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California Bookwatch

Volume 11, Number 2 February 2016 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice American History Shelf World History Shelf
Science Shelf Music Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Audiobook Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Technology Shelf International Studies Shelf
Business Shelf Computer Shelf Sports Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Photography Shelf Military Shelf
Biography Shelf Gardening Shelf California Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

The Routes Not Taken
Joseph B. Raskin
Empire State Editions
c/o Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
www.empirestateeditions.com
9780823267408, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System is a top recommendation for both transportation and urban history holdings and those which specialize in New York City history. It discusses transit lines that were never built and how those which did evolve were modified, including a subway that was envisioned in 1929 but is not slated to open until next year. From puzzles about choices in demolition or reconstruction of New York systems to choices in expansion or eliminating blueprint ideas, this is an in-depth survey that will delight transit buffs across the U.S.

Aldous Huxley's Hands
Allene Symons
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633881167, $18.00, www.amazon.com

It's hard to neatly peg Aldous Huxley's Hands to tie it to a singular genre or audience: perhaps the subtitle says it all: 'His Quest for Perception and the Origin and Return of Psychedelic Science'. Prior readers of Huxley's works, new age followers of psychedelics, biography enthusiasts, and more will find this a curious and wide-ranging blend of neuroscience, historical biography and new age read which uses interviews, road trips, and family documents to reconstruct the mid-1950s era in L.A. - a time when Professor Huxley experimented with psychedelics and advocated using them to treat mental illness. Research and discussions blend in an account which should be added to any definitive Huxley collection.


The American History Shelf

Excommunicated from the Union
William B. Kurtz
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823268863, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Excommunicated from the Union: How the Civil War Created a Separate Catholic America is recommended for Catholic studies and history holdings alike, and examines Catholic interests and social and religious sentiments around the time of the Civil War. Many history readers unfamiliar with this background will be delighted with a survey that provides unusual insights on how Irish and German Catholics become involved in supporting the Union war effort, contrasting their experiences and approaches with the calls for religious and political inclusion that challenged their concepts of faith and social structure. In documenting anti-Catholicism in early America, this book illustrates the experiences of Catholics who served in a time of upheaval and who preserved their religious views in the face of challenges to their roles as Americans. From Catholic opposition to the war to how they remember it, this wide-ranging history is key to any Civil War collection as well as a recommendation for Catholic studies students.

Carnival in the Countryside
Chris Rasmussen
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609383572, $27.50, www.amazon.com

Carnival in the Countryside: The History of the Iowa State Fair documents events surrounding the Midwest state fair experience in general and Iowa in particular, and documents a fair that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. More than a singular examination, this considers connections between entertainment and agriculture, surveys the fair's evolution from the 1800s to modern times, and considers the social, economic, agricultural and political impact of the fair upon Iowans and beyond. While obviously this belongs in any Iowa history holding, it also promises much of interest to any American history collection as well as many devoted to agricultural topics.

City on a Grid
Gerard Koeppel
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306822841, $29.99, www.dacapo.com

City on a Grid: How New York Became New York tells how the street grid of Manhattan was created in 1811 by a three-man commission whose vision would change the entire region, laying the grid concept across the island to create the future city. Their plans represented an ambitious approach that represented the largest grid operation in Western civilization and introduced it to a city just under two hundred years old. It was ripe for planning - and the plans would influence city-building for decades to come. With its powerful survey of the politics, urban planning issues, city-building approaches, and social atmosphere of its times, City on a Grid is not only a 'must' for any interested in how New York evolved, but for any with a special interest in urban planning history.


The World History Shelf

Whoppers: History's Most Outrageous Lies and Liars
Christine Seifert
Zest Books
35 Stillman Street, #121, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781936976980, $13.99, www.zestbooks.net

Whoppers: History's Most Outrageous Lies and Liars documents some of the most outrageous, improbable historical inaccuracies and lies in history; from a man who sold the Eiffel Tower twice to a talented swindler of corporations to a 1980 marathon 'win' by a woman nobody recalled seeing run. More than collecting historical whoppers, this book (even more importantly) documents the rationale behind each lie... and each offers a unique story. The result is a lively piece that traverses continents and historical record to provide a lively, fun read designed to appeal to leisure audiences and history buffs alike.


The Science Shelf

The Paradox of Evolution
Stephen Rothman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633880726, $17.00, www.amazon.com

The Paradox of Evolution: The Strange Relationship Between Natural Selection and Reproduction considers the contradictions in two basic contentions of Darwin's theory of natural selection and reproduction, and comes from a scientist who claims that the evolution of life's systems isn't due to natural selection, but to other factors. Just how logical systems and life evolved from chaos and the purposes of a survival process that cares nothing for life's persistence or demise, discussions center around reactions to danger and the power destruction brings to change. Readers with a penchant for scientific inquiry should ideally read this along with Darwin's theories, then engage in classroom discussions contrasting the two approaches, making it a special pick for college-level audiences.

Alfred Wegener
Mott T. Greene
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421417127, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift provides a powerful blend of science and biography as it tells of a man drawn to fieldwork and its applications to a variety of disciplines beyond science. He's best known as the author of the theory of continental drift, which led to the development of modern plate tectonics, but also is less popularly known as a major contributor to geology, physics, meteorology and other scientific disciplines all while struggling with economic depression and illness. His insistence on field work would ultimately kill him; but before it did, he spent decades producing research and results which would transform many scientific disciplines and ultimately create new ones. Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift should be a mainstay in any serious science collection and is the first biography to provide an in-depth survey of the man and his many achievements.


The Music Shelf

Sinister Urge
Joel McIver
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
www.halleonard.com
9781617136160, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Sinister Urge: The Life and Times of Rob Zombie provides a detailed biography of the heavy metal musician that only requires an affection for the man or his music to prove interesting. Zombie kept many aspects of his background and life a close-held secret, so this is the first such biography to reveal many lesser-known facets of his life and times. Zombie has sold millions of albums and is still going strong: original research blends with new interviews with contemporaries to consider his life challenges, successes, musical talents, and his world on and off stage. The detailed examination of his life's work, which includes his films, makes for a powerful and revealing music biography that deserves a place on any musician's bookshelf.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Cookbook for Children with Special Needs
Deborah French
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849055383, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The Cookbook for Children with Special Needs: Learning a Life Skill with Fun, Tasty, Healthy Recipes provides a color step-by-step cookbook especially designed for kids with special needs, and will best be used by parents and kids who want a project they can read through and work on together. Good-size print and color-coded pages offer exceptionally clear step-by-step cooking instructions, sidebars that outline the skills needed or taught for each recipe, and include sections where readers can add their own notes. As it comes from an educator who works with special needs individuals, it promises an easier format and approach than most children's cookbooks can offer.

Vegetarian India
Madhur Jaffrey
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
http://knopfdoubleday.com/imprint/knopf
9781101874768, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Vegetarian India: A Journey Through the Best of Indian Home Cooking comes from an Indian cook who has many, many cookbooks to her name - so many that her cooking has become synonymous with Indian fare for over forty years. Many of these cookbooks have served as basic introductions to the country's cuisine, and her latest is no exception, offering a focus on the vegetarian fare the country is so noted for as a way of life for over 300 million Indians. If you visit India, the restaurants that advertise 'veg' fare are everywhere and are the rule rather than the exception, as they are in this country. Jaffrey traverses India from North to South, collecting recipes from home cooks, shops, and restaurant sources and revealing many family specialties not to be easily found elsewhere. A prior affection for Indian cuisine will lend to appreciating this cookbook, packed with over 200 recipes peppered with full-page color photos of dishes and scenes from Jaffrey's journeys.

Mildreds: The Cookbook
Mildreds Restaurant
Mitchell Beazle
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784720308, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Mildreds: The Cookbook comes from a London vegetarian restaurant acclaimed for their innovations since 1988, which has been serving budget-friendly fare for several decades. Here are a hundred recipes that mix in vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options and offer recipes that are quick to make, flavorful, and which can be adapted for meals including meat. These often use special ingredients, such as quinoa or capers to pomegranate syrup; so access to a well-stocked market would be one prerequisite to success. From a Warm Ruby and Golden Beet Salad flavored with date syrup, blood oranges, hazelnuts and homemade cheese to Italian Tomato, Eggplant and Black Olive Burgers with various seasonings, this is filled with dishes not to be found elsewhere, and is simply a delight.

Fermented
Charlotte Pike
Kyle
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, England, SW1V 1DX
www.kylebooks.com
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487376, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Fermented: A Beginner's Guide to Making Your Own Sourdough, Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Kefir, Kimchi, and More is a recommendation for any home cook who enjoys experimenting with new dishes, and who would like to hone the craft of fermentation with the goal of incorporating its healthy benefits into home cooking. Other books have been written on the subject but usually offer a more singular focus (on beer brewing, for example; or sourdough breads): this one expands the recipes to all kinds of fermentation with an international focus. Cooks may be surprised to learn there are no special skills or equipment involved in home-fermented foods, either. A liberal dose of full-page color photos compliments chapters on fruits and vegetables, legumes, breads, and more, and also includes recipes on how to use the fermented results, making this a winning, wide-ranging discussion.

Italy from the Source
Sarah Barrell
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781743607619, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Italy from the Source: Authentic Recipes from the People That Know Them Best comes not from the usual approach (family traditions or a personal collection), but from street food vendors, chefs, and Italians who have invented their own dishes by adapting classics or creating new fare. This means that stews, pasta, and desserts receive introductions that include full-page photos of their creators as well as the finished dish, and descriptions that discuss how the creator worked to improve upon or create a specialty. With its focus on Italian culture as well as food, Italy From the Source represents a different kind of culinary exploration and is a compelling addition to any cookbook collection.

Precious Cargo
Dave Dewitt
Counterpoint Press
1919 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1916
www.counterpointpress.com
9781619026025, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Precious Cargo: How Foods from the Americas Changed the World traces how western hemisphere foods spread around the world and changed it, offering a narrowed focus on American foods and crops and arranging everything by type of food. This is no light read for casual foodies, but a serious history that embraces the sciences of botany, zoology, and more, considering political influences, agricultural developments, national obsessions over new foods, and more. Add full-page color photos and botanical illustrations throughout and you have a powerfully appealing survey.

Saveur: Italian Comfort Food
Editors of Saveur
Weldon Owen, Inc.
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
www.weldonowen.com
9781616289645, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Saveur: Italian Comfort Food packs in over a hundred recipes for Italian dishes that blend traditional comfort food favorites with new ideas, and is recommended for any who would produce fare from scratch. From a Ricotta Gnocchi with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes rich in a heartier dumpling result to Lemon-Rosemary Risotto or a pancetta and herb-stuffed veal breast, these explore some of the staples of Italian cuisine and will especially delight relative newcomers who want to cook Italian fare that is basic and hearty, and who enjoy color photos of finished dishes.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Dead to the Last Drop
Cleo Coyle
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9780425276099, $26.95, www.amazon.com

Dead to the Last Drop provides a new coffeehouse mystery that adds recipes into the mix of intrigue, and is recommended reading for mystery fans who enjoy coffee and food. Newcomers to Coyle's series and old fans alike will find this latest involves master roaster Clare's involvement in a White House wedding, where she discovers a host of secrets brewing that complicates her visit to the nation's capital. As her new coffee venture struggles to earn a profit in DC, she discovers a plot and her nose for murder senses something more troublesome than caffeine addiction; especially when a State Department employee collapses in her coffeehouse. Murder, intrigue, and the scent of something deliciously complex brewing: these are the elements that make Dead to the Last Drop the perfect winter mystery choice: warm and rich in character and content.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Eric Reed's The Guardian Stones (9781464205019, $26.95) is set in 1941, when children evacuated to a remote small village to escape the Blitz begin to vanish. Retired American professor Edwin Carpenter is studying standing stones and when he discovers bloody clothing in the forest, he concludes that the vanished children are more then runaways. Thus begins an investigation conducted by his daughter Grace and filled with social and political possibilities. Are the Germans behind the vanishings? Can the prehistoric stone circle above the town be involved? As evidence points to no clear path of resolution, Grace and Edwin run full force into prejudice against Americans and a mystery steeped in impossible circumstances. Vasudev Murthy's Sherlock Holmes The Missing Years: Timbuktu (9781464204524, $26.95) picks up where Holmes' death at the Reichenbach Falls with his nemesis Moriarty leaves off, and tells of a story in which Dr. Watson knows the truth, and of a period between 1891 to 1894 when Holmes was dead to the world. When an Italian scholar looks for Holmes' help in locating half of an ancient parchment and its secret, Holmes fakes his death at the Falls and then moves undercover to one of the greatest mysteries in his career. Those interested in Holmes tales will find this a satisfying account holding many twists and turns.


The Audiobook Shelf

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

James Patterson's Cross Justice (9781478928041, $35.00) is narrated by Ruben Santiago Hudson and Jefferson Mays, and continues the Alex Cross thriller series by returning Cross to his roots when a cousin has been accused of a terrible murder and Cross brings his entire family to North Carolina for the first time in decades. Far from getting a welcome wagon, Cross finds that the atmosphere in his home town has changed vastly; and it's up to him to find out why - and to absolve his cousin of a terrible crime. His journey will involve elusive truths, terrible dangers, and a case that will challenge everything he believes in. Both newcomers and prior fans will find this a vivid audio thriller. Julie Checkoway's The Three-Year Swim Club (9781619693845, $30.00) is narrated by Alex Chadwick, who lends a compelling and clear voice to the story of a 1937 schoolteacher in Maui who challenges a group of poor plantation kids to become Olympic swimmers against all odds. These Japanese-American children were malnourished and had no pool: they trained in plantation irrigation ditches and were destined not for the Olympics, but to become field workers. How they changed their destinies against all odds and during the anti-Japanese prejudices of the late 1930s makes for a compelling, inspirational story that comes alive in audio. Robert Galbraith's Career of Evil (9781478962663, $40.00) is narrated by Robert Glenister and provides a Cormoran strike novel that opens with a chiller: a mysterious package contains a woman's severed leg. P.I. Cormoran Strike has an idea of who could be behind the horrific shipment; but his ideas run contrary to police investigations and so he and his assistant Robin find themselves again on the hunt for an impossibly elusive perp. Personal interactions and professional savvy clash in a suspense mystery that is hard to stop listening to. Dennis McNally edits and introduces Jerry on Jerry: The Unpublished Jerry Garcia Interviews (9781478931669, $30.00), an audio production which includes a .pdf of photos and artwork in its hours of Garcia conversations. Of course, a prior affection for the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia is required in order to appreciate this audio, which discusses everything from Garcia's youth in the San Francisco Bay Area and his early obsession with music to his opinions about mind-altering drugs and the government. Those with such a prior affection - and even those with extensive Jerry Garcia biographies and information - will find these audio interviews something special, and a 'must' collection addition. Michael Connelly's The Crossing (9781619696224, $40.00) returns Detective Harry Bosch to the forefront, even though he's retired from the LAPD, when his defense attorney brother needs help with a case. Actor Titus Welliver provides a powerful reading of this thriller, which documents a woman's brutal murder, evidence that points to the wrong person, and the challenges to Bosch's entire career and perceptions of his contributions of some thirty years as a homicide cop. And when Bosch takes the case against his better judgment, courtroom and street intrigue evolve to lead him into a complex cat-and-mouse game with a killer who actually has Bosch on his radar. The powerful saga comes to life in audio and is especially recommended for prior Bosch fans who will find this latest thriller even more complex and revealing. Rene Auberjonois narrates Preston and Child's latest novel Crimson Shore (9781478960317, $40.00), a rollicking adventure that comes to life under the voice of a narrator whose credits include regular television roles on major productions such as Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Boston Legal. Those familiar with such productions will readily recognize his strong voice, which lends a compelling element to the saga of a special agent's case which turns into an Indiana Jones-style adventure. What begins as a sojourn to a quaint New England village to investigate a wine collection's theft turns into something more as a skeleton emerges and the entire town becomes suspect and reveals its dark history. A powerful story emerges with the signature twists and turns that have made Preston and Child such notable thriller authors in the past.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Soul of Ancient Egypt
Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
www.bearandcompanybooks.com
9781591431862, $18.00, www.amazon.com

The Soul of Ancient Egypt: Restoring the Spiritual Engine of the World belongs in any new age collection revolving around ancient mysteries and models that influenced the ancient world of Egypt, and comes from authors who analyze different phases of Egyptian history from early times to its Christian and Arab influences. Chapters provide evidence that Egypt has faced ongoing Islamization pressures beginning with the 7th century and continuing to modern times in an organized effort to wipe out the country's spiritual history and knowledge of its role as the source of the Western Mystery tradition. The authors make a good case for a return to the origins of Egyptian belief systems in a new age discussion key to any discussion of Egyptian spirituality.

Sacred Dung
John D. Duncan
Austin Brothers Publishing
3616 Sutter Court, Fort Worth, TX 76137
www.austinbrotherspublishing.com
9780996428545, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Sacred Dung: Grace to Turn Bad Things Into Good Things is the third in the author's "Sacred Trilogy" to take common experiences in a believer's life and examine them for their underlying spiritual meaning. It comes from a pastor and father devoted to locating and using the sacred in everyday life: his book covers what can be gained from closely considering what he calls the "dung of life" for its hidden jewels, and its focus will help the everyday, ordinary spiritual reader undercover God's messages and meanings in the most unusual places.


The Education Shelf

Paying for College Without Going Broke
Kalman A. Chany with Geoff Martz
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9781101881972, $21.99, www.amazon.com

Paying for College Without Going Broke appears in an updated 2016 edition to cover the latest strategies for paying less for college, from new financial aid eligibility to reducing college costs overall. This is no single path but assesses a wide range of cost-reducing strategies, from understanding inheritance issues and problems to realizing how assets and liabilities are joined when it comes to financial aid applications. From reducing potential problems in qualifying and gaining aid to assessing the real costs of a college education and logical areas to cut, this is a reference every college-bound student and their parents will need.

Supporting New Teachers
Lynn F. Howard
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com
9781483375007, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Supporting New Teachers: A How-To Guide for Leaders provides a basic set of directions designed to help leaders support the efforts of new teachers, addressing the problem of some fifty percent of new teachers leaving the discipline within the first five years. Studies show that paperwork demands and isolation contribute to the exodus, but so does lack of administrative support. This manual offers information on the types of support that make a difference, gathering stories from the field with discussions of how administrators can make a difference in new teacher success. Any in a position to help will find this filled with specific ideas for improvement.

Taming the Data Monster
Christine Reeve, PhD, BCBA-D
Susan Kabot, EdD, CCC-SLP
AAPC Publishing
11209 Strang Line Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215
www.aapcpublishing.net
9781942197072, $40.95, www.amazon.com

Taming the Data Monster: Collecting and Analyzing Classroom Data to Improve Student Progress tackles the issues surrounding data used to track student progress, and provides an in-depth resource to adapting data collection systems to different teaching situations for different ages and objectives. Educators will benefit from a comparison of such systems and methods used to analyze their data, and will find overviews, product discussions, applications, and analysis applies to both academic and behavioral skills alike, making for a solid and highly recommended reference.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Snakes of the Southeast
Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas
University of Georgia Press
Main Library, Third Floor
320 South Jackson Street, Athens, Georgia 30602
www.ugapress.org
9780820349015, $28.95, www.amazon.com

Snakes of the Southeast appears in a revised edition to profile over fifty kinds of snakes found in the Southeast corner of the country, which holds nearly half of all native North American species. Over 300 color photos accompany information by two herpetologists who provide an account packed with new photos, new research, new species discoveries, and new maps outlining distribution. It can be used as a basic field guide (though the size belays its use as a pocket field tote) or as a library reference, packing in charts and keys to identification along with descriptions of habitat and natural history. Add a conservation discussion throughout and you have a key acquisition recommended for any collection strong in Southeast herpetology.

Drug Therapy for Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat
Valerie J. Wiebe
Wiley Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781118557341, $59.99, www.amazon.com

Drug Therapy for Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat provides a quick reference guide for treating infectious diseases in the two, and has been designed for instant access whether readers are searching by organism or drugs. This makes it a particularly strong recommendation for clinics, pairing the basics principles with details on different kinds of therapy options an alphabetic arrangement of organisms and agents, and drug reference alike. From diagnosis and dosages to risk factors and resources for further reading in professional veterinary publications, all the guidelines and details are written with clinical settings in mind, making this a top office pick.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Pharmacology Applications
Bob Elling, MPA, EMT-P
Kristen M. Elling, BS, EMT-P
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
www.jblearning.com
9781284098440, $118.95, www.amazon.com

This revised first edition of a pharmacology reference is a highly recommended pick for any interested in ALS treatment through pharmacologic intervention, and provides health students with a detailed discussion of medications, intervention options, and the types of conditions that require quick pharmacologic intervention. Case studies blend with facts and questions for review and critical thinking in a guide that includes skill drills, safety tips, basic health and physiology discussions, and reviews of medication dosages and indicators, including a complete formulary reference in an appendix. The result is a solid reference, highly recommended for any college-level EMT course or students in various health disciplines with a specific interested in intervention techniques and the latest research.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Sword of the South
David Weber
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781476780849, $27.00, www.amazon.com

The Sword of the South comes from a best-selling author who presents a vivid saga of a warrior who doesn't recall his past, and only has the scars - and the skills - to indicate that he once was a fighter. Add to Kenhodan's predicament the presence of a powerful wizard who holds answers he won't reveal, a champion who faces a final confrontation with Kontovar, and a wide array of evil sorcerers, demons, and more, and you have a powerful saga of struggle and survival against even impossible odds such as lack of knowledge of the past.


The Technology Shelf

Engineering Speaking by Design
Edward J. Rothwell and Michael J. Cloud
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781498705776, $49.99 PB, $47.45 Kindle, www.amazn.com

Engineering Speaking by Design: Delivering Technical Presentations with Real Impact focuses on engineering presentations and their common issues: engineers typically don't enjoy public speaking and don't know how to deliver their knowledge to audiences who may not have their level of expertise. Audiences often complain, therefore, that engineering presentations are boring and confusing. This book focuses on oral technical presentation skills that will help these situations, providing engineers with directions supported by examples and outlining the common causes of communication failures and how to develop better audience rapport. Chapters discuss technical terms and requirements for importing information with an eye to appealing to the engineer's approach to problem-solving, couching public speaking routines in ways that engineers will understand. The result should be in any collection where engineers are readers.


The International Studies Shelf

Contemporary China: Between Mao and Market
Francois Godement
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781442225381, $85.00 HC, $30.00 PB, $28.50 Kindle, www.amazon.com

Contemporary China: Between Mao and Market belongs in current events, China affairs and political science collections alike as it provides an overview of modern Chinese society from an international scholar who narrows the focus to the country's last few decades of events. From its changing policies (both internally and externally) to the most recent events affecting its foreign policy and relationships, chapters offer many behind-the-scenes insights into how decisions are made, the state of political and social reforms and sentiments, and what's really happening in modern China. The result is a handbook designed to serve as a discussion point, with Europe's leading China expert providing a hard-hitting assessment of where the nation has been and where it's heading, and why.


The Business Shelf

Recipe for Success
Abigail Steinberg
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
9780814436866, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Recipe for Success: An Insider's Guide to Bringing Your Natural Food to Market is a pick for entrepreneurs, gardeners, farmer-growers who seek to market their own produce, and for any who would understand the business basics of marketing natural foods. Whether you're contemplating a family rub or spice mixture or a canned product or growing fresh foods, this book reveals the strategies and approaches of the natural products market, teaching how to analyze the potential for success, how to handle FDA regulations and other natural industry requirements, how to understand and develop relationships with distributors, and more. There's a wealth of information packed into this book which address both wholesale and retail concerns, making it an invaluable guide for any who contemplate bringing their natural product into the marketplace, protecting its rights, and branding its name.

Getting Beyond Better
Roger L. Martin and Sally R. Osberg
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633690684, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works comes from a business strategy leader who surveys how social entrepreneurs work, changing target systems to revolutionary new organizations. These leaders may be called visionaries or may be viewed as destructive: their goals are to develop and tailor solutions in new ways that links business pursuits to transforming the world for greater good, and this discussion offers a theory of social entrepreneurship that takes historical precedent and business case studies and uses them to create an overall framework for social change.


The Computer Shelf

Designing the Requirements
Chris Britton
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134021218, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Designing the Requirements: Building Applications That the User Wants and Needs considers why some software applications are inferior, identifying core problems in development and requirements and how design, when applied to these requirements, improves the overall result. It's one thing to say that such is needed; but Britton goes beyond admonishment to consider the specifics of what constitutes good or bad design solutions, showing how to apply engineering-style design analysis to plan for superior results. From improved user interfaces and better database management and access systems to designing frameworks that embrace both components and individual processes, this teaches better design practices at all project levels. The attention to detail on what makes various designs superior will please any software architect or project manager who want keys to better user-focused designs.


The Sports Shelf

Conditioning Young Athletes
Tudor Bompa, PhD and Michael Carrera
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492503095, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Conditioning Young Athletes is one of the most important references a sports or education collection could acquire, and documents the most proven effective exercises and programs that hone young athlete speed, strength, and agility. Coaches, parents and teachers alike will find it synthesizes the best training advise and programs, advocating establishing a foundation of fitness first, then incorporating specific exercises tailored for youth to prove training plans and specific sports objectives, from baseball and football to ice hockey and swimming. The result is a top guide packed with all the evidence-supported research and strategies that sports educators could wish for: a 'must have' for any serious athletic program.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Still in the Saddle
Andrew Patrick Nelson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806148212, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969-1980 offers a top pick for any fan of the western who wants a new history not of the roots and old shows of the film genre, but a contemporary survey of the Hollywood Western in the 1970s, when filmmakers sought to revive the genre with new productions. It provides an in-depth chronological filmography of releases from 1969 to 1980, focusing on those reworked from the 1930s to modern times, and it offers a different approach to the history of the evolutionary stages of the Hollywood Western, making it a satisfying acquisition for any film collection interested in the genre.

The Only Woman in the Room
Rita Lakin
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.applausebooks.com
9781495014055, $29.99, www.amazon.com

The Only Woman in the Room: Episodes in My Life and Career as a Television Writer comes from a long-time television industry writer whose career spans several decades, bringing her into contact with hundreds of show business celebrities from Dick Van Dyke and Cary Grant to more. It's not surprising that her name remains relatively unknown even as theirs are famous: while her writings received top billing, their author did not. It's about time her autobiography appeared to correct this omission: Lakin's journey to become one of the most respected television writers in the business came at a time when women were not viewed as business models; and her efforts paved the way for women for generations to come. Her observations embrace both TV writing and women's rights, making for a solid, thought-provoking read.

Andy & Don
Daniel de Vise
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781476747736, $26.00, www.amazon.com

Andy & Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show is authored by Don Knotts' brother-in-law and offers an insider's view of the series and its evolution. Andy Griffith and Don Knotts and their show are widely known, but this book delves well behind the scenes in showing how material was written, how actors made choices in their portrayal of rural Mayberry events, and most of all, how the relationship between the two fueled an enduring work of American television. Unpublished interviews with those closest to Knotts and Griffith accompany a history of the social culture surrounding these men and the show, and chronicles a life-long friendship. The spirited biography will be of interest to any who cultivate an affection for the series and its actors.


The Photography Shelf

Rarely Seen
National Geographic
National Geographic Press
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20036-4688
www.nationalgeographic.com/books
9781426215612, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Rarely Seen gathers some of the most stunning nature photos from the pages of National Geographic, charting rare animals, landscapes, and eye-popping images from around the world; but be forewarned: some of these images - such as the cover photo - may only be accessible through the pages of this book. So travelers who want to use it as a guide for visiting far-away places in search of such personal encounters may be disappointed because many of these images are once-in-a-lifetime captures, while others - such as the cover photo - lie on private property behind locked doors, inaccessible to the ordinary adventurer or photographer. These cautions in mind, Rarely Seen is an exquisite gathering worthy of coffee table addition!

Portraiture Unleashed
Travis Gadsby
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com
978108959419, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Portraiture Unleashed: 60 Powerful Design Ideas for Knockout Images presents an inviting book designed to spark creative impetus and lead photographers to move from routine and everyday results to extraordinary presentations. From props, clothing, and new locations to styling ideas and results that elevate artistic results, this offers something different to the portrait photographer, packing in color photo examples that clearly show the difference between ordinary, predictable options and extraordinary results.


The Military Shelf

Eisenhower's Armies
Niall Barr
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781605988160, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Eisenhower's Armies: The American-British Alliance During World War II offers an in-depth and engrossing study of the relationship between Britain and the U.S. from 1941 to 1945: a puzzling affair that embraced personal relationships, international politics, alliances in political circles on both sides, and more. Where many other studies adopt a singular approach in the process, this wider-reaching examination delves into the relationship between British and American armies themselves throughout the conflict, considering strategic decisions, command-level interactions, and the experiences of ordinary soldiers alike. The result is a powerful survey that succeeds where others fail: in pinpointing the underlying influences, controversies, and struggles made on both sides during World War II. No military history collection should be without this.


The Biography Shelf

My Name is Mahtob
Mahtob Mahmoody
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780718022106, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Any who were captivated by Betty Mahmoody's Not Without My Daughter will be thrilled to find that daughter has produced her own story of living without a father, but with his constant dangerous possibilities, in My Name is Mahtob. Positively riveting are the memories of a child who was trapped in Iran and her escape at an early age with her mother in a dangerous mountain journey; but even more than her memories of her past is the gripping saga of how she leads her life since then. Mahtob's father always worked to get her back, and Mahtob fiercely defends her right not to see him even as she lives her life in America. Her spiritual growth, her struggles with lupus, and her determination to not just survive but thrive makes for an important story of childhood survival that addresses many issues of children from broken families who struggle to evade the clutches of controlling parents.

I Am Evelyn Amony
Evelyn Amony
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299304942, $26.95, www.amazon.com

I Am Evelyn Amony is a powerful memoir that belongs not just in collections strong in memoirs and autobiography; but in libraries offering women's studies, African studies, and military accounts. The author was one of 60,000 children abducted by the violent African rebel group the Lord's Resistance Army. Forced to be a wife to a LRA leader after her capture in Uganda, Amony returned home after eleven years to find her experiences had created a stigma for her and her children. Her pursuit of a new life as a human rights advocate against all odds makes her account a powerful story of how war affects women, and how they can gain real freedom against all odds. Even readers who know little about African politics and social issues will find I Am Evelyn Amony riveting and accessible.


The Gardening Shelf

Hydroponics for the Home Grower
Howard M. Resh
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781482239256, $29.95 PB, $26.17 Kindle, www.amazon.com

Hydroponics for the Home Grower is recommended for agriculture and home gardening collections and offers a specific focus on hydroponics systems and their positive attributes. An introduction covers how hydroponics evolved, while discussions specific to growing vegetables and herbs in a home or backyard greenhouse environment consider how hydroponic systems operate and assess different systems that may be purchased or built by the home grower. Also included are insights on crop selection, seeding, maintaining a hydroponics habitat, and more. The result is a reference that can be used by any home grower more than casually interested in the benefits and process of creating a hydroponics system.


The California Shelf

The Forgotten Governor
John Willis
Langdon Street Press
322 1st Avenue N, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781634137270, $21.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com

The Forgotten Governor: Fernando de Rivera and the Opening of Alta California is especially recommended for California history holdings seeking studies based on primary source materials. In this case, such collections are in for a special treat; because The Forgotten Governor is no rehash of information but retells California's early history based partly upon Rivera's newly translated journals, which provide different insights and perspectives on history. It blends a biography with a California history and reviews accounts of Spanish and Native American interactions and different intersections of colonization and tribal and white man encounters in the area, and includes translations of letters between Rivera and Father Serra. The result is a unique presentation offering much original source material not available elsewhere: a 'must' for any collection serious about California history.


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

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


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