Shelf

The Signature of All Things
Elizabeth Gilbert
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670024858, $28.95, www.penguin.com

The Signature of All Things is a fine novel of the 18th and 19th centuries and begins with one Alma, born in 1800 into Philadelphia high society and cultivating her interests in botany and science. Her studies will take her on a journey no woman has gone on before, despite her attraction to dark painter Ambrose, who draws her away from science and into a more spiritual, magical world. The two seem hardly compatible - but their shared passion for knowledge and understanding of the world will carry them both beyond their social positions and will fuel, not dose, their relationship. The Signature of All Things excels in its historical background and 'you are there' feel and is a pick for any who enjoy strong historical settings in their novels.

Fielder's Choice
J. Mark Hart
TradeWorks Publishing
c/o O'Connor Communications, Inc.
333 Warwick Road, Lake Forest, IL, 60045
9780982617434, $15.95, www.oconnorpr.com

Fielder's Choice could have been featured in the young adult section of our children's issue, but is profiled here for its complex plot and story line set in the author's hometown of Birmingham, Alabama and telling of conflicts that affect teen Brad during the spring of 1969. Brad's goal is to get a baseball scholarship to college to avoid his father's life in the steel mills, but when a talented Black student is transferred into his school he finds his plans in jeopardy. Yes, he falls in love and has other goals to look forward to - but he could be drafted to Vietnam if he doesn't make the sports cut. Despite all pressures he befriends his new Black teammates - and eventually becomes involved in the antiwar movement and civil rights. A fine coming of age saga blends with social insights in this powerful story.

Malpractice! The Novel
William Louis Harvey
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd, North Charleston, SC 29406
www.AntoniaHallCommunications.com
9781480284586, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Malpractice! The Novel comes from an author who worked in California during the time of the California medical malpractice insurance crisis and beyond, chairing a committee that reviewed all malpractice claims involving a major California hospital. So while this is a work of fiction, it's derived from the author's personal experiences and familiarity with liability and suits, and is set in the early 1970s in San Francisco when an emergency brain operation is performed on a ten-year-old. Her misdiagnosis and discharge will form the basis for a malpractice lawsuit even as an unscrupulous attorney and a doctor become immersed in a suit that will challenge the legal and medical world. Courtroom conflicts and confrontations between many make for a highly charged and engrossing story recommended not just for California readers, but for any who like a good legal novel spiced with protagonists with varied motives for their positions.

Mirage
Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul
Putnam Adult
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399158087, $28.95, www.penguin.com

Prior fans of 'The Oregon Files' will realize Book 9 in the ongoing series is just as vivid and compelling as the others, and will find MIRAGE loaded with thrills, chills, and vivid adventure as Juan stumbles upon reference to a mysterious pleasure ship that vanished at sea in 1902. Its connection to a modern-day superweapon that could change the world, and Juan's efforts to uncover Tesla's secret technology in the hands of a madman, makes for a riveting thriller packed with twists, turns, and satisfying international espionage.

Escaping Home
A. American
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780142181294, $15.99, www.penguin.com

ESCAPING HOME is the introductory story to the 'Survivalist' series which will include four other novels, and tells of one man's struggles when the social collapse he's been anticipating actually happens and all modern conveniences - and many ideals - vanish throughout America. Morgan battles at every turn to protect his family and his life and keep his home secure: this book adds to the chronicle and is an important, gripping story perfect for any who enjoy survival and disaster novels.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Odds On
Michael Crichton
Hard Case Crime
9781783291182, $9.95, www.hardcasecrime.com

Odds On comes from Michael Crichton, who wrote his noir crime novels under the pen name of John Lange, and provides a fine suspense story revolving around a plot to rob a luxury hotel off the coast of Spain. The perps are not only seasoned criminals; they've actually simulated the heist on computers so nothing can go wrong. The only problem is: three beautiful women have their own plans and introduce wild cards to the experience. There's no crime mystery like this one in print: a satisfying blend of high technology and criminal vamps makes it an engrossing crime story from start to finish.

For Better or Worsted
Betty Hechtman
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425252949, $25.95, www.penguin.com

For Better or Worsted: A Crochet Mystery tells of one Molly, who has crocheted a lace handkerchief for Thursday's wedding but finds herself more involved than expected when the groom is found dead and Thursday needs a place to hide when Thursday's mother is discovered with the murder weapon. Molly's desire to help her friend soon turns into a dangerous game as crochet and investigation mix and become a complicated, involving story line. Highly recommended for any interested in a solid mystery centered around needlework and savvy female investigators who aren't normally in the P.I. profession.

Hidden Heritage
Harlotte Hinger
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464200748, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

HIDDEN HERITAGE provides a fine Lottie Albright mystery centered around a law enforcement team in Kansas who feel they are overstretched, yet possibly not happy about a regional crime center in the area. When a terrible killing involves the county, Undersheriff Lottie and her sheriff husband find themselves with their hands full as she handles a murder investigation on one side and a history project on the other. When the two begin to dovetail, with crime clues to be found in ancient documents, a whole new twist sends the plot in a different direction. Perfect for any mystery fan looking for complexity!


The Travel Shelf

A Fork in the Road
James Oseland, Editor
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781743218440, $15.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

A Fork in the Road: Tales of Food, Pleasure, & Discovery on the Road gathers over thirty original stories in essays, comes from the world's best chefs and food writers, and covers travel and cooking around the world. Each essay is selected for its insights on tastes, cooking, and how food changes worldviews, and each story embraces range of experiences that have food at their heart. Any who enjoy literary explorations of the culinary world will find this a fascinating read.

Ireland in Word and Image
Jay Ben Aldersberg
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10011
9781599621258, $60.00, www.welcomebooks.com

Ireland in Word and Image is a gorgeous pictorial edited by Samantha Bowser and pairing an oversized presentation with color photos and details of lovely places to travel within Ireland. It's a visual treat filled with literary excerpts from major writers whose works have reflected Irish inspirations, while over 160 color photos, captioned, offer the details on special places throughout the country. While this is a recommendation for travel collections, it's also a pick for any interested in photographic journalism and Ireland's history and literary heritage, offering elements of all that promise a wide audience.

Beautiful World
Lonely Planet Staff
Lonely Planet Publishing
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781743217177, $39.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

Beautiful World gathers gorgeous travel images celebrating the planet and provides a volume to celebrate the travel publisher's 40th anniversary of producing independent guides to destinations around the world. Gorgeous color photos pack an oversized title that selects the world's best natural phenomena and landscapes, includes action shots and striking urban images, and adds aerial photography to bring justice to everything from the poles to Manhattan streets. Over 200 large-format photos showcase many lesser destinations as well, making this a solid pick for any travel collection and many an arts and nature holding.

The Turk Who Loved Apples
Matt Gross
DaCapo Press
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02210
9780306821158, $15.99, www.dacapopress.com

The Turk Who Loved Apples And Other Tales of Losing My Way Around the World is for any armchair reader who enjoys stories of independent travel, and gathers essays spanning the author's many journeys from childhood to adulthood. From his adventures to his encounters with Third World countries and rich European destinations alike, this introduces a cast of fine characters and will prove a pick for any who enjoy armchair adventure encounters.


The Art Shelf

Viking Art
James Graham-Campbell
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500204191, $21.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Viking Art provides a fine study of the art of the 'Viking Age' and covers the period from the first major Viking expeditions overseas in AD 800 to the establishment of Christianity in Scandinavia 300 years later. History and geography blends with the main discussion of six Viking art styles, considering how the metalwork, carvings, and jewelry-making evolved in relation to Viking mythology and achievement. Illustrations of all kinds of Viking art accompany maps and details perfect for any arts collection where historical review is as much of interest as images of relics and examples of old-world artistic pursuits.

MFA Highlights: Arts of China
Hiromi Kinoshita
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467891, $22.50, www.mfa.org/publications

MFA Highlights: Arts of China is for any arts collection strong in Chinese art, and documents the holding in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, one of the best outside East Asia. Paintings, ceramics, and other art pieces have been selected to represent different themes and Chinese history: the variety of works is explained in chapters pairing color photos with essays about the works. Any interested in Chinese art will find this a lovely acquisition.

Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (dist.)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com, www.vendomepress.com

Ivan Terestchenko's BEYOND CHIC: GREAT FASHION DESIGNERS AT HOME (9780865652873, $85.00) considers some of the most important fashion figures of modern times, but narrows the focus to the designs they have incorporated into their own homes. While there's been plenty written about their creations, having this focus allows readers to understand how these fashion designers have brought their inspirations and theories to life in their own interiors. Large-size color photos capture the designs in all their glory, while accompanying text reveals influences, perspectives, and what makes the interior 'pop'. The result is a powerful survey highly recommended for any fashion design collection. Howard Slatkin's FIFTH AVENUE STYLE: A DESIGNER'S NEW YORK APARTMENT (9780865652897, $60.00) comes from an interior designer to some of the most legendary clients in the world, the co-founder of the home fragrance and brand Slatkin & Co., and who has a philosophy of what a home should be. Here he uses his Fifth Avenue apartment as an example for understanding innovative designs for storage, service areas, main rooms and more, profiling his style approaches and showing how any space can become sophisticated through clever planning and arrangement. The in-depth approach to creating and arranging rooms for a better feel will offer specific assessments and techniques for any interested in interior design and how it works in a small space.

Charles Edenshaw
Daina Augatiss and Jim Hart
Black Dog Publishing Ltd.
10a Acton Street, London, England, WC1X 9NG
9781908966209, $39.95, www.blackdogonline.com

Charles Edenshaw is the first title to chronicle the artist and his works, and is a 'must' for any arts holding strong in Northwest arts. Edenshaw was a carver and creator whose work stands in many museums around the world: this catalogs his works, discusses their focus on the Haida culture, and considers his Haida roots, adding interviews with Haidas who explain issues reflected in his art. From the artists he influenced to his Native portraits, this provides a well-rounded chronicle packed with color images and key to Native American and arts libraries alike.

Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession
John Whitenight
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764344072, $89.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Under Glass: A Victorian Obsession provides an oversized, weighty volume considering Victorian decorative art and packs in over six hundred color images ranging from taxidermy to works of nature and more. All these are displayed under glass domes and arranged by categories, from hair art to images of death, nature and glass whimsies. The extent of these domed wonders is breathtaking when viewed under one cover and in full color: collections catering to collectors as well as artists will find this simply a wonderful presentation!


The American History Shelf

One Summer: America, 1927
Bill Bryson
Doubleday & Company
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780767919401, $28.95, www.doubleday.com

One Summer: America, 1927 considers five months during which America became the world leader of various events ranging form sports and politics to the arts, and begins his account with the story of Lindberg's solo crossing of the Atlantic by plane nonstop. That was the same season that Babe Ruth attacked the home run record, a Queens housewife murdered her husband, and the South saw one of the greatest floods in history. This was also the season when Al Capone was at the height of his gang terrorism and the first 'talking picture' changed the film industry forever. Any who want a vivid memoir of this era will enjoy One Summer, from American history buffs to general-interest readers.

Race and Rights
Dana Elizabeth Weiner
Northern Illinois University Press
2280 Bethany Road, DeKalb, IL 60115
www.niupress.niu.edu
9780875804576, $38.00, www.amazon.com

Race and Rights: Fighting Slavery and Prejudice in the Old Northwest, 1830-1870 is a recommendation for college-level history and social issues collections who want a researched study on early civil rights issues. Well before the national movement which has received much examination, the fight against slavery immersed the Northwest. This study argues that these early activists played not only a key role in fighting slavery in their times, but laid the foundation for the future movement for free black peoples' rights which was to come. No civil rights collection should be without this in-depth account of early civil rights struggles.

Lotions, Potions, and Deadly Elixirs
Wayne Bethard
Roberts Rinehart
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781570984549, $19.95, www.rowman.com

Lotions, Potions, and Deadly Elixirs: Frontier Medicine in the American West provides a fine guide to frontier medicine and practices and comes from a practicing pharmacist who considers popular medicines of the times. While this could have been featured in our Health Shelf section, it's of particular interest - and recommendation - to readers of Western history who want a narrowed focus on frontier day medicine. From strange uses of milk and pepper to pill canisters and administration, this succeeds in being a lively, fun read!


The World History Shelf

The Discovery of Middle Earth
Graham Robb
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393081633, $28.95, www.wwnorton.com

The Discovery of Middle Earth: Mapping the Lost World of the Celts offers a lively focus on Druid and Celtic cultures. Now, popular belief would have it that the Romans destroyed most images and information about these cultures when they conquered the Celts in the first century AD, but in fact much evidence exists about their lives and history - if one pays attention to clues that offer new insights on the Celts. This is not casual speculation, but a landmark history based on in-depth study. New material about the Celts provides cultural and military history, geography, and much more. It's amazing to think this history began with a cycling holiday along one of the oldest routes in the Western world, and required the author's observation of Celtic routes and 'middle places' to become researched and noticed. No history holding should be without this lively survey!

Pacific Century
Mark Borthwick
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813346670, $60.00, www.westviewpress.com

PACIFIC CENTURY: THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN PACIFIC ASIA appears in its fourth updated edition to include much new material on Asia's growing role in global politics and economics, and is a fine addition to any college-level Asian history collection. From China's evolving tensions and regional influence to North Korea's new leadership, this continues to explore the latest trends affecting the entire region and its relationship with the world, documenting economic as well as social and political changes and discussing their lasting impact. The result is a powerful, highly recommended analysis of Asian culture that does more than provide just another history: it connects Asian experiences and trends to its effects on the rest of the world.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

On Religion and Memory
Babette Hellemans, et.al., Editors
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823251636, $28.00, www.fordhampress.com

On Religion and Memory explores philosophical and religious questions on concepts of time and eternity, and provides a fine consideration of language, the arts, and how time's perceptions change. It's hard to neatly categorize this study: at once a literary work that considers religious studies, philosophy and theology, it adopts a scholarly tone in providing articles centered around Augustine's paradox of time. From Augustine himself to Thoreau, Calvin, Shakespeare and more, this provides many footnoted references analyzing different perspectives on time and theological reflection. A fine and involving pick, this is especially recommended for religious studies collections.

Your Divine Fingerprint
Keith Craft
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062206527, $24.99, www.harperone.com

Your Divine Fingerprint: The Force That Makes You Unstoppable delves into the uniqueness of humans that God has created, and the author's belief that the glory of God is literally revealed in the individual fingerprints all humans have. This teaches how to build on that concept of unique individuality to build a better connection with God, and discusses miracles, decision-making powers, choices within the spiritual alignment with God, and more. It comes from a pastor who encourages readers to realize their strengths, overcome blind spots, and become self-actualized Godly individuals. With its positive support for life changes, this is an inspirational read for any spirituality collection.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Rhythm of Being
Raimon Panikkar
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980150, $35.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Rhythm of Being: The Unbroken Trinity is a pick for scholarly Catholic collections that also include a healthy dose of philosophical reflection, and presents an analysis of the unity of the cosmos by one of the world's premier religious thinkers. It was originally delivered as the Gifford Lectures and published months before his death in 2010, and provides a wide-ranging collection of insights connecting religion, science and philosophy. Any collection strong in spiritual contemplation will find these writings keys to uncovering processes of the divine.

Arts Ministry
Michael J. Bauer
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
978080286289, $29.00, www.eerdmans.com

ARTS MINISTRY: NURTURING THE CREATIVE LIFE OF GOD'S PEOPLE comes from a professor of organ and church music at the University of Kansas and provides a fine survey of religious show art and how practicing arts ministries reach out to all. From its historic Christian roots to how churches can expand using the creative arts, this provides an outstanding survey recommended for pastors and any Christian collection.

Found In Him
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433533235, $15.99, www.crossway.org

FOUND IN HIM: THE JOY OF THE INCARNATION AND OUR UNION WITH CHRIST explores the concept and wonder of incarnation and a union with Christ, and provides keys to understanding God's purpose in providing the world with Jesus' assistance. Chapters packed with Biblical quotes and insights offer meaningful reflections on beliefs, truths, and God's purpose in the world, with a focus on the Incarnation. The result is a very fine survey that will especially appeal to scholars of Christian theology.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Tae Kwon Do
Richard Chun and Doug Cook
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392641, $18.95, www.ymaa.com

Tae Kwon Do: Black Belt Poomsae belongs in any martial arts collection and provides details on prearranged forms as a source of teaching martial arts skills. It's written with level 1 and level 2 black belt students in mind and provides a focus on the historical and technical elements key to Original Koryo and Koryo, supplementing history and ideas with detailed instruction for learning both. Over two hundred photos, charts, and illustrations teach martial arts in a way any student can learn from, making for a solid reference for any martial arts library.

Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy
Frederic Delavier and Michael Gundill
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450463591, $24.95, www.humankinetics.com

Delavier's Mixed Martial Arts Anatomy packs in over a hundred exercises and some twenty training programs for martial arts and features well over two hundred color photos and over a hundred anatomical illustrations to help athletes and coaches understand exercises selected for particular sport demands. By knowing how muscles interact with joints and how different variations can isolate and improve their performance, this provides a greater understanding of different exercises and their results. Athletes looking to tailor physical conditioning and fighting style for particular martial arts will find this key to success, including the latest exercises for injury prevention. No martial arts reference library should be without it.


The Photography Shelf

Fine Art Printing for Photographers
Uwe Steinmueller and Juergen Gulbins
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538248, $44.95, www.rockynook.com

Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers appears in its third updated edition to provide photographers with the basics of fine art printing and color management, and covers everything from ink and paper to setting up a print job. The most recent high-end inkjet printers are covered here, along with new advancements in photo papers and devices for monitor and printer enhancements. It also covers features of the latest Photoshop. Packed with numerous color photo examples of print jobs and quality and loaded with color screen shots and step-by-step explanations, this is the item of choice for any neo-professional photographer looking to get top results from an inkjet printer.

Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D for Dummies
Doug Sahlin
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118753675, $29.99, www.dummies.com

Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D for Dummies is specific to the Canon EOS model and teaches all the basics for newcomers to the camera, from understanding its controls and shooting modes to downloading and sharing photos and using Live View to shoot videos. It's a step-by-step, full color presentation that covers not only the basics but more advanced photography techniques, and it's packed with keys to successful shooting, processing, and sharing. Any new owner of this camera model NEEDS this specific reference.


The Biography Shelf

The Mountain: My Time on Everest
Ed Viesturs with David Roberts
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781451694734, $27.00, www.simonandschuster.com

The Mountain: My Time on Everest is a fine blend of memoir and history and is also a recommendation for any collection strong in mountaineering sagas. Ed Viesturs was featured on the Everest IMAX documentary which covered the 1996 Everest disaster, and he's also the only American to have climbed all fourteen of the world's 8,000-meter peaks - and the sixth to do so without supplemental oxygen. This book provides lessons that came from his own mountaineering efforts which translated into his life as a whole, and covers both climbing and a philosophy of living that makes it a vivid, lively memoir even for those with little interest in the world of mountain-climbing. It's adventure reading at its best.

The Brothers
Stephen Kinzer
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805094978, $30.00, www.hholt.com

The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War provides a biographical history and comes from an award-winning former foreign correspondent and author who reveals the nearly-forgotten history of two brothers who changed America. Foster was the secretary of state while his brother Allen was director of the CIA, and they shared convictions about how the U.S. should behave in the world. Together the fostered a set of campaigns against foreign leaders they saw as threats: campaigns that led to violence and become decades of hostility with countries like Cuba and Iran. This analysis of the brothers' actions and motivations makes for a revealing analysis of their behaviors and the influences on modern American global interactions, and is a must for political history and biography collections alike.

Undisputed Truth
Mike Tyson with Larry Sloman
Blue Rider Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780399161285, $30.00, www.penguin.com

Undisputed Truth comes from the most notorious heavyweight boxing champ in the world and the youngest fighter to hold all three major boxing titles simultaneously. Despite his many achievements, Mike Tyson's personal life was just as volatile as his career: accused of domestic violence and mental illness, convicted of raping Miss Black America contestant Desiree Washington, and sentenced to prison, Tyson's comeback was marred by his violent actions towards his opponent. This biography provides a blow-by-blow account of what made Tyson the world's greatest fighter. It covers his rise from poverty, his mentor, and the brutal persona he adopted to survive. With its powerful and gritty account, it's a weighty probe into his life and psyche which should not be missed by any interested in boxing in general or Tyson in particular - which will mean many a sports holding as well as general-interest audiences.

Coreyography
Corey Feldman
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780312609337, $24.99, www.stmartins.com

COREYOGRAPHY: A MEMOIR tells of a teen sensation and pop icon who from the age of fifteen on spent most of his life in the spotlight. This memoir tells about his life behind the scenes, from his drug addition and dysfunctional family to why he was emancipated at age fifteen and how he evolved to become a successful actor, musician and father. His vivid saga of a Hollywood child star gone wrong and back again makes for a wonderful, revealing story highly recommended for any film or autobiography collection: it covers not only his life and challenges, but offers many behind-the-scenes probes of Hollywood's methods and actions.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Seaduction
Beverly Factor
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
076434501X, $60.00, www.schifferbooks.com

SEADUCTION gathers color photos of sea life and pairs the lovely creations of underwater photographer Beverly Factor with discussion of the nature of starfish, sea anemones, fish and more, making for a lovely blend of close-ups and discussions of underwater denizens. All this is presented in an oversized book packed with inviting, full-page images. The variety of sea life images is simply stunning in close-up color, making this catalog a top recommendation for arts and nature collections alike!

Out On a Limb
Benjamin Kilham
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583909, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

OUT ON A LIMB: WHAT BLACK BEARS HAVE TAUGHT ME ABOUT INTELLIGENCE AND INTUITION tells the story of one Ben Kilham, who has studied black bears in the Northern New Hampshire woodlands for decades, and who raised an orphaned bear then released it into the wild. His story explores interactions black bears have with one another and how they form alliances. It's notable that author Ben Kilham's dyslexia once presented him from earning an advanced academic degree: this condition actually allowed him to decode bear communication and behavior in a unique way, leading to revelations about bears that nobody made before him. Both general-interest and science holdings will find this account moving, scientific and a great read!

Birds in the Yard Month by Month
Sharon Sorenson
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811711517, $24.95, www.stackpolebooks.com

Birds in the Yard Month by Month: What's There and Why, and How to Attract Those That Aren't provides a fine survey offering tips and advice for creating not just a generally bird-friendly yard, but one specifically oriented to different types of birds. It explains changing bird behaviors, provides hundreds of color photos to aid in identification, and is packed with first-person reflections on birds and their habits. Any who would create a yard with seasonal changes attractive to all kinds of birds as well as specific kinds of birds will find this a colorful, inviting title!

The Genius of Dogs
Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods
Plume
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780142180464, $17.00, www.penguin.com

THE GENIUS OF DOGS: HOW DOGS ARE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK provides a fine survey from an evolutionary anthropologist and a dog lover who synthesizes the latest research on dog intelligence with perspectives on domesticated dogs and intelligence. It provides scientific backing to support dog wisdom and is the first book to follow the author's own research findings in the area of dog intelligence: findings that will change the nature of how dogs are observed and treated. Any collection strong in science and pets will find this a popular pick.

Encyclopedia of K-9 Terminology
Edward M. Gilbert Jr. and Patricia H. Gilbert
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617811265, $49.95, www.dogwise.com

Encyclopedia of K-9 Terminology features black and white illustrations by Dan Sayers and is a weighty encyclopedia of information for any interested in the terminology of Breed Standards and the language of K-9. All terms applied to dogs will help experts and amateurs understand the language of the sport of breed standards, and represents some ten years of research and writing. Purebreed owners will appreciate the inclusion of slang, nicknames, and common terms as well as technical terms, while chapter organizations by clear topic ('gait', 'working dogs', 'grooming') make for very easy look-ups of any information. A 'must' for any dog reference library!


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Cindy Sherman: Untitled Horrors
Miranda July, et.al.
Hatje Cantz
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
9783775734875, $60.00, www.artbook.com

Cindy Sherman may best be described as a 'dark artist': through her career she employed a range of film styles, from stills to fashion to society portraiture, to capture this darkness. Cindy Sherman: Untitled Horrors reflects this focus and selects works from across her career which illustrates the darker sides of human nature. These are all embellished by essays and insights from authors, filmmakers, and fellow artists who also focus on the bizarre, grotesque, and extraordinary in their own works and choices, which lend a fine contrast to Sherman's visuals. All this is presented in a colorful and revealing art book that should be in any collection strong in either Sherman's works or portraits of the oddities to be observed in life.

The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets
Simon Singh
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781620402771, $26.00, www.bloomsbury.com

The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets provides a fine new book based on interviews with writers of the popular TV show and considers the mathematicians behind the scenes who have been incorporating math into the series for decades. It reveals that everything from calculus to geometry has been a part of The Simpsons, it shows how the series has been incorporated number theory into its subliminal educational messages, and it provides an outstanding focus on how this math message has reached and affected new generations. Any with an interest in how math is imparted through media will find this simply fascinating.

Armageddon Films FAQ
Dale Sherman
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781617131196, $24.99, www.applausebooks.com

ARMAGEDDON FILMS FAQ: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT ZOMBIES, CONTAGIONS, ALIENS, AND THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT considers various end of the world scenarios in films, from nuclear holocaust and zombie apocalypses to natural disasters, and it proves a fine survey of different kinds of dramas from television to un- filmed novels and even top ten music videos. From silent film times to the latest creations, this covers a host of different approaches to Armageddon and is of particular interest to disaster film genre viewers.

Crazy 4 Cult: Movie Art 2
Gallery 1988
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781781167519, $34.95, www.titanbooks.com

Crazy 4 Cult: Movie Art 2 provides the second cult movie-art book from Gallery 1988, an art gallery specializing in the form, and covers the annual Crazy 4 Cult art show which has attracted big crowds and buyers. This second volume offers a winning display of more cult movie-inspired artwork, and gathers some of the best images under one cover. Film lovers will find it a solid coverage that provides assessments and enlightenment on some of the latest artists and their achievements, making it a recommendation for arts and film collections alike.

Wonder of Wonders
Alisa Solomon
Metropolitan Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400
New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805092608, $32.00, www.hholt.com

Wonder of Wonders: A Cultural History of Fiddler on the Roof provides the first critical analysis of the play's culture and considers how it evolved from a New York Yiddish production to become a Broadway and Hollywood classic. It follows the evolution of the story line and its incarnations, considers how its approach and presentation made it a revolutionary production for Jewish and mainstream American viewers alike, and provides a winning discussion of culture and stage tradition that will prove perfect for stage, Jewish history and general cultural collections alike.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Johnny Hiro
Fred Chao
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765329387, $17.99, www.tor-forge.com

JOHNNY HIRO: THE SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS provides a graphic novel perfect for any interested in graphic novel adventures and tells of Johnny Hiro, who was been an underpaid sushi chef for a stingy, negative boss for too long, and doubts he can provide his girlfriend with the good life he envisions. Johnny can hardly make the rent - and he finds challenges of living in New York City even harder with no money. Despite his trials, he continues to dream of a different life and even as his mishaps and misadventures carry him further away from his goals, he still finds within himself the strength to persevere. The result is a fin graphic novel with more than a dose of humor, which will have readers of all ages enjoying the trials and character of Johnny.


The Audiobook Shelf

Not a Fan
Kyle Idleman
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480554443, $19.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Are you a fan or a follower? This spiritual reflection outlines the characters of 'fans' who want to be close to Jesus without making real sacrifices, then shows how Jesus wants real followers, not idolizers. Listeners receive a fine survey performed by the author himself, who imparts a vivid and meaningful tone to his discussion of what it really means to be a Christian. Be prepared for encouragement for self-examination - and be prepared to change in the face of an audio that provides hard-hitting spiritual reflections and paths for greater belief.

Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480523210, $14.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

ENDER'S GAME: ALIVE provides a full-cast audio drama based on the classic story and offering a performance that is gripping and memorable, moving far beyond the usual single-reader audiobook format. Here the full cast brings to life the story of young "Ender" Wiggin, who trains to become a general in what may prove Earth's last battle against destructive alien invaders. Even as Ender faces his adult responsibilities while still a teen, he finds the ultimate game is actually a test of his moral fiber and could determine the fate of a race: either his own, or another's. A powerful story, this audio is not to be missed by any science fiction audio listener.

The Dying Hours
Mark Billingham
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781622312818, $34.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

The Dying Hours is narrated by the author, who adds spice and zip to his Tom Thorne detective story centered around modern London and a series of deaths deemed suicides by the police. Tom is convinced that they are not; but because nobody will listen to him, he must investigate alone - and encounters a unique killer with a crafty method that nobody can touch. Unless Tom can expose this danger, the perp may spread his deadly influence. A fine story of crime and mystery evolves, perfect for the audio format.

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

Brad Stone's THE EVERYTHING STORE: JEFF BEZOS AND THE AGE OF AMAZON (9781619690295, $30.00) blends a business coverage with a fine biography of the leader of Amazon.com and how he grew his company, and comes from a Bloomberg Businessweek senior writer who had unique access to Amazon employees and executives and Bezos family members. This audio is narrated by Pete Larken, whose extensive theater experience lends to a lively coverage of the company and its founder. Any interested in the vision and growth of Amazon.com will find this a revealing, engrossing listen. Preston & Child's WHITE FIRE (9781619694620, $40.00) receives a fine narration by TV personality Rene Auberjonois, who brings to life a thriller centered around a special agent's appearance at a Colorado ski resort, which prompts an arsonist's attack and sparks a killing spree. Agent Pendergast soon finds his case involves not only present-day danger but a mystery involving miners murdered over 150 years ago. The result is an engrossing, revealing thriller that comes to life in audio.


The DVD Shelf

Element: Barre Conditioning
Sadie Lincoln
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
013132607900, $14.98, www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Element: Barre Conditioning provides a fine guide to barre workouts - but doesn't require a studio setting to be useful. Home users with an ordinary chair to take the place of a barre receive two 30-minute workouts on this DVD from an instructor who shows women how to blend a traditional dancer's workout with yoga, Pilates and more. Barre work involves small movements: this provides a fitness program designed to get the most from one's body, supported by the founder of Barre3, a Portland studio.


The Social Issues Shelf

In the Company of the Poor
Michael Griffin and Jennie Weiss Block, Editors
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980501, $24.00, www.orbisbooks.com

In the Company of the Poor: Conversations with Dr. Paul Farmer and For. Gustavo Gutierrez belongs in Christian as well as social issues collections and comes from a medical anthropologist and physician and a Dominican priest who converse about the poor. The concept of liberation theology combining spiritual reflection with social justice concerns is covered in dialogues which consider services to the poor and approaches to raise consciousness and dignity among the poor. From discussions of solidarity and political concerns to issues of material versus spiritual wealth, this is a solid recommendation for any Christian or social issues library.

Global Mobile
Peter A. Bruck and Madanmohan Rao, Editors
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874625, $49.50, www.infotoday.com

GLOBAL MOBILE: APPLICATIONS AND INNOVATIONS FOR THE WORLDWIDE MOBILE ECOSYSTEM provides a fine survey packed with considerations of mobile technology and its impact on human society, and is a pick for any college-level collection strong in technology and social issues. Chapters come from arrange of contributors and present analysis of how mobile is being used to change business, law, public policy and more, and provide researchers, educators, students and others with solid discussions of the present and future of global mobile systems. An excellent 'must' for any studying global affairs.

Kinship and Gender
Linda Stone
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348612, $38.00, www.westviewpress.com

KINSHIP AND GENDER: AN INTRODUCTION appears in its fifth updated edition to provide new, updated case studies and new material on kinship and evolutionary processes, and is a recommendation for any college-level reader of social issues and kinship connections. From different societies and cultures to modern social issues and how kinship affects their perception and display, this gathers a range of writings on cross-cultural variations in family structures around the world, and is a key title central to understanding evolving cultural interactions. College-level collections will find this a fine addition!


The Literary Studies Shelf

Understanding Marcel Proust
Allen Thiher
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781611172553, $59.95, www.uscpress.com

Understanding Marcel Proust provides college-level students of Proust's works with a review of his development as a writer, including analysis of works published and unpublished in his lifetime, and considers his writings in light of the political and artistic milieu of his times. The breakthrough in his work happened in the course of producing In Search of Lost Time: everything before was an experiment in whether he wanted to produce critical theory or fiction. And all these experiments led to a superior production in the novel. The unusual methods employed by Proust in the making of his groundbreaking book makes for a powerful analysis that's specific, accessible to undergrads and grads alike, and key to understanding the critical arguments surrounding Proust's greatest achievement. A 'must' for any literary collection where Proust is studied.


The Political Science Shelf

The Letters of John F. Kennedy
Martin W. Sandler, Editor
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781608192717, $30.00, www.bloomsbury.com

The Letters of John F. Kennedy provides a comprehensive collection of his writings - and while with all the Kennedy books on the market one might suppose this has been done before, it's surprising to note that actually, it has now. Published for the fiftieth anniversary of Kennedy's death, historian Sandler has gathered these letters largely from the large collection on file at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Many have not been published before, while the extent of the holding covers his entire life, from his earliest note asking his father for a raise in his allowance to some of his last writings. Any who would understand Kennedy's politics and beliefs must have this fine collection!

Days of Fire
Peter Baker
Doubleday & Company
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780385525183, $35.00, www.doubleday.com

DAYS OF FIRE: BUSH AND CHENEY IN THE WHITE HOUSE comes from Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times, and provides a detailed survey of the eight years of the Bush/Cheney presidency. The focus on their partnership, struggles and the evolution of the Presidency's administration makes for an insider's account of underlying politics and personal encounters that went on behind the scenes, and documents many controversies, frictions between various White House factions, and Bush struggles over policy-making and individuals. No casual or light survey, this is a highly recommended, top pick for any interested in the underlying politics and influences of these times.

Life Inside the Bubble
Dan Bongino
WND Books
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW, #351
Washington, DC 20006
9781938067365, $22.95, www.wnd.com

Life Inside the Bubble: Why a Top-Ranked Secret Service Agent Walked Away From It All provides a fine examination of life inside the presidential 'bubble' of staff, lobbyists, bureaucrats and more and considers how policies are made and how one dedicated Secret Serviceman walked away from his job to offer average Americans a look inside this 'bubble'. DC politics and behind-the-scenes maneuvering come to life in an expose that offers his experiences within the government structure and the pros and cons of this process. Any interested in underlying political influences will find this a winning survey.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Miller's Antique Marks
Judith Miller
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781845337988, $9.99, www.octopuspublishing.com

Miller's Antique Marks covers over 6,000 marks organized in a reference packed with color sections on glass, jewelry, dolls and more. Marks are key to identification and dating antiques but until now their discussion has been buried in weightier references. Having a pocket guide of the most common marks collectors will find and including antiques of all kinds assures that any collector will have quick and handy reference to one of the most valuable references available.

2014 Standard Catalog of World Coins
Georges S. Cuhaj & Thomas Michael
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
700 East State Street, Iola WI 54945
www.krausebooks.com
9781440235689, $44.99, www.shopnumismaster.com

2014 Standard Catalog of World Coins appears in its 8th updated edition to provide new values for most recent coins produced and sold by mints around the world, central banks, and other coin distributors. Some 100 coin experts around the world contribute to this latest survey of new issue coinage and help revise values, offering detailed descriptions, discussions of metal composition, inclusion of commemorative coins, and more. Black and white coin-sized images for every coin pack in details and enhance the reference. Some 2,000 coin types have been added to this update, include over a hundred new entries each for major countries of the world, make this a definitive 'must' for any coin collector.


The Philosophy Shelf

Liveright Publishing
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com

Two new philosophy surveys by Alan Ryan offer the first in a line of Liveright Classics discussing political and philosophical thinkers, and are recommended for collections strong in either discipline. Each are compact and easily-digested titles that consider history, politics and philosophy and which create classic examinations in affordable small books any library can readily afford. ON ARISTOTLE: SAVING POLITICS FROM PHILOSOPHY (9780871407061, $14.95) provides excerpts from Aristotle's writings but adds in background history and discussions that place his philosophy and reflections in light of historical precedent and influence. ON MACHIAVELLI: THE SEARCH FOR GLORY (9780871407054, $14.95) does the same for Machiavelli, blending excerpts of writings with enough background information to place the importance and perspective of the works in historical perspective. These are fine surveys highly recommended for any library looking for simple introductory explorations of each.

Philosophy for a Better World
Floris van den Berg
Prometheus Press
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145033, $23.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Philosophy for a Better World comes from a Dutch philosopher who discusses universal subjectivism, which can be adopted by any regardless of philosophical bent, and which considers the universal capacity for suffering and happiness. It applies moral reasoning to world scenarios, discussing near-term future challenges and how philosophy can apply to change and ethnical considerations, and offering plenty of perspectives on how applied philosophy can create a better world. The result is a survey highly recommended for any college-level philosophy or social issues library.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Osiris Curse
Paul Crilley
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148577, $17.99, www.pyrsf.com

While THE OSIRIS CURSE: A TWEED & NIGHTINGALE ADVENTURE is recommended for ages 12 and up, it's reviewed here because many an adult won't want to miss this involving, fast-paced plot blending a murder mystery with the story of Tweed and Nightingale, who are drawn into a global adventure involving Nikola Tesla's murder and the fight for his super weapons. Two cases blend in the process of a murder investigation that threatens to set the world on fire - and reveal a dangerous secret that could change the planet's history. A fine, fast-paced adventure, THE OSIRIS CURSE should not be limited to young adults, but will find a ready audience in all ages interested in a satisfying, unique blend of murder mystery and science fiction.

Come and Take Them
Tom Kratman
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781451639360, $25.00, www.baen.com

COME AND TAKE THEM provides a new sequel to A Desert Called Peace and is set on the colony planet Terra Nova, where solider and political leader Carrera has successfully destroyed those who killed his wife and children in a terrorist attack. Unfortunately his job isn't over: he's preparing his new country for war and even though they are outnumberd, he's convinced his good soldiers will win. When his own government pulls back, he's left on his own to either follow orders or head into a doomed situation. Military sci fi at its best, this will especially appeal to prior readers A Desert Called Peace who are returning for more depth and detail!


The Gardening Shelf

Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life
Marta McDowell
Timber Press
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450
Portland OR 97204-3527
9781604693638, $24.95, www.timberpress.com

Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life is a lovely tribute to the plants and natural areas that so featured in Potter's classic children's stories, and is the perfect gift or item or choice for any gardening enthusiast as well as Potter fans. It packs in color photos and illustrations to accompany specifics on the plants and seasons of a Potter garden, packing in correspondence and literary quotes throughout. From the insects in Beatrix's garden and how they entered into her writings to her term as president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders' Association, this is packed with both gardening and literary insights and is a unique and lovely guide for any Potter fan or British gardening enthusiast.

The Bulb Hunter
Chris Wiesinger & William C. Welch
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781603448215, $29.95, www.tamupress.com

In 2006 author Chris Wiesinger was called 'Bulb Hunter' as his passion for finding and preserving bulbs became part of a New York Times feature story. He searched for botanical specimens which were to be found not in stores but in abandoned lots, cemeteries and Southern construction sites, and his journey in search of these rare wild bulbs resulted in a business known around the world for its rare heritage plants. This account relates his bulb hunting experiences, offering stories of the bulbs he uncovered and his own ventures into horticultural circles. From how bulbs have improved his personal gardens to heirloom gardening history and heritage, this is a lively and revealing account spiced with over a hundred color panels and plenty of gardening and botanical insights, perfect for science, home and garden and general-interest readers alike.

Yes, You Can Grow Roses
Judy Barrett
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623490270, $22.95, www.tamupress.com

Yes, You Can Grow Roses comes from a veteran gardener and author who answers common questions about the art of rose gardening, packs in lovely photos, and shows that roses aren't nearly as fussy and difficult as novices think. It provides pages of discussion on the myths that discourage gardeners from cultivating roses, it points out bushes and varieties that are appropriate for specific purposes and places, and it provides an inviting, visually appealing discussion perfect for any general home and garden collection. The result is a fine recommendation for any newcomer to roses who has heard of the difficulties and who wants a specific guide addressing - and resolving - common problems.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Feminist Thought
Rosemarie Tong
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348414, $47.00, www.westviewpress.com

FEMINIST THOUGHT: A MORE COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION appears in its fourth updated edition to provide readers with a satisfying blend of women's issues and philosophy, and is a recommendation for any college-level collection. This latest edition offers a new section on existentialism, a much-edited chapter on women of color feminisms, and much revision and expansion, including new study questions and overviews of activist and literary women's thoughts. The result is a solid coverage recommended for any college-level women's issues shelf.


The Gun Shelf

James Purdey & Sons
Donald Dallas
Quiller Publishers Ltd.
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9781846891649, $115.00, www.amazon.com

James Purdey & Sons Gun & Rifle Makers: Two Hundred Years of Excellence is a 'must' for any collection strong in firearms references, and provides a powerful update of a classic reference that will prove key to any firearms collector. It provides a history of the British gunmaker and packs color and black and white illustrations throughout in the course of considering James Purdey's evolution through the years and how the gun manufacturer evolved to play an important role in firearms history. Collectors will find especially handy the appendices of serial numbers that will help date guns, as well as production figures to show their rarity. While collector's shelves should have this, it's also a strong pick for any firearms history holding. Not just a pick, it's an essential reference and a 'must have' acquisition!


The Hobby Shelf

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Laboratory
Daniele Benedettelli
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593275334, $34.95, www.nostarch.com

The LEGO Mindstorms EV3 Laboratory: Build, Program, and Experiment with Five Wicked Cool Robots is a pick for any fan of advanced LEGO projects, and teaches the basics of using motors, gears, and programming blocks to create robots that can walk on two legs and more. Math, engineering and robotics goes into a guide packed with programming experiments and illustrations and discussions about them, while the projects range from a traditional bi-ped robot to an armored car, a walking tripod that can record and execute commands, and much more. Robotics, engineering, and computer collections alike will find this an exciting addition!


The Self-Help Shelf

The Slight Edge
Jeff Olson
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781626340466, $19.95, www.gbgpress.com

The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success & Happiness provides an 8th anniversary edition of a classic treatise on how to think about and process information to make better choices, and is a recommendation for any business or self-help library that would provide readers with tools for constructive change. The same concepts of the original book pair well with new insights the author discovered while on how own 'slight edge' path, showing how new thinking leads to new dynamics and a greater depth of happiness. The result is a positive self-help title any general collection will find specific and inspirational.


The Journalism Shelf

Out of Print
George Brock
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749466510, $24.95, www.koganpage.com

Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age considers an industry that's battling falling circulations and reduced revenues, and argues that journalism is still viable even in the new information age. What needs to change is basic theories and practices. It considers all kinds of issues, from the rise of social media to hacking scandals, and provides an analysis of the changed role of journalism in the media age. From issues of monopolies to consumer influence on platforms and delivery, this is a hard-hitting examination of the future of news and reporting - and a 'must' for social issues and journalism collections alike.


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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