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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 16, Number 1 January 2006 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Religion/Spirituality Shelf Computer Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Geography Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Photography Shelf American History Shelf Parenting Shelf
Education Science Shelf Homeowner's Shelf Metaphysical Shelf
Business Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Musicbook Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Biography Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf World History Shelf Sports Shelf
Gardening Shelf Leadership Shelf Art Shelf
Architecture Shelf Self-Help Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Travel Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Library Video/DVD Shelf Economics Shelf Native American Shelf
Political Science Shelf Social Issues Shelf International Studies Shelf
Literary Shelf Military Shelf Environmental Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Poetry Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Civil War Shelf Philosophy Shelf Psychology Shelf
Fiction Shelf Science Shelf Library Science Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Folklore/Mythology Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance
Rich Gray
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
158160470X $20.00 1-800-392-2400

Want expert advice on everything from harvesting wild foods and supplying one's own energy to saving money on autos and treating injury? If you don't wish to spend hours surfing the Net, use Rich Gray's quick Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance: More Than 300 Web Sites To Help You Live Better, Live Cheaper, And Survive When Things Get Tough. Many books would offer just survival info: Gray's goes beyond this, addressing quality of life issues which face those cut off from their usual utilities and stores, linking itself to the author's own web site of links to make it easy to copy and paste website recommendations, and adding the author's owner personal tips to compliment overviews of each recommendation.

The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1-800-836-0510 www.lyonspress.com

Dean K. Boorman's Guns Of The Old West: An Illustrated History (1592286-380, $18.95) provides a fine survey of the firearms which helped win the West - and it packs in the color photos which make such guns easy to identify and understand. From handguns to longarms and those who used them on both sides of the law, Guns Of The Old West will find a ready audience in Western history buffs and collectors alike. Sister Surfer: A Woman's Guide To Surfing With Bliss And Courage (1592287212, $19.95) by Mary Osborne and Kia Afcari provides the basics of surfing for women who want to learn how. From catching whitewater, adapting a stance, bailing, and looking great in the process to understanding fear and different surf cultures, Sister Surfer packs in color photo examples and practical advice with plenty of psychological insights.

Death And The Sun
Edward Lewine
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
www.hmco.com
061826325X $24.00 1-800-225-3362

Few books are written these days on the politically-incorrect (in the USA anyway) art of bullfighting, so it's refreshing to see a modern matador reporter's account of the sport and his participation in it in Death And The Sun: A Matador's Season In The Heart Of Spain. Journalist Edward Lewine is the first to admit "The bullfighting business could be awful", but his insider's look at the tradition follows one season in the life of one of Spain's famous modern fighters and provides an understanding of bullfighting which goes beyond cliches and misperceptions. Chapters blend a travelogue with a social history and an explanation of the meaning of bullfighting in Spanish culture.

Prestel
900 Broadway #603, NY, NY 10003
www.prestel.com

The history of the 20th century can be revealed through its fashion trends, and Gerda Buxbaum Icons Of Fashion: The 20th Century (3791333127 $19.95) proves this with an overview of fashion trends and revolutions. Yes, there are the icons of fashion to testify to these changes: Chanel, Karan and others - but also fine photos capturing styles ranging from body stockings to military and cocktail dress; all contained in an excellent overview blending visuals with a running commentary on fashion's influence. The gorgeous Spirits Speak: A Celebration Of African Masks (3791332287, $49.95) edited by Peter Stepan with contributions by Iris Hahner gathers a representative sampling of African masks from the world's leading museums and private collections, choosing samples which reflect powerful artistry and spiritual meaning alike. The power in Spirits Speak lies in full-page color photos of each mask making for a catalog which pairs an introductory section of history and cultural insight with plates which pack a visual punch.

Abracadabra!
Nathaniel Schiffman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591022487 $18.00 1-800-421-0351

Magicians use more than smoke and mirrors to deceive audiences, but their secrets are rarely revealed. Writer and magic enthusiast Nathaniel Schiffman's Abracadabra! Secret Methods Magicians And Others Use To Deceive Their Audience provides a lay reader's guide to common methods used to fool or mislead audiences. While experiments and magic tricks are included, the focus here is on how a magician manipulates the audience toward belief: an intriguing expose is created.

Custom Knifemaking
Tim McCreight
Brynmorgen Press/Stackpole Books
58 Washington Ave., Portland, ME 04101
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811721752 $19.95 brynmorgen.com

Ten projects from a master craftsman provide enlightening details on how to make a range of knives - and remain unique instructions, keeping Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects From A Master Craftsman active on the list of recommended picks even years after publication. From kitchen paring knives and forged camp knives to pocket knives and wilderness skinning knives, Custom Knifemaking provides tempering, soldering, and fitting details available in few other references.

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
http://kalmbachbooks.com

Artists and model railroaders alike will appreciate these three fine guides. Nana V. Mizushima's Metal Clay Magic: Making Silver Jewelry The Easy Way (0871162202, $21.95) provides a solid introduction to metal clay, showing beginners how to create beads, brooches, and more from this new Japanese material. Lesson plans are based on over twenty easy projects and provide everything from shaping and use tips to hints on how to fire metal clay with a butane torch, use an electric kiln, and more. The inclusion of Internet resources and a bibliography round out the how-to facts, which are packed with step-by-step color photos for easy demonstration of technique. The third updated edition of Dave Frary's How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery (0890244707, $24.95) is a 'must' for any model railroad builder who would produce professional-quality scenery. From planning the scenery and building forms and shells to support it to choosing materials and colors, adding depth and texturing, and understanding the logical progression of construction, How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery is packed with color photos of successful projects and provides plenty of tips for overcoming common problems. Lawrence Hansen compiles The Basics Of Scale Modeling (089024-3921, $16.95), a step-by-step photo guide to scale modeling for bare-bones beginners. The best models are tiny museum-quality replicas of the real thing: the art lies in capturing the element of realism of the real thing, and it's an art presented by The Basics Of Scale Modeling's techniques culled from FineScale Modeler magazine articles covering the basics. From setting up the initial work area and assembling the tools to planning a project for smooth success, this is a 'must' for any who would start on their first scale model.

The Game
Neil Strauss
Regan Books
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
0060554738 $29.95 reganbooks.com

Two years ago author Strauss, a writer for the Rolling Stone and New York Times, decided to investigate an exciting underground community: an international network of men devoted to the art of seduction. They weren't rich, they weren't criminals or unduly attractive - but they had success with even the most remote woman, and had a scientific set of rules which dictated their successful moves. The Game: Penetrating The Secret Society Of Pick-Up Artists is more than just an expose of an underground community: it tells of Strauss' own experiments as a single male with little personal success with women himself, and of his undercover life for two years as he works to master the Game - successfully. But The Game isn't autobiography either: it reveals the secrets of the Game, why its strategies work, and what women can learn from the tricks pick-up artists commonly use on women.

Ecovillages
Jan Martin Bang
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0 Canada
0865715386 $24.95 newsociety.com

There's long been a movement towards living in community with others as an alternative to the nuclear family model, but in modern times 'ecovillages' have emerged around the world, adding attention to sustainability and social interactions to the model. Ecovillages explores these developments, opening with a history of the movement and progressing to include a practical manual for planning and maintaining a sustainable community using permaculture as a foundation. From house design and building options to farming and handling sewage and energy sources, Ecovillages is packed with practical applications; not just theory.

Messages To The World
Bruce Lawrence
Verso
180 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
1844670457 $16.95 versobooks.com

Osama Bin Laden's statements have been widely covered in TV and radio in bits and pieces; but they haven't been gathered together under one cover before; so to receive a unified presentation of all his admonitions, turn to Messages To The World: The Statements Of Osama Bin Laden. Statements issued in his name over the last ten years are here newly translated from the Arabic and annotated with a critical introduction by editor Lawrence, an Islamic scholar, which adds historical, political and religious context to the statements. Any who want insights on Bin Laden's thoughts and viewpoint must have Messages To The World.

My Love Affair With The French
Fannie Lillian
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3906
0805964463 $23.00 dorrance.com

Fannie Bellamy grew up in rural Virginia under segregation and discovered some deep bonds with France and the French people early on in life: her account tells of her journey from rural Virginia to college and on to travels to France in search of the French tradition. My Love Affair With The French is a lively first-person account of a fine adventure abroad.

The Blacksmith's Craft
Charles McRaven
Storey Publishers
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580175937 $19.95 storeybooks.com

Very few titles go into much depth on the vanishing art of blacksmithing as does Charles McRaven's The Blacksmith's Craft: A Primer Of Tools And Methods - which is why any would-be blacksmith will want to see this on a reference shelf and even in a home collection. From setting up your own forge and making common items to using recycled materials, learning and acquiring the basic tools, and using blacksmithing skills to restore homes, The Blacksmith's Craft is a 'must' for any rural resident or student craftsman thinking of taking up the art of blacksmithing for fun or profit.

We Changed The World
Sidney Pike
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, #7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
1557788553 $24.95 paragonhouse.com

The introduction of CNN's 24-hour cable news channel in 1980 changed the world of television, with satellite and cable providing a strong competitive alternative to tradition TV - and author Sidney pike was in the middle of the revolution, here explored in his We Changed The World: Memoirs Of A CNN Satellite Pioneer. Pike met with media and government leaders around the world trying to sell CNN programming, and was an early pioneer for the global television channels we know today. His memoir provides a first-person review of obstacles, achievements, challenges, and a rapidly-changing industry under transition to this day.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Abraham & Family
Hershel Shanks, editor
Biblical Archaeology Society Press
4710 - 41st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016-1700
1880317575 $14.95 1-800-221-4644

Abraham & Family is a collection of essays by fifteen Biblical experts, each offering a different path to understanding the chapters in Genesis about Abraham, who was called by God to leave his home and his country and venture into the unknown. A handful of black-and-white and color illustrations, particularly those of classic artworks depicting Biblical scenes, add a visual touch to the matter-of-fact text. Essays cover such topics as whether Abraham was really ready to kill his son Isaac, the story of Hagar's expulsion, the question of whether Jacob's wrestling match was with an angel or with Esau, the sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah during their marriage to Jacob, and much more. The discussions are thoughtful and literate, balancing both Judaic and Christian interpretations of Genesis as well as presenting ancient theological puzzles (such as how Jacob could have married two sisters when, even though polygamy was permitted, polygamy with two siblings was supposedly against Tora law) and different suggested solutions, all in simple-to-follow layman's terms. An excellent introduction to Biblical scholarship concerning Abraham and his immediate lineage.

Selected Writings Of Baha'u'llah
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091
193184724X $10.00 bahaibooksusa.com

Baha'u'llah (1817-1892) was the founder of the Baha'i faith which has its historical roots in Islam, but is considered a separate religion which considers all the messengers of God to be valid guides including (but not limited to) Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Baha'u'llah is considered by the Baha'i community to be another of these prophetic messengers whose work was to reveal an unfolding divine plan for humanity. Selected Writings Of Baha'u'llah provides an succinct introductory overview into the Prophet Baha'u'llah's teachings, including his remarks on God, God's Messengers, the path to God, spiritual aspects of the world civilization, the nature of the human soul and its journey after death, and the renewal of God's covenant with humanity. Also very highly recommended reading for students of the Baha'i faith is the companion pocket book, Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha'u'llah (1931847-223, $12.00).

Wise Thoughts For Every Day
Leo Tolstoy
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Fl, NY, NY 10010
www.arcadepub.com
1559707860 $15.99 1-800-759-0190

Wise Thoughts For Every Day: On God, Love, Spirit, And Living A Good Life appears for the first time in English, with a translation by Peter Sekirin, and provides Tolstoy's daily reflections in a fine pocket-sized book which will make for an excellent gift for any Tolstoy reader. From living in the present to reflections on evil and the afterlife, Wise Thoughts For Every Day is a fine inspirational.

Common Ground
Bradley Panvino
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
0974986046 $12.95 hudsonhills.com

Vietnam veteran, philosopher, and religious studies student Bradley Pavino presents Common Ground: Principles For Living, an inspirational guide to "primary principles" needed to promote world peace and harmony, particularly in an age when international conflict and terrorism have access to higher technology and weapons. Common Ground breaks down a complex dilemma into the simplest precepts: basic principles for pure living, such as faith, generosity, discipline, and love; positive attributes such as courage, honor, and parenting ability; negatives to avoid such as cheating, stealing, hypocrisy, and pessimism; and more. A resource of building blocks applicable to all faiths, creeds, and individual lifestyles in striving to cultivate a better self, a better faith, and a better world.


The Computer Shelf

How to Cheat at IT Project Management
Susan Snedaker, MBA, MCSE, MCT
Nels Hoenig, Tech Editor
Syngress Press
800 Hingham St., Rockland, MA 02370
1597490377 $44.95 syngress.com

Where other books cover IT project basics, How To Cheat At It Project Management goes a step further in showing project managers how to make sure an IT project is in line with company strategic objectives, and which will deliver the best results. Learn how to link work process to project tasks and budgets, and how to manage a team more effectively through a book which covers 'cheating' or shortcut methods to get a project back on the fast track. From when and how to report to identifying risks, How To Cheat At It Project Management holds all the answers to decreasing errors and increasing returns.

ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
www.esri.com

Winnie Tang and Jan Selwood's Spatial Portals: Gateways To Geographic Information (1589481313, $29.95) tells how new 'spatial portals' link technology with geographic to affect daily lives. Government systems and other organizations hold information which can help consumers and businesses alike evaluate options and make good decisions: case studies, examples and visual surveys of such geographic information provide both students and decision makers with a review of spatial portals and how they are changing our lives. Cynthia A. Brewer's Designing Better Maps: A Guide For GIS Users (1589480-899, $24.95) covers the latest advances in GIS mapping software which have led a growing number of people without cartographic training to make use of new systems and map offerings. There's a bad side to the story, though: there's a dearth of poorly designed, inaccurate maps which obscure efforts to understand - so Designing Better Maps is written for those without cartography training who still need to know how to create and understand maps for their work. From understanding scale bars and legends to choosing the right map layout for a purpose, Designing Better Maps: A Guide For GIS Users is essential to proper map illustration and information usage.

Linux Debugging & Performance Tuning
Steve Best
Prentice Hall Press
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131492470 $49.99 www.phptr.com

Learn how to debug Linux code at both kernel and application levels through a hands-on tutorial which covers all kinds of performance optimization issues. From cache misses and memory management issues to network performance and dump analysis from crashes, Linux Debugging And Performance Tuning Tips And Techniques is packed with real-world examples, with screen shots and code lists helping explain debugging logic and procedures. Highly recommended for any Linux systems administrator involved in debugging processes.

Adobe Press/Peachpit Press
1249 Eighth St., Berkeley, CA 94710
1-800-283-9444 www.peachpit.com
www.adobepress.com

Two new guides provide excellent JavaScript References for CS2 users working with the programs. Adobe Illustrator CS2 (032141294X, $39.99) provides the programmer with a complete reference for JavaScript objects and properties defined by Illustrator CS2. From basic and advance scripting techniques tailored to Illustrator CS2 to textpath properties, GradientStops properties, and more, the JavaScript reference holds all the keys to working effectively with Adobe Illustrator CS2. Adobe Photoshop CS2 (0321409-701, $39.99) achieves the same for Photoshop CS2, showing how to automate CS2 workflow by using the Javascript objects and methods defined by Adobe CS2. All the utilities and tools in ExtendScript are covered, as well as value types, techniques, and definitions. Charts, screen shots, object properties for Window and layout, and more all receive excellent technical discussions. Both are highly recommended as basic picks for any working with JavaScript and these two applications. Jan Kabili and Colin Smith's How To WOW: Photoshop CS2 For The Web (0321393945, $39.99) is outstanding: it presents the in-depth tips from two professional graphic designer/trainers who have developed a method for combining quality, flexibility and speed with web graphic creation based on Photoshop CS2. Their program teaches all the fundamentals for building more effective sites, building upon basics to move to more advanced topics such as animation. A companion cd-rom disc includes all the original designs used in the project-building HOW TO WOW, along with styles, actions and pattern presets. A 'must' for any owner of Photoshop CS2 who is serious about building the better web site.

Degunking Windows
Joli Ballew & Jeff Duntemann
Paraglyph Press
1238 East Cambridge Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85006
www.paraglyphpress.com
1932111840 $24.99 www.amazon.com

The first edition of Degunking Windows provided a basic reference to Windows XP: the revised edition includes the extensive update Service Pack 2 and focuses on the 'gunk' remaining in this update as well as tweaking issues for Windows. Learn how to clean up and streamline PC operations, how to work faster and more efficiently with file systems, and how to boot quickly and cleanly: chapters lend to both study and referencing.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

It's astonishing how many books and magazines O'Reilly publishers monthly, making a name for themselves as a major player in the computer reference industry, and these new arrivals represent some top picks from their latest publications. Venkat Subramaniam's .Net Gotchas (05960-09097, $39.95) is for programmers working in .NET programming applications, whether it be the .NET platform itself, or Java or C#. Common problems from loops and exceptions from threads to garbage collection are reviewed with an eye to identifying and covering the errors which most common trip up .NET programmers. Unix users will welcome Brian Jepson and Ernest E. Rothman's Mac OS X Tiger For Unix Geeks: Demystifying The Geekier Side Of Mac OS X (0596009127, $34.95). The authors are longtime Unix users and understand the differences between Unix and the Mac OS X system: chapters cover everything from porting Unix software and understanding the X window system to partitioning for Linux and using built-in services. Patrick Niemeyer and Jonathan Knudsen's Learning Java (0596008732, $44.95) appears in its 3rd updated edition to cover J2SE 5.0. This isn't just a tutorial for beginners: it moves from a basic introduction and application examples all the way to advanced topics such as advanced Java 5.0 features and writing threaded programs. So don't expect a simple introduction - though the lessons are designed as a 'classroom in a book' - chapters are quite technical and Java programmers with programming backgrounds will be pleased with its depth.

Charles River Media
10 Downer Ave, Higham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com

These excellent guides are highly recommended picks for college-level students of computer science. Kenny Erleben, Jon Sporring, Knud Henricksen and Henrik Dohlmann's Physics-Based Animation (1584593807, $69.95) provides an in-depth, advanced survey of animation and gaming with a focus on physics-based animation. From equations and math applications to examples linking code choices to algorithms and physics systems, this weighty student's guide goes beyond simple introductions to provide the nuts and bolts of physics-based animation sequences and explanations. Frank Nielsen's Visual Computing: Geometry, Graphics, And Vision (1584504277, $59.95) provides students with an introduction to data structures, algorithmic techniques, and geometry associated with computer graphics. Students involved in 3D techniques receive not only background on concepts and formulas, but important real-world examples to reinforce concepts. Both are fine college-level picks. An even wider audience will be found for Chris Bateman and Richard Boon's 21st Century Game Design (1584504293, $39.95), which examines how best to design games and tailor them for specific kinds of audiences. Chapters focus more on the psyche and needs of the player than most programming or game books, discussing both how games can address these desires and how they can appeal to a wider audience outside the hard-core gamer. Any game designer or those seeking to develop and distribute games would do well to examine 21st Century Game Design with its audience-oriented focus. Paul Schuytema and Mark Manyen's Game Development With Lua (1584504048, $49.95) discusses a program which uses complex artificial intelligence to enhance the game environment. While Game Development With Lua may seem like a guide for only the most advanced programmers, developers will be pleased to note it may be written by practicing Lua game developers for commercial development, but assumes little prior knowledge, providing both a history of Lua and how to blend it into a C++ development project. The focus is a blend of activities and instructions on key game development features which uses the game programmer's C++ basics to explain Lua links and applications.

The Cult Of iPod
Leander Kahney
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
1593270666 $24.95 nostarch.com

Fans of the Cult Of Mac book will find equally absorbing Leander Kahney's new look at how the iPod is revolutionizing all kinds of information. A history of the iPod's development and marketing is accompanied by colorful cultural insights and examples of iPod's vast changes to music culture and file sharing. Any interested in making, marketing or listening to music must consider The Cult Of iPod: it's an eye-opening look at how the iPod itself has changed the nature of music.

Digital Gameplay
Nate Garrelts, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786422920 $35.00 1-800-253-2187

Digital Gameplay isn't another game programmer's handbook, but a collection of scholarly, college- level essays on the topic of digital games with a survey of the role of the game. Fifteen essays discuss how players interact with games - essential information for programmers to know - and survey both physical and mental aspects of playing. While video games are also included, any game programmer will find discussions of how games are perceived and used by players to be important considerations in organizing and developing routines.

Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Joseph Nalven and JD Jarvis' Going Digital: The Practice And Vision Of Digital Artists (1592009182, $39.99) is written by a cultural anthropologist who developed photography as a tool for working on ethnographic research, and an author who has long worked in TV production and graphic design: the two together offer a survey of the digital process as it applies to creating the art, from photos to finished products. 17 artists were asked to take three seed photos and use the images creatively in their own works of digital art: Going Digital takes these 17 efforts and blends them with discussions and examples of digital art from around the world, considering common challenges, presenting step-by-step processes from digital pioneer efforts, and creating a solid set of practical examples. A must for any aspiring digital artist. Matt Kelland, Dave Morris and Dave Lloyd's Machinima: Making Animaled Movies In 3d Virtual Environments (1592006507, $29.99) provides examples of a new way of making movies based on technology originally developed for computer games. Machinima movies are made on virtual sets using virtual characters and 2D graphics engines derived from popular games - so any filmmaker with a home PC an create them. Learn how to build sets, handle animation, customize existing sets, and plug in characters through a title which addresses everything form camera angles and acting to a history of machinima. David McCarthy, Ste Curran an Simon Byron's Art Of Producing Games (1592006116, $29.95) is a recommended pick for any programmer interested in designing a successful video game. From concepts to sketches and story lines through building workable prototypes, scripts, storyboards and screenplays with video and music, The Art Of Producing Games isn't just the author's experiences alone: it's backed by interviews with well-known industry figures who offer their valuable insights on how games are designed, prototyped, tested and published. John W. Gosney's Beyond Reality: A Guide To Alternate Reality Gaming (1592007376, $29.99) narrows the focus to alternate reality games, which ask players to ignore the usual barriers between real and fantasy worlds to use web sites, TV ads, and game-generated phone calls as clues to uncovering the game's mystery. When lines between real and virtual worlds are blurred and intersect, a higher-quality gaming experience can be achieved: that's the message of Beyond Reality which leads programmers to uncover just how this can be accomplished, from honing critical thinking skills to building an ARG simulation which works. Game Programming For Teens, 2nd Edition (1592008348, $29.99) by Maneesh Sethi tells teens how to program their own games, developing skills needed to produce a video game from graphics to sound and music. Sethi is himself a California high school student who has long worked in web design and gaming, offering fellow teens his own set of processes for learning game programming. The goal of Game Programming For Teens is to have the teen create a working game by book's end - and any teen who follows Sethi's directions will find themselves with a game to their name.

Service-Oriented Architecture Compass
Norbert Bieberstein, et.al.
IBM Press/Pearson
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131870025 $44.99 ibmpressbooks.com

The IBM Enterprise Integration Team experts provide a comprehensive guide to planning, using and managing Service-Oriented Architecture, helping business readers migrate to SOA by sharing best practices and lessons gained from projects and development efforts. From considering SOA's impact and importance in the business environment to SOA design, analysis, security and integration into other systems, chapters provide technical and detailed software engineering information based on models, services and activities in real world situations.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Write Tight
William Brohaugh
ISI Books
Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
www.isibooks.org
1882926889 $14.95 1-800-526-7022

Former editor of "Writer's Digest" magazine William Brohaugh presents Write Tight: How To Keep Your Prose Sharp, Focused And Concise, a practical guide to focusing one's message with grace, simplicity, and power, especially in today's attention-span deprived world of sound bites and distractions. From removing unnecessary syllables to excising gratuitous chapters, Write Tight identifies sixteen types of "flabby" writing (which says too little with too much verbage), offers "verbal aerobics" to hone one's skills, and even offers nonverbal devices such as sidebars and checklists to streamline one's manuscripts. Write Tight is a supremely valuable, "must-have" for aspiring writers in all fields from prose to nonfiction, journalistic copy, screenwriting and so much more.

Writer's Breakthrough
Grace LaJoy Henderson, PhD.
Inspirations by Grace LaJoy
PO Box 181, Raymore, MO 64083
0974758310 $15.99 www.gracelajoy.com

Writer's Breakthrough: Steps To Copyright And Publish Your Own Book is a guide written especially for aspiring writers who know absolutely nothing about book publishing. Though Writer's Breakthrough is especially addressed to gifted Christian writers, its advice is solid and practical for writers of all faiths, as are its sample forms. Roughly half of Writer's Breakthrough is devoted to a simplified, step-by-step walkthrough to publishing a book, with bonus tips concerning marketing and distribution; the other half is filled with examples and forms, from a suggested format for a copyright page to a sample copyright application. Writer's Breakthrough is an excellent, practical, easy-to-understand resource for novice writers and aspiring self-publishers.

Heavy Words Lightly Thrown
Chris Roberts
Gotham Books/Penguin
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014
1592401309 $20.00 www.penguin.com

Was Jack Horner a squatter? Why was Mary so contrary? And what made Gorgy Porgy run? The history beyond common nursery rhymes is covered in a lively survey of rhyme meaning and origins in Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind The Rhyme. Here are quirky tales and realities: once you read Heavy Words, you'll never look at Mother Goose quite the same way!

Comma Sense
Richard Lederer & John Shore
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0312342543 $22.95 www.stmartins.com

Not just another book on punctuation! What can Comma Sense: A Fundamental Guide To Punctuation hold over its many competitors? 'Fun' is the operative word here, as Richard Lederer and John Shore poke fun at the misuse of punctuation and how choices in punctuation can have very different results. Plenty of examples come couched in this humor, which makes Comma Sense quite easy to learn. Just consider that here the exclamation point is the 'titan of tingle, the prince of palpitation' and you have some idea of the allure of Comma Sense - and its potential of educating those who traditionally wouldn't touch grammar books with a ten-foot pole.


The Geography Shelf

Why Geography Matters
Harm de Blij
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10016-4314
0195183010 $30.00 www.oup-usa.org

Why indeed does geography matter? Because it'll play a key role in some major challenges facing this country: climate change, the rise of China and the impact of global terrorism. Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America draws some strong connections between the discipline of geography and an understanding of world interactions and issues. The world is indeed shrinking, national interests now directly affect other nations, and it's impossible to deal with world issues without dealing with world nations: that's why geography matters.

Mapping The World
Ralph E. Ehrenberg
National Geographic Books
1145 - 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688
0792265254 $40.00 www.ngs.org

Mapping The World: An Illustrated History Of Cartography comes from one of the major publishers specializing in geography subjects: so one would anticipate an exceptional production in book form - and it's not disappointing. Author Ralph Ehrenberg is former chief of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, among other major archives: his background lends to a lovely coverage of over a hundred maps from around the world and across the eras. Each full-page color maps is accompanied by a detailed history and explanation setting the map in social and historical perspective. Recommend for any serious world history collection, from the high school level on up.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Golden Gryphon
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
www.goldengryophon.com

Two excellent new titles are simply wonderful recommendations featuring top-notch writers and varied, absorbing plots. Jack Dann edits The Fiction Factory (1930846363, $24.95), a fine collaborative collection of Jack Dann's short fiction with stories written with one or more co-authors from Gardner Dozois to Jack Haldeman and Barry Malzberg. These 18 stories include a Nebula-nominated short ''High Steel'' as well as others nominated for honors, and are as varied as an account of first dates with Jesus, time machines, and a vampire in a concentration camp. These are quite diverse presentations packed with magic and variety: a huge delight for any who like different plots. Robert Reed's The Cuckoo's Boys (19308-46371, $24.95) also features variety: the title tale is set in the near future where a lonely genius clones himself - millions of times - by creating a virus that affects pregnant women, other stories tell of an alien abduction which affects a man's entire life - and which may be fantasy - and a rejected heaven.


The Photography Shelf

Gretchen Wilson
Susan Moyer
Sports Publishing
804 North Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
1596701072 $19.95 1-877-424-2665

Gretchen Wilson is an amazing photographic tribute to Grammy and ACM Top Female Vocalist award winner Gretchen Wilson. A devoted mother as well as a wildly popular country music singer, Gretchen Wilson reveals both public and private moments of her life in the vivid full-color photography, enhanced with brief paragraphs of text about her life and memorable quotes by Gretchen and those closest to her. A vibrant visual testimony to the life's work of a singularly talented vocalist.

Walking, Talking, Lying
Laurie Simmons & Kate Linker
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10001
www.aperture.org
1931788596 $50.00 1-212-505-5555

Walking, Talking, Lying is a full-color gallery of most unusual photographic works by Laurie Simmons. Nearly all the photographs are of dolls or mannequins juxtaposed with objects and artifacts - from a doll-sized hourglass with very feminine lower torso and legs to a ventriloquist's dummy seated and posed as if for an expensive formal portrait. The text commentary by Kate Linker points out the binding themes of Simmons' work such as the confusion of individuals with their possessions, to the extent that they identify with inanimate objects. Simmons' photographs form an unforgettable impression in their fusion of human nonhuman simulacra in this singularly distinctive treasury.

Lake Superior Secrets
Bruce Montagne
Ann Arbor Media Group
2500 So. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
1587262932 $39.95 www.amazon.com

Lake Superior Secrets is a dazzling photography book of the flora, fauna, and scenery of Lake Superior. A caption of one to two sentences garnishes each beautiful, full-color image, caught on film by Bruce Montague, a nature photographer with over 15 years experience. An especial treat for nature lovers, as its photographs illuminate everything from wind-blown sand and snow dunes to ancient pictures written in red ochre on stone cliffs to a stunning image of a ring-billed gull against a clear blue sky. Highly recommended.

L.A. Huffman
Larry Len Peterson
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878425144 $45.00 mountain-press.com

Frontier photographer Len Huffman worked in the late 1800s to capture the American West on film during an era where images of the open range and Indians were rare. He produced works from Montana which defined the public perception of the West, and well deserves the extensive celebration of his life and achievements that L.A. Huffman: Photographer Of The American West brings to modern readers. An oversized presentation and pages packed with his photos - some 500 - accompanies text introducing his characteristic style and approach. If only one definitive Huffman coverage were selected for a discriminating library collection, it should be this.


The American History Shelf

Heavenly Intrigue
Joshua Gilder & Anne-Lee Gilder
Anchor Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th fl., NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
1400031761 $15.00 1-800-726-0600

Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, And The Murder Behind One Of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries is a historical re-creation of the seventeenth-century collaboration between geniuses Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe. Kepler's scientific brilliance laid the foundation for modern physics, and his mentor Brahe spent forty years mapping the heavens with more accuracy than any before him; yet Brahe refused to share his maps with Kepler. When Brahe died far too young in 1601, rumors circulated that he had been murdered, yet it took twentieth- century forensics to reveal the proof - poison in Brahe's remains. Authors Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder apply detective work to point a reasoned accusation against the ambitious Kepler. Heavenly Intrigue is a simply stunning, thoroughly researched work that dares to question the personal character of great thinkers.

Rock Of Contention
Kim Munholland
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, NY, NY 10038
www.berghahnbooks.com
1571816828 $60.00 1-800-540-8663

Modern European and French History professor Kim Munholland presents Rock Of Contention: Free French And Americans At War In New Caledonia, 1940-1945, a close scrutiny of why Franco-American relations soured and broke into bitter disputes during World War II - a time when the threat of the axis powers should have provided a unifying common enemy. Focusing on the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia as the most incendiary cause of acrimony, Rock Of Contention demonstrates the presence of suspicion, fear, and even paranoia that colored Free French policy toward the Americans present at virtually every phase. This is a sharply drawn, deftly written, straight-laced exposure of the perceptions and biases that generated a lasting international ill will, with repercussions up to the present day.

American Frontier Lawmen
Charles M. Robinson III
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com
1841765759 $16.95 www.amazon.com

A superbly written work on development of policing and early law enforcement on the American frontier, Charles M. Robinson III 's American Frontier Lawmen 1850-1930 provides the reader with a rich, colorful documentary of early frontier lawmen who delivered justice in many new Western towns. From interactions between lawmen, vigilante committees, and wealthy ranch owners, to famous gunfighters and law enforcers alike, American Frontier Lawmen 1850-1930 engagingly documents some of the most vivid of personalities, adding color drawings by Richard Hook for stronger impact.


The Parenting Shelf

Parenting Power In The Early Years
Brenda Nixon
Winepress Publishing
PO Box 428, Enumclaw, WA 98022
157921343X $12.95 brendanixon.com

Parenting Power In The Early Years: Raising Your Child With Confidence From Birth To Age Five is a brief guide packed with practical advice especially for new parents, or parents coping with their first toddler to preschool-aged child. Mother of two and Adjunct Professor of child development and parent education at MidAmerica Nazarene University Brenda Nixon dispenses wisdom in short, to-the-point bursts, from how to soothe one's separation anxiety when away from an infant to the toilet-teaching hurdle of the toddler years to how to tell when a child is ready for kindergarten and more. Appendices with recommended gift-giving tips, a 0-5 child development guide, and a parent resource index round out this no-nonsense, highly recommended supplement to the reading lists of busy and frantic parents - especially those with far to little time in their hectic day to lumber through wordier advice guides. Highly recommended.

Just a Little Too Thin
Michael Strober & Meg Schneider
Da Capo Press/Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Ctr, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooks.com
0738210188 $25.00 1-800-242-7737

Eating disorder authority Michael Strober, Ph.D. and therapist Meg Schneider MA, LMSW combine their expertise in Just A Little Too Thin: How To Pull Your Child Back From The Brink Of An Eating Disorder, a straightforward guide to recognizing the dangerous signs of when one's daughter (or more rarely, one's son) shifts from becoming an "innocent" to "exhilarated" to "preoccupied dieter" - when dieting has less to do with weight and health and more to do with emotional issues that could prove fatal. Offering compassionate, no-nonsense advice on how to talk to one's children about weight issues, and guide him or her away from the slippery slope that can lead to anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders, Just A Little Too Thin is a valuable, jargon-free guide. Additional chapters also offer insight concerning when professional help or medical intervention are necessary, and if so, how to go about it. Highly recommended.

No Child Undiscovered
Wayne Arnold
Llumina Press
PO Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
1595261060 $12.95 www.llumina.com

No Child Undiscovered: Real Education For The Child In All Of Us is a guide to how mind-body methods work, and how they can be used in a beneficial program of self-discovery. Mind-body techniques have an especial possible benefit in the area of education, as it fosters the compassion, respect, and self-confidence that children need. Chapters proffer 30 self-discovery methods that anyone can use, three basic steps for empowering children, techniques for improving mind-body health and balance, and much more. Written in plain terms, No Child Undiscovered offers the seeds of a quiet revolution toward greater self-acceptance and harmony among all ages.


The Education Shelf

The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms
Barbara Sprung et al.
Gryphon House
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
www.ghbooks.com
0876592426 $14.95 1-800-638-0928

Barbara Sprung, Merle Froschl and Dr. Blythe Hinitz are three experienced educators pool their wisdom in The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms, a quite straightforward guide to creating a caring environment at school and properly responding when negative social behaviors such as teasing and bullying assert themselves. Offering over 40 activities designed to help control teasing and bullying by fostering friendship, community, and positive interactions, The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms stresses the importance of family involvement, community, feelings, and friendship. A positive-minded, extremely practical, "must-have" for anyone charged with fostering safety and harmony among groups of preschool children. Very highly recommended reading for school faculty and administration.

From Standards To Success
Mark R. O'Shea
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
1416602070 $26.95 1-800-933-2723

Education professor Mark O'Shea presents From Standards To Success: A Guide For School Leaders, a multi-layered guide to the author's Standards Achievement Planning Cycle (SAPC), which is a comprehensive tool for meeting high expectations. Walking the reader through a fictional school that prepares to install the SAPC, From Standards To Success reveals the value of each facet of implementation from the levels of superintendent and principal to teacher observation and student assessment. Spelling out strategies to help school leaders identify which standards are most important, select appropriate curriculum materials and resources, create a benchmark-testing program, and much more. Charts and bullet points help clarify potentially confusing procedures and recommendations, and checklists at the end of each chapter emphasize the best practices in this useful guide to making standards-based education a reality.

A Parent's Guide To Special Education
Linda Wilmshurs & Alan Brue
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
0814472834 $16.95 1-800-250-5308

Special education embraces a host of different learning challenges, from developmental delays and disabilities to emotional problems, language impairment, and more: with all these conflicting needs present, it becomes a challenge to assess and run a special education program for all. Parents receive help and guidance to programs and administrators in A Parent's Guide To Special Education: Insider Advice On How To Navigate The System And Help Your Child Succeed. Here are discussions of the special education process, its place and role in the overall educational system, and how intelligence is assessed. Chapters on what to expect from special education and where it can fail, parent-teacher communications and meetings, and issues beyond basic eligibility determinations provide plenty of clear insights.

Balancing Reading & Language Learning
Mary Cappellini
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
1571103678 $30.00 1-800-988-9812

Balancing Reading & Language Learning: A Resource For Teaching English Language Learners K-5 by educational consultant and former bilingual resource teacher, ESL teacher, and literacy coach Mary Cappellini offers a framework for a balanced classroom reading program that includes the use of reading aloud, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading to develop a student's skills and fluency in the English language. Classroom instructors will learn how to set up an environment that will enable all English language learners to succeed in advancing their fluency and academic performance; the stages of English language proficiency and how to use them to assess and plan for individual children; advice for tapping into children's prior knowledge in their primary language while teaching reading in English, and the use of Spanish/English cognates to help develop academic language skills; how to manage numerous guided reading groups with children at all stages of reading and language proficiency, and more. Enhanced with ideas for events to involve the parents, thematic planning sample units for primary and upper grades, forms and checklists, bibliographies and suggested reading lists, Balancing Reading & Language Learning is a welcome and instructive addition to professional and bilingual instructor reference collections and ESL curriculum development resources.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Hannah's Art Of Home Life
Hannah Keeley
Capital Books Inc.
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1931868824 $17.95 capital-books.com

Author Hannah Keeley is the founder of a line of baby spa products, the publisher of an online family magazine, and holds a degree in psychology - as well as home-schooling six kids. Her Hannah's Art Of Home: Managing Your Home Around Your Personality offers a personality test linked to home atmosphere. Learn how the test relates to clutter, organizational patterns, cleaning and decorating choices in a handbook which offers de-cluttering, cleaning, organization and decorating hints for every room of the house.

The Urban Loft
Martin Myers
Fitzhenry Whiteside Ltd.
121 Harvard Ave., #2, Allston, MA 02134
1550418394 $24.95 fitzhenry.ca

Loft dwellers who dream of living in a loft and who have to start from scratch will appreciate The Urban Loft: Creating A Dream Space In The City: it will appeal to architects, renovators, designers or the builder or re-builder and provides both tips on how to build a loft and advice on what not to do. Chapters consider the construction and organization of the loft environment and provide plenty of details on what works, what doesn't, and why.

Interior Desecrations
James Lileks
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
0307238725 $18.00 1-888-523-9292

The worst of 1970s interior decoration ideas is gathered from magazines, books and pamphlets to prove the era was a grim design period indeed, making Interior Desecrations: Hideous Homes From The Horrible 70s an example of what bad taste can look like. From overwhelming 'green crap' to candid assessments of bad style ("I have this horrible vision: it's day one of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's exile in America, and this is where they put him up."), Interior Desecrations is a winning commentary on poor taste.

Home Enlightenment
Annie B. Bond
Rodale Press
400 - 10th St., Emmaus, PA 18098
1579548113 $27.95 www.rodale.com

If 'home' means more to you than a roof over your head, and you seek to create a nurturing, toxin-free atmosphere and lifestyle within its walls, then Home Enlightenment is for you: it provides an encyclopedia of natural living which covers everything from animal dander and water management to lighting, fire, mercury concerns, laundry and fabric health, and more. It's rare to see a guide on home systems so attentive to overall health concerns: Home Enlightenment's wide-ranging details on creating and maintaining a healthy environment makes it a unique, top pick.

Artificial Rock Waterfalls
J. Erik Kinkade
Granite Canyon Publications
2631 West Bennett, Springfield, MO 65807
0972003657 $59.95 rockandwater.com

You can build a rock waterfall not just for a pond but for a swimming pool, spa, or garden; especially with the step-by-step ideas and instructions in Artificial Rock Waterfalls: Rock Making Techniques For The Professional And The Hobbyist. Produce fountains and falls which look entirely natural, blend it into an existing theme or environment, and understand the materials and construction techniques of different layers in a guide which is loaded with photos of the step-by-step process. Discussions of design alternatives, electrical and plumbing options, and more provide everything you need to gain an idea and the knowledge to follow through.

Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com

Douglas Keister's Courtyards: Intimate Outdoor Spaces (1586855409, $39.95) takes a rare look at the function, definition and purpose of a courtyard surveying courtyards around the world which grace both home and public establishment. Courtyards can be adapted to both large and small spaces, vary in greenery, stonework, and lighting, and are perfect additions for homeowners seeking to remodel with style. Turn a backyard into a courtyard setting or consider many options through the phone color exhibition of photographer Keister, paired with text which considers design options and successful examples. Paula Baker-Laporte & Robert Laporte's Eco Nest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries Of Clay, Straw, And Timber (158685691X, $24.95) surveys and contrasts different methods of green building which avoid the typical troubles of conventional building methods, from pollution and chemical usage to inefficient synthetic insulation. From design details to take advantage of solar energy to choices in lighting, entryways, and architectural design, ten selected 'dream homes' are presented. Full-page color photos of interiors and exteriors compliment design plans and first-person insights by the owner-builders on what makes each home a work of art - and an ecologically sustainable structure.

Condominiums
Frank J. La Mar
Windstorm Creative
PO Box 28, Port Orchard, WA 98366
www.windstormcreative.com
1590920368 $9.99 www.amazon.com

People just starting out and those seeking to downsize and reduce homeowner maintenance often opt for condos as less expensive options: before you sign on the dotted line, be aware of the pros and cons through Condominiums The Pros And Cons Of Ownership. From their rules, restrictions and resale/marketability potentials to repairs, damage, and governing board rules, Condominiums: The Pros And Cons Of Ownership covers it all using simple language any potential buyer will readily understand.

Got Sun? Go Solar
Rex A. Ewing & Doug Pratt
PixyJack Press
PO Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
0965809870 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Are you connected to the grid but seeking independence from high energy bills? Looking to harness solar and wind power? Plenty of other books have surveyed the benefits of renewable energy or systems; but this is one of the few to add simplicity into the formula to make it possible for novices to convert. Chapters tell how to power an existing grid-tied home with renewable sources and how to make the conversion at minimum expense. From understanding a home's big energy wasters and how to contemplate either doing without or doing with less to sizing a system, obtaining permits for installations, and considering the pros and cons of manufacturers, Got Sun? Go Solar is a winning guide: specific where others just generalize.

Complete Guide To Building Your Home For Less
Michael Conroy
Betterway/F&W
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1558707697 $19.99 www.amazon.com

Builder and author Michael Conroy has built many a home for only $43 per square foot: half the national average; and his secrets of construction point the way for similar savings for owner/builders in The Complete Guide To Building Your Home For Less. From choosing economical materials and simplifying floor plans to buying undervalued land and learning how to follow building codes, this book is the item of choice for any who would do some of the work themselves and understand where to trim costs without trimming quality.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Circle Of Life
James David Audlin
Clear Light Publishing
823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, NM 97505
1574160826 $19.95 clearlightbooks.com

Circle Of Life: Traditional Teachings Of Native American Elders is for any who would understand Native sacred teachings, bringing James David Audlin (Distant Eagle)'s lifetime study of oral traditions and ceremonies to general-interest audiences. From songs and ceremonies to visions, healings, and Native methods of worship, Circle Of Life covers spiritual realities, insights on human relationships, and the meanings behind various sacred ceremonies and rituals.

Llewellyn
2143 Wooddale, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com

Each chapter of Dianne Sylvan's The Body Sacred (0738707619 $14.95) is a treat: it packs in spells, rituals, myths and meditations for women who want to build better self-images through Wiccan practices, and it provides a survey of six divine female archetypes and themes, linking these to a spiritual survey of the female body's importance. Dianne Sylvan has been a practicing Wiccan for decades: The Body Sacred offers suggestions for exploring different facets, from The Mother to The Healer and The Dancer, with each themed chapter offering an overview, exercises, and admonitions for positive thinking. James Endredy's Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices Of Unity Power & Earth Healing (0738707422, $19.95) is for any who have wondered what shamanism is. Earth Education is here explained as a spiritual offshoot of environmentalism, and Shamanism blends spiritual perceptions with understanding of nature's cycles and connections between spirituality and the earth. Chapters do more than provide a philosophical and spiritual overview: they include over fifty 'ecoshamanistic' practices from ceremonies to rituals and point the way to a lifestyle which supports these practices.

Goddesses And Angels
Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
Hay House Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
1401904742 $14.95 hayhouse.com

Commune with angels and goddesses, understand fairies, and join author Doreen Virtue as she experiences a Sedona sweat lodge, visits a goddess temple, and journeys around the world in search of the nature and attributes of gods and angels. Her first-person journey will sweep the reader along as it reveals insights and encounters with high priestesses and the sources of women's spiritual roots.

New Page Books
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.newpagebooks.com

Take a dose of craft traditions, mix it with a spiritual set of insights into the wellsprings of divine inspiration, and pair it with recipes and crafts geared for celebrations of life and you have a multicultural magic guide which integrates crafts with new age spirituality and well-being. From designing fun clothes for celebrations to creating special gifts for handfastings and blessings, Kristin Madden & Liz Roberts' Magickal Crafts (1564148394 14.99) is something unique in the world of mystic and new age guides, and will appeal to both adults and children with its many projects and details. Eileen Holland's Grimoire Of Magickal Correspondences: A Ritual Handbook (1564148319, $18.99) provides practicing witches, magicians, shamans and Santerians - virtually anyone working in new age spirituality - with one of the finest books of magickal correspondences ever written. Over five hundred topics are arranged alphabetically by intent and range from Zodiac and Yang to speed, invisibility, intelligence and more. References include numbers, plants, sun, medical conditions, ancestral memories and more. Working With Fairies: Magick, Spells, Potions & Recipes To Attract & See Them (1564148246, $13.99) examines fairies from house spirits to the outdoors, guardians to elementals. There are not only meditations and plantings which can attract them; there's etiquette in dealing with them and spells to enable the sight - and Working With Fairies covers them all. These are invaluable practicing guides.

Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stony Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
www.hrpub.com

Former hospice chaplain and psychotherapist Dianne Archangel maintains in Afterlife Encounter: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Experiences (1571744363, $15.95) that receiving communication from the dead is a normal and even a common experience, using Afterlife Encounters to prove her point. Her stories come from five years of study of those who have had life-changing visitations from deceased loved ones, and blends these accounts with research linking these visits to healing processes. Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D. works with William L. Simon in The Truth About Medium (1571744592, $19.95), a survey of the life of medium Allison DuBois, who has been the subject of rigorous scientific experiments conducted at the University of Arizona by Harvard-trained psychologist/author Schwarz. These scientific experiments and results are detailed in The Truth About Medium, going beyond conjecture and speculation to present the author's own scientific probe.

We Publish Books
PO Box 1814, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
www.WePublishBooks.com

Deserving of ongoing recommendation for any interested in positive life changes is Gisi Stupp's Ancient Feng Shui's Ultimate Secrets For Home And Office (192-9841124 $24.95), a guide which blends feng shui home and office arrangements with insights on systems and personal aspects for maximum well-being. Author Stupp operates Feng Shui services in California: she's been consulting on the topic for years and here offers in-depth blueprints, diagrams, charts as well as theory and insights: everything needed for an applied understanding rather than just overviews. Thomas Lyons' Modern Day Mystic: A Psychic & Spiritual Journey Through A Not Quite Ordinary Life (19-29841140, $23.95) provides a memoir one who has spent his life interacting with psychics, healers, gurus and mediums to understand their views. Host of Psychic & Spirit Radio Show, Thomas Lyons has worked with the best and worst, experienced group chanting and initiations, and provides an insider's set of viewpoints hard to find elsewhere - all couched in the very involving style of a memoir.

A Course In Astral Travel And Dreams
Belzebuub
Absolute Publishing Group
Box 99167, Emeryville, CA 94662-9167
www.absolutepublishinggroup.com
0974056014 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Any who wish to experience the metaphysical experience of astral travel needs A Course In Astral Travel And Dreams: it's a complete program in 'how to', not just a philosophy course, and it provides beginners with all the details needed to know about the Astral plane and how to connect to it and use it. And there's more: a free online course with access to a follow-up website and downloadable mp3 sound files: it doesn't get much more specific than this.


The Business Shelf

Cashing In With Content
David Meerman Scott
CyberAge Books/Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0910965714 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Cashing In With Content: How Innovative Marketers Use Digital Information To Turn Browsers Into Buyers is a solid, example-filled guide to improving one's online sales immediately and turn casual browsers into consumers. The Web is a vastly different world than that of TV - hype loses out to content every time, because consumers have a wide array of choices and price-comparison options literally at their fingertips. So how does one go about improving one's content to the point that consumers will pounce? Cashing In With Content addresses how to deliver great content for business, nonprofit organization, and fundraising websites through interviews with 20 of today's most adaptable and successful marketers. Chapters address how free content can sell subscriptions (as worked for the Wall Street Journal Online), how website content can support a grassroots political movement, basic tips for streamlining the buying process so that online consumers aren't turned away by clumsy, complicated, or error-ridden shopping carts, and much more. A final point-by-point summary of the top practices rounds out this "must-have" web design business guide for the twenty-first century.

Alpha/Penguin
375 Hudson, New York, NY 10014
www.idiotsguides.com

Three outstanding new guides provide job seekers and entrepreneurs with important information. Brian O'Connell's Complete Idiot's Guide To Dream Jobs (1592573-827, $18.95) describes over a hundred occupations not to be found in the usual want ads, from home-based jobs to successful independent concept operators which brings in good money. The pros and cons of each business are surveyed, job duties and typical pay and perks are outlined, and facts and figures which support the job's future expectations revealed. Or, you can narrow it down right away to Susan Gilbert, W. Eric Martin and Linda Formichelli's Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting & Running A Coffee Bar (1952-574068, $16.95) which reveals all the details about what it takes to run a coffee bar. From legal issues and labor laws to tracking sales and developing a marketing strategy, Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting & Running A Coffee Bar is packed with industry-specific tips. Any involved in business need to know how to put together a winning business letter or memo, and Tom Gorman's Complete Idiot's Guide To Business Letters And Memos (1592574246, $21.95) appears in its second updated edition to include a CD ROM along with details on writing more effectively. From formats appropriate for electronic communications to the basics of grammar and producing a press release, Complete Idiot's Guide To Business Letters And Memos is a guide any professional needs on his desk, close at hand.

Wharton School Publishing
1 Lake St., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.whartonsp.com

Two powerful titles reveal how to profit in hard times. Tony Davila, Marc Epstein and Robert Shelton's Making Innovation Work: How To Manage It, Measure It, And Profit From It (0131497863, $29.99) draws upon the authors' experience as innovation consulting specialists to review the latest research and ideas on how to construct strategies and organizational structures to encourage and manage innovation. From taking innovation ideas and incorporating them into an existing business structure to devising a strategy for encouraging innovation and building networks within and outside the company, chapters provide specific details on how to get the job done. Vijay Mahajan and Kamini Banga's The 86% Solution: How To Succeed In The Biggest Market Opportunity Of The 21st Century (0131589070, $26.99) discusses emerging markets: the key to the future. Emerging nations have many risks and potentials: the solutions for these nations offer a balance between tradition and innovation and are based upon author experiences with these emerging markets. Any company or business manager seeking to understand these markets will find The 86% Solution a key to understanding the new global marketplace's underlying forces and influences.

Dearborn Trade
30 S. Wacker Drive, #2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
www.kaplan.com

Grocery retailing is a most competitive world and may groceries fail - but Trader Joe's succeeds, despite the fact it never places items on sale, pays some of the highest wages in the industry, offers employees fine benefits, and avoids advertising. These methods would seem to fly in the face of common grocery strategies: so how do they do it? Supermarket industry journalist Len Lewis traces the success of Trader Joe's In The Trader Joe's Adventure (1419500139, $24.95) from its beginnings 45 years ago to its current image as a grocery with unique products and bargains alike. A 'must' for any who would uncover the rationale and strategies of a different kind of grocer. Mitch Meyerson's Success Secrets Of The Online Marketing Superstars (1419505017, $22.95) offers a wealth of e-commerce strategies geared to those who would stand out in the cluttered websites of today. From driving traffic to your site to writing web copy which invites purchase - and setting up a purchasing system which is secure and easy to use - Success Secrets Of The Online Marketing Superstars covers the biggest mistakes and biggest successes online, teaching users how to rely on strategies already used successfully by online marketers. Very highly recommended.

How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business
Stephen Diller & Janelle Diller
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad CA 92009
www.craftsman-book.com
0934041598 $28.50 1-800-829-8123

Construction industry professionals Stephen Diller and Janelle Diller present How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business, a no-nonsense, step-by-step walkthrough of the fundamentals of setting up a new construction company and getting to work. Chapters cover the different manners of structuring one's company and the advantages and disadvantages of each; how to get business; how to interact with clients; necessary legal matters; how to estimate with accuracy; finding and keeping good employees; running an efficient office; buying insurance (critically important in this industry!) and much more. Written in no-nonsense, down-to-earth terms, How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business is a "must-have" for anyone considering an entrepreneurship in construction, and is also packed cover-to-cover with practical advice for aspiring business owners in any field.

Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery, #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com

Quite often the idea of profit and environmental health work against each other; but if 20 leading organizations as outlined in Pamela J. Gordon's Lean And Green: Profit For Your Workplace And The Environment (1576751708, $24.95) can succeed at both, any business can. Lean And Green shows how these companies succeeded by adopting solid environmental principles which worked economically as well. Over a hundred examples from major companies from Intel to Polaroid discuss various commitments, from recycling and environmental management systems to involving top management on down. Moshe Yudkowsky's The Pebble And The Avalanche: How Taking Things Apart Creates Revolutions (1576752941, $27.95) discusses the dynamic of 'disaggregation', in which changing industries rely on changing established structures and routines for modern advantage. From separating information from its storage medium (as in downloading data from the Web) to breaking up large company structures for better service and more clearly defined products, The Pebble And The Avalanche examines how disaggregation works: the five methods used to take things part, and how this can generate new innovations and business options.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Essentials of the US Health Care System
Leiyu Shi & Douglas Singh
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
076373151X $51.95 www.jbpub.com

Department of Health Policy Management Professor Leiyu Shi and School of Public and Environmental Affairs Associate Professor Douglas Singh present Essentials of the US Health Care System, a concise and accessible introduction to available US health care. Written as a textbook especially for students considering a profession in the field, yet also accessible to lay readers, Essentials of the US Health Care System includes basic information concerning the effects of modern medical technology, the roles of different providers and professionals in US health care, managed care and health networks, long-term care services, and much more. Graphs, charts, and black-and- white photographs round out this excellent primer of basic terms and concepts; each section features a neatly summarized conclusion and a list of references for more information. Also very highly recommended is the author's previous textbook, Delivering Health Care In America: A Systems Approach.

The Monster At Our Door
Mike Davis
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York NY 10013
1595580115 $21.95 thenewpress.com

With avian flu so much in the news - and spreading around the world - it's important to run, don't walk, to pick up a copy of The Monster At Our Door: The Global Threat Of Avian Flu to fully understand the threat and why scientists are so concerned. In 1918 the flu killed over 40 million people in three months - now researchers believe avian flu to be on the same magnitude, on the verge of mutating into a pandemic form that can kill two out of three people infected. The Monster At Our Door is a frightening look at not just this latest threat, but the ongoing possibilities of a pandemic flu's effect on the world's population.

Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Ave., Sanger, CA 93657
1-800-497-4909 quilldriverbooks.com

What happens to sexual drive after the age of 50? There may be changes, but it doesn't dry up, so read Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer's Dr. Ruth's Sex After 50: Revving Up The Romance, Passion & Excitement! (1884956432, $14.95) to find out what physical and psychological changes actually lend to sex after 50. Sex therapist Westheimer discusses romance and passion as well as these changes, providing a focus on how passion can be retained through the years. There's an epidemic of misdiagnoses today: that's the contention of sally M. Pacholok, RN and Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O. in Could It Be B12? An Epidemic Of Misdiagnoses (1884956467, $12.95). What makes misdiagnoses so probable is that this vitamin deficiency masquerades itself in so many symptoms: tremors, depression, terrible limb pains, chronic fatigue. It can't be prevented by the usual multivitamin pill - and sometimes even high-dose oral formulas don't work. It's considered a disease of the elderly, but kids can be hit hard too. An eye-opening survey comes form the author and her physician husband's extensive research into the findings of numerous medical centers and universities.

When Your Loved One Has Dementia
Joy A. Glenner, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
0801881145 $16.95 1-800-537-5487

Any who care for Alzheimer sufferers or those with other dementias know the challenges involved: eighty percent of people with dementia live at home, and family members often find themselves challenged by unfamiliar demands and new routines. When Your Loved One Has Dementia: A Simple Guide For Caregivers reviews all kinds of challenges, from safety in handling and caring for sufferers and communication challenges to understanding levels of impairment, daily life, and more. An excellent starting point for those with questions.

Haworth Press
10 Alice St, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
www.haworthpress.com

Four excellent health titles are fine picks for any home or public library collection, promising lasting reference and value. You Don't Look Sick! Living Well With Invisible Chronic Illness (0789024497, $14.95) co-authored by Joy H. Selak and Steven S. Overman, MD outlines a patient's true- life stories and her physician's insights as it covers the three stages of chronic illness: getting sick, being sick, and living well. From finding a doctor you can work with to coping with grief and altered lifestyle, You Don't Look Sick shows you can live well even with chronicle illness. Jack E. Fincham, Ph.D., RPH's Taking Your Medicine: A Guide To Medication Regimens And Compliance For Patients And Caregivers (078902859X, $22.95) offers patients a practical guide to taking medicines, revealing a variety of strategies which help patients follow treatment plans. From understanding how problems result from taking too many medicines simultaneously to choosing a pharmacist as well as a doctor, patients will receive a very basic guide to assessing health care advice as well as assessing drug interactions and routines. M. Sandra Wood's Internet Guide To Cosmetic Surgery For Women (0789010674, $22.95) guides the reader through a range of concerns about cosmetic survey, providing details of web site listings for every body part and strategies for locating specific information on the Web. There are lists of internet addresses and basic sites, discussions of surgery costs and good surgeons, plus statistics and search tips. Elizabeth Connor's Internet Guide To Food Safety And Security (0789026325, $19.95) is also a winning guide to internet research which tells readers how to gain information on a web site's reliability and the quality of its content. From locating vital information on food illness and diseases to specific issues and controversies, Internet Guide To Food Safety And Security is packed with detail on how to produce the best results from web research.


The Money/Finance Shelf

What Goes Up
Eric J. Weiner
Little, Brown
1271 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0316929662 $27.95 www.twbg.com

There have been other histories of Wall Street before: so what makes What Goes Up: The Uncensored History Of Modern Wall Street As Told By The Bankers, Brokers, CEOs And Scoundrels Who Made It Happen so special from the others? The title says it all: this is not just a third-party analysis of history but a set of insider's observations by those who made Wall Street the center of the financial world. Financial journalist Weiner provides insights based on not just a few, but hundreds of interviews with all levels of Wall Street insider from Warren Buffett to Alan Greenspan: the result is an excellent overview other coverages barely touch.


The Musicbook Shelf

The Musical Order Of The World
Siglind Bruhn
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
1576471179 $36.00 1-518-325-6100

Musicologist, concert pianist, and interdisciplinary scholar Siglind Bruhn presents The Musical Order Of The World: Kepler, Hesse, Hindemith, a contemplative discussion of the connections between music study, world cultures, and cosmology, particularly as researched by great scientific minds. Covering topics from "Music's Moral Power in Ancient China and Hesse's Castalia" to "The Eternal Realm of Numerical Relations", to an extremely close reading of Kepler's poetry concerning the meaning of death. The Musical Order Of The World is a thoughtful and perfectly attuned blend of advanced music study, ground-breaking scholarship, and metaphysical awareness.

Kent State University Press
PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001
www.kentstateuniversitypress.com

Nine key immigrant groups from Irish and Eastern Europeans to Chinese and Mexicans responded to their new lives in America through music, expressing the sorrow of leaving homeland and loved ones and the troubles experienced in fitting into a new society. Historian Victor Greene's A Singing Ambivalence: American Immigrants Between Old World And New, 1830-1930 (0873387945, $39.00) surveys the music associated with these immigrants, drawing important connections between themes, immigrant group concerns, and how immigrants expressed themselves. From common sentiments to differing musical approaches, A Singing Ambivalence holds college-level information and insights suitable not just for music libraries, but for collections strong in immigrant issues and American history. John Vacha's The Music Went 'Round And Around: The Story Of Musicarnival (0873387988, $16.00) tells of the Musicarnival located in a Cleveland suburb where one John Price Jr. decided to open a unique summer theater. His venture was one of the last commercially legitimate theaters in Cleveland and had a capacity of 2,500, presenting eight to ten shows each summer. From his successful seasons and resident people to his involvement in packaged productions and his strong following, the story of Musicarnival comes to life in a vivid recollection.

Workin' Man Blues
Gerald Haslam, et al.
Great Valley Books/Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1597140171 $21.95 heydaybooks.com

Think of country music and you think of the South automatically - but California too has been the source of many a notable country music artists, and here's Workin' Man Blues: Country Music In California by Gerald Haslam with the assistance of Alexandra Haslam Russell and Richard Chonto celebrates and highlights that fact. Chapters cover a range of artists who contributed to the genre, from early immigrants to California to later stars. Bob Wills, Gene Autry, Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam: the lives of each famous contributor to the genre is linked with California musical history as a whole, creating a vivid interplay between musical history and biography. Outstanding.

Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits
Joel Whitburn
Billboard Books/Waston-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823082830 $27.95 www.wgpub.com

Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.

Brazilian Music
Larry Cook
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576072878 $60.00 www.abc-clio.com

Any with more than a casual interest in Brazilian music history simply must look at this top ethnomusicology study Brazilian Music: Northeastern Traditions And The Heartbeat Of A Modern Nation: it provides college-level audiences with a survey of the unique regional musical traditions of Brazil, covers its early influences and the mix of peoples who have contributed to changes in the genre, and shows how Brazilian popular music rooted in rural traditions flourished throughout the country. The author's own observations and perceptions of Brazilian music and dance permeate his studies of the region and provide a personal touch to a scholarly, college-level analysis.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Gun Digest Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State St, Iola, WI 54990
1-800-726-9966 fwpublications.com

Two exceptional gun guides are picks for hunters as well as sharpshooters, providing the basics for reference. Rick Sapp's Reloading For Shotgunners, 5th Edition (0873498135, $24.99) provides an updated fifth edition to include data for lead and non-toxic shot, and from .410 bore to 10-gauge magnums. What differentiates Reloading For Shotgunners from any other is its expanded coverage: virtually anything that can be fired in a shotgun is covered, with charts including notes on powder type, wads, maximum pressure and special load notes. With its numerous black and white photos and gauge-specific charts, Reloading For Shotgunners is a 'must' for both novices and advanced shooters. Massad Ayoob's Beretta Pistols (0873499980, $27.99) is also a winning reference, detailing the Beretta's performance, function, and specs in chapters which cover precision marksmanship, differences between Beretta types and also between Berettas and other guns, and tips on loading, reloading, and firing. Both are recommended as basic references which should be made a part of any serious gunman's collection.

Whitetail Wisdom
Daniel E. Schmidt
KP Books
700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krause.com
0873499468 $19.99 1-800-258-0929

The busy deer hunter seldom has time to read all the books on the market providing tips on deer hunting strategy: but if only one book were recommended, make it the '12-Step program' of Whitetail Wisdom: A Proven 12-Step Guide To Scouting Less And Hunting More. From insights on how to fool mature bucks to assessing modern hunting gear and using the bow and rifle to better advantage, deer hunters will find Whitetail Wisdom a 'must' for improving their odds.


The Biography Shelf

The Miller Beer Barons
Tim John
Badger Books
PO Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
1932542167 $19.95 badgerbooks.com

The Miller Beer Barons: The Frederick J. Miller Family And Its Brewery is the true and fascinating story of the Miller family, which started and ran the Miller Brewing Company for over one hundred years. Stretching from late 1800's Germany, when Mr. Miller brewed his first beer, to 1970, when Harry G. John Jr.'s sale of Miller stock was the end of the family's involvement with the company, The Miller Beer Barons is a trans-generational tour of wealth, power, and their sometimes rocky transitions. An inset section of black-and-white photographic plates nicely rounds out this exhaustively researched, meticulously detailed, highly recommended family biography.

Prince Of The City
Robert Daley
Moyer Bell
549 Old North Road, Kingston, RI 02881
1559213809 $12.95 www.amazon.com

Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much is the dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci, a deep cover sleuth who assembled corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures, and even some of his own, putting his own life in peril for the sake of law and justice. Written in the style of a novel, Prince Of The City offers an unflinchingly honest portrait of the rigors of policework, the toll it can take, and the horrors it encounters all too often. An introduction by Rudolph Giuliani rounds out this mesmerizing chronicle of courage and duty.

The Velvet Lounge
Gerald Majer
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
www.columbiaedu/cu/cup
023113682X $27.50 1-800-944-8648

The Velvet Lounge: On Late Chicago Jazz is a memoir of author and English professor Gerald Majer's experience growing up in sixties and seventies Chicago, amid troubled inner city neighborhoods and jazz-club oases of lightning-beat sound. Contemplating both jazz itself and issues of identity, culture, art, race, and politics, The Velvet Lounge captures both a wistful look at the big picture and vibrant memories of star music players such as Jimmy Smith, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Sun Ra, and more. A deeply moving memoir in tune with the rhythms of music itself and its influence on society.

Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport CT 06881-5007
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com

Greenwood Press has a very strong sports-oriented publishing program which is particularly ideal for academic and community library collections. With all the action tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have brought to the sport, it's near certain Jacqueline Edmonson's Venus And Serena Williams: A Biography (0313331650, $29.95) will bring added attention and a ready audience. The life stories of the tennis pro sisters is shared in chapters which cover their stories and associated topics of gender and race. An excellent addition to Greenwood's biography series. David L. Porter edits Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary (0313309523, $89.95) covering a history of the sport from its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to its current popularity. Almost six hundred entries in this A-Z dictionary present narratives on the lives and careers of important names in the sport, from coaches and players to others. Students who want a quick reference Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary packed with detail.

John Haygarth, FRS
Christopher Booth
American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387
0871692546 $60.00 amphilsoc.org

Physician and historian Christopher Booth presents John Haygarth, FRS: A Physician of the Enlightenment (1740- 1827), a meticulous biography of an educated man from Yorkshire whose idea for introducing separate wards in the Chester Infirmary for patients with fever became the stimulus for the development of fever hospitals in nineteenth century England. His writings on medical and financial matters were highly influential, and he played a key role in founding the Bath Provident Institution for Savings, a model for the savings-bank movement in England. His distinguished life and contributions to history, and his efforts to help elevate hospitals into a place for the sick to turn to in times of need rather than a death-trap to be shunned and feared speak for themselves. A meticulously researched accounting of a remarkable man's groundbreaking life.

Always Someone To Kill The Doves
F. T. Flahiff
NeWest Press
#201, 8540-109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 1E6
www.newestpress.com
1896300839 $28.95 1-800-805-1083

Always Someone To Kill The Doves: A Life Of Sheila Watson is a keenly written biography, peppered with diary excerpts by a remarkable woman. Written in Paris in 1955-56, the entries portray a woman of the era, affected by her troubled marriage, genius intelligence, and the moral weight of her Catholic upbringing. A serious-minded account by F. T. Flahiff, who knew Watson personally and placed her in the highest regard, Always Someone To Kill The Doves was written expressly to honor Watson's wish from late in her life: "I want my story told." Her courage and intellect distinguish her, rendering her worthy of the author's decision to "assume rather than argue for her importance". A captivating look into the mind and experiences of a resilient human being.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

6 Habits Of Highly Effective Bosses
Stephen Kohn & Vincent O'Connell
Career Press
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564148327 $14.99 careerpress.com

Why do people work hard for one boss and want to quit on another? Quite often it's the boss' management style which is the problem - that, and different habits which may actually work against productivity. There are six habits of human relations which the authors have identified as habits used by bosses everyone admires. Models of exceptional supervisory skills are presented for any interested in honing better leadership skills.

How To Kill The Job Culture Before It Kills You
Claire Wolfe
Loompanics Unlimited
PO Box 1197, Pt. Townsend, WA 98368
1559502479 $12.95 loompanics.com

There were two goals involved in the production of How To Kill The Job Culture Before It Kills You: Living A Life Of Autonomy In A Wage-Slave Society: to help workers escape the 'wage-slave job culture' we've created, and to question its existence and how it could be changed. It's not normal to separate work from home, family and community and to adhere to rigid schedules which take away from all three purposes, Wolfe maintains: from the free-market case against jobs to revising work style options, How To Kill The Job Culture offers plenty of alternatives.

Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
www.adamsmedia.com

Women have unique strengths in leading startups - because they run their businesses differently than men, trusting intuition and putting more emphasis on life balance. Author Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin should know - she's a successful entrepreneur herself, and in How To Run Your Business Like A Girl (1593374550 $14.95) she imparts all the basics of what it means to run a start-up company; from understanding requirements of the job to considering a partnership and being a boss without being hated. Martin Yate's Knock 'em Dead 2006: The Ultimate Job-seeker's Guide (1593374526, $14.95) comes from 20 years experience as a job counselor. Yate helps seekers locate better jobs and also provides a game plan for maintaining employability in the workplace, from skills levels to networking contacts. Tactics for both accompany discussions of the effectiveness of different strategies, from using online job sources to acing an interview.

The Hip Girl's Handbook For The Working World
Jennifer Musselman with Patty Fletcher
Wildcat Canyon Press
c/o Council Oak Books Ltd.
2105 E. 15th St, Suite B, Tulsa, OK 74104
www.counciloakbooks.com
1885171846 $14.95 1-800-247-8850

The Hip Girl's Handbook For The Working World is a guide for women who are new to the workforce, just got laid off, or who are looking to jump-start their career. Chapters offer practical tips for putting one's best foot forward when interviewing for a job, negotiating a fair deal, dealing with real-world situations of etiquette or relationships in the workplace, and how to make a graceful exit should one have to leave a job by choice or force. Though carefully researched, The Hip Girl's Handbook for the Working World focuses on practical advice rather than drowning the reader in statistics, and humorous anecdotes add an extra bit of mirth to the beginning of each chapter. Highly recommended.

Davies-Black Publishing
1055 Joaquin Road, #200, Mountain View, CA 94043
www.daviesblack.com

Two excellent guides are recommended picks for business and public library holdings alike, promising lasting reference value. Charlotte and Laura Shelton's The Next Revolution: What Gen X Women Want At Work And How Their Boomer Bosses Can Help Them Get It (0891-062009, $24.95) tells of the latest group of young female workers and why they feel disillusioned with the workplace, caught between a 'go for it' ideal and the realities of the modern corporate establishment. The Sheltons surveyed over a thousand of these women and interviewed others about their work experiences: these interviews blend with insights about the differing views of two generations to show how it affects the workplace - and what can be done to prevent the migration of talent. Dick Richards' Is Your Genius At Work? 4 Key Questions To Ask Before Your Next Career Move (0891061940, $18.95) uses stories of those who have found their genius to blend with philosophical and spiritual ideas to indicate career pathways which work. From locating one's ideal image of genius and honing in on methods to enhance it to locating work which furthers genius and personal satisfaction, Is Your Genius At Work links enlightenment and personal satisfaction with career goals.

Music Business Handbook And Career Guide
David Baskerville, Ph.D.
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
1412904382 $64.95 www.sagepub.com

The new updated edition of Music Business Handbook And Career Guide provides the latest insights into the industry, which is going through extensive changes. For one, digital downloads and piracy are changing how music itself is available to the public. Online music, iPods, and other computer-based changes are transforming not only how the industry does business, but how it presents products and sells them. Sections on careers include all kinds of options, from managing artists to producing concerts, producing motion picture and TV scores, and more. A focus on all kinds of interactions between artist and producer, record company executive to band, makes Music Business Handbook And Career Guide one of the most comprehensive music business books on the market.


The World History Shelf

An Abundance Of Witches
P. G. Maxwell-Stuart
Tempus/Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
0752433296 $30.00 1-800-423-4525

An Abundance Of Witches: The Great Scottish Witch-Hunt is a detailed history of witch-hunting and persecution in Scotland from approximately 1658-1662, an era generally thought to be the high point of a turbulent history of violence and hatred for accused witches. The turmoil of political history, Scotland's previous time as an English province, and the revived fervor of Calvinist religion in the Scottish Church accentuated the internal conflict. An Abundance Of Witches does not shy from sometimes horrifying details, including calculated tallies of men and women strangled or burned alive at the stake, fees paid to those involved in hunting, capturing, and executing witches; materials, components, and implements of torture used for such purposes, a search for the psychological motivations behind the slaughter, and more. An excellent and scholarly contribution to Scottish and European history shelves.


The Sports Shelf

Baseball In 1889
Daniel M. Pearson
Popular Press
University of Chicago Press (dist.)
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
www.uchicago.edu
0879726199 $21.95 1-800-621-2736

Baseball In 1889: Players Vs. Owners is the absorbing true story of baseball in general and the New York Giants in particular in the late 1800's, as the popularity of the sport began to take off and politicians, team owners, athletes and others vied for control over nascent leagues' power and the immense profits to be made from fans. As the stakes grew ever higher and disgruntled athletes complained about their treatment, the season became, as one sportswriter put it, something close to a Lobster-Frankenstein nightmare! Vivaciously written, Baseball In 1889 offers clean and convincing historical proof that sports feuds over money are not a recent sour development, but quite literally an intrinsic part of American history. Highly recommended.

Quiet Water Maine
Alex Wilson & John Hayes
Appalachian Mountain Club Books
5 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
www.outdoors.org
1929173652 $18.95 1-800-262-4455

Now in a completely revised second edition, Quiet Water Maine: Canoe & Kayak Guide identifies more than 100 ponds, lakes, and rivers in Maine that are particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Each suggested trip includes directions, parking, and launch information; tour descriptions with estimates of time, distance and difficulty; notes of flora and fauna to be seen in the area; and more. Written for paddlers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced, as well as for birdwatchers, anglers, and families with children, Quiet Water Maine is enthusiastically recommended both for its attention to detail and its enthusiasm for nature.

Bold Ruler
Edward L. Bowen
Blood-Horse/Eclipse Press
National Book Network, distributor
4501 Forbes Boulevard, #200, Lanham, MD 20706
1581501307 $24.95 www.amazon.com

The horse Bold Ruler was a star of the 1950s: one of the best of a generation of racehorses who participated in the memorable 1957 Triple Crown season. His story is recounted in a vivid memoir which follows the sport of horse racing overall, revealing Bold Ruler's championship runs and riders. With black and white photos adding excitement, Bold Ruler is a thoroughbred legend account which reads with all the drama of fiction and is a highly recommended pick for any horse racing fan.

Beyond The Lion's Den
Ken Shamrock & Erich Krauss
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
0804836590 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Ken Shamrock is a legendary martial artist and fighting champion best known perhaps for his WWF superstar fame: there's no better place to learn about his competitions and the stories behind them than in his autobiographical Beyond The Lion's Den: The Life, The Fights, The Techniques. Packed with color photos throughout, Beyond The Lion's Den captures not just the high points of Shamrock's career, but provides plenty of movement-by-movement discussions of basic fighting techniques which lend to martial arts lessons.

Bodie: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun
Bode Miller & Jack McEnany
Villard Books
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.villard.com
1400062357 $24.95 1-800-726-0600

2005 overall world cup champion Bodie Miller was raised in New Hampshire in a rural cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing, so his roots are as unconventional as his rise to become a top sports star. Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun is an autobiography which recounts his philosophy in life as much as his sports experience: he tells of the world of competitive skiing and how he bucked conventional wisdom to rise to the top, and his personal theories shine brightly throughout. Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun is packed with first-person 'you are there' adventure and insights: paired with Miller's personal formula for success, it's as much a winner as he is.

Crashing The Borders
Harvey Araton
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743280695 $25.00 simonsays.com

Basketball fans will find a vibrant and unusual story in Crashing The Borders: How Basketball Won The World And Lost Its Soul At Home: it tells how talented players from around the world are playing at a level which challenges American pros, and how the sport is simultaneously facing a troubled image on its own home turf. Relations between players and fans are at a low point, TV ratings for NBA games are on the decline, and basketball fan Harvey Araton, sports columnist for the New York Times, here traces the problem to the greed of those who would exploit the game and thus weaken it. Fans will find this a hard-hitting account that pulls no punches.


The Gardening Shelf

Wild Gardens
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Wild Gardens: Anza-borrego Desert Part One is an incomparable tour of the natural beauty of California's Sonoran Desert wildflowers. Breathtaking close-ups of individual wildflowers and panoramic views of the sky and the mountains, combined with gentle descriptive narration and symphonic music, makes Wild Gardens a delight for the senses and a joy for nature enthusiasts. A wonderful opportunity to luxuriate in the beauty of nature, Wild Gardens is especially recommended for wildflower and natural scenery enthusiasts. 24 minutes, color.

Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia
Clarie Austin
Timber Press
133 SW Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881927309 $49.95 1-800-327-5680

Claire Austin is a nationally renowned, award winning expert with respect to growing irises and perennials. Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia is an enthusiastically recommended 339 page compendium of what she knows about selecting and growing irises. Enhanced with more than 1100 spectacular full color photographs, aspiring gardeners are provided with thoroughly accessible and applicable cultivation advice, information about the breeding history of the iris, ideas for using irises with other plants in the garden, and an ideal horticultural reference for growing the iris in a wide variety of climate zones including hot and dry, temperate, and even cold northern climates. Also highly recommended for horticultural and gardening reference collections is Michael King's Gardening With Tulips (0881927749, $29.95) from Timber Press. Michael King is for the cultivation of tulips what Claire Austin is for the cultivation of the iris.

Sonoran Desert Plants
Raymond M. Turner, et.al.
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid, #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816525196 $39.95 uapress.arizona.edu

The Sonoran Desert is a unique ecosystem with fragile and unusual plants: that's why any college-level collection specializing in botany will want to include Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas in their collection. The atlas packs in details on the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of over three hundred plants from trees to succulents, and represents over three decades of compilation. Graphs, charts, maps, and black and white photos accompany the botanical details. A specialty item? You bet - but invaluable for the right reference collection.


The Leadership Shelf

Fit In Stand Out
Blythe McGarvie
McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121-2298
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
0071460799 $21.95 1-877-833-5524

There are important connections between success, business ethics, and financial strengths: connections illustrated in Fit In Stand Out: Mastering The Fiso Factor. Author Blythe McGarvie is a leadership expert who has taught effectiveness for many years: during the course of her teachings she discovered a basic lesson: in order to be a successful leader you must both fit in and stand out. The two are not opposites necessarily, as chapters here demonstrate: McGarvie reveals a FISO Factor program which helps business professionals learn how to achieve both.


The Art Shelf

Cork Silver And Gold
John R. Bowden & Conor O'Brien
Collins Press/Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
www.dufoureditions.com
190346496X $56.95 1-800-869-5677

Cork Silver And Gold: Four Centuries Of Craftsmanship was published to coincide with the exhibition in the Crawford Gallery Cork, but stands alone as well as the first to detail the work of Cork silversmiths and goldsmiths, and will appeal to specialty art collections. Both public and private holdings were culled for this feature: what results is a display which will serve as both a history and a reference to any dedicated jewelry student studying Cork craftsmanship.

Antlers
Dennis Walrod
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811732290 $16.95 1-800-732-3669

Collectors pay top dollar for antlers, and mounting techniques for these trophies have come a long way in the last ten years. To learn the latest facts, from where to buy to how to mount antlers and use them in shop or home, make Antlers: A Guide To Collecting, Scoring, Mounting And Carving a part of your collection: it covers everything necessary to measuring, scoring, mounting, collecting and carving antlers, and comes from a New York outdoorsman who's written for dozens of hunting and outdoor publications. An outstanding reference.


The Architecture Shelf

Manhattan Skyscrapers
Eric P. Nash
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York NY 10003
1568985452 $45.00 www.papress.com

The city of New York hosts some of the most memorable skyscrapers in the world: for those unable to personally visit, Manhattan Skyscrapers provides a newly revised, expanded edition to present over eighty of the best of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Though full-page color portraits of each are packed into each feature, equally striking is the blend of historical background, architectural insight and details Nash provides in each accompanying description. A 'then and now' feel is created by the color contemporary photo facing a page of vintage or black and white illustration. Highly recommended for any fan of Manhattan or urban architectural style.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Intuitive Way
Penney Peirce
Council Oak Books Ltd.
2105 East 15th St, #B, Tulsa, OK 74104
www.counciloakbooks.com
1571781609 $16.95 1-800-247-8850

Now in a new expanded edition, The Intuitive Way: The Definitive Guide To Increasing Your Awareness is a straightforward guide to tapping into one's inner knowledge. In the Information Age, where every avenue is packed with more knowledge than any one human being could possibly learn, being able to stay aligned with one's inner wisdom is more critical than ever to survive amid environmental demands of lightning-fast reaction and judgment. Chapters address how to unlock the secrets of one's subconscious mind, become aware of the invisible, harness the power of dreams and imagination, apply the power of intuition to everyday life, and much more. A valuable and insightful self-help resource, especially for those who put too little faith in their own natural wisdom.

Strength In The Storm
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
PO Box 256, Tomales, Ca 94971
1586380176 $14.00 nilgiripress.org

We can't control what life gives us; we can only control our own responses to it: that's the message of Strength In The Storm: Creating Calm In Difficult Times, a survey of lessons which can be learned from children, crisis, and even eating. Reflections on life and handling crisis rely on Buddha's teachings to provide wisdom and philosophical and spiritual strength. Strength In The Storm is highly recommended and personally rewarding reading.


The Needlecraft Shelf

So Simple Crochet
Melody Griffiths
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com
1580112765 $19.95 www.amazon.com

So Simple Crochet presents 24 fun, fashionable, and easy-to-do designs for novice to intermediate crocheters. Projects are divided into four categories: "Classic", such as the denim duffle coat; "Weekend", such as the chunky blue beret, "Casual", such as the shimmery tank top, and "Glamorous", such as the beaded evening scarf. An extensive introductory section walks beginners through basic techniques, from how to read stitch diagrams to making a slip knot or chain stitch to grouping stitches and more. Full color photography and step-by-step instructions make So Simple Crochet an ideal hands-on project guide for needlecrafters interested in creating holiday gifts with a personal touch.

Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford
Mariane Fons & Liz Porter
Landauer Corporation
12251 Maffitt Road, Cumming, IA 50061
www.landauercorp.com
1890621919 $27.95 1-800-557-2144

Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford showcases 208 pages of history, stories and the artistry of original quilts that directly reflect the ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation of some of the best American quilt makers ever to practice this domestic needlecraft art. Enhanced with a time line, Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford features projects which were inspired by the antique quilts archived in The Henry Ford and including "user friendly" instructions and full-size patterns for making replicas of these beautiful, historic, functional quilts. There's even a special section devoted to the impressive quilt collection of Susan McCord, an internationally renowned 19th century quilter. No personal, professional, academic, or community library quilting history reference collection can be considered comprehensive or complete without the inclusion of Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford!

Knitting Yarns And Spinning Tales
Kari Cornell, Ed.
Voyageur Press
123 N. 2nd Street, Stillwater, MN 55082
0896587258 $16.95 voyageurpress.com

Universal experiences of knitters from a range of backgrounds are provided in twenty-three short essays and stories about knitted items, knitting, and crocheting. Here's a blend of philosophy and insights from knitting ranging from a woman who found solace in knitting after a miscarriage to sheep shearing reflections. Knitting Yarns And Spinning Tales is a lovely, literary collection which will make the perfect gift for that 'knitter who has everything'.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Some of the best quilting guides come from Martingale, which produces a healthy assembly of new titles almost monthly: these are top recommended picks from their latest and finest. Nancy J. Martin's A Treasury Of Scrap Quilts (1564-776034, $27.95) demonstrates the author's technique of using scraps in quilts: a passion which has spanned 30 years and is still growing. Martin tells how she built her 'stash' of scraps for the quilts, and then incorporated them into quilts: eighteen patterns range from traditional to new ideas and all come with her tips for using leftover fabrics to best advantage. Jean Van Bockel's Polka-Dot Kids' Quilts (15-64776344, $24.95) shows how to sew twelve full-size quilts plus a handful of 'mini' projects for pillows or dolls, and is packed with lovely, fun designs from animals to circus themes. Materials, cutting and assembly instructions assume no prior quilting background and come packed with color illustration and easy step-by-step instructions. All are outstanding picks. Sharon Pederson's Sensational Sashiko: Japanese Applique And Quilting By Machine (1564776085, $27.95) uses 12 sample projects to explore two traditions - sashiko and Japanese family crests. Here are not just patterns and ideas but the author's own new techniques for making perfectly spaced stitches suitable for quick sashiko-style quilts. Applique and quilting blend with machine stitches for quick and polished results, while projects address problems such as binding and how to solve them with reversible binding, and couching heavyweight threads. Naje Snakk quilts with the sophistication of multi-dimensional designs with Sharon K. Baker's Fabulous Flowers: Mini-quilts In Dimensional Applique (1564776107, $24.95): it shows how to create both simple and elaborate applique flowers, then blend them into a quilt project for maximum effect. Twenty featured projects highlight eighteen flowers and show how to blend in yarns and beads for best results, while quilters are provided with basics and then encouraged to create their own flower designs. From folds and tucks to special tricks for creating dimensional results, Fabulous Flowers will appeal to a variety of crafts beyond quilters.

C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com

Quilters are always searching for new project ideas, and three from C&T provide inspiration and new patterns and projects perfect for those with some quilting background who want more interesting projects. Judy Mathieson's Mariner's Compass Quilts: Setting A New Course (1571203001, $26.95) provides new patterns and projects for an old style, using two large projects as examples to encourage individual projects. There are thirteen full-size patterns here, and new circles and rings for backgrounds and results. Color photos pack pages demonstrating each process. Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins' The New Applique Sampler: Learn To Applique The Piece O' Cake Way (157120265X, $26.95) offers step-by-step instructions for both right- and left-handed stitchers which reveal the basics of applique and fabric combinations. Beginners will find this the perfect starting place for learning the basics of applique. Norah McMeeking's Bella Bella Quilts: Stunning Designs From Italian Mosaics (157-1203044, $26.95) provides quilt designs based on the Italian Renaissance, using familiar quilting shapes in new combinations and patterns to create quite a different look. There are eight sample projects in different sizes which also advise on how to create variations on themes, plus full-sized paper- piecing patterns. These are lovely quilts and fine additions to any quilter's library.

XRX Books
Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1525
www.knittinguniverse.com

These gorgeous knitter's guides are top picks for any who would consult bright, oversized titles with plenty of color and creativity. Ginger Luters' Module Magic: Creative Projects To Knit One Block At A Time (1893762165, $19.95) uses the concept of knitted 'modules' to create geometrically pleasing designs. From mitered squares to patchwork and stained glass, MODULE MAGIC is packed with fun ideas. Sally Melville's The Knitting Experience; The Knit Stitch (1893762130, $19.95) provides a learn-to-knit book which offers over twenty projects which build on knitting skills, so even advanced knitters can learn something new and enjoy new projects. Alexis Xenakis provides lovely photos of both modeled, finished projects and step-by-step knitting directions to compliment measurements and patterns, while sidebars of information include skills levels, supplies, and details on how to correct common mistakes. Elaine Rawley edits Socks Socks Socks (0964-639157, $19.95), a lovely survey of 70 patterns gleaned from around the world, from Iceland to New Zealand. The international focus, as well as contributions of projects by all skills levels of knitters, makes for a wonderfully diverse collection packed with color photos, patterns, and easy instructions. Maggie Jackson's Maggie's Ireland: Designer Knits On Location (1893762181, $37.95) brings a fashion designer's eye to hand knitted projects, along with an Irish flair - but lest you expect complex projects and patterns, take note: Maggie's Ireland will appeal to all levels, most using simple stitches which blend traditional Irish yarns with new techniques and bits of exotic fiber for embellishment. Full-page color photo spreads model on people and against backgrounds while instructions assume basic knowledge of knitting and directions. A lovely, appealing set of projects knitters will relish.

American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com

Two new and excellent themed quilter's guides offer different patterns and ideas for any with an affection for travel-inspired productions. J. Michelle Watts' Quilts Of The Southwest (1574328891, $21.95) provides a dozen quilt, wallhanging and table runner patterns in a fine set of diverse styles and projects. Bright colors, Native American-inspired patterns, and Southwest themes capture the spirit of the region in quilt designs which are unique - and easily reproduced with rotary cutting or machine piecing. Kimberly Einma's Quilt A Travel Souvenir (1574328-921, $22.95) uses different assembly methods and ideas to produce vibrant quilt patterns inspired by the author's European travels. From photos incorporated into quilts to Parisian Pinwheels and reflections on Market Day, these themes are unusual and lovely. Both offer strong ideas for quilters who want to move beyond the basic block patterns.


The Cookbook Shelf

Gold Rush Grub
Ann Chandonnet
University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, 104 Eielson Building, Salcha Street, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
www.uaf.edu/uapress
1889963712 $34.95 1-888-252-6657

Gold Rush Grub: From Turpentine Stew To Hoochinoo is not just a vintage-themed cookbook, but also an in-depth examination of culinary life on the frontier, especially among prospectors. Time-tested recipes of wild foods, or foods that stored well even in inclement conditions, formed the basis of many a prospector's diet; Gold Rush Grub reveals how to recreate the recipes of yesteryear with step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions. Vintage photography of former prospectors and an amazing tour through history complete Gold Rush Grub, an authentic glimpse into the harsh life and culinary accomplishments of the old gold rush era.

Cooking With Coconut Flour
Bruce Fife, N.D.
Piccadilly Books, Ltd.
Box 25203, Colorado Springs, CO 80936
0941599639 $14.95 piccadillybooks.com

Cooking With Coconut Flour: A Delicious Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Alternative To Wheat is an excellent cookbook and practical guide to creating breads, cakes, frosting, breading for fried foods and much more using coconut flour. Coconut flour is regarded as hypoallergenic because so few people are allergic to it, unlike wheat, dairy, and even soy flour. Coconut flower is also ideal for heart health because it contains a type of fiber that reduces cholesterol levels, and is a good food for diabetics and others who must watch their blood sugar because it has a low glycemic index. The beginning of Cooking With Coconut Flour offers general tips and suggestions, followed by a multitude of recipes for coconut-flour pancakes, Cheese Muffins, Strawberry Chiffon Pie, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, Hawaiian Nut Bread, and so much more. Cooking With Coconut Flour is a highly recommended and easy-to-use cookbook packed from cover to cover with healthy, taste-tested recipes.

Ciao Sicily
Damian Mandola & Johnny Carrabba
Bright Sky Press
PO Box 416, Albany, TX 76430
1931721262 $24.95 brightskypress.com

Ciao Sicily: Recipes from the PBS Series "Cucina Sicilia" is a gorgeous, coffee-table sized cookbook of stunning Sicilian cuisine as prepared by restaurant and PBS Series legends Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba, in the manner of their relatives both generations past and living in Italy today. Illustrated throughout with full-color photography, Ciao Sicily includes such mouth-watering dishes as Marinated Zucchini, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Calamari, Watermelon Pudding, and so much more. Supplementary sections walk beginning cooks through the basics and techniques of the Sicilian kitchen and the contents of a Sicilian pantry, while an index allows for quick and easy reference. Ciao Sicily is a superb, gourmet quality addition to regional and ethnic cooking shelves.

The Perfect Egg And Other Secrets
Aldo Buzzi
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Ave., #300, New Y, NY 10010
1582346046 $16.95 bloomsbury.com

Italian essayist Aldo Buzzi's book about the food which has intrigued him all his life is a celebration of recipes and techniques more than a 'how-to' guide. With a scholarly, witty observational style, Buzzi provides some delectable insights into food appreciation: "…the best way to cook pigeon? We cannot do better than mention Gadda's stuffed pigeons 'roasted in a casserole with sprigs of rosemary and new potatoes, moderately sweet and on the small side, a touch overcooked but seasoned by the gravy produced by these very pigeons."

How To Break An Egg
Fine Cooking Magazine
Taunton Press
PO Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
1561587982 $19.95 www.taunton.com

For an all-in-one guide to kitchen troubles, whether it be rescuing a failed recipe, making emergency substitutions, or brushing up on techniques, How To Break An Egg: 1,453 Kitchen Tips, Food Fixes, Emergency Substitutions And Handy Techniques packs in tips by the editors, contributors and readers of Fine Cooking Magazine. Each chapter on 'tips' or 'techniques' is subdivided in the table of contents by method or tip: this makes it quick and easy to locate tips on say pitting fruit, or cooking potatoes properly. New cooks will find this a much more extensive reference than your usual substitution guide - and provides much more overall culinary detail on method than most, while retaining the at-a-glance referencing system so important to a cook facing problems and needing immediate solutions.

The Comfort Diner Cookbook
Ira Freehof with Pia Catton
Clarkson Potter
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.clarksonpotter.com
1400081084 $18.00 1-800-726-0600

Author Ira Freehof is also owner of New York's Comfort Diner, which takes American classic 'comfort food' and elevates it to restaurant standards. From a classic Reuben Sandwich with Sauerkraut and Thousand Island Dressing, to a Yankee Pot Roast, and a Crab Burger, The Comfort Diner Cookbook offers meals from breakfast to dinner but excels in lunch.

Pizza
Diane Morgan & Tony Gemignani
Chronicle Books
85 - 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94105
0811845540 $18.95 chroniclebooks.com

Over 60 recipes for homemade pizza are the feature in Pizza, a cookbook which pairs pizza-throwing champion Tony Gemignani with cookbook author Diane Morgan. The variety ranges from traditional Neopolitan or thin crust New York pizzas to innovations from Thai curried chicken or grilled pizza - and six pizza doughs are also the feature. Add plenty of color photos and you have a real treat.

Seasoned In The South
Bill Smith
Algonquin Books
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1565124790 $19.95 www.algonquin.com

Seasoned In The South isn't just another cookbook compendium your usual Southern fare, but a representation of the 'new bistro' cuisine of the South: light, airy, and gourmet. Crook's Corner has been a Southern restaurant since 1982 and author Bill Smith is one of its cornerstones; so he's in the perfect position to present this new bistro food to a wider audience than the South. Traditional melds with classic Southern dishes in a gathering of unique recipes from Catfish Amandine to Corned Ham.

The New Southwest Cookbook
Carolyn Niethammer
Rio Nuevo Publishers
451 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, AZ 85745
1887896783 $17.95 www.rionuevo.com

Some of the hottest new chefs of America's Southwest have contributed their inventions to The New Southwest Cookbook: Recipes From Outstanding Restaurants And Resorts In New Mexico, Arizona, Utah And Colorado - and they are winners home cooks can readily reproduce, too! There are over a hundred dishes covering breakfast, lunch and dinner: some as unique as a sherry and chili-spiked Gypsy Stew, or as spicy as a Carrot and Ginger Soup. No photos - but the easy dishes don't need them.


The Travel Shelf

Live & Work in Italy
Victoria Pybus
Vacation Work Publications
c/o The Globe Pequot Press (dist.)
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
1854583328 $19.95 1-800-243-0495

Now in a newly revised and updated edition, Live & Work In Italy is a sensible guide for anyone considering a change of residence to the great and historic nation of Italy. Chapters are divided into two main sections: "Living in Italy" and "Working in Italy". Living in Italy presents the nuts and bolts of how to secure a residence permit, find a place to live, choose the right school and bank account, learn Italian quickly, and more; while Working In Italy covers such topics as how to submit the correct documents when applying for a job, the skills and trades most in demand in Italy, trade unions and contract rules, how to start or buy one's own business, and much more. A straightforward, easy-to-follow guide that will give the reader a perfect picture of what living and working conditions in Italy are like, and how to seamlessly make the transition to life and labor in Italian society, recommended for anyone considering an extended stay or permanent move.

To Travel Hopefully
Christopher Rush
RDR Books
2415 Woolsey, Berkeley, CA 94705
1571431241 $17.95 www.rdrbooks.com

Written by the author of A Twelvemonth and a Day, and named as one of the "100 Greatest Scottish Books of All Time", To Travel Hopefully: Footsteps In The French Cevennes is a powerful work of travel writing about the journey through Southern France, from Le Monastier-Sur-Gazeille to St. Jean-Du-Gard. Accompanied only by a donkey named Anatole, Rush contended with territorial hunters, massive downpours, hunger, and the hazard of getting lost. Yet with help from his friends, he gradually transformed the perils of his trek into a spiritual quest and a singularly unforgettable travel memoir. Very highly recommended, To Travel Hopefully is a thoroughly "reader friendly", armchair travelogue.

Ohio Wine Country Excursions
Patricia Latimer
Emmis Books
1700 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45206
1578602378 $25.00 emmisbooks.com

Think 'American wineries' and at first you'll think of California - and perhaps in modern times other states like New York may come to mind - but Ohio? Certainly it's not high on the list of what one thinks of as wine regions - but here is Patricia Latimer's Ohio Wine Country Excursions to provide the only comprehensive winery guide for Ohio, to expose Ohio's growing vineyard industry. A wine industry history blends with a guide to well over sixty wineries and vineyards and includes many maps and color photos throughout. Very highly recommended for any either Ohio-bound or interested in the state's blossoming wine regions.

Moon Handbooks/Avalon Travel
1400-65th St., #250 Emeryville CA 94608
www.moon.com

The in-depth, detailed guides by Moon Handbooks are perfect recommendations for destination-oriented travel planners: they include everything needed for making a trip, from flights and hotels to offbeat sights and practicalities, and are presented as solid take-along totes which can be referred to again and again on any journey. Laura Reiley's Florida Gulf Coast (1566-915716, $17.95) covers the entire Gulf Coast from the Alabama border south, with the Gulf region divided by at-a-glance chapters covering 'must see' attractions and byways alike. From arts and entertainment and kid-oriented attractions to food and adult venues, it holds something for every age. Wayne Bernhardson's Buenos Aires (1566918863, $17.95) mixes solid facts with seasoned advice suggesting routes and activities to explore within the port city - even including excursions into Uruguay. Gary Prado Chandler & Lisa Prado Chandler's Cancun & Cozumel (1566914981, $16.95) reveals the two Mexican beach town tourist attractions in a new light, offering routes, itineraries, and maps and photos, while their Yucatan Peninsula (1566915767, $19.95) provides a broader coverage of the entire region. All excellent picks for destination-oriented travelers.

The Frequent Traveler's Guide
Alexander Anolik & John K. Hawks
Sphinx Publishing/Sourcebooks
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
www.SphinxLegal.com
1572485027 $14.95 sourcebook.com

What makes a smart traveler is quite often information gained the hard way: through much experience. Now you can be smart without the headaches: simply consult the experiences of travel agents and other savvy travelers in The Frequent Traveler's Guide: What Smart Travelers And Travel Agents Know. Chapters cover everything from airlines and car rentals to group tours, providing the inside details on how to streamline arrangements, receive free upgrades, and avoid common travel problems such as getting sick or bumped. A 'must' for any who would travel savvy, if not more frequently.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Acting
Terry Schreiber & Mary Beth Barner
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York NY 10010
www.allworth.com
1581154186 $19.95 1-800-491-2808

So you have the talent to be an actor, but you need training: turn to Terry Schrieber's Acting: Advanced Techniques For The Actor, Director And Teacher to cover the techniques of his own noted actor training program. Actors are given a 'tool bag' of exercises to help break into character, practice interpreting scenes, and more. From relaxation techniques to sharpening awareness and making characters seem more real, Acting: Advanced Techniques For The Actor, Director And Teacher is packed with solid ideas for improvement.

A Hundred Years Of Japanese Film
Donald Richie
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022
www.kodansha-intl.com
4770029950 $22.00 1-800-451-7556

Written by the former Curator of Film at the New York Museum of Modern Art, and now in a new revised and updated edition, A Hundred Years Of Japanese Film is a history of Japanese cinema, both live action and animated, supplemented with a selective guide to DVDs and videos. Chapters focus upon Japanese cinematography during different historical periods before and after World War II; black-and-white photographs and movie stills illustrate the flowing narrative. Highly accessible to historians, film buffs, and lay readers alike, A Hundred Years Of Japanese Film is a superb survey for anyone interested in a broader understanding of the historical and cultural roots behind timeless Japanese classics. Especially recommended for foreign film buffs.

The Women Who Knew Too Much
Tania Modleski
Routledge
270 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
0415973627 $22.95 routledge-ny.com

The Women Who Knew Too Much: Hitchcock And Feminist Theory first appeared in 1988, but it remains a unique and important work of film theory for college-level students today and its reprint edition assures libraries with solid film analysis holdings will still have access. Hitchcock fans receive critical insights on seven important films, each of which serves as a foundation for an analysis of spectators of both sexes. This updated second edition includes a new chapter surveying the last 15 years of Hitchcock and adds further food for thought.


The Library Video/DVD Shelf

The Exonerated
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
www.montereymedia.com
1569946507 $24.95 1-800-424-2593

The Exonerated is the DVD edition of the award-winning play about the true stories of six exonerated survivors of death row - each wrongfully accused of and sentenced for a crime they did not commit, and deprived of their freedom for years on end. Featuring a sterling cast including Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon and Brian Dennehy, The Exonerated is a captivating saga, presenting its unforgettable stories in the words of the people who survived them. Highly recommended. 90 minutes, color.

Being Beautiful Inside & Out
Bayview Entertainment
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Hosted by world renowned model Ann Marie Crouch, Being Beautiful Inside & Out: A Model Makeover presents secrets of the modeling trade and provides practical information and insights into the wonderful world of modeling for aspiring models and anyone else striving to improve their personal appearance. Segments offer tips, tricks, and techniques from a master hairstylist, makeup, skin care, and nail specialists, a fitness expert, and a nutritionist/model, as well as advice on exactly how to shoot pictures to be submitted to a modeling agency. An excellent, information-packed guide to staying good-looking, as practiced by the experts of Hollywood. 45 minutes, color.

Marbles: Ancient Art & Modern Play
Bennett-Watt Entertainment, Inc.
13021 244th Avenue Southeast, Issaquah, Washington 98027
1932978364 $14.95 bennett-watt.com

Part of the "Discoveries... America, Special Edition" series which focuses upon extraordinarily talented people of America, Marbles: Ancient Art & Modern Play is all about the marvelous toy and collectable that is the marble. A brief exploration of the marble's history since ancient times, when Romans ground stones into a spherical shape for amusement, paves the way for the modern-day National Marbles Tournament, the first and oldest organized children's sporting event for boys and girls ages 7-14. Antique marbles are collected and traded, and two marble making factories survive in the United States; Marbles: Ancient Art & Modern Play even offers a glimpse into how recycled glass is transformed into perfect marbles. The creations of boutique marble makers and glass artists take their place in private collections, galleries, and museums around the world. Marbles: Ancient Art & Modern Play is a truly amazing look into the unplumbed depths of a true collector's hobby. 82 minutes, color.

Belly Dance For Fitness & Health
Kelli Marie
Bayview Entertainment
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
1928812104 $21.99 411videoinfo.com

Featuring the lovely and graceful Kelli Marie, Belly Dance for Fitness & Health: Level 1 is a technically flawless DVD introduction appropriate for all ages and body types to a classic, low-impact form of exercise. Presenting beginner movements in a step-by-step format, Belly Dance For Fitness & Health: Level 1 is easy to assimilate and offers suggestions to help the practitioner make the transition from beginning technique to creative choreography. A special health segment is devoted to aid and inform people with health issues or chronic pain, or who are new to a regular exercise regimen, and a stretching and breathing segment offers practical advice and techniques for improving flexibility and relaxation, and reducing stress. A superb addition to fitness and workout libraries. 53 minutes, color

Goodnight Mister Tom
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
148 Madison Avenue, 16th floor PH-1 New York, NY 10016
www.shop.wgbh.org
159375521X $19.95 1-800-949-8670

Goodnight Mister Tom is a powerful adaptation of Michelle Magorian's award-winning novel of the same title, developed for Masterpiece Theatre and now available on DVD. Set during World War II, it tells the story of Tom Oakley, an old man curmudgeon who finds his life suddenly and drastically changed when a young boy is evacuated from London and sent to live with him. The boy is quiet, with a tragic past, yet the old man takes it upon himself to teach the boy improved reading and writing skills, and nurture his talent for drawing. A powerful bond develops between the pair; yet when the boy's mother summons him back to Blitz-torn London, Tom must act to save the child from a potential nightmare - and fight to keep him. A poignant and profoundly moving film about the pure essence of human relationships. Approx. 2 hours, color.

Lightning Fast
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
411videoinfo.com lightning-fast.com

Lightning Fast presents a bevy of DVDs for sports enthusiasts of all ages and coaches as well. Featuring nationally renowned sports performance expert Duane Carlisle, whose experience includes being the assistant strength and conditioning coach of the San Francisco 49ers, each DVD offers training methods to enhance speed, agility, and teamwork. Home Fitness For Kids ($19.95, 32 min.) offers three easy and fun workouts young and old alike can do indoors, in segments as brief as 10 minutes designed to enhance flexibility, alertness, and athleticism - the perfect first step to an antidote to today's couch potato culture. How To Become A Better Athlete: Training For Youth Football ($59.95, 2 hours) presents more than 100 of Carlisle's most effective drills to improve game speed, foot quickness, balance, and more, all demonstrated step-by-step. Speed Training For Soccer ($39.95, 40 min.) presents 6 different types of elements crucial to achieving success on the soccer field: warm-up exercises, dynamic flexibility exercises, running mechanics drills, ladder drills, change of direction drills, and game speed drills. Speed Training For Youth ($39.95, 40 min.) offers easy-to-follow drills for improving agility, jumping ability, eye/hand coordination, running mechanics and more, and is applicable to sports training of all regimens. Team-Based Speed Training For Lacrosse ($59.95, 2 hours) is an in-depth guide especially useful for coaches, as it is filled throughout with advice for developing and implementing a speed-training program that gets results, how to spot and tactfully correct movement errors, and instructions for using body weight exercises on the practice field in order to improve strength without the necessity of a weight room. All are practical-minded and superb instructionals to jump-start sports training and physical conditioning.

Fast Food My Way
Jacques Pepin
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
156839263X $29.95 www.janson.com

Adapted from the new PBS series, Fast Food My Way is a 2-disc DVD set featuring the talents of Jacques Pepin, who demonstrates 8 easy lessons for preparing simple, nutritious, and elegant cuisine, the preparation of which can easily mesh with fast-paced lifestyles. Each lesson is a full menu, for a total of 30 delicious dishes, from Zucchini & Tomato Salad, to Crab Cakes in Red Sauce, to Stuffed Scallops on Mushroom Rice, Apple Skillet Cake, and so much more. A mouth-watering delicious and easy-to-follow introduction to the simple and fun joy of healthy cooking. Approx. 4 hours, color.

Phil Ross' S.A.V.E. Level 1
KB Productions, Inc.
American Eagle MAA
500 Barnett Place, PO Box 220, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
ISDN 6-89076-10002-1 $26.95 www.saveworkout.com

National Amateur Kickboxing Champion, Greco-Roman Wrestling National silver medalist, and instructor of championship students as well as federal marshals, police agencies, and private security forces, Phil Ross presents Phil Ross' S.A.V.E. Level 1, a DVD that blends fitness with self-defense techniques. S.A.V.E. stands for Survive A Violent Environment, and is intended to both strengthen and instruct men, women, and teens. Highly recommended for both healthy exercise and improving one's ability to protect oneself in a world full of hostilities and dangers.

Prevention Fitness Systems 3-2-1 Workout
Chris Freytag
Goodtimes Entertainment
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.411videoinfo.com
0766224856 $14.95 www.goodtimes.com

Featuring fitness expert Chris Freytag, Prevention Fitness Systems 3-2-1 Workout is a high-energy DVD exercise program designed to sculpt one's body, developed through a collaboration between Prevention, America's leading healthy lifestyle magazine, and fitness experts. Intended especially for women, Prevention Fitness Systems 3-2-1 Workout is adaptable to all fitness levels and includes six circuit intervals, each consisting of 3 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength training, and 1 minute of ab exercises. Bonus segments include "Tips on smart ways to live well" and "5 moves for better night's sleep". A lively and fun way to get fit. Approx. 49 minutes, color.

Automatic Transmission: Volume 1
Rick Metzing
Transmission Videos
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.transmissionvideos.com
DVD $79.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Automatic Transmission: Volume 1 -- The GM 4L60E is a "user friendly", step-by-step DVD guide to the multiphase task of totally rebuilding any automobile transmission. Intended for both amateur do-it-yourself enthusiasts and professional mechanical alike, Automatic Transmission: Volume 1 carefully walks the viewer through preparatory steps, the tear down process, the inspection process, the cleaning process, the rebuilding process, as well as proper filling procedures and driveability. Close attention is given to every detail and a user-friendly tone make Automatic Transmission Volume 1 a "must-have" for anyone tasked with rebuilding an automotive transmission, whether as a weekend hobby or as a workday necessity. Approx. 180 minutes.

Black & Blue
MPI Media Group
16101 South 108th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60467
www.mpihomevideo.com
08788606778 $9.98 1-800-777-2223

Frannie and her son have finally escaped a respected police detective who is also a wife-beater: but a life on the run, hiding from friends and family as well as the vengeful husband searching for them, takes it toll on both Frannie and the son who can't quite understand why they left. A new community, new friends, and new job doesn't quite erase the past, and when Robert lets his guard down, trouble results. Can Frannie ever find life free from her husband? Black & Blue is a gripping, technically flawless, suspense-filled thriller from start to finish; one DVD viewers will find worth repeat watching, and a powerful addition to the MPI Media Group's 'True Stories Collection'.

Brazilian Dance Workout
Vanessa Isaac
Razor Digital Entertainment
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
1595521798 $14.99 411videoinfo.com

Brazilian Dance Workout is a high-energy cardio-workout DVD for all fitness levels, inspired by the exciting rhythms of Brazilian dance. Samba, Samba Reggae, Axe, African and Frevo moves blend in an energizing routine, led by Brazilian dance and fitness instructor Vanessa Isaac. Bonus audio tracks include a Brazilian percussion mix and the "Hip Brazil" theme by Randy Tico. An enthusiastically toe-tapping addition to personal fitness library and exercise routine DVD shelves, highly recommended for men and women of all ages looking for motivation to get moving and healthy. 60 min., color.

Timeless Media Group
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.timelessvideo.com

Two new DVD releases allow the viewer to relive the golden age of comedy as performed by America's clown prince Red Skelton, along with his cast of wacky friends and his classic characters such as Freddie the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehopper, Junior The Mean Widdle Kid and more satirize society, traditions, and anything else in their way, with gusto. Red Skelton: America's Clown Prince (07411-06094, $14.98) is a bargain of classic laughs, packed with over 5 hours on 2 DVDs of both black- and-white and color footage. Disc 1 contains the shows "Lillian Martin", "The Iceman Goeth", "Desert Island", "Deadeye & The Alamo", and "Freddie's Romance" as well as extra vignettes, and Disc 2 features "San Fernando In Alaska", "Indiana", "Many Skeltons", "Freddie and the Baby", and "Live in San Francisco". Guests include a variety of famous personages such as Cesar Romero, Rhonda Fleming, and Don Knotts. Red Skelton Christmas (0741109875, $9.98) offer the holiday-themed show "The Plight Before Christmas" and the extras "The Pledge of Allegiance", "The Thanksgiving Turkey", "Frozen Freddie", "Freddie and the Carolers", "Red Talks About Santa and Stair Climbing", and "Freddie Gets 90 Days". All DVDs are authorized by the Red Skelton estate, and all offer rip-roaring good clean fun. A special treat for the holiday season, for family viewing or as a gift, both the two volume Red Skelton: America's Clown Prince and Red Skelton Christmas would make enduringly popular additions to any community library DVD collection.


The Economics Shelf

The Euro
Madeleine O. Hosli
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 - 30th St., Boulder, CO 80301
1588263525 $16.95 rienner.com

Any seeking a short history of the European monetary system and how it's being integrated today must have Madeleine O. Hosli's The Euro: A Concise Introduction To European Monetary Integration in their collection: it analyzes the history and origins of the Euro system, how it works, and key issues surrounding debates and implications of its enactment. From exchange rates to fiscal stability, it covers all related topics.

Corporate Governance Adrift
Michel Aglietta & Antoine Reberioux
Edward Elgar Publishing
136 West Street, Suite 202, Northampton, MA 01060-3711
www.e-elgar.com
1845421388 $45.00 1-800-390-3149

Corporate Governance Adrift: A Critique Of Shareholder Value is a harsh indictment of corporate capitalist culture in the wake of financial scandal. Economics Professors Michel Aglietta and Antoine Reberioux postulate that a basic tenet of capitalism - that companies should be managed solely for their shareholders - is fundamentally flawed in the modern-day environment filled with liquid markets, greedy investors, and recurring financial instability. Proposing a new model in which companies are managed with common objectives in mind for all stakeholders, and a fundamental emphasis on the democratic principle in order to reduce financial instability on a large or long-term scale, Corporate Governance Adrift offers revolutionary yet practical solutions to complex and worrying economic problems. Highly recommended.


The Native American Shelf

American Indians In British Art, 1700-1840
Stephanie Pratt
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Dr., Norman, OK 73069
080613657X $29.95 www.oupress.com

American Indians In British Art, 1700-1840 by Stephanie Pratt (a tribal member of the Crow Creek Dakota Sioux and Senior Lecturer in the History of Art at the University of Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom) is a unique survey of Native American images painted, drawn and sketched by British artists and reveals an artistic tradition that avoided simplification and stereotype to portray Native peoples in realistic and complex imagery that ranged from depicted them as noble savages to primitive aborigines, but always as active participants in contemporary societies and cultures. Enhanced with a profusion of both color and black/white illustrations, Pratt provides each artistic work in its proper historical context and deftly traces a movement away from abstraction (where Indians were symbols rather than actual people) to a representational art portraying Indians as actors on the colonial stage of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Scholarly, erudite, informed and informative, American Indians In British Art, 1700-1840 is a unique and welcome addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies and Art History reference collections.

The Argumentative Indian
Amartya Sen
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374105839 $26.00 www.fsgbooks.com

Any interested in Indian history or culture will find The Argumentative Indian: Writings On Indian History, Culture And Identity is essential to understanding the culture, customs, viewpoints and identity of modern India. It considers India's rich long argumentative tradition, its traditions of skepticism and questioning, and its philosophies from ancient to modern times. Any interested in Indian tradition who would understand its spirituality, culture, literature or politics must understand its argumentative tradition: no better in-depth coverage is available than The Argumentative Indian.


The Political Science Shelf

At the Water's Edge
Melvin Small
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622
1566635934 $26.00 1-800-462-6420

Over all other wars, the long Vietnam War had heavy impact at home, creating divisions and social strife which had lasting effects on American politics. At The Water's Edge: American Politics And The Veitnam War focuses on these domestic changes, showing how the war transformed American society and produced changes in long-standing political alliances and a fundamental shift in values which was to impact politics, media reporting, economics and more - lasting to this day. Melvin small is a professor of history: his survey provides an important focus on the domestic front of the war.

Freedom Of Assembly
Stephen F. Rohde
Facts on File
132 W. 31st St., 17th fl, NY, NY 10001
0816056633 $35.00 factsonfile.com

The right of people to peaceably assemble and to petition the government was granted in the First Amendment, and are most exercised by strikes, meetings or picketers: the history of this freedom, its challenges, and its major issues are traced in a new 'American Rights' addition surveying the civil right, its history, controversies, and virtual and actual assembly in modern times on the web. Enhanced with maps, graphs, a chronology and source materials, Freedom Of Assembly provides readers of all ages with an excellent historical overview.


The Social Issues Shelf

Freedom From Want
George Kent
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
1589010566 $26.95 1-800-246-9606

Freedom From Want: The Human Right To Adequate Food is a critical scrutiny of hunger as a political problem, stressing that feeding people will not solve what is wrong - feeding programs can only be a short-term, symptomatic treatment, not a cure. The real solution, stresses political science professor George Kent, is empowering the poor - too many people have too little control over local resources, and cannot shape their own circumstances to provide meaningful or productive work. Only when the poor are fully empowered, a duty that those who have the power must undertake, can the human right to adequate food truly be realized for everyone. A meticulously scholarly, extensively researched treatise, and a vital contribution to understanding a desperate global problem.

Ayn Rand Answers
Robert Mayhew, editor
New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0451216652 $15.00 www.penguin.com

Never before available in print, Ayn Rand Answers: The Best Of Her Q&a is an anthology of "Atlas Shrugged" author and philosopher Ayn Rand's question-and-answer sessions. Rand sought to apply her philosophy of Objectivism to modern cultural and political issues; her words are bitingly honest and utterly unapologetic. Her often surprisingly harsh views on feminism, literature, drug use, prostitution, Richard Nixon, suicide, masculinity, and much more are delivered in a manner that clearly explains where she is coming from and why she so adamantly defends her stance. An absorbing read and a crystal clear portrait of Ayn Rand's views, delivered with an extra dose of her characteristic dry humor.

Mixtec Transnational Identity
Laura Velasco Ortiz
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
www.uapress.arizona.edu
0816523274 $50.00 1-800-426-3797

Mixtec Transnational Identity examines in detail the emergence of transnational indigenous organizations and communities throughout the Mexico-U.S. border area. Written with scholarly attention to detail by professor- researcher Laura Velasco Ortiz, Mixtec Transnational Identity covers such topics as the political construction of the transnational ethnic community, boundaries of gender and ethnicity within the community, and how policies of migration interplay with labor markets. Extensively researched and supported with both statistics and anecdotes, Mixtec Transnational Identity is a valuable resource for better understanding the political, ethnic, and sociological fabric of transnational communities and their interplay with America and Mexico as a whole.

Hunger
Sharman Apt Russell
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
0465071635 $23.95 basicbooks.com

Hunger: An Unnatural History could also have been featured in our Health section but is reviewed here for its important history into the nature and culture of hunger, from the fasting saints of early Christianity to modern political statements. Hunger can inspire and heal, or it can kill: chapters consider the spiritual, health, and historical and cultural aspects of human hunger to consider its impact throughout human history and events.

The Open Society Paradox
Dennis Bailey
Potomac Books
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
1574889168 $25.95 brasseysinc.com

With all the concern about civil liberties and national security, it's important to point out there's special challenges on both sides between leaders who want increased authority for security measures and those who would protect individual privacy in the process. Here's something different: an alternative which suggests American openness is the root of America's ills - but that MORE openness will thwart threats and increase security. Author Bailey is an information technology expert specializing in security and privacy issues: his The Open Society Paradox: Why The 21st Century Calls For More Openness-Not Less makes for intriguing social analysis.

Global Communication
Thomas L. McPhail
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014
1405134275 $49.95 1-800-216-2522

College-level collections specializing in both business and global history will find the second edition of Thomas L. McPhail's Global Communicatons: Theories, Stakeholders, And Trends offers important, scholarly insights on the major trends and global network of international communications. Issues affecting media are updated for all new developments since 2002: from the newfound war on terrorism and Iraq war to Arabic media. From world multimedia organization issues to NWICO debates and broadcasting and news corporation challenges, Global Communication is a must for any student of worldwide communications.

The Broadband Explosion
Robert D. Austin & Stephen P. Bradley
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1591396700 $45.00 1-800-668-6780

The Broadband Explosion is an anthology of essays written by a variety of authors contemplating far-reaching questions about what repercussions the rise in broadband connection will have on modern society and business. From evaluating how Wi-Fi and Voice Over IP technologies will play out, to speculating on what will be the next- generation "killer apps", to forecasting how the structure of the industry will shift, questioning whether governments should invest in a broadband infrastructure, and evaluating possible new security threats, The Broadband Explosion is a haven for deep thought, budding ideas, and dire warnings. A handful of diagrams illustrate this forward-looking compendium recommended for business and government leaders striving to plan for an increasingly connected future.


The International Studies Shelf

Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century
Mark Leonard
Public Affairs
250 W. 57th St. #1321, NY, NY 10107
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
1586483641 $20.00 www.amazon.com

American attitudes, methods and strategies have dominated the world for the 20th century - but it may prove obsolete in future endeavors: that's the message of Why Europe Will Run The 21st Century, a guide which discusses the future and structure of democratic processes in a changing world economy. The US still has power - but it may no longer be the driving force in determining the world. Chapters explain how the evolving European Union is offering a broader reach and approach which draws countries in rather than setting up opposing strategies. The Union's influence is increasing - and it is creating a new network alternative to American power that holds the potential of changing world influences in the future.

My China Eye
Israel Epstein
Long River Press
360 Swift Avenue, #48, South San Francisco, CA 94080
1592650422 $24.95 longriverpress.com

Journalist and war correspondent Israel Epstein's memoir spans over eighty years and offers his eyewitness account of some of the most turbulent years of this century. While My China Eye: Memoirs Of A Jew And A Journalist could have been featured in our more general 'biography' column, it's reviewed here for its importance as a revealing narrative by a Western journalist who experienced the Chinese Communist Revolution firsthand from its beginning. Epstein grew up in Tianjin and was exposed to social issues and left-wing movements in China at an early age. During the 1930s and 40s he reported from China and Hong Kong; during the war he was in the front lines reporting on China's War of Resistance against Japan. His dramatic account of history in the making shouldn't be missed.

We Are Iran
Nasrin Alavi
Soft Skull Press
Publishers Group West, dist.
55 Washington Street, #804, Brooklyn, NY 11201
1933368055 $15.95 www.amazon.com

Any who would understand the people and culture of Iran must read We Are Iran: The Personal Blogs: it gathers the country's Internet diaries and translates them from Farsi to provide quite a different view of the ordinary people's sentiments and experiences. Much of what comes to the U.S. in newspapers comes from reporters or politicians: We Are Iran comes from the people - in particular, from an educated, youthful, literate segment of the country which doesn't condone Islamic fundamentalism and which is eager to embrace a new era. Supplementing these blogs is commentary on these people and their concerns, providing the background and cultural insight necessary to appreciate the voices and their place in modern Iranian society.

The Great War For Civilisation
Robert Fisk
Alfred Knopf
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1400041511 $40.00 www.aaknopf.com

Journalist Robert Fisk has been reporting on the Middle East for thirty years, covering nearly every major event in the region during that time: perhaps this is why his weighty The Great War For Civilisation: The Conquest Of The Middle East comes with such detail and authority. Bend his eyewitness accounts of the modern turmoil there with his knowledge of the region's cultures and political complexities and you have an outstanding analysis of the meaning behind newspaper events, considering the injustices which have made the Middle East a setting for near-constant wars, the influence of other countries throughout the region, and the differing religious sentiments of its inhabitants. All this would seem too weighty were it not for Fisk's own accounts of his experiences in the region: it's this combination of history and experience which keeps The Great War For Civilisation from becoming overwhelming - and keeps it on course as a relevant survey for modern times.


The Literary Shelf

Letters To Virginia Woolf
Lisa Williams
Hamilton Books/Rowman & Littlefield
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
www.hamilton-books.com
076183205X $18.00 1-800-462-6420

Part literary criticism, part poetry, part memoir, Letters To Virginia Woolf is associate professor of literature Lisa Williams' deeply personal examination of Woolf's writings. Presented in the format of letters that Williams wrote to Woolf about modern issues and the September 11th attacks, Letters To Virginia Woolf tells of the sad end to the author's pregnancy, reflects on how Woolf's ideas of war, memory and childhood reverberate through time, and strive to know how Woolf herself must have felt. A handful of poems intersperse the brief text passages, adding their own poignant touch to the quest for understanding. Miscarriage: You must be / covered now / by moonlight, / and sleeping, / sleeping so peacefully / in starlight / sleeping / in a place where the dead / wait patiently / to become what is alive / once again.

A Smile In His Mind's Eye
Ray Morrison
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
www.utppublishing.com
0802089399 $85.00 1-800-565-9523

A Smile In His Mind's Eye: A Study Of The Early Works Of Lawrence Durrell is an examination of a truly multicultural 20th century author. Durrell (1912-1990) spent his childhood in India and his adult life in France and Greece; his writing included novels, poetry, travel writing, essays, and drama; perhaps his best known work is "The Alexandria Quartet", and he is remembered for blending Western concepts of time and space with Eastern metaphysics. A Smile In His Mind's Eye studies Durrell's oft-neglected work prior to the Second World War, with particular interest in his embrace of Taoism and his shift away from Western patriarchal framework to a more Eastern, feminine-centered point of view. Chapters analyze "Pied Piper of Lover", "Panic Spring", and "The Black Book" in particular, as well offering a broader digestion of how Durrell's early work evolved and what this says of him. A welcome and erudite treatise of literary criticism.

The Spoken Word Revolution
Mark Eleveld, editor
Media Fusion/Sourcebooks
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
1402202466 $16.95 sourcebooks.com

Poetry has moved into a new world, as The Spoken Word Revolution (Slam, Hip Hop & The Poetry Of A New Generation) reveals. An audio cd accompanying written word captures some of the nuances of this world, focusing on the power of poetry performed out loud around the world. From new styles such as slam and Taos to poems by Regie Gibson, Viggo Mortensen and Saul Williams, be ready to learn about radical new styles of spoken word which blend poetry with social insights.


The Military Shelf

Walk Around: MiG-15 Faggot
Don Greer
Squadron/Signal Publications
1115 Crowley Dr., Carrollton, TX 75011
0897474953 $18.00 www.squadron.com

Number 40 in the outstanding Squadron/Signal "Walk Around" series of military aviation titles, Walk Around: MiG-15 Faggot offers military aviation enthusiasts a comprehensive overview of one of the most popular jet aircraft in the arsenal of the old Soviet Union and their allies. A profusion of both color and historical black/white photography showcases the MiG-15 Faggot including both interior and exterior features. Line drawings reveal schematic information on the aircrafts physical features and dynamics. Simply stated, no twentieth-century military aviation reference collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Squadron/Signals' Walk Around: MiG-15 Faggot.

The Longest Battle
Harry Yeide
Zenith Press/MBI Publishing Company
380 Jackson Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
www.mbipublishing.com
0760321558 $24.95 1-800-766-2388

The Longest Battle: September 1944 To February 1945, From Aachen To The Roer And Across by Harry Yeide (a Washington D.C. based international affairs analyst with the American government) is the day by day story of the American and Allied push against the Germans in the European Theatre that began on September 12, 1944 with an American patrol entering Nazi Germany southwest of the city of Aaschen and concluding several months later with American troops crossing the Roer river into the heartland of Germany. The conflict was an exceedingly bloody one that ended with a severe crippling of the German Wehrmacht forces from which they never recovered. Even though the war would continue until May of 1945, this extended confrontation that came to be called the Roer River campaign was critically vital to the eventual triumph of Allied forces, and would be the longest single military campaign of World War II. Harry Yeide's informed and informative history is superbly written and is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal or academic World War II history collection.

U.S. Army: A Complete History
Col. Raymond K. Bluhm, Jr. , editor
Army Historical
c/o Hugh L. Levin Association
9 Burr Road, Westport, CT 06880
088363113X $75.00 www.HLLA.com

Readers seeking a definitive history of the U.S. army from the 1600s to modern times must have this weighty, exhaustive reference: it truly is a complete history, surveying the Army's changes and purposes during war and peace. Gorgeous color photos and drawings pack timelines of events, some as specific as for months of a given year, while army status, general participation and resignations, division commands and processes, traditions, and medals, congressional moves and more all receive notes. Anyone seeking a weighty history that offers at-a-glance facts and dates simply have to have U.S. Army: A Complete History.

W. W. Norton & Company
500 - 5th Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
1-800-233-4830www.wwnorton.com

Any who would understand the effects of terrorism on free speech issues in modern times must take a look at the history provided in Geoffrey R. Stone's Perilous Times: Free Speech In Wartime From The Sedition Act Of 1798 To The War On Terrorism (0393327450 $17.95): it provides a narrative which considers all instances in where the U.S. government has suppressed civil liberties during major periods of war. Legal and historical detail blend in a survey which comes from a professor at University of Chicago Law School, and which uses court proceedings, challenges, and legal precedent to trace the history and impact of these events. Very highly recommended indeed: a 'must' for any concerned about free speech issues in modern times - and the influence of past decisions upon the present. Kayla Williams' Love My Rifle More Than You: Young And Female In The U.S. Army (0393060985, $24.95) isn't your usual military account: it's an autobiographical account of author Williams' five years of service, including a year of deployment to Iraq during and after its invasion, and it recounts how Williams and her peers operate as specialists in military intelligence. From being a vegetarian in the military to handling men who think the army is no place for a woman, Love My Rifle More Than You is hard-hitting, candid, and even outrageous at times. Very highly recommended.

Graphic War
Donald Nijboer
Boston Mills Press/Firefly, dist.
155 East 34th St. #5B, NY, NY 10016
1550464248 $49.95 .fireflybooks.com

World War II students interested in in-depth detail will relish Graphic War: The Secret Aviation Drawings And Illustrations Of World War II: it offers information which until recently was classified and filed away in archives from Britain and the US to Germany and the Soviet Union. Artists on all sides played a major part in the war, creating visual aids vital to pilot training and the aviation industry as a whole. Graphic War surveys artists, drawings, and how the face of the war was transformed because of their efforts. From color cut-away craft illustration to posters, schematics, charts, and other technical works, Graphic War surveys the total impact of graphic art drawings. A recommended pick for both general collections and in-depth military holdings.

Helion & Company Ltd./Casemate
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
helion.co.uk casematepublishing.com

These outstanding military specialty titles are recommended picks for any student of World War II. Hans Kissel's Hitler's Last Levy: The Volkssturm 1944-45 (1874622-515, $59.95) provides a companion to IN A Raging Inferno - Combat Units Of The Hitler Youth, but stands well on its own as a fine account of the German Home Guard, which was formed from men unfit for military service, the young, and the old. The Guard saw extensive combat and Kissel here describes the Volkssturm's training, organization, armament and more. Translations of German documents and specialty eyewitness combat reports pair with nearly two hundred black and white photos and color uniform plates to make for an intense, detailed history. Philip S. Jowett's Rays Of The Rising Sun: Armed Forces Of Japan's Asian Allies 1931-45, Volume 1: China And Manchukuo (1874622213, $59.95) is also an excellent recommendation for military collections, covering a puppet government set up in China by the Japanese and the armed forces which served this government. These 'puppet' armies were large and held over a million before 1945, and influenced the course of the Japanese war effort in China and Asia. Despised by both the Chinese and the Japanese, the troops have been largely under-represented in World War II coverages, until now. Details of their organization, training, actions, and uniform and battles make for an important study. Friedrich Georg's two-volume set Hitler's Miracle Weapons is also an excellent recommendation for in-depth military library holdings. Volume 1, The Luftwaffe And Kriegsmarine (1874622914, $55.00), describes the design and research of carrier systems for the nuclear weapons the Nazis were developing. An outline of their weapons program is accompanied by a survey of the craft the Luftwaffe adapted and put into action in anticipation of their project. Volume 2 From The V-2 To The A-9 (1874622620, $55.00) is more of an aviation title: its focus is upon the rockets and flying craft of the third Reich, and it surveys the rocket variants and German plans to utilize them against London and Paris in 1945. Each book is packed with black and white and color photos, in- depth details, specifications and descriptions, and excellent history. Duncan Rogers and Sarah Williams edit On The Bloody Road To Berlin: Frontline Accounts From North-west Europe And The Eastern Front (1874622086, $39.95), a gathering of powerful first-person accounts of the battle. From accounts from troops on all sides to editorial background information provided by the editors, you can't beat this 'you are there' collection which packs in eyewitness experience. Thorolf Hillblad's Twilight Of The Gods (1874622167, $34.95) provides a very unusual wartime account written by a Waffen-SDS soldier: it's one of the few to appear in English, originating from one of the non-German European volunteers. Originally written in Swedish and published shortly after war's end, it tells of the experiences of Swedish soldier Wallin, who volunteered for service and participated in the battles on the Eastern Front towards war's end. Wallin served in different locations in a division which gained a reputation for its combat capability: Twilight Of The Gods documents his experiences. All are highly recommended picks for specialty military collections - and 'must have' references for World War II studies.

Alaska's Hidden Wars
Otis Hays, Jr.
University of Alaska Press
Box 756240, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
188996364X $19.95 uaf.edu/uapress

On the eve of World War II Japan, the US and the Soviet Union collided in the North Pacific - and Alaska's Hidden Wars: Secret Campaigns On The North Pacific Rim charts these conflicts for the first time, revealing not minor skirmishes but major campaigns which pitted Americans against the Japanese well before Pearl Harbor. Alaska's Hidden Wars tells of Japanese raids, American campaigns, and two years of air raids and bombardments in Alaska during the war. Newly declassified archives allows the story to final come to light!


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Under Ground
Yvonne Baskin
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue N., #300, Washington, DC 20009
www.islandpress.org
1597260037 $26.95 1-800-828-1302

Under Ground: How Creatures Of Mud And Dirt Shape Our World focuses on soil and the creatures which evolve from there to shape our lives: from worms in a Minnesota forest which are making the soil too rich for wildflowers to mud-dwelling animals on the ocean floor, and soil microbes affecting both wilderness areas and gardens. Her first-person exploration reveals a teaming, vivid world underfoot.

Arctic Melting
Chad Kister
Common Courage Press
121 Red Barn Road, Monroe, ME 04951
www.commoncouragepress.com
1567512844 $14.95 www.amazon.com

Climate change is destroying the Arctic, and Chad Kister documents this destruction in Arctic Melting, a survey not just of Arctic events, but how they affect every state in the US and continents around the world. More than 150 species of birds from 6 continents and all 50 states breed on the coastal plain of the Arctic: Kister's coverage is to be commended for its attention to linking Arctic events to the rest of the world's ecosystems and concerns.


The Audiobook Shelf

Are Men Necessary?
Maureen Dowd
Penguin Audio Books
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014-3657
0143058282 $29.95 www.penguin.com

Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide is the latest audiobook by Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. Read aloud by the author, who perfectly delivers her dry wit and charm, Are Men Necessary? is not an attack on men (despite its title), nor is it a demand for social change - rather, it simply presents the author's often bemused observations of male-female relationships in the twenty-first century, as well as the sometimes retrograde progression of ideas about what makes a woman truly "liberated". Drawing carefully from modern statistical data, Dowd notes that driven career women are less likely to marry or raise children. Men tend to seek lifemates of lower social status or earning power while women tend to seek lifemates of higher status or earning power; to the detriment of the successful female executive who sees prospective mates chasing after maids. While women have learned to work themselves to death in the manner that men do, men have learned to benefit from hissy fits and gossip in the manner that women do. Does female empowerment have to come at the price of reproductive opportunity? Or is it yet possible for women to salvage earning power, social equality, and dreams of a husband and family? Are Men Necessary? doesn't have any hard and fast answers, but it asks the right questions, in a wry process sure to bring hysterical laughter. Also highly recommended is Maureen Dowd's political critique and column collection, "Bushworld."

The Fortune Of War
Patrick O'Brian
Books On Tape, Inc.
Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
www.librarybooksontape.com
1415922810 $72.00 1-800-541-5525

Set during the War of 1812, The Fortune Of War is an audiobook novel following Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N., and his friend Stephen Maturin, a former secret agent. When Captain Jack Aubrey receives an appointment to command the best-armed frigate in the Navy, both men seek passage from the Dutch East Indies to England in a dispatch vessel; yet the war breaks out when they are en route, placing them in peril of life and limb. Grippingly narrated by John Lee, The Fortune Of War is a thrilling tale of survival on the high seas amid deadly conflict. 8 cassettes, 11 hours 35 minutes.

Highbridge Audio
33 S. 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402
www.highbridgeaudio.com

Haynes Johnson's The Age Of Anxiety: McCarthyism To Terrorism (1565119975, $34.95) receives Kristoffer Tabori's dramatic rendition as it provides journalist Johnson's history of the demagogue Joseph McCarthy and his reign of terror during the 1950s with his anti-Communist crusade. Johnson re-creates the key figures of the times and their interactions - and also offers insights for modern times as civil liberties are being challenged. A timely story comes alive in audio. Jill Lepore's New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery And Conspiracy In 18th Century Manhattan (1565119681, $29.95) receives a vivid reading by Beth McDonald and tells of an 18th century conspiracy by slaves to destroy New York City: a history nearly forgotten were it not for this vivid story. Audio brings the story to life in a way the written word is hard-pressed to compete with as it recreates events and rationale. Most striking of all is Joan Didion's The Year Of Magical Thinking (15-9887005X, 26.95), with a dramatic reading by Barbara Caruso bringing to life the gripping autobiographical story of author Didion, who faced the end of a comfortable and happy life when her only daughter fell ill with septic shock and her husband died of a heart attack days later. Her powerful account of the months and years which followed comes alive in audio and is a recommendation not only for Didion fans, but for any who have lost a loved one. Garrison Keillor's Local Man Moves To The City (1598870025, $13.95) presents Keillor's comedy at its best: a funny account of the radio company presence's Minnesota home and roots, and his New York life. Cuts from various broadcasts make for a varied selection of insights and enjoyable listens. Haven Kimmel's A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small In Mooreland, Indiana (1598870106, $26.95) offers a memoir of a happy childhood, which stands in stark contrast to the current popularity of miserable pasts. Kimmel's delightful story is funny, warm-hearted, and involving: especially in this audio version, narrated by the author herself.

Audio Renaissance
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
1-800-221-7945 audiorenaissance.com

Prior fans of Robert Jordan's lengthy 'Wheel of Time' series will be delighted to see Book Eleven of his drama, Knife Of Dreams (1593977654 $69.95), sequel to Crossroads Of Twilight, in audio: it even includes a bonus interview with author Jordan himself as it pairs a gripping dual narration by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer with the equally complex, involving story of walking dead, impossible deaths, and fractured reality. Rand must confront the Dark One if humanity has any hope of survival - but first he must have all the seals on the Dark One's prison and has to handle an impossible army. In this showdown between good and evil there is no place of safety in the world - and nothing other than two sides. Knife Of Dreams comes alive in audio and softens the complexity of the story line with high drama only audio can bring to life. Margaret Weis' Master Of Dragons (1593973578, $49.95) receives Suzanne Toren's vivid reading as it concludes Weiss' Dragonvarld trilogy, a story of politics, war and struggle. Familiarity with the prior books is recommended for a smooth continuation of a powerful story of violence, betrayal, and a divided kingdom which incites war and outlaw dragons. A powerful fantasy. Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva's Hidden Kitchens (1593978332, $19.95) receives actress Frances McDormand's excellent performance as it relates the 'Kitchen Sisters' world of street-corner cooking and community food efforts. From a street kitchen in San Francisco to a NASCAR kitchen in the racing pits themselves, kitchen stories first heard on NPR's 'Morning Edition' translate just as well to audio here.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, 8th fl., NY, NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 randomhouse.com/audio

These excellent listens are sure to be popular picks for discriminating audio cd fans. Andrew Weil's Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide To Your Physical And Spiritual Well-Being (0739314092, $27.50), to its credit, enjoys the author's own reading - and he's a powerful speaker indeed - as it tells of his methods for achieving optimum health without rejecting the natural process of aging. Aging is inevitable, he says - but it doesn't have to prove disabling. Keep mind and body in good working condition as the aging process evolves with Healthy Aging. Daniel G. Amen, MD's Making A Good Brain Great (073932229X, $27.50) also enjoys the author's own reading as it tells of how to exercise the brain to retain optimum mental health. People stress their brains by working too hard and not sleeping enough, pollute them with caffeine and drugs, and seem to have no idea the brain has its own requirements to stay healthy. Making A Good Brain Great tells how to assure the brain lasts as long as the body. Brian Strause's Maybe A Miracle (0739323512, $29.95) receives Michael Louis Wells' off-Broadway acting skills and voice as it tells of teen Monroe, terrified of a sadistic older brother who is a rising star, and a workaholic unobservant father. Only his sister and girlfriend know his inner being - and when his sister slips into a coma from a near-drowning, Monroe is left with heartbreak and difficult decisions. Danielle Steel's Toxic Bachelors (073931-3401, $29.95) explores dating and love in a novel which presents the lives of three single men who are best friends and confirmed bachelors. Kyf Brewer's narration brings the romance to life with all its twists and turns.

The Truth With Jokes
Al Franken
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1596000600 $38.95 brillianceaudio.com

The Truth With Jokes is the unabridged audiobook presentation of Al Franken's latest commentary on the state of recent affairs in American politics, both at home and abroad. The Truth With Jokes is read aloud by the author, featuring the occasional audio transcript of political figures such as President George W. Bush imported directly from public news broadcasts, so that listeners may hear the President and other notable individuals in their own voices, whereas readers of the print book had to be content with simply reading quotes. The Truth With Jokes covers matters in the USA from President Bush's 2004 electoral victory and subsequent pretense to a "mandate" (Franken begs to differ, putting forth that Bush's squeaky-thin margin of electoral victory is a "close shave", not a "mandate"), how Bush's administration sought to privatize/undermine Social Security and almost got away with it, how Republicans decided the unfortunate Terri Schiavo would make "a great political issue", lies and liars in the right-wing media, and much more. Is the administration's most damning indictment its extreme failure to properly secure Iraq with sufficient troops and planning after winning the war - its refusal to even listen to military experts, from George Bush Sr. to Colin Powell and many others - allowing Iraq in general and a massive explosives and ammunition dump in particular to be thoroughly looted, allowing widespread corruption to squander the billions meant for Iraq's reconstruction? Or is it Tom "forced abortions" DeLay, and (among other things) his campaign against labor reforms for an island territory considered to be American soil - a territory in which sexual slavery, contaminated drinking water for laborers, and forced abortions on the women coerced into prostitution are the norm? Why are commercialized rape and forced abortion permitted on American soil, and why is no one in the media but Al Franken saying anything about it? It sounds like a thriller about charismatic ideologues, amoral money-grubbers and power poitics gone amok, yet its all too real; Franken is well-known for his incessant attention to detail, and his employment of a small army of fact-checkers known as Team Franken. Franken's wit makes listening to true, factually documented, meticulous deconstructions of the most abominable lies, cover-ups, excuses, greed and incompetence as entertaining as it is shocking; not shocking in the sense of a slasher movie, but rather shocking in the sense of yes, your government is failing you, right here, right now, here is the proof. Don't believe it? Listen to Al Franken (you'll be splitting your sides in laughter even if you don't want to believe him) and double-check the facts yourself if you dare; Team Franken has already quadruple-checked them. Highly recommended, an absolute "must-listen". 8 CDs, 12 hours.

A Tale Of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Naxos AudioBooks
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9626343591 $74.98 1-877-629-6723

Anton Lesser provides a fine British accent and flair to Dickens' complete unabridged classic A Tale Of Two Cities. Here's where audio really shines, providing an award-winning Dickens reader who excels in dramatic characterizations and flair. Listen to A Tale Of Two Cities and you'll see why the written word - especially in the classics - has the ability to shine forth in audio much more than on the page.

Recorded Books
270 Skipjack, Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com

Santa Montefiore's The Swallow And The Hummingbird (141934417X, $119.75) receives newcomer Juanita McMahon's excellent ability to bring romance to life as it tells of Rita, who looks forward to a childhood sweetheart's homecoming and marriage, only to find it changed by her love's war experience. Sue Gee's The Mysteries Of Glass (1419344381, $119.75) is set in the winter of 1860 and also features a fine narrative style by Glen McCready, who brings the story of a young curate's first job threatened by an illicit romance. Stephen Booth's Black Dog (141934420X, $119.75) enjoys Christopher Kay's excellent narrative power and ability to bring high drama to life as it tells of a missing teen, a retried miner who discovers her body, and a young DC who faces a ruthless detective. It takes a good narrator to present such a complex story smoothly: Kay does a strong job. Laurie Graham's Mr. Starlight (1419344269, $89.75) receives Jonathan Keeble's excellent dramatic account as it tells of a brother who decides to go for New York fame. All are outstanding library picks - and even better, the CDs have easy track separations for returning to the right spot!

Penton Overseas
2470 Impala Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
www.pentonoverseas.com

Two excellent audios are very different, recommended listens. Graham Fuller, CIA and US Foreign Services veteran, offers his insider's advice on how to learn any language in A Spymaster's Secrets Of Learning A Foreign Language (1591252-288, $19.95). These are tips and techniques gained from Fuller's overseas career and offer many insights, from listening to a language and discovering how it works to learning how to acquire specific skills. Christopher Byron's Testosterone Inc.: Tales Of CEOs Gone Wild (1591254-833, $18.95) tells of greed and a group of corporate CEOs who were on top at a time when stocks were rising and business leaders were king. Eventually absolute power corrupts - and Byron tells how these moguls became corrupted as fame continued.

Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com

Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes (07435-50927, $49.95) won the Pulitzer price with its memoir of the author's Depression-era Irish roots. His childhood poverty and his survival of near-starvation and the cruelty of adults makes for a gripping saga even more meaningful for its rendering in audio by the author himself. Readers and fans of Angela's Ashes will find his Teacher Man (0743549937, $49.95) another self-narrated account of how his teaching career shaped his career as a writer. From his encounters in public high schools around New York City to how his lessons with teaching translated to writing skills, Teacher Man is filled with moving moments and insights. Stephen King's The Colorado Kid (0743550404, $29.95) receives Jeffrey DeMunn's excellent film voice and brings to life this story of a dead stranger's mystery. A local newspaperman and a gad student in forensics search for clues; but what they find only adds more mystery and seems to point to an impossible crime.

Tantor Media
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantor.com

Classics come alive in audio for even reluctant students, and three new unabridged audio cd presentations are top picks for students and adults who want vivid action paired with classics. Arthur Conan Doyle's His Last Bow (1400101697, $29.95) enjoys Tom Whitworth's solid reading style as it tells another powerful Sherlock Holmes mystery; Rudyard Kipling's Man Who Would Be King & Other Stories (1400100461, $24.99) tells of two Englishmen who set off into wild India to win a kingdom and enjoys Rebecca Burns' smooth accent and emphasis on a classic adventure, and H.G. Wells' Island Of Doctor Moreau (1400100534, $24.99) enjoys Jonathan Kent's spirited rendition as it tells of a brilliant biologist whose delivery of exotic animals to his private island is added to by a shipwrecked man. All are spirited, involving audio listens and are very highly recommended indeed; especially for high school and public library holdings.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Guide To Marine Invertebrates
Daniel W. Gotshall
Sea Challengers
4 Sommerset Rise, Monterey, CA 93940
0930118375 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Now in a revised second edition, Guide To Marine Invertebrates: Alaska To Baja California is a full color field identification guide that is easy for both professionals and amateurs to use. Featuring 286 entries, each with a gorgeous full-color photograph and a paragraph of information detailing its scientific name, identifying features, size, range and habitat, Guide To Marine Invertebrates makes identifying and classifying marine invertebrates simple. An introduction, glossary, pictorial key to phyla, and index round out this very handy and quite practical marine biologist's tool.

Planted Aquariums
Christel Kasselmann
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575242656 $33.50 1-800-724-0025

Written by an internationally recognized expert on aquarium plants, and the editor of "Aqua-Planta" magazine, Planted Aquariums: Creation And Maintenance is an in-depth guide to the many nuances of keeping both common and exotic plants in aquariums. From light, soil, and water quality requirements, to problem solving and fish in planted aquariums, to special information concerning Dutch and Japanese planted tanks, Planted Aquariums is a meticulous resource, accessible to both novice and experienced aquarium owners, and a "must-have" for anyone seeking to cultivate a vibrant and healthy aquarium environment. Stunning full-color photographs on every page illustrate this handy and detailed guide.

Florida's Birds
David S. Maehr & Herbert W. Kale II
Karl Karalus, illustrator
Pineapple Press, Inc.
PO Box 3889, Sarasota, FL 34230-3889
www.pineapple.com
1561643351 $21.95 1-800-746-3275

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Florida's Birds: A Field Guide And Reference is a wonderful guide for Florida birdwatchers. Every section has been updated, and 30 new species added. A brief introduction and overview leads into the species-by-species listings that include the names, description, habitat, range, life cycle summary, and a color-coded at-a-glance list of the months each species can be found within Florida. Perhaps most captivating of all is illustrator Karl Karalus' full-color renditions of each bird species, in a meticulous and lifelike manner reminiscent of Audubon himself, making Florida's Birds a delight to simply page through. Highly recommended for Florida ornithologists and bird lovers.

Canine Massage
Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, L.M.T.
Dogwise Publishing
Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778
www.dogwisepublishing.com
1929242085 $22.95 1-800-776-2665

Now in an updated second edition, Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual is for dog trainers, breeders, handlers, and ordinary pet owners alike. Author and licensed massage therapist Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, who treated athletes and world dignitaries before he applied his animal empathy talents toward canine massage, offers clear information illustrated with practical black-and-white "how-to" diagrams. Chapters cover dog kinesiology, principles and concepts of massage, common stress areas, stretching, hydrotherapy, common problems such as inflammation and scar tissue, and much more. Canine Massage is a serious, in-depth guide written by an expert, for professionals, although it is comprehensible to lay people. A "must-have" for anyone charged with holistic therapeutic treatment of a stressed or sick dog.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2006
Alan Greenwood & Gil Hembree
Vintage Guitar/Hal Leonard Corp.
PO Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213
1884883176 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Vintage Guitar Magazine has been the source for pricing thousands of guitars over the decades, and this expanded 2006 edition of Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide 2005: The Only Complete Guide provides the latest details. Prices are offered for those in excellent condition by 'low' and 'high' prices and are arranged by maker for quick and easy location. Small black and white photos of guitars appear on every page; but it's the values, notes and company histories which make this price guide so invaluable.

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

Bookends might seem an unlikely object to collect, but take a look at the gorgeous ends featured in Louis Kuritzky & Charles De Costa 's Collector's Encyclopedia Of Bookends: Identification & Values (157-4324330 $29.95) to catch a glimpse of some outstanding productions. Chapters are organized A-Z by subject: children, felines, female figures and each section features small clear color photos, object composition and rarity notes, prices, and dates. A 'must have' reference for any collecting bookends. B. J. Summers and Wayne Priddy's Value Guide To Gas Station Memorabilia (1574324403, $29.95) appears in its updated second edition to provide the latest values to signs, cans, maps and more from vintage gas station days. Bright medium-sized color photos throughout compliment chapters conveniently organized by memorabilia type - signs, containers, thermometers, even pumps and globes - to make for quick, easy browsing and reference. The weighty Collector's Encyclopedia Of Stangl Artware, Lamps And Birds Identification & Values (1574324543, $29.95) by Robert C. Runge Jr. offers a pleasing layout which lends to quick reference: color-coded sidebars of values accompany bright color photos and a guide which packs in Stangl company history and issues and reissues in an invaluable guide. Very strong recommendations for avid genre collectors, indeed. Volume One of Raycrafts' Americana Price Guide (1574324810, $19.95) comes with a cd of details and packs every page with small but clear, bright color photos of collectibles still available at markets, antique shows, garage sales and more. History blends with a price guide - and the DVD of interviews with fellow collectors who share insights and tips is not to be missed, enhancing the entire product. Robert and Claudette Reed's Postcards For The Holidays, 2nd Edition (1574324764, $24.95) arrived too late for more timely Christmas mention, but since holiday collecting is really a year-round occupation, it's not too late to mention the ongoing reference value of Postcards For The Holidays Identification & Value Guide, which appears in its 2nd updated edition. Pages come packed with color photos of seasonal cards organized by holiday along with current prices. The chapters each introduce with a history of manufacturers and approaches to further the educational teachings.

The Black Glass Encyclopedia
W. Virginia Museum of American Glass
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
0764323121 $39.95 schifferbooks.com

Books on nearly every kind of glass, from Fenton to Depression, abound for collectors; but here's one that stands out from the crowd: The Black Glass Encyclopedia, a price guide and history for over eight hundred different animals, bowls, candlesticks, plates, stemware and more. 19th and 20th century black glass was produced by a range of firms and makers: all are represented here, with manufacturer catalog copy accompanying company history, production features, identification and values. So many collectors' glass titles focus on the same types that it's refreshing to see something truly unique in the genre.


The Poetry Shelf

The Urge To Travel Long Distances
Robert Bly
Eastern Washington University Press
705 West 1st Ave., Spokane, WA 99201
1597660043 $18.00 1-800-508-9095

The Urge To Travel Long Distances is a brief collection of free-verse poems by award-winning author and poet Robert Bly, about observing the shifts of nature and the seasons. A moody and reverentially respectful soliloquy about the splendor of the wild, The Urge To Travel Long Distances is easy to read through quickly yet deserves to be slowly savored. Gnats: This cloud of gnats resembles / Ghost substance- / It changes / Shape, lifts or sinks // They are too excited- / They can't be feeding. / So few days to live / And they spend it this way!

Monologue Of A Dog
Wislawa Szymborska
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th St., 15th fl., NY, NY 10010
www.harcourtbooks.com
0151012202 $22.00 1-800-543-1918

Featuring both the original Polish text and a full English translation, Monologue Of A Dog is a contemplative poetry collection musing about elements as diverse as unremembered love, mislaid keys in the grass, the district firemen's ball, and the wonders of the cosmos. Author Wislawa Szymborska, who earned the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1996, offers poignantly insightful lyrics that cut straight to the emotional quick of the reader. A Memory: We were chatting / and suddenly stopped short. / A lovely girl stepped onto the terrace, / so lovely, / too lovely / for us to enjoy our trip. // Basia shot her husband a stricken look. / Krystyna took Zbyszek's hand / reflexively. / I thought: I'll call you, / tell you, don't come just yet, / they're predicting rain for days. // Only Agnieszka, a widow, / met the lovely girl with a smile.

Lighting At Dinner
Jim Moore
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
www.graywolfpress.org
1555974252 $14.00 1-651-641-0077

The sixth poetry collection by Jim Moore, Lighting At Dinner is a thoughtful meditation upon the power of art to express and distill feelings of loss. The topics explored include losing one's mother forever, seeing another country, or the shock of experiencing a war fought against one's own wishes, in one's own name. The poignant free verse perfectly captures the timeless nuance of wistful emotion. Teaching the Dog Not to Nip: Do you think it's easy, / not biting / the one you love? / Try loving someone so much / your mouth is only at home / in the place where your teeth / meet the flesh / of your beloved. Try / not tasting the flesh, not taking in your mouth / the beloved, not / going all the way.

For My Father
Dennis Sampson
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
www.milkweed.org
1571314180 $14.95 1-800-520-6455

For My Father: Falling Asleep At Saint Mary's Hospital is a book-length poem, written in response to the impending death of the author's elderly parent. An emotional blend of eulogy, meditation, memory, and testimony to the courage required to bear witness, For My Father is profound in its emotion, attachment, and ponderance upon the impermanence of life. A deeply poignant and touching tribute to a loved one lost. Sing to me. I don't have the strength // to do anything but sit here and listen. Lay your bald head on my lap / if you wish. This is your death and I don't want to insist / if you can't handle this. Nevertheless a little jingle / would be pleasing: mumbled, hummed, a note or two or three.

The Real Enough World
Karen Brennan
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
0819567515 $22.95 1-800-421-1561

English professor Karen Brennan reveals her talents and her imagination in The Real Enough World, a poetry collection filled with speculation about the reinvention of the self through the creative and poetic process. Reflective poems in a wide variety of poetic formats, from short meter free-verse to long paragraphs approaching stream-of-consciousness, The Real Enough World offers a walk on the wild side of belief, understanding, philosophy, and purpose. Prayer for Y: trees & shadows / trees & shadows / expanding longly // coat & hat / away we go / the glove is gone // a sock of blue / & here's the shoe / the bed is white // the window burning / the sky a hum / the hum a wounded sound // dear dear dear sir / forgive the madness / bluest blank block // rock my rock / with thee in blankness rock / wherefore here with thee

Poems And Elegies
Olga Sedakova, author
Slava I. Yastremski, compiler
Bucknell University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
0838755585 $19.95 1-609-655-4770

Expertly compiled and annotated by Slava Yastremski, Poems And Elegies is an anthology of lyric poetry by Olga Sedakova, skillfully translated from the original Russian. Sedakova survived years of silencing and censorship during the Soviet regime, and her works looked to the early avant-garde movements of pre-revolutionary Russia, far removed from the commercialism and capitalism saturating contemporary Russian life. A trilogy of introductory essays by distinguished authors prepare the reader to experience Sedakova's profound and sometimes tragic insights. Highly recommended. The Nothing: Feeble / completely feeble, / like the nothing / that creating hands haven't yet touched, / the hands of hope, and to its lure // a sprout rises up from a tilled black field / a four-day Lazarus rises / tied hand and foot / in his burial shroud / that is deader than death: // the nothing / the absolute nothing, / my soul! be silent / until it touches you.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Japanese Sword Fighting
Masaaki Hatsumi
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022
www.kodansha-intl.com
4770021984 $35.00 1-800-451-7556

Informatively written by renowned Budo and Ninja grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi and ably translated into English by Bruce Appleby and Doug Wilson, Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets Of The Samurai is an in-depth manual about the skill and art of traditional Japanese sword fighting. Black-and-white photographs by Minoru Hirata and Kyuzo Akashi copiously illustrate methods of drawing and resheathing swords, and sword strikes and cuts, while the skillfully translated text delves into the philosophical and spiritual aspects of swordsmanship as surely as the martial arts and physical aspects. Illustrations of traditional samurai dress and full armor, and an appendix of the original Japanese text round out Masaaki Hatsumi's Japanese Sword Fighting, a truly "must-have" manual for Japanese swordsmanship enthusiasts.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Long Walk To Freedom
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Heads Up International
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
CD $18.98 www.amazon.com

Long Walk To Freedom is the latest music CD release of the energetic and inspirational group of South African artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo, recognizing the twentieth year of their introduction to the worldwide stage. Long Walk To Freedom consists of twelve new recordings of classic Mambazo songs, with guest vocal performances by contemporary pop music stars such as Taj Mahal, Zap Mama, Joe McBride and many more, as well as leading South African artists such as Lucky Dube, Vusi Mahlasela, and Thandiswa. Spanning the length of the band's thirty-year history, the selected songs are Nomathemba (4:12), Hello My Baby (4:56), Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes (5:42), Homeless (4:11), Rain Rain Beautiful Rain (3:01), How Long (5:11), Mbube (3:59), Amazing Grace/Nearer My God To Thee (3:28), Nkosi Sikelel 'lAfrica (2:26), Inkanyezi Nezazi "Star and the Wiseman" (5:00), Shosholoza (4:50), Long Walk To Freedom "Halala South Africa" (5:11) and Thula Thula "Bonus Track" 1:49. More than just a music CD, Long Walk To Freedom doubles as a multimedia CD-ROM, PC & Macintosh compatible, with a video and artist profile and much more. A superb auditory tribute to a talented and widely beloved performance group, and a treasure especially for fans of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.


The Civil War Shelf

Guarding The Overland Trails
Robert Huhn Jones
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
www.ahclark.com
0870623400 $31.50 1-800-842-9286

Guarding The Overland Trails: The Eleventh Ohio Cavalry In The Civil War is the fascinating true story of the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry, which enlisted to fight Confederates during the Civil War yet were assigned to a task that was just as important, even though its historical significance was deeply overshadowed by the greater clash between North and South. The Eleventh Ohio Cavalry were tasked with protecting the overland roads of the west, particularly those leading to the valuable new states of California and Oregon, and the emigrants who traveled along them. Often strung out along roads in small detachments, charged with building and rebuilding tiny stations and other posts, the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry rarely served as one unit yet braved deadly conflict with Native American tribes and lethal winters. Often the diaries of enlisted men are quoted at length, describing their service, in this welcome addition to American Civil War history and reference.

Blockade Runners Of The Confederacy
Hamilton Cochran
The University of Alabama Press
Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
www.uapress.ua.edu
0817351698 $22.95 1-800-621-2736

Now with a new introduction by Robert M. Browning Jr., Blockade Runners Of The Confederacy is a highly readable, historical chronicle of the men and ships who dared to run Union naval blockades during the Civil War, bringing munitions, medicine, champagne, and silk to the Confederacy. Packed with true stories of daring and excitement, Blockade Runners Of The Confederacy numerous quotes and testimonies from primary sources as well as an in-depth assessment of what life was like for blockade runners and their ultimate contribution to how the war progressed. A handful of black-and-white photographs and an index for quick reference rounds out this fascinating scrutiny of the Civil War on the high seas.


The Philosophy Shelf

Philosophical Writing
A. P. Martinich
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
www.blackwellpublishing.com
1405131675 $19.95 1-800-216-2522

Now in an updated and revised third edition, Philosophical Writing: An Introduction is a methodical guide intended for novice philosophers to successfully organize their thoughts on paper. New to the updated edition are examples of the structures of a philosophical essay, new examples of rough drafts, advice for studying for a test, and a new section on how to make effective use of the internet. Written by a professor of philosophy, history, and government, Philosophical Writing: An Introduction is packed from cover to cover with plain terms, good advice, and rigorous structural guidelines, making it a "must-have" reference book, especially for undergraduate philosophy students.


The Psychology Shelf

Character Psychology And Character Education
Daniel K. Lapsley & F. Clark Power, eds.
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
0268033722 $25.00 1-800-621-2736

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Daniel K. Lapsley & F. Clark Power, Character Psychology And Character Education is an impressive compendium of articles written by diverse professors of psychology and presents a critical assembly of essays offering new views on the nature of character and moral education, drawing from the disciplines of moral psychology, moral philosophy, and education. Chapters discuss whether sports really can "build character", the rise and fall of character education in America, the question of how "moral learning through experience" in college shapes character, and much more. Carefully researched and prepared with strict attention to the latest psychological and sociological theory, Character Psychology And Character Education is a welcome addition to psychology shelves in an era when instilling proper character virtues in young people seems to be a more overwhelming task than ever.


The Fiction Shelf

Rorey's Secret
Leisha Kelly
Fleming H. Revell/Baker Book House
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0800759850 $12.99 bakerbooks.com

Rorey's Secret is a novel about two families who find their faith in God severely tested by the destruction of a raging fire. One woman harbors a disturbing secret about what really caused the fire, yet she is trapped at a crossroads between telling the truth and betraying a promise to a close friend. An emotionally moving story about faith, hard choices, and the healing power of forgiveness unfolds. Also recommended are author Leisha Kelly's previous novels, "Julia's Hope", "Emma's Gift", and "Katie's Dream".

Leib Weihnachtskuchen And His Child
Karl Emil Franzos, author
Michael Mitchell, translator
Ariadne Press
270 Goins Court, Riverside, CA 92507
1572411376 $22.00 ariadnebooks.com

Fluently translated into English by Michael Mitchell, Leib Weihnachtskuchen And His Child is the story of a tragic attraction between a Janko, a Gentile struggling with a heavy mortgage owed to three local moneylenders, and Miriam, the daughter of the impoverished Jewish innkeeper Leib. Though Janko originally loathes the innkeeper, he comes to learn that the Jew is not the vampiric miser he imagined, and as the throes of love overtake him, he vows "one bed or one grave" for himself and Miriam. Yet Leib and his wife hope to provide for their daughter by marrying her to and old Jew with money and property. A novel of heart-rending emotion and clashing temperaments, set in Podolia, now part of the Ukraine, during the nineteenth century.

Operation Vampyr
David Bishop
Black Flame/BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Port Pleasant, NJ 08742
1844162745, $6.99 www.blackflame.com

The German invasion of Russia in 1941 is underway. As they smash through Russia defenses, German units unite with their allies, the axis Romanian soldiers. That is when one young German soldier comes to realize that the Romanians in a platoon led by the young nobleman Constanta are vampires. When Romania switches sides and joins the allies, the young solider has the fight of his life trying to survive as Constanta and his vampires try to protect their dark secret from both sides. Operation Vampyr is the first in the new "Fiends of the Eastern Front" trilogy by David Bishop, fantasy action enthusiasts will be left looking eagerly toward the second volume, Blood Red Army, schedules for release in April 2006!

Ulverscroft Large Print Books Limited
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224
1-800-955-9659 www.ulverscroftusa.com

Ulverscroft is a premier distributor of large print books for library systems. The titles they offer are characterized by sturdy bindings, "reader friendly" fonts, and whether fiction or non-fiction, represent some of the most enduringly popular reading available. Among their most recent (and highly recommended) titles are Edward Marston's The Excursion Train (0750524057, $32.50, Magna Large Print) which is mystery novel set in the days of the Great Western Railway excursion train. Passengers aboard the train are being strangled by a noose and its up to Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant Sergeant Victor Lemming to stop the killer any way they can. Joyce Holms' Hidden Depths (1846170214, $32.50, Thorpe) is another Fizz and Buchanan mystery where the oddly matched duo must solve what exactly is going on at the stately but impoverished Abbeyfield House. Mollie Harris' The Green Years (0753193469, $32.50, Isis Reminiscence) is the memoir of Mollie Harris, one of seven children brought up in the Oxfordshire village of Ducklington. Anecdotal stories of the joys and hardships of life in her poor, hard-working family provide a kind of "window in time" through which we may view her experiences of hot days by the river, cold winters in the classroom, friends and family and life in a country village in a time long gone from our own. Librarians are encouraged to visit the Ulverscroft website and request their catalogs for complete listings of the hundreds of fine titles from which could easily be compiled a superb collection of titles to interest their patrons in need of a large print format.


The Science Shelf

Signal Processing
Charles L. Byrne
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
1568812426 $69.00 www.akpeters.com

Signal Processing: A Mathematical Approach is a solid, college-level text about the mathematics behind signal processing, focusing on the mathematical background and tools needed to comprehend and employ signal processing techniques. Covering such topics as Fourier series and transforms, transmission and emission topography and image reconstruction, optimization techniques, high-resolution methods, and much more, Signal Processing includes descriptive instructionals, examples, figures and graphs, and exercises to refine one's grasp of the mathematical principles. A singularly valuable textbook or self-study resource for students and professionals, whether preparing for a future career or brushing up on standby skills.


The Library Science Shelf

The Romance Of Libraries
Madeleine Lefebvre, editor
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.scarecrowpress.com
0810853523 $25.00 1-800-462-6420

The Romance Of Libraries is a delightful anthology of true-life tales about emotional attachments and loving relationships formed within libraries and the library field. Grouped loosely by context, the stories range from happy to sad to a mixture of joy and sorrow, and include tales of reading room romance, bookmobile romance, library school romance, library cupids, and more. Offering a vital message that physical libraries are a crucial, community building block in a manner that virtual libraries cannot duplicate, The Romance Of Libraries is both lighthearted and an intensely satisfying collection of love stories.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Pirkei Avot - Ethics Of The Fathers
Rabbi Yosef Marcus, compiler
Merkos Publications
291 Kingston Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11213
0826601472 $10.00 kehotonline.com

Featuring a new commentary anthologized from the works of the classic commentators and chasidic masters, Pirkei Avot - Ethics Of The Fathers is crafted especially to guide the layperson to understanding the classic Judaic text. The original Hebrew text and a modern vernacular English translation appear on every two-page spread; to further the reader's understanding of the tractate, select phrases from the English translation appear at the bottom of the page with a synopsis of scholarly insights from assorted sources. Designed to make obscure concepts and complex philosophic and spiritual principles as accessible as possible, Pirkei Avot - Ethics Of The Fathers is a "must" for novice readers seeking improved comprehension of this tractate.


The Folklore/Mythology Shelf

Hindu Folk Tales From Ancient Ceylon
Dick de Ruiter, translator and compiler
Binkey Kok Publications
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress St, 4th fl, Boston MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
9074597874 $18.95 1-800-423-7087

Hindu Folk Tales From Ancient Ceylon is a brilliant and multifaceted anthology of Hindu folk tales populated by fierce kings, attractive princes, colorful magicians, talking animals, and other fantastic images of Asian myth and legend. Handed down through the oral tradition of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and first recorded by British colonists and missionaries in the early 20th century, they offer a glimpse of a life and worldview long before globalization flattened and homogenized cultural fantasy. Compiled and expertly translated into English by Dick de Ruiter, Hindu Folk Tales From Ancient Ceylon is enthusiastically recommended for mythology and folklore shelves.

Beautiful Angiola
Laura Gonzenbach, author
Jack Zipes, translator
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
0415977223 $37.50 1-800-634-7064

Beautiful Angiola: The Lost Sicilian Folk And Fairy Tales Of Laura Gonzenbach is truly an unearthed treasure of Sicilian folk and fairy tales. Originally compiled by a young Swiss-German woman named Laura Gonzenbach, who spoke with peasant women throughout Sicily, gathered their stories, and published a High German edition in 1870, Beautiful Angiola has since been rediscovered by children's literature expert Jack Zipes, who translated it into English for the first time. Zipes also contributed an introduction to this timeless collection of sometimes tongue-in- cheek, sometimes moralistic, sometimes sad, sometimes uproarious stories and legends. Beautiful Angiola is a "must-have" for personal, academic, and community library folktale and fairy tale collections.

From The Land Of Sheba
Carolyn Han
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060
1566565715 $13.95 interlinkbooks.com

From The Land Of Sheba: Yemeni Folk Tales is a simply outstanding anthology of some of the oldest stories, fables, and legends of human civilization. Nearly all of the stories are brief; though they carry the weight of history, author Carolyn Han smoothly retells them just as if they happened yesterday. A fascinating, timeless capture of Yemeni culture and traditions, as well as a superb addition to academic and community library folklore shelves.

If you want a healthy democracy you are going to need a literate and informed electorate. But that will cost money, effort and planning. So, just how much do you really want to live in a democracy?


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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