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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 11 November 2009 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Military Shelf Fiction Shelf
American History Shelf Education Shelf Hobby Shelf
Business Shelf Photography Shelf Art Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Dance Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Biography Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf Music Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Gaming Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
World History Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Architecture Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Literary Shelf Nautical Shelf Economics Shelf
Psychology Shelf Sports Shelf Archaeology Shelf
Botany Shelf Railroading Shelf International Studies Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Science Shelf
Civil War Shelf Wisconsin Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Your Intercultural Marriage
Marla Alupoaicei
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60610
9780802418548, $14.99

You love the person, but can you love the culture? "Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship" discusses marriages across the cultural divide and discusses the conflicts that may arise from everything from the wedding to raising the children, family expectations, to even possible bedroom problems. With a Christian viewpoint, "Your Intercultural Marriage" offers sage wisdom that is worth considering for those in love with someone not like them.

The Brokered World
Simon Schaffer, Lissa Roberts, Kapil Raj, and James Delbourgo, editors
Science History Press
PO Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
9780881353747 $69.96 www.shpusa.com

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Simon Schaffer, Lissa Roberts, Kapil Raj, and James Delbourgo, "The Brokered World: Go-Betweens and Global Intelligence, 1770-1820" is an impressively informative anthology of scholarly essays by a diversity of learned authors analyzing forms of knowledge production (from anatomy, chemistry, and natural history to chronology, philology, jurisprudence, astronomy, survey science, and engineering) during the keynote historical period the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Of particular focus is how, in an era when travel was much more laborious, agents of communication managed to spread information that would ultimately change existing political, scientific, and economic networks. Individual essays include "Frontier Tales: Tokugawa Japan in Translation", "Self Preservation: French Travels between Cuisine and Industrie", "Boundary-crossings, Cultural Encounters and Knowledge Spaces in Early Australia", and much more. An extensive bibliography and index round out this well-thought, invaluable contribution to gestalt world history shelves, particularly those of college libraries.

World Whiskey
Charles Maclean
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9780756654436, $25.00, www.amazon.com

There are few consoling or celebratory pleasures in life to equal a glass of really good whiskey. For the connoisseur (and those who aspire to such a level of expertise), there is now "World Whiskey: A Nation-by-Nation Guide to the Best", a superbly organized and encyclopedically detailed reference compendium showcasing more than 700 whiskies, revealing insider information on distillery secrets, and providing extensive information on distillery tours. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photography, "World Whiskey" covers whiskey festivals, tasting rooms, and whiskey-centric bars. Of special value for the novice is the opening articles on the making of whiskey, identification of the diverse types of whiskey, and the fundamental principles of appreciating whiskey. Enhanced with a glossary, an extensive listing of references, and section for 'Your Tasting Notes', "World Whiskey" is a highly recommended addition for personal reading lists and community library reference collections.

After Effects Apprentice, second edition
Trish Meyer & Chris Meyer
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Dr., Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
9780240811369, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills For The Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist" continues to be an ideal introductory and instructional manual for the novice motion graphics artist seeking to produce professional quality work. Incorporating twelve lessons updated for CS4, "After Effects Apprentice" is profusely enhanced with screen shots, Guided Tour video training movies, and project files updated for After Effects CS4, as well as being integrated with other germane Adobe applications. Readers will learn how to animate, edit, layer, and composite both video and still images; manipulate keyframes; utilize masks, mattes, stencils and blending modes; create and animate shape layers and text; create special effects, and so much more. A superbly written, organized, detailed, comprehensive, and presented instruction manual, "After Effects Apprentice" is highly recommended for beginners and has a great deal of enduring value to offer even the more experienced motion graphics artist.


The Military Shelf

A Spy's Diary of World War II
Wayne Nelson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786445486 $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

A Spy's Diary of World War II: Inside the OSS with an American Agent in Europe is the wartime diary of OSS officer Wayne Nelson, who served in North Africa and Europe during world War II. His vision disability kept him out of the navy, and so he served as a spy; his diary succinctly and powerfully captures the heart-tugging tension of his dangerous tasks. He earned a Bronze Star and France's Croix de Guerre for his service; now his journal of those difficult days makes for compelling reading and a vivid firsthand glimpse into the war that would determine the fate of the world. Highly recommended.

"War Stories"
Gary Kulik
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
www.potomacbooksinc.com
9781597973045 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Decorated Vietnam veteran Gary Kulik presents "War Stories": False Atrocity Tales, Swift Boaters, and Winter Soldiers - What Really Happened in Vietnam, an accounting of popular myths specifically connected to the Vietnam war in general, and the experience of Vietnam veterans in particular. Kulik does not seek to dismiss, deny or minimize American war crimes in Vietnam - rather, his purpose is to expose false war crime stories, so that the stories that are true can be more accurately regarded and remembered. Of special note is the discussion of Swift Boat Veterans and the "Truth" they propagated specifically to derail Kerry's presidential ambitions. With the prospect of more false stories of American war crimes in Iraq or Afghanistan (and their risk of obfuscating true stories of American misconduct), "War Stories" is extraordinarily timely and highly recommended.


The Fiction Shelf

Berlin Tales
Lyn Marven
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199559381, $19.95, www.oup.com/us

Berlin is a city that was never the same one decade to the next throughout the twentieth century. "Berlin Tales" is a collection of short stories from Germany, expertly translated by Lyn Marven from the original German. Through fiction, these writers present a vivid picture of the ever changing face of Berlin, and give readers an appreciation for this dauntless city. "Berlin Tales" is poignant, and highly recommended.

A Questionable Life
Luke Lively
Beaufort Books
27 W. 20th St., Suite 1102, NY, NY 10011
MM Book Publicity
2817 West End Ave, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
www.beaufortbooks.com
9780825305214, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Fiction novels have a long history of dealing with real-life issues in ways often more effective than any textbook presentation. Author Luke Lively clearly draws upon his more than twenty-five years of professional experience in the banking industry to write "A Questionable Life", a compelling novel that introduced Philadelphia banker Jack Oliver, a man who built his career on making hard choices and pragmatic sacrifices. When his mid-sized banking group is acquired by a financial industry mega-chain, all his career goals and progress are cut out from under him as he finds himself relegated from the heights of success to the lowest rung of the newly reorganized corporate bank. This disaster bank merger lands Jack in the hospital from stress, reveals that he has pretty much failed as a husband and father, and that his mistress valued him only for his formerly high status income. When the opportunity of starting over again in a small Virginia bank is afforded him, it may prove to be his way out of the arrogance of his former life-style and into a new chance to redeem himself, his family, and his future. A superbly written and riveting good read, "A Questionable Life" is a first rate, highly recommended novel laced with echos of the kinds of moral and ethical dilemmas that nearly wrecked the American financial system not so long ago.

Maggie's Way
Jessie Fallon
The Fiction Works
2070 SW, Whiteside Dr., Orvallis, OR 97333
9781581240351, $13.99, www.amazon.com

When she lands a prime job of entertainment manager for the Silver Pines Casino at Lake Tahoe, Maggie McGuire feels she's truly got it made! But it's not long before she learns that she's the target of a stalker, one who is increasingly dangerous and cannot be avoided... "Maggie's Way" is a highly recommended page-turner suspense thriller and the stuff of which block-buster movies are made. Jessie Fallon is a gifted storyteller who will leave her readers looking eagerly toward her next book. Also highly recommended for those readers who would benefit from a large print format is the large print edition of "Maggie's Way" (9781581240276, $14.99).

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed
Mitzi Szereto
Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.cleispress.com
9781573443678, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Fairy tales were never intended to be restricted to an audience of children. Indeed, most traditional fairytales had to be 'cleaned up' or 'disneyfied' in order to be made palatable for young ears. That's why the compilation of adult-oriented fairytales that comprise Mitzi Szereto's "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is such a treat for grown-ups. Restored to their erotic originality are fifteen stories that range from Chinese myths, to Japanese folklore, to European standards from Prince Charming's shoe fetish, to the real story why Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother had a wolf in her bed! Of special note is the succinct introduction to each separate fairytale, noting its history and the context of the sexual culture in which it originated. Superbly written, organized, and presented, "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is for an adult readership, and highly recommended reading from cover to cover.

Desert Justice
Paul S. Powers
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753182628, $27.99, www.amazon.com

An outlaw on the run, Sonny Tabor is a young man who is both good with a gun and accused of using it for murder. But he's only used his considerable skills as a gunfighter in self defense as revealed in the pages of "Desert Justice", an anthology of four short stories in which he is captured and faces hanging, is mistaken for a lawman by a gang of black-shirted outlaws, abandoned and left to die in the Arizona desert handcuffed to an Arizona Ranger, and then break out of jail to find the man guilty of the killing for which he is unjustly accused. A riveting good read, published in a large print format, and offered in library edition for an extended shelf life, "Desert Justice" by Paul S. Powers is especially recommended for community library Western Fiction collections.

The Apple
Penelope J. Holt
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780979195648, $15.95, www.yorkhousepress.com

Lies are commonly condemned, but they can make good stories nonetheless. "The Apple" is a novel based on the fabricated story of Herman Rosenblat, a Holocaust survivor whose story is criticized for being fabricated. Dramaticizing his tale, Penelope J. Holt takes an idea that warmed the hearts of millions and crafts a solid novel. "The Apple" is an intriguing and riveting, if sad tale of survival through atrocity.

The Man in the Wooden Hat
Jane Gardam
Europa Editions
116 East 16 Street, New York, NY 10003
9781933372891, $15.00, www.europaeditions.com

Establishing oneself a successful business person is easy, but romance is something else. "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a follow up to the celebrated Old Filth novel, following Edward Feathers as he tries to get himself an English wife in Betty. A story that is wide in scope and has many memorable characters, "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a fine piece of literary fiction that will resonate with readers.

Isis
Douglas Clegg
Vanguard Press
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor, New York City, NY 10016
9781593155407, $14.95, www.vanguardpressbooks.com

Old legends have their roots in reality. "Isis: A Tale of the Supernatural" tells the story of one Iris Catherine Villiers, and how she gained the ability to speak to the dead, an ability that rocks her world and changes the course of her life. Bone chilling and entrancing reading, Douglas Clegg makes quite the adventure that blends fantasy and horror well, making for a story that's hard to put down. "Isis" is not a story to be ignored for original fiction fans.


The American History Shelf

Women's Votes, Women's Voices
Shanna Stevenson
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780917048746, $24.95, www.washingtonhistory.org

It's hard to believe than only a century ago, women were considered the same as felons when it came to voting rights - in which they had none. "Women's Votes, Women's Voices: The Campaign for Equal Rights in Washington" details on battle in the National War for Women's suffrage that raged on during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. At the complete mercy of the men in power, these women had little voting power to bargain with, but through rational arguments and other tactics that brought about democratic enlightenment. "Women's Votes, Women's Voices" is a must for any collection detailing women's suffrage and its history.

Waiting to Land
Martin Duberman
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584403, $26.95, www.thenewpress.com

The past few decades have been chaotic for gay and lesbian rights. "Waiting to Land: A Mostly Political Memoir, 1985-2008" is the reflections of Martin Duberman, primarily on his work to advance the rights of Gays and lesbians around the world since 1985. Despite it being only a little over two decades ago, the world's perceptions of homosexuality has radically changed, and in some cases, stayed the same. "Waiting to Land" is a must read for anyone seeking an informed and informative history of the gay movement for political equal rights in America.

Montana Women Homesteaders
Sarah Carter, editor
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com 1-800-821-3874
9781560374497 $17.95, www.amazon.com

Montana Women Homesteaders: A Field of One's Own is an anthology of testimonies and vintage black-and-white photographs following single women who filed on 160 or 320-acre homestead plots in Montana. Some were single; others were widowed, divorced, or deserted; some had children; and they varied in age, educational level, and ethnic background. Some were ultimately more (or less) successful than others, particularly as the Great Depression closed in. Yet all of them tested themselves on the land and contributed to Montana's rich history. An absorbing, often deeply personal account in the words of women determined to make it on their own, highly recommended.

American Revolutionary War Leaders
Bud Hannings
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786443796, $125.00, www.amazon.com

Bud Hannings is an expert in the field of American military history who draws upon his many years of experience, expertise, and research for "American Revolutionary War Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary", a 558-page compendium of informed and informative descriptions of the men who were essential in the fledgling nation's struggle for emancipation from England and who faced overwhelming military opposition in doing so. Covering not only the more famous and well known figures, "American Revolutionary War Leaders" provides succinct bibliographic profiles of ordinary but critically important soldiers, plantation owners, farmers, politicians, espionage agents. Figures are drown from the ranks of the Navy and Marines, the Continental Army, state militias, diplomats, governors, and others. Of special note are the biographical sketches of the women who made significant contributions to the war. Comprehensive and definitive, "American Revolutionary War Leaders" is an impressive body of scholarship and a seminal contribution that will prove to be a core acquisition for professional, academic, and community library American History reference collections in general, and American Revolutionary War supplemental reading lists in particular. Also highly recommended for American Military History collections are three of Bud Hannings previous works published by McFarland & Company: "Chronology of the American Revolution" (9780786429486, $125.00), "The Korean War: An Exhaustive Chronology" (9780786428144, $245.00), and "Forts of the United States: An Historical Dictionary, 16th Through 19th Centuries" (9780786417964, $125.00).


The Education Shelf

Seven Skills for School Success
Pam Schiller
Gryphon House Book
6848 Leons Way, PO Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023
9780876590713, $14.95, www.gryphonhouse.com

Some skills are absolutely necessary. "Seven Skills for School Success: Activities to Develop Social & Emotional Intelligence in Young Children" is a unique approach to education, saying that the most important thing for a child to learn is not a truly academic subject at all, but instead seven emotional and social skills that will prepare a child for the other tasks. Confidence, empathy, willpower, and more, "Seven Skills for School Success" comes to teachers to better help them mentor their students in what is really important.

Non-Fiction Text Structures
Gail Saunders-Smith
Maupin House
2416 NW 71st Place, Gainesville, FL 32653
9781934338384, $23.95, www.maupinhouse.com

Communicating through writing is one of the key lessons that must be learned throughout a child's school years. "Non-Fiction Text Structures for Better Comprehension and Response" is an teacher's aide for teaching students in the later elementary through middle school grades. With quick reference to the non-fiction text structures, ideas for activities and combating common problems, "Non-Fiction Text Structures" is an English teacher's best friend for the subject and should be strongly considered.

Learning To Compete In European Universities
Maureen McKelvey & Magnus Homen, eds.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848440012, $160.00, www.amazon.com

Originally bastions of state support and aristocratic sponsorship, European institutions of higher learning face market-based forces of competition in recruiting faculty and students that have compelled inexorably transformative adaptations, innovations, and evolutions in their structural complexities. "Learning to Compete in European Universities: From Social Institution to Knowledge Business" is a compilation of informed and informative articles and essays on how and why changes are occurring in European university systems as they adapt to compete with each other as they evolve from government-funded social institutions to capitalism-based 'knowledge business' models. Deftly edited by the team of Maureen McKelvey (Professor, Industrial Management, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Magnus Holmen (Associate Professor, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), "Learning To Compete In European Universities" is enhanced with the inclusion of numerous tables and figures and a comprehensive index, making it a seminal work of scholarship and a strongly recommended addition to academic library Educational Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Studies In Lifelong Learning In Africa
Maurice N. Amutabi & Moses O. Oketch
The Edwin Mellen Press
415 Ridge Street, Lewiston, NY 14092
www.mellenpress.com
9780773447578, $119.95, www.amazon.com

The academic concept known as 'life long learning' is a form of adult education that encourages a continual involvement in formally and informally pursued studies that can be either specific goal oriented (such as qualifying for an advanced degree) or as part of a generalized philosophy for continuous and continuing self-improvement through the acquisition of information or a better understanding of a particular academic discipline for its own intrinsic sake. In "Studies in Lifelong Learning in Africa: From Ethnic Traditions to Technological", academicians Maurice N. Amutabi (Assistant Professor of History, Central Washington University) and Moses O. Oketch (Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, University of London) have compiled an impressive and seminal collection of contributions surveying and analyzing the concept and practice of 'life long learning' in various African nations. Particular attention is given to a variety of particularly African issues and cultural influences on the availability, forms, and forums of adult education. Enhanced with the addition of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Studies in Lifelong Learning in Africa: From Ethnic Traditions to Technological" is an informed and informative contribution that is especially recommended for academic library International Education Philosophy and African Cultural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Hobby Shelf

Building and Detailing Model Aircraft
Pat Hawkey
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890247235, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

The model airplane is a hobby in which isn't just for kids anymore. "Building and Detailing Model Aircraft" is an introductory guide for those who want to enter the world of model aircraft construction. With plenty of advice on making one's model more realistic as well as the minor details that often leave people baffled in how to improve the quality of their work, Pat Hawkey brings his love of the hobby and offers much advice. "Building and Detailing Model Aircraft' is an absolute must for any trying to get into the hobby or improve their skill.


The Business Shelf

Manage Your Project Portfolio
Johanna Rothman
Pragmatic Bookshelf
c/o O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781934356296, $32.95, www.pragprog.com

So much to do, no idea how to do it. "Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects" is a business guide aimed at helping managers figure out what is truly important for their business and to encourage them to strong emphasize the important projects over the more dead end ones. Giving advice to figure out the difference between the two and how to make something that's gold even brighter, "Manage Your Project Portfolio" is a strongly recommended read for any business that has to budget time - which is almost all of them.

Harboring Data
Andrea M. Matwyshyn
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804760089, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Information is the basis for economic activity. Corporations hold information in a variety of forms ranging from patents to demographics. In this modern age of the internet, companies must take special care to keep their proprietary information secure from theft and corruption if they are to remain viability competitive in today's volatile and global marketplace. That's why "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" is such a timely and essential compendium of informed and informative contributions on corporate information security and protecting it within the framework of corporate law, policies and practices as the invaluable corporate asset that it is. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Andrea M. Matwyshyn (Assistant Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania), "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" provides a series of thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions by experts and academicians on the nature of information; U.S. corporate security regulations and security issues germane to health care data, financial data, and children's data; information security within a legal framework that includes software licensing and social networking. Enhanced with copious notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" is an essential and core addition to Business School and Law School reference libraries, as well as critically important reading for anyone charged with the security of their company's informational assets.


The Photography Shelf

101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs
Matthew Bamberg
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781435454378, $29.99, www.amazon.com

With the invention of digital photography, the era of cameras requiring film cartridges came to a close, a casualty of the progress of technology. Now there is "101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs" by digital photography expert Matthew Bamberg. This is a 208-page, thoroughly 'user friendly', informed and informative instruction manual for making the most out of digital photographs in terms of taking them, manipulating and managing the images, publishing and sharing those images, and utilizing free downloadable software programs, free online web sites resources, and so much more. From selecting the right paper for hard copy prints, to selecting the best tools, to organizing a pictorial portfolio, "101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs" is an ideal choice for the novice, and has a great deal of enduring value for the more experienced digital photographer as well, making it a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library photography reference collections.

Miramichi
Brian Atkinson
Goose Lane Editions
Suite 330, 500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton, NB Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864925350, $29.95, www.gooselane.com

A unique river brings together unique people. "Miramichi: River of Character" is a combination book of photography and cultural snap shot of the Miramichi River, a major River in New Brunswick, and the people around the river who call it home. A fascinating look at these dauntless people whose development was shaped by the unique river with multiple points of origin, "Miramichi: River of Character" is a fine book of photography for anyone who wants to better understand how people do things differently around the world.

Horses in Living Color
Barbara D. Livingston
Eclipse Press
3102 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581502176 $29.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-866-2361

Horses in Living Color is an astonishingly beautiful coffee-table book of full color photography capturing all manner of equines at their finest. Some images have brief text captions; others simply speak for themselves. From show horses to work horses to wild horses, a vast diversity of breeds are portrayed; all are vividly beautiful. Some of the most striking photographs portray horses in mid-gallop, but others show them browsing among wild flowers, displaying their regalia in a show, or simply doing an honest day's work. Horses in Living Color truly lives up to its title, and is an exquisite gift book for anyone who fancies these intelligent and energetic creatures. Highly recommended.

Florida Cowboys
Carlton Ward Jr.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
www.upf.com
9780813034089, $5.00, www.amazon.com

When the subject of cattle ranching and cowboys comes up, it's usually within the context of the American West. What is not readily evident to most people is that working cattle ranches are a significant factor in Florida's economic well-being and that every day contemporary Floridian cowboys saddle up their horses or fire up their trucks and ride out to care for their herds on over 15,000 ranches where are to be found almost two million head of cattle - representing the unbroken continuation of one of the longest histories of cattle ranching found anywhere in America. Now that legacy in its contemporary setting has been superbly captured on film by Floridian photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr. And published in full color with informative captions as "Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier", a 256-page compendium of memorable images in celebration of Florida cowboys, and all the aspects of who they are and their enduring way of life. Enhanced with the inclusion of twenty informed and informative essays, "Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier" is a highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Regional American History reference collections in general, and Florida History supplemental reading lists in particular.

100 New York Photographers
Cynthia Maris Dantzic
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764333408, $59.99, www.amazon.com

From the invention of the photographic process, down to the present day, New York based photographers have been at the forefront of professional photography in all its diverse categories ranging from portraiture to journalistic to visual art. Now in "100 New York Photographers", Cynthia Maris Dantzic (Professor of Art, Long Island University, New York) has compiled a superbly illustrated, informed and informative history of significant New York photographers whose professional contributions over the past seven decades begin with Rebecca Lepkoff's 1937 Lower East Side 'slice of life' images, to Lucian Read's 2008 Baghdad war photos. In addition to an impressive roster of iconic men and women ranging form Annie Leibovitz and David Gahr, "100 New York Photographers" also showcases a host of lesser known but impressively talented photographers. Of special note are note only the images showcased, but experimental, digital, and film techniques that have been employed in the service of 'the perfect picture'. "100 New York Photographers" is superbly organized and presented, making it a clear and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library photography reference collections.

Beyond The Glamour Photograph
Jack Watson & Andy McFarland
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781601383914, $44.95, www.amazon.com

There is more to taking a picture of a swimsuit model or a beautiful girl in a negligee that just clicking the camera. Glamour photography is a special kind of photography that professional photographers Jack Watson and Andy McFarland have long mastered. Enhanced with an accompany instructional DVD, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph: How to Get Started and Be Successful as a Boudoir, Glamour, and Swimsuit Photographer" is an ideal and profusely illustrated instruction manual that covers more than just the mechanics of taking a good shot, but also provides insider explanations of the glamour photography industry from recruiting models to selling the photos. From wardrobe considerations, to make-up artists and hair stylists, to legal issues, to operating on limited budgets, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph" fully covers all aspects of the glamour photography business. A thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph" is an essential reference for anyone aspiring to make a career in this specialized field of photography.

Road Show
Eric Dregni & Ruthann Godollei
Speck Press
c/o Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781933108179, $22.95, www.speckpress.com

Expression is not bound by rules and ignoring these rules is a way of life for some. "Road Show: Art Cars and the Museum of the Streets" is a unique book discussing cars and how they have become a medium of artistic expression all their own. Discussing the history of the automobile and its evolution, authors Eric Dregni & Ruthann Godollei provide much in the way of intriguing thoughts and show many examples of people using their vehicle to say their message. "Road Show" is a must for those who have a shared appreciation for the automobile and modern art.


The Art Shelf

Flying The Colors
Alan Granby & Janice Hyland
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2, Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953515, $125.00, www.amazon.com

America has a long and distinguished history of notable marine art and artists such as James Buttersworth, Robert Salmon, and Fitz Henry Lane, whose special genius was to put down on canvas truly memorable representations of such marine themes as the sailing ships and yachts that plied oceanic waters. Often some of the best of these paintings have not been readily accessible to the general public. Now a compendium of those marvelous paintings have been compiled in "Flying The Colors: The Unseen Treasures Of Nineteenth-Century American Marine Art" by the team of Alan Granby and Janice Hyland. Beautiful images flawless reproduced in full color are enhanced with an informative essay by Stuart M. Frank. Readers are also provided with succinct biographical descriptions of the artists whose works are represented. The result is a coffee-table art book that is a pure delight to browse through and which is unrestrainedly recommended for personal, academic, and community library American Art History reference collections.

The Book of Inkscape
Dmitry Kirsanov
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271817, $44.95, www.nostarch.com

Professional graphics are a key to a good presentation. "The Book of Inkscape: The Definitive Guide to the Free Graphics Editor" is the manual that the program does not have, giving a complete and comprehensive computer lesson in better understanding this famed graphics program which is as capable as any professional program worth hundreds of dollars. Covering the many steps of the artistic process to turn one's scribbling into professional art work, worthy of million dollar corporations. "The Book of Inkscape" is an absolute must for anyone trying to master the program for professional use.

The Artist's Eyes
Michael F. Marmor & James G. Ravin
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780810948495, $40.00, www.amazon.com

In "The Artist's Eyes: Vision and the History of Art", Michael Marmor (a professor on the faculty of the Stanford School of Medicine and an acknowledged expert in retinal physiology and disease) has teamed up with opthamologist James Ravin to produce a unique approach and perspective on the role of vision and eye disease in the creation of art and the perceptions of the artists. Examining art history through the framework of the biology of human vision, "The Artist's Eyes" is organized into informed and informative chapters dealing with the eye as an optical instrument, coding and contrast, color and its limitations, perspective and illusion, the 'aging eye', external eye disease, as well as cataract and glaucoma, retinal disease. Of special note is the concluding chapter 'The Artist's View' focusing upon the work of Degas and Monet with respect to stimulating vision. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "The Artist's Eyes" is profusely illustrated with 175 full-color illustrations. The result is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to academic and community Art History reference collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for art students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in art, artists, and art history.

Frammenti Della Vita
Jefferson D. Rubin
Fresco Fine Art Publishing
9812 Admiral Nimitz NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
www.frescobooks.com
9781934491140, $60.00, www.amazon.com

A Colorado artist and sculptor who studied in Italy and the United States, Jefferson D. Rubin went on to found and direct the La Scuola Classical Sculpture School in Denver. His work is prized by private collectors and has been on display in numerous museums and galleries both at home and abroad. His life and career ended at the age of 36, the result of a mountain accident in 1995. That was when the "Jefferson D. Rubin Memorial Fund" was established to promote and perpetuate the concept of idealism with respect to the human form in classic and contemporary sculpture with which he was so closely associated. His work and his contributions are showcased in "Frammenti Della Vita: The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin", a 143-page compendium featuring 75 color plates and enhanced with an informative introduction by Marian Granfield, as well as a personal anecdotal reminisce by Marcello Giorgi, a colleague whose very close friendship with Rubin began in Italy and continued when he accepted a post teaching mold-making at Rubin's Denver based school of sculpture. "Frammenti Della Vita: The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin" is a very strongly recommended and core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library 20th Century American Art history reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Gifts 2
Kathryn Lynard Soper
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627966, $19.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

'Differently abled', children with Down Syndrome can still provide a positive impact on the world. "Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World" is a collection of essays from family, friends, educators, and more about how they have become better people as a whole through their interactions with people with Down Syndrome. An uplifting read for parents, "Gifts 2" is a solid and recommended read for any who doubt the abilities of those with Down Syndrome to impact the world.

Professionalism In Medicine
John Spandorfer, et al.
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9780521879323, $80.00, www.amazon.com

The successful practice of medicine requires more than a body of knowledge, it also requires a code of conduct. That's why "Professionalism In Medicine: A Case-Based Guide For Medical Students" should be a core component of all medical school curriculums. Compiled and edited by the team of John Spandorfer (Associate Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College), Charles A. Pohl (Professor of Pediatrics, Jefferson Medical College), Susan L. Rattner (Professor Medicine and Family and Community Medicine, Jefferson Medical College), and Thomas J. Nasca (Professor of Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medicine (Jefferson Medical College), "Professionalism In Medicine" is a compilation of seventy-two illustrative cases helping the reader appreciate and benefit from real-life professional dilemmas commonly encountered by medical students and practicing physicians in a variety of medical specialties. The contributors are drawn from forty-six medical schools and institutions and include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, medical social workers, health care administrators, and patient advocates. A superbly organized and expertly presented body of commentary that is as thoughtful and it is thought-provoking, "Professionalism In Medicine" is an essential addition to personal, professional, medical school, and academic library Health & Medicine reference collections.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Yom Kippur in Amsterdam
Maxim D. Shrayer
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
0815609183, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Culture barriers stop many people from doing many things. "Yom Kippur in Amsterdam" is a collection of short stories from Maxim D. Shrayer, his collection focusing on culture clash and the people who dare to try to overcome it. With simple prose and fascinating characters, and a positive message, "Yom Kippur in Amsterdam" is a fine collection of short stories which does not deserve to be ignored.

Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home
Kim Chernin
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556438202, $14.95, www.amazon.com

For most of human history, Jews found themselves being exiled after being exiled. "Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home" tells the story of how modern Israel, centuries after being people exiled from place to place may be forcing Palestinians into predicaments that are not dissimilar to their own. An honest and up-front discussion of the impacts of Zionism, "Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home" is a fine guide to knowing the roots of the Israeli/Palestinian conflicts.


The Poetry Shelf

A Tiara for the Twentieth Century
Suzanne Richardson Harvey
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744890, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

Everything matters to someone, someway. "A Tiara for the Twentieth Century"is a collection of poems from Suzanne Richardson Harvey discussing womanhood and its unique challenges and many roles. With simple and profound wisdom resonating through the verse, "A Tiara for the Twentieth Century" is a top pick for poetry collections. "Favorite Son": You are an antenna finely tuned/A fisherman/whose hook is baited/To capture the flame of an evening smile/You are a chisel sharply honed/To excavate a dream of love/Etched in the heart/You are a touchstone/To you the magic of silence speaks.

One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes
James Crews
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
9781934795095 $10.00, 1-800-636-0071

One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes is a poetry chapbook by prize-winning poet and literature teacher James Crews, offering an eclectic diversity of brief, free-verse poems ranging in format from free verse to stream-of-consciousness. The longing of lost love is a recurring theme in these often heartrending and thought-provoking moments of consciousness preserved in literary form. "One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes": Tonight was your last wish / I used a teaspoon to scoop you / into each of the yellow envelopes / you chose and addressed to our friends. // I worked all night, watched what everyone / insists on calling your remains / fall into the mouths of the envelopes, / some of the ash as fine as sugar, / other bits as coarse as salt. // I don't know what to do / with the one marked, Felix. / I want to rip it open / like a packet of instant drink mix: // Pour into your favorite cup / your lover's ashes. Add hot water, / stir until the cup is as warm / as his skin once was against yours. // Sip slowly, this simple solution.

Free Cell
Anselm Berrigan
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865020 $13.95 www.citylights.com

Free Cell is the latest collection of free-verse poetry from writing instructor and dedicated poet Anselm Berrigan. The words themselves revel in the freedom to assume any shape in this smoothly rolling collection of musings and insights. The natural flow of the verbal rhythm serves as the perfect counterpoint to the thought-provoking commentary in this excellent collection. "Frailty puckers up to present": Frailty puckers up to present / gibberish in the agri-fab / spamways, helicopter can't / swim, can't junk tribal / penance for living off natty / whims so many pairs of / pants deny in fever's dash. // The routine bites hard, ooze / a rapt factory heir teething / sway, ye olde time cleaners / spun off a granted project / of abeyance in the deep / trim that art savors, bent- / like, creaming dabbles."

Poems of Love
Leikny Annadotter Bjorkli
Ivy House Publishing Group
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
9781571974983, $18.95, www.ivyhousebooks.com

It's said that all artistic expression can call its roots from love. "Poems of Love" is the second collection of poetry from Leikny Annadotter Bjorkli, focusing on the bond between man and woman that has driven society through the ages. With a mix of sensuality and fresh verse, "Poems of Love" is an intriguing and highly recommended read. "Within the Port of Heaven": To be embraced by him.../Strong, sensual, masculine, intelligent, clever -//As being inside/The port of Heaven/Melted together/With head, heart, soul/And gender.../Like Eve and Adam/In the Garden of Eden...


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Make Job Loss Work for You
Richard S. Deems & Terri A. Deems
Jist Works
7321 Shadeland Station, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9781593577407, $12.95, www.jist.com

A wise man does not dwell in the past. "Make Job Loss Work for You: Get Over It and Get Your Career Back on Track" is a guide for the recently unemployed who want to recover from their sudden loss and best get to the next step in their career. With advice on conquering emotions and looking on the positive side of it all, Richard & Terri Deems go far and above giving sage advice on overcoming temporary unemployment. "Make Job Loss Work for You" is a must for those who want unemployment to only be a transition.


The Dance Shelf

Appreciating Dance, fourth edition
Harriet Lihs
Princeton Book Company
614 Route 130, Highstown, NJ 08520
9780871273185, $29.95, www.dancehorizons.com

As long as humanity has had music, they have had dance. "Appreciating Dance: A guide to the World's Liveliest Art" serves as a scholarly introductory primer to give people the information they need to know to truly appreciate this ancient form of expression. With a focus on modern dance and the people who have made dance what it is, it does well in covering the wide scope of dance making for an intriguing read for anyone who wants to better understand modern dance. "Appreciating Dance" executes its goal incredibly well, highly recommended.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Ghost Ala Mode
Sue Ann Jaffarian
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738713809, $14.95, www.amazon.com

It's tough trying to clear your name. Especially when you're dead. "Ghost Ala Mode: A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery" is the story of a Ghost of a Grandmother and her great great great granddaughter Emma, as they try to put to rest the claim that Granny Apples murdered her husband all those years ago. Tortured by her unjust rap, Granny Apples only wants her name to be cleared, and the Ghost's desire makes for an intriguing and highly original mystery.

A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense
Anton Chekhov, author
Peter Sekirin, translator
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980591 $14.95 www.pegasusbooks.com

Now available in paperback, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense collects the classic crime and suspense stories of literary genius Anton Chekhov. Originally published in periodicals and literary journals from 1880-1890, and now expertly translated into English by Peter Sekirin, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense is seasoned with Chekhov's characteristic dark humor, twists of cause and effect, and shocking moments of revelation. Many of the stories are brief, but all warrant a close reading - A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories is an absolute "must-have" for mystery and suspense fans of all walks of life, and a superb addition to public library collections.


The Biography Shelf

Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy
Dennis L. Noble & Truman R. Strobridge
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822
9780813033686 $34.95, www.amazon.com

Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy: From American Slave to Arctic Hero is the true-life story of Michael A. Healy (1839-1904), a captain with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (a precursor to today's Coast Guard). Born a slave in Georgia, he ran away to sea at age fifteen, and spent the rest of his life passing for a white man, a fact that the U.S. Coast Guard did not learn until 1971. During his years of service, Healy enforced the law, stopped mutinies aboard merchant ships, battled illegal liquor and firearm smuggling, and rescued shipwrecked sailors. In 1896 he was brought to trial on multiple charges, and his punishment was to be put ashore on half pay with no command and dropped to the bottom of the Captain's list - yet he earned his way back to his former high position in the service by the time of his death in 1904. An extraordinary tale of a nautical prodigy, Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy is enthusiastically recommended to lay readers, naval historians, and public library collections.

Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment
Ella deCastro Baron
San Diego City Works Press
c/o Sunbelt Publications
PO Box 191126, San Diego, CA 92159
9780981602059, $12.59, www.cityworkspress.org

New challenges in life are there to be met. "Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment" is a memoir of Ella deCastro Baron, a woman of Filipino descent who is faced with the real world. With much charm in her stories which will give readers very much to relate to, there is a certain profound nature in the memoir that will ring loudly true. "Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment" is a fine addition to any collection focusing on personal memoirs.

From the Back of the House
Gary L. Rockey
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
www.heritagebooks.com 1-800-876-6103
9780788449161 $30.50, www.amazon.com

From the Back of the House: Memories of a Steak House Clan is more than a memoir - it's the story of "Jim's Steak House" of Ohio's Cleveland Flats, well known as one of the most high-quality, top-class places to go for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations, celebratory dinners and more. Author Gary L. Rockey begins with the story of how Greek emigrant James Kerkles founded the restaurant in 1930, then goes on to tell how he was adopted into Jim's family at the age of ten. Taken in by veteran restaurateur Raymond Rockey, young G. L. Rockey saw the business of good food and good service in action. He offers an eclectic variety of tales from the restaurant's flourishing years, ranging in tone from joyful to poignant. From the Back of the House is also a glimpse into the culture and personalities of a bygone era, rounded out with scrapbook photographs, newspaper reviews, magazine articles, and menus from Jim's Steak House. An engaging and vivid remembrance of the highs and lows of daily life in "the hospitality business", highly recommended.

The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever
Alison Johnson
Cumberland Press
PO Box 213, Brunswick, ME 04011
9780967561929, $15.00, www.alisonjohnsonmemoir.com

Paranoia can have more effects than just on the paranoid. "The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever"I s a memoir of Alison Johnson remembering her time growing up under a somewhat off kilter Father who always believed Armageddon was around the corner and the fear of disaster lead him to leave a lasting negative impact on his family. An unusual but intriguing story, "The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever" is quite the read and is highly recommended for fans of personal memoirs.

Auf Wiedersehen
Christa Holder Ocker
Plain View Press
PO Box 42255, Austin, TX 78704
Stray Dog Media (publicity)
905 Don Miguel Place, Santa Fe, NM 87505
9781935514275, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.com

What's it like growing up under the rule of a man whose name who has become synonymous with evil? "Auf Wiedersehen: World War II Through the Eyes of a German Girl" tells the story of growing up as a young girl during Hitler's Nazi regime. Giving a glimpse of the life of the average German person during this time period and how Germany's defeat radically changed her life, "Auf Wiedersehen" is a unique read about a perspective so often vilified in history.

What I Can't Bear Losing
Gerald Stern
Trinity University Press
1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
9781595340542, $17.95, www.trinity.edu/tupress

One of the most celebrated pens in America, Gerald Stern has much on his mind. "What I Can't Bear Losing" is a collection of wise essays from Gerald Stern, with a large assortment of essays reflecting on his long and experienced life, on everything from his family and his faith to romance and his encounters with other notable figures of the twentieth century. "What I Can't Bear Losing" is an enlightening and scholarly read.


The Christian Studies Shelf

NuChristian
Russell E. D. Rathbun
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482
9780817015497, $15.00, www.judsonpress.com

Life changes, but Christianity seems slow to change with it. "NuChristian: Finding Faith in a New Generation" is a guide for those who want to hold onto their faith but find it hard as the staunch traditionalism of the church seems to be at ends with them and making their life appear to be very difficult. With fresh philosophy and new ideas to stay true to Christ and one's beliefs, "NuChristian" is a read worth considering for a new generation.

Developing Leaders for the Small Church
Glenn C. Daman
Kregel
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825424557, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Small churches require special touches that larger ones don't have to deal with. "Developing Leaders for the Small Church: A Guide to Spiritual Transformation for the Church Board" is an analysis of church leadership at the small church level, where there is a more personal element involved between a pastor and his congregation. The advice a new pastor needs resides in "Developing Leaders for the Small Church", highly recommended.

Heaven Without Her
Kitty Foth-Regner
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780785227441, $14.99, www.amazon.com

A libertarian, a feminist, and an agnostic, Kitty Foth-Regner gave no thought to questions of life after death or the Christian gospel - until her mother became terminally ill. Her mother was a woman of faith and this crises provided the catalyst and motivation Kitty needed to awaken to such issues as heaven, the assertions and promises of Biblical scripture, and more. A journey of spiritual awakening, Kitty's personal story is recorded in engaging detail in "Heaven Without Her: A Desperate Daughter's Search for the Heart of Her Mother's Faith". Inspired and inspiring, "Heaven Without Her" is highly recommended reading, especially for anyone who must confront similar challenges within the context of their own lives or the lives of loved ones.


The Self-Help Shelf

Three Feet From Gold
Sharon L. Lechter & Greg S. Reid
Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781402767647, $22.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

A successful man does not give up as obstacles, but instead turns tragedy into triumph. "Three Feet From Gold: Turn Your Obstacles Into Opportunities" is a follow up to Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, offering much wisdom that will stack on top of that book's lessons. Encouraging people not to give up when things look their worst, and to push themselves further, "Three Feet from Gold" is a vitalizing and inspiring read that should not be overlooked for those who want to improve their successes in life.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Stalking the Tricksters
Christopher O'Brien
Adventures Unlimited Press
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946
9781931882927, $18.95, www.adventureunlimitedpress.com

The tricksters still walk among us, but hide under many different names. "Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts, and 2012" discusses many elements of the metaphysical throughout the twenty first century. Discussing these mysteries that go by a whole assortment of names, "Stalking the Tricksters" is a fine and informative read to those who believe there is more to the world around them than what the mundane eye will see.

Power Animals
Steven D. Farmer
Hay House
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401903329, $24.95, www.hayhouse.com

Animals have always had traits connected to them, and people have drawn inspiration from those traits. "Power Animals: How to Connect with Your Animal Spirit Guide" is a guide to finding an animal one can link themselves with and finding motivation in that one can use in their everyday lives from that animal. A profoundly spiritual guide that encourages people to find the traits they have and how to emphasize them, "Power Animals: How to Connect With Your Animal Spirit Guide" is an intriguing and inspiring read that should not be ignored.


The Political Science Shelf

Ambition And Division
Steven E. Schier, editor
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, 5th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.upress.pitt.edu/upressIndex.aspx
9780822960492, $27.95, www.amazon.com

The two-term administration of George W. Bush was fraught with controversy from its beginning, and those controversies continue down to the present day. Elected as a conservative (and through an electoral process requiring Supreme Court intervention), he engineered the passage of some of the most expensive social legislation such as the Medicare Prescription Bill, outraging his conservative constituency. Elected on a 'Family Values' platform, his failure to carry through with any of the conservative religious agenda items in his party's platform served to disappoint and alienate that key Republican electoral demographic. Although initially popular in his response to the attacks of 9/11, his administrations decision to engage in a war with Iraq was to prove disastrously unpopular with a majority of the American public. The final debacle was the perceived underestimation and mishandling of the American economic crisis that broke out in the final months of his administration. Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Steven E. Schier (Dorothy H. and Edward C. Congdon Professor of Political Science, Carleton College), "Ambition and Division: Legacies of the George W. Bush Presidency" is an impressive compendium of contributory commentaries on the history, legitimacy, governance style, foreign policies, domestic policies, and more. From the role of partisan Republican majorities, to the Bush Administrations judicial appointments and 'political litmus tests' for public office, "Ambition And Division" is a superbly informed and informative political survey. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Ambition And Division" is an essential and core addition to academic library Political Science reference collections in general, and supplemental reading lists specific to the George W. Bush presidential administration in particular.


The Music Shelf

Louis Vierne
Rollin Smith
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576471791, $84.00, www.amazon.com

The Max B. Miller Book Award was created by The American Guild of Organists for the specific purpose of honoring works of seminal and academic importance in the field of organ literature, history, and performance. Academician and music historian Rollin Smith has won this prestigious award for "Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral", a comprehensive and seminal history of Notre-Dame Cathedral organist Louis Vierne (1870-1937) who served in that capacity for 37 years. A dedicated organist, Vierne was to die still at his console, leaving behind an impressive legacy of performances and catalogue of organ works. Of special note are the chapters dedicated to his American tour. Enhanced with informative and insightful contemporary anecdotal stories by those who worked with him, as well as others who were to be influenced by him, "Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral" is especially recommended as a core addition to academic library Music History reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for dedicated students of the organ in particular.

Opera: Composers, Works, Performance
Andras Batta
H. F. Ullmann
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780841603844, $69.99, www.amazon.com

Over the past four centuries of western musical development, the opera came to embody the most complex presentation by combining visual and auditory elements with storytelling to the point where, especially in the 19th century, it became the most popular public entertainment Europe had to offer it citizenry from commoners to the aristocracy. That popularity continued to hold sway during the 20th Century with radio and television broadening the audience beyond what opera halls could every hope to achieve. "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is a 928-page compendium showcasing 350 operatic works, 140 opera composers, and places them all within four hundred years of European cultural history reflecting the evolution and highlights of this distinctive musical form, forum and format. Impressively enhanced with the inclusion of a musical terms glossary, musical scores, a comprehensive index, and a profusion of period photographs and illustrations, "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is superbly organized and alphabetically arranged encyclopedia of detailed information that makes it ideal for opera buffs and musicologists. Simply stated, "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is an absolute 'must' for professional, academic, and community library reference collections.

Dylan: 100 Songs & Pictures
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10010
www.omnibuspress.com
9781846094460, $49.95, www.amazon.com

An icon of American music in the 1960s, Bob Dylan's music has been a culture shaping influence that continues to be felt to this very day. A poet, a songwriter, and a performer, Bob Dylan's unique style is distinctive. His personal life has always been somewhat reclusive and always private, despite his 'superstar' status and his legions of fans. Now Omnibus press has compiled an impressive biography of Dylan and his work that showcases full sheet music for his most significant songs, enhanced with photography and anecdotal stories that will have special appeal to fans of Dylan's songs, both those he's performed himself and those that other musicians have performed in the course of their careers. Superbly written and presented, "Dylan: 100 Songs & Pictures" is a 'must' for all Dylan fans, and a very highly recommended addition to academic and community library 20th Century American Popular Music reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Illustrated Quick Cook
Heather Whinney
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780756655778 $35.00 www.dk.com

Featuring vivid, full-color photography on every page, The Illustrated Quick Cook is a solid guide to cooking at home on a strict time budget. Shortcuts for everyday meals, food for friends, drinks and much more are covered at length. The many ways to speed up meal preparation range from better organization of one's cupboard to "batch and freeze" techniques for making large amounts of food and preserving it, and selecting from recipes ranging from "no-cook" foods to those that require only a minimum of preparation and cooking. Of special note are the vegetarian options (vegetarian dinner recipes include such delights as "Chunky ratatouille", "Lemony dal", and "Zucchini stuffed with raisins, red onion, and pine nuts"). An easy-to-use resource enthusiastically recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of home-cooked food but has little time to spend - especially parents seeking to feed their children nutritious meals while balancing that responsibility with a demanding job!

The Multicultural Cookbook For Students, expanded edition
Lois Sinaiko Webb & Lindsay Grace Roten
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313375606, $32.95, www.amazon.com

Written and compiled by the team of culinary expert and former chef Lois Sinaiko Webb and ethnic foods enthusiast Lindsay Grace Roten, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" is now available in a new and expanded edition for the benefit of non-specialist general readers and aspiring culinary students. Offering hundreds of superbly selected recipes representing every country and every culture around the globe, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" is superbly organized on a regional basis and offers from one to three recipes each drawn from 150 nations. Of special note are the commentaries on food safety and sanitary kitchen practices. From cooking terminology to diverse culinary traditions from which individual dishes arise, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" also provides readily available substitutions for the more exotic ingredients should that prove necessary. With recipes ranging from Algerian Couscous (Chicken Stew); to Vegetarian Hot Rice Salad; to Teed Kettle (Salmon Hash); to Ful Mesdames (Brown Fava Beans); to Chicken Fried Steak Texas Style with Cream Gravy; "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" will prove a welcome and inspiring addition to any personal, professional, family, cooking school, or community library cookbook collection!

You Made That Dessert?
Beth Lipton
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9780762750085, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Whether it's the finishing touch to a great dinner, or a palate-pleasing treat for a celebratory occasion, there's nothing quite like a terrific home-made dessert. But not all of us are culinary experts or skilled dessert makers from scratch. That's why "You Made That Dessert?: Create Fabulous Treats, Even If You Can Barely Boil Water", a 216-page beautifully illustrated compendium of more than one hundred 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes compiled by Beth Lipton (a trained pastry chef and the food editor for 'All You' magazine) is such a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and family cookbook collections. With recipes ranging from Mom's Mexican Wedding Cookies; Sour Cream Coffee Cake; and Buttermilk Pie; to Honeyed Fudge; Ginger-Bourbon Peach Sauce; and Double Chocolate Croissant Bread Budding, "You Made That Dessert?: Create Fabulous Treats, Even If You Can Barely Boil Water" will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to consistently turn out truly remarkable range of memorable treats that will satisfy both the eye and the appetite.

My New Orleans: The Cookbook
John Besh
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740784132, $45.00, www.amazon.com

While New Orleans is primarily known for its jazz and Mardi Gras celebrations, it is also the home to a distinctive and popular culinary heritage. Showcasing a very special cuisine, "My New Orleans: The Cookbook" by Louisiana Chef John Besh combines down home stories drawn from Besh's own life and love of the city in which he has established four successful New Orleans restaurants that even Hurricane Katrina could not eradicate from the city's heritage. Profusely and colorfully illustrated, this outstanding compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Ragout of Crawfish over Fresh Pasta; Louisiana Shrimp and Andouille over Grits; Tempura-Fried Squash Blossoms with Crabmeat Stuffing; and Crispy Fried Oyster Salad with Louisiana Caviar; to Black-Eyed Peas with Louisiana Popcorn Rice; Fall Greens Salad with Blue cheese and Pumpkin Seed Brittle; Blake's Duck, Green Onion, and Chicken Sausage Gumbo; and Peach Upside-Down Cake. Of special note is the introduction in which Chef John Besh notes how he goes about cooking and lays out basic recipes for flavor bases that he often utilizes in preparing his New Orleans dishes. "My New Orleans: The Cookbook" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to professional, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Raw Food Quick & Easy
Mary Rydman
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578263066, $15.00, www.amazon.com

Every dietician notes that the typical modern American fast-food, microwave frozen food oriented diet is woefully insufficient when it comes to the consumption of fruits and vegetables. That's why nutrition and health consultant Mary Rydman draws upon her more than twenty years of professional and personal experience and expertise to compile and publish "Raw Food Quick & Easy: Over 100 Healthy Recipes Including Smoothies, Seasonal Salads, Dressings, Pates, Soups, Hearty Creations, Snacks, and Desserts". Each recipe is specifically designed for time-pressured kitchen cooks who, while not being able to spend extended time in the preparation of their family meals, nonetheless want to serve family and friends with healthy, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying fare. More than just a collection of recipes showcasing the culinary accomplishments to be gleaned from fruits and veggies, "Raw Foods Quick & Easy" also provides practical and useful information on soaking, sprouting, dehydrating, and storing raw foods, key tools and ingredients when dealing with raw foods in the kitchen, and even 'user friendly' advice on increasing vital nutrients through what we eat. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Food and Emotions'. Featuring recipes ranging from Cauliflower Cream Curry; Vegetable Crackers; and Sesame Fudge Cookies; to Angel Pudding; Tomato Olive Soup; and Buckwheat Crunchies, "Raw Foods Quick & Easy" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to vegetarian, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Another Dinner Is Possible
Mike & Isy
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
www.akpress.org
9781904859994, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Mike and Isy, members of a volunteer collective called 'Brighton's Anarchist Teapot mobile kitchen', that travels around the U.K. providing vegan, organic, non-GMO meals at mass-mobilizations, community festivals, wildcat strikes, and outdoor gatherings and, along with other Brighton activists, operate the Cowley Club, a collectively-run social center that hosts a bookstore and vegan cafe, have turned their experience and expertise to compiling a very special collection of vegan recipes which is now published as "Another Dinner Is Possible: Recipes & Food for Thought". With a sturdy ring binder that allows the cookbook to be laid out flat on a kitchen counter or table, "Another Dinner Is Possible" showcases 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for vegan soups, side dishes, salads, salsas, sauces, snacks, sweets, and breads. Of special note are the sections dedicated to Korean dishes and to Preserving. But more than just a cookbook, "Another Dinner Is Possible" also features informed and informative commentaries on how such ills of modern civilization as global warming and industrial agriculture affect our food supply; nutritional issues including the introduction of food to babies and vegan diets for children; cooking for large groups; wild foods; do-it-yourself brewing; food addictions and eating disorders; gardening; and more. Thoughtful and though-provoking, this impressive compendium of diverse vegan-friendly recipes is especially recommended as a timely and welcome addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book
Kelly Rudnicki
Surry Books
c/o Agate Publishing Inc.
1501 Madison Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841024, $19.95, www.amazon.com

We live in an age where increasing percentages of the population have allergies to different kinds and categories of food. Always serious, often these food allergies can become life-threatening. That's why food allergy expert Kelly Rudnicki's "The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family" will prove to be a true culinary blessing for those with family members or friends having common allergies to dairy products, eggs, or nuts. Those allergies won't interfere with their ability to enjoy such wonderful baked treats as Blueberry Bran Muffins; Chocolate Chip Cookies; Classic Yellow Birthday Cake; Summer Blueberry Pie; Dairy-Free Chocolate Shake; and Chocolate-Soy Nut butter Candies! Colorfully illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book" is especially recommended for personal, family and community cookbook collections for those have (or must prepare meals for those who have) allergies to dairy, eggs, or nuts.

Entertaining In The Raw
Matthew Kenney
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423602088, $35.00, www.amazon.com

In every human culture from around the world there is a part of the local cuisine that utilizes the flavors and nutritional values of uncooked fruits, vegetables, and even some meats in dishes that please even the most gourmet of palates and satisfy even the most demanding of appetites. Now chef, restaurateur, caterer, and food writer Matthew Kenney has compiled an impressive number of raw food recipes draw from a number of diverse ethnic cultures and regional culinary traditions to create "Entertaining In The Raw", offering 'kitchen cook friendly' raw food dishes that include appetizers, tapas, main dishes, breads, sauces, and memorable desserts. From Beet Ravioli with Fava Bean Puree and Green Herb Oil; Lipstick Sweet Pepper and Basil Wrappers with Marinated Greens, Truffle Cream, and Marcona Almond Paste; Oyster Mushrooms and Hijiki Caviar with Leek and Brazil Nut Truffle Foam; and Avocado Tartare with Tamarind-Glazed Cherry Tomatoes, Black Sesame Pappadam, and Curry Froth; to Summer Squash Pancakes with Garlic Flower "Yogurt", Sweet Tomato Jam, and Crisp Fennel; Tacos de Tomates al Sol Con Crema Citric (Tomato Tacos with Citrus Cream); and Tricolor Sesame-Cashew Dumplings and Sweet Chile-Lime Sauce, "Entertaining In The Raw" presents wonderfully illustrated culinary dishes that will showcase any and all dining occasions from simple family meals to elegant celebrations, making it an ideal addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Vegan Yum Yum
Lauren Ulm
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
www.hcibooks.com
9780757313806, $18.95, www.amazon.com

"Vegan Yum Yum: Decadent (But Doable) Animal-Free Recipes for Entertaining and Everyday" by vegan culinary expert Lauren Ulm truly lives up to its title as a compendium of thoroughly kitchen cook friend, palate pleasing, and appetite satisfying vegan dishes that range from Vegetable Fried Rice; Carmelized Leek and Spaghetti Squash Polenta with White Sauce; Moroccan Spiced Root Vegetable Home Fries; and Lime Peanut Noodles with Seitan, Kale, and Carrots; to Honeydew Coconut Tapioca; Cannellini Bean Soup with Pan-fried Croutons; and Snickerdoodle Cookies. Whether the dish is Rainbow Rice and Beans or Soy Free Thai Tea with Fresh Coconut, each showcased recipe comes complete with a listing of all the ingredients and easy-to-follow step-by-step preparation instructions. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Vegan Yum Yum" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library vegetarian cookbook collections.

The Worry-Free Bakery
Kumiko Ibaraki
Vertical, Inc.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd floor, New York, NY 10036
www.vertical-inc.com
9781934287699, $14.95, www.amazon.com

One of the frustrations facing any weight conscious, dessert desiring, kitchen cook is where to find good recipes for terrific dishes that won't add on the pounds yet still serve to please even the most gourmet of palates. That's where Kumiko Ibaraki has drawn upon her years of experience and expertise as a chef, nurse, and nutrition counselor in "The Worry-Free Bakery: Treats Without Oil And Butter", to compile forty-five distinctively easy-to-prepare desserts fit for any and all dining occasions. The impressively diverse recipes range from Apple Muffins; No-Fry Donuts; Cream Sandwich Cookies; and Pumpkin Cheesecake Souffle; to Chocolate Brownies; Cheese and Pineapple Tart; Sweet Potato and Rum Raisin Ice Cream; and Mango Frozen Yogurt. Of special note is the section providing step-by-step instructions on such basic baking techniques as making meringue, whisking eggs, using the oven, removing a chiffon cake, making a cornet, and substitutes for the oil and butter required in so many traditional dessert recipes. Truly living up to its title, "The Worry-Free Bakery" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Petite Sweets
Beatrice Ojakangas
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
www.makefun.com
9781416207733, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Especially appropriate for parties, small bite-sized deserts can provide a truly gourmet touch to any and all celebratory events. That's why Beatrice Ojakangas' "Petite Sweets: Bite-Sized Desserts To Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth" is such a timely and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. Superbly illustrated throughout with the color photography of Roger LePage, "Petite Sweets" offers a range of delectable treats from Fresh Ginger Carrot Cakelets; Whoopie Pies; Chocolate Truffle Tarts; and Applesauce Crisp; to Chocolate-Dipped Cherries; Creamy Pumpkin Mini Mousses; Miniature Bread Puddings; and Crispy Cream Puffs. Palate pleasing and 'kitchen cook friendly', this compilation of miniature desserts is also especially commended to the attention of professional caterers as well.

101 Recipes For Microwave Mug Cakes
Stacey J. Miller
BPT Press
PO Box 834, Randolph, MA 02368-0834
S. J. Miller Communications (publicity)
10 Turning Mill Lane, Randolph, MA 02368
9780984228508, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, for today's busy, time-stressed homemaker, the invention of the microwave oven is second only to that of fire. From heating up TV dinners to turning out in a matter of minutes dishes from scratch that would take an hour or longer in a conventional oven, the microwave has earned a prominent place in every modern kitchen. But until now the application of the microwave to desserts and snacks has been fairly limited to heating up some store-bought treat. No more! Not with Stacey Miller's handy little compilation of make-your-own microwave treats she has collected within the covers of "101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes: Single-Serving Snacks in Less Than 10 Minutes"! Now moms who just don't have the time for traditionally baked cookies, cakes, muffins, or other baked pastries, can choose from 'kitchen cook friendly' microwave recipes ranging from Apple Raisin Microwave Mug Cake; Chocolate-Covered Peanut Microwave Cake; Berry Patch Microwave Mug Cake; and Cranberry Lemon Microwave Mug Cake; to Peach Butterscotch Microwave Mug Cake; Pumpkin Pie Microwave Mug Cake; Strawberry Cheesecake Microwave Mug Cake; and Watermelon Ginger Microwave Mug Cake. Particularly nice is the succinct one-paragraph descriptive 'Note' accompanying each individual recipe. Unique and very special, "101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes: Single-Serving Snacks in Less Than 10 Minutes" will prove a popular addition to any and all personal and family kitchen cookbook collections!

Sushi: The Beginner's Guide
Aya Imatani
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, New York, NY 10016
www.imaginebks.com
9780982293966, $14.95, www.amazon.com

We've all seen and tasted them. Bite-sized raw fish creations brought to American palates from Asian culinary traditions. Now there is a compendium of recipes and instructions to enable even the most novice kitchen cook in turning out delectable, nutritious, palate pleasing and appetite satisfying sushi dishes suitable for even the most elegant of dining occasions. Compiled and written by professional caterer Aya Imatani (who draws her expertise from her own family's traditions (her father owned a sushi bar in Kobe, Japan), "Sushi: The Beginner's Guide" showcases more than fifty beautifully illustrated step-by-step sushi recipes from a distinctively Japanese cuisine that ranges from Magurotaku Saimaki (Tuna and Pickled Radish); to Saishoku Saimaki (Mixed Vegetables); to Unagi Kabayaki Nigiri (Steamed and Teriyaki-Broiled Eel); to Tamago Nigiri (Japanese Omelette). Of special note is the presentation of basic information ranging from the tools used in making sushi dishes, to the Japanese pantry, to making pickled ginger, to the uses of wasabi, to choosing a whole fish. Covering sauces, sushi rice, and all-vegetarian sushi dishes, "Sushi: The Beginner's Guide" is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Eat Fresh Food
Rozanne Gold
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, NY, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781599904450, $17.99, www.amazon.com

Far too much of the typical adolescent diet is composed of fast foods, sugar drinks, and a paucity of fresh fruits and veggies. That's why "Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes For Teen Chefs" from award-winning chef, restauranteur, and cookbook author Rozanne Gold is such a welcome contribution to personal and family cookbook collections. Superbly illustrated throughout with full color photography by Phil Mansfield, "Eat Fresh Food" is specifically designed and intended to provide teenagers with nutritious, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, 'teen friendly' recipes that range from a Grape-and-Pignoli Breakfast Cake; to a Chickpea Burger with Fresh Mango Salsa; to a Crunchy Wasabi-Lime Salmon with Red Cabbage and Sugar Snaps; to a mouth-watering dessert like Olive Oil-Chocolate Chip Cookies! "Eat Fresh Food" is ideal for young kitchen cooks, but upon reflection, it is also a prime choice for another culinary demographic -- men who have never been trained or previously expected to cook for themselves, friends or family, and now find they need to.

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

A New Zealand culinary invention that became enormously popular throughout Australia, Pavlova is a large meringue dessert cake named after Anna Pavlova, the accomplished and internationally renowned ballerina. In "The Pavlova Story: A Slice Of New Zealand's Culinary History" by Helen Leach (Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago) begins with the ballerina's visit to the Antipodes and adds a great deal of previously obscure or unknown information including the emergence of three different pavlovas, the contributions of a gelatine manufacturer, a Dunedin spinster, a bevy of housewives, and other New Zealand influences that created and transformed a fashionable afternoon tea cake into a truly iconic and generations spanning dessert. Enhanced with occasional illustrations by photographer Mary Brown, and featuring classic pavlova recipes, "The Pavlova Story" is a superbly written, informed and informative, making it highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in distinctive regional and cultural culinary traditions in general, and the pavlova tea cake in particular.


The Gaming Shelf

Starting Out: The Scandinavian
Jovanka Houska
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445824 $25.95 www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

Written by Scandinavian chess opening expert Jovanka Houska, Starting Out: The Scandinavian is another of Everyman Chess' premier titles ideal for intermediate to expert chess players seeking to hone their skills. Covering all the main lines, Starting Out: The Scandinavian uses an abundance of sample games with diagrams to illustrate its points, techniques, and recommendations. Starting Out: The Scandinavian is especially recommended for any chess player who wants to try out the Scandinavian, or has to learn to defend against it! An excellent, in-depth resource from cover to cover, featuring an "Index of Variations" for quick reference.

The Little Black Book Of Brain Games
Suzanne Beilerson
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
www.peterpauper.com
9781593597689, $9.95, www.amazon.com

'Brain Teasers' are those cerebral puzzles and problems that take mental acuity and concentration to resolve and solve. They are also a great source of entertainment (and occasional frustration!). In "The Little Black Book Of Brain Games", author Suzanne Beilerson has collected an impressive variety of these little 'mental games' that include word-play, math-play, and logic-play challenges. Of special note is that she has also included the answers and solutions in the back of this little pocket sized compendium of pure fun that can be taken anywhere, anytime. "The Little Black Book Of Brain Games" is especially recommended for those who enjoy a challenge and see problem solving as a form of personal entertainment and an excellent way to pass the time.

Mysteries Of Magic: Book One
Mark Hall & Kevin Siembieda
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571493, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The newest addition to the Palladium Books role-play gaming library, "Mysteries Of Magic: Book One: The Heart Of Magic" is the cooperative work of master game-makers Mark Hall and Kevin Siembieda. This role-play compendium introduces the history, secrets, spells, familiars of wizards. Of special note are the commentaries on how magic works, wizards and warlocks, apprenticeships, guilds, spell books, and more. Packed from cover to cover with useful and useable information to enjoy hours and hours of role-play gaming, and specifically designed to be part of Palladium's 'Megaverse' adventure gaming system, "Mysteries Of Magic: Book One: The Heart Of Magic" is 96-pages of information, ideas, and illustrations, making it a highly recommended addition to any gamer's reference collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Animals Always
Mary Delach Leonard
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826218551, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Every major city has its zoo. Collections of animals both common and exotic, displayed for their educational and recreational value to the general public. Some zoos are also involved in environmental issues including the preservation of species. One of the country's premier zoos is that of Saint Louis, Missouri, now celebrating its centennial anniversary. This complex and popular zoo is fully showcased in "Animals Always: 100 Years At The Saint Louis Zoo" by St. Louis journalist Mary Delach Leonard. An impressively informed and informative compilation of anecdotal stories, beautiful photography both vintage and contemporary, fact-laden side bars, and more, "Animals Always" is a celebration of this public funded, fully modern and modernized animal zoo, complete with a River's Edge habitat, WildCare Institute, and behind-the-scenes perspective that casual visitors are not ordinarily privy to. Simply stated, "Animal Always" is highly recommended reading and would well serve as a template for the celebration of other major zoos and animal sanctuaries elsewhere around the country.


The World History Shelf

The Immortals
Nigel Cawthorne
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.mbipublishing.com
9780760337523, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Throughout recorded human history, the theme of warfare has been ubiquitous. The stories of warriors, generals, battles, and the clash of city states, kingdoms, and empires have provided inspiration, traditions, and cultural consequences that have shaped every generation. In "The Immortals: History's Fighting Elites" by military historian Nigel Cawthorne, major battles and epic clashes involving the most renowned and distinctive military forces are superbly showcased. These include the Persian Immortals of Darius; the Spartans of King Leonidas, the Roman Praetorian Guard, the Ninja, the Mongol Hordes, the Prussian Guard, the Stonewall Brigade, the Gurkas, the Green Berets, the U.S. Navy Seals, and a great many others. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Immortals" is informed, informative, 'reader friendly', and highly recommended for both academic and community library World History and Military History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Kennedy and the Berlin Wall
W. R. Smyser
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780742560901 $39.95 www.rlpgbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

Kennedy and the Berlin Wall is a close study of the Berlin Wall crisis that occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Drawing upon sources ranging from the author's own experience as an American diplomat in Berlin at the time of the crisis to personal interviews, memoirs, and documents from the former Soviet Union, East Germany, and America, Kennedy and the Berlin Wall reconstructs precisely what happened with a focus on two principal individuals - Kennedy and the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev's dismissive impression of Kennedy as a "boy in short pants" was openly manifested in the form of intimidation during the Vienna Summit in 1961. Kennedy was deeply concerned about the very real threat of nuclear conflict, and came to the conclusion that the Berlin Wall was "a hell of a lot better than a war." Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the events shaping its creation have strong historical lessons to impart to posterity - making Kennedy and the Berlin Wall a worthy addition to both public and college library history shelves.

Clio & the Crown
Richard L. Kagan
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801892943 $55.00 www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487

Richard L. Kagan (Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University) presents Clio & the Crown: The Politics of History in Medieval and Early Modern Spain, a close study of the official, commissioned histories of Spanish monarchies from the medieval era to the middle of the 18th century. From histories that focused primarily upon the monarch, to histories that studies the entire Spanish kingdom, to histories that exalted Spain's conquest of the New World, Clio & the Crown examines not only how the histories themselves changed, but also the lives of court chroniclers and the political workings that affected the censorship of official histories. Spanish monarchs sometimes went so far as to physically intimidate historians, destroy manuscripts and books, rewrite histories, or restrict history writing to authorized individuals only, seeking to consolidate power through control of knowledge. A solid guide to better understanding centuries-old secondary historical sources, Clio & the Crown is an invaluable addition to Spanish history and college library shelves. Highly recommended.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide, 2010 edition
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
9781574326321, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The value of any given antique or collectible is entirely dependent upon the economic force of supply and demand. Now in its 28th edition, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide", the 2010 edition of an annually published collector's guide, remains an indispensable price guide and reference for buyers, sellers, and collectors in establishing a frame of general and reliable reference. Profusely illustrated in full color, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide" is a 607-page reference that provides the novice collector with a 'Listing of Standard Abbreviations' that makes using this encyclopedic and alphabetically organized compendium thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended. Simply stated, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide" is an essential and core price guide reference for all manner of antiques and collectibles for both amateurs and professionals alike.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance
Kaffe Fassett
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781600852596, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Drawing upon his years of experience in which his work has been acclaimed by American fashion designers and commissioned by the British Monarch, his newest needlecraft publication, "Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance: 20 Designs from Rowan for Patchwork and Quilting" continues to document him as one of the premier authorities on quilting today. The theme is presenting twenty new quilts that give homage to past quilting traditions with beautifully designed quilts showcased in display against colorful backgrounds of an Italian-style architecture found within a small Welsh village. Enhanced throughout with the beautiful full-color photography of Debbie Patterson, "Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance" offers 'quilter friendly' step-by-step instructions for each quilting project, and is therefore an elegant and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Art Of Hojo Undo
Michael Clarke
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594391361, $22.95, www.amazon.com

Okinawa is home to an impressive martial arts legacy. In a martial arts context, the term 'hojo undo' means 'supplemental training equipment', and refers to the aides and accessories that martial artists use to build their strength, stamina, focus, speed, accuracy, and fighting techniques associated with karate. In "The Art Of Hojo Undo: Power Training For Traditional Karate" by Michael Clarke (Kyoshi 7th dan, Okinawan goju-ry), aspiring martial arts students will find practical warm-up exercises, illustrated instructions for building their own exercise equipment, and a whole lot more. With its thoroughly 'student friendly' and profusely illustrated text, "The Art Of Hojo Uno" is a unique and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Martial Arts reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Architecture Shelf

Change Design, second edition
NBBJ
Ostberg Library of Design
c/o Greenway Communications
25 Technology Parkway South, Suite 101, Norcross, GA 30092
9780981898957, $59.95, www.amazon.com www.greenway.us

The architectural firm of NBBJ specializes in providing companies and organizations in both the private and public sectors with plans and designs for creating distinctive, artistic, and needs-based buildings for their corporate endeavors. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Change Design: Conversations About Architecture As The Ultimate Business Tool", from NBBJ is an informed and informative compilaton of essays, interviews, project case studies illustrating and exemplifying how architectural building designs, both exterior and interior, can transform a corporate image, operations, competitiveness, and staff work climate. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Change Design" is especially recommended for architectural students and is a core addition to professional and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections.

The New Solar Home
Dave Bonta & Stephen Snyder
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com 1-800-748-5439
9781423603900 $24.99, www.amazon.com

The New Solar Home reveals just how greatly solar homes have evolved from the PV-covered buildings of the 1980s. In the long run, a solar home can save one money, whether one lives in a large city, a suburb, or a remote rural location. Filled with stunning, full-color photography of the interiors and exteriors of solar homes, The New Solar Home is both a resource filled with inspirational ideas and a practical guide to different types of solar-powered systems one can incorporate into one's dwelling. A handy resource for anyone seeking to build a new home or remodel their existing one, enthusiastically recommended especially in today's modern era of rising fuel costs.

Creating Your Own Architectural Style
George D. Hopkins, Jr.
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807198, $49.95, www.amazon.com

While most of us, at one time or another, have dreamed of having a home specifically designed to our own specifications, life style preferences, and idealized imaginations, we haven't a clue how to go about implementing our architectural aspirations. That's why "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" by professional architect George D. Hopkins Jr. is such an invaluable instructional reference on the subject of planning and designing a home from the ground up. Sage advice and insightful commentary is provided ranging from choosing a central design concept, to vetting and choosing an architect, selecting a structural engineer, and what to expect and anticipate with respect to the construction process from beginning to end. Profusely illustrated throughout, enhanced with samples and examples of interior layouts, synopsis of diverse architectural styles, "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" is especially ideal for the non-specialist general reader who is contemplating having their own home built to their own specifications, needs, conceptual ideas, and budget limitations. Of special note is the inclusion of a pictorial glossary of architectural terms. "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" is a superbly presented and comprehensive reference that is highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Heavens and Hells of the Mind
Imre Vallyon
Sounding-Light Publishing Ltd.
c/o Warwick Associates Public Relations
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
www.soundinglight.com
9780909038304, $119.95, www.amazon.com

Consisting of a beautifully designed boxed set of four volumes, Imre Vallyon's "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" is an inspired and inspiring, descriptively detailed, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' analytical survey of the basic spiritual/religious concepts included in the teachings, practices, rituals, and scriptures of Christianity, Yoga, Zen Buddism, Tantra, Sufism, and the 'Warrior School'. "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" presents an articulate, exhaustive, thoughtful, and thought-provoking extended commentary on the contributions of meditation to obtaining a state of 'higher consciousness'. Of special note is a 2100-word lexicon of 'Wisdom Language'. A massive undertaking embodying an impressive degree of scholarship, "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" is a seminal and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Religion & Spirituality reference collections and study lists.


The Literary Shelf

J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives
Jeannette Baxter, editor
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704
9780826497260 $29.95, www.amazon.com

J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors discussing the works of contemporary British author J. G. Ballard, perhaps best knwon for "Empire of the Sun" and "Crash" (both of which received successful cinematic adaptations). Critical perspectives of Ballard's novels, short stories, and journalistic writing discuss his form, narrative style, and experimental ideas. The many themes prevalent in his work range from shocking violence to driving economic forces and turning wheels of history. Ballard's writing offers its own contributions to today's latest debates, particularly those involving politics and terrorism in a post-9/11 world. An invaluable resource especially for college students and literary scholars seeking to analyze and better understand Ballard's writing, J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives is a "must-have" for college libraries.

Public Poet, Private Man
Christoph Irmscher
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umass.edu/umpress
9781558495845, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Every highschool English class will have some mention of the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). No college or university English major will not have a working knowledge of one of America's 19th century icons of poetry. In "Public Poet, Private Man: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at 200", academician Christoph Irmscher (Indiana University - Bloomington) in celebration of what would have been the poet's 200th anniversary, draws upon original materials that are part of the Longfellow collections housed in Harvard's Houghton Library, as well as source documents (including drawings and photographs) archived in the Longfellow National Historic Site. The result is an impressively informed and informative literary biography showcasing Longfellow and his accomplishments within the contexts of family and friends. "Public Poet, Private Man" is a seminal contribution to the study of the poet in terms of his life and work which is very strongly recommended for personal reading lists and academic library reference collections.


The Nautical Shelf

Disasters At Sea
Liz Mechem
Hammond
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780843708547, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The history of sailing ships is a history of great accomplishments and great tragedies. In "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks", Liz Mechem takes full advantage of Hammond's expert cartography to illustrate her informed and informative accounts of more than sixty stories of catastrophes at sea that occurred because of nature's storms, piracy, mutiny, and unexplained mysteries. From the disappearance of Kublai Khan's navy as they attempted the invasion of Japan, to the shipwrecks of the Caribbean, "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks" is a gripping read that is profusely illustrated throughout. Replete with such 'infobits' as to why women were considered bad luck aboard a ship, to superstitions prohibiting the carrying of a banana, to always boarding a ship with the right foot to avoid bad luck, "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks" is very highly recommended for school and community libraries in general, and the reading lists of anyone with an interest in the history of seafaring.


The Economics Shelf

U.S. Trade Issues
Alfred E. Eckes, Jr.
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598841992, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Economic trade is the life-blood of American commerce. A contributing factor to America's prosperity and a key component to economic reverses is the state of the country's trade with other nations. The newest addition to ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series is "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" by Alfred E. Eckes, Jr. (Ohio Eminent Research professor, Ohio University, Athens) begins with an informative background and history to American trade, then continues with an analytical survey of diverse problems and their negotiated solutions on issues ranging from the environment to human rights, to safety and sovereignty. Broadening out to a global framework, "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" addresses international partnerships, the World Trade Organization, the European Union, and more. Enhanced with a chronology and an impressive roster of biographical sketches of key men and women who have shaped and influenced American and International trade; key documents (including President Obama's trade agenda and policy priorities); a directory of trade organizations; an extensive listing of books, periodicals, journals, newsletters, films, video recordings, databases and interest resources germane to American trade issues; a glossary, and an index, "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" is an essential and core addition to both school and community library Economic reference collections, and is highly recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in American trade in the modern global economy.

Mortgages And Annuities
Yuri K. Shestopaloff
AKVY Press
142 Kennard Avenue, North York, ON, Canada, M3H 4M5
9780980966787, $57.95, www.amazon.com

"Mortgages and Annuities: An Introduction" by mathematician Yuri K. Shestopaloff was specifically written and designed for undergraduate students, their teachers, and financial industry specialists needing a solid grounding in the mathematical foundations and computations associated with the development, implementation, and interpretation of financial investment instruments and their underlying formulas that are commonly associated with the purchase of buildings and investments for retirement. Informed and informative, "Mortgages and Annuities: An Introduction" is replete with numerical examples, exercises, and illustrative problems making it especially appropriate as a curriculum textbook. Also very highly recommended for professional and academic library reference collections is Yuri K. Shestopaloff's "Mortgages And Annuities: Mathematical Foundations And Computational Algorithms" (9780980966770, $59.95).


The Psychology Shelf

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Michelle G. Craske
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433805486, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A slender 192-page volume, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" by Michelle G. Craske (Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA) informatively addresses this widely practiced form of therapy with respect to its history, theoretical concepts and applications arising from discoveries with respect to classical and instrumental conditioning. Focusing on behavioral and cognitive interventions dealing with maladaptive and dysfunctional behaviors, as well as the promotion of adaptive and functional attitudes affecting behavior, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" the newest addition to the American Psychological Association's outstanding 'Theories of Psychotherapy' series. Enhanced with a glossary of key terms, a listing of suggested readings, references, and an index, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" is strongly recommended reading for students and practitioners, and a core addition to academic library reference collections in Psychology & Psychiatry.


The Sports Shelf

The Team America Loves To Hate
Charles R. Warner
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313357046, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The New York Yankees is perhaps America's most iconic professional baseball team. But with respect to how they are perceived by the fans of other baseball teams, they are also quite likely the most reviled. The reasons are more than just the outcome of simple regional rivalries, but also arise from their relationship to New York City, corporate history, and New York Yankee fan behavior towards the teams and fan base of their opponents. Of special note is the epilogue 'Yankee Love and the new Yankee Stadium'. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notes and a comprehensive index, as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Team America Loves to Hate: Why Baseball Fans Despise the New York Yankees" by Charles R. Warner (Professor of Communications Studies, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) is a compelling read, the product of considerable and impressive research, and especially recommended to non-specialist general readers with an interest in professional baseball in general, and the New York Yankees in particular.


The Archaeology Shelf

Latrinae Et Foricae: Toilets in the Roman World
Barry Hobson
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715638507 $27.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Written by expert archaeologist Barry Hobson (who spent twelve seasons working at Pompeii, among his other archaeological labors) Latrinae Et Foricae: Toilets in the Roman World quite literally lives up to its title as an in-depth study of Roman toiletries - both single (latrinae) and multi-seater (foricae) commodes that formed part of their advanced sanitation system. Though toiletries all over the Roman Empire from Iberia to Syria, North Africa, and Hadrian's Wall are covered, especial note is paid to Pompeii, where many toilets were preserved along with evidence of how they changed over time. The historical discussion includes logical reasoning about questions of privacy, sewage, and waste disposal in the area, as well as health and diseases issues, even touching upon references to such matters in Latin literature and graffiti. An excellent resource offering a solid glimpse into a little-discussed aspect of ancient Roman culture.


The Botany Shelf

Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada
Ray S. Vizgirdas & Edna M. Rey-Vizgirdas
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657
9780874177893 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Biologist Ray S. Vizgirdas and former botanist and field biologist Edna M. Rey-Vizgirdas present Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada, an in-depth, species-by-species guide to wild plants including black-and-white illustrations of each specimen. Each entry includes a text description as well as the picture, a list of interesting facts (such as medicinal uses), and the plant's scientific name. Overview sections, appendices, a glossary, and a list of recommended additional reading round out this useful and informative field guide.


The Railroading Shelf

Allies of the Earth
Alfred Runte
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802
1931112525 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation challenges America to rethink why it has all but abandoned its railroad systems for fuel-devouring automobiles and air travel - while these other machines may be faster, their toll on the environment and fuel resources is also higher. There are also less tangible boons to rail travel, such as the opportunity to look out the train window, and the pleasure of absorbing the journey rather than simply hustling to the destination. Surveying both American and European rail history, author Alfred Runte makes a call for renewed interest in experiencing the beauty of the countryside, and restoration of the railroads that America has foolishly disregarded for too long. A thoughtful and thought-provoking account written from the soul, Allies of the Earth postulates some interesting ideas about the role railroads could play in promoting national conservation and economic sustainability.


The International Studies Shelf

Field Notes on Democracy
Arundhati Roy
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
www.haymarketbooks.org
9781608460243 $20.00, www.amazon.com

Field Notes on Democracy: Listening to Grasshoppers is an anthology of essays in which author Arundhati Roy (winner of the 2002 Lannan Foundation Cultural Freedom Prize) seeks to answer the question "Is there life after democracy?" More specifically, she examines how Hindu nationalism and neo-liberal economic reforms in India, which arose during the early 1990s, are currently transforming India into a police state. From the deliberate and systematic marginalization of religious and ethnic minorities, to the increased power of predatory corporations that engineer the displacement of the poor on a gigantic scale, to the August 2008 uprising of the people of Kashmir against India's military occupation, to a scrutiny of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Field Notes on Democracy is sharply critical in its exposure of the weaknesses and corruption in India's current model of government. A thought-provoking read, Field Notes on Democracy warns against the abuses of wealth and power in India's current governmental system, and the threat of impending disaster. Highly recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

A Practical Guide to Vampires
Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer
Mirrorstone
c/o Wizards Of The Coast, Inc.
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
www.wizards.com 1-800-821-8028
9780786952434 $12.95, www.amazon.com

Appealing to readers of all ages, A Practical Guide to Vampires is an illustrated, fantastic guide to these popular horror-movie monsters. Presenting the basics of vampire lore from anatomy (apparently vampires have withered internal organs and small lungs whose sole purpose is to provide air for speech, since they don't breathe) to basic physical and magical self-defense against vampires, to proper etiquette when invited to a vampire banquet. A delightful treasure trove of ideas, especially recommended not only for vampire fans, but also anyone interested in creating vampire stories, or leading a role playing game involving vampires. Also a joy to page through are previous books in the "Practical Guide" series, including "A Practical Guide to Monsters" and "A Practical Guide to Dragons".


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Courage to Feel
Rob Preece
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313
9781559393331 $14.95, www.amazon.com

Buddhist practitioner and psychotherapist Rob Preece presents The Courage to Feel: Buddhist Practices for Opening to Others, a guide to freeing oneself from what Preece refers to as "self-preoccupation" - the tendency to have one's actions strictly controlled by a narrow focus characterized by insecurity and isolation. Learning to disengage from this harmful and limited mentality frees one to enjoy a happier, more relaxed mind-set and engage more fully in positive relationships. The Courage to Feel presents both traditional Buddhist meditations and practices for awakening the mind such as tonglen, and also a Jungian perspective that suggests how Westerners may need to re-evaluate how they can benefit the most from these activities. An invaluable blend of the wisdom, helpful insights, and self-improvement practices of East and West, highly recommended.


The Science Shelf

Roadside Geology of Minnesota
Richard W. Ojakangas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com 1-800-234-5308
9780878425624 $26.00, www.amazon.com

Illustrated with diagrams and black-and-white and color photographs throughout, Roadside Geology of Minnesota is a user-friendly guide to the striking geological sights available to Minnesota residents and tourists. From the Morton Gneiss (once believed to be the oldest rock on Earth), to the St. Peter Sandstone (one of the purest sandstones in the world) to the shorelines of Glacial Lake Agassiz (one of the largest glacial lakes known to have existed in North America), Roadside Geology of Minnesota covers a broad variety of sites and formations, giving a detailed yet highly accessible natural history of each. Amateur geologists and armchair travelers as well as Minnesota visitors are sure to enjoy this delightful tour of Minnesota's geological wonders. Also highly recommended are the many other volumes in the "Roadside Geology" series.


The Civil War Shelf

General Sterling Price and the Confederacy
Thomas C. Reyolds, author
Robert G. Schultz, editor
Missouri History Museum
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9781883982683 $24.95 www.mohistory.org

Before the Civil War, Sterling Price served in the Missouri State Guard. When America divided, Price was conditionally for the Union - he felt that the Union should not suppress the rights of individual states. Though he was a military leader for the South in the Civil War, he was not fully trusted by Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, or Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America. Price shared the hardships of war with his men, and fought with them in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Lexington, and Pea Ridge. Yet his autumn 1864 raid into Missouri failed to bring Missouri into the Confederacy, earning him Reynold's personal scorn. In 1867, Reynolds began to write his version of the war's events involving General Sterling Price; Reynolds' manuscript was never completed. General Sterling Price and the Confederacy presents this unfinished manuscript for public perusal for the first time. A treasure trove of firsthand information about Sterling Price (even if the author is understandably biased), and a glimpse into the workings of the Confederate government, General Sterling Price and the Confederacy is aptly clarified with notes by historian Robert G. Schultz, and is a welcome addition to Civil War reference shelves with a focus on primary testimonies.


The Wisconsin Shelf

The Master Cheesemakers Of Wisconsin
James Norton & Becca Dilley
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
9780299234348, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Wisconsin, due to its cultural and agricultural dairy farm legacy, was justifiably world famous for the quality and variety of its cheeses. Indeed, the making of cheese was a specialty brought over from Europe by immigrant settlers beginning in the 1850s, and continues to persist as an important economic contribution to Wisconsin's economic well-being. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin" is the collaborative project of James Norton and Becca Dilley who extensively interviewed dairymen, surveying the cheese plants that employ them, and profile forty three acknowledged Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary of cheesemaking terms, cheese factory touring opportunities, tasting notes, and suggested food pairings, "The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin" is an absolutely recommended addition to community library "Wisconsin History" reference collections, as well as the personal reading lists of anyone who has ever enjoyed the variety and quality of Wisconsin cheese.

Comics in Wisconsin
Paul Buhle
Borderland Books
33 Frederick Circle, Madison, Wisconsin 53711
9780981562032, $21.95, www.borderlandbooks.net

Comics and their ilk have had their place in the history of Wisconsin. "Comics in Wisconsin" is author of comics and comic enthusiast Paul Buhle offering his own insights on comics of all sorts as a tool for social change throughout Wisconsin's history. Drawing on work from many artists, there is much in the way of black and white reproductions throughout. "Comics in Wisconsin" is a must for anyone who wants to see the value in this wasted hobby on the minds of Wisconsinites.

Steam & Cinders
Axel Lorenzsonn
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870203855 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Steam & Cinders: The Advent of Railroads in Wisconsin is an extraordinary cultural history of the rise of railroads in early Wisconsin, from the first appearances of steam engines in developing Wisconsin communities to the railroad boom of 1855-1857, the bribery, corruption and political intrigue that accompanied the advent of railroads, the economic depression of 1858-1861 that bankrupted all Wisconsin railroads, their subsequent recovery, and more. A scattering of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrates this thoughtful account, sure to provide a wealth enjoyment for railroad lovers and Wisconsin history buffs alike. Highly recommended.

North Woods River
Eileen M. McMahon & Theodore J. Karamanski
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
9780299234249 $24.95, www.amazon.com

North Woods River: The St. Croix River in Upper Midwest History is a natural and historical biography of the St. Croix River and its valley, over the past three hundred years. Following the interplay of human settlement and the river's environment, while drawing lessons about how to most effectively conserve and manage wild waters (which so easily fall victim to pollution), North Woods River is an eminently accessible text that both lay readers and scholars will enjoy. A handful of black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this excellent addition to American history shelves.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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