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Volume 18, Number 10 October 2008 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Philosophy Shelf Literary Shelf
Fiction Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Self-Help Shelf International Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Education Shelf Psychology Shelf Music Shelf
Criminology Shelf Biography Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Native American Shelf Science Shelf Gaming Shelf
Architecture Shelf Photography Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Crafts Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Travel Shelf
Sports Shelf Parenting Shelf Business Shelf
Civil War Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
American History Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Art Shelf
Archaeology Shelf World History Shelf Political Science Shelf
Genealogy Shelf Woodworking Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Military Shelf Interior Design Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Poetry Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library DVD Shelf Library Science Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Black Studies Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Let's Talk Turkey
Rosemarie Ostler
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591026259, $18.95 www.prometheusbooks.com

LET'S TALK TURKEY: THE STORIES BEHIND AMERICA'S FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS adds to the literary trivia shelf and is a fine pick for any library where word history or word quizzes are popular. From 'going on the wagon' to 'bury the hatchet', this bypasses the usual dictionary format to provide a lively survey of how Americans enhanced and changed speech, arranging expressions by cultural categories to emphasize regional developments and differences.

How to Get Rich As a Televangelist or Faith Healer
Bill Wilson
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder CO, 80301
9781581606546, $25.00, www.paladin-press.com

When P. T. Barnum stated that "there's a sucker born every minute" – he never meant that those 'suckers' weren't good people, simply that they were capable of being deceived by the unscrupulous. "How to Get Rich As a Televangelist or Faith Healer" is Bill Wilson's expose on this special brand of confidence trickster. Pointing out how these wildly charismatic and greedy con men exploit a religion known for love and charity to only divert that charity and love to themselves. "How to Get Rich As a Televangelist or Faith Healer" tells of how these people exploit religious tax-free status and other loop holes to make their millions off of the gullible and trusting. Warning readers that if there is a Christian hell, "How to Get Rich" underscores that using the tactics of the hypocritical televangelist is also a sure and certain way to have God prepare a first class ticket to the domain of Satan when the time comes. "How to Get Rich As a Televangelist or Faith Healer" is strongly recommended reading and an important addition to personal, academic, and community library collections.

For the Love of the Packers
Frederick C. Klein, author
Mark Anderson, artist
Triumph Books
The Pontiac Building, 542 South Dearborn Street, Suite 750, Chicago, Illinois 60605
9781600781360, $16.95 www.triumphbooks.com

For the Love of the Packers: An A-to-Z Primer for Packers Fans of All Ages may have the general format of a child's ABC book, but it's a whimsical tongue-in-cheek tour of the Green Bay Packers football trivia, personalities, and lore. Written for readers aged eight to eighty, and illustrated in a colorful, whimsical style to match, For the Love of the Packers features entries such as "'L' is for Lambeau, / The man and the Field. / In Packerdom annals / No name's deeper sealed." A few more lines of trivia and fun facts accompanies each two-page spread, in this enjoyable giftbook the whole family can share.

Royal Jewels
Diana Scarisbrick, et al.
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (distribution)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780865651937, $75.00, www.abramsbooks.com, 1-800-759-0190

Compiled and co-edited by the team of art historian and fine jewelry historian Diana Scarisbrick, curator and specialist in royal European jewel collections Christophe Vachaudez and jewelry curator Jan Walgrave (who is also Honorary Director of the Diamond Museum in Antwer), "Royal Jewels: From Charlemagne To The Romanovs" surveys and showcases more than 800 years of jewelry associated with European monarchs. The informed and informative text is superbly enhanced with the inclusion of 290 full color and 25 black-and-white illustrations that include period paintings and photographs of bedecked royalty ranging from Louis XV, Napoleon, Empress Eugenie, Mary Queen of Scots, an Infanta of Spain, and members of the Medici family. Symbols of wealth, cultural status, and political power, jewels hung from necks and fingers, decorated clothing, enhanced the crowns of kings and the tiaras of queens. A beautiful book for browsing by the non-specialist general reader, "Royal Jewels" is a model of painstaking scholarship that makes it an impressive addition to academic and community library collections.

Building Dry-Stack Stone Walls
Rob Gallagher, Sean Malone, Joe Piazza
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764330568, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Stone walls are a mainstay of landscaping for homes and gardens. Stone walls come in diverse forms of construction with "dry-stack' referring to erecting walls of stone without the use of mortar. In "Building Dry-Stack Stone Walls", Rob Gallagher, Sean Malone and Joe Piazza draw upon their many years of experience and expertise to providing homeowners with illustrated, step-by-step instructions on building dry-stack stone walls that will be stable, attractive, and solid. Three projects using different kinds of stones help to provide examples and inspirations for building walls from inception to completion. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and promoting the essential necessity of having a safe work environment, as well as featuring a gallery of wall images in full color, "Building Dry-Stack Stone Walls" is the ideal 'how to' instruction guide and manual for the novice stone wall builder and a highly recommended addition to personal and community library reference collections.

When Technology Fails
Matthew Stein
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781933392455, $35.00, www.chelseagreen.com, 1-800-639-4099

Everyone has experienced the abrupt interruption of their daily lives when the power goes out. That temporary termination of electricity is the most commonly encountered example of how our lives are affected when our technology fails. That's why in the age of the electric lightbulb we still buy candles. Now in a newly revised and substantially expanded edition, "When Technology Fails: A Manual For Self-Reliance, Sustainability, And Surviving The Long Emergency" by engineer and building contractor Matthew Stein provides a comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide to preparing for both temporary and extended technology collapses and dramatic adjustments necessitated by local phenomena and global environmental trends ranging from the inevitable diminishment of petroleum as a source of energy, to climate change, to economic collapse. Addressing issues ranging from self-reliance, to emergency survival, to low-tech medicine and health, to water quality and treatment, to shelter, food, clothing, low-tech chemistry, and more, "When Technology Fails" is invaluable and a core addition to personal and community library reference collections.

Classic Country Music Trivia Quiz
Mark Knickelbine
Quiz Master Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
923 Williamson Street, Madison, WI 53703
9781934553077, $16.95, www.bigearthpublishing.com

Country music has been with people throughout the twentieth century, and has produced tons of its own history and trivia. "Classic Country Music Trivia Quiz" is a game book filled with questions and answers tackling classic country music, back in the time of Hank Williams and Kitty Wells. With well over four hundred questions for readers to pick their brains or just read along and be entertained and informed, "Classic Country Music Trivia Quiz" is a must for fans of that good old country music.

Interpersonal Communication
Kristen Campbell Eichhorn, et al.
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
4050 Westmark Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002
9780757548574, $160.00, www.kendallhunt.com

Being able to inform, persuade, influence, query, and establish relationships are all fundamental aspects of effective communication. Collaboratively written by the team of academicians and communication experts Kristen Campbell Eichhorn (State University of new York - Oswego), Candice Thomas-Maddox (Ohio University - Lancaster), and Melissa Bekelja Wanzer (Canisius College), As the title suggests, "Interpersonal Communication: Building Rewarding Relationships" is a basic and general introduction to the art and science of interpersonal communications in a diversity of forms and formats as a means of creating effective, successful, and enduring relationships. Organized into three main sections, 'The Basics of Interpersonal Communication' begins with an historical overview of the subject, the development of 'self' and of individual difference, verbal and nonverbal communication, perception and listening as communication components. 'Dynamics of Interpersonal Relationships' addresses initiating and sustaining relationships, the 'dark side' of relationships, and the termination of relationships. 'IPC in Various Communication Contexts' covers intercultural, familial, organizational, and health communications. Of special note is the chapter focusing on 'From Face-to-Face to Cyberspace'. A work of impressive yet readily accessible scholarship, "Interpersonal Communication" is highly recommended for academic and community library reference collections, college level courses in Communication, and to non-specialist general readers with an interest in interpersonal communications as a means of establishing and maintaining personal relationships in our increasingly depersonalized society.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Philosophy of Sex and Love
Alan Soble
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue Ste 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788757, $19.95, www.paragonhouse.com

What makes many of us tick and what continues the species, Sex and Love are two complicated things. Now in a significantly revised and expanded second edition, "The Philosophy of Sex and Love" by Alan Soble is a scholarly text tackling the philosophical and moral questions surrounding what's on the minds of many throughout the day. Questions on morality of many sexual practices, the psychological aspect of many of them, how love ties into everything, and more are discussed, to prompt many readers to put deep thought into one of humanity's most basic instincts. "The Philosophy of Sex and Love" is intriguing and very much enlightening to readers, highly recommended.

Consciousness
Alexander Smit
Epigraph
c/o Monkfish
27 Lamoree Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
9780979882814, $18.95, www.monkfishpublishing.com

What is real reality? "Consciousness: Talks About That Which Never Changes" is an examination of consciousness and how it affects our perception of the world around us. With many ideas and concepts that are new and fresh, the book seeks to revamp the reader's world view with a barrage of new thoughts. "Consciousness" is a must for anyone who loves to deeply think about what our world truly is and how humanity perceives it.


The Literary Shelf

Chasing the Sun
Edward Joseph Beverly
Sunstone Press
PO Box 2321, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321
9780865346031, $34.95, www.sunstonepress.com

The wild west has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. "Chasing the Sun: A Reader's Guide to Novels Set in the American West" boasts more than thirteen hundred entries to enlighten western fiction fans about books set in their favorite setting. With summaries outlining info such as the books' plot and year of publication, it outlines everything a reader needs to know to guess if a book is right for them. "Chasing the Sun" is an invaluable reference for any western fiction fan.

The Chicago/Latino Literary Prize
Stephanie Fetta, editor
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston, 452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558855113, $21.95, www.artepublicopress.com

A wide sampling of thoughts and ideas from multiple generations of Hispanic writers, "The Chicago/Latino Literary Prize: An Anthology of Prize-Winning Fiction, Poetry, and Drama" is a compilation of over a quarter century of writing. The exhibited examples are varied in subject, style, and take form in multiple formats. Along with those multiple formats, there are multiple languages – while majority is in English, there is a dose of Spanish and even an inherently fascinating mix of the two. A highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community bi-lingual collections, "The Chicago/Latino Literary Prize" is a testament to the America's Hispanic literary accomplishments.

The Aunt Lute Anthology of U.S. Women Writers, volume two
Lisa Maria Hogeland & Shay Brawn, editors
Aunt Lute Books
PO Box 410687, San Francisco, CA 94141
9781879960770, $45.00, www.auntlute.com

Women have been writing throughout history, providing a window to the past and a view of culture throughout history. "The Aunt Lute Anthology of U.S. Women Writers" is in its second volume, focusing on the female writers of the twentieth century. Prolific women writers who wrote after the year 1900 fill this volume. Notable names include Gertrude Stein, Ayn Rand, and Aimee Phan; bits of their work are arranged throughout the compendium in chronological order. "The Aunt Lute Anthology of U.S. Women Writers" is a great reference for community library women's studies collection or any women seeking something to be proud of their gender for.

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained
Paramhansa Yogananda
Crystal Clarity Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781565892279, $16.95, www.crystalclarity.com

Poetry can mean many things, but occasionally, the intention is missed. "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained" is a scholarly examination of the work from some of the best minds of Yoga walking the earth today. In the west, it's a poem of sensual delight, in the east it's a poem of a relationship with God – who has it right, if any of them? A deeply philosophical set of writing that will surely please a great many readers, "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained" will enlighten and educate.

Children's Literature and Learning
Barbara A. Lehman
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807748237, $22.95, www.tcpress.com

If a child doesn't enjoy the book they are reading, then they'll see little point to continue to do so. "Children's Literature and Learning: Literary Study Across the Curriculum" is a guide for librarians who want to give their child patrons the best experience possible to promote literacy and books to them. With an ideal model for matching children with the right book and annotations and references for well over one hundred children's books, "Children's Literature and Learning" is a must for any child-oriented librarian.

Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature
James Wyatt Cook
Facts on File
c/o Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9780816064755, $70.00, www.factonfile.com

The art of story telling is as old as the world itself. "Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature" is a complete and comprehensive reference tackling the vast amount of ancient literature available to the modern reader. With writers from all over the world from Ancient Greece to Ancient China to Ancient Japan to Ancient Rome, it is a hugely inclusive guide. With articles on the many writers detailing their life and work, it leaves no region out in recognizing humanity's earliest creations. "Encyclopedia of Ancient Literature" is a must for any community or college library collection covering ancient literature around the world.

Conrad's Trojan Horses
Tom Henthorne
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726338, $40.00, www.ttup.ttu.edu

Joseph Conrad is one of the twentieth century's most beloved literary figures, "Conrad's Trojan Horses: Imperialism, Hybridity, and the Postcolonial Aesthetic" is a scholarly look at the works of Conrad, comparing him to his other literary contemporaries in the early 1900s such as Plaatje and Ghosh. It looks at the political messages of his work, and how they were subtly included in his works. With fresh outlooks on his most important and vital works such as the Heart of Darkness, "Conrad's Trojan Horses" is entertaining and enlightening, sure to give new explanations of an important figure's work.

Words of Love and Love of Words
Albrecht Classen, editor
Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983952, $65.00

Love and Art are an inseparable couple and have been throughout history. "Words of Love and Love of Words: In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance" looks at literary endeavors and love in their relation throughout the middle ages. Philosophical, beautiful, even erotic were all forms of writing put down during the time about love, and many's love was simply writing about it. Many wrote simply because they had love to be the desire of human existence, with all the happiness, joy, and harmony that come along with it. A work of history focusing on literature, "Words of Love and Love of Words" is a scholarly and deftly crafted examination of love in writing during the time period.

The Essential Tawfiq al-Hakim
Denys Johnson Davies, editor
The American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
International Publishers Marketing (distribution)
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9789774161513, $ 22.95, www.aucpress.com

For a near century, Tawfiq Al-Hakim made his presence felt on the creative scene in Arabic speaking countries. "The Essential Tawfiq Al-Hakim" is a celebration of his life and work, revealing what goes through the head of a great Middle Eastern writer. It anthologizes a great deal of his work, giving examples and explaining their importance. A must for any student of Middle Eastern literature, "The Essential Tawfiq Al-Hakim" is very highly recommended to both academic community library literary studies collections.

Porter: Collected Stories and Other Writings
Katherine Anne Porter
Darlene Harbour Unrue, editor
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
9781598530292, $40.00 www.loa.org

The Library of America continues its hallowed tradition of preserving the writings of classic American authors in quality hardbound, ribbon-bookmarked editions with Porter: Collected Stories and Other Writings, an anthology of works by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Katherine Anne Porter. Not only are all twenty-six of her stories included, but also a wealth of her essays, reviews, and other writings, ranging from musings on the act of writing itself to observations about Mexico. Extensive notes and a chronology round out this compact, definitive volume. The definitive edition of Katherine Anne Porter's written works, enthusiastically recommended for both library and private collections.

Herman Melville
Harold Bloom, editor
Chelsea House Publishers
132 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
9780791096215, $45.00

The great artists of the world commonly go unnoticed during their lifetimes. "Herman Melville" looks at the work of the great author, much ignored during his time. Moby Dick being one of the great American novels was not a best seller when it was first available, despite its place in modern school curriculums. With a wide examination of all of his work the Bloom Modern Critical Views book on "Herman Melville" is highly recommended reading for students of literary history.


The Fiction Shelf

The Emerald Angel
Wilma L. Derksen
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836193954, $11.99

There's something that few people do, but everyone is capable of. "The Emerald Angel" tells of Ava and her grandmother. People visit Ava's grandmother by the dozens, but Ava doesn't seem to understand why. Ava finds the truth and it's not what she expects, as her Grandmother offers the service of simply listening to what her visitors have to say. "The Emerald Angel" is a story of compassion and understanding, a strong choice for any literary fiction reader.

Inherited Sins
Paula Paul
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826344960, $18.95, www.unmpress.com

With friendship, comes sharing the burden of the friend. "Inherited Sins" is a moving tale of Reverend Fletcher and his relationship with Johnnie Marie. Together they hoist their collective burden, Fletcher of his loss of his son, and Marie of her dark past and horrible relationship with her father. The strength they gain through each other is inspiring and prove that sometimes secrets are worth revealing. "Inherited Sins" is a solid story, sure to touch readers and pull at their heart strings.

The Four Lost Men
Arlyn & Matthew J. Bruccoli, editor
The University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570037337, $21.95, www.sc.edu/uscpress

Thomas Wolfe's literary classic "The Four Lost Men: The Previously Unpublished Long Version" was published as a short story in 1934, with a length of only seven thousand words. Now republished with a literary critique from Arlyn & Matthew J. Bruccolli, the story sports a full length of well over twenty thousand words. A story set in the days of World War I with characters such as four 19th Century presidents, it's a tale sure to please readers of any era. "The Four Lost Men" is a recommended consideration for any community or college library collection of enduring literary works.

The Jewel of Gresham Green
Lawana Blackwell
Bethany House
11400 Hampshire Ave., S. Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764205118, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

In fleeing from problems, one often finds more. "The Jewel of Gresham Green" tells of Jewel Libby fleeing her home village to protect her daughter. But as she leaves that trouble, she finds the quiet village has many problems of its own. Dominating wives who prevent a father's treatment, coupled with desire for solitude that is hurting family bonds, lead Jewel to being the only one who can save a family from falling apart. A romance done with unique concepts, "The Jewel of Gresham Green" is highly recommended reading and would make a popular addition to community library collections.

Blood Brothers
Rick Acker
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Glass Road Public Relations (publicity)
danielle@glassroadpr.com
9780825420078, $14.99, www.glassroadpr.com

Family is supposed to look out for one another right? "Blood Brothers" is a tale of a business gone exceptionally horrible. Karl and Gunnar Bjornsen made themselves rich with a pharmaceutical empire. With the introduction of a new drug and potential for further profit than either have seen, Lawyer Ben Corbin finds himself stuck between the two. Business turns dirty, far less civil than one would expect between brothers. "Blood Brothers" is a riveting thriller of drugs and business gone bad, a grade-A pick.

Martha, Jack, & Shanco
Caryl Lewis
Parthian
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781905762316, $19.95, www.parthianbooks.co.uk

The relationship between brothers and sisters is a unique one, unlike any other blood tie. "Martha, Jack, & Shanco" is the story of these Welsh siblings living in the home of their departed parents, eerily feeling they are being haunted by them. Their relationship is the story and the story is a look into on sibling relationships and the Welsh country side. Masterfully translated from the original Welsh by Gwen Davis, "Martha, Jack, & Shanco" is a strong choice for anyone seeking literary Welsh fiction.

The Priesthood of Science
William Leiss
Cangrade Books
c/o University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
9780776606774, $22.95, www.uopress.uottawa.ca

Genetic engineering can solve many of the World's problems, but could it also cause many of them? "The Priesthood of Science" is book two of the Herasaga, deals with genetic engineering in the hands of those who are not entirely dedicated to an objective good of all, but instead are religious fanatics and use it to their own means. An entertaining and enlightening debate sprawls out in novel form, making "The Priesthood of Science" highly recommended to any who would enjoy the debate.

Stealing Trinity
Ward Larsen
Oceanview Publishing
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
9781933515175, $24.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

Ward Larsen debut novel "The Perfect Assassin" demonstrated his ability to write a riveting spy novel of the first order. Now in his follow-up novel "Stealing Trinity", he once against presents us with the wit, originality, and innovations of a master storyteller. Germany is collapsing as the Third Reich seeks to activate its deep cover spy within the Manhattan Project. British Intelligence is on to the Nazi plan and dispatches Major Michael Thatcher to track down Hitler's killer agent Alexander Braun before he can wreck havoc with America's nuclear program. Then the first atomic bomb (code named 'Trinity') is tested at Los Alamos on July 16, 1945 and in the days that follow, Thatcher and Braun are destined to a fateful showdown involving control of information that could change the course of the war and of the world. "Stealing Trinity" is a compelling read and a recommended addition to community library suspense/thriller fiction collections. Simply stated, this is the kind of story that Hollywood block buster movies are made from.

Church Booty
Carol Manley
The University of West Alabama's Livingston Press
University of West Alabama, Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
9781604890099, $15.95, www.livingstonpress.uwa.edu

Church to some communities is more than a gathering for God – it's something else entirely. "Church Booty" is a collection of short stories by Carol Manley focusing on the events that interracial America faces daily. Confused preachers, confused coaches, and other stories play out seamlessly. All are entertaining and with an underlying morality theme that anyone can appreciate. "Church Booty" is a Tartt Fiction Contest award winner -- and rightfully so.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Next Big Investment Boom
Mark Shipman
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749451042, $18.50, www.koganpage.com

The stock market is indeed a lucrative venue to make one's fortune, but one has to be wise in order to play the game. "The Next Big Investment Boom: Learn the Secrets of Investing from a Master and How to Profit from Commodities" is a guide to setting oneself up for the long term by taking advantage of the inevitable investment boom that is bound to occur in coming years. The advice covers many types of stock and outlines many tips to pick between a winner and a failure. "The Next Big Investment Boom" is a must to those who want to master playing the stock market.

The Credit Derivatives Handbook
Greg N. Gregoriou & Paul Ali, editors
McGraw Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071549523, $95.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Credit derivatives are used by countless investors and bankers, but how do they work? "The Credit Derivatives Handbook" is a complete and comprehensive guide to credit derivatives. Seeking to give their readers everything they need to know to masterfully use derivatives in order to maximize profits and efficiency, co-editors Greg N. Gregoriou and Paul Ali have compiled a core instructional guide and body of informed and informative commentary on one of the more complicated of the financial instruments of the late 20th Century. Called one of the most important recent financial innovations, gaining a grasp of the subject is vital for tomorrow's finance world. It also speaks on international opportunities as well, making "The Credit Derivatives Handbook" enthusiastically recommended for those looking for an encyclopedia on the subject and who want a perfect grasp on today's finance -- especially in view of our financial industry's current volatility.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Complete Guide to Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601381538, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

With more baby boomers joining an aging population, it's more important than ever for libraries to include Complete Guide to Medicaid and Nursing Home Costs on their health reference shelves: it provides a survey of legal means of protecting assets, teaches about state and federal laws regulating Medicaid and nursing homes, and tells how to plan ahead for proper asset management. Libraries catering to an aging popular will find this an increasingly popular reference to a complex topic.

The Body Toxic
Nena Baker
North Point Press
18 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
0865477078, $24.00 www.fsgbooks.com

THE BODY TOXIC: HOW THE HAZARDOUS CHEMISTRY OF EVERYDAY THINGS THREATENS OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING is a winning modern health guide from an investigative journalist who explores the factors which have lead to toxic chemicals in the environment and their effects on humans and the planet. From manufacturing breakthroughs to policy decisions and politics, chapters consider the influences on chemical companies worldwide and the habits which result, making for a key survey.

Getting Whole, Getting Well
Iris R. Bell
Morgan James
1225 Franklin Ave, Suite 325, Garden City, NY 11530
9781600373879, $14.95, www.gettingwhole.com

The side effects of the drugs to treat chronic illness can be as bad as the illness itself. "Getting Whole, Getting Well: Healing Holistically from Chronic Illness" is a collection of remedies and medicines to help readers deal with chronic illness, where traditional medicine has failed or exacerbated the problem. Chronic conditions such as Asthma, Arthritis, fatigue, and other ailments many face daily, the remedies prescribed within are designed to lessen the effects so readers can live much better lives without pain. "Getting Whole, Getting Well" is recommended reading for any constant pain sufferer.

Living With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Patricia K. Coyle & June Halper
Demos Medical Publishing
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 301, New York, NY 10016
9781932603477, $24.95, www.demosmedpub.com

Multiple Sclerosis can make life seem unlivable. "Living with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Overcoming the Challenges" is a complete and comprehensive guide to dealing with the challenges multiple sclerosis presents to simply living life. Educating readers on diagnosing this strand of the disorder, treating it, and what is most important, dealing with the chronic symptoms so every day isn't an effort in fighting agony. "Living with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis" is an absolute high recommendation to any who feel they may be facing this demon in the future.

Get On It!
Jane Aronovitch, Miriane Taylor, & Colleen Craig
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
9781569755891, $14.95, www.ulyssespress.com

A Bosu balance trainer doesn't appear to be much, but with the right ingenuity, it can be a full and complete workout. "Get On It! Bosu Balance Trainer: Workouts for Core Strength and a Super-Toned Body" is a guide to using the seemingly unsuspecting half-sphere as a full-blown work out. The exercises outlined within can offer many types of workouts promoting weight loss, conditioning, toning; all are easy to use for lay people without degrees in exercise science. A must for anyone looking to master it, "Get On It! Bosu Balance Trainer" is enthusiastically recommended.

The Independent Medical Transcriptionist
Donna Avila-Weil & Mary Glaccum
Rayve Productions
PO Box 726, Windsor, CA 95492
9781877810046, $54.95, www.rayvepro.com

Transcriptionists can make quite the living establishing themselves in the medical field. Now in a fully updated fifth edition, "The Independent Medical Transcriptionist: The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success in a Medical Transcription Business" is a manual anyone in the field needs to get started and make themselves profitable. With tips on turning it from just another job to a full-fledged dream job, and using technology to increase efficiency, it leaves nothing to guesswork. With opportunities all around, including chances to travel the world, "The Independent Medical Transcriptionist" is required reading for any who want to take part in the profession.

Improving Speech & Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Maureen A. Flanagan
AAPC
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283-0173
9781934575239, $21.95, www.asperger.net

Many things that are simply elementary to most children prove to be a challenge to the autistic. "Improving Speech & Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Oral-Motor Program for Home and School" is a guide full of suggestions for those who care for children with autism. Establishing these skills early, like normal children, is vital to establishing them for life. The book covers helping the child eat, dental hygiene, speech therapy, and sentence formation, among other daily challenges. Any parent or caretaker of an autistic child needs "Improving Speech & Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders".

Strengthen Your Mind, Volume Two
Kristin Einberger & Janelle Sellick
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529425, $32.95 www.healthpropress.com 1-888-337-8808

Strengthen Your Mind, Volume Two: Activities for People Concerned About Early Memory Loss is a book filled with reproducible (or consumable) pages of activities adults can perform to engage in a "mental workout", strengthening the brain and naturally staving off the decay of one's mental facilities. From matching a list of words for groups of people (such as "guild", "clique", or "crew") to their descriptions, to recalling words for the places animals live, to being prompted to remember common sayings that go with colors (like "To see things better than what they really are - rose"), Strengthen Your Mind, Volume Two is an excellent mental exercise book. Each activity sheet has its corresponding answers on the back for quick and easy reference. Ideal for self-study or for use in working with anyone concerned about their mental faculties.


The Self-Help Shelf

The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques
Margaret Wehrenberg
W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393705560, $17.95, www.wwnorton.com

Anxiety taken to the extreme can be a disabling disability, but one that can be managed like anything else. Licenced psychologist Margaret Wehrenberg's "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Anxious & What You Can Do to Change It" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide for facing anxiety and dealing with it on a day to day basis. Over forty million Americans deal with this problem daily, and "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" offers plenty of fresh advice for managing it the best one can. The ten tips are sure to help many, making "The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques" is a 'must read' for anyone suffering from a condition of chronic anxiety whether it is a low-level condition or a traumatically crippling one.

The Change Cycle
Ann Salerno & Lillie Brock
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781576754986, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

Life never sits still, so neither does business. "The Change Cycle: How People Can Survive and Thrive in Organizational Change" is a guide to dealing with change in the world of business without losing one's head. Covering six aspects that range from loss to integration, it's a seminal guide to going with the flow of time, instead of foolishly standing in the way of it. "The Change Cycle" is solid reading for anyone who has trouble keeping up with a changing world in business.

Being with Dying
Joan Halifax
Shambhala
300 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02115
9781570624698, $22.95, www.shambhala.com

Death is as much a part of life as living, but most people do not fear life. "Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death" is Joan Halifax's explanation why one should not fear death. A Buddhist teacher who has worked with the dying for much of her life, she uses the teachings of her religion to help inspire those of any faith to be better be prepared for what is inevitable, and live for the time they have now. "Being With Dying" is informed and inspiring, making it a recommendation for those who want to further appreciate life.

Turn it Up!
Jeffery Spencer
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
9780757306181, $15.95, www.hcibooks.com

Top of the line performance isn't something restricted solely to Olympic athletes. "Turn It Up!: How to Perform At Your Highest Level For a Lifetime" is a guide to being the best one can be. Although written by a former Olympian and athlete, the principles outlined in the book are not strictly for athletes; the advice and motivation can be applied to many avenues of life. For business, creativity, any avenue, "Turn it Up!" is an inspirational must for any reader.

Open Your Heart with Martial Arts
Alex Sternberg
Dream Time
6860 Gulfport Avenue South Suite 950, South Pasadena, FL 33707
9781601660138, $14.95, www.dreamtimepublishing.com

There's more to martial arts than defending against or administering physical blows to an opponent. "Open Your Heart With Martial Arts: Mastering Life Through Love of the Challenge" is an informative and inspiring guide to reaping the benefits of self defense spiritually and emotionally as well as physically. The challenge that the activity gives can focus one's being, bring inner peace, and help with spiritual oneness, with tips on bringing family and friends into it for more united unions. "Open Your Heart with Martial Arts" is a fine addition to the Open Your Heart series, a core addition to personal self-help, self-improvement reading lists.


The International Studies Shelf

East Asian Multilateralism: Prospects for Regional Stability
Kent E. Calder & Francis Fukuyama, Editors
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801888496, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Basic changes are occurring in Asia even as world attention remains focused on events in the Middle East: that's why college-level collections strong in Asian history and politics needs East Asian Multilateralism: Prospects for Regional Stability. It provides an anthology of essays by prominent international foreign affairs scholars who consider changing alignments in the region, from internal dynamics to world influences, and it considers the lasting impact these changes will have on American political choices. A 'must' for any college-level collection strong in Asian politics.

Mistaking Africa
Curtis Keim
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813343860, $32.00, www.perseusacademic.com

'Spearchuckers' who dance around fires, elephants and lions trampling through Jungles, all are examples of the most obvious exaggerations Americans have come to believe in about Africa due to so many Hollywood movies and lurid novel depictions. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind" is a look at the myths, legends, and flat our lies that so many so often hear about the continent that holds the cradle of civilization on its shores. Covering all misconceptions to common myth to advertisement's use of Africa to move products, "Mistaking Africa" is a must for anyone who wants to know what the real Africa is.

Africa in World Politics
John W. Harbeson & Donald Rothchild
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813343648, $42.00, www.westviewpress.com

Africa south of the Sahara is usually wrongfully ignored when it comes to world politics. "Africa in World Politics: Reforming Political Order" is an examination of Africa's current political troubles and how it can shake off its current turmoil and move ahead and embrace prosperity, something it has struggled to do since the Europeans have departed around fifty years ago. Critical of Africa's problems but rife with optimism for the future, "Africa in World Politics" is a good read for anyone who to be educated on the governments of this great continent.

Europe's Coming Demographic Challenge
Nicholas Eberstadt & Hans Groth
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844772004, $15.00, www.aei.org

It's a fact of life. People get old. And with age, more than health problems start to emerge. The collaborative work of Nicholas Eberstadt and Hans Groth, "Europe's Coming Demographic Challenge: Unlocking the Value of Health" is an informed and informative descriptive analysis of Europe and its aging population. This analytical overview provides perspective and insight into contemporary European economic problems while generally and specifically evaluating and addressing those problems within. Promoting a way of dealing with an aging population while still having excellent economic growth, "Europe's Coming Demographic Challenge" is an invaluable work of meticulous scholarship and a highly recommended addition to professional, governmental, and academic libraries, as well as to any nonspecialist general reader wanting to be informed about the issue.

Nights in the Pink Motel
Robert Earle
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591142256, $34.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

Nights in the Pink Motel: An American Stranger's Pursuit of Peace in Iraq is the firsthand, personal testimony of Robert Earle, recruited as a strategist by the first U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Though Earle was evacuated from Iraq for medical reasons, he was subsequently requested to return for the specific purpose of writing a message to the president explaining that U.S. policy was not working and suggesting a viable alternative. Multinational Force-Iraq Commanding General George Casey also asked Robert Earle to provide an assessment of the evolution of Iraqi politics, and predict outcomes for the January 2005 election. Working in the offices within Saddam Hossein's former presidential palace in Baghdad's Green Zone, which Earle tongue-in-cheek dubbed the "Pink Motel", he confronted the very real and troublesome obstacles to a peace-building effort. An insider's view of the complex and difficult ordeal on Iraq's long road to stability, Nights in the Pink Motel is fascinating cover to cover, and highly recommended to any reader curious about the behind-the-scenes ever to make Iraq a safer place.

Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa
Kathleen M. Fallon
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801890086, $50.00 www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487

Written by Kathleen M. Fallon (assistant professor of sociology, McGill University) Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa is a close examination of the interplay between women's advocacy groups and the recent evolution of democratic government in Africa, with especial attention paid to Ghana as a case study. Gathering source material from interviews and surveys conducted in Ghana, as well as analyses of existing literature, Democracy and the Rise of Women's Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa is a groundbreaking chronicle of gains and reforms that are transforming the old inequalities generated by years of colonization and dictatorships. A socially relevant modern study, highly recommended for both public and college library collections.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Wicca Handbook
Eileen Holland
Publicity Department
Weiser Books
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781578634385, $16.95 www.redwheelweiser.com 1-800-423-7087

The Wicca Handbook is more than a guide for Wiccans; anyone curious about about benevolent, eclectic witchcraft is sure to enjoy this handbook to essential tools for casting spells for health, fertility, love, and more. Chapters inform the reader about the process of becoming a witch, the craft of casting spells, the significance or natural correspondence of things ranging from colors, metals, and gemstones to letters, numbers, and animals (for example, "Venus is the lynx's planet, autumn its season. The lynx is sacred to love goddesses Lug, Mafdet, and Toa'lalit.") A welcome, easy-to-use contribution to metaphysical studies shelves.

Modern Spiritual Masters
Robert Ellsberg, editor
Orbis Books
Walsh Bldg, PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757884, $18.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Spirituality is not dead and many writers have put their pen to motivating the spiritual side of many souls. "Modern Spiritual Masters: Writing on Contemplation and Compassion" is a masterful anthology of spiritual writers ranging from unknown to Mother Teresa, all speak on the heart and soul of humanity. Inspiring and enlightening as it intends to be, "Modern Spiritual Masters" is a 'must have' addition to personal and seminar reference collection and reading lists.

Tai Chi Dynamics
Robert Chuckrow
YMAA Publication Center
PO Box 480, 23 N. Main Street, Suite C, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594391163, $20.95, www.ymaa.com

Tai Chi helps many people relax and meditate – but why does it do what it does? "Tai Chi Dynamics: Principles of Natural Movement, Health, & Self-Development" tries to apply science to the art. Looking at the common moves and how the human body and mind reacts to them, author and Tai Chi expert Robert Chuckrow puts a fine science to what many people regard as simply spirituality. Fascinating, enlightening, and highly recommended reading for students and practitioners of this ancient Chinese exercise, "Tai Chi Dynamics" is highly recommended to those who want to know why and how Tai Chi does what it does for the body and for the soul.

A Meeting of Mystic Paths
Justin O'Brien
Yes International Publishers
1317 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-2602
0936663146, $16.95, www.yespublishers.com

Could the five millenniums old art of Yoga be key to better understanding Christianity? "A Meeting of Mystic Paths: Christianity and Yoga" is Justin O'Brien's desire to combine the two disciplines in creating a more complete spirituality. The two, although at first sight very different, there is much in common with them despite thousands of miles and thousands of years difference in origin. With the idea that Jesus himself may have heard some of the ideas of Yoga makes "A Meeting of Mystic Paths" a fresh set of ideas, sure to interest even those who don't follow Yoga or Christianity.

Selfless Spirit, Selfish Ego
John Cord
Blue Dolphin Publishing
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781577332299, $12.95, www.bluedolphinpublishing.com

Is it all really the same God? "Selfless Spirit, Selfish Ego: The Way to Everlasting Peace for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam" is a look at the three relationships and why peace and harmony between them is possible. Explaining such modern critical issues such as homosexuality, abortion, secularization, and others – and how each of the three religions view them in a similar light, it's an eye opening account that we aren't all so different, "Selfless Spirit, Selfish Ego" is especially recommended reading for students of religion, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.

Shamans of the World
Nancy Connor, editor
Sounds True
PO Box 8010, Boulder, CO 80306-8010
9781591799573, $22.95, www.soundstrue.com

Left unspoiled by the outside world, cultures develop their own belief systems and medicine. Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Nancy Color, "Shamans of the World: Extraordinary First-Person Accounts of Healings, Mysteries, and Miracles" offers an inherently fascinating look at folk religions around the world. Their methods of healing and recovery, while typically different from traditional western medicine, have proven effective and solid, and "Shamans of the World" seeks to explain them thoroughly, along with the culture and tradition that comes with each of them. Values that all of humanity can cherish makes "Shamans of the World" a highly recommended spirituality and culture read, as well as a seminal contribution to the growing body of Shamanic literature for academic and community library Metaphysical Studies collections.

Nil Sorsky: The Authentic Writings
David M. Goldfrank, editor
Cistercian Publications
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780879073213, $39.95 www.litpress.org 1-800-858-5450

The "Great Elder" of Rusha, Nil Sorsky (1433/34-1508) was founder of the Sora Hermitage, advocate of scete monasticism, author on hesychasm (stillness) and much more. Unique as a the only native spiritual teacher of his era, he was extensively studied by later Russian monks and nuns. Nil Sorsky: The Authentic Writings commemorates the five hundredth anniversary of Nil Sorsky's death by collecting his writings and presenting them with extensive footnotes of their Slavic sources. Editor David M. Goldfrank exhorts readers to set aside any preconceptions they have of Nil Sorsky, and listen to his speech in his own words - words that were often spoken amid a difficult and frequently deadly medieval struggle to defend his church and the authenticity of his faith. Sorsky's natural gifts as a teacher and writer in this profound primary reference highly recommended especially for college library collections and Russian religious history shelves.


The Education Shelf

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms
Will Richardson
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412959728, $28.95 www.corwinpress.com

Use the Web to help students study more effectively with this updated research on Web technology, Internet safety and computer literacy which explains how to use the latest technology to enhance learning. Explanations and definitions accompany explanations and examples for blending blogs, wikis and podcasts into projects from K-12. Teachers will find Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms an invaluable pick.

12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles in Action, 2nd Edition
Renate Nummela Caine, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412961073, $38.95 www.corwinpress.com

The 2nd edition of 12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles in Action is an important consideration for any teacher or school leader, providing a basic framework based on how the brain learns and updating research sections in every chapter. This edition has been substantially revised for new leadership tips and expanded information on 'process learning circles', and includes focused questions, guided research, discussion topics, and more. Whether for interactive or individual study, it's invaluable.

100+ Educational Strategies To Teach Children of Color
Jawanza Kunjufu
African American Images
PO Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412
9781934155110, $14.95, www.africanamericanimages.com

Different upbringing brings different educational needs. "100+ Educational Strategies To Teach Children of Color" is a guide to dealing with students of color and their special needs versus other students. With guides on understanding cultural differences and using it to motivate students as well as countless other tips and advice for teachers on dealing with problems that would arise with students of color that would not typically arise otherwise. "100+ Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color" is a solid book for any educator.

The Grammar Detective
Gillian Hanson
Continuum Press
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9780826498076, $14.95, www.continuum-books.com

The English language is a complex and complicated thing, almost like a mystery. "The Grammar Detective: Solving the Mysteries of Basic Grammar" is a way to teach students their grammar skills in a unique and creative way that will sure to get them excited over learning and make them better writers in the future. Also viable for those who just need a reminder, "The Grammar Detective" is highly recommended to any educator who wants a little spin on the lesson plan.

Writing Intervention Kit for High School
Nancy Dean
Maupin House
2416 NW 71 Place, Gainesville, FL 32653
9781934338346, $299.00, www.maupinhouse.com

Writing is a valuable skill no matter what career one is planning to go into. "Writing Intervention Kit for High School" is a guide for teachers to help their high school students who seem to have fallen behind the rest of the pack when it comes to competent writing skills. Offering a full curriculum meant to be spaced out more than four and a half months, it is expertly and scholarly designed to help even the most behind student writers to catch up and have the ability to pass state assessment exams. It also includes activities for small groups, tutoring, and advice for student's practicing on their own time. Enhanced with CD with reproducible worksheets and other invaluable resources, "Writing Intervention Kit for High School" is a solid and enthusiastically recommended acquisition for educators and administrators outfitting their schools with teaching aides.

If Holden Caulfield Were in My Classroom
Bernie Schein
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
Booth Media Group (publicity)
1386 Nightshade Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011
9781591810766, $18.95, www.sentientpublications.com

Catcher in the Rye protagonist Holden Caulfield was a classic example of an introverted child who showed no enthusiasm for his schoolwork. "If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom: Inspiring Love, Creativity, and Intelligence in Middle School Kids" is a guide for teachers who want to reach out for these children who are trapped in their own shells. With plenty of tips to approach these children carefully so that they don't retreat further, "If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom" grants everything educators need to reach the hardest to reach kids, enthusiastically recommended.

The Collaborative Teacher
Cassandra Erkens & collaborators
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404-5132
9781934009369, $29.95, www.solution-tree.com

Very few students really have only a single teacher, so a student's education is a community effort. "The Collaborative Teacher: Working Together as a Professional Learning Community" is a guide to creating the most efficient teaching community possible to give students the education opportunities they deserve. Following their own format, each of the topics taught within are covered by a different educational professional. "The Collaborative Teacher" is an excellent pick for any teacher who wants to improve their teaching environment.

The Differentiated School
Carol Ann Tomlinson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416606789, $29.95, www.ascd.org

A school in Baltimore and a school in Seattle are two entirely different things, and "The Differentiated School: Making Revolutionary Changes in Teaching and Learning" realizes that. Advising educators to approach learning with their school's unique traits and student culture in mind, it grants ideas and tips for bettering one's schools to make for a more positive environment for all involved, be they students or staff. With tips on facilitating school leadership, "The Differentiated School" is a must for any school administrator or thinker on educational studies.

Compass Construction
Christopher M. Freeman
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593633165, $17.95, www.prufrock.com, 1-800-998-2208

No basic mathematics curriculum can be considered complete without the inclusion of geometry. Geometry is best taught in drawing lessons that incorporate the use of a compass and a straightedge. An ideal curriculum supplement specific to the compass and the straightedge is "Compass Construction: Activities For Using A Compass And Straightedge" by Christopher M. Freeman. Offering 'hands-on' geometric drawing lessons and ready-to-use reproducible handouts, "Compass Construction" covers Lines and Arcs; Kites and Basic Constructions; Centers of a Triangle; Perpendiculars and Rectangles; Parallels and Parallelograms; Constructing Triangles; The Infinitesimal and the Golden Ration; Similar Triangles; Circles and Tangents; and Construction Arithmetic. The three appendices offer high school level geometry problems that will demonstrate the application of the previous lessons. The answers to all the problems and assignments comprising "Compass Construction" are provided in the 'Answers' section at the end of the book. "Compass Construction" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' compilation and is strongly recommended for both classroom math class curriculums -- and self-instruction as well as home schooling math curriculums as well.

Helping Children with Down Syndrome Communicate Better
Libby Kumin, Ph.D. CCC-SLP
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627546, $24.95 www.woodbinehouse.com 1-800-843-7323

Dr. Libby Kumin, an expert on Down syndrome and communication, presents Helping Children with Down Syndrome Communicate Better: Speech and Language Skills for Ages 6-14, a guide for both parents and professionals to helping young people develop their speech, language, and communication skills. Chapters discuss the factors that make speech and language difficult, especially for children with Down syndrome; how to assess language and speech skills; language and speech treatments; fostering conversational skills; and much more. Black-and-white photographs, anecdotes, home activities for practicing communication skills and more enhance this user-friendly compendium. A "must-have" for educators and parents responsible for a child with Down syndrome, Helping Children with Down Syndrome Communicate Better is also a valuable supplement for anyone teaching communication skills to young people with different types of mental handicaps.

The Best 368 Colleges 2009 Edition
Robert Franek, with Tom Meltzer, et. al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway , New York NY 10019
9780375428722, $21.95 www.PrincetonReview.com

The Best 368 Colleges 2009 Edition is the latest update to The Princeton Review's top-notch, user-friendly guide to choosing a college. Drawing its information directly from surveys of 120,000 college students, The Best 368 Colleges 2009 Edition compiles rankings of everything from offered financial aid to quality of academics, campus social life, and much more. Straightforward statistics concerning the student-faculty ratio, the composition of the student body, and more round out this solid reference especially recommended for high school seniors and anyone else trying to figure out which campus is best for them.

New York and Slavery: Time to Teach the Truth
Alan J. Singer
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
9780791475102, $16.95 www.sunypress.edu 1-800-666-2211

Alan J. Singer (Professor of Secondary Education, Hofstra University) New York and Slavery: Time to Teach the Truth is more than a history of slavery in early New York; it's a guide for educators, historians, and thinkers to teaching the next generation the whole truth about New York's legacy of slavery, emphasizing that "Black History is American History". "Too often the public or 'official' version of history follows one of three fundamentally unreliable and predictable models. There is the uncritical patriotism presented at national monuments such as the Alamo or Mount Vernon... The 'Disney' version of history roughly draws on the past as a starting point to present entertaining and marketable stories that tells little about actual events or people... Meanwhile, for the so-called History Channel, history is most often reduced to blood and gore, a whirlwind of war, natural disasters, and other kinds of mayhem." Offering a variety of methods to teach young people the truth about the history slavery in America, from "mock slave auctions" to core historical ideas upon which a curriculum can be solidly grounded, New York and Slavery resists the all-consuming drive to make scoring well on standardized tests the goal of education, emphasizing rather the importance of focusing on the realities of history and helping young people become savvy critical thinkers. Indeed, the title of "New York and Slavery" is slightly misleading since it deconstructs myths about slavery in all the Northern states, not just New York. An absolute "must-read" supplementary resource for junior high, high school, and even college American History educators.


The Psychology Shelf

The ABCs of Human Behavior
Jonas Ramnero & Niklas Torneke
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572245389, $49.95, www.newharbinger.com

Humans are strange creatures whose behavior often baffles and confuses other humans. "The ABCs of Human Behavior: Behavior Principles for the Practicing Clinician" is a guidebook for those who want to embark on the monumental task of trying to understand why mankind does the things it does. Offering the basics of psychology so that the practicing clinician can get a working grasp on understanding, it tries to explain the human mind to readers. Utterly fascinating, "The ABCs of Human Behavior" has an intended audience, but there is much to draw in non-specialist general readers as well.

First Impressions
Nalini Ambady & John J. Skowronski
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781593857165, $45.00, www.guilford.com

When meeting someone for the first time, one commonly assumes a lot and passes many a judgment without a word being spoken. Why is this? "First Impressions" seeks to answer the question of why humanity does this. Breaking down the explanations into the biological nature of this, how sometimes one's assumptions are right and it keeps us assuming, cultural programming, and much more. Revealing how much a person tells without even moving their mouth, "First Impressions" is a riveting and interesting psychological text that works as a book for learning, or a casual reading for a non specialist general reader.

APA Concise Dictionary of Psychology
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433803918, $29.95, www.apa.org

The human mind is something complex and difficult to understand. "APA Concise Dictionary of Psychology" is a complete and comprehensive resource from the American Psychological Association to help psychologists have a solid reference to refer to. Boasting over 10,000 entries, up to date to the time of printing, it covers the many sub-fields of the science. Enhanced with countless helpful appendixes, "APA Concise Dictionary of Psychology" is a must for any practicing or student of psychology.


The Music Shelf

Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life & Times of Doc Pomus
Alex Halberstadt
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306813009, $26.00 www.dacapopress.com

During rock 'n' roll's early years Doc Pomus wrote some of the biggest hits from his Lonely Avenue to Save the Last Dance for Me and Hushabye. His works were picked up by Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Bob Dylan and more – and LONELY AVENUE documents his life, inspiration, achievement, and times in an outstanding blend of quotes from his journals and biographical examination. Music libraries will find it an excellent addition.

Classic Rock Albums Nervermind Nirvana
Jim Berkenstadt & Charles Cross
Schirmer Trade Books
257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010
0825672864, $17.95

Nirvana was an iconic album of the alternative rock genre. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is just short of the music CD itself in fully understanding the album that made the grunge movement of the early nineties so memorable. Taking a look at the early days of Nirvana's career complete with black and white photographs of the band's early days, information on recording sessions, and information on each track of the million selling album. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is an absolute must have for any Nirvana fan who can't get enough of trivia for the group.

Teach Yourself Guitar
Bob Hartz
Santorella Publications, Ltd.
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
www.santorellapublication.com
TS71612, $18.95, 1-877-600-0049

The guitar continues to be the single most popular musical instrument in America today. Santorella is a premier publisher of instruction books for the guitar with titles ranging from helping beginners learn their chords to aspiring professionals seeking to hone their skills to ever greater complexity. For the novice, the newest Santorella guitar instruction title is "Teach Yourself Guitar" by expert and experienced guitarist Bob Hartz. Included is thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction into the basics of music theory with the lessons set in standard notation and tablature along with easy-to-follow exercises specifically designed to build familiarity and proficiency in playing the guitar. Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying CD, "Teach Yourself Guitar" is highly recommended, especially for those who do not have ready access to formal classes of instruction through a school music department or private tutor. Also very highly recommended from Santorella are two other newly released guitar oriented instructionals by professional guitarist Rod Goelz: "Make It Funky: Bass Edition" (TS378, $18.95) and "Make It Funky: Guitar" (TS379, $18.95) that explore fun bass and funk guitar styles of the 1960s and 1970s. Dedicated music students and music department instructors would do well to visit the Santorella Publications website at www.santorellapublication.com for a complete listing of their entire instructional books catalog.

Valved Brass
Christian Ahrens
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471371, $42.00, www.pendragonpress.com, 1-518-325-6100

Brass musical instruments are a fundamental aspect of both classical and popular music traditions. With the introduction of metal valves, the capabilities of brass instruments advanced western music even further. The seventh volume in Pendragon's acclaimed 'Bucina, the Historic Brass Society Series', and ably translated from German into English by Steven Plank, "Valved Brass: The History Of An Vention" by Christian Ahrens is an informed and informative descriptive history beginning with the earliest recorded use of valved brass instruments in popular, classical, and military music. Emphasizing social and aesthetic issues in addition to the mechanical aspects of valved brass evolution, Ahrens draws upon an impressive array of historical sources that reflect the highest standards of academic research and reference materials. Of special note are the chapters devoted to 'Valved Instruments in Art Music' (which include the horn, the trumpet, and the bass instruments), 'Economic Aspects of the use of Valved Instruments', and Improvements to Other Instruments and their Evaluation'. Concluding with a concise Summery, "Valved Brass" is enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index. A deftly written, superbly organized, seminal work of impeccable research, "Valved Brass" is especially recommended for academic library Music History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Musician's Guide to Brides
Anne Roos, author
Jerry DeCrotie, illustrator
Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
9781423438748, $24.99 www.halleonard.com 1-800-637-2852

Written by Anne Roos, who has played the Celtic harp at weddings for more than twenty-five years, The Musician's Guide to Brides: How to Make Money Playing Weddings lives up to its title with solid, practical advice on everything from creating a wedding-friendly musical repertoire to writing a performance agreement, advertising one's services, exhibiting at bridal fairs, closing a sale with the bride, working with the mother of the bride/the wedding coordinator/booking agents, avoiding common problems and pitfalls, dealing with difficult people (or "bridezillas!") and much more. Of especial value is the chapter that details how to ensure one is promptly and properly paid! Emphasizing professionalism above all - particularly the importance of a having a contract that spells out one's obligations, being honest about what one can or can't do, and maintaining one's cool even when the environment at a wedding may get rambunctious - The Musician's Guide to Brides is an absolute "must-have" for any musician interested in playing for weddings.


The Criminology Shelf

Investigating the Russian Mafia
Joseph D. Serio
Carolina Academic Press
700 Kent Street, Durham, NC 27701
9781594602252, $35.00, www.cap-press.com

The Russian Mob is second perhaps only to the Italian mob in notoriety. "Investigating the Russian Mafia: An Introduction for Students, Law Enforcement, and International Business" is a guide using the Russian mafia as a model for study of a criminal organization. Joe Serio is a man with much experience in Russia and has served in its law enforcement prior to the fall of the Soviet Union. His study is excellent material for anyone looking to best understand the world of organized crime. "Investigating the Russian Mafia" is informative and educational reading, highly recommended for community library and college library Criminology collections.


The Biography Shelf

Cleopatra Last Queen of Egypt
Joyce Tyldesley
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465009404, $27.50 www.basicbooks.com

Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley offers a new biographical treatment claiming that much of what we know about Cleopatra has been tainted by prejudice. Her studies of centuries of writings about the queen surveys myths, the sources of legends, and how Roman history and women's roles in Roman society have affected the history of Cleopatra. Hers is a lively yet scholarly survey that will appeal not only to general-interest libraries catering to history-loving patrons, but to college-level collections specializing in ancient history in general and Egypt in particular.

Somewhere in Heaven
Christopher Andersen
Hyperion
77 West 66th Street, New York NY 10023
9781401323028, $23.95 www.hyperionbooks.com

The love between actor Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana finally reaches book form with SOMEWHERE IN HEAVEN, a striking story of the actor who produced four blockbuster Superman films and the romantic movie Somewhere In Time, who was paralyzed in a freak horseback-riding accident. For many life would end there; but Christopher Reeves became a 'poster man' for paralytics world-wide, and his heroic wife stayed by his side until his sudden death at age fifty-two. Seventeen months later she would be dead from lung cancer. Any library strong in film or biography will find this a compelling, moving lend.

Without Risk, There's No Reward
Robert Mayer
Seven Locks Press
PO Box 25689, Santa Ana, CA 92799
9780980127096, $23.95, www.sevenlockspublishing.com

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so it takes a certain type to break out and risk it all. "Without Risk, There's No Reward: Tales, Trials, and Truisms from the Amazing Life of a Pioneering Southern California Developer" is the life story of the magnificent business man Robert Mayer. Starting as a laborer, he climbed up through the ranks of society to earn everything he has made. A story that will give readers many tips for making the most of their lives and their finances, "Without Risk, There's No Reward" is a strong choice for any biography fan.

Royal Monastic
Bev. Cooke
Conciliar Press Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076
9781888212327, $15.95, www.conciliarpress.com

Princesses are often depicted as fluffy, pampered, and spoiled. "Royal Monastic: Princess Ileana of Romania" tells of Princess Ileana of Romania, who served as a leader of her people through two world wars and a communist overthrow of her government. A story of hardship and a harsh life through harsh times, "Royal Monastic" is a story about a princess that few would expect.

There I Grew Up
William E. Bartelt
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
9780871952639, $27.95, www.indianahistory.org

It takes a village to raise a child. "There I Grew Up: Remembering Abraham Lincoln's Indiana Youth" is a look at the Indiana of our sixteenth president's childhood. In his own biography, Lincoln barely spoke of his childhood, but Bartelt hopes to inform and educate readers of Lincoln's youth and the place he was raised. Drawn from first person interviews among other sources, "Here I Grew Up" is a thorough and complete look at a man through his environment.

A London Scrapbook
Polly Grose
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Edina, MN 55439
1592982336, $16.95, www.beaverspondpress.com

What drives someone to move four thousand miles east and cross an ocean? "A London Scrapbook" is Polly Grose's memoir of taking the journey from Minneapolis to starting her life anew in London. While usually such a move is to escape tragedy and bad memories, in this case, it is not – so what inspired such a random move from a Minnesotan community leader? "A London Scrapbook" is a unique look at a strange move in life, highly recommended to readers who suffer from a mild case of Anglophilia themselves.

Challenges
Sarah Caldwell
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
9780819568854, $27.95, www.wesleyan.edu/wespress

Opera is an art form cherished by many Americans, and Sarah Caldwell gives readers a look into the business with "Challenges: A Memoir of My Life in Opera". A conductor and founder of the long running Opera Company of Boston, and the first woman to conduct a Metropolitan Opera, she speaks as her times in the field, and earning many honors and awards along the way. "Challenges" is a must for any opera fan who wants to know more about how one of the most vital people in the orchestra lives her life.

Lois Hole Speaks
Lois Hole
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2EI
0888644884, $24.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

Caring is something the world needs more of. "Lois Hole Speaks: Words That Matter" is a collection of speeches about a woman who does care – about life, education, and her country. A university chancellor, gardener, and lieutenant governor, she made a career out of caring, and despite passing away in 2005, her speeches and writings have been collected. Inspiring and moving, "Lois Hole Speaks" is a must for those who want to bring caring into their government.

The Love of Impermanent Things
Mary Rose O'Reilley
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
9781571313126, $16.00, www.milkweed.org

As one begins to age, all that's left to do is look back and wonder what has went by. "The Love of Impermanent Things: A Threshold Ecology" consists of Mary Rose O'Reilley looking back at the remains of her long life and trying to make sense of this crazy thing called life. Her language and writing is humorous, enlightening, entertaining, and most of all poignant. "The Love of Imperfect Things" is highly recommended reading, with much readers will relate to.

Lost in the Fog
Rachel Van Meers
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9780897335713, $15.95, www.academychicago.com

Not only were the Jews under pressure from the Nazi aggression – but many gentile families were as well. "Lost in the Fog: Memoir of a Bastard" tells of Rachel Van Meers and her time as a girl growing up in Belgium, a country quickly conquered by Germany shortly after the start of World War II. Daniel Chase sat down with her and recorded hundreds of hours of interviews, and transcribing her long and heartfelt story. A tale of how a family is torn apart by world both physically and emotionally, "Lost in the Fog" is highly recommended reading for anyone who wants an understanding from another perspective in World War II.

The Fall of a Black Army Officer
Charles M. Robinson III
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806135212, $29.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

The Fall of a Black Army Officer: Racism and the Myth of Henry O. Flipper is the biography of a former slave who became the first African-American graduate of West Point. He served as a commissary officer at Fort Davis, Texas, and was charged with embezzlement and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. A court-martial board acquitted him of the embezzlement charge but convinced him of the other, and he was summarily dismissed from duty. He labored to clear his name; his case became symbolic of racism on the frontier, and many assumed he had been railroaded on trumped-up charges because of his race. In The Fall of a Black Army Officer, author Charles M. Robinson III dares to challenge the popular assumptions about Flipper's trial, combing through evidence and arriving at the conclusion that Flipper's problems were entirely of his own making. Drawing heavily upon archival evidence to support its theories, The Fall of a Black Army Officer is a thought-provoking and critical examination of a landmark case in American history.

Boy of "Greatest"
David W. Lawrie
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
9781934696170, $24.95 www.americanliterarypress.com 1-800-873-2003

Boy of "Greatest" is the autobiography of author David W. Lawrie, who started work in the shipyard at age sixteen and enlisted at age nineteen to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. A deeply personal testimony reflecting both on the harrowing experience of surviving the war that alternates between how he saw the action as a young man and his modern-day perspective as a senior veteran of the Greatest Generation. A tribute to the many who served and those who gave their lives during the dark days of World War II as well as an up-close revelation of the war through a soldier's eyes, Boy of "Greatest" is highly recommended especially for community library collections.

Biographical Dictionary Of Central And Eastern Europe In The Twentieth Century
Wojciech Roszkowski & Jan Kofman
M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
80 Business Park Drive , Armonk, NY 10504
9780765610270, $289.00, www.mesharpe.com, 1-800-541-6563

While men and women in central and eastern European nations played key roles in the shaping of events and discoveries, politics and culture, institutions and movements that influenced, affected, and shaped the history of the 20th Century, most are relatively unknown elsewhere in the world. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Wojciech Roszkowski and Jan Kofman (both of whom are Full Professors of History, Institute of Political Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, as well as Lecturers at the Collegium Civitas in Warsaw) and Jan Kofman, the "Biographical Dictionary Of Central And Eastern Europe In The Twentieth Century" is 1195-page compendium of succinct biographical summaries of significant men and women of Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech, Slovak, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Yugoslavia (and its successor states). Each descriptive entry is buttressed by a listing of 'Sources'. A massive work of consistently impressive scholarship, "Biographical Dictionary Of Central And Eastern Europe In The Twentieth Century" is a significant and emphatically recommended addition to academic library reference collections for colleges and universities, as well as the library reference shelves of major metropolitan public library systems.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Ultimate Beer Lover's Cookbook
John Schlimm
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211-3160
9781581826517, $24.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

Over 400 beer food and drink recipes contain beer as a main ingredient and provide dishes from lunch and breakfast to dinner and even dessert, making it a fun pick for any interested in beer cooking. Libraries will find the exhaustive list of beer-soaked dishes goes far beyond slimmer 'beer cookbook' titles in the collection, from Grilled Herb Chicken to a beer-soaked Bratwurst & Pasta. No photos, but the simple dishes don't need illustration.

El Farol: Tapas and Spanish Cuisine
Chef James Campbell Caruso
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586851012, $29.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

Santa Fe's oldest cantina is El Farol, which has served residents since 1835. Over a hundred creations from the restaurant's New Mexican roots are presented in this collection, representing the most-requested recipes from the restaurant's innovative holdings. From Fresh Tuna and Potato Stew with Smoked Paprika to Moroccan-Spiced Swordfish Skewers, color photos pair with dishes home cooks can easily duplicate.

The Pavlova Story
Helen Leach
Otago University Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781877372575, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Who exactly invented the Pavlova cake? Deftly written by Helen Leach, "The Pavlova Story: A Slice of New Zealand's Culinary History" focuses on the cake, and looks at how three different cakes have taken on the name of the famous dancer. Showing the evolution of the three variations of this specific culinary delight, through how creative innovation from carious chefs have altered the cake forever, and how sometimes the professional cook altering historic recipe can be an everyday housewife, "The Pavlova Story" is an informative and entertaining look at New Zealand cuisine through one of their most treasured national dishes.

Potluck Survival Guide
Cherie Kimmons
Five Star Publications
1193-392nd Road, Utica, NE 68456
9781589850736, $24.95, www.potlucksurvivalguide.com

Potlucks, a gathering of people bringing many dishes, random is the very definition. "Potluck Survival Guide: Care & Feeding of the Athletic Supporter" is a cookbook aimed at tailgaters and those who commonly attend other potlucks aimed at supporting athletic events. Although aimed at that demographic, the contents inside can be applied to any such situation which calls for a potluck. Containing information pertaining to his type of event such as quantity concerns, elusive components, and presentation, it leaves nothing to guess work. "Potluck Survival Guide" is a must for any common attender of such events.

The 100 Greatest Desserts Of The South
Mary Leigh Furrh & Jo Barksdale
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589806139, $14.95, www.pelicanpub.com, 1-800-843-1724

Dessert is the cap on any great meal, a treat for any special occasion, a comfort in times of stress, and just plain fun to eat any time and for any reason. Expertly co-authored by Mary Leigh Furrh (former food editor of Mississippi Magazine) and Jo Barksdale (freelance author of food articles and reviews for many of Mississippi's leading newspapers), "The 100 Greatest Desserts Of The South" truly lives up to its title with recipes for memorable desserts that are as palate pleasing as they are 'kitchen cook friendly' to prepare and serve. From Judy Blackburn's Walnut Cream Cake; to Shelley's Party Balls; to Martha Washington Creams; to Corrine's Southern Belle Brownies; to the Eloa Hotel's Hot Pear and Raspberry Compte, "The 100 Greatest Desserts Of The South" is a mouth-watering collection of delicious dishes and a welcome addition to personal and community library Regional Cookbook collections.

The Healthiest Meals On Earth
Jonny Bowden
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
18705 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592333189, $24.95, 1-800-328-0590

It is now commonly acknowledge that a fundamental key to a long and healthy life resides is to be found in our diets. Why we eat or drink can have either a beneficial or a deleterious effect on our lives and well being. In "The Healthiest Meals On Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About what Meals To Eat And Why" by nationally recognized weight loss, nutrition and health expert Jonny Bowden (along with the assistance of board-certified holistic health counselor and nutrition educator Jeannette Bessinger) provides an impressive series of meals and recipes that are as healthy and nutritious as they are delicious and 'kitchen cook friendly'. Ranging from four-course 'polymeals', to one-pot polymeals with simple side dishes, to 'liquid polymeal' drinks, the meal menus and individual dishes are enhanced throughout with full-color photography. Of special note is that each recipe is provided with both prep-time and cook-time minutes and succinct 'Notes from the Kitchen' commentaries. An ideal reference for anyone wanting to eat healthy, "The Healthiest Meals On Earth" offers menus and dishes that will satisfy any appetite and please even the most discerning of gourmet palates.

The Parthenon Cookbook
Camille Stagg
Surrey Books
230 East Ohio Street, Suite 120, Chicago, IL 60611
9781572840966, $24.95 www.surreybooks.com

The Parthenon Cookbook: Great Mediterranean Recipes from the Heart of Chicago's Greektown lives up to its title with a wealth of wondrous, mouth-watering recipes for Mediterranean cuisine, from keftedes (broiled meatballs) to pan-fried zucchini with skordalia, to stuffed grape leaves, roast leg of lamb, "the Parthenon's famous braised eggplant" and much more. Full-color, full-page photography of the dishes reveal just how tempting these creations can be - and perhaps best of all, the recipes are exemplary of the healthful "Mediterranean diet", which relies on staples that are good for the body such as fish, whole grains, vegetables, and olive oil. Further enhanced with a text introduction offering a retrospective on The Parthenon and Greektown since the 1960s and more, The Parthenon Cookbook is the perfect gift for anyone itching to try Mediterranean cooking in their own home.

The Chefs of RodnReel.com
Mike Lane and Chefs of RodnReel
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589805538, $35.00 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

Spiral-bound for ease in handling outdoors, The Chefs of RodnReel.com: A Fishing and Hunting Camp Cookbook lives up to its title with a wealth of wonderful recipes designed to be prepared and enjoyed outdoors, without the conveniences found in a standard kitchen. Gathered from the collective expertise of sportsmen across America with a taste for campfire cooking, the recipes range from Grilled Green Onions to Smothered Potatoes, Black Rosemary Tenderloin, Duck Sausage Patties, Best Fried Trout, Pecan Pie and much more. All recipes are designed to be easy to make out in the wilderness, and a handful of notes offer further helpful suggestions. The perfect cookbook for any man or woman responsible for creating a delicious meal while out on a fishing, hunting, or camping trip!

Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, & Scuppernong Wine
Joseph E. Dabney
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826678, $28.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com 1-888-439-2665

Now in its tenth-anniversary edition, Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, & Scuppernong Wine is more than a cookbook - it's an all-out celebration of the mouth-watering delights of Appalachian cuisine, which draws upon food traditions from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, and the Cherokee Nation. In addition to a wealth of recipes ranging from Buttermilk Corn Bread to Newland Fried Liver Mush, Pickled Peaches, or Collowhee Green Beans, there are countless tips, tricks, and techniques to coaxing the best flavors out of traditional recipes, as well as historical anecdotes. A few of the recipes cover cooking more unusual dishes, made from such edible creatures as squirrels or opossum! Illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs and peppered with useful and fascinating tidbits of information, Smokehouse Ham, Spoon Bread, & Scuppernong Wine is an authentic treasury of American culinary history.

101 Champagne Cocktails
Kim Haasarud, author
Alexandra Grablewski, photographer
Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470169421, $16.95 www.wiley.com

Written by the founder of beverage consulting and specialty cocktail firm Liquid Architecture, 101 Champagne Cocktails lives up to its titles with one hundred and one exotic alcoholic recipes. From Black Cherry Champagne to Sparkling Apple Cocktail, Stormy Ginger Fizz, Golden Banana, Sparkling Mocha Truffle, and much more, 101 Champagne Cocktails features beautiful color photography on almost every two-page spread, and easy-to-follow directions. The perfect choice for anyone searching for just the right champagne drink, whether to go with an appetizer, main course, or simply as a dessert cocktail.

Party Snacks!
A. J. Rathbun
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
9781558323476, $12.95, www.harvardcommonpress.com

No party occasion can be complete without something fun to eat! In "Party Snacks!", cookbook author A. J. Rathbun (and member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals) has compiled fifty recipes for guaranteed bite-sized hors d'oeuvre palate pleasers. Colorfully illustrated throughout, the recipes range from a classic french onion dip, to grilled honey teriyaki chicken on skewers, to tomato-pepper kabobs, to caramelized onion shells, to eggplant parmesan nibblers. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "Party Snacks!" is the ideal cookbook reference for planning any kind of party at home, in the office, or at a public function.

The Jewish Princess Cookbook
Georgie Tarn & Tracey Fine
McBooks Press, Inc.
520 North Meadow Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781590131619, $18.95, www.mcbooks.com, 1-888-266-5711

For most people, the only thing they know about Jewish cuisine is the word 'kosher'. Co-written by Georgie Tarn and Tracey Fine, "The Jewish Princess Cookbook: Having Your Cake & Eating" offers a compendium of 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that will clearly demonstrate the qualities of dishes suited for the Jewish dietary traditions, even as they satisfy any appetite and please even the most gourmet of palates. From Bloody Mary Borscht; Parsnip and Apple Soup; Ye Olde Steak Pie; and Cheater's Cheese Blintzes; to Shikerer's Tipple; Peanut Butter Cheesecake; Matzo Balls; Lockshen (noodle) Pudding; and Lemon Fish Cakes, "The Jewish Princess Cookbook" has dishes for any and all dining occasions. Of special note is 'A Word About Chicken Soup'. enhanced with a Yiddish/English Glossary and other bits of useful information, "The Jewish Princess Cookbook" is a confidently recommended addition to personal and community library ethnic and specialty cookbook collections.

Market-Fresh Mixology
Bridget Albert & Mary Barranco
Agate Publishing, Inc.
1501 Madison Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572840959, $17.95, www.agatepublishing.com

The cocktail has long been the symbol of cultured elegance. Now Bridget Albert (a Master Mixologist at Southern Wine and Spirts, and the director of the Academy of Spirits and fine Services in Illinois) with the assistance of Mary Barranco (whose own career spans twenty years in the adult beverage industry) presents "Market-Fresh Mixology: Cocktails For Every Season", a veritable compendium of recipes and instructions for making memorable cocktails for every dining, partying, and celebratory occasion. Featuring both traditional cocktail recipes and contemporary innovative versions of this popular drink, "Market-Fresh Mixology" has a drink suitable for every season. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this compendium of recipes are organized into cocktails appropriate for Spring, Summer Autumn, and Winter. Of special note are the chapters on 'Home Bar Essentials' and 'Infusions'. An ideal and thoroughly 'user friendly' guide, "Market-Fresh Mixology" is enthusiastically recommended for both personal and community reference collections.

Absinthe: Sip Of Seduction
Betina J. Wittel, et al.
Speck Press
c/o Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, Suite 300, Golden, Colorado 80403
9781933108216, $22.00, www.fulcrum-books.com, 1-800-992-2908

Absinthe is an alcoholic beverage with a shady reputation that lead to its being outlawed in many places throughout the western world -- including the United States. But now the legalization of some brands of absinthe in the US has brought a new appreciation of the drink popularly referred to as the 'Green Fairy'. "Absinthe: Sip Of Seduction" is the collaborative work of Betina J. Wittel and Robert Hermesch, and edited by T. A. Breaux. The text is composed of personal testimonials, recipes, examples of colorful advertisements, descriptions of collectibles, accounts of historical uses and misuses, and absinthe recommendations. Of special note are the commentaries on 'Science versus Superstition' aspects of absinthe. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Absinthe: Sip Of Seduction" is a fascinating, informed and informative read making it highly recommended for personal as well as library reference collections.

Hometown Get-Togethers
American Profile Magazine Editors
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061257902, $17.95, www.harpercollins.com

Great food has always been a centerpiece for family gatherings and celebratory occasions. Drawn from the pages of American Profile magazine, "Hometown Get-Togethers" is a compendium showcasing more than 150 delicious recipes with that special 'hometown' ambiance. From an Italian Brunch Casserole; to an Incredible Chicken Tortilla Soup; to Old-Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes; to a Pineapple Upside-Down ham and Onion Loaf; to Diane's Absolutely Awesome Chocolate Cake, "Hometown Get-Togethers" offers a culinary wealth of dining appropriate for any form of family gathering, church pot-lucks, or other community social events. Enhanced with beautiful color photography of finished dishes, "Hometown Get-Togethers" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library cookbook collections.

Not Your Mother's Weeknight Cooking
Beth Hensperger
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street , Boston, MA 02118
www.harvardcommonpress.com
9781558323681, $14.95, 1-888-657-3755

Home-cooked meals need not be the exclusive province of stay-at-home moms. Not when there is Beth Hensperger's "Not Your Mother's Weeknight Cooking", an outstanding collection of 150 easy, nutritious, delicious dishes that are stress-free preparations of contemporary recipes for dinner dishes that are 45 minutes or less in preparation. Enhanced with a four-color insert showcasing finished dishes, the recipes range from Herb-Coated Tilapia; Spicy Chicken with Cilantro and Mushrooms; Scallops of Pork with Raisins and Sherry Vinegar; and Pan-Sauteed Lamb Chops with Blackberry Sauce; to Ravioli with Mushrooms and Sweet Peas; Peggy's Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup; Double Tomato Baby Lentil Salad with Olives; and Gold Beef Burgers with Cold Pea Salad. Each recipe features the Cooking Method, Prep Time; and Cook Time. The itemized ingredients list and the step-by-step cooking instructions make each recipe thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly'. Palate pleasing and appetite satisfying, "Not Your Mother's Weeknight Cooking" is especially recommended for time-constrained working women (and men!) wanting to enjoy meals that are several cuts above dumping something out of a can or popping something into a microwave.


The Native American Shelf

Massacre At Bear River
Rod Miller
Caxton Press
312 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605
9780870044625, $18.95, www.caxtonpress.com

Genocide is a horrible atrocity, the despicable acts in Darfur, the Holocaust . . . but what's most depressing is that America's hands are not clean. "Massacre at Bear River" tells of arguably the country's most bloody attack against the Native American Indians during the time where not only were they losing their land, but they were losing their lives. Approximately three hundred natives lost their lives due to the country's actions, and "Massacre at Bear River" tells this sad and gut wrenching tale of one of America's biggest black eyes. Rod Miller has written an accurate and detailed account that should be considered as an essential addition to both academic and community library Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

North By Northeast
Kathleen Mundell
Tilbury House, Publishers
2 Mechanic Street, Gardiner, ME 04345
9780884483052, $20.00, www.tilburyhouse.com, 1-800-582-1899

There is a concerted and laudable movement to preserve and showcase Native American traditional culture as expressed through beadwork, basketry, canoe making, wood carving, and quilting. "North By Northeast: Wabanaki, Akwesasne Mohawk, and Tuscarora Traditional Arts" by folklorist and ethnographer Kathleen Mundell showcases the works and commentaries of thirty-five traditional Native American artists living and working primarily in Maine and New York. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the text is as informed and informative as it is insightful and inspiring. Written as an accompaniment to an exhibition that will travel to the Akwesasne Museum and Cultural Center in Hogansburg, NY (May-September 2008), the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine (October-May 2009), and the Pequot Museum and Research Center in Mashantucket, Connecticut (May-September 2009), "North By Northeast" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Science Shelf

Wiley-VCH
c/o John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
www.wiley-vch.de 1-800-225-5945

Moses Fayngold's SPECIAL RELATIVITY AND HOW IT WORKS (9783527406074, $95.00) is an essential college-level textbook for any collection strong in physics. It's based on a successful work and offers an in-depth presentation of relativity using a two-level structure to help students through a blend of problem discussion and analysis. From velocity and space-time to paradoxes and causality, SPECIAL RELATIVITY AND HOW IT WORKS is an outstanding survey. Radoje Belusevic's 2-volume set RELATIVITY, ASTROPHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY (9783527407644, $505.00) offers an analysis of elementary particles, astrophysics and cosmology and also is a pick for college-level courses and collections strong in advanced theory. It packs in analysis of structures of classical theories on cosmology, includes statistics, physics and reviews of basic science. Both are highly recommended pick for advanced collections.

Superstructures in Space
Michael H. Gorn
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
9781858944173, $39.95 www.merrellpublishers.com 1-212-529-2270

Aerospace historian Michael H. Gorn presents Superstructures in Space: From Satellites to Space Stations - A Guide to What's Out There, a coffee table book about the amazing spacecrafts and devices humans have created to better study the known universe. Featuring dazzling, full-color photography on virtually every page, Superstructures in Space lives up to its title with its in-depth, reader-friendly history and chronicle to match the unforgettable images. The perfect giftbook for readers of all ages and backgrounds who not only wonder what's out there, but also wonder how ordinary humans have created such extraordinary things that can see so much farther than the naked eye.

Planet Earth: An Illustrated History
Kelly Knauer, editor
Time Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781603200325, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Planet Earth: An Illustrated History is a stunningly beautiful coffee table book, featuring full-color photography of Earth's environment and biosphere - from a grizzly bear about to catch a salmon mid-leap to penguin parents protecting their chicks to the leaping courtship of European hares and much more. The reader-friendly text describes the wonders of nature, some dazzling, some harsh, as well introducing one to the geology and climatology of the planet. An educational and informative text, enthusiastically recommended as a gift book for nature or wildlife photography lovers as well as for public library collections.

Radar System, Analysis, Design, And Simulation
Eyung W. Kang
Artech House Publishers
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781596933477, $139.95, www.artechhouse.com

It is the primary task of a radar engineer to design, analyze and optimize system performance within the context of our computerized high technology applications. "Radar System, Analysis, Design, And Simulation" by Eyung W. Kang is a comprehensive introduction and training textbook specifically and successfully designed for radar engineers at all levels to master critical system analysis, use digital computer simulation to verify that their analysis is correct, and to insure that their design is optimal for the purposes intended. From matrix, vector and linear equations; noise and clutter generation; Filters; ambiguity functions; antennas; target detection; false alarm rate processing, moving target indicators, and a great deal more, "Radar System, Analysis, Design, And Simulation" offers an text enhanced with detailed examples, more than 340 equations, and over 250 illustrations. Enhanced even further with the inclusion of an accompanying CD-ROM containing more than two hundred simulation and implementation tools written in C++, "Radar System, Analysis, Design, And Simulation" is an ideal and core addition to professional and academic library reference collections and as a basic introductory textbook for radar engineering students.


The Gaming Shelf

The Pocket Guide To Games
Bart King
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423604693, $9.99, www.gibbs-smith.com, 1-800-748-5439

Playing a game can not only while away the time, it can also be an invaluable and pleasant means of stimulating our intellectual and physical well-being, providing bonding experiences with family and friends, and provide an outlet for our restless energies. There are thousands upon thousands of diverse games -- all with one thing in common: Rules. After a brief but informative introduction, Bart King's "The Pocket Guide To Games" offers descriptions and rules for four distinct categories of games: Miscellaneous Active Games; Quiet Games; Contests, Feats and Tussles; Beanbag and Ball Games. This pocket-sized compendium is a thoroughly 'user friendly' compendium of games for all occasions and circumstances and especially recommended as a school physical education curriculum supplement as well as personal and family gaming reference library collections.

Beginning Bridge
Barbara Seagram & Linda Lee
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5M 1H2
9781897106334, $19.95, www.masterpointpress.com

Bridge is one of America's most popular indoor pastimes for adults of all ages and backgrounds. From social home games to competitive state and national tournaments, Bridge is a sophisticated, complex, challenging, and entertaining pastime whose only requirements are a deck of cards and a table. Expertly co-authored by Barbara Seagram (one of North America's best-known bridge teachers and author of numerous books on the game), and Linda Lee (a WBF World Master and Bridge journalist, "Beginning Bridge" is specifically designed to teach beginners the fundamentals of the game and cover every aspect of Bridge including bidding, declarer play, defensive cardplay, and scoring. Enhanced with 'user friendly' tips, stories, and quizzes to reinforce and illustrate card game instructions, "Beginning Bridge" is enhanced further with the occasional cartoon drawings of Karen Lampert. "Beginning Bridge" is a core addition to school and community library Gaming reference collections and an ideal beginner's manual for the non-specialist general reader wanting to learn the fundamentals of this popular pastime.

Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part Two: Kasparov vs. Karpov 1975-1985
Garry Kasparov
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857444339, $45.00 www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

The second book in the "Modern Chess" series by Garry Kasparov (the world champion of chess between 1985 and 2000 and commonly regarded as the greatest chess player of all time), Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part Two: Kasparov vs. Karpov 1975-1985 Including the 1st and 2nd Matches is an extensive, in-depth analysis of his 1984 and 1985 matches, including an epic contest that lasted six months before being halted "without result" and the 1985 match in which Kasparov became the youngest ever world champion. 76 chess games total are faithfully related in the volume, with helpful black-and-white diagrams; the game narration is interspersed with text concerning a broader perspective on the situation. A handy index of openings and index of games allows for easy reference in this meticulously detailed guide especially recommended for advanced chess players as well as anyone interested in chess history as shaped by the masters.


The Architecture Shelf

New York Deco
Richard Berenholtz
Welcome Books
6 West 18 Street, New York, NY 10011
9781599620534, $125.00 www.welcomebooks.com

The deluxe edition of NEW YORK DECO coincides with the 75th birthday of the Rockefeller Center and comes in an illustrated slip-cased, limited-edition book with a print signed and numbered by the photographer. Richard Berenholtz's photos profile the architecture of New York during its most stylish decades, from the 1920s to the 1930s. They are gorgeous photos suitable for art and architecture libraries and highly recommended for any collection with an interest in New York City.

Easy Scheduling
Dan Ramsey & Stephen Matzen
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro Carlsbad, CA 92009
www.craftsman-book.com
9781557016157, $59.95, 1-800-829-8123

Effective scheduling is essential to keep building projects on time and within budget. In the building industry time is, quite literally, money. Co-authored by licensed general building and home improvement contractor Dan Ramsey and with the expert assistance of Stephen Matzen, "Easy Scheduling: A Construction Scheduling Resource Handbook" is an invaluable instructional guide for insuring each days productivity is maximized through task allocations that are properly timed. Novice contractors will learn to make cost-effective scheduling templates, trade shortcuts, and more. Addressing pertinent issues including scheduling for profitability; setting up customized project templates; step-by-step pre-construction scheduling; calendar, calculation and interface options; tracking and reporting systems; customizing and formatting; setting task relationships; consolidating schedules, and cash flow definition and details, "Easy Scheduling" is informed, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly' making it especially practical for novice building construction estimations and a highly recommended reference for anyone engaged in the building trades.

Genius of the European Square
Suzanne H. Crowhurst Lennard and Henry L. Lennard
Gondolier Press
c/o International Making Cities Livable Council
PO Box 7586, Carmel, CA 93921
9780935824117, $49.00 www.livablecities.org

Filled with captivating color photography from cover to cover, Genius of the European Square is part history, part study, part persuasive advocate of Europe's traditional multi-functional city squares. Throughout the centuries, these squares have fostered social interaction, civic engagement, and a strong sense of community. "There is always a struggle between those who wish to protect and those who want to privatize the common wealth. The public square is possibly the most valuable resource that a community holds in common. It provides the possibility for community members to come together to talk, share resources, help one another, discuss private and public issues, celebrate and take united action." A welcome addition to architectural studies shelves, bearing and important message about city design that builders worldwide should heed.

Great Architecture Of Michigan
John Gallagher & Balthazar Korab
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780981614403, $60.00, http://wsupress.wayne.edu

From the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, to the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing, to the Fisher Building in Detroit, to the Point Betsie Lighouse, , Michigan is home to some of the most impressive, innovative, and artistic architecture in America. Combining the informative commentary of John Gallagher (architecture critic for the Detroit Free Press) with the superb photography of Balthazar Korab, "Great Architecture Of Michigan" is a compendium of images that underscores and exemplifies the diversity and sophistication of Michigan's architectural heritage as reflected in the best of its churches, theaters, office towers, stadiums, government buildings, and private homes. An impressive compendium of photographically illustrated architecture, "Great Architecture Of Michigan" is an especially recommended addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists for architecture students.


The Photography Shelf

The Life Of A Photograph
Sam Abell
National Geographic Society
1145 - 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688
9781426203299, $40.00, www.ngs.org

There is more to taking a photography than just pointing a camera at your subject and pressing a button. In "The Life Of A Photograph", master photographer Sam Abell draws upon his more than four decades photographing for National Geographic magazine to provide aspiring photographers with an instructive, illustrated, example-filled guide to taking memorable images of landscapes, still life, street scenes, and slices of daily life. Each of the almost 200 images superbly reproduced is provided with a succinct commentary and a caption, taking the reader on a journey of instruction, inspiration, and visual wonder that will result in applicable concepts to enhanced his or her own photographic efforts regardless of their equipment choices or subject selections. As informed and informative as it is engaging and inherently fascination, "The Life Of A Photograph" is enthusiastically recommended to personal, professional, academic, and community library Photography reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Real Moments
Barry Feinstein
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010
9781847721051, $34.95, www.omnibuspress.com, 1-800-431-7187

Bob Dylan is an American music icon. Professional photographer Barry Feinstein had greater access to Dylan than any other photographer. It was Feinstein's iconic image that appeared on Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'" album in 1963 and photographed Dylan at the musician's invitation during Dylan's European tour of 1966 and US tour of 1974. It is from among the photos taken on these two legendary tours that comprise "Real Moments: Photographs of Bob Dylan 1966-1974" and newly published by Omnibus Press. This is an impressive compilation that will be of especial interest to the legions of Bob Dylan fans, and a popular addition to personal, community, and academic library 20th Century Music History and American Photography reference collections.

Historic Photos Of Virginia
Emily J Salmon & John S. Salmon
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
9781596524972, $39.95, www.turnerpublishing.com

With the invention of photography, the visual recordings of the ordinary and the extraordinary become possible to a versatile and definitive degree never before attainable. The result is a visual legacy such as is embodied within the pages of the Turner Publishing Company edition of "Historic Photos Of Virginia". Selected, organized and captioned by the husband and wife team of John and Emily Salmon, these period black-and-white photos are chronologically organized into four sections: From War to a New Century: 1861-1909; The Roaring Decades: 1910-1929; Depression and Victory: 1930-1945; and A Time of Great Change: 1946-1970s. Ideal for browsing and enhanced with a concluding 'Notes on the Photographs' section, "Historic Photos Of Virginia" is an impressive body of work and a welcome addition to personal, academic, and community library Photography collections, as well as Virginian History and American History reference shelves.

99 Cent Dreams
Doug Aitken
Aspen Art Press
590 North Mill Street, Aspen, CO 81611
9780934324373, $75.00

99 Cent Dreams is a coffee table book of Doug Aitken's stunning, museum-worthy photography, especially notable for its glimpses of both natural and urban environments. No text intersperses the lavish, full-color photographs, from the silhouettes of people framed in the moment of dawn to a glimpse of a billboard from below, to the sad testimony of scattered fragments of a broken drink glass. A wondrously captivating gallery of images, each of which captures moments of light and shadow in perfect contrast. Highly recommended for photography collections.

Sunday Afternoon on the Porch
Jim Heynen, author
Everett W. Kuntz, photographer
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781587296536, $29.95 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Sunday Afternoon on the Porch: Reflections of a Small Town in Iowa 1939-1942 is a wonderful showcase of black-and-white photography capturing the ordinary men and women of small town Iowa in the wake of the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II. The candid photographs range from "On Duty", an unforgettable snapshot of a uniformed officer with one hand on a baby's stroller, to "Cheerful Classmates", capturing a happy day in school, to "Migrant's Salon" showing a man getting his hair washed by leaning over a bowl while a bucket of water is poured over his head, and more. The text offers additional insight into these timeless glimpses of day-to-day life, as well as some snippets of poetry. A wonderful gift book, especially recommended for connoisseurs of historic slice-of-life American photography.

Night & Low-Light Photography
Jill Waterman
Amphoto Books
c/o Watson Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-9535
www.NightPhotographyBook.com
9780817432416, $29.95, www.wgpub.com, 1-800-451-1741

It takes a very special set of skills to be successful in taking photographs at night or when light sources are minimal. In "Night & Low-Light Photography: Professional Techniques Form Experts For Artistic And Commercial Success", New York City based photographer, editor, writer and educator Jill Waterman relies upon not only her own experience and expertise, but also draws upon the work and contributions of thirty top photography professionals using their real-life photography projects to illustrate and exemplify their advice, techniques, and diverse approaches to nighttime and low-light digital, film, color, and black & white commercial and fine art photography. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Night & Low-Light Photography" is a practical, informative, and above all, 'user friendly' introduction and guide for any aspiring photographer seeking to develop or enhance their own skill set when taking photographs after dark or in dim light, indoor or outdoor, as well as urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.

India
Eric Meola
Welcome Books
6 West 18 Street, New York, NY 10011
www.welcomebooks.com
9781599620497, $60.00, 1-800-733-3000

India is a land of amazing contrasts and exotic imagery. Eric Meola has traveled to India many times for the purpose of photographing the people, landscapes, architecture, celebrations, and art of this vast and diverse land. The result is "India: In Word And Image", a coffee-table art book compendium showcases India's diversity and heritage from the monasteries of the Himalayas, to the tea plantations of Darjeeling, to the stark desert of Jaipur. Spectacular photographic images are enhanced with more than thirty literary passages underscoring the story of India, its people, places, architecture and art. A superbly presented visual travelogue, "India: In Word And Image" is an ideal selection for academic and community library 'Memorial Fund' acquisitions, a welcome addition for personal and library Photography reference collections; and an ideal browse for armchair travelers through the wonders, lands, and people of the Indian subcontinent.


The Social Issues Shelf

Stealing from Each Other
Edgar K. Browning
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
Adventures in Media, Inc.
4927 Bridgeville Lane, Spring, TX 77388
9780313348228, $44.95, www.praeger.com

Could the answer to America's economic problems be using the model of a government of one hundred and eight years ago? "Stealing From Each Other: How the Welfare State Robs Americans of Money and Spirit" is Edgar K. Browning's, a professor of Economics at Texas A&M University, solution to America's woes by calling out the welfare state. Stating that America as a whole is harmed more than helped by the policies, he calls for a removal of them, including social security. A collection of unique, but financially sound ideas for America, "Stealing From Each Other" is a must for community library economics and social issues collections.

The Bill of Rights in Modern America
David J. Bodenhamer & James W. Ely, editor
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780253219916, $21.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu

How much does the Bill of Rights really mean to the United States? Now in a fully revised and significantly expanded second edition, "The Bill of Rights in Modern America" is a critical examination of the bill of rights and what exactly it all means to modern American society. Aimed at a general audience, it's easily accessible to non-specialist general readers and offers much food for thought of how many contemporary political debates involve or dis-involve something our very country is built on. Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by the team of David J. Bodenhamer and James W. Ely, "The Bill of Rights in Modern America" is a great centerpiece for discussion for any group.

Kafka Comes to America
Steven T. Wax
Other Press
2 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781590512951, $25.95, www.otherpress.com

Everyone is entitled to a fair and just trial, even suspected terrorists, right? "Kafka Comes to America: Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror" takes a look at the state of civil liberties in this tumultuous time of the war on terror. Arguing that some of the measures that have been put in place in the call for justice in this post-9/11 world are in fact against what America's most treasured document the Bill of Rights in the name of false security, Wax paints a picture of several cases of justice that readers will find surprising to read. "Kafka Comes to America" is a grand and important must read for anyone questioning the protection of our civil liberties.

Crusading Realism
Lamont Colucci
University Press of America
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780761841302, $36.00, www.univpress.com

What has 9/11 done to the foreign policy of America? "Crusading Realism: The Bush Doctrine and American Core Values After 9/11" is a look at the emergence of the Bush doctrine and how it has taken shape over the past few years. Looking to explain it while trying to maintain the political roots of the country and their relevance to Bush's actions, "Crusading Realism" is a deft and scholarly explanation of international affairs in a post 9/11 world.

How to Fix Medicare
Roger Feldman
AEI
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
9780844742656, $15.00, www.aei.org

Does the answer to America's health care crisis lie in a budget for patients? "How to Fix Medicare: Let's Pay Patients, Not Physicians" is a unique proposal calling for a revamp of the current medicare system. The current system has physicians getting paid, no matter their charge – but Feldman proposes that giving each patient a fixed amount, more if they are in need of it, would encourage them to shop around and therefore encourage physicians to lower their own prices. Unusual but thought provoking food for thought, "How to Fix Medicare" is a good pick for any debating America's health care.

Introduction To Homeland Security
Jane Bullock, et al.
Butterworth-Heinemann
c/o Elsevier
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803
9781856175098, $69.95, www.elsevier.com

With the sneak attach on American soil that most of us now call 9/11, the term "homeland security" became a part of the national dialogue and the title of the largest federal agency in the history of our country. Now in an updated and expanded third edition, "Introduction To Homeland Security: principles Of All-Hazards Response" by the team of Jane Bullock (who has served as chief of staff at FEMA and is currently with the Washington-based disaster management consulting firm of Bullock & Haddow LLC), George Haddow (Adjunct professor at the Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management at the George Washington University and also currently with Bullock & Haddow), Damon Coppola (a Senior Associate with Bullock & Haddow), and Sarp Yeletaysi (an expert in business continuity planning and disaster recovery) is a 602-page compendium that is the cornerstone textbook on the subject of rapidly evolving field of American homeland security. "Introduction To Homeland Security" begins with a history of the terrorist threat in American history from the early 19th century down to September 11, 2001. Subsequent chapters focus on the statutory authority for homeland security; organizational actions; terrorist-related hazards; our intelligence agencies as well as border and infrastructure security' prevention, mitigation and preparedness against attacks; response to and recovery from attack; communications; and technology. Of special note is the concluding chapter on the foreseeable future of homeland security. "Introduction To Homeland Security" is the basic textbook on the subject and a core addition to professional, governmental, academic, and community library National Security reference collections. It is also very highly recommended for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in Homeland Security and its implications for our American society, culture, and government.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 6th Edition
Donald C. Plumb
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
0813810973, $79.99 www.blackwellpublishing.com/vet

The 6th updated edition of Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook is a 'must' for any college-level veterinary reference holding or for any practicing vet or student vet: it packs in the latest details on veterinary drugs, including details on monitoring, chemistry, storage, and dosages, and it offers sidebars of color-coded prescribing highlights. The result is an invaluable handbook that will prove a key, foundation acquisition for any serious veterinary reference library.

Broadway Tails
Bill Berloni
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599213538, $16.95 www.lyonspress.com

The author was a nineteen-year-old theater apprentice when he was offered a professional break – IF he could find and train a job to appear in the Broadway hit Annie. His rescue dog from a shelter made history – and BROADWAY TAILS offer similar stories of animals who overcame impossible odds to become co-stars in entertainment. Dog owners and animal lovers -and libraries catering to them – will find BROADWAY TAILS a winning story of animal heroism and talent, paired with black and white photos of the entertainers themselves.

Best Hikes with Dogs Boston & Beyond
Jenna Ringelheim
The Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134
9781594850523, $16.95, www.mountaineersbooks.org

Hiking with one's dog can be an exciting experience for both dog and owner. "Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond" offers an array of hikes for hikers that facilitate the accompaniment of their dog. Offering fifty trails, both urban and rural, that give plenty of varieties for hikers and their canine friends, Best Hikes with Dogs Boston & Beyond is an absolute must for hikers who are also pet owners who reside in Boston and the Massachusetts area. "Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond" is a top notch acquisition that is as practical as it is informative.

The Dog Trainer's Resource 2
Mychelle Blake, editor
Dogwise
403 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781929242573, $26.95, www.dogwise.com

Dog Training is a lucrative business, and "The Dog Trainer's Resource 2: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection" is a solid reference for dog trainers who want an encyclopedia reference available for them. With theories touching upon dog psychology, socialization, and more, it also touches on the business model suggestions for this business. With additional asides on training not just the dog, but the dog owner, "The Dog Trainer's Resource 2" is a must for any dog trainer looking to turn it into business.

The Backyard Horseman
Ron Rude
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, Montana 59806
9780878425488, $18.00, www.mountain-press.com, 1-800-234-5308

Next to dogs and cats, horses are the most popular pet in America today. More than two million Americans own horses. The care, feeding, and sale of horses is a $39 billion dollar a year part of the overall American economy. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, Ron Rude's "The Backyard Horseman" is a practical and 'user friendly' introduction and instruction guide for anyone charged with the responsibility for raising and managing a horse on a limited budget. Such core subjects as buying a horse, feeding and training a horse, horse health, gear shelter, pasture management, shows events, and the ethnical considerations to be taken into account for horses that have grown old are all covered. More than just another manual on horse ownership, "The Backyard Horseman" presents a philosophy upon which is founded a true companionate relationship between a human and a horse. Deftly written, profusely illustrated, and superbly presented, "The Backyard Horseman" is especially recommended for community library Pets & Wildlife reference collections, and an ideal addition to personal reading lists, especially for those horse owners operating on a limited budget and wanting to do right by their equine companion.

The Whole Horse Wellness Guide
Diane Morgan
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793832019, $39.95, www.tfh.com, 1-800-631-2188

The horse, whether a working animal on the ranch, or at the race track, or is simply a personal recreational companion, is susceptible to a host of potential health problems that alert owners and handlers must be aware of in terms of the care provided them. In "The Whole Horse Wellness Guide: Natural And Conventional Care for A Healthy Horse", author Diane Morgan (who over the years has owned Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians, and Morgans) with the assistance of veterinarian Doug Knueven (a pioneer in holistic pet care and owner of the Beaver Animal Clinic, a full service animal hospital in Beaver County, Pennsylvania) provide with an illustrated instructional reference that addresses such equine health and medical issues as mainstream medical practices and surgical treatments, nutritional wellness and therapeutic healing, bodywork, acupuncture, acupressure and Shiatsu; energetic medicine, homeopathy, western herbal medicine; Chinese herbal medicine, ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy and essential oils, and flower essences. Of special note is the section devoted to 'Common Equine Diseases and Treatment Options'. Enhanced with the addition of a glossary, a resources list, and an index, "The Whole Horse Wellness Guide" is a welcome and thoroughly 'user friendly' addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Owl And The Woodpecker
Paul Bannick
The Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781594850950, $24.95, 1-800-553-4453

Ornithology is a steadily advancing science and birdwatching a popular pastime. Showcasing stunningly beautiful full-color photography by Paul Bannick, "The Owl And The Woodpecker" will be of enormous interest to both academia and dedicated bird enthusiasts as he visually explores the diversity of these two families of birds and how they live withing and enrich the ecosystems they inhabit. The selected birds range from the Northern Flicker and the Great-Horned Owl, to the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, and the Northern Spotted Owl. Organized geographical to present birds in Pacific Coast urban and suburban habitats, northwestern maritime forests, western dry mountain forests, western oak woodlands, grasslands and shrub-steppe, southwestern dry lands, southeastern pine forests, eastern suburban and urban habitats, northeastern forests, boreal forest, and arctic tundra, "The Owl And The Woodpecker" is further enhanced with the inclusion of a 'Field Guide to North American owl and Woodpecker Species', a Bibliography, 'A Note About the Photography', an author biography, and an index, making it a very strongly recommended and popular addition to personal, academic, and community library Pets & Wildlife reference collections.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Principles of Philosophy
Rabbi Reuven Agushewitz
KTAV Publishing
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800243, $25.00 www.ktav.com

Mark Steiner translates PRINCIPLES OF PHILOSOPHY from the Yiddish and provides Agushewitz's argument to Yiddish speakers that philosophy has not paled in its importance to both religion and science. He identifies religion with philosophy, then argues that the basic principles of philosophy are linked to religion at the key of life – and that its study can lead to strengthening altruistic behaviors. Judaic studies collections – particularly those strong in scholarly studies – will welcome this.

Counterfeiter
Moritz Nachtstern & Ragnar Arntzen
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781846032899, $24.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

COUNTERFEITER: HOW A NORWEGIAN JEW SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST is an addition for both general-interest lending libraries strong in Holocaust studies and for World War II or Judaic history holdings. It tells of the Nazi secret project, Operation Bernhard, which used prisoners to produce counterfeit British bank notes – considered some of the most perfect counterfeits ever produced – which were to be dropped over London to destabilize the British economy. Author Moritz Nachtstern was one of those picked for the program: his story of survival and the project offers unusual, gripping insights.

Why Hebrew Goes from Right to Left
Ronald H. Isaacs
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800311, $18.95, www.ktav.com

With more than four millennia of existence, Judaism has much history and culture to learn about. "Why Hebrew Goes from Right to Left: 201 Things You Never Knew About Judaism" is an infinitely interesting compendium of knowledge and facts about one of the world's oldest religions. Touching on the language of Hebrew, Judaic holy days, Jewish superstitions, supernatural beings, prayer, education, womanhood, and more, "Why Hebrew Goes From Right to Left" is highly recommended for personal, synagogue, and community library Judaic Studies reference collections.

1001 Questions and Answers on Pesach
Jeffrey M. Cohen
Valentine Mitchell
950 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
International Specialized Book Services (distribution)
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9780853038085, $54.95, www.vmbooks.com

Pesach is a lesser known Jewish festival, so when a gentile learns of it, out come the questions. "1001 Questions and Answers on Pesach" is a complete and comprehensive guide to the festival, with the thousand and one questions broken down into twenty two sections covering each of the overlying subjects within. They cover everything from the deep rich history to customs and how they apply to modern day Jews who cherish following orthodox methods of their faith. "1001 Questions and Answers on Pesach" is a must for any curious on the festival and want a full and total understanding of it all, and a core addition to academic, synagogue and community library Judaic Studies reference collections.

Studies In Jewish History And Literature: Volume 2
Michael A. Shmidman, editor
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602800267, $30.00, www.ktav.com

The second of a two-volume tribute to Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, founder and president of Touro College, a leader of the Jewish community, and a pioneer in Jewish and general higher education, "Studies In Jewish History And Literature: Volume 2" is a compilation under the editorship of Michael A. Shmidman of contributed essays by sixteen learned men and women on the subjects of medieval and modern Jewish history, literature and thought. Of special note is that this impressive compendium of seminal scholarship is presented in English for the first half, and in Hebrew for the second half. A body of impeccable scholarship, "Studies In Jewish History And Literature: Volume 2", like the first volume, is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and academic library "Judaic Studies" and "Jewish History" reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Torah And Commentary: The Five Books Of Moses
Sol Scharfstein
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602800205, $35.00, www.ktav.com

The Torah, consisting of the five books whose authorship is commonly attributed to Moses, is a bedrock foundation of for the three main branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform). Traditionally divided into 543 weekly portions for chanting as part of the Sabbath service in the synagogue, "Torah And Commentary: The Five Books Of Moses" offers a new translation of the Torah is enhanced with the inclusion of interpretations by classical era and modern rabbinic commentators for more than 2,000 biblical passages. Of special note are the colored illustrations as part of the biographical sketches of some of the most highly regarded commentators (including Rashi and Maimonides), as well as Sol Scharfstein's own commentaries relevant to the contemporary message of selected biblical passages. "Torah And Commentary: The Five Books Of Moses" is an impressive body of scholarship and very highly recommended for personal, synagogue, academic, and community library Judaic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Crafts Shelf

Mostly Metals: A Beginner's Guide to Jewelry Design
Karin Buckingham
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
Watson Guptill Publications (distributor)
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-9535
www.wgpub.com 1-800-451-1741
www.kalmbachbooks.com 1-800-533-6644
9780871162595, $21.95 www.beadandcraftbooks.com

The basics of great jewelry design are covered in a fine title that covers the basics of jewelry design: plain loops, jump rings, chains and spacers. With each basic joining concept receiving a chapter of coverage and projects to reinforce learning, paired with color photos, MOSTLY METALS is a much more accessible jewelry title than most and should be considered the foundation of any beginner's attempt. Libraries catering to crafters and jewelry makers will find it a popular lend.

Fashioning Technology: A DIY Guide to Smart Crafting
Syuzi Pakhchyan
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596514379, $29.99 www.oreilly.com

With 'smart materials and techniques you can make accessories, toys and more that light up, make sounds, or even move. Fashioning Technology is for any crafter who wants more than the typical range of stationary objects: a range of projects offer seasoned crafters techniques for blending easy electronics into projects, and provides clear direction and options for customization. Black and white and color photos throughout offer step-by-step and exciting options highly recommended for any library strong in crafts.

Jewelry & Beading Designs For Dummies
Heather H. Dismore & Tammy Powley
For Dummies
c/o John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470291122, $19.99, www.wiley.com, 1-800-225-5945

Once reserved for experienced and seasoned professionals, the making of colorful and creative jewelry is now accessible for everyone thanks to "Jewelry & Beading Designs For Dummies" by Heather H. Dismore and Tammy Powley. Aspiring jewelry makers are provided with profusely illustrated, step-by-step instructions for more than seventy-five original projects and taught how to work with silver, leather, glass beads and crystals. There are design projects for making rings, bracelets, phone covers, wine charms and so many more crafts projects that will enable the aspiring craftsmen to stretch their skills through acquiring proficiency in new techniques including working with polymer clay and nontraditional materials. "Jewelry & Beading Designs For Dummies" is an ideal addition to personal and community library reference collections. Also very highly recommended is Dismore and Powley's earlier 'how to' volume, "Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies" (9780764525711, $19.99).


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications
Robert G. Weiner
McFarland & Company
Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786425006, $49.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com

The annotated guide Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications surveying comics, prose novels, children's books, articles and references covers just about everything relating to graphic novels, from cross-overs into DC to special volumes and series presentations, and is a pick for any serious graphic novel library at the specialty or college level. Chapters offer plot synopsis, compare chapters and formats of related materials, and includes comments on artwork and style.

Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
www.amuniversal.com

Stephan Pastis' THE CRASS MENAGERIE (0740771000, $16.99) is a 'Pearls Before Swine' collection including all cartoons from Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata and The Sopratos. It liberally peppers color full-page strips with black and white features and it requires absolutely NO prior familiarity with the 'Pearls Before Swine' strip to prove appealing and fun. Very highly recommended for any library strong in comic strip representations. Paul Osborne's THE MYSTERY OF SAUSAGE AND OTHER RIDICULOUS BLUEPRINTS (0740771094, $12.99) provides hilarious blueprint-based forms with zany considerations, from Martha Stewart's Guide to Nuclear Reactor Cleaning to How to Open Packaging given only a few tools – like chainsaws and jackhammers. And Revilo's UNKNOWN WORLDS! A COLLECTION OF PARANORMAL CARTOONS (0740776215, $12.99) provides an outstanding, fun collection of single-panel comics with one full color and one black and white facing page. From ancient history observations to the color potentials of genetically engineered cats, UNKNOWN WORLDS is hilarious.

From Krakow To Krypton
Arie Kaplan
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
9780827608436, $25.00, www.jewishpub.org, 1-800-234-3151

Comic books have been an integral part of American popular culture since their invention as a mass market media in the early 1930s. The first comic books were simply collections of newspaper comics. It was Jewish writers and artists who took this new medium and expanded it as a form of popular literature that we know today beginning with the creation of such characters a Superman and Batman and the legions of superheroes and villains that were to follow down to this very day. What is less well known is that American Jewish writers and artists were also responsible for Mad Magazine, the graphic novel, the comic book convention, the comic book specialty store, and the underground comix movement of the 1960s and early 70s. In "From Kraow to Krypton: Jews And Comic Books", comedian and comic book writer Arie Kaplan provides an informed and informative history that is packed with history and nostalgia from beginning to end. Profusely illustrated throughout, "From Krakow To Krypton" is highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library "20th Century American Popular Culture" reference collections in general, and the personal reading lists of all comic book fans and graphic novel enthusiasts in particular.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.pyrsf.com

Written by popular author Mike Resnick, STALKING THE UNICORN (9781591026488, $15.00) tells of private detective John Justin Mallory who is trying to avoid his landlord after a lousy year – until he is commissioned to locate a missing unicorn. The elf's plea brings with it a stipulation that has John on a desperate time-limited search on New Year's night in this fast-paced thriller. STALKING THE VAMPIRE (9781591026495, $25.00) is another Mallory mystery set in alternate-universe Manhattan, surveying a desperate hunt for a vampire. Aided by Felina the catgirl, Mallory and his assistant Winnifred embark on a desperate journey. Both are powerful blends of fantasy and mystery sure to appeal to library patrons and fantasy fans.

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

Bruce McAllister's THE GIRL WHO LOVED ANIMALS AND OTHER STORIES (9781930846494, $24.95) is the author's first short fiction collection from Golden Gryphon and provides seventeen stories culled from nearly five decades of writing. From a woman whose love and body will ensure the continuation of an animal species to a girl whose life is linked to the survival of pandas, this warm collection of animal/human connections is a winner of diverse, compelling stories with powerful animal/human character development throughout. George Alec Effinger's BUDAYEEN NIGHTS (1930846568, $14.95) comes from one of the founders of the 'cyberpunk' movement and provides a collection of nine writings – seven stories, the first part of an uncompleted novel, and a story fragment, set in the imaginary Muslim city of Budayeen. Effinger's humor supplements some zany settings and situations. Both are fine picks for avid science fiction readers and libraries.

The Viper of Portello
James C. Glass
Fairwood Press
21528 104th Street, Ct. E, Bonney Lake, WA 98391
9780978907877, $17.99, www.fairwoodpress.com

Peace is what those involved in war so often seek. "The Viper of Portello" follows one Eduardo Cabral as he deals with the betrayal of the government he fought for. All he seeks to do is reunite with his art, but it seems the only way to do that is to go with the other thing he's good at – warfare. A story of a conflicted man who must do what he hates, "The Viper of Portello" is an intriguing and entertaining science fiction political thriller.

Flying Pen Press
20000 Mitchel Place, Suite 25, Denver, CO 80249
www.flyingpenpress.com 1-303-375-0499

Those glorious golden age sci-fi pulp magazines have now been reincarnated with the introduction of five trade paperback science fiction novels of galactic adventure, save-the-world suspense, and the merged technologies of magic and science. An absolute 'must' for dedicate fans of robust science fiction adventure is David Lee Summers deftly edited anthology "Space Pirates: Full-Throttle Space Tales #1" (9780981895703, $16.95), a series of fifteen swashbuckling short stories of piracy in outer space by some of the best new writers working today. James R. Strickland's "Irreconcilable Differences" (9780981895710, $16.95) is a superbly imaginative cyberpunk mystery thriller. "She Murdered Me With Science" (9780979588990, $15.95) showcases David Boop's storytelling talent in a tale of intrigue when a disgraced scientist turned forensic analyst uncovers a conspiracy to take over the United States. "Dragon Ring" (9780979588969, $15.95) is Lettie Prell's original story that mixes magic, science, and murder in a riveting read from first page to last. "Seventh Daughter" (9780979588976, $16.95) is Ronnie Seagren's debut novel which presents the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter who must, before the 1937 solar eclipse, save the very world itself from total destruction. With their brightly colored 'pulp magazine' style covers, all five of these new titles from Flying Pen Press are enthusiastically recommended for fantasy and science fiction enthusiasts, and would make enduringly popular addition to community library collections.


The Travel Shelf

The Darien Gap
Martin Mitchinson
Harbour Publishing
Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 Canada
1550174215, $26.95 www.harbourpublishing.com

THE DARIEN GAP: TRAVELS IN THE RAINFOREST OF PANAMA is a fine pick for any who would read adventure travel at its most gripping, and for general-interest libraries catering to armchair travel and adventure audiences. It tells of the author's twenty years of travel in Central and South America, fascinated by tales of the Colombian outpost Darien, a sanctuary for guerrillas and a long-time haven for spies, pirates and treasure hunters.

Off the Beaten (Subway) Track
Suzanne Reisman
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826418, $16.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

There are so many books on New York's attractions that one might wonder at the need for yet another, but this book is a key and the first to focus on a hundred off-the-beaten-path destinations, from small museums and nearly forgotten historic places to odd shops and small oddities. A geographic arrangement aids in the journey, with chapters offering addresses, hours, directions, web sites, and long paragraphs of enticing description. Recommended for any travel library strong in New York City attractions.

The GPS Handbook
Robert I. Egbert & Joseph E. King
Burford Books
PO Box 388, Short Hills, NJ 07078
9781580801492, $16.95, www.burfordbooks.com

Getting lost in the woods is no fun for anyone. Now in a thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded edition, "The GPS Handbook: A Guide for the Outdoors" by the team of Robert I. Egbert and Joseph E. King, is dedicated to assisting those who love the outdoors to improve their experience for maximum safety through the advantages of a global positioning system. A thoroughly 'user friendly' plain language guide to using the GPS to its fullest, "The GPS Handbook" covers the GPS's many abilities ranging from linking with other devices to being used stand alone. An essential addition to community library reference collections, all dedicated hiker, camper, sportsmen, and outdoor enthusiasts should have a copy of "The GPS Handbook".

Speak the Culture Spain
Andrew Whittaker
Thorogood Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1854186051, $24.95, www.thorogoodpublishing.co.uk

There's more to understanding people than language. "Speak the Culture: Spain" is a guide to those who may be visiting the land of Spain in the future. A guide to understanding the Spanish people, their culture, and how to avoid cultural misunderstandings, as well as what to expect, the contents within are as vital as a fluent grasp of the Spanish language. Also serving as a book of history, "Speak the Culture: Spain" is highly recommended to armchair and onsite world travelers alike.

Nevada Trails: Western Region
Peter Massey, Angela Titus, Jeanne Wilson
Adler Publishing Company
PO Box 519, Castle Rock, CO 80104
9781930193154, $24.95, www.4WDbooks.com, 1-800-660-5107

The western state of Nevada offers a wealth of outdoor adventuring for visitors and residents of all ages, interests, and backgrounds. The team of Peter Massey, Angela Titus, and Jeanne Wilson have collaborated to create "Nevada Trails: Western Region", a thoroughly 'user friendly', superbly illustrated, detailed, 263-page compendium of practical information on backroads and 4-wheel drive trails, ghost towns and mining camps, campsites and hiking trails around such landmark destinations as Reno, Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Tonopah, and Hawthorne. Perfect for itinerary planning for anything from a simple day trip to an extended outdoor vacation, "Nevada Trails: Western Region" is enhanced with in-depth trail descriptions, integrated GPS coordinates, mile-by-mile directions, and maps for each showcased trail. Nevada Trails: Western Edition" is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended reference for scenic drivers, trail hikers, mountain bikers, 4-wheel vehicle excursionists and arm-chair travelers!

Hiking, Cycling, & Canoeing in Maryland
Bryan MacKay
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801887673, $20.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Maryland is a diverse state, locally referred to as Little America, for having every geographical terrain in the United States outside Deserts. Now in a newly updated second edition "Hiking, Cycling, & Canoeing in Maryland: A Family Guide" by Bryan MacKay is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide to taking advantage of this vast and beautiful array of nature available in a small area. Covering over twenty hikes, sixteen cycling paths, and nearly twenty rivers worth considering to canoe, "Hiking, Cycling, & Canoeing in Maryland" is a must for any outdoors lover who is either living in or planning to visit the state.

American Map U.S. Travel Road Atlas
Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780841628410, $19.95 www.fodors.com

American Map U.S. Travel Road Atlas is a spiral-bound, easy-reference guide especially for vacationers (or business travelers!) who need to find their way between and within America's big cities. Packed with full-color road maps of states, the areas around large cities, and the cities themselves, American Map U.S. Travel Road Atlas is further enhanced with lists of recommended sights and activities as well as top-notch restaurants, in a variety of price ranges from lavish to economy (a simple icon system reveals the price range of a given listing at a glance). A user-friendly guide, highly recommended for anyone about to embark on an old-fashioned American road trip!

Exploring Kyoto
Judith Clancy
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781933330648, $16.95, www.stonebridge.com, 1-800-947-7271

With its antiquarian history, buildings, memorials, and natural surroundings, Kyoto is one of Japan's prize destinations for tourists from around the world. Judith Clancy draws upon her experience and expertise arising from living in Kyoto for the last 38 years in "Exploring Kyoto: On Food In The Ancient Capital", a superbly written and thoroughly "user friendly" guide to what this beautiful city and its surrounding countryside have to offer. In this substantially revised, timely updated, and expanded new edition (offer two new routes, as well as including both a geographical and a cultural topography), "Exploring Kyoto" offers detailed maps tracing each of thirty exploratory excursions that range from the bustling downtown quarts to remote mountaintop shrines. Enhanced with more than thirty descriptive photos, tips on etiquette and behavior, as well as a full and complete index to all cited attractions and site, "Exploring Kyoto" is the ideal travel guide.


The Sports Shelf

Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries
Eclipse Press
3102 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581501933, $24.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-866-2361

Illustrated with historic black-and-white and color photography throughout, Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries is an amazing chronicle highlighting memorable match races, Triple Crown campaigns, and season-long competitions. A well-researched account that re-creates key races in minute detail, Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries is the perfect giftbook for any enthusiast of the sport. A set of "Leaders Lists" rounds out this exceptional celebration of horse racing's rich history.

"Then Osborne Said to Rozier..."
Steve Richardson
Triumph Books
The Pontiac Building, 542 South Dearborn Street, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60605
9781572439993, $22.95

Seasoned football writer and award-winning journalist Steve Richardson presents "Then Osborne Said to Rozier...": The Best Nebraska Cornhuskers Stories Ever Told, a collection of over four decades of great Nebraska football stories as related by coaches, players, and fans. From anecdotes about why the team's greatest stars (including such legendary figures as Johnny Rogers, Barry Alvarez, Mike Rozier, and more) are proud to be Cornhuskers, to the story of the Gotham Bowl, to insights into the favorite trick plays of Tom Osborne and much more, "Then Osborne Said to Rozier..." is the perfect giftbook for any dedicated Cornhuskers fan, especially when football season is underway! An accompanying 37-minute audio CD of an interview with Adrian Fiala entitled "Husker Memories" rounds out this highly readable Nebraska football treasury.

The Birth of Dirt
Frank J. Berto
Van der Plas Publications
1282 7th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122
9781892495617, $18.95, www.cyclingpublishing.com

Biking is a great source of exercise, and for some, a great source of adventure. "The Birth of Dirt: Origins of Mountain Biking" is Frank J. Berto's journey to track down the origins of adventurous biking and the bike created to facilitate that purpose. With plenty of full color and black and white photographs tracing the history of the mountain bike, it's intriguing to see the progression of the bike variation. "The Birth of Dirt" is highly recommended to anyone who wants to know the origins of their favorite hobby.

Loyal Sons
Jim Lefebvre
Great Day Press
c/o ACTA Publications (distribution)
5559 West Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780981884103, $24.95 www.actapublications.com 1-800-397-2282

Award-winning journalist and sports historian Jim Lefebvre presents Loyal Sons: The Story of The Four Horsemen and Notre Dame Football's 1924 Champions, the first book-length look at the famous Notre Dame football team and its 1924 victory over Army. Reconstructing the daily life of team members, and taking an especial note of how the competitive team became a source of pride for Catholics across America, Loyal Sons is an engaging read for anyone curious about what university football was like a century ago. Especially recommended for football enthusiasts with a passion for the history of the sport.


The Parenting Shelf

What Happy Parents Do
Carol J. Bruess & Anna D.H. Kudak
Fairview Press
2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454
9781577491774, $14.95, www.fairviewpress.org

Children are the joy of their parents' lives, but there are still other things important to them – like each other. "What Happy Parents Do: The Loving Little Rituals of a Child-Proof Marriage" is an informative and 'user friendly' guide for parents about dealing with what is so often forgotten in raising their child the best they can be. The key to staying together and giving a child both parents through adolescence and onwards is to keep the passion and love alive. Unique in its approach and truthful in its content, "What Happy Parents Do" is highly recommended reading indeed for parents wanting their marriages to be as fulfilling for them when raising their children as when the kids are no longer around.

101 Ways To Tell Your Child "I Love You"
Vicki Lansky
Book Peddlers
2828 Hedberg Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305
9781931863513, $8.95, www.bookpeddlers.com

The best thing a parent can do to insure an emotionally health child grows up to be an emotionally healthy adult is to consistently and continually express affection for that child in both word and deed. That's the basic premise for Vicki Lansky's "101 Ways To Tell Your Child "I Love You", a small volume ideas and encouragements ranging from waking up a child with a kiss, to cuddling with a child and a good book, to bringing home to a child a small token such as a flower. Enhanced with some 'fill in the blank' redeemable 'Love Coupons', "101 Ways To Tell Your Child "I Love You" is an ideal gift for a new parent and a welcome addition to any family with children of any age. Also highly recommended for parents are Vicki Lansky's previous titles including "Feed Me! I'm Yours", "Practical Parenting Tips For The First Five Years", "Toilet Training: A Practical Guide to Daytime And Nighttime Training", "Baby Proofing Basics", and "Games Babies Play".

How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor
Christopher M. Johnson
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591026198, $18.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

When it comes to one's child, communication should not be an issue. "How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor: A Handbook for Parents" is a guide for parents who want to ensure they get their doctor's best for the sake of their child. Seeking to conserve time and avoid the bureaucracy of the medical profession, the ideas laid within are there to help parents speed along while not sacrificing quality. "How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor" is a must for parents who want to help their doctor help their child.

Why Did You Die?
Erika Leeuwenburgh, LPC and Ellen Goldring, LPC
Instant Help Books
c/o New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246041, $16.95 www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273

Why Did You Die? is a helpful, consumable book for parents raising a child who has suffered the loss of a loved one. The first section teaches parents about a child's grief process, and what can most commonly be expected; the second offers activities that are ideal for sharing with a grieving child, most of which adopt an art therapy approach. One such exercise has a short story about angry feelings that can be shared or read aloud, and a blank space with the instructions "In the space below, draw a volcano erupting. In the lava flow, write the feelings that are erupting from the volcano." A secular guide compatible with families of all faiths, Why Did You Die? is highly recommended as a supplementary resource to traditional counseling when helping a child greatly saddened by loss or tragedy.


The Business Shelf

Leading With Kindness
William F. Baker & Michael O'Malley
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814401562, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

In business kindness is viewed as a weakness, and the perception of kind leaders is that they are ineffectual. LEADING WITH KINDNESS shows how this can become a business leadership trait and profiles world business leaders who have developed this trait to high success. Six ingredients of kindness are identified, linked to business pursuits, and assessed for pros and cons. Business leaders will find LEADING WITH KINDNESS a key to incorporating more humane actions into their pursuits.

How to Think Like A Millionaire
Mark Fisher with Marc Allen
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316435, $12.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

The author of THE INSTANT MILLIONAIRE and author of VISIONARY BUSINESS collaborate in HOW TO THINK LIKE A MILLIONAIRE, now in its second edition covering using the subconscious mind to create winning business strategies and principles. Personal growth and business blend in a formula for success recommended for both new age and business collections - and for general-interest libraries.

Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

John Peragine Jr.'s HOW TO OPEN & OPERATE A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL TRAINING BUSINESS (9781601381170, $39.95) comes with a companion cd-rom and tells how to operate such a business from home, a private studio, clients' gyms or corporate fitness centers. From planning an approach and locating opportunities to fostering an ongoing business, this is key for any who have been eyeing the potentially lucrative personal training business.

1,000 Dollars & An Idea
Sam Wyly
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048035, $24.95, www.1000dollarsandanidea.com

Everyone starts with just about nothing. "1,000 Dollars & an Idea: Entrepreneur to Billionaire" tells Sam Wyly's story of risking his entire savings on a gamble of starting up a new business. Now one of the wealthiest people on the planet, this biographical account is helpful with tips and advice on how to establish one's own business when one doesn't have much to play with. Entering the mind of a financial genius, "1,000 Dollars & an Idea" is solid and highly recommended to aspiring business people.

Creating the Intrapreneur
Victoria C. DePaul
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Autin, TX 78758
9781934454183, $15.95, www.synergybooks.net

Entrepreneurs are those who take charge, but an 'intrapreneur' is someone who does it in a way the world has yet to see. "Creating the Intrapreneur: The Search for Leadership Excellence' is a guide for entrepreneurs looking to step up their ideas. Describing the premise of the 'intrapreneur', becoming a leader, and succeeding with one's business, its fresh approaches to business that even established business people can draw ideas from. "Creating the Intrapreneur" is highly recommended to anyone who wants to try a new approach to their company and a welcome addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Business & Management reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Age of Heretics
Art Kleiner
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley
989 Market Street, Fifth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470190708, $29.95, www.josseybass.com

Jesus was considered a Heretic by the religious establishment of his time. He also had some radical ideas about wealth, economics, and the personal finances of his followers. "The Age of Heretics: A History of Radical Thinkers Who Reinvented Corporate Management" is a compelling and informative look at those who dared to be different and changed the way their company and possibly the world does business. Rejected in their times, these are men and women who are now retroactively honored for their ideas and innovation in the modern era. Many of today's business practices are very much due to their own once 'heretical' ideas. A highly recommended addition to personal, corporate, academic, and community library Business Studies reference collections, "The Age of Heretics" is inspiring and enlightening reading for any business person who fears their ideas may face initial rejection.

Customer Service in an Instant
Keith Bailey
Career Press
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin, NJ 07417
9781601630131, $11.99, www.careerpress.com

A happy customer is a regular customer. "Customer Service in an Instant: 60 Ways to Win Customers and Keep Them Coming Back" is a guide to one of the most vital aspects to business, customer service. Boasting sixty tips and techniques to keep the customer happy and how to apply them in the quickest and most effective ways possible, it's invaluable in building relationships and bonds with customers, even when having to refuse a request. "Customer Service in an Instant" is highly recommended reading for any business manager who values the power of customer service.

Handbook of Research on Asian Business
Henry Wai-Chung Yeung, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781843769606, $215.00 www.e-elgar.com 1-800-390-3149

Handbook of Research on Asian Business is a collection of scholarly essays by learned authors reviewing aspects of Asian business - the culture, strategy, and practice found in such rising economic powers as China, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and more. A handful of black-and-white charts and graphs illustrate the exhaustive research fueling these meticulous analyses discussing business strategy and organization, marketing, business-state relations, policy issues and more. "In order to make a successful entry into China, multinationals have to overcome barriers and constraints such as market diversity, local protectionism, relationship development and competitive context (Walters and Samiee, 2003). China has evolved into a nation of 'two countries' that consist of a coastal urban megalopolis of 400 million people who can afford luxuries, and a vast 'Third World' interior of 900 million people who can hardly make a living (Powell, 2002). Domestic-oriented FDI firms repeatedly discover that provincial and city authorities impose numerous protection mechanisms to support local firms in competing with their rivals based in other regions of China." An absolute "must-have" for college library reference shelves, filled cover-to-cover with keen analyses that any businessperson seeking to make inroads in an Asian market needs to study at length!


The Civil War Shelf

Civil War Tales
Gary C. Walker
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LO 70053
9781589805712, $19.95, www.pelicanpub.com

There are stories in American culture that are not yet committed to writing. "Civil War Tales: Volume 1" is Gary C. Walker's efforts to commit these bits of oral history to a written record. These tales, passed down through generations of oral history and local sources, have not been ever committed to a nationally available source. The tales are intriguing and expose new light on many subjects throughout the history of America's bloodiest conflict. "Civil War Tales" is a must for any civil war history buff.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Public Domain
Attorney Stephen Fishman
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413308587, $34.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

Now in a completely updated and revised fourth edition with information on the latest court decisions, The Public Domain is a solid guidebook to finding and using creative works that are free for public use, and not governed by copyright. Packed with specific information about available public works in a wide range of mediums, from art, photography and maps to music, choreography, movies, video, software, databases, and more, The Public Domain is thoroughly accessible, easy-to-use, and enthusiastically recommended for anyone engaged in amateur or professional creative tasks. A welcome and much-needed addition to public library legal reference shelves as well.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The World We Have
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781888375886, $10.95 www.parallax.com 1-800-863-5290

Buddhist monk, scholar, and human rights activist Thich Nhat Hanh presents The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology, a thoughtful, almost pocket-sized guide to the spiritual dimension of environmentalism, as seen from a Buddhist perspective. Hanh argues that the impermanence of all things should not be used as an excuse to turn one's back on the world, instead emphasizing that being fully engaged with the world is critical to individual and collective survival. "The wisdom offered by the Buddha is that we accept impermanence - our own death and the inevitable death of our civilization. And afer having accepted that, we will have peace and strength and an awakening that will bring us together. No more hate, no more discrimination. Then we'll have the opportunity to make use of the technology that is available to us in order to save our beloved planet." A thoughtful open letter to all of humanity, highly recommended to readers of all faiths and backgrounds.


The American History Shelf

Popular Print and Popular Medicine
Thomas A. Horrocks
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558496576, $29.95 www.umpress.usmass.edu 1-800-537-5487

Thomas A. Horrocks (associate librarian of Houghton Library for Collections, Harvard University) presents Popular Print and Popular Medicine: Almanacs and Health Advice in Early America, a historical study of the role that American almanacs and their health advice played in affecting popular views of the body, health, and disease in antebellum America. Extensively scrutinizing the astrological, therapeutic, and regimen advice given in a wide variety of American almanacs across the span of two centuries, Popular Print and Popular Medicine suggests that the almanac emphasized and ingrained the contemporary assumptions, beliefs, and medical practices. "Though it was attacked by clergymen as the work of the devil, ridiculed by many of the learned as a practice of the ignorant and the superstitious, and even scorned by numerous almanac makers, astrology survived and continued to attract a strong following among ordinary Americans, both white and black, and even elicited some interest (in natural astrology) from the learned. When the first almanacs appeared in colonies outside of New England during the first decades of the eighteenth century, astrology and astrological health advice were regular features." A deeply scholarly scrutiny of the connections between almanacs and popular culture, and a welcome supplement to college library and early American history shelves.

What Men Call Treasure
David Schweidel & Robert Boswell
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas, El Paso, Texas 79901
9781933693217, $25.95 www.cincopuntos.com 1-800-566-9072

What Men Call Treasure: The Search for Gold at Victorio Peak is the in-depth true story of one family's legendary brush with riches. In 1937, con man and chiropodist Doc Noss ventured inside a New Mexico mountain named after the Apache chief Victorio. He discovered a cavern of incredible riches - statues of saints, swords, a crown, a chest of jewelry, twenty-seven skeletons, and roughly 16,000 gold bars of varying types. When the Doc and his wife tried to gain better access to the cavern, one of their dynamite blasts destroyed the narrow passage, and the U.S. government claimed the land for missile testing shortly after. A saga of discovery, lost treasure, and phenomenally questionable acts of the U.S. Government, What Men Call Treasure is a fascinating true story of lost mysteries, doubly remarkable in today's modern era when most corners of the earth have been thoroughly explored.

At Sword's Point
William P. MacKinnon, editor
Will Bagley, series editor
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623530, $45.00 www.ahclark.com 1-800-842-9286

Part 1 of Volume 10 of the "Kingdom in the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier" series, At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858 chronicles the 1857-58 armed confrontation between Mormon Utah Territory and the U.S. government, which was the most extensive American military action between the Mexican and Civil wars. The entire incident is covered in two volumes; this volume is part 1, which examines the war's causes and preliminary events, such as President Buchanan's executive decision to replace Brigham Young as governor of Utah and reinstate federal authority through an army expedition. Also scrutinized are Young's reactions to the threat, the beginning of hostilities, and Thomas L. Kane's departure in 1857 on his subsequently famous mission to mediate a compromise. An extensively researched and annotated collection of primary historical sources, illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, At Sword's Point is especially commended for college library and Utah history shelves for its wealth of firsthand accounts of soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict.

Archy Lee
Rudolph M. Lapp
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597140805, $12.95, www.heydaybooks.com

To fight for the ownership of oneself – something fortunately people of this generation will never have to do. "Archy Lee: A California Fugitive Slave Case" tells the tale of the historic 1858 case of a runaway slave in California who refused to return to California with his master. A massive legal battle ensued, and it's a vivid picture of a divided country of the time. The tale also doubles as inspiring of one person's fight for what's right, making "Archy Lee" a must for history readers everywhere.

The American Century
David E. Nye & Thomas Johansen
University Press of Southern Denmark
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9788776742508, $21.00, www.universitypress.dk

Arguably, the United States was the most powerful and most vital nation to the world in the twentieth century. "The American Century: A Chronology and Orientation" is a book looking at the history of America's rise to power through the twentieth century. Covering everything from the Progressive Era through the two World Wars, the Cold War, and place as the primary Super Power of the World after the Soviet Union's collapse, "The American Century" by academicians and historians David E. Nye and Thomas Johansen goes over each with many trivia and facts, making it an ideal choice for a non-specialist general reader history fan.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Legacy of the Luoshu
Frank J. Swetz
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568814278, $35.00 www.akpeters.com

Mathematics educator Frank J. Swetz presents Legacy of the Luoshu: The 4,000 Year Search for the Meaning of the Magic Square of Order Three, an in-depth study of the diverse roles that the luoshu (a 3x3 "magic square" of numbers in a grid, where all rows, columns, and diagonals add up to the same sum) has played in metaphysical and spiritual traditions worldwide. From Chinese fortunetelling to Daoism, and fengshui, to Islamic astrology and Kabbalistic lore, the luoshu has perpetually reappeared throughout global human history. Extensively researched and illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, Legacy of the Luoshu offers a unique glimpse into one aspect of the history of numerology, and is highly recommended especially for mysticism and metaphysical studies shelves.


The Art Shelf

Black Velvet Masterpieces
Carl Baldwin & Caren Anderson
Chronicle Books
680 – 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
9780811862073, $24.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

Black velvet paintings have been given surprisingly little attention so it's an exceptional pleasure to see a title that celebrates the art and offers up images from the authors' joint project the Velveteria Museum in Portland, Oregon. From Elvises and clowns to religious icons and tropical visions, nearly three hundred reproductions of these works accompany a history of the medium and provide a stunning photo catalog of black art achievement.

West Point Points West
The Institute of Western Art
Denver Art Museum
100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO 80204-2788
University of Oklahoma Press (distribution)
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806199689, $21.95, www.oupress.com

A wild untamed country lying toward the west, it is no wonder it has been and still is such a focal point of inspiration for so many artists. "West Point Points West" is a book filled with photographs and paintings of the Military Academy at West Point's desire to push westward and map the frontier that laid across those fields. Accompanied by essays on the subject to compliment the art, "West Point Points West" is a great choice for a coffee table book or fans of the old west in general.

Evan Macdonald
Flora Macdonald Spencer
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580484, $29.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

What creates an artist? "Evan Macdonald: A Painter's Life:" is the biography of the life of one of the best known Canadian artists in the twentieth century. Covering his life from his birth in 1905 and through his war time work, it gives a vivid picture of a man who truly loved his craft. Laced through the biographical text are full-color reproductions of Macdonald's work, helping one understand the man. Any art history buff, especially those with a focus on Canada, needs "Evan Macdonald".

The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido
Sebastian Izzard, introduction and commentary
George Braziller, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1105, New York, NY 10016
9780807615935, $80.00 www.georgebraziller.com 1-800-233-4830

The Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaido reproduces artworks from the best-condition surviving editions of a rare manuscript, giving Western audiences the first ever glimpse of these fascinating historical portraits of daily life in nineteenth century Japan. Art of beggars, brawling men, boaters, women in fine garments, castles, sprawling cities, green-sloped hills and much more grace the pages, enhanced by thoughtful analysis and commentary of each. A wondrous showcase of traditional Japanese art, highly recommended especially for collectors.

Kirchner And The Berlin Street
Deborah Wye
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019-5497
9780870707414, $35.00, www.moma.org

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a part of the acclaimed German Expressionism whose artistic representations of such urban elements as buildings, sidewalks, shops, and vehicles showcased both the glamour and the tumult of life in the city. Now his work accomplished between 1913 and 1915 has been compiled by Deborah Wye and includes 135 color illustrations of his work. The informed and informative text traces the artist's creative process, examines his sketchbook illustrations, and is supplemented by a chronology of his life and includes a selected bibliography. With its particular focus on Berlin street scenes, "Kirchner And The Berlin Street" is a welcome addition to the growing body of work concerning the German Expressionist movement in general, and the life and work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in particular. No academic library Art History collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of "Kirchner And The Berlin Street".


The Archaeology Shelf

Before Santa Fe
Jason S. Shapiro, Ph.D.
Museum of New Mexico Press
PO Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087
9780890135211, $39.95 www.mnmpress.org 1-800-249-7737

Written by archaeology and anthropology teacher Jason S. Shapiro, Before Santa Fe: Archaeology of the City Different draws upon over a century of archaeological exploration in and around the Santa Fe area, distilling the sum of gathered knowledge in a scholarly presentation ideal for reference shelves yet accessible to lay readers as well. Chapters discuss the different types of peoples who once lived in the Santa Fe area, with especial focus on its developmental period (600-1200 C.E.), coalition period (1175-1325 C.E.), and classic period (1325-1540 C.E.). Exhaustive notes and a list of references round out this top-notch analysis, enhanced with a handful of charts and black-and-white photographs.

The Red Land
Steven E. Sidebotham, Martin Hense, and Hendrikje M. Nouwens
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9789774160943, $39.50 www.aucpress.com 1-800-758-3756

Classical archaeology and ancient history professor Steven E. Sidebotham, freelance artist and archaeologist Martin Hense, and independent Egyptologist and archaeologist Hendrikje M. Nouwens present The Red Land: The Illustrated Archaeology of Egypt's Eastern Desert, a scholarly, in-depth reference to the rich, millennia-old history these inhospitable yet mineral-rich lands. Firmly grounded on twenty years of archaeological research and fieldwork done within Egypt's Eastern Desert, The Red Land spotlights especially significant sites, treasures, petroglyphs, cemeteries, mines, quarries, temples, and much more. Illustrated with over 280 black-and-white and color photographs, The Red Land is a seminal contribution to archaeological studies and Egyptology shelves, and a superb pick for college libraries.

From the Harpy Tomb to the Wonders of Ephesus
Debbie Challis
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715637579, $33.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Former London museum employee and freelance lecturer Debbie Challis presents From the Harpy Tomb to the Wonders of Ephesus: British Archaeologists in the Ottoman Empire 1840-1880, an extensive study of British-backed mid-1800's archaeological expeditions. Exhaustively researched, From the Harpy Tomb to the Wonders of Ephesus covers the amazing true stories behind the intelligent and driven men who led expeditions, reconstructs their labors and rewards, and analyzes the ripple effect of their discoveries. Notes, a bibliography, an index, and a handful of black-and-white photographs round out this scholarly historical chronicle. A welcome addition to archaeological history shelves.


The World History Shelf

Knights of Jerusalem
David Nicolle
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781846030802, $25.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

KNIGHTS OF JERUSALEM: THE CRUSADING ORDER OF HOSPITALLERS 1100-1565 provides a review of one of the more famous Crusading orders of medieval times. It considers the lives and military roles of the Knights Hospitaller in detail from their origins to their many conflicts. Black and white illustrations and color photos and drawings throughout spice a lively survey especially recommended for high school to college-level collections strong in medieval history.

Faith and Fatherland
Kyle Jantzen
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800623586, $22.00, www.fortresspress.com

What went on in the protestant churches of Germany during Adolph Hitler's reign of terror? "Faith and Fatherland: Parish Politics in Hitler's Germany" looks at the grand range of resistance that these Lutheran churches offered the regime. Some embraced Nazism, some fought vehemently to resist it, granting readers a deep look into the spiritual side of Nazi Germany. "Faith and Fatherland" is intriguing and educational, a grade-A choice for history readers in general, and students of the role of Christianity in 20th Century Germany in particular.

Citizens to Lords
Ellen Meiksins Wood
Verso
20 Jay Street, Suite 1010, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781844672431, $29.95, www.versobooks.com

What if what we know about history is wrong? "Citizens to Lords: A Social History of Western Political Thought from Antiquity to the Middle Ages" seeks to give a new explanation to how mankind views its past thinkers. Offering new views of thinkers from Socrates, St. Augustine, and many others, this examination of ancient political minds is fresh and food for thought. "Citizens to Lords" should be required reading and would make for good discussion for many a college political philosophy class.

Empire, Colony, Genocide
A. Dirk Moses
Berghahn Books
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781845454524, $95.00, www.berghahnbooks.com

To deliberately wipe out an entire people is what is referred to as 'Genocide'. "Empire, Colony, Genocide: Conquest, Occupation, and Subaltern Resistance in World History" is a meticulously researched and deftly edited scholarly reference by A. Dirk Moses which provides a history of the genocides which have taken place around the world. Writings and commentaries are drawn from scholars, anthropologists, and historians who speak out at how the practices of genocide have turned many nations into mass murderers ranging from Adolph Hitler's Nazi Regime and Holocaust, to such lesser known but still world changing events such as Cambodia The Great Rebellion in the Southern Andes, and so many other tragedies. Offering historical insights into humanity's murderous follies and what causes such harsh actions of repression and attempted extinctions, "Empire, Colony, Genocide" is strongly recommended to community library history collections and any non-specialist general reader with a strong interest in world history.

Animal Sacrifice In Ancient Greek Religion, Judaism, And Christianity, 100 BC to AD 200
Maria-Zoe Petropoulou
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199218547, $120.00, www.oup.com/us, 1-800-451-7556

Blood sacrifice is a fundamental aspect of most antiquarian religious belief systems including what would become the Judeo-Christian religions of the western world. Christianity would view the crucifixion of Jesus as the ultimate blood sacrifice and replace animal sacrifice with the sacraments of wine and bread taking the symbolic place of flesh and blood. But how was animal sacrifice carried out and how did it evolve in the context of the Greco-Roman period within which Christianity was to emerge? "Animal Sacrifice In Ancient Greek Religion, Judaism, And Christianity, 100 BC to AD 200" by Maria-Zoe Petropoulou (a teacher on the International Baccalaureate program of the Hellenic American Foundation, Athens) specifically addresses animal sacrifice, sources and methodology in ancient Greece, the character of Jewish sacrificial ritual worship and how it differed from the Greeks, and relationship of the early Christians (a widely persecuted minority within the Roman empire) to animal sacrifice up to AD 200. Of special note is Professor Petropoulou's epilogue 'A Suggestion Concerning the Reasons for the Cessation of Animal Sacrifice'. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Animal Sacrifice In Ancient Greek Religion, Judaism, And Christianity, 100 BC to AD 200" is a seminal work of meticulous scholarship that has been critiqued by the Oxford Classical Monograph Series' Faculty Board of Classics, and therefore is very strongly recommended as an informed and informative addition to personal, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Mehmed II The Conqueror
Marios Philippides, editor and translator
Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983464, $53.00 www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs 1-480-965-5900

Edited and translated by Marios Philippides (professor of Classics, University of Massachusetts), Mehmed II The Conqueror And the Fall of the Franco-Byzantine Levant to the Ottoman Turks: Some Western Views and Testimonies is a collection of primary historical sources concerning the fall of Constantinople and the subsequent Ottoman advance in the Aegean from 1453 to 1481. Including both historical and ethnographic material, the contents of Mehmed II The Conqueror range from eyewitness accounts to the most studious and well-informed of third party analyses of the era. Each two-page spread consists of primary source material in its original Latin on the left, and English translation with extensive footnotes on the right. Appendices, a bibliography, and separate indexes keyed to people and places of note round out this scholarly contribution to humankind's knowledge of history. Highly recommended especially for college library world history collections, and an excellent advanced text for anyone studying Latin as well.


The Political Science Shelf

The Legislative Branch of Federal Government
Gary P. Gershman
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851097128, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com 1-800-368-6868

The Legislative Branch of Federal Government: People, Process, and Politics is an in-depth, user-friendly reference that meticulously spells out precisely how the legislative branch of America's federal government works. Chapters describe how the United States Constitution set up the federal legislature, its roles, functions, and powers, its structure and process, the people who serve within it, its politics, and its interactions with the other branches of federal government. In addition, nearly half of The Legislative Branch of Federal Government reproduces historically significant documents and speeches, from writings by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton to The Civil Rights Act, key trials in American history, and more. An up-to-date resource worthy of the highest recommendation for public library collections.

Encyclopedia Of Libertarianism
Ronald Hamowy
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781412965804, $125.00, www.sagepub.com, 1-800-818-7243

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that is as diverse in its concepts and applications as are such companion terms as conservatism and liberalism. Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Ronald Hamowy (Professor Emeritus of History, University of Alberta, and a Fellow in Social thought at the Cato Institute), the "Encyclopedia Of Libertarianism" is a 623-page compendium composed of hundreds of informed and informative articles contributed by recognized authorities and presenting points of view on libertarianism with respect to economic, social, political, philosophical, cultural, individual, legal, historical, and psychological concepts and issues. Beginning with an impressive introductory essay providing an extensive historical and thematic overview of the development of libertarian thought that includes its significant contributors, events, and publications, "Encyclopedia Of Libertarianism" is enhanced with a Reader's Guide groups content of value for students and researchers by enabling the study of libertarianism topically, biographically, and by public policy issue area. A seminal work of enduring academic value which is also available as an electronic reference work (9781412965811, $155.00), the "Encyclopedia Of Libertarianism" is a fundamental contribution to academic library reference collections and highly recommended to the attention of students, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in political science in general, and libertarian philosophy in particular.

Crisis At The Polls
Robert M. Hardaway
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313351259, $49.95, www.greenwood.com, 1-800-225-5800

A free and fair election means that every qualified citizen votes, and every legitimate vote gets counted honestly. Unfortunately in all too many elections voting at the polls has been beset by a number of problems, some of which are so severe as to violate the law and corrupt the political system. Ranging from fraudulent votes to deliberate voter suppression, from bribery to physical violence, from ballot stuffing to 'hanging chads', the electoral history of the United States has been a checkered one. This is the subject of "Crisis At The Polls" by Robert M. Hardaway (Professor of Law at the University of Denver College of Law) who provides a systematic exploration of the election administration, historical and comparative perspectives, and a great deal of insightfully informed and informative commentary on the subjection of known attempts to subvert the democratic system of free elections. Enhanced with a Chronology, a Glossary, and an extensively annotated bibliography of print and electronic materials for further study, "Crisis At The Polls" is a seminal work of meticulous scholarship and an invaluable acquisition for academic and community library Political Science and American History reference collections.


The Genealogy Shelf

In Search of Your German Roots
Angus Baxter
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806317847, $16.95 www.genealogical.com 1-800-296-6687

Now in an updated fourth edition, In Search of Your German Roots is a guide created to help readers track their German ancestry, regardless of their personal familiarity with the craft of genealogy. Chapters walk one through conducting research via correspondence and e-mail; working at home on an ordinary personal computer with internet access; and tapping into the resources of libraries, archives, and church and state records. Filled with useful websites and e-mail addresses as well as the newest facilities and records available, In Search of Your German Roots is a solid, easy-to-use, plain-terms manual, highly recommended especially for anyone just starting a research project.


The Woodworking Shelf

Turning Wood
Richard Raffan
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781561589562, $24.95, www.taunton.com, 1-800-477-8727

Woodworking is not just a popular do-it-yourself pastime; it can also be an artistic means of expression, a source of lucrative income, and a successful counter to the stresses and strains of daily life. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded third edition, "Turning Wood" by internationally acclaimed woodworker Richard Raffan draws upon his more than twenty years of experience and expertise to provide aspiring woodworkers with a superbly presented and profusely illustrated instruction manual for turning out such beautiful objects as wooden bowls, boxes in the round, lamp bases, and furniture parts. Beginning with a 'users guide' to the lathe, "Turning Wood" covers such areas as 'Fixings'; Cutting Tools; Safety, Tool Handling & Cutting; Measuring, Centerwork, Facework, Hollow Vessels, and Finishing. Of special note are the two appendices 'Troubleshooting' and 'Selecting and Seasoning Wood'. As informed and informative as it is practical and step-by-step instructive, "Turning Wood" is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, school wood shop, and community library woodworking reference collections. Also very highly recommended is Richard Raffan's new illustrated woodworking instructional manual "The Art Of Turned Bowls" (9781561589548, $24.95).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood
Brian Dzyak
Back Stage
c/o Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823099539, $19.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Any collection strong in film careers and Hollywood insider accounts will find What I Really Want to Do on Set in Hollywood a popular lend. It comes from a Hollywood veteran who reveals the various departments that contain jobs, discussing how they can all interact with one another and consider real-life schedules of each crew member. From getting the Hollywood job to keeping it and climbing up the ladder, candid tips make film and Hollywood job seekers realize the progress of Hollywood interactions. Very highly recommended.

Great Producers
Iris Dorbian
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010
1581156464, $19.95, www.allworth.com

A good performing troupe is only as good as its weakest link, and a weak producer will sour it more than anything. "Great Producers: Visionaries of the American Theater" is a guide to effectively producing live theater. With advice from many of the best producers in American theater today, it acts as both a set of tips for aspiring producers and a look backstage for fans. "Great Producers" is a highly recommended book with a dual appeal.

The Encyclopedia Of Superheroes On Film And Television
John Kenneth Muir
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786437559, $75.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com, 1-800-253-2187

Superheroes have been a staple of American popular culture beginning with the advent of dime novels and pulp magazines. From the introduction of Superman and Batman during the grim years of the Great Depression, to today's multiplying legions of super heroes and heroines, this action/adventure fantasy genre continues to be wildly popular and with the advent of CGI special effects for television and movies, shows no signs of wearing out its welcome with the American public. Now John Kenneth Muir (the author of twenty-two reference books covering science fiction and horror on film and television) presents a newly updated and significantly expanded second edition of "The Encyclopedia Of Superheroes On Film And Television" that begins with an overview survey of the history of super heroes in film and television, then proceeds with an alphabetical encyclopedic series of 'filmographies' ranging from The Amazing Spider-Man to Zoom: The Academy for Superheroes. "The Encyclopedia Of Superheroes On Film And Television" is then enhanced with a two-page Conclusion by Muir, appendices on Conventions and Cliches; Incarnations; Memorable Ad-Lines; and The Best, Worst and Most Influential. This is followed by Notes, Bibliography, and an Index. "The Encyclopedia Of Superheroes On Film And Television" is a work of impressive dimensions and enthusiastically recommended for personal, community, and academic library reference collections.


The Military Shelf

The Great Crusade
H.P. Willmott
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781597971911, $22.00 www.potomacbooksinc.com

THE GREAT CRUSADE: A NEW COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, REVISED EDITION was originally published in 1989 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the war's outbreak in Europe. This reprint provides an account of both theatres of conflict in World War II and is a basic 'foundation pick' for any college-level or military library serious about World War II history.

82nd Airborne
Fred Pushies
Zenith Books
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 Fist Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760334652, $19.99, www.mbipublishing.com, 1-800-458-0454

The 82nd Airborne is a legendary American military force that began as an infantry division based at Camp Gordon, Georgia on August 25, 1917. Consisting principally of draftee soldiers from all over the country and who gave commendable service on the battlefields of World War I, the division was referred to as the 'All Americans' and wore a distinctive AA patch on their uniforms. On August 15, 1942 the division was re-designated the 82nd Airborne Division and parachuted into combat more than any other division seeing action in World War II. Today the 82nd Airborne is a flexible and modular fighting force able and ready to deploy anywhere around the globe. Most recently the division is conducting operations throughout Iraq and been deployed to Afghanistan as well. In "82nd Airborne" author Fred Pushies provides readings with an illustrated history of this fabled division whose members have received many Medal of Honor citations and other military honors over the years making it a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Military History reference collections and reading lists.


The Interior Design Shelf

Classic Country
Kathryn M. Ireland
Gibbs M. Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423601688, $39.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

Kathy Ireland is among the world's most influential interior and fabric designers, and in CLASSIC COUNTRY she shows how her fabrics blend with those of other designers. Any library strong in interior design needs this: it offers detailed explanations of how to use patterns, textures and color to maximum advantage, and it packs in color examples throughout. Very highly recommended, it goes beyond most interior design topics to consider the broader scope of form, function and choice.

Grand Master Baths
Janice Anne Costa
Creative Homeowner
PO Box 38, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-0038
www.creativehomeowner.com
9781580113885, $19.95, 1-800-631-7795

American bathrooms range from the utilitarian to the decadent. In "Grand Master Baths", Janice Anne Costa draws upon her experience and expertise as the editor of 'Kitchen & Bath Design News' to present a visually enhanced series of bathroom designs that reflect the very cutting edge of what can be accomplished in homes today. From the bathroom as a private sanctuary with all manner of indulgences, styles of furniture, tiles, metal work, lighting, high-tech flourishes, and accessorizing finishing touches, "Grand Master Baths" offers a cornucopia of ideas and images that are as diverse as they are impressive. Of special note is the section dedicated to presenting the bathroom as a part of a Bath Suite, and would incorporate a Sitting Room, a Walk-In Closet, a Dressing Room, a Breakfast Bar, and/or an Exercise Area. Enhanced with a four page Resource Guide, an extensive Glossary of specialized terms, and an Index, "Grand Master Baths" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Interior Design reference collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Know the Bible in 30 Days
J. Stephen Lang
Ideals Publications
535 Metroplex Drive, Suite 250, Nashville, Tennessee 37211
9780824947330, $24.99 www.guidepostsbooks.com

Know the Bible in 30 Days: Discovering Historical Facts, Biblical Insights and the Inspiring Power of God's Word is a user-friendly guide designed to help readers study and better understand God's Word in thirty days. Know the Bible in 30 Days is written from a decidedly Christian perspective; chapters discuss the Bible book-by-book, summarizing the Biblical stories and what they mean. Additional sections such as "Putting the Word to Work" raise insights for reflections and discussion, such as "The Pharisees represent the human desire to equate cleanliness with moral purity. Stop and consider whether you have been tempted to make this equation, and give some thought to Jesus' strong words about inner cleanliness." A welcome resource, highly recommended for Christians seeking to become better acquainted with the wisdom of the Bible, or refresh their appreciation of God's word.

Ecclesiology for a Global Church
Richard R. Gaillardetz
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570757693, $30.00, www.maryknoll.org

Christianity has spread around the world, with churches on nearly every corner of the globe. "Ecclesiology for a Global Church: A People Called and Sent" is a look at how Christianity grew to a world wide religion. Looking at how Christianity as a whole can use this united bond to help the lives of its patrons and the world around them, it's a call for a more charitable religion all around. "Ecclesiology for a Global Church" is intriguing and unique in its approach, highly recommended.

Jubilee
Mel Lawrenz
Regal
c/o Gospel Light
1957 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003
0830746366, $14.99, www.regalbooks.com

A spiritual renewal is what is offered yearly, which some people need when faced with the abuse of spirit that comes with everyday life. "Jubilee: A Season of Spiritual Renewal" is a guide to the event of Jubilee, an event to renewing the faith of Christians. With 50 days of events that deal with the important themes of Christianity, Sabbath, and redemption, among others, "Jubilee" is highly recommended to those who want complete and comprehensive guide to Jubilee.

On the Wings of the Wind
Patricia Eytcheson Taylor & James C. Taylor
LangMarc Publishing
PO Box 90488, Austin, TX 78709-0488
1880292335, $14.95, www.langmarc.com

While sometimes horrible things come out of nowhere, greatness can as well. "On the Wings of the Wind: A Journey to Faith" tells of a grandmother who finds herself married once more to a military chaplain, who follows him abroad. Encouraging readers to embrace God and appreciate the joy that goes into their lives, it's an intriguing and inspiring book. Patricia's journey will prove moving to many readers, making "On the Wings of the Wind" highly recommended to Christian readers everywhere.

Primary Source Readings in Christian Morality
Thaddeus Ostrowski
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9780884899891, $11.95, www.smp.org

What Would Jesus Do? The line written on many a wristband on T-shirt, and the calling many Christians follow. "Primary Source Readings in Christian Morality" is a collection of writings from many of the great Christian writers of the world who speak out on morality. The words within should prove inspired and inspiring to religious readers, giving "Primary Source Readings in Christian Morality" a high recommendation.

The Church in Her House
Marjorie Procter-Smith
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
9780829817010, $22.00, www.thepilgrimpress.com

Can a woman be both Christian and a feminist? "The Church in Her House: A Feminist Emancipatory Prayer Book for Christian Communities" says yes and quotes scripture to show how it is such. Seeking to empower women in general and especially Christian women, "The Church in Her House" is a must for any forward thinking woman who wants to keep herself, her family, and her community moving forward in thought, while keeping in touch with their beliefs.

Christ in the Gospels of the Liturgical Year
Raymond E. Brown
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814618608, $29.95, www.litpress.org

The liturgical calendar is a core element of worship, ritual, remembrance and celebration for the Christian community. "Christ in the Gospels of the Liturgical Year" is a collection of the writings of the prolific and highly educated biblical scholar Raymond E. Brown. Despite departing the world ten years ago, his works are still of undeniably and enduring value in studying the Bible. An ultimate compendium of Brown's work through the years, "Christ in the Gospels of the Liturgical Year" is recommended for religiously educated readers and a welcome addition to theological library collections and supplemental reading lists.

What Size are God's Shoes?
Tim Schenck
Morehouse Publishing
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17105
9780819223128, $12.00, www.churchpublishing.org

Kids are full of questions and curiosity about the world around them, even the supernatural. "What Size Are God's Shoes?: Kids, Chaos, and the Spiritual Life" is a guide to introducing one's children to religion and fielding the questions that inevitably follow along with it. Telling how to weave the spiritual into the mundane to religiously educate one's offspring, "What Size Are God's Shoes?" is a useful and enlightening book for Christian parents.

Banners for Visual Worship
Carla Krazl
Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
9780758615046, $19.99, www.cph.org

There are many ways to practice one's belief, and many artists have created new ways. "Banners for Visual Worship" contains seventy designs for Christian craftspeople who want to create their own way to declare their devotion to God. The creations are simple and express their intent simply and sincerely. Enhanced with a bonus CD containing patterns and samples, "Banners for Visual Worship" is highly recommended for artists who love their faith.

Designing Contemporary Congregations
Laurene Beth Bowers
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
9780829817898, $14.00, www.thepilgrimpress.com

It is not uncommon for people to reach adulthood then lose interest in the church. "Designing Contemporary Congregations: Strategies to Attract Those Under 50" is a guide for advertising one's congregation to a group woefully under represented in many a congregation. Calling for a revamp of churches, it offers advice on modernizing one's church without losing what's most important to many Christians – their soul. "Designing Contemporary Congregations" is a prime choice for any pastor or other Christian leader who doesn't want to lose their members to disinterest.

John
Robert J. Karris
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565482975, $15.95, www.newcitypress.com

The book of John is one of the most cherished and important books of the Bible. "John: Stories of the Word and Faith" is a collection of writings on the book. Containing the full text, broken into sections with writings discussing that particular part of the book, it is a dissection and educational look at one of the major books of the Bible. A must for any Bible study group, "John" is a fantastic selection.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Fisher Boy
Stephen Anable
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Avenue Suite 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590584804, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

Boston comic Mark has arrived to Provincetown with a group of fellow actors ready to break into the town's club circuit – but when he gets into a public fight with a famous local and becomes the prime suspect when the lawyer is murdered, Mark finds himself reluctantly drawn into the role of an investigator to clear his name. A tense thriller evolves, perfect for mystery collections.

Indigo Christmas
Jeanne M. Dams
Perseverance Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781880284957, $14.95, www.danielpublishing.com

Christmas is a time for giving and caring for your fellow man, not a time for murder. "Indigo Christmas" is a Hilda Johansson mystery, following married woman Hilda. Her marriage left her to leave her friends, but despite departing her beloved, they still need her. She goes to her old friend's aid, with Christmas quickly approaching. "Indigo Christmas" is a great choice for mystery fans, highly recommended.

Hearts
Perry E. Zenon
Bedside Books
c/o American Book Publishing
5442 So. 900 East#146, Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204
1589823516, $18.00, www.american-book.com

What drives a man to the sadism needed to remove the hearts from living people? "Hearts" is a mystery following a serial killer who has earned quite the infamous name for himself doing just that. Two detectives, Callow and Smith, are left on a trail to track down this killer who has escaped their grasps and has continued with his grisly method of slaughter. "Hearts" is a gripping mystery that will start readers reading and keep them going until the last page.


The Poetry Shelf

The World Waiting to Be
Louis Daniel Brodsky
Time Being Books
10411 Clayton Road, Suites 201-203, Saint Louis, MO 63141
9781568091204, $15.95, www.timebeing.com

Brainstorming is a long and complicated process where many ideas go in and out of one's head. "The World Waiting to Be: Poems About the Creative Process" is a collection of poetry from award winning and widely published poet Louis Daniel Brodsky speaking on something he must deal with daily, along with many other writers – the creative process. "The World Waiting to Be" is sure to please and inspire writers as they stew about what to write next. "The Light of the World": The pen sputters like a wet match,/As I draw it across imagination's strip./Reluctantly, it throws off ineffectual sparks, While I start over repeatedly./Finally, the ineffable flame explodes at its tip, Illuminating all that my eyes hold focused/Before my trembling mind-/ the metaphor ignited.

The New Life
Richard Tillinghast
Copper Beech Press
PO Box 2578, Providence, RI 02906
9780914278832, $13.00, www.copperbeechpress.com

Love, death, friendship, just a few of the topics touched upon in Richard Tillinghast's "The New Life". This compilation of his reflections on his voyage through life and reflections on the various problems and notes of interest he counters is deftly communicated through the medium of his poetry. Tillinghast's ideas are fresh and insightful, making "The New Life" is a top pick for poetry enthusiasts. "Hotel Room": In this room I laid out my prayer rug/and greeted the sun./On the one-chair balcony I sat out/from dinner till late at night.//and watched the domes of great mosques/turn liquid with moonlight/as if filling up from within-/silver like the nightingale's tongue.//First the epic journey,/the last mad dash down a mountainside,/arriving hollow-eyed and sunburned,/then this room.

You Are the Business
Caroline Dubois
Burning Deck
71 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
Small Press Distribution (distribution)
1341 Seventh Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781886224865, $14.00, www.burningdeck.com

How is writing crafted? In "You Are The Business" prolific and experienced French poet Caroline Dubois has compiled a book of her poetry in which she asks such questions as where to the ideas truly come from, what's real and what's fake. Expertly translated into English by Cole Sweensen, Dubois's poetry is unique, highly entertaining, and enthusiastically recommended reading.

Wide Open
Dawna Markova
Red Wheel Weiser / Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573243643, $16.95, www.dawnamarkova.com

Has passion left your life? "Wide Open: On Living with Passion and Purpose" is an inspiring book of wisdom coupled with full color and gorgeous floral photography. Readers will find much food for thought from Dawna Markova's musings, arranged in small, easy to digest chunks. "Wide Open" is recommended for anyone seeking more passion in any avenue of their life.

In Memory of The Fast Break
Michael Sweeney
Plain View Press
PO Box 42255, Austin, TX 78704
9781891386718, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.net

Poetry and the world of sports rarely collide, but Michael Sweeney brings them together anyway. "In Memory of the Fast Break" is his award winning collection of poetry for readers who are seeking a new and unique book of poetry. A breath of fresh air in the world poetry grants "In the Memory of Fast Break" a top recommendation. "When Giants Walked the Earth": They stood out even through the static, rabbit ears bent/on the old Zenith, plastic whipped from the window panes//staple by staple: arthritic Russell barely twitching his beard/toward the inbounds pass, Reggie Harding leaning with him//just as Russell soars the other ways, catching the lob/two feet above the rim & jamming it – the old dummy play!

Peace
Hugh Fox
Higganum Hill Books
PO Box 666, Higganum, CT 06441
9781605851815, $12.95, www.ipgbook.com

Highly educated, prolific, and experienced man of the world Hugh Fox, a longtime critic of literature and writing, brings readers his experience in the field of poetry as he offers up his own in "Peace". With a tinge of French sprinkled in, his experience brings much to the table and much to enjoy for readers. "Peace" is an enthusiastic recommendation for poetry lovers.

Hawking Moves
Richard Alan Bunch
Goose River Press
3400 Friendship Road, Waldoboro, ME 04572
9781597130523, $14.95, www.gooseriverpress.com

Experienced and highly prolific poet and short story writer brings fans another treat with "Hawking Moves: Plays, Poems, and Stories" a compilation of creative writing from him. All intriguing and of great quality writing, Bunch proves himself to be a very talented writer indeed. Readers who enjoy more than one format will relish "Hawking Moves" for the variety of forms in which Richard Alan Bunch has set his verse. "Embrace Metaphors": Unclear Jellyfish in the reeds I am,/ That mighty zero, primal astronomy.//Your disappearing fact, an atlas in stages,/A phrase within a phase, my blue fountain://This collection of cravings, one last kiss, An extended family in ecstatic prayer.//I'm in transition, a ghost perky in levitation,/A melody within a malady.

Down to the Quick
Nancy Scott
Plain View Press
1509 Dexter Street, Austin, TX 78704
9781891386633, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.net

Prolific and experienced poet Nancy Scott comes to readers with a new volume of poetry in "Down to the Quick". She has spent much of her life in service to children in need as a foster parent, and her poetry reflects on her life in the service of these children. "Down to the Quick" is moving and inspiring, recommended. "The Sixth Child": She lived in a crib her first three years,/in a closet, often not fed./Mom said she only had five./When rescued, Annie could barely sit.//Today, with thin arms, she circles her food/and waits./If she thinks you're not looking,/she squirrels away cheese, raisins, grapes,//deep in her pockets, under the rug,/between the cushions./You give Annie what she wants,/and don't let on.

Jealous Witness
Andrei Codrescu
Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
9781566892179, $19.95, www.coffeehousepress.com

Hurricane Katrina truly devastated New Orleans, leaving it so it'll never be the same again. "Jealous Witness" is a collection of poetry from Romanian born Andrei Codrescu, who adopted the Big Easy as his home when he immigrated there. The poetry focusing on the loss of their homes and the ongoing reconstruction of what was lost. Enhanced with a music CD from the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, "Jealous Witness" is a grand blend of music and poetry, sure to please those who want a taste of the indomitable spirit of New Orleans. "Morning": sometimes when they shut off the faucets/i think of the Chinese mailmen/how they must feel holding/birds full of letters./i would like to walk with them/into the small/circumcisions/at the top of the houses/through which hands protrude waiting/for telegrams./because this is a country of telegrams/we emerge from holding shocked doorknobs/between our knees.


The Language Studies Shelf

Strange Harbors
World Writing in Translation
Center for the Art of Translation
c/o University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9781931883153, $14.95, www.catranslation.org

There's more to translation than opening up to a wider audience. "Strange Harbors" is a collection of writings and poems spread across the world and in several languages, translated from other languages. For comparison, each work is in English and its language of origin. Translation allows English speakers to see into the minds of those who they wouldn't be able to carry on a conversation with, to understand why they do the things they do. "Strange Harbors" is a unique and highly appealing poetry book, sure to please many a reader.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Climate Change and Forests
Charlotte Streck & Collaborators, editors
Brookings Institution Press
PO Box 50370, Baltimore, MD 21211-4370
9780815781929, $69.95, www.brookings.edu

Could the ultimate and most effective weapon against global warming be smart business? "Climate Change and Forests: Emerging Policy and Market Opportunities" is a collection of essays focusing on environmental policies after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. Looking at land use and calling upon the minds of many writers to put forth their ideas and experiences into a brain trust that readers can read over and have much to think about themselves. With a partially optimistic yet wholly realistic approach to environmental conservation that believes good business is the best way for a greener tomorrow, "Climate Change and Forests" is an absolute must for any environmental discussion and for community and college library environmental collections.

Going Green
Sally & Sadie Kneidel
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555915988, $19.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

America has the biggest carbon footprint than any other country in the world – how can the everyday citizens do their part to reduce it? "Going Green: A Wise Consumer's Guide to a Shrinking Planet" is an informed and informative guide from a mother daughter team dedicated to saving the environment. Explaining the ecological costs of everyday items that you wouldn't think have much effect and alternatives available to each of them, "Going Green" is ideal reading for any consumer who worries about the world of tomorrow. Critically important, "Going Green" is an enlightening and educational work that should be a part of all academic and community library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Computer Shelf

Cisco Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

Denise Donohue, CCIE, Brent Stewart and Jerold Swan, CCIE's CCNP QUICK REFERENCE: A QUICK REVIEW OF CCNP EXAM TOPICS (1587202360, $29.99) is a final exam prep tool which reviews all objectives in the four CCNP exams, offering a review of key topics in a cram-style format with charts, sidebars of information, and more. As such it's a CCNP student's 'must have' supplement for any study culminating in testing. Michael Watkins and Kevin Wallace, CIE's CCNA SECURITY: OFFICIAL EXAM CERTIFICATION GUIDE (1587202204, $49.99) is a study guide that focuses specifically on the objectives for the exam and comes from senior security instructors who help identify weaknesses and improve on concepts and their applications. Chapters cover all the elements and techniques, offer quizzes with each chapters with self-assessment tools for speed and accuracy, and include a companion cd-rom of tests for individual topics. Invaluable for any studying for the exam.

Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.samspublishing.com 1-800-428-5331, www.informit.com/sams

Learn how to use PHP, MySQL and Apache together to create fine interactive web sites using a step-by-step lesson plan perfect for supplementing classroom studies, or for individual learning with Julie C. Meloni's SAMS Teach Yourself PHP, MySQL and Apache All in One (067232976X, $34.99). From installing the PHP scripting language and the MySQL database system to creating dynamic interactions between these programs, a cd for Mac, Linux or Windows offers up a starter kit perfect for learning, testing, and producing results. The fourth updated edition provides essential keys to learning. Fritz Anderson's XCODE3 UNLEASHED (0321552636, $44.99) comes from an acclaimed Mac developer who here writes the definitive guide to making the most of Xcode 3, showing how to manage source code in a variety of environments from solo to team, how to use the build system, and how to enhance Apple performance. An update for Xcode 3.x is also included. Programmer collections will find this specific and important.

Netroots Rising
Lowell Feld and Nate Wilcox
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313346606 www.praeger.com

NETROOTS RISING: HOW A CITIZEN ARMY OF BLOGGERS AND ONLINE ACTIVISTS IS CHANGING AMERICAN POLITICS comes from two veteran online campaigners who analyze political campaigns in which netroots activism was decisive or instructive. Their survey offers insider and first-hand accounts of the power of the netroots to determine political outcomes and also offers chapters covering how activists build movements and insiders kill them, and how the passage of time affects political and internet movements. A 'must' for not only computer libraries, but any collection strong in social issues.

Learning Perl, 5th Edition
Randal L. Schwartz, Tom Phoenix, Brian D. Foy
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596520106, $39.99 www.oreilly.com

LEARNING PERL is a programming library's foundation title and a highly recommended pick: it covers all the basics of what most programmers use and need to get started with Perl, and offers up a fifth edition of a classic first published in 1993. The latest changes to the software including Perl 5.10 are covered in chapters that discuss file operations, expressions, matching, and more. It also covers all kinds of platforms, from web applications to finance, and goes beyond the usual 'how to program in Perl' book to enhance the methods and approaches of the Perl programmer.

Getting Started With Flex 3
Jack D. Herrington & Emily Kim
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596520649, $19.99, www.oreilly.com

Flex is short for flexible, a title the program Flex 3 rightfully deserves. "Getting Started with Flex 3: An Adobe Developer Library Pocket Guide" is a handbook filled with all one needs to gain a complete understanding and mastery of Flex 3. Covering user interfaces, controls both commercial and open source, integration, and so much more that this little program can do. "Getting Started With Flex 3" is a must for anyone dealing with the program and wants to do more.

The Ida Pro Book
Chris Eagle
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271787, $59.95, www.nostarch.com

Usually to get things done in programming already established programs, you need the source code. "The Ida Pro Book: The Unofficial Guide to the World's Most Popular Disassembler" is a guide to that common remedy for those problems, Ida Pro. Covering many unknown yet useful techniques to use with the disassembler, it touches on subjects such as routines, processor and file types, plug-ins, debuggers, and so much more. Time saving, efficiency increasing, and skill enhancing, there is little reason for any Ida Pro user to not pick up "The Ida Pro Book".


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Words to Inspire Writers
Gregory Victor Babic
F.C. Sach & Sons Publishers
info@fcsachandsonspublishers.com
9780980372205, $20.00, fcsachandsonspublishers.com

Writing is a mentally draining job, and inspiration is the fuel to keep that tank filled. "Words to Inspire Writers" is the battery many writers will enjoy. With quotes to help with every stage of writing to pondering a concept, putting it to paper, or editing it down, the book will prove to be many a writer's best friend. "Words to Inspire Writers" is a strong choice for a gift to any writer.

Spider Speculations
Jo Carson
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
9781559362832, $16.95, www.tcg.org

What really makes a good story? "Spider Speculations: A Physics and Biophysics of Storytelling" is a collection of writings from Jo Carson seeking to answer those questions and dive into the bare science of storytelling. The dissection will intrigue and inform readers, and grant them many a tip on improving their own writing, through understanding the audience, much like a cook would benefit from knowing who he is cooking for. "Spider Speculations" contains invaluable advice for writers, granting it an enthusiastic recommendation.

Silence, Language, & Society
Robert Hartwell Fiske
Vocabula Books
5A Holbrook Court, Rockport, MA 01966
9780977436873, $12.95, www.vocabula.com

Language not only expresses out thoughts, it shapes them as well. Robert Hartwell Fiske has a very special expertise with language as the editor and publisher of 'The Vocabula Review', a publication dedicated to the study of language. He applies that expertise in "Silence, Language, & Society: A Guide To Style And Meaning, Grace And Compassion", a pocket-sized compendium of information and insight that will prove invaluable for students of the English language, as well as writers aspiring to a deft and definitive elegance in whatever they choose to write about. How words, language and thoughts intermingle, their relationship with 'silence and society' is the focus of this remarkable little volume that continues definitions, word usage examples, and such miscellanea as imprecations and misspent words. "Silence, Language, & Society" is a treat for anyone who finds the study of the English language to be of interest either as a pastime or a profession.

You Can Be Famous!
Danek S. Kaus
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, 1380 Face Rock Drive, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759110, $14.95 www.rdrpublishers.com

You Can Be Famous! Insider Secrets to Getting Free Publicity is a practical, no-nonsense guide for anyone in search of publicity, whether an author trying to get the word out for their book, an employee seeking to promote their company, an aspiring actor or actress trying to get their name out there, or anyone else yearning to make a well-known name for themselves. Chapters discuss the positive benefits and negative consequences of fame, how to get on a journalists' good side (be aware that most journalists are under deadline pressure, so always be respectful of their time - be concise, polite, keep your appointments, and ask their permission to make a follow-up call one or two weeks later), the right way to pitch oneself, how to prepare for an interview, how to dress in a manner that's camera-friendly, and much more. Other matters such as harnessing the Internet to its maximum potential, creating a quality publicity release, or holding a charity event to garner a buzz are also discussed. A user-friendly, easy-to-follow guide, enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking fame, especially if seeking to promote their artistic creation or business product.

Hebrew Writers on Writing
Peter Cole, editor
Trinity University Press
One Trinity Place, San Antonio, Texas 78212-7200
9781595340528, $24.95 www.trinity.edu/tupress

Hebrew Writers on Writing is an anthology of tracts from a vast array of Hebrew writers, about the wonder of finding one's voice through writing, the spiritual dimensions of communication, the nuances of how language changes with time, the impact that modern technology and record keeping abilities have on the evolution of writing, and much more, all from a distinctly Jewish perspective. Each short piece is prefaced with a brief biography of the author. A deeply thought-provoking collection of reflections that amateur and professional writers alike are sure to find inspirational. "Hebrew, a synchronic language, holds certain precise ethical and philosophical value concepts that belong only to Hebrew and to Judaism that are really untranslatable. Such words cannot be learned simply as words, without their philosophical context. Some are whole teachings. Thus the concept teshuva (repentance) is not what we think of today as repentance, or more commonly, becoming religious. In Judaism it covers a process involving a complete change of personality - sometimes even a change of name, work, and address. This significance is all but lost in its modern usage." A welcome addition to Hebrew and Judaic Studies shelves, as well as being a worthy contribution to "The Writer's World" series.


The Audiobook Shelf

Black Widow
Randy Wayne White
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143142881, $39.95 www.penguin.com

Veteran audio narrator George Guidall's voice spices a moving story of revenge gone bad revolving around a wild bachelorette party, a secret videotape, and a godfather hired to make an exchange when blackmail enters the picture. Ford reluctantly agrees to the delivery job – and unwittingly becomes involved in death and revenge in this fast-paced saga which springs to life in audio.

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

Christopher Lane's vocal talents include over 150 audiobooks, so he spices well Ridley Pearson's Killer View (1423321359, $34.95), a story of a missing skier and a sheriff whose rescue team begins vanishing. Friendships, biohazard potentials and murder coincide to challenge Walt's community foundations in a fine, involving audio highly recommended for any general-interest listening audience. Robert Crais' LULLABY TOWN (142335639X, $34.95) features Mel Foster's smooth and winning voice, spiced by a long acting career, as it tells of Hollywood genius Peter Nelson, an erratic director used to getting everything he wants – even if he makes enemies to do so. His assignment to Cole – to locate a missing wife and child – should be easy but turns into a nightmare in this fast-paced, breathtaking thriller. Andre Dubus III's THE GARDEN OF LAST DAYS (1423366573, $38.95) receives Dan John Miller's fine acting voice as it tells of a stripper who brings her daughter to work, only to find an unusual client with lots of money will change her life. A gripping, tense story evolves with many unexpected twists and turns. Robert Crais' FREE FALL (1423356519, $34.95) receives Mel Foster's extensive acting expertise and spices the story of Elvis Cole, a detective who wants to help a girl in trouble, only to find he and his partner part of a deadly underworld mystery.

Resort to Murder
Lorna Landvik, introduction
Holton House Audio
3090 Mildred Drive, Roseville, MN 55113
0981749119, $29.95

Resort to Murder: Thirteen Tales of Mystery by Minnesota's Premier Writers is an audiobook anthology of mystery stories, all set in Minnesota and written by Minnesota authors. All of the mysteries have the common thread that they take place in a fictional, eerie Minnesota resort. A spine-chilling collection, perfect for stoking fears, Resort to Murder is the perfect gift for crime fiction lovers of any state. Highly recommended. 5 CDs, 5 hours 50 minutes.

Bloodsucking Fiends
Christopher Moore, author
Susan Bennett, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781436107440, $92.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Bloodsucking Fiends is the unabridged audiobook rendition a dark, gritty vampire story with a wicked sense of humor. When Jody wakes up in a dumpster with a heady craving for blood, she realizes she's a vampire and can't live an ordinary life. Enlisting the help of a "minion" (well, can run errands during the day), she charts out a new plan for her unlife - but powerful, evil forces begin toying with her and her new best friend; together they must track down a serial killing vampire! Author Christopher Moore writes with a tongue-in-cheek gift of gab, and the humor is brought to the fore through Susan Bennett's exquisite storytelling. Highly recommended especially for vampire fans who don't think that undeath should necessarily be depressing! 8 CDs, 9.5 hours.

Babbitt
Sinclair Lewis
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
1580813216, $109.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863

Babbitt is the full-cast audiobook production of Sinclair Lewis' classic satirical tale following real estate agent George F. Babbitt. Scathing and relentless in its mockery of the mindless conformity of small-town, middle-class, white-collar America, Babbitt reflected the dark side of America's economic boom of the early 1920's. The amazing and seasoned voice cast includes Edward Asner as Babbitt and dozens of other great names, from Rene Auberjonois to Ed Begley Jr. to Ted Danson, Helen Hunt, Judge Reinhold, and many more. Highly recommended for public library collections as well as private enjoyment.

Fleet of Worlds
Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner, authors
Tom Weiner, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433229428, $80.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

Fleet of Worlds is the unabridged audiobook rendition of Larry Niven and Edward M. Lerner's joint science fiction prequel to Niven's first Ringworld novel. The intelligent and driven Kirsten Quinn-Kovacs serves the Citizens, a gentle race that rescued her ancestors from a dying starship out of gratitude; when a cosmic catastrophe threatens all life in the galaxy, the Citizens flee along with their planets, the Fleet of Worlds. Kirsten and her crew volunteer to serve the Fleet as a scout, but their search to uncover possible threats bears unexpected fruit, revealing a hidden secret that will transform all they know about the galaxy and its inhabitants. Larry Niven lives up to his award-winning reputation in this enthralling saga sure to please science fiction fans everywhere. 9 1/2 hours, 8 CDs.

The Dreaming Void
Peter F. Hamilton, author
John Lee, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781400107278, $54.99 www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

The Dreaming Void is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the first volume in a new science fiction trilogy set in the same universe as the widely appreciated Commonwealth saga. Within the core of the galaxy is the Void, a self-contained microuniverse that is steadily expanding and absorbing all in its path, including planets, stars, and civilizations. One astrophysicist studying the Void starts to dream of humans living within it, and through the neural network that keeps humans connected, his dreams spread into the foundation of a new religion. When the prophet that sparked the religion vanishes mysteriously, an unknown Second Dreamer steps up to take his place. Followers embark on a great pilgrimage into the Void, but there is a terrible risk that by attempting to enter they could trigger the catastrophic destruction of thousands of worlds! Meanwhile, within the Void, a cosmic entity has shifted its attention outward. It's a race against time to find Inigo and the Second Dreamer, in this epic saga of galactic proportions. 18 CDs, 22.5 hours.


The Library DVD Shelf

Four Minutes
Wolfe Video LLC
PO Box 64, New Almaden, Ca 95042
WOL4478D, $24.95, www.WolfeVideo.com

Traude Kruger taught piano at a women's prison for more than sixty years. But her inmate Jenny, a convicted killer with a history of beating people for simple amusement, is unique. Once a great musical talent she could be trained to participate in and wine a prestigious piano contest -- despite her prison sentence. Traude's problem is how to inspire Jenny to act out with her music rather than her fists. "Four Minutes" is a riveting story, superbly performed, and the conclusion is truly memorable. The German with subtitles DVD format is enhanced with such bonus features as the Theatrical Trailer, a Widescreen Presentation, Dolby 2.0 Audio sound. Total Running Time: 112 minutes; full color. Also highly recommended from Wolfe Video is "Shelter Me" (WOL4531D, $24.95), the story of Anna and Mara, a lesbian couple who inadvertently smuggle a young Moroccan boy across the border into Italy.

First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
www.firstrunfeatures.com

First Run Features is a premier source for foreign movies, documentaries, and independent film productions. Six of their newest releases underscores the diversity of genres and subject matter that have made First Run Features a unique source for personal, academic, and community library DVD collections. "The Trials Of Henry Kissinger" is an 80 minute documentary on Kissinger's role as part of the Johnson administration during the Viet Nam conflict. "The Sacred Family (La Sagrada Familia) is a 99 minute Spanish comedy combining sex, black humor, and emotional candor. "Television Under The Swastika" is a Michael Kloft's 52 minute documentary telling the story of Germany's pioneer work in television that began in March 1935 and whose broadcasts continued through September 1944. "Please Vote For Me" is a 58 minute documentary by Weijun Chen on an elementary school election for class president held in the city of Wuhan in central China. "Enough! (Barakat!)" is a 94 minute full color film set in the Algerian civil war during the 1990s. The DVD format allows for each of these titles to be enhanced with bonus materials that include such items as Director Notes, Filmographies, Photo Galleries, Audio Commentaries, and Theatrical Trailers. Film enthusiasts, academic and community librarians are encouraged to visit the First Run Features website at www.firstrunfeatures.com for a complete listing of the massive film library.

Ranma 1/2 Season 7: Ranma Forever
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
DVD, $119.98 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042

The thinpack boxed set of the seventh and final season of the wildly popular Ranma 1/2 anime television series, based on the equally beloved Japanese manga by Rumiko Takahashi (whose other works include Inu-Yasha and Maison Ikkoku), is an absolute must-have for every self-professed anime fan. A lighthearted, episodic martial arts comedy with extra emphasis on the comedy, Ranma 1/2 follows the (mis)adventurous daily life of Ranma, gifted with the extraordinary ability to assimilate new martial arts techniques but afflicted with a curse that makes him transform into a girl whenever he is splashed with cold water, until he can find hot water and change back into a guy! Ranma's friends, enemies, and rivals range from his short-tempered fiancee Akane (who genuinely cares for him underneath the bluster, but whose cooking is potentially toxic to human life), to his diminutive yet lecherous master Happosai, to the fiercely antagonistic Ryoga (whose curse periodically transforms him into a small black pig) and many more. Like the series as a whole, Ranma 1/2 Season 7 includes episodes that directly adapt Takahashi's work, episodes that add extra nuance and depth to the original manga, and even some episodes created just for television. Though suggested for "older teen" audiences, Ranma 1/2 merely has comedy violence mixed with a hint of mature innuendo (and perhaps some nudity), and is certainly far more family-friendly than any number of modern PG-13 movies. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys animated comedy; since the series does not have an arc-style plot or excessive emphasis on continuity, Season 7 is just as good a jumping-on point to the wonderful world of Ranma 1/2 as Season 1. Japanese & English with English subtitles, 625 minutes, color.

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$29.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.hollywoodsinginganddancing.com

Hosted by Academy Award winning stage, screen, and TV star Shirley Jones, Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History is a celebration of Hollywood musicals throughout history up to the present day. From the exciting choreography that brought cheer to the darkest times of the Great Depression, to wartime showtunes that fired up America's fighting spirit, to modern smash hits such as "Chicago" and "Dreamgirls", Hollywood Singing and Dancing is an amazing tour. Worthy to be the centerpiece of any Hollywood history DVD shelf, Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History comes highly recommend. 108 minutes, with 120 minutes of bonus footage.

Our Spirits Don't Speak English
Rich-Heape Films, Inc.
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$29.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.richheape.com

Our Spirits Don't Speak English: Indian Boarding School is a DVD documentary of the true-life stories of Native American children who were forcibly taken from their homes and families and educated in boarding schools, as part of a governmental policy to "kill the Indian and spare the man". From 1869 through the late 1960's, more than 100,000 Native Americans had been compelled to attend Indian Boarding School. Our Spirits Don't Speak English tells of growing up in a harsh world of strict rules, where speaking tribal languages was severely punished. A vivid reminder that America, land of the free, was not so free for some of its citizens until relatively recently in its history. 80 minutes, closed captioned.

Adventures in Voice Acting Volume One
Bang Zoom! Entertainment
1100 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
1576406478, $29.95 www.AdventuresInVoiceActing.com

Adventures in Voice Acting Volume One is an exciting behind-the-scenes DVD tour of the voice acting industry, a vital part of both games and animated television shows. Featuring professional voice actors such as Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants), Michelle Rodriguez (Halo 2), Lance Henricksen (Mass Effect), Wendee Lee, Steve Blum, and more, Adventures in Voice Acting Volume One teaches aspiring voice actors how to break into the industry. Among the tips and discussed include techniques to use while in the booth, how to prepare for an audition, what to expect on one's first day in the studio, and more. An absolute "must-see" for anyone curious about voice acting as a career. 130 minutes plus 32 minutes of extras, color.

John Deere Country Part 1: How a Combine is Made
TM Books & Video
PO Box 279, New Buffalo, MI 49117
9781932291216, $14.95 www.tmbv.com 1-800-892-2822

John Deere Country Part 1: How a Combine is Made is a DVD that lives up to its title, bringing the viewer on a step-by-step tour of precisely how a John Deere combine is crafted. From how lasers cut sheets of metal into the thousands of parts needed, to the process of bending, punching, and welding together the pieces, and adding internal working such as cylinder, cleaning shoe, and grain bend. A truly amazing look at the efficiency of modern technology, supplemented with the human ingenuity and hard work, John Deere Country Part 1 is a treat for young and old alike with an interest in the inner workings of farm equipment. 1 hour 20 minutes, color.

The Dhamma Brothers
Produced by Jenny Phillips & Anne Marie Stein
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594587752, $275.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

Intended for viewers in grades ten to adult, The Dhamma Brothers: East Meets West in the Deep South is a true-life documentary set behind the walls of an Alabama maximum-security prison, which became the first correctional institution of its kind to hold an extended Vipassana retreat. The participants engaged in an emotionally and physically taxing course of silent meditation for ten days, a process that yields dramatic results. The Dhamma Brothers is not just the story of a prison program, but also the human ability to accept responsibility for the most terrible of offenses. Ultimately an inspirational chronicle of hope, The Dhamma Brothers is highly recommended as an example of how meditative discipline can harness the positive side of the human spirit even in the most unlikely of places. 76 minutes, subtitles, color.

Ripple Effect
a film by Philippe Caland
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569946589, $24.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Ripple Effect is the DVD presentation of an award-winning film starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen and Academy award nominee Minnie Driver. Weaving the tale of African-American cutting-edge clothing designer Amer Atrash, Ripple Effect explores a burgeoning crisis that threatens to destroy Atrash's business and his marriage. Re-examining himself, Atrash reasons that the source of his ills comes from a detrimental deed he committed fifteen years earlier, and sets out to atone for his wrong. In the process he undergoes a revitalization of the spirit, awakening to the value of compassion. An enduring and positive tale of human redemption, highly recommended. 83 minutes, 16:9 aspect ratio, color.

Al Foster Quintet
MVD Entertainment Group
H-840 North Circle Drive, Oaks, PA 19456
$19.95 www.MVDb2b.com

Al Foster Quintet is a DVD capturing a 2007 performance of drummer Al Foster, along with his musical quintet of pianists Aron Goldberg and George Callaghan, sax player Eli Degibri, bassist Doug Weiss, and trumpet player Dr. Eddie Henderson. Together, the team exults in musical styles ranging from bebop to jazz to rock and more. The songs played are "So What", "So Near So Far", "Shed", "Missing Miles", "Cantaloupe Island", "Aloysius", "Peter's Mood", "The Chief", "Tune Up", and "Jean-Pierre". Recorded live, Al Foster Quintet is enthusiastically recommended as the perfect gift for modern music lovers who enjoy rhythm & groove. 97 minutes, 16:9 aspect ratio, color.

The Complete Fit & Healthy Pregnancy Workout
Gabrielle Reece
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
$19.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Created by Gabrielle Reece during and after her pregnancy with the help of certified personal trainer Mike Monroe, and approved by OBGYN Vivian Dickerson, The Complete Fit & Healthy Pregnancy Workout is a DVD of twelve fifteen-minute workouts, three for each trimester of pregnancy and three to help trim down after giving birth. A few pieces of inexpensive exercise equipment are recommended to tap the full potential of The Complete Fit & Healthy Pregnancy Workout: no more than an exercise ball, fitness band, and small hand weights. The primary focus is on strengthening and stretching moves, ideal keeping one's muscles strong and ready to reclaim one's figure. With the caveat that any expectant mother should consult her doctor before undertaking an exercise regimen, The Complete Fit & Healthy Pregnancy Workout is an excellent choice for expectant or aspiring mothers, and also highly recommended as a baby shower gift! 258 minutes, color.

Yoga with Your Baby
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.yogawithyourbaby.com www.411videoinfo.com

Yoga with Your Baby is a DVD for parents of children age 3 months to 4 years. Together, parents and baby can engage in yoga postures, sing songs, and explore the joy of moving and stretching one's body. The DVD features 20 yoga practices designed for the parent, 15 for the baby, soothing songs ideal to sing, mindfulness-based parenting practices, meditation and relaxation exercises, and more. A wonderful, easy-to-use method to work fitness into one's busy lifestyle even when taking care of small children. 100 minutes, color.

Rain Shadow Series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$39.99 www.acornmedia.com

Rain Shadow Series 1 collects the first six episodes of a dramatic series following the small Australian farming town of Paringa. Battered first by drought, then an outbreak of disease among its sheep, Paringa is on the verge of dissolving; veterinarian Kate McDonald (played by Golden Globe nominee Rachel Ward) and her plucky assistant (played by Victoria Thaine) fight to save their community. Filmed on location in the Adelaide Hills, Rain Shadow is a poignant drama of hope, and the determination to fight for one's way of life, as well as the strong wills of two women resisting the odds against them. An excellent gift for anyone who enjoys fine drama. 16:9 widescreen, 326 minutes, color.


The Library Science Shelf

The Public Library Policy Writer
Jeanette C. Larson & Herman L. Totten
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706036, $75.00, www.neal-schuman.com

A public library, although purely nonprofit and benevolent, still must be dealt with like a business. "The Public Library Policy Writer: A Guidebook with Model Policies on CD-ROM" is a guidebook for those librarians to create solid policies to make their libraries run as harmoniously as possible. Covering each job that needs to be done to make a library successful, also covering summarizations, skills, experience, licensing, knowledge, and more, it covers what librarians need to know. Enhanced with a CD-ROM with examples, "The Public Library Policy Writer" is a strong choice for any library administrator.

The Small Public Library Survival Guide
Herbert B. Landau
ALA Editions
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838935750, $38.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Librarians love books – but most serve small libraries, so resources must be carefully managed. "The Small Public Library Survival Guide: Thriving on Less" is a guide for smaller libraries who still want to be successful. An overwhelming majority of libraries fall into this category, With basic and advanced techniques on building a successful library, it's a must for any library administrator of a fledgling library, giving "The Small Public Library Survival Guide" a grand recommendation.

Information Literacy
Zorana Ercegovac
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586833324, $39.95, www.linworth.com

Being able to find the answers is just as useful as knowing the answer. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Information Literacy: Search Strategies, Tools, & Resources for High School Students and College Freshmen" is a manual for fine-tuning one's research skills to increase one's learning experience. With ideas from learning theories, proven skills and plans, "Information Literacy" is a book that's recommended to anyone who wants to improve one's study and research skills.

Re-Designing The High School Library For The Forgotten Half
Margie J. Klink Thomas
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9781591584766, $45.00, www.greenwood.com, www.lu.com

One of the principle functions of the high-school library is to provide non-college bound students with the kinds of books, periodicals, and curriculum supplemental materials that will prepare them for alternatives to university educations upon graduation from high school. Indeed, to build and maintain a collection that will promote the concept of life-long learning will prove of enduring value for all elements of a high school's student population wither students decide to go directly into the workforce, enlist in the military, take an entrepreneurial venture, or attend a trade school, enrol in an apprenticeship program, or attend a community college. It will even prove invaluable for those students going on to pursue degrees at colleges and universities. Librarians needing to accommodate non-college bound high school students have an superbly organized and comprehensive 'how to' guide with "Re-Designing The High School Library For The Forgotten Half: The Information needs Of The Non-College Bound Student" by high school librarian Margie J. Klink Thomas, who draws upon her many years of experience and expertise working in special, academic, and public library systems. This thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide should be a part of every college and university's "Library Science" reference collection and supplemental reading list.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sew & Stow
Betty Oppenheimer
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603420273, $16.95 www.storey.com

Sew bags, purses, totes and more with over thirty projects suitable for all skills, from beginners to neo-pro sewers. The whole idea goes beyond purses to bags to tote and store household and travel items: SEW & STOW offers the basic techniques for cutting, sewing and finishing along with pink sidebars of information and plenty of illustration. Needlework libraries will find this a fun addition.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326000, $12.95 www.collectorbooks.com

Cathy & Gene Florence's ELEGANT GLASSWARE OF THE DEPRESSION ERA, 13TH EDITION (9781574326024, $24.95) covers identification and value of a range of Depression glassware, is arranged by manufacturer, and pairs photo lends and color-coded sidebar values with color photos of all kinds of glassware. The result is a survey perfect for any seeking to clarify common confusion over identification and values. Milbra Long and Emily Seate's FOSTORIA STEMWARE: THE CRYSTAL FOR AMERICA, 2nd Edition (9781574325836, $29.95) packs in pages of color photos, black and white stemware drawings, and the latest values and history for them makes for an invaluable reference for Fostoria specialists and any collection catering to glassware collectors.


The Black Studies Shelf

African American Women Confront the West, 1600-2000
Quintard Taylor and Shirley Ann Wilson Moore, Editors
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139791, $24.95 www.oupress.com

College-level collections strong in either women's history or Afro-American issues will find this invaluable, representing the first major historical anthology to focus on the roles such women played in the West. From their experiences of the region's other cultures to their lasting impact on rural and urban communities alike, African American Women Confront the West, 1600-2000 provides a fine set of first-person narratives, interviews, and essays examining the history and legacy of Afro-American women in the West.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Heute Nacht Oder Nie / Tonight or Never
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester
SPV Recordings
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $19.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Heute Nacht Oder Nie (meaning "Tonight or Never") is a two-CD recording of Max Raabe and Palast Orchester's sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall in New York. The suave singing duo project clarity and energy into nostalgic hits from the 20's and early 30's. Songs range from Cuban rumbas to fast-paced foxtrots and courtly tangos. An utterly rapturous celebration of the most beloved musical styles of nearly a century ago, yet presented with the blood-firing enthusiasm and smooth, sensual appeal worthy of modern rock stars, Tonight or Never is a welcome addition to personal and library music CD collections and highly recommended.

Cada Dia un Regalo / Each Day a Gift
Sol y Canto
MusicAmador Productions
199 Pemberton Street, Cambridge, MA 02140
$16.00 www.musicamador.com

Cada Dia un Regalo / Each Day a Gift is the latest album by the ensemble Sol y Canto, featuring their unique blend of original creativity, folk music, and Latin music roots. The songs range from an amusing allegory of American democracy to a caution about the endless cycle of vengeance to a stand against extremist fundamentalism of all types. A rousing and passionate album devoted to social justice, Each Day a Gift is a treasure to listen to, highly recommended. The tracks are "An Eye for an Eye", "Obsession", "Ghost", "Image of You", "Credo", "The Weeping Woman", "To the Moon", "Discreet Kiss", "Manifesto", "The Hive", "Your Garden", and "Like Flying".

Encounterpoint
John Stein
Whaling City Sound
1178 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
$16.98 www.whalingcitysound.com www.johnstein.com

Encounterpoint is the seventh album by jazz artist John Stein, performed in tandem with fellow bassist John Lockwood, drummer Ze Eduardo Nazario, and keyboard player Koichi Sato. Together they have created an assembly of songs that rotate their musical focus from piece to piece, while maintaining a uniform soul-moving, free-flowing pulse. The tracks are Jordu (5:13), Line Drive (6:58), The Roundabout (5:31), Dindi (5:50), Close Your Eyes (4:20), Trois (5:00), Half-Whole Blues (8:51), So Danco Samba (5:20), and You Don't Know What Love Is (6:56). A worthy addition to jazz connoisseur collections and library music CD shelves.

Green Memories
Azam Ali, Keyavash Nourai, & Shahrokh Yadegari
LilaSound Productions
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Green Memories is a hauntingly beautiful music CD inspired by the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad, one of Iran's most notable contemporary poets, well known for her philosophical views of modern social and political issues. Featuring the dulcet vocals of Azam Ali, who sings beautifully in words that do not belong to any natural language, as well as the emotional violin of Keyavash Nourai, Green Memories blends both through the processing of the computer music instrument dubbed "Lila" by recording artist Shahrokh Yadegari. The result is a transcendent experience that calls for renewed awareness that humankind is not utterly divided from its environment, but is so deeply interconnected that treating all life and objects with respect is, ultimately, the same as showing respect to one's ancestors, comrades, and generations to come. A poignantly mellifluous album, highly recommended. The tracks are Vidya (9:30), Mithra (7:57), Maya (6:45), Samsara (6:17), Nirvana (5:17), Homa (6:43), and Mantra (5:33).


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


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